Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-08-26
LESSON NO. ,.
preceding Lesson l. Your Post o

The National Army, in which you
are to take your place, truly expresses
the American character and ideals. If
lis tie great democratic army. 1t in
Guides men of all degrees of wealth and
education, chosen through fair and
open selection by lot. All are brought
together on terms of equality. There
has been and there will be in this great
National Army no favOritism and no
pull" The poor man will drill side
by side with the man who has been
lraised in luxury. Each will learn from
the other. The place each man makes
for himself will be determined by his
own work and ability.
Developing SOldierly Qualities
The question as to whether it is bet
ter to join the colors now or with a
later contingent is not worth arguing.
since the decision has been made for
each man by lot An ambitious man,
however, will be glad to join now. 1t
gives him a better chance for promo
ton. The commissioned officers of the
first contingent are picked men who
have voluntarily gone through the
| hardest kind of training The officers
OF later contingents will be drawn
largely from the men enlisted in the
first contingents. There is plenty OF
opportunity here for every man to use
his brains and his energy and to earn
promotion according to his worth. This
does not mean easy or quick advance
ment. 1t means only that you will
have your fair chance-and you would
ask for nothing more-to develop your
self and to climb upward step by
step.
In order to make good in the Ma
tional Army you must, first of all, fit
yourself to carry with credit the simple
title of American Citizen Soldier
one of the proudest titles in the world.
This means that you must develop in
yourself the qualities of soldier. The
more quickly and thoroughly you cul-
tiyate them. the greater will be be your
satisfaction and success.
There is very little real difference
of opinion as to soldierly qualities.
They have been determined by ages OF
experience Weapons change, but the
soldiers who handle the weapons re-
main much the same.
I Three Basic Qualities.
There are three basic qualities,
without which no man can be real
soldier even though he may tempo
Irarily wear uniform. They are:
Loyalty,
Obedience.
Physical Fitness.
A man without these qualities is in
tie way and is a source of weakness
to an army, both in the camp and on
the field Of battle.
The Articles of War of the Upited
States set forth the military crime3
which are punishable by heavy panaI-
ties. Among these crimes are deser
ton. cowardice, INSTRUMENTATION, drum
kenness while on duty, sleeping while
on duty as a sentinel, disclosing the
watchword, and giving aid or comfort
TO the enemy. Run over this list and
you will see that every one of these
military crimes can result only from
tie absence of one or more of the three
basic qualities Of a soldier.
Loyalty.
soldiers loyalty governs, first OF
all his feelings and actions toward his
country. his government and his flag
There can be ne such thing as half
way loyalty. TIE slightest compromise
opens the door to treason.
Bur a $, itler's loyalty does not stop
here. 1t governs also his feelingsan
actions toward the army and toward
all the officers under whom he serves
1t absolutely forbids disobedience
among both officers and enlisted men
or disrespect for those in authority
Going a step farther, loyalty gov
ems also the soldiers feelings an'
actions toward his own regiment ms
own company and his own squad.
without this form of loyalty there can
be no real comradeship; without u
YOU will never feel that personal pride
and satisfaction in the service when
should mean so much in your army
life.
obedience.
The second Of the soldiers basic
qualities is obedience, based on dis