South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-15

First days i'm Camp 6. CIeanh-
ness in Camp. z. Your Health. S.
Marching and Care Of Feet. 9.
Your Equipment and Arms. 10.
Recreation in Camp. H. Playing
the Game. - Teamwork i'm the
Army. T.. Grouping Men into
Teams. IA. The Team Leaders. 10.
Fighting Arms Of the Service. 10.
STAFF Branches Of the Service.
[ ] u. stan Branches Of the Service
H.. is. Army Insignia. 10. The
/ Army System of Training. 20.
Close-order Drill. % Guard DUTY.
Getting Ahead in the Army. "a
Army Courtesy. % Discipline AMI
Respect for the Coiors %. Some
Army Traditions. -. The Spirit OF
the Service. IS. Why We Fight. %.
The War in Europe.
The average civilian. no matter
/ how brave he may be. has little de
/ sire 10 90 into battle Even though
/ he knows very well that the chances
+ of his being killed or severely
I wounded are comparatively small. vet
I the thought Of placing himself i'm a
\ post Of danger face 10 face with q
well-trained and courageous enemy
\ IS more or less terrifying TO him
This state Of mind is entirely nat
/ ural. Every man goes through il.
/ The bravest soldiers of the civil war
and of all wars testify to their dread
| of entering battle; but this is a feel
| ing that can be conquered even by
\ a man who is physically timid. 1t
| is related that a veteran soldier was
/ observed 10y one Of his comrades just
I before the Battle of Seven Oaks 70
| be white and trembling and was re-
I preached with being scared. yes"
I he replied, IF you were One-half
as scared as | am, you'd be making
( a dash for the rear" Ninety percent
OF the men now fighting so daunt-
/ lessly in Europe have doubtless
passed through a similar experience
and hold themselves in the path OF
! duty only through mastery Of their
! physical fears.
Growth OF self Confidence.
As a mans military training pro
/ crosses, his body becomes stronger.
and therefore better able to stand
strain and intense activity. He
I
| heavy firing lie gets practice in
I handling his rifle and his bayonet
with skill, SO that he becomes con
fdent OF his ability 10 defend him.
/ self. He learns how TO advance over
ground apparently swept by bullets
I without exposing himself to really
/ effective fire He grows used 20 the
| idea Of meeting enemies face to face
/ in battle
All your training as a soldier will
/ work toward putting YOU into con
< ditiOn TO meet the test of battle when
\ the time comes with true American
\ spirit-with the intelligence and
courage that make eventual victory
\ certain.
Private soldiers are not required
! 10 study tactical problems These
/ are solved by the higher officers. But
\ every man should thoroughly UNI
/ derstand the following elementary
! principles of combat:
l. The offensive wins
/ .. Battles are won by the individ-
Ual soldier. IL is emphatically cup
I TO" him. Splendid leadership and
I fine equipment are of avail only
I when each private does his utmost.
g. Victory depends more on nerve
and fighting spirit than on the bes.
weapons and armor in the world.
Importance of the Attack.
Defensive action alone never wins
victories. The army which sue
seeds must be ready and anxious to
attack. There are many advantages
/ i'm taking the offensive. The de-
struction Of hostile trenches by
/ heavy bombardment preceding the
attack weakens the enemy's spirit
and sometimes leads 10 the surren-
der OF men who are i'm no condi-
ton 10 withstand assault. The chief
advantage. however, is tEe fact that
I the attacking side chooses its own
time and place 10 strike. forcing the
enemy 20 readjust his defenses ac-
cordingly.
Ii is always possible i'm battle for
good infantry 10 defeat an enemy
greatly superior i'm numbers, but
lacking i'm training. discipline. lead
ership. and morale" Infantry
Drill Regulations. par. 354D In an
other place in the Regulations il is
well remarked that modern war
requires but one kind of infantry
good infantry" Remember. too
i'm this connection another state
ment i'm the Regulations, which has
been previously quoted 10 the eff
feet that discipline 'is the distin-
gushing mark OF trained troops"
All these remarks tend toward one
conclusion. namely. that the disci-
pHne OF the army is a big factor
IN giving men the tenacity which
enables them TO go into battle with
daU4uess courage and 20 win vic
tories Discipline can accomplish
wonders even among men who are
naturally lacking in brains and self
reliance. IL can accomplish a great
deal more however. among those
who possess these natural qualities
Men Who are thoroughly disci-
plned. and yet within the limits OF