The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-12-28

Arc Two mcSI important GiCfnSHtS
of Success in Modern Fighting
General Public Knows Little About
the Staff and Its Pre-Eminent Place
in Army.
1t is important that America should
understand from the beginning the
role Of the staff officer ia the present
war. This role, though pre-elninent,
has been, and is, obscure 10 the gen
eral public. Yet, given d sufficient in
fentry, the two most important elc-
mcnts Of success in modern fighting
are good artillery and good staff of
ficcrS France lost many brave lead
ers in the first months OF the war,
and it was consequently only af-
ter Il great effort that the various
units We're able to develop in certain
individuals that combination Of cool
ness, Intelligence and experience
which must animate the personnel of
every efficient staff. The excessive
British losses during the second year
of the war were due as much to the
lack of experienced staff officers as
10 any other one reason, writes Paul
Scott Mourer in Chicago Daily News.
| have heard much talk in our own
army about artillery, engineers, ayia-
lion and infantry, but nothing about
STAFF officers. l hope this is merely
coincidence and not an oversight, for
We are certainly soin. TO be short OF
this class of men unless we are TAX
ing immediate measures 10 choose and
To train them.
Behind the fist that strikes are the
eye that sees, the will that directs and
the nerves that coordinate. Behind
every ARMY there is u quaint building
somewhere, il which all reports are
classified, all decisions taken, all or
dcrS drawn up i'll detail, all efforts OF
whatever nature organized. The ncn
who do this are the general and his
staff.
Now every military operation may
De said to consist OF five factors: O
the study and preparation OF The Gle
mentS which must be considered be-
fore making decision; CO The deci-
sion itself; 90 the transmission OF
this decision to The units charged with
executing it; O. the execution; CD
The overseeing of this execution. The
decision rests with the commanding
general, the execution rests with the
troops; all else is the work Of the
5taff.
What the Staff Does.
Every staff has lis chief, who di-
reefs and co-urdinatcS its labUrs.
When the STAFF is important, there is
also al assistant chief OF staff. These
men should be absolutely impresnated
with their generals mentality. They
should be able 10 replace him in IN
emergency without diSconcertins re-
suits. To the chief OF staff is perma-
nently delegated the generals own
signature, to be affixed by him at dis
erection to all Papers containing
neither praise nor blame, decisions nor
principles.
The work OF the staff is divided be-
tween four departments:
One charged with keeping for the
general an up-to-date account Of all
means i'll men, guns, etc, at his dispO-
Sition, and with seeing to the various
needs OF the troops.
one charged with gathering infOr-
nation concerning the enemy.
A third charged with everything
which concerns the training, move
ments and operations OF troops.
A fourth 10 deal with all matters OF
supply, transport and communication.
There is also Il courier section,
with recording all papers
which enter or leave the STAFF, and
with their transmission by motorcycle, |
automobile, runners, etc.
The part played in large Stafis by Il
department is rclegatcd in small StafiS |
To- Il single officer provided with i |
number of secretaries.
Everything in Writing.
1t is the general, then, who takes |
the decision, but it is the staff which |
presents 10 MIN. alter ciiEclut FAalll- |
nation and study. The facts of the sit :
uation, and it is the stan which at
tends to the carrying out of the gem
erals orders. There are certain aXi- /
omS to be followed by staff officers in
this work, which are the result of
painful experience. Always put ey-
erything in writing. Verbal orders
given in haste should be confirmed
rs quickly as possible by written or
ders. Make it clear to each officer eI-
actly what he is to do. Avoid all !
double employ which may give rise to
hesitation or to doubt. Leave as
much initiative to subordinateS as pos
Sihle. Handwriting should be large
and clear: the important words should
be underlined. Transmission should
be rapid. 1t is often We'll to send first
4 very brief written order, followed
later by the full order, thus giving
the line officer time to take his initia-
tive measures even while waiting TO
learn the details.
Where General Gets Facts.
Although different generals have