Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17
CHARACTERISTICS FOUND
IN CONTENDING ARMIES
Military Expert Writes Geographic
Society Of Distinctions Between
French and German Soldier.

In communication to the National
Geographic Society, Granville Fortes-
cue. the military expert. draws a sharp
distinction between the French and the
German soldier and the caYharaderie
which exists between the French officer
and his men compared with the rela-
tons obtaining between the German
officer and the boche private. A part of
the communication is issued by the So
ctety as the following bulletin in its
war geography series:
The wide. unbridgable chasm which
exists between the officer and the pri-
vate in the German company is but the
step of necessity in French battalions.
French soldiers recognize the need for
discipline, of the value of team work,
and the urgency of obeying in battle,
as the very foundation of their worth
as citizen soldiers. They know also
created the authority behind the Off
Ger. and for this reason there can be
nothing degrading in the surrender of
personal privilege in the crisis Of war.
Discipline is not maintained through
fear. but by public opinion. Each pri-
waite soldier recognizes that his fndi-
vidual efficiency and effectiveness, and
consequently the efficiency and effec-
tiveness of the whole French army. is
based on his prompt and intelligent
obedience of orders delivered by mill
tary superiors.
He knows that his officers are
trained specialists in war. and he puts
himself freely in their hands, so that
tne natlons Will in war may be accom-
plished. He understands the successive
limitations of military AUTHORITATIVE
private to the sergeant. the sergeant to
the lieutenant, the lieutenant to the
captain; tne captain to the major, and
SO on through grade after grade I'm TO
Gen. Petafn. who in turn Is Responsible
to France. With this conception Of bis
duty. the most difficult part of military
INSTRUCTION Is readily instilled into the
French recruit.
"Thoroughly to appreciate the re1a-
tons of officer to soldier In the French
army they must be seen together in
the trenches. The captain watches over
MS men like father. He shows a
sympathetic understanding of their
difficulties. while demanding in .ha
common cause rigorous adherence to
their duties The officer sets the high.
est standard Of performance for him
ser ara cxacts the best each OF his
men can do.
But the soldier knows he can go TO
his officer with his private trouble and
receive helpful advice. He knows he
VIII never meet with intentional inius-
tice; And what gives him supreme
confidence is the knowledge that he
will be led with intelligence and skin
The French officer is constantly alert
to take advantage of the enemy and
safeguard his own men. The greatest
tTifuc IN the OmcerS calendar is wan
tonly to waste the life of a subordj-
nate. Circumstances may call for the
last sacrifice at times, but short of this
condition the French commander hus-
bands the lives of his men as a niser
mis- pieces of gold. In an attack he will
plan how they must creep from she'll
hole to snell-hole. keeping as safe as
possible from the enemy's artillery fire
He will study the ground in front of his
trench for every available bit of cover.
and so maneuver his men that they will
gain its every advantage. He will
elaborate trench and sap until his men
are as safe as the battle front permits.
feeling his duty I'd his country de-
mands not only that he defeat the
enemy, but that he defeat him with the
minimum expenditure of the lives under
his command
Men learn quickly to appreciate this
quality In their officers and this appre-
citation brings about sense of loyalty
which closely knits an army into an
unbeatable whole"