The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-02-06

Il
well disciplined.
There would be some excuse for q
misconception of the necessity for
rigid discipline if we had never read
any history. Take, for example, the
experience of our neighbors the Can
adams. IN the very early days of the
war they committed the blunder we
seem about to make They sent troops
to Europe who associated freely with
their officers, who failed to salute, etc.
The result was exactly what could
have been expected Their casualty
lists We're ten times greater than
they should have been and they lost
many battles they should have Won.
After eight months of costly exper-
fence they were withdrawn, taken to
camps in the rear and were given an
intensive course of training in mat
ters of discipline. Never since then
have undisciplined troops been put
on the firing line The Canadian
troops since they took on military
discipline have proven they are the
equal of any soldiers In the world.
Is it true that we have not the good
judgment to profit by this bit of ex-
perience?
Senator Overman's statement con-
tains several peculiar fallacies. First,
he would have officers associate with
privates of good families. This in
order to foster democratic spirit It
can readily be seen that If officers
did associate with privates it would
be with that class. That is to say, the
richman's son and the social elite
would be picked out and favored.
Would this be in accordance with a
proper conception of a democratic
army or not? And from. another
angle. Suppose the captain does take
Private Bill Smith down to dinner
some night, and week later he finds
he has vacancy for corporal and
decides to appoint Private Smith.
What do the other privates in the
company say? Two things: First,
that the captain plays favorites Ia
deadly reputation for a company COM
mander); second, that Corporal Smith
obtained his chevrons by boot-licking
the captain
There is but one army in existence
today where the officers and men as
sociate off duty, and that is the Rus
sian army. This should mean some
thing to US if we are willing to think.
The senator is also of the opinion
that strict discipline is bad because It
exists in the German army. Sixteen,
inch mobile. field guns existed in the
German army before any other army
thought of them; but the Allies do
not refuse to use them for that rea-
son. To call rigid discipline caste
system is an incorrect use of the
word. A man born In a caste dies in
the same caste. The reverse situation
is true of the army. Any private with
the ability of an officer may become
an officer. Every incentive and en-
couragement is given him to qualify
himself. There are no privates in the
ranks with more military ability than
the officers over them. The minute
they show they have the ability to
hold commission they are made Off
GERS.
The greatest fallacy is the belief
that officers ike strict discipline and
that soldiers dislike it. believe off
GERS and soldiers both like strict, sure
and just discipline infinitely better
than any other kind. / know soldiers
do 1t makes their work easier. They
know where they stand and are sure
of an impersonal square deal For
officers it means a greater attention
to detail and considerably more work.
They are therefore prone to let it
slide.
The discipline existing IN the regu-
lar army since 1898 has not been
good. Orders have been obeyed, but
not always quickly and willingly.
There has been decided lack of pre-
cision and a slackness in matters of
dress, department. and military cour-
Ftesy. This is not of vital importance
in time of peace. but it is fatal de-
feet in time of war Any one who
doubts this should read Upton's Mil
itary Policy once more. But the root
of the whole matter is a confusion
that exists regarding the meaning of
the phrase ga democratic army A
moments thought win convince any.
one that an army may have excellent
discipline and be democratic" or
may have very poor discipline and be
quite aristocratic. Yet the two terms
are much confused. No one can dis
pute that West Point is the most dem
ocratic of our institutions, much
more so, for example, than our Con.
gress. Yet there is no body of troops
in the world so well disciplined as the |
Corps of Cadets. The proper concep-
ton of a democratic army is one IN I
which family and social position
count for nothing, money and infu-
ence count for nothing and merit
alone is rewarded. That is the condi-
ton that exists in practically all the
armies in France.
Any one who viii read the history
Of the civil war carefully viii freely 4
admit that civilian interference in q
he conduct of that war cost many
thousands of lives and probably pro-
49, Tiki 1