Evening journal., 1918-08-16
The American officer and Soldier
From the New York Sun

The rules for the management Of sol
diers by which other nations built up
their armies, it was evident early in the
history Of our army could not be ap-
piled TO the American soldier. The
reasons were many; we We're not mil
itary nation, we We're subserVient 10 no
autOcratic control, our people repre-
sented many races and eve are all SOW
ereigns in America" An old and eX-
perienced army officer in speaking OF
this condition said Young Americans
are more difficult TO discipline than men
OF almost any other nationality" lie
did not mean that 10 was impossible TO
discipline them, but that II reuqired
degree Of skill and tact such as was
required In few other nations TO make
them reach the high standard that
was demanded in the American army. II
is thus evident that one Of the hard
problems which the young officer faces
Is the handling OF his men. Curiously
enough, there had been no book written
on this subject in America before THE
Management Of the American Soldier"
just published by Maior-General David
C.. Shanks. in command OF the Port
Of Embarkaiion Of this city
General Shanks in conversation with
Thomas f. Ryan, who has two sons in
the army, spoke Of this lack in our war
literature and also OF the necessity Of
some such manual for the young Of
flcer. MIR. Ryan offered TO publish the
book If General Shanks would write it.
"The best part Of this publication
therefore, the fact that il costs nothing
to the officer who reads it's due 10
the generosity OF Mr. Ryan," Is a very
modest statement put forward by It's
author. An army officer OF experience
said that he considered 10 an extremely
valuable work upon the subject. u has
been highly approved by the War De-
partment and has been put into the
hands OF every officer in this country
and abroad.
What General Shanks has really done
Is to give the result OF his own expert !
ence and that of the best officers with |
whom he has come In contact In his !
service, a service that began with his |
from West Point in 1884, eX-
tended over work at many garrisons in |
the United States and years as military |
executive in the Philippines. Treat
The soldier as man; look him
in the eyes when you speak
10 him, and treat him justly" is one Of
his cardinal principles. The American
soldier will endure privatiOn and hard
nip as we'll as any other soldier, but
he does not like TO undergo them un-
ess he sees the necessity Of il. As
IN example General Shanks cites the
ase Of commanders who a few years
go sought TO harden their men by
luttng pieces of Iron or bags Of sand
D their knapsacks on practice marches.
Me plan was Discontinued because
he soldiers sow no reason for infict-
ng upon them this extra burden: IL
vas obnoxious to them because they
biected TO being used as pack horses"
The question Of discipline is natural
Y an important one to every officer.
Discipline is The very soul OF armies,
filcult to acquire. but capable OF being
ost almost Immediately" Tile means
f acquiring discipline vary according to
he characteristics OF the people and
he methods which succeed In one
country will fail utterly In another. An
american officer who would lash SOL
iler across the face for not properly
standing at attention, as a German Of
Acer does would last no longer than II |
would take TO convene a court-mar- |
tTar to try him. German methods are /
so foreign to our whole national char
lcter that they could not be consid-
cred for a minute "1'he true method OF
establishing discipline" says General
Shanks, rs by reliance upon the pride
)f the soldier by appeals to his com
non sense, and by force Of example"
That seems a good, clear statement Of
Amerlcanism, as applicable to other
walks of life as TO the army.
The requirements OF the army regu-
ltions and the customs of the SER
ice regarding the relations between
Ulcers and enlisted men have often
cen dihlcult for Americans to under
tand. This requirement is not found
d upon any difference in social status
r upon any difference in culture or |