The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-02-14
Obedience to Orders The
First Duty of a Soldier,
States British Officer
Colonel AppIin British Staff Officer Sounds Note of
Warning at Rotarians Luncheon-The German Claim
That American Army Needs Discipline Must Be
Overcome By Hard Training at Home
Is Statement
BY FRANK WILLIS BARNETT

Birmingham was honored yesterday
guished army officer. Lieut. Col. r. v.
X. Applin. member of the general
staff of the British army
He came with message to the
American soldier primarily, but it is
one that is needed by every man, wom-
an and child in the land His subject
is, Training and Discipline" and in
short address before the Rotarians
yesterday he simply overwhelmed
them with the seriousness of the task
now confronting this nation as well
as her allies.
Every word he uttered was weighed
and each had weight to it, for he
spoke as one who had been behind
the scenes in the great war confer
eIces and as one who had seen the
plans tried out on a big scale on the
western front
RUSSIA'S TRAGIC DOWNFALL
1t was impossible to catch all Of
his words as they came with explo-
sive. force out of a strong nature sur
charged with the tremendous difficult
ties now facing the allied armies with
more than million of trained Ger
man soldiers released by Russias
tragic downfall
He was sent to arouse those who
heard his message to the fact that In
spite of Americas great money and
man power they both would be
wasted unless the army could be licked
into disciplined fighting force. to
match the organized and machine-1ike
precision of the German divisions,
which were in battle array and direct
ed by men whose whole life and train
ing had been spent in getting ready
for the trial and shock of battle.
ARMY LACKS DISCIPLINE
Germany has announced over and
over again that she Will never fear
America in this war" he said, be
cause America is democracy and the
American army lacks discipline.
German discipline is attained by
brute force, but the discipline of a
democracy is an instant and willing
obedience to all orders and in the alb
sence of the order the willingness to
carry out what the order should have
called for. He referred to the strict
discipline of the English army He
warned his hearers that discipline is
an acquired habit. 1t cannot be put
on like a coat and taken off at night.
Never overlook the smallest fault.
Faults become habits.
He emphasized the fact that hate
it as we might, Americans must learn
the lesson that the disciplinarian Is
the man who will save lives over there.
RESPONSIBILITY OF OFFICER
The officer is the only man whose
authority comes from the government.
He holds the power of life and death.
The officer must realize that he is
in a class apart. said Colonel Applip.
He can only win by two things
knowledge and character. Americans
should be taught why discipline is nee
essary and why it is enforced, he said
He explained the origin of the salute
and said it is a sign of comradeship
in arms, rather than one of servitude
In days of old when knights in armor
met on the road the stranger lifted
his visor so that his face might be
seen, while the othen did likewise.
In the last analysis the officer is
the only man who holds his author
ity from the government. He has the
power of life and death in his hands
That power can come only from the
people. 1t Is tremendous RESPONSE
bility.
Returning to the question of dis
cipline, Colonel Applin again declared
that German discipline is the dis
cipline of brute force. The Hun Of
ficer slaps his men over the face with