Evening star., 1921-07-10
BY THOMAS KIRBY.

deciding that America COul0
not put forward a disciplined army in
Quantity and quality to battle with
the best. the central powers we're
able to present. Today this mistake
Is conceded even in Berlin. for as
time goes on the conviction is becom-
ing stronger that the actual and po-
tentiaI strength Of the United States
was the deciding factor.
The morale Of the American soldier
was one Of the most impressive mar
vels of the war. The triple chain OF
moral stamina. cheerfulness and will
lingness to suffer any sacrifice held
together so cohesively the American
admitted that the spirit of the whole
German nation was shattered when it
was found the United States soldier
was unbeatable. The German had
spent generations in developing his
armies to such a degree Of efficiency
that his organization was proclaimed
to be the best military machine ever
upbuilt.
But from their first contact with
American troops the Prussians dis
covered they had misjudged, and
from Chateau Thierry to Sedan and
the Argonne the flower of militaristic
Germany was swept back foot by
foot. yard by yard and mile by mile
until IL was retreat converted into
rout.
These feats were performed in
large part by men who were sudden
~ called from Office. factory or farm
Within few months these peaceful
citizens were developed into an army
Of courageous. valorous. self-sacrific-
Ing and self-denying troops whose
presence the enemy detested
The sudden and stupendous expan-
ATmy q f1111
of the War Department to concentra-
tion on the problem of mobilization.
construction and production. The ma
tion was speedily mobilized, the caN
OF battle was abroad in the land and
the spirit of patriotism was quick
ened in every section. Recalling Ma
poleon's admonition that "in war the
morale is to the physical as three to
one; one and sherman's declaration that
AN army has soul as well as a
man.. suggestions of psychological
stimulation of our soldiers were made
TO the War Department.
y X 4
IN January. 1917. an officer of the
Medical Corps. in an editorial, en-
titled THE Soul of an Army" said:
Khere must be a systematized edu-
cation and training in the psychology
of the soldier and of the war. This
Held Is not now covered 1t is a
mo mans land into which neither
line nor STAFF penetrate This idea
was placed before the general staff
on March 2, 1918, and April 12 began
q series of conferences attended by
representatives OF the military intel
ligence division, the commission on
classification Of personnel. the train
Ing division Of the eMdical Corps. the
psychological division of the Sani-
tary Corps. the committee on public
information, the committee on train
ing camp activities and other gov
ernmental organizations having to do
with the prosecution of the war.
:, While meetings were being held
nn Washington actual experiments in
fhe field were started at Camp Green
,9eaf. Ga AS u result of the de-
liberation of scientists and the sue
work. the general staff decided to
section.
Finally. on October 10, a. the di-
rection of the Secretary of War, the
adjutant general issued the following
1. There is hereby created a morale
branch within the general star,
which will be in charge of an Of
ficer DESIGNATED as chief, morale
ecutive assistant to the chief of stan,
and will operate in general con-
formance with orders governing the
other branches of the general STAFF
2. The general functions of the
morale branch relate to the improve
ment OF the efficiency Of the soldier
through the betterment of morale.
8. The morale branch shall have
cognizance and control of the fol-
lowing: (a) The initiation and ad-
ministration of plans and measures
to stimulate and maintain the morale
Of troops. (b) The organization,
training. coordination and direction
OF all agencies, military and civil, op-
Grating within military zones. in SO
far as they serve to stimulate and
tc9 Cooperation with any @ morale ak
agencies of the general STATS of
piled countries in connection with
MILITARY morale. Cd The supervision,
I 60 ordination and direction of activi-
(, ties in the various departments.
stimulating morale within organiza-
tions or among producers of muni-
.tions. (e) The supervision. co-ordi-
nation and utilization. SO far as may
tary authority. of all recognized
civilian agencies which might con-
stribute. directly or indirectly, to the
enhancement of morale. To this end
close relations will be established,
through the third assistant secretary
tions. by the morale branch with
all off1cially recognized agencies for
the improvement of morale in the
Army or Navy. 1t will not give Of
fcial recognition to unrecognized
voluntary agencies, though treating
them with respect and consideration
X X y 4
DRIG. GEN. E. L. MUNSON, long a
u resident of Washington, who
had pleaded for the psychological
stimulation in The Soul of an Army"
editorial. and organized and carried
out the experimental work at Camp
Greenleaf. was made chief of the new
biologists. newspaper men and men
who could speak several languages,
set out to develop the morale of the
Army to the highest possible pitch.
In an early bulletin it was declared
that 1t is as important that soldiers
should want to fight as it is that they
know how to fight. Good morale in
the Army may be likened to the
temper In Damascus blade. 1t COM
bines the keen. hard fighting edge"
with a resiliency that no shock can
crack.
Morale is not merely enthusiasm.
mental courage, pep" nor the fight
ing spirit. 1t is all these things
and more. 1t has a sterner element.
It is that mental training and mental
hardening which. In a body of troops,
continues to function after everything
else has broken. 1t is the quality
which, in the trenches or in the
charge. keeps things going at the
last desperate moment, when all of
the external circumstances which
would naturally create it have disap-
peared. 1t Is not only the will to win,
but It Is the refusal even to consider
ANYTHING else poasihle. 1t is the COL