New-York tribune., 1921-12-25

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~ the arms conference do something
about the army band?
Without meaning any sparagement of mu-
scal ability, the blare of the military band
may be called as deadly as anything ever
sprung in warfare, ancient or modern.
Many soldier bold who has heard the
whistle of an arrow or the screech of q shell
and wanted to go away from there had
rived in that vicinity because a little while
before he had heard the toot of band which
had thrill ed him through and through with a
burning conviction that he could be happy only
where the foe was thickest.
And are the bands to be scrapped? Nothing
of the sort Recently our army's school Of
bands has been transferred from Fort Jay.
New York. to Washington, D. c., with the an
nounced intention of making it digger and
better than ever" 1t is an outcome which is
astounding to the observer who had rather ex-
pected that bands Immediately would succeed
battleships in the discussions on reductions.
Arguments, one con- jectured, might have been
carried right ahead the basis Of the 5-5-3
ratio, Japan being allowed to retain the newly
organized Samurai Band on condition that two
three of the older organizations commit
hari-kari, Great Britain and the United States
consequently being allotted several units of
the postSousa type.
Just at this time long lacking psean of
praise of army bands seems more in order
than ever, now that the conference has
ignored their potentiality and now that they
are half forgot by the millions thew stirred to
martial ardor. The monotonous hum of traffic
now monopoizes the acoustics of Fifth Avenue
ov1I fba rt1o M,,.,
ing of which once cheered and went and pal
pltated to sounding brass and cynbals as
bands led the khaki columns by. Of late the
coming and going of Allied leaders and other
ceremonies have evoked echoes here and there,
succeeded by silence which is the more pro-
found for its momentary fractures.
All that has been done and is being done to
the army nowadays has automatically been
just as hard on the bands Bands which were
reckoned by the hundreds in the war are
nearer to coming by the dozen now perusal
of that closest Of skeletons technically known
as the "Tables of Organization of the United
States Army" reveals regiment after regiment
designated as "inactive," which is to saw it is
not much more than imaginative Reflect that
each one of those regiments once was the
proud possessor of band fraction thereof
Now, with the regiments, the bands are "nac-
tlve,' and nothing can be quite so Inactive
when encouraged, as army band.
Were it not for the army interest be ng man
ifested in the band school one might be in
clined to give bands up for good and foresee
the next war, if any, as dismal failure for
they have been one Of warfare's few pleasant
features since the days when drums and trum
pets ceased to be etfectual for terrifying the
enemy-and that was long, long ago. 1t has
been the modern practice never to permit
bands anywhere within hearing of the foe
until they have completed their period of
formation and practice, which is the onlv time
they are capable of striking dismav into the
human heart
Bands began to be since first primitive man
took horn of a slain aurochs and Glanced to
blow into it, Then two blew horns and wera
fascinated when the tones blended That was
the first band. as described by Walter Dam
f-sscA Of the New lork Symphony Orchestra.
who is an authority on military bands. More
shall be told later of his influence ON their
destiny
To sketch the history of army bands THROUGH
the ages though worthy task, would be too
wide aggression from the subject Mention
at least by virtue of solid achievement mnst
be made of the band Of the children of Israel
which marched thrice around the city Of
jericho. playing upon shophar. cymba and
trumpet, with the result that the city walls
tumbled down No army band since has ever
blown down more than tent. For many =.