Evening star., 1932-02-21

kindled the dIeS OF nat1OnallSm In pIeaStS
chilled by wintry blasts; the statesman who
lifted 13 disjoined Colonies to the status OF
united nationhood and the wise father who
directed its early destinies was primarily q
military man.
From the time as q small boy he listened
to the tales Of the sea, spun by saiormen on
the vessels that tarried near Mount Vernon
and at Wakefield Manor, or drank in with
youthful delight the yarns Of fighting men
fresh from the West Indies campaigns or the
latest encounter with hostile Indians, up until
almost the last, when as commander in chief
of the Army and Navy he was at the helm OF
the newly founded Nation. George Washing
tons mind and heart were set upon the art
of arms.
"A /ELL might soldier of today-Col Samuel
w C. Vestal, United States Army-looking
across the chasm Of more than a century. write
of Washington in the series published by the
George Washington Bicentennial Commission:
THE United States was made Independent by
the military genius Of Washington. His great
est problem to maintain army in the
field. He succeeded, in spite of the greatest
difficulties and under the most discouragng
circumstances, and thereby proved himself
worthy to be ranked among the great COM
manders.
washington. like Napoleon. never allowed
himself to be besieged in any city. town or vii
lage His cardinal doctrine was that the Revo-
luton depended upon the existence of his
army, not upon the possession of any particu-
lar geographical spot A Nations Capital and
many of its important cities may fall; but. if
its forces remain IN the field they may be VIC
torious in the end This was the guiding prin-
ciple which Washington followed in his con-
duct Of the War of the Revolution.
:. "A compilation of military maxims as pro-
found incisiye and trenchant as those of Ma
poleon could be produced by selecting passages
from the orders and writings of Washington.
We think of him wise and prudent; but he
was also daring, and could strike quick and
hard, as he demonstrated at Trenton, Prince
ton, Germantown, Monmouth and Yorktown.
His military fame has been overshadowed by
his eminence in other fields. Had he died at
the close of the Revolution, with his military
achievements standing alone in bold relief. he
would today be honored as one Of the worlds
greatest captains, as he is honored as one of
the worlds greatest statesmen. He was bolder
than Alexander, more crafty than Hannibal,
wiser than Caesar, more prudent than Gustavus
Adolphus, more resourceful than Frederick,
more sagacious than Napoleon and more sue
cessfui than Scpio: and his star will not pale
by the side Of theirs
Another soldier Of today-Lieut Col o. S
Grant, 3rd, Corps Of Engineers. United States
Army-who served for months as an associate
director Of the George Washington Bicenten-
nial Commission and is the grandson of a IA
nous fighting man, Gen Ulysses S. Grant, tes-
titles of washington in another Of the COM
missions publications:
During the Revolution George Washington
showed great and unusual aptitude as strate-
gist-one who utiliZes his military forces and
resources so as to secure from a successful
combat the greatest possible results and to
make defeat or repulse render the least
effective return to the enemy But strategic
judgment alone would not have secured ulti-
mate success with an army so unframed for
united action without his organizing gifts and
his capacity for overcoming practical difhcul-
ties. his engineers capacity for measuring
physical obstacles and completely thinking out
each job before beginning it.
Doubtless Washington would have been a
great commander, Whatever his previous edu-
cation and experience. but his early training
and the engineers point Of view helped him
immeasurably, so that the facts justify the
statement of Prussing: Outstanding through
out ttat dreadful time is the constant, faithful
foresight, planning. providing and protecting
mind Of the engineer. The very drafts and
plans Of the camps and battlefields are often
in his own hand. The thoroughness of
preparation which enabled him to force the
evacuation Of Boston, to cross and recross the
Hudson about New York and the Delaware
River at Trenton, and later to send his army
from New York to Yorktown without arousing
the suspicion of the British, all Of these are
the work of a great engineer"
An incisive analysis of George Washington
the Soldier" is furnished by Gen. James
C. Harbord. himself a brilliant leader in the
World War This twentieth century officer
says of the eighteenth century general: That
Washington's retreat from Long Island. the
bold attacks at Trenton and Princeton, the
well planned movement from Valley Forge
when Howe evacuated Philadelphia and the
brilliant transfer of his army from near New
York to Yorktown were "Napofeonic in their
conception and execution"
Gen. Harbord continues: '"It was in
strategy rather than tactics, that Washington