A A c > CO n f- =^== JD == ro 6 ^^^^o 2 E> ? 8: ~n i \ - 1 — 1 - .^ R INFORMATION SERIES No. 9 I ■13 193^1^ WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PR'NTIK'G OFRCE 1917 # K University of California Southern Regional Library Facility V THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFORMATION (Established by order of the President April 14, 1917.) Distributes free, except as noted, the following publications : I. Red, White, and Blue Series: No. 1. How the War Came to America (English, German, Polish, Bohemian, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish). No. 2. National Ser^dce Handbook (primarily for libraries, schools, Y. M. C. A.'s, clubs, fraternal organizations, etc., as a guide and reference work on all forms of war activity, civil, charitable, and military). No. 3. The Battle Line of Democracy. Prose and Poetry of the Great War. Sold at cost. Price, 15 cents. No. 4. The President's Flag Day Speech Avith Evidence of Germany's Plans. Other issues in preparation . II. War Information Series: No. 1. The War Message and Facts Behind It. No. 2. The Nation in Arms, by Secretaries Lane and Baker. No. 3. The Government of Germany, by Prof. Charles D. Hazen. No. 4. The Great War: from Spectator to Participant, by Prof. A. C. McLaughlin. No. 5. A War of Self Defense, by Secretary Lansing and Assistant Secretary of Labor Louis F. Post. No. 6. American Loyalty by Citizens of German Descent. No. 7. Amerikanische Burgertreue. A translation of No. 6. No. 8. American Interest in Popular Government Abroad, by Prof. E. B. Greene. No. 9. Home Reading Course for Citizen-Soldiers. No. 10. First Session of the War Congress, by Charles Merz. Other issues will appear shortly. III. Offical Bulletin: Accurate daily statement of what all agencies of government are doing in war times. Sent free to newspapers and postmasters (to be put on bulletin boards[. Subscription price $5 per year. Address requests and orders to COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFORMATION, Washington, D. C. SRLF YRL ^miuo5 HOME-READING COURSE FOR CITIZEN-SOLDIERS- This course of 30 daily lessons is offered to the men selected for service in the National Army as a practical help in getting started in the right way. It is informal in tone and does not attempt to give binding rules and directions. These are contained in the various manuals and regulations of the United States Army, to which this course is merely introductory. LESSON 1. YOUR POST OF HONOR. You are called to serve as a soldier in the National Army, because that is one of 3^our obligations as a citizen of the United States. The citizens of a republic must always be ready in the hour of need to leave their own homes and take up arms in defense of their rights and principles. Otherwise the Kepublic could not long continue to exist. The men who now enter military service deserve the gratitude and respect of their fellow citizens. You are doubtless making a heavy sacrifice in order to perform this duty to your country. Hundreds of thousands of other young- men and their families are face to face wath similar sacrifices. All our citizens will sooner or later be called upon, each to bear his or her share of the burden. Men and women, rich and poor, all alike must do whatever is necessary and must give up whatever is neces- sary. For no personal interests or feelings can be permitted to stand in the way at a time Avhen the safety and honor of the country are at stake. As a citizen soldier 3 ou are chosen for a post of special distinction. America is justly proud of the soldiers of the past who have won for us the rights to-day denied and put in serious danger b}' the high- handed attacks of the German Government. America will be no less proud of you, as you fight to uphold those rights. Your personal responsibility is great. As warfare is to-day con- ducted, the individual soldier counts for more than ever before. Your own skill and bravery, no matter how humble your rank, may easily be important factors in deciding whether an engagement is to be w^on or lost. You can not depend upon anyone else to carry this personal responsibility for you ; you must depend upon yourself. (3) jfV^ SOME AMERICAN SOLDIERS. Americans are well-fitted to meet this test. During the Civil War, at the battle of Antietam, the Seventh Maine Infantry lay, hugging the ground, under a furious storm of shot and shell. Private Knox, who was a wonderful shot, asked leave to move nearer the enemy. For an hour afterwards his companions heard his rifle crack every few minutes. His commanding officer finally, from curiosity, " crept forward to see what he was doing, and found that he had driven every man away from one section of a Confederate battery, tumbling over gimner after gunner as they came forward to fire. * * * At the end of an hour or so, a piece of shell took off the breech of his pet rifle, and he returned disconsolate ; but after a few minutes he gath- ered three rifles that were left by wounded men and went back agam." In the Confederate armies individual soldiers were no less skillful, cool, and brave. On both sides they were Americans. Here are a few cases quoted from official records. You must read between the lines to get the full benefit of the stories they tell of re- sourcefulness and courage : On June 9, 1862, Private John Gray, Fifth Ohio Infantry, "mounted on an artillery horse of the enemy and captured a brass G-pound piece, in the face of the enemy's fire, and brought it to the rear." On October 12, 1863, Private Michael Dougherty, Thirteenth Penn- sylvania Cavalry, " at the head of a detachment of his company, dashed across an open field, exposed to a deadly fire from the enemy, and succeeded in dislodging them from an unoccupied house, which he and his comrades defended for several hours against repeated at- tacks, thus preventing the enemy from flanking the position of the Union forces." From May 8 to 11, 1864, Private John B. Lynch, Third Indiana Cavalry, "carried important dispatches from the President to Gen. Grant, passing through the enemy's country, escaping capture, de- livered his messages, and returned to Washington with replies thereto." On April 27, 1899, Private Edward White, Twentieth Kansas In- fantry, during a fight with insurgents in the Philippine Islands, "■ swam the Rio Grande de Pamjjanga in face of the enemy's fire and fastened a rope to the unoccupied trenches, thereby enabling the crossing of the river and the driving of the enemy from his fortified position." On May 6, 1900, Private William P. Maclay, Forty-third United States Volunteer Infantry, " charged an occupied bastion, saving the life of an officer in a hand-to-hand combat and destroying the enemy." In all these cases medals of honor were granted. The incidents, however, are typical of the Army. Thousands of similar stories might be told. They represent the spirit that will inspire the Na- tional Army when the time comes to show the stuff of which it is made. Tales of heroic courage can be found in the annals of all armies and of all nations. But the American Army has its own special tradition, which these incidents illustrate. It is the tradition of in- Uilli^once, self-reliance, and individual'daring on the part of men sei'N ing in the ranks. THE INDIVIDUAL SOLDIER COUNTS. Other things being equal, an army made up of self-reliant, think- ing men has a great advantage over a merely machine-like army, and this is especially true in present-day warfare. Maj. Gen. Hugh L. Scott, Chief of Staff, U. S.. A., remarks on this point : "The conditions under which modern wars are fought are ever making increasing demands on the individual soldier. * * * Xhe individual soldier nnist know how to interpret accurately orders and signals, for the enemy's fire may often so isolate him from his leader and comrades, perhaps only a step away, that he may be thrown on his own initiative in making his actions conform to tliose of the Avhole line; he may have to use his own judgment in opening tire, in advancing, in intrenching." FAIR PLAY. A second tradition of the American Army, which need only be mentioned, is that of fighting fairly and treating even the enemy with as much humanity as his own conduct Avill permit. As for slaughtering or enslaving the civilian population of captured terri- tory, attacking prisoners, or assaulting women American soldiers would as little conunit such crimes in time of war as in time of peace. In this respect most of the civilized nations of the world think alike. FIGHTING FOR RIGHTS AND PRINCIPLES. There is a third splendid tradition of the American Army which you will help to carry forward. It has fought always and every- where in defense of principles and rights — never merely for terri- tory and for power. Even the Civil War resulted from the clash of opposing principles — the principle of an indivisible Union upheld by the North, and that of freedom to withdraw from the Union upheld by the South. To protect the rights of citizens the American people have several times opposed tyrannical gover-nments — the English Government in 1776 and 1812, the French Govermnent for a short period in 1798, the Mexican GoAernment in 1848, the Spanish Government in 1898. The final effect in each case has been to advance the cause of liberty and democracy throughout the world, even in the countries against which we fought. Our weapons have not willingly been turned against any peoples, but only against the rulers who misgoverned and misled them. In fighting for our own rights the American Army has fought also, in President Wilson's phrase, for the " rights of mankind." For a like high purpose, the American people have entered into the present war against the German Government — a government which in our belief misrepresents and misleads the German people. Only by so doing can we make America and the Avorld " safe for democ- racy." But one ending can be thought of — an ending that will 6 guarantee the continuance of all those principles and rights which the American Army has in the past so nobly fought to establish. Never lose sight, even for an instant, of the fact that all your training, your efforts, and your sacrifices have this one great object in view, the attainment of which is worth anything it may cost. LESSON NO. 2. MAKING GOOD AS A SOLDIER. The National Army, in which you are to take your place, truly expresses the American character and ideals. It is a great democratic army. It includes men of all degrees of wealth and education, chosen through fair and open selection by lot. All are brought together on terms of equality. There has been and there will be in this great National Army no favoritism and no " pull." The poor man will drill side by side wdth the man who has been raised in luxury. Each will learn from the other. The place each man makes for himself will be determined by his own work and ability. DEVELOPING SOLDIERLY QUALITIES. The question as to Avhether it is better to join the colors now or with a later contingent is not worth arguing, since the decision has been made for each man by lot. An ambitious man, however, will be glad to join now. It gives him a better chance for promotion. The commissioned officers of the first contingent are picked men who have voluntarily gone through the hardest kind of training. The officers of later contingents will be drawn largely from the men enlisted in the first contingents. There is plenty of opportunity here for every man to use his brains and his energ}^ and to earn promo- tion according to his worth. This does not mean easy or quick ad- vancement. It means only that you will have jour fair chance — and you would ask for nothing more — to develop yourself and to climb upward step by step. In order to make good in the National Army you must, first of all, fit yourself to carry with credit the simple title of " American Citizen- Soldier"' — one of the proudest titles in the Avorld. This means that you must develop in yourself the qualities of a soldier. The more quickly and thoroughly you cultivate them the greater will be your satisfaction and success. There is very little real difference of opinion as to soldierly quali- ties. They have been determined by ages of experience. Weapons change, but the soldiers who handle the weapons remain much the same. THREE BASIC QUALITIES. There are three basic qualities, without which no man can be a real soldier even though he may temporarily wear a uniform. They arc: Loyalty. Obedience. Physical Fitness. A man without these qualities is in the way and is a source of weak- ness to an army, both in the camp and on the field of battle. The Articles of War of the United States set forth tlie military crimes which arc punishable by heavy penalties. Among these crimes are desertion, cowardice, insubordination, drunkenness Avhile on duty, sleeping while on duty as a sentinel, disclosing the watchword, and giving aid or comfort to the enemy. Run over this list and you will see that every one of these military crimes can result only from the absence of one or more of the three basic qualities of a soldier. LOYALTY. A soldier's loyalty governs, first of all, his feelings and actions toward his country, his Government and his flag. There can be no such thing as half-way loyalty. The slightest compromise opens the door to treason. But a soldier's loyalty does not stop here. It governs also his feel- ings and actions toward the army and toward all the officers under whom he serves. It absolutely forbids disobedience among both offi- cers and enlisted men, oi' disrespect toward those in authority. Going a step farther, loyalty governs also the soldier's feelings and actions toward his own regiment, his own company, and his own squad. Without this form of loyalty there can be no real comrade- ship ; without it you will never feel that personal pride and satisfac- tion in the service which should mean so much in your army life. OBEDIENCE. The second of the soldier's basic qualities is obedience, based on discipline. Without obedience and discipline an army can not long continue to exist ; it will quickly degenerate into an armed mob. As the Infantry Drill Regulations put it, discipline is " the distinguish- ing mark of trained troops." Frequently the recruit, with his inborn dislike of being bossed, makes the mistake during his first few wrecks in the army of resenting the fact that immediate and unquestioning obedience is required of him. He quickly learns, however, that obedience enforced through- out the army is in all situations the chief safeguard of the rights, the comfort, and the safety of every man, from the raw recruit to the commanding general. It is a guarantee that the small number of unruly or cowardly men to be found in every group shall be kept in check and forced to comply v\' ith rules made for the benefit of all. Military discipline is always impersonal. Obedience is required not merely of you, but of every man in the army. It is required of officers by their superiors with fully as much strictness as it is re- (]uired of you. It will become your duty, Avhenever you are given authority over other men, to demand from them the same full measure of obedience that others will require of you. Disci])line is not only essential in developing the army, but also in developing your own character as a soldier. " The soldier who is by nature brave, will by discipline become braver." PHYSICAL FITNESS. The third basic quality, physical fitness, is so essential that a large part of the time devoted to your training will be spent in building it up. Physical fitness includes not only muscular development but 8 good health and endurance as well. It is a quality which every man who passes the physical examinations can develop in himself by reasonable care and by obedience to instructions. This is a subject more fully discussed in a later les&x)n. LESSON NO. 3. NINE SOLDIERLY QUALITIES. The three basic qualities — loyalty, obedience, and phj'sical fitness — were treated in the preceding lesson. There is another group of three soldierly qualities that are especially needed during the periods of training, marching, and waiting between combats. They are : Intelligence. Cleanliness. Cheerfulness. Although these qualities are associated chiefly with camp life, they are, of course, scarcely less helpful in all other phases of military service. INTELLIGENCE. Intelligence does not necessarily mean education, but rather quick observation and willingness to learn." There is plenty of need for intelligence in modern Avarfare. The National Army will be forced to absorb within a few months a training which woidd ordinarily extend over a period of two or three years. Those who intend to fit themselves for promotion should study thoroughly the manuals and the drill regulations which affect their duties. In time they should learn something about map making and map reading, the construc- tion of field entrenchments, training and care of horses, signaling, the handling of complex pieces of machinery, and many other subjects. Any practical knowledge that you may now possess will surely be useful and helpful to you in the Army. Capt. Ijm Hay Beith. of the English Army, points out that in the first British forces of the present war the previous trade or training of every soldier was sooner or later utilized. CLEANLINESS. Cleanliness is important everywhere, but most of all in the Army, where large bodies of men are brought together. In its true sense it includes not only keeping your body clean, but also your mind and your actions. Fortunately it is a virtue in which Americans generally rank higli. There should be little difficulty in setting a satisfactory standard in the new Army. This is a subject more fully treated later in this course. CHEERFULNESS. Cheerfulness is always a prominent trait of good soldiers. Here again Americans may be counted upon to malce a splendid showing, even in the face of any unexpected hardships or difficulties that may be ahead of us. There are numerous episodes in American military histor»y to justify this confidence. In January, 18(>3, the Union Army lay in camp at Falmouth, Vn. About a month before had occurred the disastrous and bloody defe;it of Fredericksburg. In the North it was the darkest hour of the war. Everywliere outside the Army there was depression and fear. On January i^l, the connnanding general ordered the troops to brcnk camp and move forward. At the same time " a cold drizzling rain set in; the ground speedily became like a sea of glue; everything upon wheels sunk into the bottomless mud ; it took twenty horses to start a single caisson; hundreds of them died in harness; but still the general persisted. But the rain persisted also, and it soon became a simple impossibility to go forward." After two days of eifort it was necessary to have the men struggle and flounder " through the wilderness of mud back to their camp." Picture the situation: Recent defeat with hea^y losses; retreat; a cheerless midwinter camp ; rain ; cold ; mud ; discouragement at home ; a long march under the most trying conditions ending in a return to the same camping ground from which the troops had started. A little grumbling might reasonably have been expected. But the men of 1863 were too good soldiers to draw long faces. The his- torian goes on: "The march was made in high good humor, the soldiers laughing and joking at their ill luck with that comic bright- ness characteristic of Americans in difficult circumstances." THREE QUALITIES OF BATTLE. Finally, there are the three battle qualities of the good soldier: Spirit, Tenacity, Self-reliance. Unless a man has these three qualities — even though he possesses all the other six in good measure — he is after all only a camp-fire soldier. SPIRIT. Spirit — fighting spirit — is far from being mere hatred of the enemy or blind fury, on the one hand; nor is it mere passive obedi- dicnce to orders, on the other. It means cool, self-controlled cour- age — the kind of courage which enables a man to shoot as straight on the battlefield as he does in target practice. However, it even goes a step beyond that point. Decisive victories can not be won by merely repulsing the enemy. " Only the offensive wins." (Infantry Drill Regidations, paragraph 511.) Like all the other qualities of a soldier, spirit can be cultivated. An untrained army seldom possesses it. But it can be developed. You can and will develop it until it becomes as much a part of your- self as any of your easy-going civilian habits are now. TENACITY. Spirit carries a body of soldiers forward. Tenacity is the quality that makes them "stick." The thorough soldier is never ready to stop fighting until his part of the battle is won. Tenacity was never 10 better expressed than in the words of John Paul Jones. Standing among his dead and wounded on his sinking ship which was " leak- ing like a basket," he replied to his adversary's invitation to sur- render: "Sir, I have not yet begun to fight." Two hours later the battle came to a sudden end when the colors of the enemy's vessel were hauled down. SELF-RELIANCE. Self-reliance is characteristic of the American, whether he is serv- ing as a soldier or in some civil occupation. Much the same quality is sometimes referred to as " initiative." It is a quality needed more than ever before in present-day warfare. Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, in his introduction to the Field Service Regulations of the United States Army, says: Officers and men of all ranks and grades are given a certain independence in the execution of tlie tasks to whicli tliey ai-e assigned and are expected to sliow initiative in meeting tlie different situations as tliey arrive. Every individual, from tlie higliest commander to tlie lowest private, must always remember tliac inaction and neglect of opportunities will warrant more severe censure than an error in the choice of the means. MAKING YOURSELF STRONGER. The nine qualities which have just been reviewed are those which everyone of us would like to have for himself. They are the essen- tials of virile and successful manhood, whether in the Army or out of it. Even the moral weakling and the slacker in their hearts admire these qualities. Doubtless you have developed some of them already — perhaps all of them to a greater or less extent. Many a man has discovered, when put to the test, that he possessed these qualities without having himself realized it. But under civilian conditions it is not easy to cultivate all of them. In the Army you will have your opportunity in a few months of training to strengthen these qualities in yourself. In so doing you will learn to control yourself, to take care of yourself under all con- ditions, to meet hardship and danger unflinchingly, to be fearless and self-reliant. At the end of these few months of training you will ha^'e gained immensely in vigor and in strength. LESSON NO. 4. GETTING READY FOR CAMP. Your real training for your duties as a soldier will begin after you and your comrades are assembled at the training camjjs. How- ever, there are a few simple things you can do during the next few weeks which will be of decided valiie in getting you started along the light lines. The simplest thing, and perhaps the most useful of all, is to begin at once to practice correct habits of standing and walking. Even in civilian life a man's reputation in his community — yes, and for that 11 matter his own self-respect — is determined to a surprising extent by his bearing. The man who shniches feels like a slouch. The man who holds his head up faces the world with confidence and courage. If this is true in civilian life, it is ten times more true in military life. For a soldier must always be strongly marked by his snap, his precision, and his vigor. He can not have these traits unless he carries himself like a soldier. THE BEARING OF A SOLDIER. Few people without military training have a correct idea of what is meant by the i)osition and the bearing of a soldiei'. They are apt to imagine that it means a strut or an extremely strained attitude. Or, more frequently, they think that the term can properly be ap- plied to any erect position. The truth of the case, however, is that there is a definite procedure to follow in order to place yourself in what is known in the Army as " the position of a soldier." It is the position which the dismounted soldier always assumes at the com- mand "Attention," except as it may be slightly modified to enable him to carry properly any arms he may have in his hands. It will be well for you to memorize paragraph 51 of the Infantry Drill Regulations, which gives the complete and accurate description of the position of the soldier. This paragraph is slightly para- phrased and simplified in the description following: Keep in mind that there are 10 elements which must be properly adjusted to each othe)-. and check yourself up to see that each one of them is properly placed. 1. Heels — on the same line and as near each other as possible; most men should be able to stand with heels touching each other. 2. Feet — turned out equally and forming an angle of about 45 degrees. 3. Knees — straight without stiffness. 4. Tlijys — level and drawn back slightly; body erect and resting equally on hips. 5. Chest — lifted and arched. 6. Shoulders — square and falling equally. Y. Arms — hanging naturally. 8. Hands — hanging naturally, thumb along the seam of the trousers. 9. Head — erect and squarely to the front; chin drawn in so that axis of head and neck is vertical (means that a straight line drawji through the center of head and neck should be vertical) ; eyes straight to the front. 10. Entire hody — weight of body resting equally upon the heels and balls of the feet. Note especially that you are not required to stand in a strained attitude. You are to be alert but not tense. One of the A-ery best things you can do to-day is to spend 15 min- utes practicing this position, getting it right. Keep this up every day until you report at camp. In the Army, as in every day life, first impressions are important. The first impression j^ou make on your officers and fellows will de])end, more than you probably realize, on the manner in which you stand and walk. 12 MAKING YOURSELF "FIT." If you caai devote part of your time between now and the opening of camp to phj^sical exercise you are fortunate and should by all means take advantage of every opportunity. Climbing, jumping, gymnastic exercises, all kinds of competitive games, swimming, row^- ing, boxing, wrestling, and running are all recommended as excellent methods of developing the skill, strength, endurance, grace, courage, and self-reliance that every solclier needs. There are some simple rules of eating and living which all of us should follow regularly. They will be especially helpful to you if you put them into practice in preparing for camp life. Perhaps the most important of these rules is to use no alcohol of any kind. ' if you have been in the habit of smoking immoderately, cut down ; get your wnnd, your nerves, and your digestion into the best possible condition. Eat and drink moderately. Chew your food well. It is advisable, however, to drink a great deal of cool (not cold) water between meals. Don't eat between meals. Keep away from soda fountains and soft-drink stands. Learn to enjoy simple, nourishing food. Accustom yourself to regular hours for sleeping, eating, and the morning functions. Don't "take a last fling." It may land you in the hospital. At the best, it wall probably bring you into camp in an unfit condition to take up your new duties with profit and enjoyment. There are strenuous days ahead of you and it w^ill be good sense on your part to make reasonable preparation for them. LOOK FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE. You will find nothing required of you in the Army that is beyond the powers of the every-day American. You will see clearly ahead of you, after you have read this course, the path which you are to follow.' Look forward with confidence. Enter the service with the firm determination of doing your best at all times, of playing square with your superiors, 3'our associates, and yourself, and of taking care always of your assigned duties whatever may happen. You will find that everyone else will treat you with courtesy and fairness — for that is the inflexible rule of the Army. Out of that rule grows the comradeship and the attractiveness, even in the face of all dangers and hardships, that are characteristic of American Army life. LESSON NO. 5. FIRST DAYS IN CAMP. There will be nearly 40,000 men in each cantonment. The task of preparing for your arrival is enormous. Each cantonment will require 25,000,000 "feet of lumber, 7,500 doors, 37.000 window sashes, 4,()C5 casks of Portland cement, and 5,000 yards of broken stone. The water supply of a cantonment will be 2,500,000 gallons a day. 13 It will have its own sewerage system, fire department, bakeries, ice plants, and hospitals. It will even lequire a gigantic steam-heating plant. Sixteen cities, each with a population of 40,000, well cared for — that is the task. In spite of the best efforts, it is possible that some of the details may remain imlinished at the beginning of your camp life. There will be a certain amount of bustle and appaient confusion on the surface. Bear in mind that underneath it all lies a weJl-thought-out plan. In woi-king out this plan everything possible has been done for the comfort and convenience of individual soldiers. Don't grum- ble if you run into some temporary delays or inconveniences at the beginning. One of the tests of a good soldier is his cheerful willing- ness to take things as they are and make the best of them. You are naturally interested in forming some idea of the camp life of a soldier. The description which follows will help you in forming this idea. However, there will be many changes as you go along in your training. As the men in the National Army must get ready in record-break- ing time, their training Avill be more strenuous than that of soldiers in peace. You will find there is plenty of hard work ahead of you. The average energetic young American will be glad of it. The soldier arises for the day usually at about 6 o'clock, a little earlier in the summer and a little later in the winter. The buglers sound the call known as reveille. The men dress and fall in. Your first experience of military drill will probably consist of " setting-up exercises,'' which ordinarily occupy the first few minutes of the day. They consist of certain movements of the head, arms, trunk, and legs, which are carefully designed not merely to develop your nniscles but also to increase your skill, grace, self-control, and self-reliance. At the same time they will also put you into the right frame of mind for a vigorous day's work. In the mornings when the bugle rings out the reveille, and you crawl out of .your bunk reluctantly, possibly tired and sore from the previous day's work, you will find yourself wonderfully freshened and cheered up by a feM^ minutes' vigorous setting-up exercises. Watch their effect on yourself, and you will see why they are so highly regarded by the most experienced soldiers of the Army. It will be only a short time until you look upon the early morning set- ting-up drill as one of the pleasantest features of your day. Then comes " washing up " and breakfast. Usually breakfast is followed by a half-hour for cleaning the barracks and bunks and putting clothing and bedding in order. Frequently the company commander will inspect the barracks immediately afterwards to make sure that every man has attended to his part of the work. There is then often some time which the trained soldier uses for attending to his personal needs, tidying up his clothing, and the like. The remaining two or three hours of the morning are likely to be spent in drill, at first in '' close order " and later in '' extended order " also. These terms will be explained in another part of this course. As you advance, the drills will become more and more interesting. During the drill there are numerous short periods of rest. In most camps guard mounting comes about noon. This consists of relieving the men who have been guarding the camp and turning over this duty to new men. Each soldier mounts guard not oftener 14 than once a week. After guard mounting the men go to dinner, which comes at 12 o'clock. At least one hour is always allowed for dinner and rest. During the afternoons the work is likely to be varied and to include additional setting-up exercises and other drills, target practice, bayo- net exercises, and later more advanced drilling. About 5 o'clock comes the evening parade and " retreat," when the flag is lowered or furled for the night. The band plays " The Star Spangled Banner," while all officers and soldiers stand at attention. The ceremony is designed to deepen each man's respect and love for the flag which he serves; it is always impressive. After the flag is lowered it is care- fully folded and escorted by the guard to headquarters, where it is kept until the next morning, when it is again raised. Supper comes between 5 and 6 o'clock and is usually followed by a period of rest. In the training camps there will be many oppor- tunities for a variety of healthful amusements — for sports, music, the theater, and so on, as later described. Taps are sounded by 10 o'clock. This is the signal to put out all lights, retire, and keep quiet. " It closes the day for the soldier and sends him to his blankets a tired and sleepy man." This is only a sample of a day in camp. On some days your com- pany will go off on " hikes." After a time there may be longer marches, when you will carry your shelter tents with you and will make your own camp each evening. These are days that will be espe- cially interesting. You will learn the soldier's art of adapting your- self to new situations and making yourself comfortable. Your officers will ask you to do nothing that they have not many times done themselves. They will ask nothing of you which any normal, healthy man can not do. After a month or two of this training you will find that you have begun to take on some of the skill and the self-reliance of a real soldier. LESSON NO, 6. CLEANLINESS IN CAMP. When large numbers of men are assembled in camp it is necessary for the good of all that strict rules of personal conduct and sanita- tion should be enforced. These rules are by no means a hardship. They are a protection. By insisting on strict obedience to these rules the diseases which 'once took so heavy a toll in nearly all mili- tary camps have been brought under control ; some have been prac- tically eliminated. Suppose you were asked to make a choice; either to live under conditions in which smallpox, tyj)hoid fever, diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera flourish ; or to live under strict regidations, which make these diseases far more of a rarity in military than in civil life. Your good sense would lead you to choose the latter. Bear this in mind. See to it that you cooperate with enthusiasm in the measures that will be taken to keep your camps clean, comfortable, and healthful. One of tlie pests of camp life, if perfect cleanliness is not observed, is the presence of swarms of flies. Flies are not merely annoying. 15 They are dangerous. Somebody has said, with perhaps a slight ex- aggeration, that to sokliers they are more dangerous than bullets. This is because flies carry disease germs. They feed on manure, garbage, uncovered food, human excreta, and the like, Thej'^ also lay their eggs wherever refuse of the same kind is found. The best way to keep flies away from camps is to destroj^ the places where they breed and feed; in other words, keep the camp spotlessly clean. For this reason the daily " policing" (or cleiining up) of the camp is a matter of first importance. You will be required to keep 3'our company street free from even small objects, bits of food, and the like, which might attract flies or other insects. At least once a day a squad will be detailed to inspect and clean every square foot of space in or near your living quarters. This is a duty whch an experienced soldier usually performs with more interest and thoroughness than the raw recruit; for he more clearly realizes its importance. The best safeguards against disease., either in the army or out of it, are soap and sunshine. You will be required to keep ever3^thing in the camp well scrubbed and well aired. If it w^ere not required, you would doubtless be anxious to do it anywa}^ The good soldier is almost "fussy" in the care of his person, his clothing, his bedding, and his other belongings. Personal cleanli- ness includes using only your own linen, toilet articles, cup, and mess kit. Many annoying skin troubles and such diseases as colds and infectious fevers are often passed from one person to others by using articles in common. In the training camp there will be plenty of shower baths, and you will, of course, make free use of them. If in temporary camps or at any other time you can not obtain a bath, give yourself a good stiff rub with a dry towel. Twice a week, or oftener if necessary, your shirts, drawers, and socks should be washed and fresh under- clothes put on. In case it is necessary to sleep in your underAvear, as it probably will be, put one aside to wear at night, so that you will always feel fresh and clean in the morning. The scalp should be thoroughly cleaned about as frequently as the rest of the body. This will be made easier if you keep your hair cut short. The teeth should be brushed at least once a day: twice a day is better. Neglecting this practice will cause decay of the teeth, re- sulting in failure to chew food thoroughly and probably ending in stomach troubles. Cleanliness includes also the practice of emptying your bowels at least once a day. Get into the habit of doing this at a certain time each morning. It is a habit that can bo cultivated, just like any other habit. Do not let a little personal inconvenience or laziness stand in the way. The Medical Corps of the Army and your own officers will use every means within their power to safeguard and improve your general health. Within recent years better methods of medical super- vision have- greatly reduced the losses and the disabilities due to warfare. The increased power of weapons has been more than met by in- creased efficiency in maintaining the health of troops and in caring for those who are wounded. 16 But the responsibility for keeping yourself in good health can not rest wholly upon your officers. Just as in civil life, you arc expected to use a reasonable amount of good sense in looking after yourself. You will do this partly because it adds to your own comfort and safety. You will take care of yourself, also, because it i& a duty that every soldier owes to the country. You will have plenty of fresh air, exercise, and good food, which are, after all, the chief essentials of good health. It should be a comparatively easy thing for you to look after the smaller things. LESSON NO. 7. YOUR HEALTH. The living conditions in the Army are just what most vigorous men need for their physical' well-being. Every day brings an ample amount of exercise, fresh air, and good food. Yours will be a very unusual case if you do not find yourself after a few months stronger, healthier, and more buoyant than you have ever been in your life. It is true, on the other hand, that extreme exertion in marching or fighting may in time be called for. But this will not be until you are thoroughly trained and fit. The periods of strain or exposure will probably be short and are not likely in themselves to do you any real harm. At any rate you owe it to yourself — and, what is more, you owe it to the country — to make yourself "fit" at the earliest possible moment. Sick men can not do much toward winning this war. In the Army they are not only a loss but during their sickness a positive handicap. There are a few simple, common-sense rules to follow, which are briefly summed up in this lesson. Everything you eat will be carefully inspected by the officers in charge of that duty. You will have plenty of fresh meat, bread, potatoes, and other vegetables, and other simple- and nourishing food. As a general rule, you should eat nothing not supplied in your com- pany mess. Especially avoid green or overripe fruit and the inferior " soft drinks " which will be put before you in shops and by peddler^ (;utside the camp limits. Your chief care in connection with food will be to chew it thor- ffUghly and eat it slowly. Don't drink excessive quantities of water, tea, or coffee with your meals ; this is rather a common fault among soldiers. Avoid needless exposure. You may be often called upon in the line of duty to march through mud and rain. So long as you are actively on the move it will probably do no harm. As soon as you are off duty, however, take proper care of yourself. Give yourself a rub down and if possible bathe you^- feet and change your clothing. Use a little extra care to protect your belly from getting chilled ; it may save you some annoying attacks of ci-amps and diarrhea. If you come in from exercise or drill sweating freely, try to cool off gradually instead of allowing yourself to get chilled. Even in hot weather throw a light coat or wrap over yourself for a few minutes. 17 One of the most important rules of all is to be careful about drink- ing water not provided in the camp or recommended to you by medical or company officers. If pure water is not at hand, it is better to drink boiled water or weak coffee or tea. Boiling kills the disease genus. If you are in the habit of using tobacco, be moderate, especially while you are on the march or just before taking strenuous exercise. Your smoke will do less harm and at the same time will be much more enjoyable if you wait till you can sit down quietly during one of the periods of rest. Eight hours of each day are set aside for sleep. This is ample, but not too much for most men. P^ven if you can't sleep for any reason, lie still and get a good rest during those hours. The medical officer will be ready to do everything he can to keep you well. Don't hesitate to report to him if you need any attention even for slight ailments. Every day at " sick call " any soldier who is not feeling well may ask for medical treatment. It is frequently assumed by well-meaning critics that illicit sexual intercourse and venereal diseases are more common in the Army than in civil life. This is probably a mistaken impression, due largely to the fact that statistics of these diseases are collected in the Army, v/hereas the corresponding figures for civilian life are incomplete. In the new Army the evils of sexual immorality will be reduced to a minimum. The men will find their time and energy so fully occu- pied that they will have fewer temptations and dangers of this type than in everyday civil life. One of your obligations as a citizen-soldier is to conduct yourself in such a way as to create and spread the true impression — namely, that the National Army is made up of men too much in earnest in the great task assigned to them to indulge in lewdness and vice. The only sure safeguard against venereal disease is to avoid illicit intercourse. A clean life is the best guaranty of sound health. To maintain a clean life, keep away from those things which tend to promote sexual excitement and desire, particularly obscene conversa- tion, reading matter, and pictures. The moral reasons which should impel every self-respecting man to avoid debasing himself by sexual vice are well known to every man who joins the National Army and need not be recounted here. In addition to the moral reasons, there rests upon every soldier the especial duty of avoiding everything that may unfit him for active and effective service. This obligation in the present crisis is even greater and more urgent than in normal times. The soldiers of the National Army will be expected and required to maintain especially high standards of conduct and to honor the uniform they are privi- leged to wear. LESSON NO. 8. MARCHING AND CARE OF FEET. The new soldier seldom understands how important it is for him to learn to march and to develop his muscles so that he can easily carry his arms and equipment. '"' Marching constitutes the prin- 18199°— 17 2 18 cipal occupation of troops in campaign." (Infantry Drill Regula- tions, par. 623.) Modern trench warfare in Europe has for the time being reduced the amount of marching required in campaign ; yet it remains just as important an element in the soldier's training as it ever was. In order to march for long distances the soldier's feet must be in good condition. As has been aptly remarked, "the infantryman's feet are his means of transportation." Special attention should be paid to the fitting of shoes and the care of the feet. Marching shoes should be quite a little larger than shoes for ordinary wear. " Sores and blisters on the feet should be promptly dressed during halts. At the end of the march feet should be bathed and dressed; the socks, and if practicable the shoes, should be changed." (Infantry Drill Regulations, par. 627.) You will learn in time the practical rules for taking care of your feet that are followed by experienced soldiers. You will avoid considerable discomfort, however, if you learn some of these rules now and put them into practice from the very beginning : 1. See that your shoes are large enough. They will at first look and feel unnecessarily loose. This is needed because it has been found that feet swell and lengthen on marches, especially when car- rying packs. But shoes fitted this way will give you no corns, bunions, blisters, or other foot ills. In fact, they will cure any that you may already have. 2. Take pains to keep your shoes in good condition. It is a good idea to apply a light coat of neat's-foot oil, which will both soften the leather and tend to make them waterproof. Don't neglect to smooth out wrinkles in the lining of the shoe. " Break in " new shoes before wearing them on long marches. 3. Wear light woolen socks, such as will be issued to you. See that you have no holes or wrinkles in them. If a hole has been worn and can not be mended at once, change the sock from one foot to the other so that your foot will not be irritated more than is necessary. 4. Keep your feet, socks, and shoes clean. '^'VTien on the march try to wash your socks at night and put on a clean pair every morn- ing. Bathe the feet every evening, or at least wipe them off with a wet towel. 5. Keep j^our feet scrupulously clean. A foot bath can be taken, when other facilities are not at hand, by scraping a small depression in the ground, throwing a poncho over it and pouring water into this from your canteen. Even a pint of water will do for a foot bath. You can bathe all over by making or finding a depression of suitable size and using your poncho as for a foot bath. 6. Keep your toenails trimmed closely and cut them square across the ends. ' This will tend to prevent ingrowing nails. By all means avoid the common error of rounding the corners of the nail and cutting it to a point in the center. 7. In case a blister is formed while, on the march, open the edge of the blister with the point of a knife or a needle that has been heated in a match flame. Be sure to squeeze all the fluid out of the blister. To leave any in it may make it worse. Do not pull off the loose skin but press it back. Then put on an adhesive plaster, cover- ing the skin well beyond the edges of the blister, putting it on as 19 tightly as possible without wrinkles. In the same way put an ad- hesive plaster over any red or tender spots. 8. In case any tendons become inflamed or swollen (usually due to lacing the legging or shoe too tightly or to some other unnecessary pressure), soak the foot in cold water, massage the tendon, and pro- tect it as much as possible by strips of adhesive plaster. You should report to a medical officer at your first opportunity to make sure that the trouble does not grow worse. One sign of a green soldier is his tendency to drink too much water while on a long march. The experienced man gargles his mouth and throat once in a while, but drinks only in sips and does not overload his stomach with either water or food. After you have arrived in camp and have cooled off you can drink slowly as much as you desire. It is, of course, unwise to eat fruits, candy, soft drinks, ice cream, and the like while on the march. Another sign of a green soldier is a carelessly adjusted pack or any other equipment not neatly and securely fastened. Your comfort on the march depends very largely on the care and judgment used in getting ready. All your equipment has been so designed that it need not interfere with the free movement of your arms and legs. Your pack should be strapped to your back in such a way that you can stand erect and breathe freely. There should be no pressure on any of the soft parts of the body. You will march most easily if you keep your body erect and do not permit yourself to slouch or sway from side to side. When the command is given to halt and fall out for a few minutes loosen your pack and rest back on it in a sitting and lying position. If jjossible, lie with your feet higher than the head, so as to let the blood flow out of the legs into the body and rest your heart. During the first few halts you may not feed tired, but rest as completely as you can anyway. Look forward to the end of the march and tr}'^ to handle yourself so that you will be strong and fresh at the finish. At the first halt it is well to readjust the pack or any part of the equipment not entirely comfortable. If your shoes or leggings are laced too tightly, this is the time to loosen them. A cheerful attitude is one of the best aids to a soldier on a trying march. Singing and whistling on the march is usually not only al- lowed but encouraged. They help wonderfull}'- to make the long road seem shorter. These are all very simple rules, but none the less important. Keep them in mind. Some men never learn except from their own hard experience; but it is expected of the men in the National Army that they will have tlie good sense to see the value of these suggestions and to apply them from the very beginning. LESSON NO. 9. YOUR EQUIPMENT AND ARMS. Each soldier in a modern army carrier with him sufficient food, clothing, shelter, fighting arms, and ammunition to take care of himself for a short period in case he should be separated from his 20 company. The total weight of his load, in addition to the clothes he wears, is 50 to 70 pounds. The number of articles is surprisingly large. They are so devised, however, that by ingenious methods of packing and adjusting they can all be carried with the least possible effort. You are personally responsible for all the arms, clothing, and sup- plies issued to you. The trained soldier keeps track of them. He knows immediately at any time where every one of his belongings is to be found. You are required to keep them in good condition. In case you need other articles, they may be issued to you, but their value in that case will be deducted from your next pay. You will receive on enlistment an ample supply of clothing, in- cluding not only your uniform, but extra shoes, shirts, underclothes, and socks. You may not be able always to keep your clothing spot- lessly clean. But when it becomes dirty or spotted take the first opportunity to clean it thoroughly. Your shoes must be cleaned and polished frequently. Wet shoes should be carefully dried. Army men frequently dry their shoes dur- ing the night by taking a few handfuls of dry, clean pebbles, heat- ing them in a meat can or kettle until they are very hot, and then placing them in the shoes. So long as the pebbles are hot mo\'e them about once in a while by shaking the shoes. Take care not to heat the pebbles so hot that the shoes will be scorched. In general, see to it that all your clothing is as neat and clean as possible at all times. Mend rips and sew on buttons without delay. This will add to your comfort as well as appearance. Wear your hat straight. Don't affect the " smart-aleck " style of tilting the hat. Keep all buttons fastened. Have your trousers and leggings properly laced. Keep yourself clean shaved. Carry your- self like a soldier. Bear in mind that there is a tendency in camp life for men to be- come careless and untidy. You must use every means to counteract this tendency. For this purpose the customs and regulations of the Army emphasize the necessity for personal neatness and cleanliness. The good soldier keeps close watch on himself. Besides his extra clothing a soldier carries a blanket; a rubber poncho ; a canteen ; a mess kit, including meat can, knife, fork, and spoon; a cup; toilet articles; a first-aid package; and some minor belongings. One of the most useful pieces is one-half of a shelter tent, with rope and pins. The shelter tent is said to be a French invention which was introduced into the American Army during the Civil War. In the Army it is often called a " dog tent," evidently because of its shape and small size. Two men can combine their halves and set up a shelter tent in a few minutes. While it can not be described as roomy, it is just what its name implies, a "shelter" from wind and rain. It is used only in temporary camps. Your chief fighting tools will be a rifle, a bayonet in a scabbard, a cartridge belt, and an intrenching tool. Other weapons or defenses needed in modern trench warfare will be referred to later. Do not under any circumstances lose track of these articles while on field duty. So long as you possess them, you are an armed soldier capable of defending yourself and of performing effective service. Without 21 them you arc for all practical purposes helpless. Of course, this statement docs not apply strictly to those men who are armed in some other way, such as those who are serving artillery or machine guns. The rifle is the soldier's closest friend. His first thought should be to guard it and care for it above all his other possessions. He ex- pects it to take care of him in emergencies. In ordinary times he must take care of it. In caring for a rifle it is especially imj^ortant to keep the bore clean. In so doing be sure to avoid injuring the delicate rifling which causes the bullet to spin as it is forced out and thus greatly increases the accuracy of firing. Never put away a rifle that has been fired or exposed to bad weather without first cleaning it. Never lay a rifle flat on the ground. Best it securely against something. In lowering the rifle to tiie ground, whether during drilling or at any other time, see that it touches the ground gently. Don't play with your rifle. A rifle or revolver, whether loaded or unloaded, should never be pointed at a person unless you fully intend to shoot that person, if necessary, in the performance of your duty. AVhen a firearm is put into your hands you are intrusted with a great responsibility for its proper use. Anybody in normal physical condition can learn to be a good shot. Two of the most important points to remember are to take a deep breath just before completing your aim so that you may hold the rifle Avith perfect steadiness, and to squeeze the trigger so that tiie gun will not be jerked from its aim at the moment of firing. When you become an expert marksman (provided you have also the courage which permits you to remain cool and collected on the battle field) you will have added immensely to your value as a citizen soldier. The simple fact that you qualify as a marksman will give you more self-confidence and self-control. The amount of ammunition which an American infantryman car- ries into battle is usually 220 rounds. In an advanced firing posi- tion, where it is difficult to bring up reserves of ammunition, it is necessary to be economical. Bear this in mind during your target practice and learn to make every shot count. In modern warfare the intrenching tool is an essential part of your fighting equipment. The eight men in each squad carry these 8 tools : 4 shovels, 2 pick mattocks, 1 polo or hand ax, and 1 wire cutter. In ordinary soil you can quickly throw up a shallow trench which will protect you to a great extent from the enemy's fire. After a trench has once been started, it can be deepened and ex- tended, even in the face of the enemy, w'ithout the soldier exposing himself to direct fire. Don't look on })ractice in digging trenches as if it were drudgery. Skill in seeking and nuiking cover from the enemy's fire is far from being a sign of weakness on the soldier's part. Kather it is a sign of tlie determination and courage that mark a really efficient fighting force. The day has gone by when either officers or men are expected to stand out in the open. They should use every effective method of self- protection so long as it helps to gain ground and defeat the enemy. 22 LESSON NO. 10. f RECREATION IN CAMP. While your days in the cantonments will be spent chiefly in drill- ing and other forms of training, you will have a considerable amount of time left free for your own use. Under some conditions ])ermis- sion may be given at times to leave the cantonment for short periods. However, this is a matter to be regulated in each camp. If you do go away from the camp on leave, you will continue to wear your uniform, and will keep in mind always that you remain a soldier, subject to certain requirements that are not so definitely im- posed on civilians. In meeting officers, whether in camp or outside, you are expected always to treat them with proper courtesy and respect. You should remember also, even though you are not directly under supervision, to keep up your soldierly neatness and bearing. Congress has provided that " it shall be unlawful to sell any in- toxicating liquor, including beer, ale, or wine, to any officer or mem- ber of the military forces while in uniform," an exception being made in a case of liquor required for medical purposes. Under authority of the same act it has also been ruled that alcoholic liquors shall not be sold within 5 miles of any military camp, an exception being made in case there is an incorporated city or town within that limit. It has further been provided that " the keeping or setting up of houses of ill fame, brothels, or bawdy houses within 5 miles of any military camp * * * i'g prohibited." All these provisions and restrictions are in the interest of every right-minded soldier. They go a long way toward insuring clean and healthful living con- ditions in the camps. They will help to make every soldier more efficient and better able to give a good account of himself. One of the centers of Army life in camp is the post exchange, at which articles for personal use, knickknacks, soft drinks, and so on, are sold. You will be safe in depending on the good quality and fair price of everything offered in the post exchange. In general the matter of providing for recreation and personal comforts in the cantonments has been intrusted by the Secretary of War to a small body of men known as the Commission on Training Camp Activities. The commission includes an Army officer and rep- resentatives of organizations that have had much experience in meet- ing the needs of men of the type who will go into the National Army. It will have the cooperation of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion and the Knights of Columbus. Other associations may also work with the commission. This task of attending to the social needs of the soldiers has been organized with almost as much care and thoroughness as the bigger task of making ready for the firing line. The Young Men's Christian Association is building a hut for the men in each brigade. In these huts moving-picture or vaudeville shows will be given every night. Writing materials can be had for the asking. A piano will be at hand. The Knights of Columbusr will have one large building in each camp, in which there will be facilities of the same kind. Both these organizations will conduct religious services every Sunday. Men of all creeds will be welcome. The secretaries and 23 other officers in charge will be glad at any time to talk over any personal problems and to help you in any way they can. They are picked because of their willingness and skill in rendering service. They will always make you welcome. Get in touch with either of these organizations as soon as you have opportunity after you reach camp. The chaplain attaciied to each regiment also looks after the spiritual and moral welfare of the men. In every cantonment there will be a complete library building where you will be able to obtain books and magazines of all kinds. This is arranged with the help of the American Library Association. In each cantonment the Coumiission on Training Camp Activities is erecting a large auditorium. This is to be used partly as a theater and partly for athletic instruction. Some of the best the- atrical companies in the country will put on Broadway productions for your benefit. These performances will be free. A place will be provided for everyone. Those men who like singing will have plenty of chance to enjoy " sing songs " on a big scale. The commission has secured the serv- ices of well-known chorus leaders to take charge of camp singing. A great deal of attention has been given to athletics. An expert will give boxing lessons to large groups of men. This instruction is voluntary, but it will be well worth your while to attend. In some of the camps where bathing beaches are not far away in- struction will be given in swimming. Team athletics, such as baseball, basketball, and football, will be developed under the guidance of expert coaches. One of the mem- bers of the commission will be in general charge of this line of activity in all the camps. Of course all these facilities are for use in your spare time only. They are not to interfere with the steady process of training which alone can make you a real soldier. However, you will enjoy your hours of recreation all the more because they have been preceded by hours of hard work. The recreation as well as the work has its place in the general plan for turning out an efficient army of self-reliant citizen soldiers in the quickest possible time. LESSON NO. 11. PLAYING THE GAME. There is a gripping interest about the soldier's life that makes a strong appeal to vigorous Americans. This is doubly true in time of war, when the soldier has a serious object in view and gives his whole mind to his new duties. You will find this interest growing as you advance. New scenes and associates will bring you a new point of view. You will be less wrapped up than you have been in many ])urely personal questions. You will cut loose from many of the petty details which tend to smother a man's individuality. You will devote more time to thinking. The healthy good fellowship of the camp also can not fail to stimulate vou. Thousands of men drawn from all walks of life can 24 not be thrown suddenly together without bringing to light nuiny qualities previously unknown. You will probably become better acquainted with yourself than you have ever been before. In ordsr to get the most out of this new life, you must devote yourself to it heart and soul. A good start is half the battle in making your way in the Army. Even if you are not noAv much interested in military affairs — if you are entering the service, not because of personal inclination, but solely because it is one of your obligations as a citizen — you are going to become keenly interested after you once get into the swing and spirit of the Army. This will be true in at least ninety-nine cases out of every hundred. Eecog- nize it now and play the game hard from the very start. YOUR MONTHLY PAY. Wliile the men in the National Army are serving at the call of duty and not for money, nevertheless everyone will be paid more than enough to take care of all necessary expenses. These expenses are very slight. Clothing, food, and transportation are provided by the Government. In addition, the private soldier receives $30 per month vvhile he is in the United States and $33 per month while he is abroad. Following is a table which shows the pay for some of the higher non- commissioned ranks: Rank, Private First-class private. Corporal Sergeant First sergeant Monthly pay. In United States. S30.00 33.00 36.00 38.00 51.00 Abroad. 833.00 36.60 40,20 44.00 60.00 fV man may allot such portions of his pay as he desires for the support of his family or relatives. He may deposit his savings with any quartermaster in sums of not less than $5, The quartermaster will furnish to each depositor a book giving record of his deposits. On the discharge of a soldier (but not before) the total amount of his deposits will be entered on his final statement and will be paid to him on presentation of his deposit book. The rate of interest allowance is 4 per cent. This is one con- venient method of saving money which many soldiers will desire to use. It is easier to save in the Army than it is in civil life. Saving money is not only good in itself but is a sign that you are concentrating your time and energy on your military duties; that you are really playing the game. The majority of the men who join the National Army are old enough and have sufficient good sense and self-control to conduct themselves projierly, both on duty and off duty, without special advice or supervision. However, some suggestions may prove helpful. 25 A man in uniform is always regarded, whether he wishes it or not, as a representative of the army to which he belongs. See to it that you conduct yourself in such a way to add your bit, not only to your own reputation, but to the reputation of the Army and of the country. MAKING USE OF SPARE TIME. The use that a man makes of his time off duty is a good test of his character and of his capacity for growth. The good soldier is self- restrained. Don't spend your time repeating indecent stories. They add nothing whatever to your standing, either with the men to whom you tell them or w^ith your officers. Avoid boisterousness, vulgarity, and profanity. This doesn't mean at all that you should keep yourself in the back- ground or that you should fail to be a good "mixer." Let your personality stand out. Broaden your influence by every proper method. But use your personality and your influence to help the men in your own squad and company carry on their work and pre- pare as quickly as possible for the big task ahead of you. Save some of your spare time for study. The manuals and drill regulations will grow more and more interesting to you as you become more familiar with your new duties. Memorize some of the important passages. Make yourself an authority on everything that pertains to company drill. These are simple rules that will help any man, whether in or out of the Army, to make himself liked and respected. They are easy rules to observe. Follow them, and you will add greatly to your enjoyment of Army life and to your chances for promotion. LESSON NO. 12. TEAMWORK IN THE ARMY. So far in this course we have been taking up some of the problems which each soldier has to face and solve for himself; how to adjust himself as quickly as possible to the routine of camp life; how to keep himself and all his belongings clean in spite of the difliculties in the way; how to look after his own health and comfort; how to take care of arms and equipment; and how to get real enjoyment, as well as benefit, out of Army life. If the course were to stop just at this point it might leave in your mind a false impression. For after all the soldier is not an indi- vidual player in the great game of war; he is valuable chiefly as a member of a team. It is a team of enormous size. It is organized in rather a complicated way. This team ,we call the Army. Your Ami}' life will be more interesting if you know in a general way how the team is organized. This will enable you to see more clearly where you fit in and wliat is expected of you. If you have been working for a business concern you are already familiar with many of the elements of Army organization. You have been in touch with the same things under different names. 26 NEED FOR TEAM WORK. In a factory or store or office — wherever large numbers of people are working together — there is almost always some one in direct charge of each group of workers. This person may be called a fore- man in the shop, a chief clerk in an office, a floor walker in a depart- ment store, or by any one of a number of other titles; in the Army we call him a corporal or a sergeant. Going up a step, you know that in every large concern there are numerous officers who take charge of various departments of the business such as the superintendent, the traffic manager, the advertising manager, the sales manager, the sec- retary, the vice president, and so on ; in the Army we call the men in corresponding positions captains, majors, colonels, and generals. Finally, you have at the top of the business concern a president or a general manager, who directs everything; in the Army he is a com- manding general. This general likeness between business organization and Army organization is helpful, but must not be carried too far. There is one vital difference: The average business concern is somewhat easy-go- ing ; the responsibility for each piece of work is not always definitely fixed. In the Army everybody, on the other hand, is held to the strictest account. There is very seldom any doubt as to the man to be held responsible for each task. RESPONSIBILITY ALWAYS FIXED. Within each rank, from major general to private, every man has his individual ranking, depending upon his length of service in the office which he holds. This ranking insures that in every situation somebody always has authority and is responsible for whatever is done. Even if two private soldiers are working together without supervision, the one who has been longer in the service takes charge and the other must obe}' his orders. This rule applies everywhere. In civilian life there is time for argument. You may have better ideas that your boss about how a certain thing should be done and possibly may convince him and get his original orders changed. In Army life nothing of this kind can be permitted. The officer in charge always has the full responsibility. Whatever orders he gives must be instantly obeyed. It is far better to take action, even though the thing may not be done in the best possible way, than it is to stand still and debate. Lack of immediate action in the crisis of a battle might mean that the Arm}'- would be defeated, thousands of lives lost, and possibly the honor of the country stained. Think oA^er this difference between Army organization and civilian organization. The longer you think about it, the more clearly you will see why your own interests demand that you should fit into your place in the Army and follo\v instructions much more strictly than is necessary in civil life. The Army is governed by military law. This means that soldiers are not brought to trial in civil courts, except for certain serious crimes, but are subject to military courts of inquiry, summary courts, and courts-martial. However, this will never he a question of much importance to the great majority of men in the National Army. 27 SUCCESS IN WINNING VICTORIES. Success in winning victories is the object for which the Army exists. In comparison nothing else counts. Every olficer and every soldier must be ready to make any sacrifice, big or little, to accom- plish this object. An officer may spend years in working out solu- tions to military problems, only to find in the end that all the credit for what he has done is swallowed up in the general reputation of the Army. If this proves to be the case, he has no cause for com- plaint. It is the rule of the Army that everything must be done for the good of the service." In the same way you may be called upon to carry through, some dangerous mission or to }~>erform unpleasant duties. Every such call is an opportunity to show your loyalty to the service and to the Nation. Remember in all these cases that hundreds of thousands of other men in the Arm}', from top to bottom, like yourself are working first and all the time for the success of the team. It is usually the Army with the strongest team spirit that fights its way through to victory. Try to cultivate that spirit in the National Army, both in yourself and among your comrades. LESSON NO. 13. GROUPING MEN INTO TEAMS. Note. — This lesson is based upon the present organization of the United States Army. Some changes may be made later. The smallest unit or " team " in the Army is the squad. A squad usually consists of eight men, one of whom is the leader; he is called the " corporal." You will be assigned to a squad almost at once on entering the Army. At first you may be shifted about con- siderably from one squad to another, but within a short time you and seven other men will be brought together as a permanent team. This means that you will work together, drill together, and sleep in the same tent or in the same section of the barracks. You will come to know the other men in the squad through and through and they will become equally well acquainted with you. Some of them will probably grow to be your close and lifelong friends. On the other hand, there may be one or two men whom you dislike or do not respect. THE SQUAD UNIT. In any case remember this : The eight men in a squad form a team in the same sense that a baseball nine or a football eleven is a team. Your squad is competing with all the other squads in 3'our com- pany. Whenever it shows itself especially well drilled, quick to learn new duties, or careful in respect to cleanliness and general bearing you pile up a few points in your favor. The umpires are the officers of 5'our company ; and you may be certain they are watch- ing your squad every minute of the day — not watching for chances to criticize, but watching hopefully for signs of soldierly spirit and intelligence. 28 It is your first duty to help your own squad make a good showing. Also it is to your own interest to do so. There is no more pleasure or reward for you in belonging to a poor squad than there is for a ball player in belonging to a losing team. Take pride in your squad and its good work. If you find you have one man among you who is lazy or childish, try to get him into a different attitude. Every squad has at least one weak link. The best way to handle him is to talk to him until you get him as much interested as you in making your squad rank as the best in the company. Incidentally, your captain is not likely to overlook the best squad when it comes to picking men for promotion. THE PLATOON AND THE COMPANY. Two, three, or four squads (usually three) may be joined in the next higher unit, which is called a " platoon." The platoon, how- ever, is not so permanent as a squad, but is formed whenever there is need for it in drilling or on the firing line. Next comes the company, which is made up at full strength of 150 men ; this is about 18 squads or 6 platoons. This number is " war strength " in our old tables of organization ; the first division now in France has 200 men per company ; it is probable the strength may be 250 per Infantry company. However, these figures for the number of squads and of platoons are never definitely fixed. A company in the field is very seldom at full strength, and it may be convenient at any time to change the numbers of squads and platoons. The company is a perm^anent " team " in the sense in which we have been using that word. Its members always live together, eat together, drill together, and fight together. All the officers and sol- diers in a company become Avell acquainted. Each man's points of strength and of weakness are known. Outside of your own com- pany you will probably know very few men, only those with whom you come into touch by accident or while you are serving on some special duty. This is something worth thinking about. You are probably going to live, eat, drill, and fight with the other men in your company so long as you remain in the Army. The sensible thing to do is to conduct yourself in such a waj^ as to command the liking and respect of these men from the very beginning. Four companies are joined in a " battalion." The battalion is an important unit in the Army organization, but is not so clearly marked as either the company or the regiment. REGIMENTS, BRIGADES, AND DIVISIONS. The regiment consists of 3 battalions, making 12 companies. In addition, there arc three special companies which do not belong to any of the battalions. These are the head(]uarters company, in- cluding the band and the color guard ; the machine-gun company, to bo referred to later; and the supply company, responsible for the regiment's food, ammunition, and other supplies. Counting in everyone, the regiment at full strength in our old tables of organiza- tion totals 2,058 officers and men. It will go more than this with the increase in strength of companies. Two thousand six hundred 29 and thirtj'-one is the strengtli of Infantry regiments in the first ex- l)oditionary division. The regiment is, of course, very sehlom at full strength, but is never allowed to remain below a minimum strength of about 1,400. The regiment is the unit that especially arouses the soldiers' pi-ide and loyalty. The most cherished traditions of the Army are made up of the splendid deeds of famous regiments. The soldier identi- fies himself throughout his life by naming his regiment. His love for the Army centers in his regiment. His most sacred memories cluster aroimd the regimental battle Hags. Two regiments are joined in a brigade. Thus the brigade is built up by assembling individual soldiers into squads; squads into pla- toons; platoons into companies; companies into battalions; battalions into regiments; and regiments into brigades. Brigades may in turn be joined to form divisions, divisions may be joined to form corps, and corps to form field ai-mies. All of the Army's divisions and separate detachments and departments taken together form the " big team " — that is to say, the United States Army. The make-up of the big team is treated in a later lesson. LESSON NO. 14. THE TEAM LEADERS. Most of the men in the Army are private soldiers. Their work is of the greatest importance and deserves all the respect and praise which it receives. A great many men in the National Army, how- ever, will be ambitious to rise to higher ranks. They will find plenty of encouragement and of opportunities for promotion. If you are one of these men, don't allow yourself to forget the fact that you can win promotion only by proving your fitness in each duty intrusted to you. It is a rare case when a man is " jumped " several ranks ahead. As a rule, he climbs from one rank to the next higher rank after having demonstrated in each position his intelli- gence, honor, and reliability. Even as a private, you may win advancement to the grade^ known as first-class privates. About one-fourth of the privates in each company may be given the rating " first class," which means in sub- stance that they are regarded as skilled and trustworthy soldiers. NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. From the first-class privates are usually chosen the corporals. These are the s(|uad leaders. They are appointed by the command- ing officer of the regiment on the recommendation of the command- ing officer of the company. In addition to the regularly appointed corporals each company may have one lance corporal. This is a temporary appointment made by the company commander for the purpose of testing the ability of some private whom he is thinking of recommending for permanent appointment. In case the lance corporal does not make a good showing, or for any other reason, he may be returned to the ranks when the conmiander of the company sees fit. 30 Next above the corporal in rank comes the sergeant. There are Visually 9 to 11 sergeants in a company. Unless a sei-geant has some other duty assigned to him, he is normally the leader of a platoon. There are, however, many special duties constantly assigned to ser- geants. The first sergeant (in Army slang, the "top sergeant"), lor example, keeps certain company records, forms the company in ranks, transmits orders from the company commander, and performs many other important tasks. The supply sergeant sees to bringing up supplies of all kinds to the company. The mess sergeant looks after food. The stable sergeant is responsible for the proper care of horses and mules. The color sergeant carries the national or regi- mental colors. There are many other grades within the rank of ser- geant W'hich can not be described here. You will gradually become familiar with them during your Army experience. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Sergeant and corporals are known as noncommissioned officers, because they are appointed by their regimental commanding officer. Officers of higher ranks are known as commissioned, since they hold their rank by virtue of a commission issued to them under authority of the President of the United States. The commissioned officer is thus on quite a different footing from the "noncom" (non- commissioned officer). He obtains his rank and authority from a higher source. He is treated with respect which is of a different character from that extended to a noncommissioned officer. This is one of the fundamental things in Army organization. Lowest ill rank among the commissioned officers is the second lieutenant. Above him comes the first lieutenant and above him the captain. These are the three " company officers." The captain is ordinarily the commanding officer of a company, while the lieutenants might be described as assistant captains. In the absence or disa- bility of the captain, however, the first lieutenant takes his place and has full command, and in the absence or disability of both the second lieutenant takes the command. Next above the captain is the major, whose proper command is a battalion. A step higher is the lieutenant colonel and above him the colonel, the commanding officer of a regiment. The lieutenant col- onel ordinarily assists the colonel and in his absence takes the com- mand. In case both the lieutenant colonel and the colonel are dis- abled or absent, the senior major takes the command. THE GENERAL OFFICERS. Above the colonel is the brigadier general, whose proper com- mand is a brigade. Above the brigadier general is the major gen- eral, the highest rank at present held by any officer of the Amencan Army. One general, however, serves as Chief of Staff of the Army. As such he supervises all troops and departments of the military service. He in turn reports to the Secretary of War. The Secretary of War in his turn acts under the general direction of the President of the United States, who is the Commander in Chief. 31 The chain of authority reaches in an unbroken line all the way from the President to the newest recruit. If the President chooses to give an order which in any way affects the recruit, it passes through the Secretary of War, Chief of Staff, major general, brigadier gen- eral, colonel, major, captain, sergeant, and possibly corporal until the recruit is reached and the order obeyed. Ordinarily only the most general instructions are issued by the higher oflicers. The manner in which these instructions shall be carried out is left to the judgment of officers in closer contact with the troops and with a more intimate knowledge of the conditions under which they are working. LESSON NO. 15. FIGHTING ARMS OF THE SERVICE. We have spoken so far as if all soldiers were infantrymen ; that is, as if all fought on foot armed with rifle and bayonet. As we all know, an army is much more complex. There are two other " fight- ing arms " of the service — the Cavalry and the Artillery. These three branches of the Army are sometimes called the " line," a term which comes down to us from the day when soldiers in battle were always drawn up in line. The other branches, to be described later, are included under the general term " Staff." However, the Engineer Corps and the Signal Corps are in part troops of the line, though they are herein described for convenience under the heading of " Staff branches of the service." The Infantry is the backbone of the Army. " It is the Infantry soldier who must bear the greatest stress of battle, and war is more dependent for success upon his individual action than ui^on any other factor." By far the largest number of men in the National Army will go into the Infantry branch of the service. In the present war the importance of Infantry is even greater than in previous wars. THE VALUE OF INFANTRY. It is not enough for Infantry to know how to defend itself. It must know also liow to attack. It is not enough that it should be able to move forward in masses. The Infantry soldier must also have the intelligent self-reliance that will enable him to act as an individual; always, of course, within the limits of military discipline. The chances for initiative in present-day warfare can best be illus- trated by recounting the story of Michael O'Leary, a lance corporal of the Irish Guards in the British Army. On February 1, 1915, the Guards were ordered to retake a trench which had been temporarily lost to the Germans. O'Leary was off duty and need not have joined in the attack at all. But that did not stop him for a moment from using his courage and his brains to help his regiment win. Jumping out of the trench he ran at full speed to a railroad cut on the right of the first German line, where he was partly under cover from the enemy's fire. With five shots in succession he killed or disabled five men before his comrades reached the trench. Not sat- 32 isfied with this achievement he ran ahead until he came up from the railroad cut beside the second German line. Here was a machine gun. The officer in command had just pointed the gun at the Irish Guards in the first trench and had his finger on the firing button when he was dropped by a well-aimed bullet from O'Leary's rifle. He shot two other Germans who were attempting to fire the machine gun, Avhereupon the remainder of the squad threw up their hands and surrendered. Thus it happened that when his company of the Irish Guards reached the second line without the loss of a single man they were amazed to find O'Leary ahead of them in complete possession. He was made a sergeant on the field, and later given a Victoria cross. After other exhibitions o now confronts us. And always the question of patriotism is answered b\^ a free outpouring of effort, money, and blood on the part of citizens od all types in every section of the country. This is exaQtly wliat is now going on — and what will continue to go on with increasing force until the war is brought to a victorious end. EVERYBODY MUST HELP. Every citizen of the United States now has or will have certain duties to perform, certain sacrifices to make. The burden does not rest wholly \\\xm you and other men who take up arms. It rests in part alao upon the men and women who stay behind. For modern 55 war on a big scale demands that the whole Nation, in a sense, should go to war. The tasks re(iuired of some may he harder than the tasks required of others, but all of tliem are necessary in order to make sure of the result. Many manufacturers and workers — often women as well as men — must give up their own work and plans in order to produce war supplies. Those who remain where they now are — because they are engaged in some occupation just as necessary in war as in peace, such as farming, mining, running railroads, and the like — must go at their work with redoubled energy and without expecting profits for them- selves; it would be a gre^it mistake if everyone were taken away fi-ouv these necessary lines of etiort in order to join the colors as a soldier. All must carry a hea\y burden of taxation. Certain men — among whom you are one — ^have been or will be chosen as rejn-esentatives of the Nation to defend our rights and safety on the battlefield. You and your fellow soldiers are selected from the young men of the country who are best fitted for military service. This process of organizing the whole Nation for war can not, of course, be completed in a day. But it is steadily going on. It will necessarily go on until the end of the war. You will have back of you and supporting you the whole country — all its people and all its wealth. Congress spoke the will of the Nation in the declaration of war : " To bring the conflict to a successful termination all the re- sources of the country are hereby pledged.'' THE POST OF HIGHEST HONOR. The patriotic spirit which moves the whole country will find its highest expression in its soldiers — the men who are assigned to the post of danger and of honor. They will go all the more willingly since they know that behind them the whole Nation is organizing for the national service. Their spirit will be one of patriotic devotion fully as intense as that of American armies in previous wars. The spirit of democracy and of patriotism is to be found also in the armies of other nations fighting against German aggression. In addition the National Army will have its own spirit of Americanism. It will have American enthusiasm, good humor, fairness even to the enemy, and self-confidence. It will go at its work not half-heartedly but with a vim. If there are temporary setbacks it will accept them and keep on " plugging.'' These are some of the American traditions that will enter into the spirit of the National Army. Fighting in that spirit and with the full strength of the country to back it up, the United States Army can not fail to achieve its ob- jects. "Once more we shall make good with our lives and fortunes the great faith to which we were born, and a new glory shall shine in the face of our people." LESSON NO. 28. WHY WE FIGHT. Every American knoAvs the causes of our war with the German Government. Yet this course would be incomplete if it did not con- tain a brief review of the events that finally forced us into war, when at last there remained " no other means of defending our rights." 56 The soldier of an autocratic kaiser may fight best when he under- stands least of the true meaning of the war. To tell him the facts would be to chill his enthusiasm. But the citizen soldier of a democ- racy is entitled to know for what purposes he enters the struggle. He fights best when he sees most clearly why he fights. The resolution of Congress declaring a state of Avar (Apr. 6, 1917) expresses the immediate cause in these few words: The Impoiial German Government has committed repeated acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America. Chief among the acts of war were attacks by German submarines on American ships and on unarmed merchant ships of other nations carrying American passengers. " Vessels of every kind," said the President in his address to Congress on April 2, 1917, " whatever their fiag, their character, their cargo, their destination, their errand, have been ruthlessly sent to the bottom without warning and without thought of help or mercy for those on board, the vessels of friendly neutrals along with those of belligerents. Even hospital ships and ships carrying relief to the sorely bereaved and stricken people of Belgium, though the latter were provided with safe conduct through the prescribed areas by the German Government itself and were dis- tinguished by unmistakable marks of identity, have been sunk with the same reckless lack of compassion or of principle * * *. The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind." GERMAN INSULTS AND AGGRESSIONS, There were other acts of hostility in addition to the submarine warfare. In his Flag Day address, delivered at Washington on June 14, 1917, the President summed up the events that brought on war, as follows: It is plain enough how we were forced into the war. The extraordinary insults and aggressions of the Imperial German Government left us no self- respecting choice but to take up arms in defense of our rights as a free people and of our honor as a sovereign Government. The military masters of Germany denied us the right to be neutral. They tilled our unsuspecting communities with vicious spies and conspirators and sought to corrupt the opinion of our people in their own behalf. When they found that they could not do that their agents diligently spread sedition amongst us and sought to draw our own citizens from their allegiance — and some of those agents were men connected with the official embassy of the German Government itself here in our Capital. They sought by violence to destroy our industries and arrest our conunerce. They tried to incite Mexico to take up arms against us and to draw Japan into a hostile alliance with her — and that not by indirection but by suggestion from the foreign office in Berlin. They impudenLly denied us the use of the high seas and repeatedly executed their threat that tliey would send to their death any of our people who ventured to approach the coasts of Europe. OUR LIBERTY AND SAFETY INVOLVED. Yet even this list of " extraordinary insults and aggressions " does not tell the whole story. Our motives for Avar go even deeper. Not only our rights and self-respect, but our liberty and safety, are involved. Speaking on July 29^ 1917, at the officers' training camp at Madison Barracks, N. Y., the Secretary of State said : The evil character of the German Governnient is laid bare before the world. We know now that that Government is inspired with ambitions which menace 57 hnraan liberty, and that to gain its eiul it does not hesitate to break faith, to violate the most sacred rij^hts, or to perpetrate intolr-nible acts of inhumanity. * * * Let us undersiand onco for all that this is no war to establish an abstract principle of right. It is a war in which the future of the United States is at stake. The record out of which grows our deep conviction that it is neces- sary at once to put a curb on so powerful and unscrupulous an enemy is set forth in a publication ollicially issued by the Committee on i'ublic Information, " How the war came to America." Judging the German Government now in the light of our honest attempt to keep the peace, we could see the great autocracy and read her record through the war. And we found that record damnable. * * * With a fauiitlcal faith in the destiny of German kultur as the system that must rule the v.orld, I he Imperial Government's actions have through years of boasting, double- dealing, and deceit tended toward aggression upon the rights of others; and ii' there still be any doubt as to which nation began this war, there can he uo uncertainty as to which one was most prepared, most exultant at the chance, and ready instantly to march upon other nations — even those who had given no offen.se. The wholesale depredations and hideous atrocities in Belgium and in Serbia were doubtless part and parcel with the Imperial Government's pur- pose to terrorize small nations into abject submission for generations to come. But in this autocracy has been blind, for its record in those countries and in PoUuul and in northern France has given not only to the allies but to liberal peoples throughout the world the conviction that this menace to human liberties must be utterly shorn of its power for harm. For the evil it has effected has ranged tar out of Europe — out \ipon the open seas, where its submarines in defiance of law and the concepts of humanity have blown up neutral ves.sels and covered the waves with the dead and llie dying, men and women and children alike. Its agents have conspired again.st tlie peace of neutral nations everywhere, sowing the seeds of dissension, cca.selessly endeavoring by tortuous methods of deceit, of bribery, fal.se promises, and intimidation, to stir up bi'other nations one against the other, in order that the liberal world might not be able to unite, in order that the autocracy might emerge from the war. All this we know from our own experience with the Imperial Government. As they have dealt with Europe, so have they dealt with us and with all man- kind. And so out of the.se years the conviction has gi-own that until the (ierman Nation is divested of such, democracy can not be safe. NOT HOSTILE TO GERMAN PEOPLE, One thought which you should keep always in mind is the clear distinction between our attitude toward the Imperial German Gov- ernment and our attitude toward the German people. The President said in his speech of June 14, 1917 : We are not the enemies of the German people and they are not our enemies. They did not originate or desire this hideous war or wish that we should be drawn into it ; and we are vaguely conscious tliat we are fighting their cause, as they will some day .see it, as well as our own. They are themselves in the grip of the same sinister power that has now at last stretched its ugly talons out ,and drawn blood from us. Every American soldier in this war fights for objects dearer to all of us than life itself — for freedom and democracy, for the safety of our own homes and families, for the honor of our country. You will think often of these objects during your period of training and after you actually enter the trenches. The more j'^ou think about them, the greater Avill be your pride that you are one of those first chosen to defend them. The world must he made safe for democracy. 58 LESSON NO. 29. WARFARE IN EUROPE. In previous sections of this course army life and service have been described without special reference to the changes brought about by the present war. There are important changes, and methods of train- ing and of fighting used in previous wars must, of course, be modified accordingly. The extent of these changes, however, is often exaggerated. At bottom the qualities that make a good soldier or an efficient army re- main the same to-day that they were before the war. The changes that affect the individual soldier have to do chiefly with weapons. But behind every weapon there is a man. If the weapon is to be used effectively, the man must be well trained, disciplined, cool, and brave. He must have spirit, tenacity, and self-reliance. The big problem now, just as in all other wars, is to develop these qualities — and the other soldierly qualities — to their highest extent. The chief difference probably comes in the fact that self-reliance is a bigger factor than in most previous wars. And in American Armies this quality has always been highly valued and well developed. This brief lesson can not, of course, enter into a discussion of tech- nical questions which belong in the field of military science. It will simply point out a few of the striking features of direct interest to every man who reaches the front. CHARACTER OF PRESENT WAR. This war differs from previous wars chiefly in the enormous in- crease in the use of artillery. This is due partly to the immense man- ufacturing resources of the countries at war, which enables them to produce great numbers of guns and great quantities of ammunition. It is due also to the new methods of directing gunfire from air- planes. It is evident that a gun can not be accurately aimed at an object the exact location of which is unknown. The airplane, how- ever, is able to bring back or signal back this information, so that the artillery msbj now be used with much greater effect. The size of the guns and the force of the explosive shells fired from them have also been largely increased. Partly as a result of these improvements in artillery, it has been necessary to develop better methods of protection. The protection of troops consists of digging stronger field entrenchments than have been necessary in previous wars. Here we have the main reason for the so-called " trench warfare," which, during the last three years, has largely taken the place of former methods of moving armies about freely until they came into conflict with each other. Digging trenches and throwing up breastworks for protection against the enemy's fire is, of course, not a new thing in warfare. It is being done in Europe, however, on a much bigger scale than ever before. A com])licated network of trenches now protects the men on both sides. The spade has become one of the soldier's best weapons of de- fense. In seeking protection against heavy ai'tillery fire a very interesting development has taken place. This is the use of various devices for 59 concealing field gnns and troops from the view of enemy airplanes. Sometimes trees are brought up and })lanted near the object to be hidden. Sometimes the gun or other object has an awning spread over it which is painted to look from above like grass or earth. For the same I'eason tents may be painted in greens and yellows. The chief improvement in metliods of defending entrenched troops is the increased use of machine guns. Machine guns must be put out of operation by artillery fire or by rifle fii-e directed against the gunners before infantry can advance directly against them. There has been also a great increase during the present war in the use of barbed wire in front of the trenches as a means of defense. Similar devices have been used in entrenched positions for many years, but never on so large a scale. Through their use it is now known to be possible to defend the front-line positions with smaller bodies of men than were considered necessary during the earlier years of the war, thus considerably reducing the strain on the individual soldier. DEVELOPMENT OF AIRPLANES. The chief new instrument of warfare developed during the present war is the airplane. As previously explained, it is used for scouting, directing gunfire, and dropping bombs. The scouting machine is usually equipped with a large camera which takes a series of pictures. AVhen these pictures are developed and compared day by claj'^ they give invaluable information as to the exact location of troops, gnins, and supplies. The scouting and bombing machines are usually pro- tected by swift fighting machines. Airplanes have also been used at times to descend close to the ground and fire from a machine gun upon bodies of troops. Another very interesting and promising device is the "tank" — a heavily armored machine so constructed that it can advance under its own power over almost any obstacles, and thus lead an attack on enemy trenches. It is armed with machine guns. Armored motor cars have also been used effectively under some conditions. In the front line trenches men are often armed not only with rifle and bayonet, but also with bombs which can be thrown by hand or by machine. Some of them are no larger than an ordinary lemon. Man3^ men become extraordinarily expert in throwing these small bombs into enemy trenches. They even become expert in picking up enemy bombs before they explode and throwing them back. Another weapon of the trenches introduced by the Germans, in spite of international agreements to the contrary, is poisonous gas. This was at first very effective, since no defense against it had been prepared. At the present time, however, each man in or near the front carries a gas mask, which enables him to meet an attack of this kind without serious injury. WONDERFUL STAFF ORGANIZATIONS. Back of the lines the organization of the staff branches of the serv- ice has been enormously extended. Railroads are constriicted up to within a short distance of the front. Transport of supplies and am- munition by motor trucks has been organized on a big scale. The 60 medical departments have also made notable gains in methods of treating wounded men, with the result that a very large percentage recover. Even in the early months of the war it was announced that of the wounded actually treated in French hospitals 54.5 per cent v/ere returned to duty within a short time; 24.5 per cent were sent home to complete their recovery and later returned to duty; 17 per cent at the time of making the report were still in hospitals, with the probability of complete recovery; 1.5 per cent were unfit for further service ; 2.5 per cent had died from the effects of their wounds. There is probably little basis for the idea that the number of cas- ua,lties in this war is any greater, in proportion to the number of men engaged, than in previous wars. In the French Army during the last six months of 191G (which included three big offensives) the total losses in killed, wounded, and prisoners are officially reported to have been only 1.28 per cent of the French forces under arms. One of the striking features of the war is the proof that has been given of courage and devotion to duty on the part of men of all nations. As soldiers we must honor and strive to emulate the heroic bravery of those who are fighting the battle for democracy and free- dom. As soldiers we must recognize also the skill and courage of the enemy, even though they are shown in a bad cause. Nothing is gained by belittling the enemy. It is our place rather to see to it that we develop among ourselves a still higher degree of the intelli- gence, spirit, tenacity, and self-reliance which alone can win victories. The war is Europe has brought forth changes and improvements, such as those just described, to which the soldiers of the National Army must quickly adjust themselves; but it has not changed in the least the qualities of body, mind, and heart, which in the long run are always the greatest of all factors in warfare. LESSON NO. 30. THE SOLDIER IN BATTLE. The average civilian, no matter how brave he may be, has little desire to go into battle. Even though he knows very well that the chances of his being killed or severely Avounded are comparatively small, yet the thought of placing himself in a post of danger face to face with a well-trained and courageous enemy is more or less terrify- ing to him. This state of mind is entirely natural. Every man goes through it. The bravest soldiers of the Civil War and of all wars testify to their dread of entering battle; but this is a feeling that can be conquered even by a man who is physically timid. It is related that a veteran soldier was observed by one of his comrades just before the Battle of Seven Oaks to be white and trem})ling and was reproached with being scared. " Yes," he replied, " If you were one-half as scared as I am, you'd be making a dash for the rear." Ninety per cent of the men now fighting so dauntlessly in pjurope have doubtless passed through a similar experience and hold themselves in the path of duty only through mastery of their physical fears. 61 GROWTH OF SELF-CONFIDENCE. As a man's military training progresses his body becomes stronger and therefore better able to stand strain and intense activity. He grows accustomed to the noise of heavy firing. He gets practice in handling his rifle and his bay(jnet with skill, so that he becomes confi- dent of liis ability to defend himself. He learns how to advance over ground apparently swept by bullets without exposing himself to really effective fire. He grows used to the idea of meeting enemies face to face in battle. All your traiuing as a soldier will work toward putting you into condition to meet the test of battle when the time comes with true American spirit — with the intelligence and courage that make even- tual victory certain. l^rivate soldiers are not required to study tactical problems. These are solved by the higher officers. But every man should thoroughly understand the following elementary principles of combat: 1. The offensive wins. 2. Battles are won by the individual soldier. It is emphatically " up to " him. Splendid leadership and fine equipment are of avail only when each private does his utmost. 3. Victory depends more on nerve and fighting spirit than on the best weapons and armor in the world. IMPORTANCE OF THE ATTACK. Defensive action alone never wins victories. The army which suc- ceeds must be ready and anxious to attack. There are many ad- vantages in taking the offensive. The destruction of hostile trenches by heavy bombardment preceding the attack weakens the enemy's spirit and sometimes leads to the surrender of men who are in no condition to withstand assault. The chief advantage, however, is the fact that the attacking side chooses its own time and place to strike, forcing the enemy to readjust his defenses accordingly. It is always possible in battle for good infantry to " defeat an enemy greatly superior in numbers, but lacking in training, discipline, leadership, and morale." (Infantry Drill Regulations, par, 354.) In another place in the Regulations it is well remarked that " modern war requires but one kind of infantry — good infantry." Remember, too, in this connection another statement in the Regulations, which has been previously quoted, to the effect that discipline " is the dis- tinguishing mark of trained troops." All these remarks tend toward one conclusion, namely, that the dis- cipline of the army is a big factor in giving men the tenacity which enables them to go into battle with dauntless courage and to win vic- tories. Discipline can accomplish wonders even among men who are naturally lacking in brains and self-reliance. It can accomplish a great deal more, however, among those who possess these natural qualities. Men who are thoroughly disciplined, and yet within the limits of discipline possess the priceless quality of initiative, make ideal sol- diers. They are the men who can always be trusted to pull them- selves out of tight places, to carry attacks through until success is won, to hold out against all odds. 62 MAKING YOURSELF A REAL SOLDIER. Men of this type will be found in the National Army — tens of thousands of them. If you have made up your mind to be one of them, see that you enter into your training with vigor and interest. Make yourself a thorough soldier in the quickest possible time. Learn to obey orders without fear or question. At the same time remember to carry out those orders with true intelligence and self- reliance. Within the next few months the National Army will be formed into a splendid body of troops filled with a spirit of loyalty and of enthusiasm for our just cause, efficient from top to bottom, in which every man will be fitted and ready to do his duty. Such an Army backed by all the resources of the country — resources of men, of money, and of materials practically without limit — is bound to go forward to victory. There may be temporary reverses and periods of gloom, as in all other wars; but in the end victory must and will be won. This is the object toward which all your training is to be directed. Put into that training all your own earnestness and energy. Fit yourself to wear with pride and credit the uniform of an American citizen-soldier. This is the road of honor and of real service to the Nation. o AA 000 622 800 university o CaUfom^a SOUTHERN REGIONAL UBRAR\ 951388 305 De Neve DTh,e^ ^cfLrFORN'! 90095-1388 LOS ANGELES, CAL«>-^ borrowed. Rennthismate^