| |
THOSE things which as elements meet together in the atmosphere of War
and make it a resistant medium for every activity we have designated
under the terms danger, bodily effort (exertion), information, and
friction. In their impedient effects they may therefore be comprehended
again in the collective notion of a general friction. Now is there,
then, no kind of oil which is capable of diminishing this friction? Only
one, and that one is not always available at the will of the Commander
or his Army. It is the habituation of an Army to War.
Habit gives strength to the body in great exertion, to the mind in great
danger, to the judgment against first impressions. By it a valuable
circumspection is generally gained throughout every rank, from the
hussar and rifleman up to the General of Division, which facilitates the
work of the Chief Commander.
As the human eye in a dark room dilates its pupil, draws in the little
light that there is, partially distinguishes objects by degrees, and
at last knows them quite well, so it is in War with the experienced
soldier, whilst the novice is only met by pitch dark night.
Habituation to War no General can give his Army at once, and the camps
of manoeuvre (peace exercises) furnish but a weak substitute for it,
weak in comparison with real experience in War, but not weak in relation
to other Armies in which the training is limited to mere mechanical
exercises of routine. So to regulate the exercises in peace time as
to include some of these causes of friction, that the judgment,
circumspection, even resolution of the separate leaders may be brought
into exercise, is of much greater consequence than those believe who do
not know the thing by experience. It is of immense importance that the
soldier, high or low, whatever rank he has, should not have to encounter
in War those things which, when seen for the first time, set him in
astonishment and perplexity; if he has only met with them one single
time before, even by that he is half acquainted with them. This relates
even to bodily fatigues. They should be practised less to accustom the
body to them than the mind. In War the young soldier is very apt to
regard unusual fatigues as the consequence of faults, mistakes, and
embarrassment in the conduct of the whole, and to become distressed
and despondent as a consequence. This would not happen if he had been
prepared for this beforehand by exercises in peace.
Another less comprehensive but still very important means of gaining
habituation to War in time of peace is to invite into the service
officers of foreign armies who have had experience in War. Peace seldom
reigns over all Europe, and never in all quarters of the world. A State
which has been long at peace should, therefore, always seek to procure
some officers who have done good service at the different scenes of
Warfare, or to send there some of its own, that they may get a lesson in
War.
However small the number of officers of this description may appear in
proportion to the mass, still their influence is very sensibly
felt.(*) Their experience, the bent of their genius, the stamp of their
character, influence their subordinates and comrades; and besides that,
if they cannot be placed in positions of superior command, they may
always be regarded as men acquainted with the country, who may be
questioned on many special occasions.
(*) The War of 1870 furnishes a marked illustration. Von
Moltke and von Goeben, not to mention many others, had both
seen service in this manner, the former in Turkey and Syria,
the latter in Spain--EDITOR.
|
|
