Part 29 (1/2)

[Footnote 29: In troops without cohesion, this movement begins at fifty leagues from the enemy. Numbers enter the hospitals without any other complaint than the lack of morale, which very quickly becomes a real disease. A Draconian discipline no longer exists; cohesion alone can replace it.]

[Footnote 30: It is a troublesome matter to attack men who shoot six to eight shots a minute, no matter how badly aimed. Will he have the last word then, who has the last cartridge, who knows best how to make the enemy use his cartridges without using his own?

The reasoning is always the same. With arrows: Let us use up their arrows. With the club: Let us break their clubs. But how? That is always the question. In matters of war, above all, precept is easy; accomplishment is difficult.]

[Footnote 31: The more one imagines he is isolated, the more has he need of morale.]

[Footnote 32: Are not naval battles above all the battles of captains? All captains endeavor to promote a feeling of solidarity which will cause them all to fight unitedly on the day of action. Trafalgar--Lissa.

In 1588, the Duke of Medina Sidonia, preparing for a naval engagement, sent three commanders on light vessels to the advance-guard and three to the rearguard, with executioners, and ordered them to have every captain hanged who abandoned the post that had been a.s.signed to him for the battle.

In 1702, the English Admiral Benbow, a courageous man, was left almost alone by his captains during three days of fighting. With an amputated leg and arm, before dying, he had four brought to trial. One was acquitted, three were hanged; and from that instant dates the inflexible English severity towards commanders of fleets and vessels, a severity necessary in order to force them to fight effectively.

Our commanders of battalions, our captains, our men, once under fire, are more at sea than these commanders of vessels.]

[Footnote 33: The effect of surprise would certainly not last long to-day.

However, to-day wars are quickly decided.]

[Footnote 34: See Appendix VI. (Historical doc.u.ments). (Editor's note).]

[Footnote 35: See Appendix VI. (Historical doc.u.ments). (Editor's note).]

[Footnote 36: See Appendix VI. (Historical doc.u.ments). (Editor's note).]

[Footnote 37: See Appendix VI. (Historical doc.u.ments). (Editor's note).]

[Footnote 38: See Appendix VI. (Historical doc.u.ments). (Editor's note).]

[Footnote 39: It is true that such measures are recommended in camps of instruction and in publications. But in maneuvers they are neglected in the mania for alignment, and in that other mad desire of generals to mix in details which do not concern them.]