manual for commanders of infantry platoons. - US Army Combined ...

MlarNUaL ]FOR CO1~MANDERSTDH% OF iNFAIb~TRYB PLATOO0iTS 111
pi~ecision,- jndgment, self-control, sense of duty, and self-denial
are qualities without which the finest gifts of intelligence remsain
of no value.
Amzong the qualities or mind, a. general a~nd extended military
education is not produced in the course of a camupaign3; but
every offier~ can aind should possess himsxelf of a thorough
knowledge of everyvthiug thazt. concerns his duties. If he has
precise knowvledge, he has confidence in him-uself, p~rop~er decisions
xviii comle reaclili to his mnind, he xviii expr'ess himiself
catlmly and writhout hesitaztion, and hze will com~mand the atten­
*tion of the mlen;~ on? the conk ~am v, inappropriate or contradictory
orders, given in an ulncemt~amn or nervous mlanner, inspire doubt;
as to their efficien1cy TIhe Fm ench soldier obeys blindly only
whTlen h~ehacs aZblinld contic enlce
A~com~mander is loved hig his soldiers when he hats a sense
of justice, an absolute up3rightness, is concerned with their xvellbeing
and pays personal attention to it. T'he soldier submsits
readily to all sevenities for which there is a reason, and, in
his heart, he gives to excessive indulgence and xveakness the
considerat~ion which they dfeserve. J'ustice does not consist in
treating all mlenl ex~actly alike, but in exacting from each the
full exercise of his faculties and poxvers, and in r·exvardi~ng
.meritorlious actions in accorodance wsithl the e forts which they
hav-e cost.
The habitual attitude of the officer is also of importance;
lack of dignity in bearing and language, vulgaritiy, and falmil­
-iarityare: never proper for an off~icer; everyone can be correct,
simpyle, and dignifi~ed without holding his inferiors at a distance,
a\nd xvithout prevent~in~r good hiumZor and gayet~y, xvhich, like hope
and absolute faithi in victor~y, are so readily and so happily
·imparted to others.
During batd days, xvhen the men are discourag~ed, the officers
and noncommissioned officers form the foundation on which the
spirit- of the com ipany is rebult; thley remnember that; 'no
matter xvhnt comzes, ope mu~st;never despair "* that there is no
good reason xvhy the enemy is not as badly decimated and
dlepressed as our own troops; that in war, Dame -Fortune has
astonishing rewards for those xvho do not give up; and that;
comzpletce victory belongs to him xvho isfable to hold out a quaarter
of an hour longer than the other.