The Outpost Vol 1 - The Royal Highland Fusiliers

132 THE OUTPOST,
but a poor patriot, " You never can tell." It is
this unknown quant.ty wh,ch introduces
romance into what some people would term the
hard facts, and others the tragedy, of war.
Soldiers may be well up in their business and
their leaders may be experts in the Science of
War, but who can tell how these soldiers will do
in action? No one. We can only guess. It
is romantic to think that there are millions of
soldier-students studying the Science of War
at present, and when they go into action they
must show, in addition to the results of their
study, what sort of stuff they are made of.
Human nature, the unknown quantity
probably plays a greater part in war than
anyth:ng else. To quote General Haking. one
of our 'authorities,' "The characteristlcs or
emotions of the human mind wh_ch reqUlre the
most serious consideration are courage and
fear, surpr se, respect and disrespect, cheerfulness
and dejection, comradeship, emulation,
and esprit de corps." Isn't that romantic?
Knowledge of laws or principles goes for naught
if we have not the necessary moral characteristics
to make use of it in a crisis. As Field
Service Regulations has it, "Skill cannot
compensate for want of courage, energy and
determination." And where shall we find
these moral characteristics more strongly
represented than in our Voluntary Army? It
is just among these amateur soldiers that we
are most likely to find courage, respect, cheerfulness,
comradeship and above all, esprit de
corps. We feel sure that our Battalion will
acquit itself well when it is put on its trial, for
we have studied our subject. we are being
carefully prepared and sk,lfully directed, arid
we show everywhere our cheerfulness, our
comradeship and our esprit de corps. These are
the things that count, and they are responsible
for the glory of the romance of war.
CAR.TeR'$ CR.C,I7c, I
) Sou, HFRE \1
~~-.~
/)rIJIlIn by PI,. Th.m •• ",
" Ay! they're awfu' nice lassies, but it's gey expensive buyin' stuff ye dinna want,
jist tae get speakin' tae them."