1942.
The Soldier's Manual.
495
If
of distinguished merit, from whom the officers may learn the truth, and thus, by a judicious distribution of praise and censure, lay hold on the fundamental principle, the moving cause of victory. officers are found applauding without justice, they are to be punished severely.
The fifteenth section condemns the practice of appropriating the bravest men to strengthen the body-guard of an officer, for the mere purposes of personal security, as it is derogatory to the dignity of the army, and destroys the confidence of the soldiers.
In the sixteenth section it is remarked, that if a soldier would rout the enemy, he must encourage himself into a noble spirit of daring, and then he may expect to triumph. But if he regards his own per. son when he meets with a strong enemy, he will quickly retire, the enemy taking advantage of his timidity will chase him and great loss will be sustained. It behooves a soldier to understand that by advanc. ing and not by retreating death is avoided, and that he who seeks to save his life shall lose it. And thus a man who retreats may deem himself very lucky if the enemy does not pursue and kill him.
"It is an acknowledged law," adds the writer, "and deserves to be considered as an unalterable practice, that he who most courageously advances fore- most should be entitled to be highest rewards, with the further con- sideration that honor and dishonor would not be limited to himself, but extend as an heirloom to his latest posterity." It is a sentiment which Xenophon has somewhere put in the mouth of Cyrus, that there is more jeopardy in seeking to flee from danger than there is instantly facing it. In matters pertaining to the kingdom of heaven, dangers lesson as decision increases, and he who is fain to relinquish the pros. pects of a better world lest he should incur the frowns of this, will lose all those praises which firmness of character is wont to receive, the testimony of a good conscience, and the approving smiles of the Deity.
In the seventeenth section, soldiers are lessoned in the art and uses of patience, if it should happen that on a march there be a straitness of provisions and water. In such circumstances they are told to keep quiet and forbear murmuring and complaining, while the officers are commanded to use every effort that policy can devise to save their troops from starving. If complaints are made about the insufficiency of the allowances, inquiries should be made as to whether the com- plaint be well founded or otherwise. If they are just, a remedy must be provided if possible; if they are futile or imaginary, the complain- ants must be severely punished, that the offender may be sorry for his faults, and know how to conduct himself prudently for the future. And