NEED FOR DISCIPLINE.

Northern Advocate, 16 September 1914, Page 4

NEED FOR DISCIPLINE.

Some exceedingly important remarks upon the necessity for discipline were uttered by Lord Roberts in England some time ago. and should be taken seriously to j heart by our New Zealand soldiers j who are about to proceed to the! front, if they are to do as Avell as ! their country expects them to do. The remarks of Lord Roberts were as follows: "Only those who have taken part in war. or have carefully studied the history of wars. can. I am persuaded, realise to its full extent the significance of discipline as applied to war.. They only can know that it is by discipline, and by discipline alone, that bodies of men can be relied upon to work together in times of great difficulty and danger, and to withstand the disintegrating effect of war; for they have learnt that it is discipline alone which prevents panic seizing upon men when unforeseen circumstances arise. They only know that amongst untrained or ill-trained troops panic spreads with lightning rapidity, and that when there is no sense of discipline to be appealed to. men speedily become a rabble, and defeat is the inevitable iesult. It is dis.ipii'.e .ilonc which gives the soldi?r confidence in himself, reliance or: his .omrades. and belief in his officers- It is discipline alone whi-.h gives him the c"'iu\_ge to face vastly superior 'numbers; to continue marching, though worn out with fatigue and Avatit of food, ready to fight again, and yet again. It is discipline alone that supports him under the strain oi. lying still for successive hours in the punishing fire zone —one of the most trying of the many exacting conditions of modern warfare. It is discipline alone which makes the soldier obey the word of command,, even under such circumstances as I have described. Clear understanding of and prompt, obedience to an order become an instinct to the properly trained soldier, whereas the improperly trained man. when he finds himself in an unfamiliar and trying position, frequently misunderstands the word of command, and, when matters become acute, he does -not heed or even hear it."