THE TRUE SOLDIER SPIRIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14989, 10 May 1912, Page 4

THE TRUE SOLDIER SPIRIT.

'"■'& ■■.•>> ; (yL'.-..'." .'.♦'.. ',' ■■-'/'-'■"'' .-,.:..;[ fro- otra own (correspondent.} • , London, April 3. ( General ; Sir John French writes in the Army Review:—"For the Commander-in-chief of an army in the field it is indispensable for . success that his lieutenants should he a band of brothers, firmly knit together in community of ideas, trusting one another, and all reposing loyal and unquestioning confidence in their chief. It was this . splendid unanimity that rendered the Japanese unconquerable in their. Jast war, though opposed by one of the bravest and hardest-fighting armies in the world. It is in peace. that our. doctrine must be fashioned and taught, and according to our success or our failure in this duty will victory or defeat he due. '■ ; ;•'. " I desire to warn officers against pessimism and against any depreciation of our forces and of our national strength. Politics are not matters for soldiers to dabble in. Our sole duty is to make the beet of our military resources. Officers must give no countenance to ideas which tend to spread doubt and despondency in the country concerning the solidity of its military institutions. They must, on the contrary, in close and ever cordial co-operation with their gallant comrades of the navy, lose no Opportunity of spreading abroad among the people a healthy confidence, which is the sure precursor of victory. Armed forces, imbued -with' whole-hearted belief in themselves and their cause, are unconquerable, even if inferior in numbers, whereas forces without this,, confidence , are destined for -defeat;' no matter how strong. ... "Last of all, I ask officers to remember the links which unite us indissolubly with our brothers-in-arms" in the great self-gov-erning Dominions, the Crown colonies, and India jto lose/no opportunity of helping our comrades in the development of their military strength, and to act as misgioners of Imperial ideals." . .-