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Image provided by: New York State Military History Museum
TH E WADSWORTH GAS ATTACK a n d RIO GRANDE RATTLER “T 0 - The Men of The 27th Division One of the first papers I saw upon my return to New York City was a copy of the “ W a d s w o r t h G a s A t t a c k a n d R io G r a n d e R a t t l e r . ” Although camouflaged by an additional name, a magazine cover and some red ink, it was possible to discern some of the fe a t u r e s ,of' the R a t t l e r as we knew it on the border. In answer to the Editor’s request for a statement of some kind for this number, and speaking for all the officers who went abroad from, this division,,! can say we are glad to be back, but ready to go again. It is most satisfactory to find the officers and men of the division so keenly interested in their work. The health of the command has been exceptional, and the conduct of its personnel excellent. General Phillips told me he was proud of his command. Officers and men should not be impatient to get abroad. There is enough war there for everybody and a continuation of the training period here under the favorable climatic conditions of this section of the country wfill prove most valuable. A soldier has been defined as a man who has an insatiable desire to go somewhere else, and who upon getting there immediately re establishes and continues the same desire. T h e w a r will be won by disciplined fighting soldiers, not by devices or material things. T h e history of w/arfare shows this. W h a t is going on abroad 'confirms it. T h e intelligence, loyalty and individual skill of our men are valuable assets. But they are assets which can not be effectively used in battle unless they are welded into a harmonious and dependable whole through the solidifying influence of discipline. A n d this discipline, to be solid and substantial, must be as hard as steel. It must produce an obedience so prom p t and unquestioned t h a t the act is perform e d subconsciously. Its quality should be such t h a t the physical re sponse to a command is correct in all details. Every battle in the history of w a r f a r e had its mistake, errors and neglects which affected the results, and these, in most instances, were due to failure in discipline. Every soldier in the division should understand the impor tance of discipline. His life will largely hang upon it. T h e lives of his comrades and the value of his regiment will be dependent upon it. W i t h o u t it, the tactical division can not be regarded as an effective fighting machine. It can not be created in a week, a month, or a year. Its standard can always be improved. Every officer and man should think of this and take advantage of every day to increase the power of his unit by increasing the standard of organization and individual discipline.
