–"Private Soldier's," letter on "Entertaining the Army," with which wholeheartedly
agree, comes very opportunely at a moment when we to face in a sober spirit the question of why our Army has so far to fulfil the hopes which the nation had put in it. – To anyone who knows the Army from inside, there can be little doubt part of the trouble is the lack of any inspiration The accepted idea "other ranks" still seems to be that of "the scum of the -earth." The on soldier is imagined as a person whose sole interests are wine and en, and football coupons at best. He is supposed to be without a of duty or honour ; therefore he has to be called, to duty by his nt-major in a way which Mr. Morrison, I presume, would rule out I order if applied in any of H.M. prisons. To keep him out of mischief, t must be kept busy " blancoing " his equipment, " shining " his boots Si bayonet scabbard, and cleanng his brasses. When he offends against 1,Yof the many rules of the Army, he must be "severely dealt with," as no thee treatment would make any impression on him. He must at all times C aware of the fact that he belongs to the inferior class of soldiers known I " other ranks " ; therefore officers and men must be rigidly separated— system which has long been discarded in the totalitarian German Army. hut the kind of entertainment considered fit for " O.R.s," I have Sling to add to "Private Soldier's" letter.
Now the unfortunate thing is that the mentality of the rank and file r the Army is more or less up to this picture ; even now that all classes 1 the population are supposed to be represented among the ranks, the metal coarseness is amazing and, considering our claim to being Crusaders for Democracy," genuinely distressing. But more distressing the fact that no visible attempts are being made to inspire the common 441 With any higher ideal, to create enthusiasm, or at least preserve what whusiasm there is—or was. The A.E.C. is the most elusive branch of the rtoY ; I can honestly say that in eighteen months' service I have not C5 across a single member. The ABCA scheme remains a dead letter, °re often than not, not because it would be impossible to spare one iod per week, but because these talks just don't fit into the general betne of things. The average soldier is interested neither in civics nor anY aspect of the war other than its likely termination and with it his Illrn to " civvy street "—and what reason is there for making him terested seeing that knowledge of neither features among the standards r which efficiency is gauged in the Army?—Yours truly,
"ANOTHER PRIVATE SOLDIER."
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