Discipline
A word must be said on the subject of discipline and its influence on Australians. The bravery and resourcefulness of Australians in the field are sufficiently attested by those competent to judge. Of their splendid behaviour when desperately injured we have had ample evidence, which we furnish with proper respect to brave men.
The convalescent Australian presents another problem, as also does the soldier waiting at the base. The lines in Dr. Watts's hymn come to mind. In these circumstances his very fine qualities cause him to give trouble. His ingenuity in breaking bounds is worthy of a better cause.
For example, there were complaints from the military police that sick men were roaming about Cairo at night. The roll was called at No. 1 General Hospital several times, and no one was absent. Not quite satisfied, we called the roll in the Ophthalmic Ward one evening at 8 p.m. Only one man was absent. Still suspicious, we called it again at 8.40 p.m. the same evening, and twenty-one men had gone. Some had rolled up coats or blankets and so placed them that it seemed that the men were still in bed. Subsequently uniforms that should have been in the pack store were discovered under their mattresses.
These and similar difficulties were aggravated by the fact that even a moderate disciplinarian did not always receive the support of the nurses or even the medical officers.
To illustrate: An endeavour was made to limit smoking in the wards to reasonable hours, as it has become an unfortunate tradition that a sick soldier may smoke cigarettes all day long, when in bed, without injury.
One of us (J. W. B.) entered a small ward which was filled with smoke, and was just in time to see a sick man practically blowing smoke into a nurse's face; needless to say the cigarette vanished with astonishing rapidity. Looking through the murky atmosphere, I asked the nurse whether she had seen any one smoking, to which she unblushingly replied, "No, sir."
If nurses and a section of officers throw their weight against enforcement of discipline, because they don't think it necessary or right, the difficulties become considerable.
Again, the sentries were often in collusion with the men. Two instances suffice: A soldier got out of the hospital through a hole in the fence. On returning he determined to test the sentry with an eye to future escapades. Walking up to the gate, he said, "I want to visit a friend." "Have you got a pass?" said the sentry. "No," replied the sick man. A discussion followed, and finally the sentry said, "Go in and out by the hole in the fence; it will save me a lot of trouble."
Yet another amusing incident. Sitting on the great Piazza at Heliopolis were a number of men convalescent from serious illness, pneumonia and the like.
A short distance away on the outside of the iron railing fence, the Arabs were conducting illicit and prohibited trade with the men inside, and a sentry appointed to prevent it was walking up and down studying astronomy.
The Commanding Officer witnessed the occurrence, visited the happy scene, interrogated the sentry, and asked him what his duties were. The sentry answered, "To walk up and down here with me gun to prevent them prisoners" (the unfortunate convalescents) "coming down them steps, and to prevent them niggers jumping the fence!"
The hardest part of military work is waiting. The soldier who has the magnificent fundamental qualities of the Australian, and who can wait and obey, would be the greatest soldier on earth. We are hopeful that the experience gained will render the Australian the claimant for this coveted position. All thoughtful Australian officers we know tell the same story: "Give us discipline, and again and again discipline."
There is much to be said for the soldier. He will obey if he knows why an order is given, or if he trusts his officer and knows why it is given. But if he is uncertain on these points he pleases himself. Discipline cannot be enforced in general, except by properly trained professional officers.
Again, there was more drunkenness than there should have been from the same cause. One evening visitors passed liquor into hospital, and a hideous din arose. On seeking the cause, I discovered it to proceed from a ward containing three patients, of whom one had a broken leg and another a broken arm.
These two men were uproariously drunk, and were sitting up in bed making Australian political speeches. On my entry he of the broken leg demanded in broken tones to be at once paraded before the orderly officer.
On another occasion a particularly nuggety patient had broken the rules, and becoming troublesome was ordered back to his ward. Refusing to go, the guard was sent for, and a fight of a desperate character ensued before he was overpowered; yet we found accidentally that later on this man was made a N.C.O. and apparently gave satisfaction.
In other armies such an offence might have been punished with death.
On reading the account of the life of Stonewall Jackson it is clear that similar difficulties were experienced with the Confederate soldiers, and that Jackson against his inclination was compelled to enforce grave penalties at times to prevent still graver trouble.
It takes several men on the lines of communication and at the base to keep one man at the front, and only loyal obedience to orders during the wearisome and exacting day's work on the lines of communication will make the machine run smoothly, and do justice to the man in the line of battle who is risking his life.
Yet it seems to us there is much to be done by attention to the soldiers' social wants. The work of the Y.M.C.A. and the provision of soldiers' clubs were powerful influences in favour of good order and conduct.