COMMANDMENTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 90, 16 July 1943, Page 2

COMMANDMENTS

by marshal foch OF LAST WORLD WAR It was Moses who wrote the Ten Commandments, but, it remained, for that great French leader of the' last World War, Marshal Foch, to write the ten rules of Avar by which his men beat hack the Germans in France. It is the little things that count, and it is the exact nicety of the fighting of the man in the ranks that wins the war, thought the great Marshal. # Following are the ten military commandments of Foch as published in the "Thames Star" dated June 27,, 1919:— 1. Keep your eyes and ears ready and your mouth in the safety notch, for it is your soldiery duty to see and hear clearly but as a rule you should be heard mainly in the sentry challenge or the charging cheer. 2. Obey orders first, and, if still alive, kick afterwards if you have been wronged. 3. Keep your arms and equipment clean and. in good order; treat your animals fairly and kindly and your motor or other machine as though it belonged to you and was' the only one. in the world. Do not waste your ammunition, your gas, your food, your time, nor your oppor-. tunity.

4,. Never try to fire an empty gun, nor at any empty trench, but when you shoot, shoot to kill, and forget not that at. close quarters a bayonet beats a bullet. 5. Tell the truth squarely, face the music, take, your punishment like a man; a good soldier won't lie, he doesn't l'un.k, and is 110 squealer.. 6. Be merciful to the women of your foe and shame them not, for you are a man; pity and .shield the children in your captured territory, for you w T ere once a helpless child. 7. Bear in mind that the enemy is j'our enemy, and an enemy of humanity until he is killed or captured; then he is your dear brother or fellow soldier, beaten or ashamed, whom vou shall no further humiliate. 8. Do your best to keep your head clear and cool,, your body clean and comfortable, and your feet, in good condition, for you think with your head, fight with your body, and. march with your feet. 9. Be of good cheer and high courage; shirk neither work nor danger; suffer in silence, and cheer the comrades at your side with a smile. 10 Dread defeat, but not wounds, fear dishonour, but not death, and die game, and whatever your task, remember the motto for the division: "It shall be done!"