SUNDAY BATTLES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 26, 31 July 1939, Page 16

SUNDAY BATTLES

A CHANGED POINT OF VIEW The -vigorous protests from various quarters concerning the excursions of military aeroplanes and bombing practice generally on Sundays have not the same urgency as the-old and muchdebated question as to whether battles ought "to be fought on the Sabbath; but pretty much' the same principle" is at stake, says the "Manchester Guardian." Stonewall Jackson was one general who had to find arguments in favour of fighting on Sunday, and the protestapt..in. this ..case . was actually r -his, own wife! After the battle of Kernstown on March 23, 1862, he wrote to her; "You appear much concerned at my attacking on Sunday. lam greatly concerned, too; but I felt it my duty to do it, in consideration of the ruinous effects that might result from postponing the battle until the morning. Arms is a profession that, if its principles are adhered to, requires an officer to do what he fears to be wrong, and yet, according to military experience, must be done if success is to be obtained. Had I fought the battle-on Monday instead of Sunday I fear our cause would have suffered." Emphasis on this Sabbatarian principle has shifted considerably since Stonewall Jackson's time, and it is, unfortunately, very doubtful if more than a few theological diehards would dream of criticising an officer today for failing to observe Sunday as a day of rest during a campaign. The case for Sunday practice bombing is, of course, not nearly so strong. It may fairly be argued that if bombers get six days a week practice it will do no one any harm if they rest themselves and us on the seventh.