SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 319, 5 June 1911, Page 3

SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.

To the Editor. Sir,—Evidently your correspondent, "Peace and Progress," would not sympathise with the views of some of the warriors of the past. Philipamon, the last of the Greek strategists, whose belated league was formed too late to resist the inroad of Philip of Macedon into ancient Greece is recorded as having looked upon war as the only route to a virtuous life, or that no one could be virtuous unless he were a soldier. The reason for such a creed might not be far to seek. A soldier, in the strict acceptation of the word, could not be otherwise than a brave man, and consequently incapable of doing a cowardly or despicable Suction, either (military, civil or social. Neither would he be likely to injure in any way or ill-treat a weakei person than himself, and the more continual prospect and familiarity with death, perhaps, to him, might act as a deterrent from barbarous doings. The well-known John Bright said that a soldier was "no better than a common hangman." Mr. Bright seemed to have overlooked the fact that the "hangman" does not risk his life in performing what may be considered his duty, while a soldier jeopardises both life and limb in killing or overpowering foes who may be understood to require such extreme punishment. It has often been asserted that the democracy or rank and file of a nation do not' as a rule themselves desire war, but are instigated by their leaders or governors, who promote wars and who yet are not always the readiest themselves to occupy a position in their army's van, while a major portion of their wars have been nothing but murder and entirely needless. There « might be no fear of attack by robbers or | burglars. Still, the possession of a re-1 volver in a house or bank might be permissible. Similarly there might be little likelihood of foreign aggression to alarm the British. Still, a Dreadnought or two might not be out of place, for the Utopian dream of a world's univer-. snl pence is, T am afraid, only an opti-'j mistie delusion.—f am, etc., I c.w.w.