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Under Fire.
It is a strange fatd that cray soldier,
when questioned a? to bis sensations
when he first went under fire, replies that
he was far less frightened than he anti
cipated. Recruits get used to the bid lets
wlvistling around them in a very' short
time, and their fears abate with every
battle. The most trying moment for the
newcomer is when he lias to stand motion
less in the front. rank, eXDOsed to fire
without being able to reply. It is in
action which gets on a soldier's nerves,
and that is why the order to fix bayonets
for the charge is always obeyed with sack
delight.
The behaviour of a commander has a
great effect on the men he controls. It
is clairacteristic of the British soldier
to keep his eyes on his leader in perilous
moments, and to be inspired or discour
aged by his demeanor. A soldier was re
cently asked Hvhat sentiment animated him
when the bullets were flying—was it love
of country, religion, or their oath of
fidelity to the King? "I went ahead,"
he replied, •'because my lieutenant led
the way." The first few minutes under
fire generally makes a soldier feel as
though he would like to be out of it, but
V'Tv quickly he loses bis first feeling of
fright, and has a violent reaction which
takes .'the form of a fever for a band-to-,
band conflict. |
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