Transcriber’s Notes
The Table of Contents was added by the Transcriber.
The maps just below most chapter headings originally were on thepages before those headings, but were moved by the Transcriber.
| Letter I | 9 |
| Letter II | 19 |
| Letter III | 25 |
| Letter IV | 31 |
| Letter V | 43 |
| Letter VI | 53 |
| Letter VII | 59 |
| Letter VIII | 63 |
| Letter IX | 73 |
| Letter X | 77 |
| Letter XI | 81 |
| Letter XII | 89 |
A GENERAL’S LETTERS TO HIS
SON ON MINOR TACTICS
A GENERAL’S LETTERS
TO HIS SON ON
MINOR TACTICS
NEW YORK
GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
Copyright, 1918
By George H. Doran Company
Printed in the United States of America
It has very forcibly been brought home to methat not only young officers joining their unitsfrom training establishments, but also thosewho have been in France and have come backwounded, are often very ignorant on those pointsin minor tactics which they have not learntthrough actual experience on the battlefield, andthat this is especially the case with regard tothe proper control of fire. The battlefield is anexpensive place to acquire knowledge which canbe gained elsewhere, and it behooves us to doall we possibly can to train our young commandersunder peace conditions for the ordealsthey will have to encounter in the presence ofthe enemy.
Training which in ordinary times would formthe course of study for years now has to becrammed into a few months, and it stands tovireason that much which is essential remainsunlearnt.
I have generally found that the best way totrain young officers in minor tactics is by givingthem as realistically as possible little problemsto solve, and afterwards in the presence oftheir comrades to discuss their proposed dispositionsand then to tell them clearly what theyought to have done, giving reasons for everystep taken.
Where it is possible actually to carry out theexercise with troops, this is still better, so longas it is all done quickly, as