MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 13 



teaches discipline. A careless, sloppy drill breeds disobedience 

 and insubordination. In other words, discipline simply means 

 efficiency. 



Section 5. Military courtesy. 



In all walks of life men who are gentlemanly and of good 

 breeding are always respectful and courteous to those about 

 them. It helps to make life move along more smoothly. In 

 civil life this courtesy is shown by the custom of tipping the 

 hat to ladies, shaking hands with friends, and greeting per- 

 sons with a nod or n friendly " Good morning," etc. 



In the Army courtesy is just as necessary, and for the same 

 reasons. It helps to keep the great machine moving without 

 friction. 



" Courtesy among military men is indispensable to discipline ; 

 respect to superiors will not be confined to obedience on duty, 

 but will be extended on all occasions." {Par. Jf, Army Regula- 

 tions, 1913.) 



One method of extending this courtesy is by saluting. When 

 in ranks the question of what a private should do is simple — 

 he obeys any command that is given. It is when out of ranks 

 that a private must know how and when to salute. 



Section 6. Saluting:. 



In the old days the free men of Europe w^ere all allowed to 

 carry weapons, and when they met each w^ould hold up his 

 right hand to show that he had no weapon in it and that they 

 met as friends. Slaves or serfs, however, were not allowed to 

 carry weapons, and slunk past the free men without making 

 any sign. In this way the salute came to be the symbol or sign 

 by which soldiers (free men) might recognize each other. The 

 lower classes began to imitate the soldiers in this respect, 

 although in a clumsy, apologetic way, and thence crept into civil 

 life the custom of raising the hand or nodding as one passed an 

 acquaintance. The soldiers, however, kept their individual 

 salute, and purposely made it intricate and difficult to learn in 

 order that it could be acquired only by the constant training all 

 real soldiers received. To this day armies have preserved their 

 salute, and wdien correctly done it is at once recognized and 



