by
The World Syndicate Publishing Co.
_Printed in the United States of America_
PREFACE
So much has been written about the great soldiers of the world, that it
is a matter of considerable hardihood to attempt to present another
volume on the subject in any sense "new." But the Great War has not
only brought to the center of the stage a new group of martial
figures--it has also intensified and revivified our interest in those
of a bygone day. The springs of history rise far back. We can the
better appreciate our leaders of today and their problems, by comparing
them with the leaders and problems of yesterday. Waterloo takes on a
new aspect when viewed from Vimy Ridge.
The present book includes a round dozen of the great soldiers of
yesterday and today. The list is about equally divided among British,
French, and American leaders, and is confined to the last two
centuries. Each man selected is typical of a particular time and task.
His life story contains a message of definite interest and value.
In telling these stories, however, in the limits of brief chapters, we
have carefully abstained from the writing of formal biographies. Such
a treatment would have resulted merely in a rehash of time-worn data
beginning "He was born," and ending "He died."
The plan of these stories is to give a personal portrait of the man,
using the background of his early life--to trace his career up from
boyhood through the formative years. Such data serves to explain the
great soldier of later years. Every schoolboy knows, for example, what
Washington did after he was placed in command of the Colonial Army--but
what he did in the earlier years to _deserve_ this high command is a
story not so well known. Yet it is both interesting in itself, and
serves to humanize its subject. The stately Washington steps down off
his pedestal, and shoulders again his surveyor's tripod of boyhood
days, while he invites us to take a tramp through the Virginia wilds.
The writing (and, we hope, the reading) of these life stories brings an
especial message. We discover that in each instance the famous soldier
was not a pet of Fortune, but was selected for his high and arduous
task, because of the training received in his formative years. His
peculiar gift of leadership was merely an expression of his indomitable
will to forge ahead. He exemplified in his life the Boy Scout motto,
"Be Prepared."
CONTENTS
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