•Insights
regarding Falls’ statement and Balck’s ideas
•From Falls’ comments we note (with slight alteration) the
following words and phrases: panic … moral … absenteeism … sensational
drops in production … dive bombers success were for the most part moral-to
troops unused to them … they proved extremely unsettling. A quick glance shows
that all these words and phrases are directly related to one
another.
•Going even further we can say: Falls’ comments on pages
124, 161, and 165 suggest that moral effects are
related to the menace posed by the Zeppelins and dive
bombers, and the uncertainty associated
with not knowing what to expect or how to deal with this menace. Put simply: Moral-effects are
related to menace and uncertainty.
•For a first cut this suggests that moral-strength
represents mental capacity to overcome menace and uncertainty.
•On the other hand, this first cut seems to leave out
something that humans either need or must overcame
for collective moral strength. Fortunately we have some
clues:
–First: Remember that
guerrilla commanders (see Modern Guerrilla Campaign) stress use of propaganda,
civil disorders, selected terrorism, etc., as basis to generate
mistrust and discord.
–Second: Balck emphasizes the
importance of trust—not mistrust—for cohesion.
•Now, recognizing that both Balck and guerrilla commanders
work in a hostile environment (of menace and
uncertainty) that naturally breeds mistrust, it is clear that moral effects
must include this factor.
•This suggest moral strength
represents mental capacity to overcome menace, uncertainty, and mistrust.