THE MARCH OF YOUTH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 73, 11 October 1939, Page 4

THE MARCH OF YOUTH

The march of the youth of New Zealand towards the military training camps throughout the country has set in. The mobilisation of the Dominions fighting men has commenced in earnest and week by week memories of the Great War are revived. From now on as training proceeds and fresh drafts are called up the preparations for lending Britain whatever military assistance she may require from this Dominion will be more in evidence. Service in the Special Force in or beyond New Zealand is for the duration of the war. In the last war the first New Zealand division for service overseas was a splendid well-disciplined body of men, trained to a high standard of efficiency under the vigilant and critical supervision of General Godley and a speciallyselected staff. This fine division, and the subsequent reinforcements. created a tradition and espritde-corps worthy of emulation.

It should be the aim of all ranks to reach a standard of discipline and efficiency as high. Many of the recruits of the Special Force have not had the advantage of previous experience which the recruits of 1914 had under the system of universal military training. Their response to discipline, and adaptation to an entirely new life will therefore be less easy, in the earlier stages at all events- • .The great merit of the universal' training system was that it laid the foundation for disciplined life. Though it is claimed that the post-war youth is less amenable to discipline than its counterpart in 1914, there can be no shadow of doubt but that the young men now in camp represent *in spirit and in loyalty the finest our country can produce. Virile, young and determined they will in every way uphold the great tradition of the country's fighting forces of the past.