OFF TO CAMBERLEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 976, 17 November 1910, Page 6

OFF TO CAMBERLEY.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BAUCHOP FAREWELLED. APPRECIATIVE SPEECHES, The cordial relations which havo existed between Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop and tho officers of his command in tho Wellington district were fully, evidenced by tho demonstrative send-off which, was accorded him by tho officers of the garrison at the Empire Hotel yesterday afternoon. Colonel Bauchop leaves for England, via Sydney, to-morrow afternoon, en route for the Staff College at Camberley, wliero ho will spend two years in tho study of the higher branches of tho profession of arms. Lieutenant-Col-onel G. E. C. Campbell,- president of tho Wellington Garrison Officers' Club, was in the chair, and there wero also present,: Colonel A. W. Robin, C.8., Chief of tho General' Staff, Colonel R. J. Collins, Lieu-teiiant-Colonel J. R. Purdy (principal medical officer), officers of the general and instructional staff at the Defence Headquarters and District Headquarters, with tho Wellington City Battalion Staff, Garrison Artillery Divisional Staff, and a largo number of company officers. Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, proposing the health of his commanding officer, remarked that Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop was entering the Staff College at what might fairly be said to be tho beginning of a new and significant epoch in military science._ It was not too much to say that aerial tactics wero now within tho region of practical warfare, and tho future held for tacticians new and important problems. He wished Colonel Bauchop a pleasant and beneficial trip, and hoped that when lie had completed his courso at Camberley ho would again join tho New Zealand Forces,' equipped for somo higher post on the General Staff. (Applause.) Colonel Robin, in a brief speech, congratulated Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop upon his recovery froni his recent illhealth. ' (Applause.) The Staff College course was no easy task for those who essayed'it, but he had no doubt but that Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop would make a success of it. Ho congratulated him on the opportunity thus afforded him of . pursuing his military studies under such excellent auspices. He would like also to express his regret at tho loss of ono of his officers at , such a critical period as now lav before the General Stall in New Zealand. They had two years of. very serious _ work" ahead of them in connection with the new defence scheme, and he felt assured that when LieutenantColonel' Bauchop rctiirncd to New Zealaud he would bring with him ideas, tlfat would prove to be very valuable to "his country. (Applause.) The toast of the departing officer was then drunk; with great enthusiasm. • Replying to the. good wishes that had been expressed, Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop said that lie looked forward to his departure with. very mixed, feelings. He , would like to stay at his old post, and yet the advantages which Camberley of-, fered him were not to be despised. Ho warmly eulogised the'earnestness and en-, tliusiasm. which animated the officers of' the garrison as co-adjutors in the administration of the Wellington district command. Since the inauguration of the Defence Council a spirit of keen enthusiasm for the serious side of soldiering had been conspicuous, and it spoke well foi the policy of the Council—and in this Colonel Robin stood in tho forefront— that the Wellington Garrison Officers' Club had become very largely an instructional institution. Ho knew of gunnery officers who had given up 150 nights of the year to soldiering; of.mounted men who had devoted . 100 nights of tho year to the serious side of the game, and it was a matter for congratulation that such keenness should prevail. They had been seldom hampered, and; always oh couraged by General Headquarters, and so long as the principles of their work were right, and officers conformed to these. principles, all would bo well with the new army which was now struggling to its feet, tinder the policy laid down, officers would be selected from keen and men, who would take their work' feriously. They had to remember that tho ultimate task was leadership in war. It was his greatest wish to return to New Zealand and do his soldiering with them. (Applause.) As their representative in England for a space, 'he would ■ endeavour to bo worthy of thorn. (Applause.) Three hearty cheers wero then given and the gathering dispersed.