SOLDIERING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1036, 27 January 1911, Page 5

SOLDIERING.

C OMMANDANT IN THE SOUTH TWO INTERVIEWS. LICHT ON IMPORTANT MATTERS. (By Telegraph-Press Association.) Christchurch, January 26. Major-General Godley, Commandant of the jNew Zealand i'orces, who passed through Cliristchurcn this morning on his way to Duuedin, was seen by a pressman on matters connected with the reorganisation of tho Dominion's mitilary system. ' Major-General Godley said that, up to the present, everything was going well in connection with the reorganisation scheme. In the Auckland and Wellington districts matters were in train for the inauguration of the new state of affairs, and he was visitiug Otago and Canterbury with the same object in

Regarding the training camp for the Soutti Island, the site of which is in the vicinity of Christchurch, he said that it would not be required just at present, but the land would be taken.- Ir would not bo possible to have camps or manoeuvres till matters generally were further advanced.

Referring to the camp at Tauherinikau, where the adjutants and area non-coin-missioned officers aro being trained, Major-General Godley said that, on the recent visit to the camp of his Excellency tho Governor and trie Prime Minister, both were very pleased with the work going on.. .It .was "hoped that the adjutants and area non-commissioned officers will bo able to get into their districts early in March, when the process of enrolment and registration for the universal training under the new scheme will commence. Before'the camp breaks up "Major-General Godley ' and the officers commanding districts, will assemble at it to compare notes with a view to ensuring uniformity in connection with defence matters generally. The work, which Major-General Godley has in hand at present in Otago. and Canterbury, is the grouping of the existing battalions of irfantry and mounted ritles into brigades. In Canterbury there will be. an infantry brigade and a mounted brigade. The first-named will consist of four* battalions, and the lastnamed of three regiments. This is the same as the British establishment, and has been adopted in furtherance of .the idea of having uniformity. throughout the Imperial Army.

Cavalry or —? The reporter, mentioned that an impression appeared .to bo prevalent ,in local defence circles that the mounted men were to be.known as "mounted infantry" under the.new scheme., .MajorUenetal Uodlcy said that there" was. no' intention to' alter 1 " either the name or the character of this branch. Tho mounted rifles, he explained, would be the cavalry of the country, and would be expected to perforin all the duties of cavalry except those of shock tactics and tho use of .'.the "arme blanche." "In the work of reorganisation,". Major-General . Godley remarked, "I am particularly anxious not to interfere more than can be helped with existing units and with local traditions, but a certain amount will bo absolutely necessary. 1 hope that, in respect to what is absolutely necessary, local members of the forces will assist me by sinking their own feelings in such matters. I am fully alive to the excellent work done iii the' past under great difficulties by the Canterbury yeomanry and volunteers, and I look upon their esprit de corps as a valuable asset for the future. I should like all the old volunteers to set a good example to. the young men who are coming in by helping to carry out the necessary reorganising.

Morality of Camps. "There has been a good deal of correspondence, both in tho newspapers and addressed to me, from anxious parents who are afraid.that their sons may get into, bad habits in camp. I am very much alive to 1 this matter, and! can only say that the strictest rules and regulations will be observed ,to copo with ..the possibility of any objectionable behaviour or practices. There will of course bo no alcoholic liquors allowed in the camps, and any signs of-immorality or swearing will be sternly put down. As a matter of fact, I don't think that parents heed be under any apprehension, because the standard of conduct in military camps is improving enormously every year, and, with the example which their own well-brought-up sons, will now set, I am quite certain lhat. whatever cause for complaint there has been in the past will absolutely disappear."

AT DUNEDIN. AN UPHOLDER OF BOY SCOUTS. ■-'■• Dunedin, January 26. '- Major-General Godley, commandant of defence.' forces, accompanied by Colonel -Burnett Stuart and Captain Spencer Smith, arrived by to-day's' first express from the north. The commandant will leave again for Christchurch by the first express on.. Saturday, there to inspect troops and defence arrangements before returning to AVellingtoii on Tuesday. In the course of an interview, the commandant was asked by a Teporter if there was any place in the new defence scheme for defence cadets. There were in Dunedin, it was pointed out, several companies Which, at present, did hot know whether they were wanted or not and were simply dwindling away. "That question," was the reply, "is one which I have, yet to.: fully discuss .with Lieutenant-Colonel Smyth."

And how about Scouts and Cadets? asked the reporter. ' "Will they clash in any way? v "No," replied fhe -commandant. "Scouts and senior cadets will not clash. I am a great upholder of the Boy Scouts, and-we are prepared to take Boy Scout units into the senior-cadets, the only condition being that they must bo cadets first and .boy scouts afterwards. They must go through the regular curriculum provided for cadets, but, apart from that, they can wear their own uniforms, preserve their own individuality, and engage in any scout work they like." An Important Matter, An important matter touching the Territorials and compulsory training proposals was then referred to. In an interview given by tho Major-General at Auckland, he was reported to have said:— We hope to impress so many of our young' men with the advisability of joining the Territorial forces that there will only be very small residue left to bo dealt with under the general training-section. . Every one who joins, the Territorials now will undergo his training under the most •- favourable ■ conditions possible. This point iths referred to the commandant for elucidation. Ho replied that .what his 'statement conveyed was that the Territorial strength had now been raised so much that, when at full strength,.there would only be a comparatively small surplus left over to be trained in. the general training section. This training section would be enforced, and he had merely wished to point out to those who were liable to compulsory training that they would be much better off in' the Territorials, with uniform, competent officers, and the best conditions, than in the motley general training section with the probability of no uniform and no esprit do corps. And .what course will lie followed when the registration whicli is. to be put in force in March is completed about June? was asked.' How \vill the .selections of men be made? "Wo do not expect," replied the commandant, "to have at first more than will bo required. AH will Ijo taken un to 21." Finally, attention was directed to a newspaper paragraph predicting a general post amongst officers comihnndins' districts and others. The paragraph went so far as to give in' detail the districts of the new anpointments. and. when shown to .Major-General Gcdlev, it roused his mirth. It was one of the most amusing things he had seen for some time, lie said, and he assured tho reporter that there were no such changes contemplated at the present time.