FIFTH REGIMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1328, 4 January 1912, Page 4

FIFTH REGIMENT.

LIE UT-COLONEL DIJTHIK RETIRES. The retirement of Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. Duthie from the command of the S : Eegimcut , N -H (Wellington lutlcs, is announced. He will be lucceeded in the command by Major C. Harcourt, lurner (senior major), who will take acting-rauk as lieutenant-colonel pending examination for commissioned twm > n T of < , Lieutenant-Colonel Duthie s retirement has occasioned some surprise and comment in military circles, inc position, however, is simply this; the appointment of an officer to command a unit is limited by regulation to a term of lour years only, the appointment being subject to extension for a further term of two years only in special cases, as, lor oxainp o, where no suitable officer is available to succeed the retiring officer. It is explained, further, ■ that iii accordance with the policy laid down by the General Officer Commanding tho Jjorces, who does not desire to retard tho promotion of the younger officers by prolonging tho tenure of the senior officers appointments, the time limit for retirement is to be insisted upon in all cases where the circumstances are consistent with the demands of cfficieiicv. Lieutenant-Colonel Duthio will now bo posted to the reserve of officers. The promotion of Major Turner to the command will create a vacancy in the appointment of a. senior major, who will also be a field officer. Of tho three majors in the battalion, only one takes rank as a field officer, the other two being posted to company commands. The next in succession for senior major, field rank, is Major Corrigan, who will reach Ins retiring age in April next, but no announcement with respect to this appointment has yet boon made. Major (,'owles and Major Esson are next in seniority.

Lieutenant-Colonel Duthio has had over twenty-one years' active servico in the citizen foveas. Ho first joined tho old Wellington lilies (long since defunct), and later transferred lo tho City Rifles, of which corps ho was commanding oftieer when appointed to tho command of the battalion. He has enjoyed tho reputation of being a zealous and efficient officer, and during the Master manoeuvres of 1908, when ho commanded tho defending forces during the attack on tho city, his strategy and general grasp of (he situation earned for liim tho very best kind of criticism. His retirement from active ;nldi«rinß will ho ceiifvally recrettcd in tho Wellington Garrison,