BOYS AND DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1611, 30 November 1912, Page 8

BOYS AND DEFENCE.

CADETS' DINNER. , At a cadets' dinner which took place I in Melbourne, after the reviow of tlie I Sonior Cadets by his Excellency the Gov-ernor-General ofs Australia, Lord Denman, on Saturday, November IS, opportunity was taken by several of the lads to air their own opinions on the compulsory training scheme. "We did not like it at first," said one cadet, "but we now realise what a good thing the training is," and that summed up the attitude of the majority. Another cadet drew attention to the vast chances of promotion as compared with the prospects in conscript armies,' and another lad emphasised tho need for efficiency in the leaders, which declaration was greeted with applause. On proposing "The Land We Live In," one lad said: "It is for us fellows to make Ausjralia what ifs going to be. We've got to stick to our leaders, and our leaders have got to be worth sticking to." A cadet, in responding, said: "Australia could not stop a strong nation coming in to-day, but in a few years, if we cadets have done our duty, we can keep Australia safe." (Applause.) Another cadet concluded a stirring speech by saying: "Now, fellows, we've got the country, we've got tho scheme, and we've got tha boys. To-day 18,000 have made a, good show. But it's more than that. We've got now the real spirit of tho whole thing, and one oan see that true spirit of patriotism rising up through the whole movement. Without that spirit, the rest is only so much show. ■ Bigser things, are coming, and it is this spirit springing up in we boys ourselves which is going to make tho whole thing a true success." (Prolonged applause.) During the evening a staff sergeantmajor gave a concise account of the whole making of a soldier, and Australia's position in the eyes of the world, the lecturetto being much appreciated.