"RAGGING" AT DUNTROON.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1770, 7 June 1913, Page 6

"RAGGING" AT DUNTROON.

AUSTRALIAN CADETS' HORSE-PLAY.

Humours have been current for a considerable time regarding certain initiation 'ceremonies which lmvo been practised at tho Australian Boyal Military College, Duntroon. These rumours havo been in part confirmed by a message from Major-Gencral Bridges, commandant of tho college, to headquarters, slating that certain statements which have appeared in tho newspapers are greatly exaggerated. The survival of, these nursery ceremonies at tho military college, the Melbourne "Age" remarks, docs not suggest a very strict attention to discipline or earnestness on tho part of the young officers. That they havo been endeavouring to imitate the "ragging" which has been tho custom at Sandhurst, England, does not excuse their conduct, however officient the officers of tho British Army may bo after their courso at the military colleges. It is alleged that the ceremony in question at the time of the arrival of the "new blood" for tho collego who qualified at tho recent examinations 1 was sanctioned by tho authorities in chnrge. It undoubtedly tends to make an officer popular if . ho "winks" at matters that are not strictly authorised under military discipline, but there should be a limit to his acquiescence. Reports from the cadets at the college, both from tho initiators of the ceremony and tile victims, are (tho "Ago" states) highly coloured—the former with satisfaction at the successful foundation of principles entirely English, the .latter with the- rancor of humbled spirits. A suitable evening having been selected, the nev.' arrivals are marched amidst wellprotected ranks to a room, where shortly after 8 o'clock the majority of the students had assembled in a square around a table and a bath tub. Complete!v stripped, the "innocents" (for such thev are termed until they havo been dipped) are urged, to sing, being prodded the while with what weapons of torture conio ready to the hand of tho tormentors. Mock drills, to the accompaniment of ragtime melodies, aro forced upon the young cadets, and for the goose step, ttie only officio] ceremonial drill taught, tho "Turkey Trot" aud other American dances are substituted. After being ducked in.icy cold water and laid out on slabs of ice. tho new arrivals aro_ tarred and treacled all over, and then dried in fiour. A baptism is then performed with sundry vilo chemicals.