OFFICERS OF THE FORCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2264, 25 September 1914, Page 4

OFFICERS OF THE FORCE

Nothikg can bo more certain than that the New Zealand Expeditionary Force when it leaves these shores will go forth with the full trust and coniidence of the people whom it will represent at the scat of war. All who saw the Wellington contingent parading at Newtown Park yesterday, or marching through tho streets, must have been impressed by the large proportion of young men in its ranks, some of them mere youths, but almost to a man they looked brown, tough, and hardy. Lacking something 'of the machine-like precision of regular soldiers, they have yet already been trained to a high pitch of efficiency, and a very brief experience of active service should make them fit to stand against any troops in the world. Apart from tho quality of the men, a supreme factor is tile standard of leadership possessed by their officers. It is possible that some of those who are sending forth sons, husbands; or brothers to tho war may entertain a degree of apprehension on this point, for admittedly the task of providing efficient officers for so large a force (in relation to the size of the country) is no slight one. If any such apprehensions are entertained, an examination of the records.of the officers appointed to lead the Expeditionary Force should dispel them most effectually. The Defence authorities have found it possiblo to fill all tho important Staff and regimental commands with officers who are not merely fitted by long training to carry out in a capable manner the responsible duties assigned to them, but who, in many cases, have had their capabilities sharpened by tho ■hard apprenticeship of actual war. From the Commandant' downwards many officers of_ the Force have served with distinction in South Africa and elsewhere, and two officers, Captain Martineatj (of the Otago section) and Captain Hardham (Wellington West Coast _ Mounted Rifles) have earned the highest honour that rewards the valour of British soldiers, the Victoria Cross. Broadly speaking, .a very large pro- ' portion of the officers of the Expeditionary Force are seasoned warriors, trained in the rigours of war _as well as in the laborious application that builds up the efficiency of military commanders in times of peace and there is no reason to doubt that they will handle and lead their men in such a way as to bring out to the full the fighting qualities with which they are endowed,. arid at the same time expose them to no unnecessary risks.

ReferencctOitbe individual careers of the various officers will fully justify these general observations. Major-General Sir A. J. Godley is not merely a highly trained and qualified military organiser, but an officer with a creditable record of field service. He commanded a column in the operations in Rhodesia in 1896, under Sir.Frederick Carrinqton, and was mentioned in dispatches and rewarded with tho brevet rarik of Major. Prior to the outbreak' of the Boer War, ho was sent out to South Africa to assist in raising colonial mounted troops. He served in Mafekihg during the famous siege, and later commanded a brigade in tho. field, earning. men,-, tion in dispatches; a brevet Lieuten-ant-Colonelcy, tho Queon's .Medal: with three clasps, and a C.B. It fell to General (then Major) Godley's lot during the South African War to recommend Captain •Martineatj for the V.0., which he was subsequently awarded. Colonel W. G. Braithwaite, D.5.0.,. General Staff Officer, who has earned in New Zealand the reputation of an able administrator, also served with distinction in the Boer War. As Captain and Major he took part in a long series of engagements, and bosides being mentioned in dispatches was decorated with the Queen's Medal, with five clasps, the King's Medal with two ■ clasps, and the D.S.O. 1 In Colonel E. W. 0. Chaytor, the Adjutant-General of the Force, it is natural that New Zealanders should take especial interest and pride, since he is a native of this Dominion, and commanded the Third New Zealand Contingent in the South African War, from May 19 to May 26,. 1900, when ho was severely wounded; and the Second Regiment, Eighth New Zealand Contingent, from March 19, 1902, onwards. Between the periods of these commands, Colonel Ohaytor took part in numerous battles and operations in the Transvaal and Orange Free State, and was mentioned in dispatohes and awarded the Queen's Medal with three, clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps. His subsequent distinguished career is well known to all New Zealanders who take an interest in. military matters. Colonel F. E. Johnston, the Infantry Brigade Commander, though an Imperial officer, is a New .Zealander born, being a son of tho Hon, O. J. Johnston, M.L.O. He joined Prince of Wales (North Staffordshire) Regiment in 1891. Accompanying the Sudan expedition in 1896, he took part in the operations on September 19, and subsequently received the Egyptian medal, with clasp, and also the English medal. He saw active service in South Africa from 1900 to 1902; was twice mentioned in dispatches, and received the Queen's Medal with three clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps. On July 16 this year, Colonel Johnston, while on furlough from India, was appointed to succeed Colonel Ohaytor in tho command of the Wellington military district. Colonel G. N. Johnston. R.A., is regarded as one of the most capable Imperial officers who. has ever served in New .Zealand, and a 9 Director of Ordnance has done a great deal to raise the Coast Defence Artillery and the Field Artillery to a high pitch of efficiency. He commands the Field Artillery Brigade of the Expeditionary Force, and the appointment is eminently justified by his wido experience and acknowledged ability. Colonel Johnston has served with distinction in England, the West Indies, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand. In this country he has served two terms, from 1904 to 1907, as Act-ing-Staff Officer, and from 1911 to 1914 as Director of Ordnance. A New Zealand officer with an honourable record of war service is Colonel A. Bauohop, who commands the Otago Mounted Infantry Regiment. He went to the Boer 'War in a mounted corps as a subaltern, and a few months later was promoted, to a captaincy. His sorvices in the Transvaal, Natal, and Orange River Colony, cxteuding over more than two years, were rewarded by promotion to the' rank of Major, the Queen's Medal with four clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps, and a C.M.G. Major J. G. Hughes, Assistant Military Secretary, is another officer who served with distinction in South Africa, and earned tho D,8,0, Captain L, M, Shhara, Commanding too Field Trooj}, of the Najj,

Zealand Engineers, served in tho Boer War as a lieutenant, and wears the King's Medal with three clasps. Captain Guy Powles, Brigade-Major of the Mounted Brigade, went to South Africa in 1900 as sergeantmajor of the Wellington Squadron of tho Fourth Contingent, and served in tho Boer War under General R. H. Davies. He received tho Queen's Modal with four clasps and was promoted lieutenant during tho campaign. This cursory review might be continued indefinitely. Tho list of officers of the Expeditionary Force who have seen war service has by no means been exhausted, but enough has been written to dispel any idea, if such should exist, that the Force is led solely or largely by officers who have received their training only under peace conditions. It is true that some of the most capable officers in the Force have never seen a shot fired in anger, but the Staff and regimental commands are largely filled by men who have been trained in war. This is entirely as it should be, and justifies a confident belief that the New Zealand Expeditionary Force will be led and directed in the field in a manner worthy of the splendid material of which it is composed.