A SOLDIER'S ADVICE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2384, 13 February 1915, Page 8

A SOLDIER'S ADVICE

TO A YOUNG VOLUNTEER

HINTS ON HOW TO SUCCEED

_A fully qualified soldier stationed in Kumafci, Ashanti, West Africa, writes to a brother who has enlisted in Kitohoner's Army as follows I learn from the latest letters from home, that there is a chance that you are for the front.

I hardly know what to 6ay to yon. It seems to me that I should be tho one to go, not you, but it seems fated that I, who am an efficient cavalryman and icady for immediate eervice, should be stuck here messing about with petty little German Colonies and not in the firing-line at that. I am here a finjdiefj. signaller, and holder of medals for shooting, messing around jvith supply and transport. I have begged and prayed to bo seat to the Cameroons with the troops, but all ol bo avail, and if I were home i should be snapped up and sent, straight away wthe scene of action. * Now, should you join, I want to give you a few hints as to service witlr the colours, and I am suro you will find them ,useful. .In tho first place choose an infantry regiment—not because I prefer infanI have all a cavalryman's prejudice against foot filogging—but because it takes longer to make an efficient cavalryman than an efficient infantryman, and there is little time before you." In' tho -next place, choose a plain county corps. I have no faith in tho highflown fancy variety. The. London Rifles or Fusiliers, are good eorps. Let the ."nuts" join tho others.

Implicit and ungrumbling obedience is, the first duty of a soldier. The man that obeys cheerfully, whatever duty he is called upon to do gets the promotion. A grouser never goes ahead. You will be called upon to do many unpleasant tilings that you. have no. idea'of. Remember that tho man.'who giv.es trouble to his N.C.O.s gets a bad name and makes himself disliked. Promotion -is, almost .entirely,.in the hands of the non-commissioned officers.

The regimental sergeant-major has almost more power in this way than the O.C. or company officer. . .-P 031 ',*' take an employed job unless it be in orderly-room, or the stores. I should think you would get on well in orderly-room

, It is important to be. always clean and smart in appearance. After a few months' training ,vou will be able to tell whether a thing is dirty or not. The average civilian cannot - recognise dirt when it is right in front of his eyes. Make yourself absolutely' proficient and a master of your arm 6 Don't get known as "sloppy." A sloppy l soldier is worse than. none at all. ' Absolute steadiness on parade marks the difference between the professional and amateur soldier. '

Whatever happens in the ranks, when on . parade and standing at attention, keep absolutely still, eyes to the front, face / expressionless. -Neve.v laugh at anything—an instructor hates a-clown —and don't fidges. Wlicn completing a movement with the rifle "or other arms, , such as "Slope arms," "Order arms,'.', you,.will, probably .feel at first that you are. hot holding, your rifle correctly. . Don't niove, if you have not got the right, angle at the slope or you feel that-the ..butt of the .rifle is away from your foot at the order ; vour instructor will soon toll yc-u. "in tho meantime keep absolutely steady and don't, fidget. Nothing looks worse in 'the ranks than a lot of fidgety men. This is what spoils: most volunteer line-ups. You'must be absolutely rigid and alert for the next order.

You will find yourself amonfs men many of whom will ridKrulo this and that, and make, light; man who wants tor go ahead; Don't; be afraid of them; at the samo time don't make yourself unpopular with them. These same men are just as keen to get on. but for somo silly reiasdn —afraid of ridicule perhaps—don't like to show it.' . . . '

If you feel yourself proficient and . a good soldier, don't shdut . about it. ; Your officers will soon' find: it out fdr, themselves, and the men don't like a. blow-hard.

Don't refuse "a beer", with a man or fail to stand your share, but don't go in for any "busts." At the same time don't look down on.the mail who occasionally gets . a bit fuddled; they, very often make the best soldiers in the firing-line.

Remember over-exuberance of spirits invariably leads to orderly-room and the "chink." Keep a clean 'sheet ;'a series of ; petty ' "crimes" is thought worse of than one big one. But don't go in for either. Your crime sheets are kept in orderly-room and every crime is an If you are recommended for promotion, your C.O. consultß your crime sheets. There are two —a company sheet and/ a regimental sheet. All "C.8." (confined to • barracks) up to eight days is entered on i the company crimo sheet. Eight days' "C.8." and over and all cell 6 go on tho regimental crime sheet. Your regimental crime sheet aifects good conduct pay and your character on discharge. Never argue with an N.C.O. of officer, and remember a' newly-made lace-cor-poral is as much your senior officer as the colonel. Don't look down on him ; look up to him and help him; he's probably a better man than yourself. Some- N.C.O.S are rotters, and it's-a mystery how they get their stripes, but remember that as far as you are concerned they are your superiors and must be obeyed. Both the red. books and the Prayer-book instruct you in your demeanour towards them. However much you despise them, don't 6how it and don't talk about any N.C.O. or officer to your comrades. Barrack-room talk has a habit of. getting repeated elsewhere.

Now, all this, is good advice, and if you keep it before you and act on it you can't go far wrong; it is what I hare learnt by experience.If you go, then good luck to yon and a safe return, and don't.forget. to write me from tho front. I shall be amiously waiting to hoar from you.