A BATTALION OUT OF NOTHING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2705, 26 February 1916, Page 7

A BATTALION OUT OF NOTHING

LORD KITCHENER'S TASK IN LITHE HOW A MAJOR MOULDED MEN AND OFFICERS (R. Franklin Tate, in the "Daily News."). A British major has given M. Angustux Filon an interesting description of how he raised a battalion for Lord Kitchener. When -war was declared he filled a chair at one of our great Universities. Throwing up chair and'laboratory, he joined the Army, was in France by August 5, and for the next six months was oil active scrvice. Invalided home, he was 110 sooner well again than he applied at the War Office for fresh employment..- His record was evidently a brilliant one, for without further ado ho was made a major, and given a battalion. So far all went well. "I proceeded," says the major, "to the locality indicated, and I found that my battalion was not in existence. I had at my 'disposal, to lodge the soldiers, a deserted station, some superannuated trucks, and disused racing stables. But there were no men. In the first week three arrived. 11l the second, two. No officers or non-coms.

"I perceived that I should have to depend on my own efforts. So 1 set off to recruit. Every day I visited the Bast End of Loudon. As offices I had three or four gaily-painted booths. I had the luck to get hold of 5 a young officer full of nerve and go, -who improvised meetings and addressed tlio crop'd at every street corner. After a time wo organised recruiting concerts and picture shows, representing our men marching, drilling, digging trenches, and throwing grenades, also seated at tabic in front of a good dinner. Before long as many as sixty men a week joined. These men were much the same class of recruits that wore sent to reinforce Wellington in the lines of Torres Vedras, men whom he called 'a rabble,' but whom he converted into heroes.

Military Spirit Lacking. "You must bear in mind that what is lacking in this country is not courage but the military spirit: How could it be otherwise, when for ceu turies it lias been our object to develop ill the English people a spirit which is quite different, tho exact opposite, in fact, tiro spirit of independence and self-government? I frankly confess that, soldier as I am at the present moment, I prefer that spirit to the military spirit. But there are cases in which the military spirit becomes absolutely indispensable to defend the conquests of the spirit of liberty and the institutions created by it. We are uow in a crisis of this kind." "How did you procure your non-com-missioncd officers?'' asked'M. Filon. "I picked out tlie best and most cup-, able of those who camo to me. I 1 trained them with the help of an old sergeant of regulars who was lent to me to serve as a model." "But how did you, a professor cf mathematics, learn to traiii nou corns. K' The major smiled. "Several years ago I' was captain instructor in tin officers' training corps. It was "here 1 learfrt ill about the duties of N.C.O.'s, and passed the same examinations as officer? of the Regular Army for promo-

tion." : "Good. And where did you get your officers?"

"Here, there, and everywhere. University students, young men of t'io middle clascss who had enlisted at the beginning of the war, retired N.C.O.'s recalled to service. I have also some officers who fought in France, and who le. gard their stay with my battalion as a rest,"

"From what you tell me," remarked M. Filon, "I gather that one . f tho results or tho war will he to open the officers' corps to the democracy. 1 was in England in 1871, when 11 r. Glnilstono secured the passing of the JWI abolishing tho purchase of comnns-iio.is. I thought I was going to seo the fall of the barrier, till then impassablo, winch scpafated, socially speaking, the officer from tho soldier.' To my astonishment, nothing of the kind happened." r A "Select" Hess. "You might again experience the same astonishment," replied tho Major. "It you come and dine at my mess you will "find it very select, and absolutely similar to what you saw at Aldcrshot'tcn or twenty years ago. The gentlemen by birth aro in a small minority. But, without tho least effort, tlitjy have imposed their manners on their new comrades, nnd to-day my corps of officers is perfectly homogeneous. "In fine, I iii my humble sphere have had to contend with, T. will not say all, but soma of tho difficulties which-our illustrious chief, Kitchener, has encountered on his path'. People who fancy that ,vou can make a soldier by putting a uniform on him have, perhaps, found fault with his slowness; but I admire tho rapidity with which hehas proceeded. Ask your experts if it is an easy task to create from tip to too an army of two or three million men when there are no cadrcs existing, and when you have to supply it with all the accessory forvicos necessary before it can take the field. It is relatively an easy matter to create infantry; but what about artillery, tho engineering corps, cavalry? It is an almost superhuman task, but I do not think. I. Api going too far when I say it is nearly accomplished. "And I do not speak of outside difficulties. Perhaps they were hardest to nvornome. It seems to me that pubiio opinion is now educated. Tho two elections which liavo recently taken placo prove 'this clearly. Keir Hardic, who cursed the war, lias been replaced by a man who is for war to the bitter end. "You must recollect that the English In war have always made a bad begina good ending, and that in all .the great international struggles in which they have taken part they have always dealt the last aim decisive blow. I hope it will be so this time." "I replied 'Amen,' " adds M. Filon.

To-morrow night a Trade Union and Labour Mass Meolin« will 1)8 lield in His ] Majesty's Theatre for tho purpose of welcoming the delegates l'rom the Broken Hill miners, Messrs. A. Carter nnd E. Wetherell. Mr. H. K. Holland ivill preside, and otlier speakers will 'be: Messrs. R. Seinple, -S. Roberts, D. Donovan, E. Kennedy, ,T." Glover, C. Grayndler, G. L. Glover, and Mrs. Donaldson. Tho Waterside Workers' Band will provide a musical 1 programme between 7 and 8 o'clock. , Miss Myrtle Nisbett will recite "Tho Miner." A collection will be taken up for the Broken Hill -Miners' I'und. Sinco coming to Wellington the two delegates have addressed the Labour Representation Committee, the Waterside Workers, the Drivers, the Carpenters, tho Bookbinders, and the Trades and Labour Council, and have met with most favourable receptions. A big crowd, is expected to-morrow night. All Labour officials aw! delegates are invited to the platform. The annual picnic of the Eastern Hutt and the Hutt District High Schools was lield 'yesterday at Maid--Bto no Park, Upper Hiitt, and was attended by about 800 children, besides a. fair number of adults. The. usual games and races were indulged in, and a most enjoyable time was spent.