DISCIPLINE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2781, 27 May 1916, Page 8

DISCIPLINE

WHAT IT MEANS TO THE SOLDIER. • During the course of a farewell gathering tendered to members-of the Commercial Travellers' Associations by-the local association last evening, Lieut.-Golonel W. U. Duthie made a few impressive remarks on discipline. He stated that.the form of discipline that was being enforced oh the men in the camps was not being done for 'the fun of the tiling by the officers concerned. It was being done for the benefit of the men themselves, for discipline meant the saving of lives —the prevention of death.. He illustrated his 'remarks by relating fhat two regiments of the line—not ,ICitchen'er's, but the regular Army—had gone to Franco in tho early singes of the war, one not so well disciplined as tlio other. They were given practically the same work to do, but the best disciplined of those regiments bad lost 50 men, the other 500 men. Anil there was a ease where another regiment at the front, which had lost heavily, was placed under stricter discipline, ami at once its losses began to drop. Discipline meant to do what was wanted to tho vcrv l.est of their ability; to halt when they were halted, and to advance when ordered until they-were told not 'to. Ho also dwelt on the practice of saluting officers, and remarked that .lie had swn two sergeants deliberately turn . their heads awav when they saw a Staff officer approaching, in order that they wild not have to salute him. He thought that Avas disgraceful, and advised Ihe noncommissioned officers present to lose 110 •opportunity of impressing upon the men under them the veal value of discipline. Lieut.-Colonol Duthie's earnest address was listened to with marked attention, and be was heartily applauded for his remarks on that one essential, beyond all others—disciuline.