"THE NINETEENTH "

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2840, 3 August 1916, Page 6

"THE NINETEENTH "

A SOLDIER'S ADVICE COLONEL POTTER ADDRESSES x RECRUITS Proof of the interest that is taken by new drafts of recruits at Trentluim in their camp surroundings is always to be found in the close attention with which tho men listen to the words oft he Gimp Commandant, Lieutenant-Colonel H. R. Potter, when headdresses them on the rules and regulations which govern tho soldier's life in the camp and in the field, and at the samo timo offers them valuable advice. i Yesterday afternoon Colonel Potter addressed the Nineteenth Infantry and Engineers' Reinforcement and tho officers and N.C.O.'s of the Twenty-first Reinforcements, and while mucb of what he said was on the lines of previous addresses, there were somo new points made. Fitness and discipline, Colonel Potter urged, were the basis on which Jin urmy was built, and a phrase which embraced the whole idea was "tho soldierly spirit." "I am sure," said the Commandant, "that when you leave these shores, if you have the good fortune to meet the Germans at once, you will prove to them that they were mistaken in thinking that you were undisciplined, and that you will be capable of meoting a disciplined army. You are our Nineteonth Reinforcements, and tho men who have gone before you have shown that New Zealandors are capable of-attaininir the finest stato of discipline that an army can possess. The Germans imagined that discipline could bo made at the point of the revolver, bilt that is not the British idea. Your officers will lead you, never drive you." "I take it for granted that you have come here to learn to be soldiers, and the first thing to be learned is discipline. Discipline and fitness give you confidence in your officers nnd comrades. In an army fitness is the main tiling, and we are going to'make you fit, both in mind and body, so that you will be able to meet tinv adversary on tho Continent, of Europe." Bat we can only do that if you pay attention to what is taught you. I assure you that if you do so,, by the time your training is finished in this camp, you need have no fear in meeting Germun, Austrian, or Turk. The German Emperor claimed that Britain's overseas foi cos could'not be trained to that pitch, of discipline that would make them a match for the trained armies of Ger r many. The German Emperor was wrong; and you men of the Nineteenth Reinforcements have to live up to the records of tho troops that proved him to be wrong. Never forset what you are taught in these camps, never forget your discipline, and see that you keep fit." ' In regard to keeping fit, Colonol Potter explained the system of camp, sanitation, and impressed upon each man his part iu the scheme. If any of them did fall sick, they must report at once at sick parade. It was no disgrace to bo sick, as long as it was unavoidable sickness. Other matters touched upon related _ ; ,to grievances and'their proper ventilation, behaviour on leave, especially in railway narriages and on steamers, respect for the military police, who were thoir comrades, and-the running ofj the canteen and other camp institutions.