THE "SEVENTEENTHS"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2881, 20 September 1916, Page 7

THE "SEVENTEENTHS"

INFANTRY COMPLIMENTED

ADDRESSED BY COL. GIBBON

Tho Chief of tho General Staff, Colonel C. M. Gibbon, addressed the whole of tho Seventeenth Reinforcements at Featherston yesterday morning, and reviewed their work whilo in camp. At tho samo time ho exprcss■ed his opinion concerning tho various arms in the draft. Colonel Gibbon said that the Mounted Riflos had probably been longer incamp than any reinforcements previously, and their training had benefited accordingly. . Tho draft was strong, and well up to tho standard of previous Mounted Rifles. Their shooting had created a record. High as tho standard was before, they had beaten it. . The Artillery was a good' draft, up I to the average of any sent, in the past. [ Their shooting with livo. shell was very satisfactory indeed, and showed their training had been thorough. Tho Fiold Engineers had been in camp longer than any previous draft of Engineers, and had been trained well. Wet weather had interfered slightly with their training, but not sufficiently to cause 'any serious interference. . The Signal unit of the Engineers was as good a draft as any yet sent. Their work with the artillery and machiue-gun draft was extremely satisfactory. Tho machine-gun specialists had probably had bettor opportunities than previous drafts of specialists. He hoped that when they arrived at the base they would be well reported on by tho instructors on the other side. . The Infantry signallers .were, as good as previous drafts. With tho Infantry generally Colonel Gibbon said he was gratified. They were a good all-round draft, with good men and officers, particularly as thoy had had to work under difficulties. They had had a few extra days in camp in which to mako up for timo lost through bad weather. The men were fit, well trained, and with the proper spirit, as shown by their behaviour on the march over the hill—a march performed under had weathor conditions and more difficult owing to the fact that thoy started from tho Wellington sido insteadl of from the Featherston side. Colonel Gibbon proceeded to emphasise the importance of discipline and the necessity of saluting, quoting Sir William Birdwood's statement that Without disciplino troops were of no use. He urged the men to bo careful not to miss tho transports at ports of call. The man who fell out by tho way was no uso at all, and all tho money that had been spent in training him was wasted. The man who absented himself from the firing line was called a- traitor, but what should, thoy say of tho man who failed .to get there? ,