FUTURE OFFICERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3090, 22 May 1917, Page 7

FUTURE OFFICERS

THE TRAINING OF CADETS

"BARRACKS" AT WANGANUI • COLLEGE

Wangumi .Catotf ' had iof■ lffiif t 'i leem » a . I-Q-S.. Director ?Li ii F Tra c ,nu! ?. The inetnictioß W f* f OI 'V £ * "military barracks," days fie boy 9 their ticil »L A irS '5 Military'training, prac- * tl™* thfor * tJ e«!- K the course of 'Slea££ \SSF A f he "'ndertaking/ Major ! te ah™ ♦■ that hifl mBJn object ™* 'and Z,}*? H* tllat stricl discipline ■inSrW^ ful ln « lT idnal and) progressive •«n« ' aon were ' essential to militarjf" c and also that military work could ;w»-B»ade interesting, and would be found 'vn a * a , man y of the elements that ( >aaas tor keennecs and success in all |P°f«, a* , ! games. Hβ had in mind the tract that many o f the cadets of the ool&,J6le approaching military ogo, and be required presently i 0 take their places in the Territorial Amy or even in the Expeditionary Force. "The ;ooy« worked with' . marked keenness. :;iney made rapid increase in efficiency, : and the 'Tjarracks" is held to ha.ve been *mly justified by the results attained. ..In a report to Defence Headquarters, -Major tJeeman states that after his eiiPenence ot Wanganui College he has ■avery hope and belief that the work aone will have a lasting impression, not iopiy.oa the Cadets, but also on the Ter--HtonaljMite'they subsequently join. In Recognition of the foot .that Ha) The bet- ' -n^ 6 C ffi the h6ttei the Territorial will be; (b) the secondary schools con- ™» a large percentage of the best maWial for future officers; (c) that, while endeavouring: to create a spirit of competition, between secondary school units, iifc is _ only fair thai equal classes of instruofaoa be given to all units; (d) that ■n enables the Headquarters Staff to detect weak points or faults in administration, -or training Ho earnestly recom- ? 6l V as ,. that similar "barracks" should »|> neld in. sJI secondary schools in the 4.OHUBIOD, with euoh. modifications as '■™f7 be a««Mry to. suit different conditions. The cost to the Defence Department is practically nothing, the whole extra cost in the case of this college feeing borne by the college. Four days of concentrative, effort on the part of a ;a>mpetent and tactful instructional staff .means not only improved" discipline and TbT£V-?° ienc k- also the ? rol >- «bjlityof its resulting in many hundreds '.•with a thorough knowledge of their work. ■Vnt elu ol^' 3 H the '' Territorial ,Force of the future, he adds, is incal-.

,, In a, supplementary report, Mr. P. Marshall, head master of the Wanganui College, states :-"The effect on tKe ihool i*as m all. respects satisfactory. The Easpensioa of scTiool wort did not pro™ ■serious with reference to the bora' studies. The punctilious insistence on smartness in appearance and action. ,wfiict is always associated with military inspection, left a noticeable impression Jn the minds of the cadets. The barTacks had a most marked influence in increasing the keenness for the ordinary ;tolhtary weekly drill. .The fact that for two Tuars this had been conducted ; .without arms had, caused it to become somewhat perfunctory and devoid' of interest. The use of arms and application er the ordinary parade ground movements to approaching and attacking a position and to other movements of the same nature- as. in actual warfare gave' ,an edge to the whole conception, of parade 'Sferf'ti, Jt /e™lu«onfeed the atti- ■. d , eof .,J; he ordinary boy towards drill ;and: military I enthusiasm is now great. Thus while the general effect on the school has been distinctly good, the bar«f°H?'fe S ] f r « eI >' ohan ged the attitude of the boys towards military duties. To ay knowledge, it has caused several ■J?* B .*? iesa <> to take an active part in tie defence forces and to aspire for cornMissions is them.