TERRITORIAL TRAINING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 158, 23 March 1918, Page 7

TERRITORIAL TRAINING

ADDRESS BY COLONEL SLEEMAN. , The value of the territorial system to New Zealand was emphasised in an address given by' Lieutenant-Colonel J. Li Sleeman on Saturday to the men temporarily' quartered at the Narrow Neck camp." ; Addressing the men Colonel Sleeman said:— :' ■'"This great war has _ shown three things:—That an aggressive enemy oh'serves neither'troaties nor conventions; that an army of soldiers is valueless if only partially trained; that a modem defence is enormously strong providing each individual soldier is effi-. cionfc Efficiency- cannot be : gained in a month. ' Before a Territorial can be really efficient he must concentrate on his work for at least two' years.. As a'rule-the-man who dislikes military training does so for the following reasons Failure to realise its iniportancOj or the immense value of individual efficiency; he regards military trairiing as a form of unpleasant work; living an independent life, he objects being ordered about, and dictated to. When a soldier finds that the military training improves him both mentally and physically, and increases his civil welfare, he naturally finds his military work of interest and value. - .The eno* ret is-not to treat military training'as a-form of drill, or necessary work, but, •to regard it as a game or- pastime. Just as in football, efficient combiria-, tion is half the success, of a match, and each member has his particular role to perform, so with soldiering. "As a game, military training offers far more interesting possibilities, than any other," said Colonel Sleeman. "Its problems: are unlimited, and differ in an r extraordinary deg'res according to the grasp. Once learn to regard military training as a game, -its teachings will prove attractive instead of dull. This is a common-sonse. and .democratic age, and it may bo taken for granted that all that is. unneces-' sary 'and archaic has been removed from military training. Saluting,- for example, may- seem unnecessary, but it is the external sign of good discipline and that of a great brotherhood. . For, if a soldier has to salute an officer, so the officer has to salute the soldier. Therefore a military salute unless improperly performed, is not a .sign of servility, but of equality. Between 1014 and 1918 your units have woii undying fame on the battlefields of the world. . Some of your regiments aro as familiar to the world as the most famous of the Imperial regiments. Whatever regimental traditions you' had before tho war have now beenadded to a thousandfold. Therefore,' as a regiment lives on its traditions; always remember that you are not hon- 1 ouring, but are honoured, by»belonging to. your unit, and that those who have given thoir lives for the Dominion have entrusted, you with a most precious charge. The honour, esprit de corps,' and reputation of your unit are in your ' safe-keeping. It rests with you whether you add to its lustre, keep it spotloss, or besmirch it.