NO VACANCIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 199, 11 May 1918, Page 8

NO VACANCIES

TERRITORIAL OFFICERS IN CAMP

£3000 IN PAY

AN ULTIMATUM—AND- THBEAT OF

PROSECUTION

The case of the Territorial officers, now on leave from camp, whose cases have perplexed the aucnoritics tor some time was mentioned yesterday betoro tho Defence Expenditure Loin mission. The following question was addressed to General Kooin:—lt is reported that about the middle of 191" some (iO or 7U officers, mainly Territorials, were taken into camp for'whom commissions in tho Expeditionary Force could not be found. If this statement is correct pieafce oxplain :—

(a) How this state of affairs arose? (b; Was employment found for these officers, and on what duty? (c) Were they discharged or granted leave? If the"latter, was it with or without pay?

(d) 116 »■ nuicih this error, if committed, cojt?

(e) What is the pYosent position of tihe matter?

Ctstiei'iil Kobin gave the following writton reply:—"The question is merely one of supply and demand. We huvo available a number of Territorial officers who lack experience in the present war, for whom vacancies cannot be found in the reinforcement drafts. The number of officers involved, is really 42, which represents the balance ■ of two classes drawn from 63 officers who were mobilised in July and August, 11)17, for a special course of training. As the result of this courso 20 candidates were selected from among those who gained the higihest marks, the remainder being given leave. • As they objected to the •conditions under which they proceeded to camp, viz., that if found unsuitable, or if no vacancies existed for their appointment to the Expeditionary Force with commissioned rank, they should be reverted temporarily for service in the Expeditionary Force as n.c.o.'s. "The question is a matter of policy, and is now under consideration. The officers were in the first place granted leavo without pay, but us a solution of the problem could not be found, and the officers concerned were without, means, pay was issued from time to time, up to March 1 1), 1918. No employment .was found for these officers, as it was impossible to foresee when this question would bo 'settled, 'ind leave wus only granted for short periods. They were not sunt back to camp for the reason that thoir presence there created discontent which was upt to depreciate the value of their o\vn mid their comrades' training. Their pay whilst on leave amounted to 4,'2D6G.

"It is not admitted that an error was committed, ns the situation was forced on by the provisions of the Military Service Act, which is no respecter of persons in its insistence that every fit man must proceed abroad when his turn comes. The Military Service Act hud tho effect of throwing a surplus of inexperienced officers on our hands, and the legal difficulties involved in. reconciling the provisions of the Military. Service Act with the necessity for respecting the King's Commission, if possible, caused unavoidable 'delay • Guarding these 01li 1 - cers' disposal. This problem exists in other parts of the Empire, as .npplica-, tions are being received asking for employment here, the applicants stating thev are surplus in their own Dominions."

"Since this answer was written," General Itobin continued, "ft decision has been come to. The men will have to come into camp as sergeants in the middle of this month."

General Anderson said he appreciated tho difficulty of the situation. "But,'" ho said, "they must be a funny sort of chaps. After having had all the swank of being officers, in peace times, in time of war they will not fight unless on their own terms." .He spoke in the strongest terms of another officer, a lieutenant-colonel, who had refused to go unless given his rank, which carried pay and allowances' at JifiOO.n year. General Anderson asked: "What if these men will not go as eergeants? They have commissions?"

General Robin: They will be prosecuted ns desertors. This is the last offer for them. If they do not come in as sergeants they will have to come in ns deserters.

General Anderson: The pathetic thing is that these young fellows should force such a situation on the Government.

No further reference was made to the matter at the commission.

It is understood that the party of officers have made their arrangements for just such. a contingency a.s has arisen. They have been legally advised that they must be given commissioned rnnk, and that they cannot be deprived of their commissions except as the ; result of a court-martial. ' They will probably fight the authorities, and there will be some legal proceedings.