RE TERRITORIAL OFFICERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 201, 14 May 1918, Page 6

RE TERRITORIAL OFFICERS

Sir,—lf "Well-ivislicr" writes with the; idea of euliatinj; sympathy on behalf ol" Territorial officers who have been comfortably eating, sleeping, and aiuusiuj; themselves ill these years while others havo been doing lor otherwise he does, I ■think, most signally fail. "Well-wither" , makes a point of saying that Territorial; officers who had never been on active , service were given commisMons in tho Expeditionary Force when drafts were first being sent from this country. Quito true. Who else could go at that tune? Also how many Terfitonnl officers rnshwi: (o Inko (heir pliices in tho ranks ratherthan bo left k'hind? These officers who. scorn tho idea of going as sergeants musthavo had many i pportunities of getting away with commissions in some of tho. earlier reinforcements prior to conscription. They did not try, and the only conclusion one can arrive at is that; they were disinclined to face the various, unpleasing prospects and tho more thaa slight dangers ahead. They kept hanging: off in the hope of the war finishing and. leaving them once more to stroll up and. down in front of their men with a proud, commanding. mien, in pleasant ireather,. amid pleasant eurroundingß, and safe, from projectiles. Does it never occur tothese "chocolate soldiers" that, supposing tho Government acqniesoed in their preposterous demands and they wore sent t<s the front with their present rank, they would be the objects not of respect dueto officore, but of ridicule, on the part of those whom they we're supposed to comtuand? "Well-wisher" suggests that family ties kept them here. If that is. the case, why did they ever take commissions in the Territorial Army? Wasi It that by so doing they raised their' status from whatever it was to that of officers, and allowed them to parade before their womenfolk in all the glory ok starred military trappings? In l-emuus-cent moments one has the idea that officers are supposed to set an example to tho rest of the community in dash, bravery, and leadership. These men have taken advantage of their unique positions to escape the laws of conscription. Their profession as Territorials i* a fighting: one, and it seems singular that they are. shielding themselves behind this very '■profession. Thoy are givou tho chance to. go as sergeants. What a battle some of tho Main Body men and others have had. to attain this position; and compare one of those veterans with any oi. theso modest gentlemen! Let the pubhoi judge who nro the best men.—l am. eta.,.