THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1881.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2336, 29 September 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1881.

VOLUNTEER MATTERS. Theke is no want of “ go ” among out Volunteers. They are always perfectly willing, and indeed eager, to go where there may bo any chance of fighting. During the Native crisis of ’79 and ’SO, it will be remembered that the Christchurch Volunteers were the first to offer their services for the front, and their example was quickly followed by corps from every part of the colony. And now, it will bo observed by the telegrams in yesterday’s issue, the Wellington Artillery has signified its readiness to proceed to Taranaki whenever the Government may think fit. It is to be presumed that the same reply will be returned to its application as was given, two years ago to the Christchurch Volunteers, namely, that the Government were obliged for the offer, that there was no immediate necessity for Volunteers, but that, if there were, the services of the applicants would be gratefully accepted. The readiness of Volunteers during two separate crises to go to the post of danger, to sacrifice both time and money, and to undergo all tho hardships inseparable from a campaign against active enemies in a rough country, shows that tho force

is not merely a paper force, that onr citizen soldiers are not merely parade and drawing-room soldiers, and that, notwithstanding the small support given to it by Government, the success and largo utility of the movement are undoubted.

But, while it ia gratifying to note all this, the question naturally arises as to how onr Volunteers would acquit themselves in the field. That they would fight like Trojans, that they would be prepared to rough it and pnt np with such rations as might he provided—of this there can be no doubt. But the efforts of men, however brave and hardy, are, unfortunately, often dependent for success on the manner in which they are led. Tho victories of Hannibal were not gained because his soldiers were braver than tho Homans, but were due to tho fact that, although he had only one eye, that eye was a remarkably sharp one. And, working downwards from that somewhat remote example, wo find the pages of history thickly studded with accounts of engagements, great and small, in which valour was entirely wasted by reason of the inefficiency of tho officers. In considering, therefore, what would become of any part of our Volunteer force if it were sent to the front, it becomes necessary to treat of the efficiency of the officers of the force as a most considerable factor. That a large number of officers work zealously and thoroughly cannot be doubted, but, owing to the faults of tho present system, it is equally certain that another contingent do nothing of the sort. From several parts of the colony we find complaints coming in against the manner in which officers do their duty. In Nelson tho Volunteers have gone so far as to burn in effigy a gallant but inefficient captain, and an enquiry is being, or is going to ho, hold on tho whole circumstances of the case. As matters at present stand there is no means of getting rid of an officer who, annoying and useless as he may fee on the parade ground, would he absolutely dangerous to those under his command when on active service. Tho Government have certainly promised to re-organize the force, and we trust the securing of a stream of competent officers will he the first care of those directing the reorganization, but the existing crisis draws particular attention to the present unsatisfactory manner in which the larger part of the force appears to be officered. Let ns take the Christchurch Volunteers for example, and suppose that they were once more to offer their services for the front, and that their offer was accepted. What drill do they ever undergo here that would suit them for skirmishing and bush warfare ? Absolutely none. The tactics which their training would lead them to follow out would ensure their speedy annihilation, at least if their instinct and common sense were not to immediately induce them to abandon those tactics. If we were to ask certain individual officers whether they had ever contemplated what they would do in the event of their having to lead those under their command against a body of active Maoris in bush country, we should confidently expect a reply that the idea had never entered their heads. Certainly if they have any views on the subject, they keep them remarkably close, and conceal them most carefully from those whoso lives might ultimately depend on their possession of some knowledge of skirmishing tactics. Indeed, some of the orders issued in the Christchurch Drill i Shed might lead to very peculiar results 1 if given in the presence of the enemy. 1 One of our gallant officers is rather fond of the following:—“On your centre right about backwards wheel.” The issue of this word of command is generally followed by silence and stupefaction. The spirit of tho men is willing, but their flesh is weak. Pandits learned in Volunteer matters have been approached with the view of ascertaining what this order may happen to mean, hut they have, with one exception, all declared that they are unable to fathom it. This one, indeed, suggests that it may be a relic of the orders given by Spartacns to the body of gladiators and acrobats at one time under his command, hut even this ingenious pnndit cannot quite see how the movement could have been carried out even by such a select body of troops. Now, supposing in the face of the enemy our Volunteers were ordered to complicate them in this astonishing manner. One of two results would inevitably follow. Either they would bo incontinently cut to pieces while in the process of being properly mixed up, or the Maori commander would be so startled at a movement so utterly unexplainable that he would suspect the worst, and hastily retire. The latter is a possible solution, but we coffees to thinking that the experiment would he hardly worth the risk. Notwithstanding the possibilities hidden in this and similar words of command, we should prefer to see our Volunteers led by men eager to adopt the newest phases of tho science of war, and to see that their men were drilled practically and efficiently.