TEACHING HIM HIS LESSON.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 January 1918, Page 4

TEACHING HIM HIS LESSON.

A short time ago, says the "San Francisco Argonaut," a private at the Plattsburg army camp passed a young lieutenant without saluting. \ The Plattsburgcr was one of those whoso honours sit Heavily on rather narrow shoulders, and he at once called the private's attention to his oversight. The private apologised, explained that he was a raw recruit, and was thinking of something else at the moment, and promised that he would not again fail i n showing proper courtesy. But the lieutenant as the report goes, saw fit to impress the lesson on the new arrival more forcefully, and ordered him to make amends on the spot by saluting 200 times. The soldier began his task, but the officer in his haste had set a rather high figure, and after a few minutes many other men of the camp had come along and stopped to watch tho performance. When quite a company had collected a colonel came that way, and paused to learn what was going on. After hearing the lieutenant's report, superior officer asked the private for his version. Upon hearing it the colonel, turning again to the lieutenant, inquired, "And when a private salutes you, what do you do?" "I return it," was the reply. The colonel then quickly concluded his own part of the incident, which on the whole must have been quite entertaining to bystanders, by saying, "Return the salutes."