BRITAIN IN WAR TIME.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 January 1918, Page 6

BRITAIN IN WAR TIME.

SIDELIGHTS ON SLING.

RED TAPE IN THE ARMY. .A New Zealand soldier writes from an English hospital as follows: There is- only one industry here in England, and that is the making of war. The minds of everybody and the hands of most men, women and even children are occupied with war. It is staggering when one first comes in contact with this war spirit. When taken ashore in tenders. The tenders were moored by men of 60 and upwards. At first it was amusing, but soon we felt the solemnity of the fact that this task of berthing was being performed by men who were old enough to be our grandfathers. Ashore, we formed up for entraining, and we got our nest surprise. A convoy of wounded had arrived from France. Ambulance after ambulance came up in quick succession, and was skilfully manoeuvred into position. Every driver was of the fair sex, and very fair members of the fair sex they were. Metaphorically we took off our hats. TRAINING METHODS AT SLING We were soon introduced- to the Sling method. It is short, sharp, and effective, but in the retrospect there j is mueh that can be criticised. However, :■. Sling warrant officer took us in charge, and when we rather clvrmsily executed a manoeuvre which we had not performed for three months, he told us sarcastically that we were "no longer sheep." I think that statement could be questioned. Meantime joyful demons called out. "They'll shake the tar out of you." Well, we did get it rather in the neek, because we were ! to be reviewed with the remainder of the brigade by the Duke of Connaught in three days. The Sling non-commis-sioned officers ran us off our feet. For j two days we did about 18 hours' work j between reveille and lights-out. We were drawn up on parade, right-dress-ed, inspected, and re-inspected, packs up. We were made to stand at attention for 10 minutes on end, we had to stand at ease, but motionless, for apparently interminable periods ad nauseam. And then came the review. Miracles had been wrought. Every man stood erect, motionless, soldierly rank on rank, line dn line were as clearly defined as 'the line on line in a geometrical drawing. It' was a sight to make the .most unemotional sv. T ell with pride. If only the mothers fathers, wives, sweethearts, sisters and all these who wait at home with straining hearts could see their splendid soldier boys in review order as I have seen them they would well-nigh burst with pride. I am sure that no part of the Empire can show a finer stamp of physical manhood than is to be seen in any body of New Zealand troops. THE NEW ZEALAND SYSTEM There is something in the air here which makes all our men warlike. They put their backs into the business here. In New Zealand the majority are half-hearted. Mind you learn a lot in New Zealand. The only pity is that so much time is wasted there in fatigues, guards and through a certain amount of muddling in the work programmes. Nevertheless, as far as soldierliness goes troops leaving New Zealand are a poor specimen. Sling -works the transformation . It could not do what it does in the time except for what the men are taught in New Zealand. I think it is safe to say that during the first three days the majority of .the men are positively depressed. We soon get used to Sling, though, and in a week are happy. The work programmes are carried through without ' hitch, without delay. Meals, ample meals, are ready to the minute. There are two complaints w T hich may be made seriously about the Sling training: There is too mueh theory and too many petty restrictions. At the front, the prime essentials are a hardy physique and the power to dig rapidly Personally, I never handled a spade until I helped to dig in before Passchendaele, under shell-fire. There is not sufficient attention paid to the development; of Strength and endurance in the training. Hence, when men are given a 10-mile march, 901 b. up, scores fall out. A day carrying wounded knocks the reinforcement soldier right out, unless he be naturally powerful. THEORY AND PRACTICE. The duties of a corporal are to work like the men, lead his section in action and apportion their rations. The duties of a sergeant, are to see to the needs of the platoon, generally instruct his section leaders as to their duties and apportion the respective section's rations to the corporals. Any ordir.rxily intelligent experienced private can do the active service work of a N.C.0., if he be given opportunity But to pass 'the N.C.O.'s exc- Ination at Fling one must learn all >rts of theory much of it appertaining to the spher? of a major, or even a colonel, and when he gets to the front he does not know how to dig rapidly and has nab the stamina to do heavy fatigues.

The private soldier, indeed, is better off in the latter respect, but even he is hindered with theory. That's how we win the war! Another way is to have saluting patrols 'three miles in the rear of the firing line taking the names of men who fail to salute officers. Another important part of the training and encouragement of the British soldier, especially the New Zealnad soldier, is to detail special police In London to seo that the man just back from the trenches does not put his hand in his pocket or fail to salute the officer whoso daily labours keep him attached to the pay office or the records department. It is well known that the soldier on leave in London must be especially careful about saluting when in the neighbourhood of staff offices or he may be arrested and his leave cancelled. PEELINGS OF EESENTMENT There is a growing bitterness among the troops against the miserable insistence on red tape punctiliousness and what seems like a determined effort to build up an officer caste and to destroy the democratic spirit of the armies. I am really serious in saying this, and the New Zealand authorities seem to be the strongest and most conscien--ious supporters of the system. It has been stated in orders that wounded men. able to salute will not be excused any neglect to comply -with the regulation. That means men with an arm in a sling, with wounded hands or shoulders, in fact, any walking case.

It has been insisted that it is only polite for soldiers to offer their seats in trains or trams to" officers who may be standing. All this is in contradiction to the active service spirit, and war conditions.

The red tape spirit seems to seek to interfere with the soldiers' leisure everywhere. In Sling, church parade is made so much a matter of drill that it takes up the whole morning, and destroys" the character of the services. There is a New Zealand Club in Salisbury, but so little leave is granted New Zealand soldiers that the club exists particularly for Australians, the New Zealanders being confined to a five-mile radius.

An old soldier was telling me yesterday of a guard of four men, which was appointed for ceremony's sake in France. Its sole duties were to walk about before headquarters and salute the colonel. When the guard was changed a band of about 30 men played suitable selections and the old guard marched away led by the bandfour men! That is the kind of thing that is going to malce the army unpopular after tho war, and many who, no doubt, would have considered the army as a profession, will be deterred.