BOY SOLDIERS IN CAMP

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 302, 17 December 1908, Page 4

BOY SOLDIERS IN CAMP

The lads under canvas had an experience of rough weather on Tuesday night. The tents, however, had been well pitched, and the situation was good, so that no inconvenience was fell from l the rain. "Lights out" was sounded at U.M p.m. I Long before the hour lixed for the reveille cadets were astir. .Many ol them took their dip in the lleuui, a line I swimming' hole skirting tin- ciiinp. Af-1 iter hreakfasl. the lads performed multifarious duties, and had the camp all spick-and-span by the lime Hie order caiins to march out and meet the members of lire Education lioard, who were paying aj) official visit. The party was I accorded a battalion escort.

Major Sandford welcomed the visito"s, without "frill," the .Major evidently putting comfort before elegance in the matter of attire in camp, probably because he may so frequently be found hard at it like a genuine sapper, cutting lirewood, constructing trenches, and so on. The ollicers do not seem to have 111 easy limes that occur in some camps, I lie reason being a scarcity of adult ollicers. Major Sandford, Captains Mcllroy and Bary, are in camp all day, but the other adult ollicers can take duty at night only.

The Education Hoard members were greatly taken with the site of the camp and the general arrangement. They were taken to sec t\ie new rilie range now in process of arrangement, and then, when "come to the cook-house, sally,' was sounded by a miniature bugier, they watched the orderlies lining up for the provender for their respective I tents. Yesterday's menu comprised stewed steak, potatoes, cauliflower and onions, followed by a treacle pudding. Judging by the strenuous attack mad-: and maintained, the boys were, appreciating their food thoroughly, and the empty dishes returning' made a hearty compliment to the cook. At 12.30 the bugler sounded the "ofli cers' mess,' and the visitors were entertained by the officers in their m'esstcnt. An excellent lunch was provided, ihe outers' orderlies acting as waiters, as though they had "been at the game Defore.'' At the conclusion of the meal, .Major Sandford thanked tiie ineinhcs of the Hoard (who were accompanied by the secretary and chief inspector) for their attendance. He said that the olli cers and the battalion esteem it a privilege to be able to demonstrate to the Board what was being done, ano tliey I were quite ready to accept any sugges- ! tioiis ior improvement if the visitors could see any point in which a change | might be beneficial. In regard to the oilicers' mess, he would like to explain 1 that the cost was borne by the officers, and if they had things served pertiaps a little differently to the boys, they did not rob the cadets for it. It was quite at their own expense. The expenses ot the camp generally were borne by tlif Department's capitation allowance of 3s lid a day, assisted by each cadet's payment of a, similar sum. Mr. Wade, chairman of Ihe Board, in thanking the officers for their invitation and generous hospitality, expressed the opinion that the camp seemed to be admirably managed. This camping-out under military discipline was an excellent tiling for the boys, both morally physically. Drill taught them now to stand and how to walk, and the discip-

'line did the boys good. He regretted very much that the Government would not do even more for the cadet movement than it was doing now, for lie be, lieved this was the cheapest and easiest method of providing the country with a trained force. The boys would never wholly forget what they learned now. and they could easily lie "licked into shape'' if oyer the occasion arose when •their services would be required. .Messrs. Wade, Tisch, Adlani and Kennedy made cash donations to the fund for shooting prizes in competitions to be held during the camp.

The cadets were afterwards assembled, and the Mayor, Mr. Tisch, addressed them briefly, congratulating tlieni upon their appearance and conduct, and exhorting them to exalt and maintain the reputation of the battalion to which they belonged.

Cheers for tlie Mayor ami the Board were given lustily. Quartermaster-Captain liiiry informed our representative that the eamp was indebted to tile parents of the hoys fov supply of vegetables; to a L'itzroy resilient for milk; and to the Eg'mont Brewery Company for a ipiantity of ginger beer. (This will he "on tap" today).

The Taranaki Guards have decided not to take part in the attack upon, the cadet camp this afternoon. The Rilles will manoeuvre as promised. The sentries do their regular rounds at the eamp, and their eagerness to p"o----teet ''tile lines" leads to some amusing incidents. Yesterday "Mr. F. V. Corkill, chairman of the Central School Committee, and Mr. T. (.'. Selraackenbcrg. p-e----sident of tile Chamber of Commerce, paid a visit to the place, arriving hy a short cut over the Tlenui. They safely negotiated the temporary bridge which had so unceremoniously plunged the ollk-cr-eonitiianding into the fcold, clear waters the day before, and then approached the lines". Presently they were brought to a standstill by the shrill command '-Jfalt!" from a diminutive but none the less important sentry. And he steadfastly refused to allow the visitors to proceed until an officer arrived and gave the necessary permission. The two gentlemen were much struck, by the manner hi which the little soldier gave the challenge and indignantly refused to be deprived for even one second of his rifle.

There will probably be a goodly number of visitors to the camp this afternoon.

The success of a camp depends not only upon the site, the officers, and the boys themselves, but very largely upon that important functionary, the cook. Bad cook, bad cooking, bad food, bad boys, growling. But with a good cook "everything hi the garden is lovelv." And Hie North Taranaki Cadet Battalion is exceedingly fortunate in this respect.