CAPT. KNYVETT'S CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 257, 6 December 1909, Page 4

CAPT. KNYVETT'S CASE.

CAUSE OF THE TROuBLJI THE CAPTAIN'S LETTER TO THE MINISTER. The arrest of Captain F. B. Ivnyvctt, commander of No. 1 Company, Auckland Garrison Artillery Volunteers, on a charge of insubordination,"lias not been allowed to pass without comment from local papers. Captain Knyvett declines to make any statement beyond that I"' had granted no interviews in Wellington at the lime the company paid iin unacknowledged visit. The feeling in local volunteer circles is entirely in his favor. He happens to be the most popular, if not the most enthusiastic, volunteer officer in Auckland. The No. 1 Company, which this year celebrated its

fiftieth anniversary, lias risen under his leadership to a standard of etiieieney which recently brought it the Hudson Cup for the'highest score with quickHiring guns. The rank and lile, are highly indignant over the treatment accorded their superior officer, and clearly indicate that if ihe is not exonerated they will resign in a body. A "GRAVE SCANDAL." The actual cause of Captain Knyvett's suspension is said to he a letter which he sen! to the Defence Minister, uus letter refers lo the efforts made by the offers of the Petoiic Xavals and Captain Knyvett's own company to cover up and prevent any possibility of a scandal leaking out to the puolic of the alleged "want of tact and the interference of the Chief of the General Stall', Colonel Robin." The letter goes on to refer to the astonishment of the ottieers on the Monday following when an article appeared in the "Dominion" stating that "No. 1 Company, by coming to Wellington, had committed a very grave breach of discipline, and burlesqued the whole volunteering force throughout the Dominion." Captain Knyvett's letter says that ne is i-'cpared to submit an affidavit from three officers who were present at a certain interview in the "Dominion" office as to —s authority for saying the matter was supplied by Colonel Kobin. The letter continues;— FORCES r^xvUiSQUED.

' "The result of this article in the 'Dominion' has been that the volunteer movement and my corps in particular (which is the largest without question in the whole of New Zealand) have been belittled and burlesqued to an astounding extent. Article after article has appeared in the Wellington papers, and interview after interview has been accorded l>y tbc Chief of General Stalf, and the statements made by him in these interviews I am prepared to prove are entirely wrong. INTERFERENCE.

"In addition, it seems' to me that the Chief of Stall' has personally gone out oi his way to belittle, discourage, and damp the enthusiasm of the whole volunteering movement. Since these articles have appeared I have been approached by many officers throughout the whole of the North Island, who have had simi lar experiences of the unwarranted interference and unexampled officialism oi Colonel Robin. Not only have vohm teers themselves been subject to his interference, hut many prominent force officers have told me (which I am prepared to prove at an enquiry) that he has' many times had private interviews with persons, from privates to colonels, to the undoubted disadvantage of the discipline of the forces throughout the Dominion.

"Further, in the duties laid down for the Defence Council, I lind the duties for the Chief of General Stall' arc. Field organisation, military operations, stall' duties, military training, military education, military intelligence, mobilisation, and war regulations. Xo mention of any kind is made in this of the dirties or discipline. DISCIPLINE DISKECAUDLD.

"If any member of the Defence Council had any complaint to make about the action'of myself and the corps, it was Colonel Tuson, A.A.G. I respectfully submit that at no time have my officers or myself committed the smallest breach of the regulations. "I have been under provocation owing to the many articles which have appeared in the 'Dominion' from the pen of Colonel Rob'iD, but I have withheld writing to the Press, well knowing 1 should obtain from you justice. I lmv» documents in my possession which, il published, -would have created a grave s'candal in volunteering throughout t|ie whole Dominion. ENyI'IKY ASKED FOR. "1 most respectfully ask for an official enquiry into the conduct of the head of the Defenco Department, Colonel Robin, an officer who has a private channel of communication with an Op position paper (the 'Dominion') in Wellington, and gives articles and information of a nature calculated to be contrary to the best traditions and interest of the service."