MAJOR-GENERAL GODLEY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 298, 11 May 1911, Page 5

MAJOR-GENERAL GODLEY

C.O.C. INSPECTS UX'AL TERRITORIALS. A GOOD MUSTER. La.-t niglit the General Officer Commaiding the New Zealand forces inspected and addressed Die two local companies of Territorial Rifles. Major-Gen-eral Godley was accompanied by his staff, « oflicer, Captain Spencer-Smith. ' Major V. T. Bellringer was in charge of the parade. Other officers on parade included Lieut-Colonel Malone (commanding the battalion), Major Sandford, V.l). (active unattached list), Captain , Leech (Inglewood), Captain McDiarmid (unattached), Lieut. Lam pen (area offi- [ cer), Lieut. Surrey (Inglewood), Cap- j tains Mellroy, Bary and Evetts (Cadets) " »ad Lieuts. Dav and Goss (High School Cadets). TJeiit.-Col. Okey, V.D., was pre- , \ sent in mufti, as also was Captain C. T. *J Mills. .Stun'-Seijcait Major Bond (at- « t.iilied) was also on parade. ~' A. company (Taranaki Rifles), muster- (I ed li". all ranks, under Captain W. H. < Flevcher, Lieutenants Willis and Marett, i and I!. c<im|'.-tnv (Taranaki Guards) 46, \ a'l ranks, under Lieutenants J. W. B09& •-* and 11. Beadle. The Garrison Band mus- ;\ tered 17, all ranks. . The School Cadets fej were in the gallery in large numbers. rvjjj After the general salute, the G.O.C. in- . .'| spectcd the parade, and subsequently ad- r'jj dressed the troops. jj Major-General Godley said: "Officers, .Jj non-commissioned ofHcers, and men,—l M wish to .say how glad I am to come to /M Taranaki and to see the troops of tne i|| New Plymouth garrison. I have rea"d a little of the fighting history of your' a No. 1 company, and hare also'examined <.*» with interest the records of the general JS fighting in this district. lam particu- jS larly impressed with the troops in thU ■~M place, and wish to say on thU my flrtt <sk visit how very pleased I am to see the <|ji very promising-looking young men ol *-jj9 the two companies. Under the new, m scheme we must till up the companies 1 :M to a strength of 120, and I hope that "|| men of the same .soldierly and service- sjj] able class will be available. I hope to "S return later to Mew Plymouth in order *"« to again inspect the troops. I take ibis "}M opportunity of sounding a note of warn- ;-|9 i:i«. The young-soldier must understand,-J8 the vital necessity of keeping his rifle"ffl spotless. It should be the 'apple of his lM eye.' No man is * soldier who allow* vjM his rifle to get out of order. I do noi'Ja suggest that the men of these two com-j|3 panics do not possess arms in perfect jJIJ condition, but I have noticed in some tH other parts of the Dominion that arrat-JH have not been clean. It is a very vital- i sH point, and must be attended to." '^jM lit conversation with a "News" repwh 'jlj -sentativc, Major-General Godley said ne;|M was very keen on getting the old soldiers ?£■ to remain in the force to stiffen the 'IH ranks, and to infuse the esprit de corpi JJ that was so necessary. 4fl •Subsequently Hie O.C.'s companieg ei- U e-rcised their commands in company IS movements, The gas light in the drill- JB shed was execrable. It merely made darkness visible. Subsequently, Maiot-JfH General Godley met the officers, and In-jM yited questions, the officers gladly avail-|jM ing themselves of the opportunity to'ifH gain help and information. <J9