The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1911. "QUIT YOU LIKE MEN."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 300, 13 May 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1911. "QUIT YOU LIKE MEN."

Time was when military officers had] little in common with civilians. Before the advent in the Old Country of the J territorial scheme it was uncommon for j a general officer (or any other officer, for that matter) to address non-military gatherings. The idea that the defence of a nation was a matter concerning every individual in the nation was barely recognised. The military authorities were aloof, pedestalled, sphinx-like. It gradually dawned on the military caste that dignified hauteur, spiced with a little contempt for the civilian, was in antagonism to the national feeling and to the great body of civilians who were taxed to maintain and supply the army. It began to he seen that an army should be a people's army, gaining its incentive from the people, and animated by a general spirit outside caste. So we found that famous soldiers unbent and talked to the people. To-day even a fieldmarshal must be a public man, able and willing to talk to and sympathise with gatherings of his employers. The modern soldier of rank is necessarily a business man. In his heart he is as much citizen as soldier, and he regards every citizen as potential material for national and Imperial salvation. .Curt official documents, and written military orders, especially in connection with the inauguration of the system to operate in this domillionaire likely to be regarded in some quarters as aggressive and dictatorial, and so it is good for the country and helpful to its citizens that the general officer commanding should see and talk to the people who are to supply him with the material he wants. It has been said by leading local citizens that MajorGeneral Godley, in his address in the town hall, made the citizens present understand the position in regard to military training more clearly than all the documentary matter that has been published about it. The G.O.C. quite convinced those who heard him that there was nothing malevolent or dictatorial about the proposals, that the military "caste" idea was a fallacy, and that the army in the making is a citizen army pure and simple, with a friendly commandant and a sympathetic staff working in harmony with citizen officers and citizen soldiers. The establishment of mutual confidence between citizens, citizen soldiers, and commandant is clearly the aim of the G.O.C. The misconceptions that have existed in some quarters that the new system would in some degree upset business relations, and be an intolerable burden to employers, are being cleared away. Because it has been laid down that every citizen soldier who holds a commission must have striven to attain it and must have qualified, the distinction of being a citizen officer will be eagerly sought after. The spirit of emulation is fostered. As it is on the citizen officer and the citizen non-com that the efficiency of the service depends, the importance of a drastic rule that nothing but abilitv and efficiency counts for promotion cannot be overestimated. The haphazard days are over, and already anyone who has known the service before and after' the change, notes a new desire to "play the game." In his careful explanations, Major-

General Godlcy showed that no attempt would be made to disintegrate existing units, for it is recognised everywhere that the files of a section who have worked together form the best kind of section. The same is true of the companies of a battalion, the battalions of a regiment, and so on. Thus the Boy Scouts are to preserve thair individuality, except that their patrols must be drafted to the cadets. The idea that the various available employees of specific employers shall serve the country when it is most convenient to the employer, is wholly good, and the fact that they will be sent

for training to different arms of the service and at different times minimises possible inconveniences. The grouping of remote commands at slack times of, the year will make training much more iateresting and instructive to men' who have now to come long distances on 'many occasions throughout the year at great inconvenience and with little usefulness. The most important explanation given by the G.O.C. was in relation to the compulsory section, for he showed that every boy between the ages of 14 and 21 must register, to be available when called on. Old volunteers—who, it is hoped, will still remain the backbone of the citizen army—have in some cases shown a deßh-c. to "get out." The t commandant showed that it was the earnest wish of the Department to retain the services of these soldiers and to encourage them in every possible way after they had left the territorials, to join the rifle clubs, in which they can remain to the age of 55. Shooting men who have an idea that work with the rifle is to be made less interesting are deluded. The military authorities' business is to increase the number of shooting men, and to improve all ranks in the use of the rifle. No soldier with the defence of his country as a paramount consideration will regret the passing of bull's-eye shooting as a pastime. The military work of the future will be infinitely more interesting than ever before, because of the completer organisation, and the pride of the people in their own army. MajorGeneral Godley is going the right way to prove to the people that there is no ogreish design about the scheme, that it is a friendly concern in which everybody is asked to co-operate. The co-operation of citizens in completing the registration of those liable to serve before June 2 will save the authorities an immense deal of trouble. As the registration must be effected, whether there is trouflfc or not, it seems reasonable to believe that all hands will help to hasten its completion,