THE CAMP OUTRAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 290, 30 April 1913, Page 8

THE CAMP OUTRAGE.

PRESS COMMENT. Thus the Wellington Post:—Anti-dc-fcndters, who style themselves "anti-mili-tarists" .and "anti-conseriptionists," know well' that the Post has been a vigorous supporter of the national system of training, and willing at all times to assist heartily in movements to assure success. That is one good reason wny we |ht>pe that such "exuberance of animal J spirits," according to the euphemistic i phrase of Major O'Sullivan, as have been | reported from Oringi and Sutton will be i reasonably restrained. We refrained from any sensational featuring of the j news of the southern "ducking" of a reI porter because we wished to have more I definite evidence of the outrage. It now I apppears that the offence was particuj larly cowardly and brutal, and the milijtary authorities have a case to answer, i A similar demonstration occurred against I the Post's correspondent, a Territorial I who sent news of the recent camp-break-ing from Oringi. Major O'Sullivan has I contended that this was a "misrepresentation of fact," and in bis version of the "facts" he remarks:—"lt was a beautiful : moonlight night, and the lads, to let off extra exuberance of spirits, formed a procession along the road, and marched , irregularly about nine miles and a-half , from camp, singing 'Who's going to DanInevirke?' The chorus, 'We all are,' was given in response." Is moonlight, in conjunction with "exuberance,' sufficient excuse for the trek towards Dannevirke ? Were not the "irregular" marchers challenged by sentries or pickets before they wandered nine and a-nalf miles? And if i' challenged, did they respond with "all > sorts of jolly songs"? We confess that ; we are not much impressed by the j Major's pooh-poohing of an incident of which the sequel has been an attempt to ■ man-handle the reporter who telegraphed I the news of the excursion. Our corre- • spondent states definitely to-day teial when, after receiving plain hints of the - threatened "ragging," he put the case' i before an officer, he was practically told ■ that it was "his own funeral." The offi--5 cer implied that the reporter had only t himself to blame, and must put up with 1 the consequences. Finally, the young man was forced to elude his hunters, by t the simple expedient of not returning to s his tent after the final parade. The tent 1 was rushed, but the quarry had escaped, a The authorities have a grave responsibit lity in this case. Unless this lawlesso ness in camps is courageously checked, a the Defence Department will find jts e trouble multiplying rapidly. The nat tional defence scheme is broad-based on r public opinion, which does not favor a reign of terrorism by any section of Tern ritorials. The cost of laxity in things military is immeasurable. Defence, withr out discipline, is as a sword without an 8 e<l S e - '■.-iS.IV