THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1917, Page 7

THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

LORD NORTHCLIFFE'S VISIT. EAGER AND QUICK TO LEARN. An article by Lord Northcliffe describing a visit to the New Zealand Division's front in France was published in London newspapers on January 29. Extracts from it, in which he said it gave "a very fair idea of what a model British army should be" were received by cablegram. One has not been in this zone long before one finds that the fern is tho emblem of the Dominion—for it is everywhere, Lord Northcliffe wrote. Mixed with the pakehas are a number of Maoris. We found out all about the Maoris' fighting, capacities in 1860-I.S6G, and that they have not diminished in that respect is proved by the good work they have done in this war, particularly in the pioneer battalion. SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S INTEREST. Sir Douglas Haig's pride in his oversea troops—his Canadians, his Australians and his New Zealanders—liis interest in their welfare, his anxiety that the officers they brought with them should be promoted as rapidly as possible, are well known. He had just reviewed the New Zealanders, and I had the opportunity of seeing some thousands of them marshalled in the very village in which he had seen them some days before. He had returned enthusiastic from the review. He told me so, but even then I was not prepared for the size of these handsome fellows. The New Zealanders like to learn, 1 find, especially if the teacher quicklv demonstrates that he is a master of 'what he is talking about. Lecturing is a great feature of the war. Wherever you go behind the fighting lines are lecturers, teaching the construction and throwing of bombs, the making of trenches, and the use of this or that weapon. TRAINING WITH THE BAYONET. There are those who think that the training in New Zealand is too extended and that it would he wiser to cut down the period of training there, finishing it in the actual war zone, where everyone learns at twice the pace, and learns also the newest devices and manoeuvres, of which at least several are invented each month. These Dominion forces do not go straight to France; they come first to England, where thev hove" a very hard 14 weeks' drill, crops'the Channel, and attend one of the war schools, where again they get their practice in real gas, bombs and grenades. The only complaint I heard about them from their teachers was that they had not had the right kind of bayonet practice when they arrived. I should have thought that this, and quick-load-ing, could have been taught on board the transports. A Scottish instructor with whom I discussed the Dominion troops —Canadian as well as Australasian—confirmed what I had heard before, that when there is anything important to be learnt and the man who is leaching is an adept they are attention itsolt", but if by any ch.nieo, a' in the early days of these wonderful schools of intensive soldier culture, inefficient teachers were provided, they would show their discontent by apathy and criticism.