CAPT. SMALLS PAMPHLET.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4241, 4 August 1882, Page 2

CAPT. SMALLS PAMPHLET.

(To the Editor of the Evening Stab.) Sib,—The pamphlet of the Senior Capt. is the most egotistic al production I ever read relating to volunteer matters. The ex-Bifle, Artillery, Militia, Vol. Engineer, Vol. Militia, and Engineer •man's experience is beyond,question I suppose. He appears to hare forgotten his long service in the Transport Corps, where he became the splendid horseman that he is. Is he ashamed of being in that corps ? As he always has been the paragon he would wish us to believe he is, I wilt not trouble yon any more about him personally but refer to his report. The first is where he states that the men command and the officers serre. He should be ashamed to confess- such weakness, but say " I cannot. com* mand you men, you must get a Captain that can," then retire gracefully. I believe his own incapacity is the exception to the rule. His reference to the Parihaka affair is very amusing; he says, "AU though there were well drilled and tried men, and a few good and capable officers, and at the.bead an officer well-able-to handle men^jrjz.,- Major Pitt, yet notwithstanding this and all the parade and show, had the Maoris had any idea of our actual weakness the result might be - disastrous, &o." Now what is the use of being well drilled and tried if all these, thin** are likely to overiak.e one., If the. Senior^ Captain had made^a point of proceeding at the call of du^ .he might have been able to give an opinion; The majority of the officers'connected 'witlt toV^volunteer force at Parihaka could give -thai $enjpp Captain points and then beat' him at efficiency. He speaks' of- M*jor Pitt's qualification. What does he know of that; gentleman? lam sure he never served under him; if he did perhaps he will inform ns as to when and where ? After referring to the force being officered by inferior talent, and the general looseness of disciple and superficial character of what are considered our crack companies; he saysi "The Thames are not to beexcepted from the general condemnation, which corps on special occasions, through the possession of a first class drill instructor, and two or three experienced officers are. enabled to make a display, although if the whole truth were known they are very* little better than their neighbors."; I sup* pose the Senior Captain includes himself, in the two or three experienced officers. What nonsense! The Thames.Volunteers would have beon as well drilled, and have commanded the same respect, if the'senior captain or his experienced- instructor -had never been connected with them, and I am very sure there would have existed "a much better feeling among volunteers^ generally than there has been for yeai|£:% past. He says examinations for eommil^' sions should depend upon the rank for which the candidate aspires- Quite right —senior captain or commanding officer of: a district, for instanoe. I should very much like to see it, and a smart independent inspecting officer to put them through. I -can see, in my mind's eye, the exhibition., the senior captain would make of himself. I will say this for him : he is the most conceited officer in the. Thames Volunteers, without being efficient by any means.—l am, &c, Ensign.

P.S.—I see by the report furnished by r Col. Eeader, that Col. Roberts does not in his report quite agree with the - senior - captain as to the efficiency of the Farihaka Volunteers, but I suppose CoL Boberts, N.Y.C. is no authority alongsidft.pt tha*.Senior Captain Thames District!—El" '"** j