"THIS IS PATRIOTISM."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3177, 30 April 1909, Page 7

"THIS IS PATRIOTISM."

VALUE OF CADET CORPS. SPEECH BY THE PRINCE OP WALES. J There was a picturesque and striking scence of military interest at Guildhall, on Saturday afternoon, writes a London correunder date of March 19th. By the gray walls and ancient monuments, illuminated by electric light stood lines of keen soldierlike young men and lads in the dark uniform of the King's Royal Rifle Corps. It was the cadet battalion of the regiment, assembled to receive from Princess of Wales the prizes that have been won during the year, and to hear from the Prince a speech on the value of cadet corps both at Home and in] the colonies. The battalion, which had the, 1 ) unique honour among the cadet corps of the world to send a hundred of its membere to take part in the war in South Africa, as how reached the full strength of its establishment, namely. 950, and the gathering on Saturday was held to celebrate this interesting and highly satisfactory achievement. It was four o'clock when their Royal Highnesses arrived. They were met in the courtyard by a guard of honour of the battalion, under Captain Deas, and by the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, and Colonel Freeman Mills, the commanding officer. In the course of a speech to the cadets, the Prince of Wales said:— "During my voyage round, nearly eight years ago, I was especially struck with the way in which the cadet corps movement had taken root in the King's Dominions beyond the seas. Since then it has grown rapidly. At the present moment Australia musters over 40,000 cadets between the ages of 12, and 19. They are well equipped armed with a serviceable rifle, passing through an annual course of musketry during which each cadet rifles 40 rounds, attending annual training,camps, and, as I can testify by my own experience, presenting a very smart ac<\ soldierlike appearance on parade. Do not these successful results testify to a healthy public spirit among our brethren across the seas? "Yes—and it is the same spirit ! which animates those who have during ' 19 years supported the cadet movement in the City of Xondon. For it must be remembered that this battalion is entirely the result of private enterprise — where as in Australia the cadet corps are maintained by the State. Asd while we recognise with gratitude and admiration the public spirit of those individuals through whose liberality the movement is supported, we at the same time must not forget that every cadet makes some self-sacrifice, gives up something—many of them a good deal—'in order *o become efficient. I (Cheers.) "It is not every one who, at the end of a day's work, is willing to devote several evenings a week to training, both physicial and intellectual, such as the cadets of this battalion undergo. There must be a strong motive power which induces a service of this nature—a voluntary effort to become a more useful citizen, and an effective instrument in the defence of one's country. This is patriotism, and you; my young friends, by your work and example, are fostering that spirit which, 'originating in love of country, inspires us to support and detend its existence.' " At the conclusion of his speech, the Pwnce handed to Colonel Wills, by the King's special command telegraphed from Biarritz, the long service volunteer decoration.