THE NEW RULES OF ARMY TRAINING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1902, Page 3

THE NEW RULES OF ARMY TRAINING.

INITIATIVE AND RESOURCE TO BE DEVELOPED.

LONDON, April 4.

The new code of rules for the training of the army has at last been issued by Lieut.-Geiieral Kelly-Kenny, . the Adju-tant-General. The preface explains .the spirit in which the instructions are to be followed, not as hard-and-fast rules, but as guiding principles enabling all ranks from the commander to the private to act promptly and judiciously in any emergency. "Initiative" is no longer to be crushed but encouraged, and the soldier is.no longer to be a mere automaton, but is to be trained to use his intelligence. "It is of the highest importance," says the preface, "to accustom all officers ajid non-commissioned officers to the practice of such duties as will qualify them to accept responsibility, and to develop their powers of initiative and resource. It is equally important so to instruct the private soldier that he may comprehend the meaning and object of every movement he is directed to carry out in order that his individual intelligence may be called into play, and that he may be Induced to take a personal interest in his own fighting efficiency. In view of the extended movements and wide fronts which may be expected in modern warfare, it is certain that junior officers, non-commission-ed officers, and men will often have to decide for themselves how best to resist or attack the enemy, and if they are not taught In peace time to use their wits and to act on their own judgment, when the necessity arises they will not be able to cope with troops who have been accustomed to rely, not merely on collective discipline, but on individual intelligence. The continual interference of superior authority with subordinate commanders during training, and the issue of orders which are but a repetition or amplification of regulations.tend to destroy individuality. It is often better to allow mistakes to be committed, and to point them out afterwards, than to give such minute Instructions as must fetter the action and stifle the Intelligence of the junior ranks. In ensuring that the regulations are observed, commanding officers will rely on personal inspection and not on paper reports." As the period of service will be short, the preface further states that "it is imperative that soldiers should not be withdrawn for permanent and other employments within their first year's service unless they have extended their service. In addition, the number of non-commis-sioned officers and men employed on gunrd. sentry, and orderly duty, etc., must be reduced to the lowest limit. In many cases' R-nard and sentry duties should be undertaken by police or caretakers; one ordprly non-commissioned officer per squadron, battery, or company should suffice."

The increase of Day nnd the reduction to the smallest possible limits of the dull round of routine in weary guard mounting and the like should make the soldier's life less tedious and at the same time attract more recruits. The period of training at home will be from February 1 to September sn. Exercises in the field will be .carried out under service conditions, and musketry practices will he held periodically throughout the course. Three months will be exclusively devoted to wn'k in f-wnuanips three days a week: 'wn months tn regimental, brigade division. «r battalion evolutions; and the remainder of the season to operations of mixed arms. Prom October 1 to January 31 every fnc.ilitv win he given to well-conducted soldiers to visit their friends: while officers nnd men present with their corns will receive instruction in those branches of the art of battle which can be studied with more profit individuals than collectively. The scheme and the instructions are excellent. If they are only interpreted in the spirit in which they have been conceived, the army will have taken the lessons of South African warfare to heart, and in Its emancipation from the trammels of an obsolete order of things and its/recognition of the principles of modern warfare will have a long start of its Continental competitors.