RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 237, 6 October 1936, Page 14

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

It seems that I have pulled a hornet's nest about my innocent ears and I am still writhing from the stings I have received, but your correspondents have, for the most part, misconstrued my letter. Perhaps, sir, I deserved your gentle rebuke, but I would like to point out that I said "thousands" of young men were inspired by the spirit of adventure in the period of 1914-IS, not all, and I do not doubt for one moment that many were also filled with "the sober determination to ba worthy" of those who had gone before. Loving truth in all things, I am perfectly willing to be proved wrong, but, having a slight knowledge of human nature, I dislike seeing the mantle of heroes being worn bv those who are not entitled to it. which does not mean that some returned mfcn are not deserving of that garment. "Bigger" Frank Broad should not become alarmed, for if ever our Empire is again in need the young men of the day will come forward even as they did in 1014. We have not deteriorated. But I hope by that time that the peoples of the world will have realised that high explosives are, after all, ft pretty poor substitute for high intelligence. The vivid word picture of the horrors of war painted by "Captain" make me repeat my earnest wish that I will be too old to'-fight if ever-another war is necessary, and I sincerely hope that his forecast of my near future is not absolutely correct. I seem to have been taken to task for a crime which I took great care not to fommit .that is, the belittlement of what our soldiers had to go through during the war. "Even though Mr. Broad calls me "callous and uncharitable," I have every sympathy with "Burnt Out" and all those unfortunates who are in a similar position to himself, and if he had read my letter more carefully he would have noted that I wrote that "many of the returned soldiers have legitimate grievances," and he undoubtedly comes into that category I cannot see his reason for criticising my letter. T believe that those men who suffered in any way through serving their country during the war should be amply compensated, but not just because they are returned sioldiers. Some of the biggest grousers amongst them are those who returned in perfect health and somehow managed to miss all the dirty work. A student of psychology could, no doubt, supply many good reasons as to what makes young men enlist for war, and were it done, I venture to repeat that the spirit of adventure would be near the top of the list. Authorities on the subject are all agreed, too, 011 the recruiting value of a rattling march played to the accompaniment of tramping' feet and patriotic cheers; why, it almost makes me feel military minded. In conclusion I would inform youi correspondents who have criticised me that were I landed in the trenches I would fight even as they did. There .would be nothing else to do, as luriderstand that running away is even more risky, but that is certainly what I would feel'like doing. NOEL.