GENERAL GODLEY INTERVIEWED

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14657, 5 May 1913, Page 5

GENERAL GODLEY INTERVIEWED

The General Officer Commanding, General Godley, arrived in Christehurch on Saturday, night, accompanied by Mrs Godley, and his aide-de-camp, Captain Escourt.

In the course of an interview yesterday the General said that &inco ho was List in Christehurch ho had visited two big camps, that of the Wellington Infantry Brigade, at Oringi, where there woro 2700 men, and that of the Otago Mounted Brigade, at Sutton, whero thero were 1100 men. At each of tho camps ho saw add operations, in each an attack by the Brigade on a skeleton enemy, in position. In both cases the attack was well conducted, considering tho opportunities the men had had or practising field work of such a rihture. He was well satisfied with tho mado during the past year, in this connection ho would say that we had a great asset in the keenness with which the men approached held work. "I find that their intelligence and desiro to learn makes the task or teaching them in this branch of training much easier than it would bo with loss adaptable material. I iincl amongst all ranks a desiro to do as much as possible of practical work in tho field; and next year I trust that we shall bo ablo to do it on a far larger scalo than has been attempted so far, especially as regards the support of tho other arms of artillery." But, ho continued,* in order to obtain this end, the officers, as leaders of tho men, would have to apply themselves with sincerity, not only to making themselves proficient in field work, but in endeavouring next summer to get companies, squadrons, etc., together, on as many occasions as possible, in order that they might practise in tho smaller units, where more elementary teaching, and more individual instruction, could be given. With regard to the Honorary Territorial movement, the General said that ho was very pleased to hear of the great success which had attended it in Christehurch. Ho was strongly in favour of tho scheme, and was most anxious that the public should realise that tho Now Zealand Army, as a citizen army, is its army, and that the more interest they showed in it by way of moral and practical support, by associating themselves with tho Territorials and Senior Cadets, and in other ways showing its interest in them, tho more competent would tho force become.

"I am very glad to fiijcl that a groat esprit de corps is growing up in the various regiments, and I find that this is especially the case in Christchurch, where the old Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, which is now expanded into a full regiment of mounted rifles, is doing its best to live up to the C.YtC. traditions, and where the Ist Cantoi* bury Regiment of Infantry is doing its best to live up to the fact that, it is the regiment of which his Majesty the King is Colonel-in-Chief, and that it is affiliated to so celebrated a regiment at Home as the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, the old 50th, which did such gallant work out here. A scheme has been proposed, which I think is a most excellent one. It is that prizes should be given for a short essay by non-commissioned officers and men on the history of tho British regiments to which they have been affiliated. Tho idea is to give three prizes, of about the"* value of £7, £s:'- and £3, to the non-commissioned officers and men df the Ist Canterbury Regiment, for an essay on the history of the Royal West Kent Regiment, and Dr. Levinge. to whom tho credit of the idea is due, proposes, I believe, to ask . Professor Blunt and Mr G. Harris, the able organiser of the Honorary Territorials, to form "with him a committee, to adjudicate on the essays. Similarly, I understand, that Mr L. G. D, Acland proposes to take the matter in hand for the 2nd. South Canterbury Regiment, for an essay on the history of the Durham Light Infantry Regiment, and to form a committee for the purpose in South Canterbury. This, lam sure, will be a source of interest to the regiments concerned. The successful essays will bo published in the 'New Zealand Military Journal.'

"I was very glad to hear of the good turnout and appearance of the Cadets last Sunday, when they paraded. I was very disappointed that indisposition prevented mo from being here to see it, as I hnd intended. I hear on all sides that the bearing of the Cadets was extremely smart and soldierlike, and_that the attendances at parades are improving. lam quite sure, as I have always said, that we have the best possible material, and a really good lot of boys, in the Now Zealand Cadets, and now that they aro realising tho necessity for service, and the advantages or it, I am quite sure that they will be second to none, and will be ns superior to tho Cadets in any other country as our representative contingent proved itself to bo in Canada last September."