TERRITORIALS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16152, 5 March 1918, Page 2

TERRITORIALS.

MESSAGE FROM DIRECTOR OF MILITARY TRAINING.

At a recent inspection of the Terri- \ torials in Canterbury, tho Director of ' Military Training (Lieutenant-Colonel ; J. L. Slecman, 1.G.5.) delivered tho ; following address: — j Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, I and Men. You are training for one ! purpose: to learn How to uerend your j country. Some will still_ havo the < privilege of poriornnng tnis duty during Uie preheut war, ior Zealand is being represented in France and ISgypt, and tne remainder must bo prepared to defend tno Dominion iu tho iuture. Tnis great war lias snown three things: (lj that an aggressive enemy observes neither treaties nor conventions; (-) that an army of soldiers is valueless if only partially trained; (3) that a modern deienco is enormously strong providing each individual soldk-r is efficient. Tho man who shirks his training, or who docs not endeavour to make himself efficient during his training, is the man who will let down his comrades should an invasion over occur. He will be a looso cog in an otherwise efficient machine, which will not only fail to perform its proper work, but will, iu addition, jam the remainder. A chain is as strong a 6 its weakest link; so with an army a single inefficient member may turn victory into disaster. Efficiency cannot be gained in a month. Before a Territorial can be really efficient he must concentrate on -his' work for at least two years. As a rule, the man who dislikes military training does so for the following reasons': —(a) Failure to realise its importance, or the immense value of individual efficiency; (b) he regards military training as a form of unpleasant work; (c) living an independent life, he objects to being ordered about and dictated to. .All professional soldiers arc familiar with their "'first impressions" of a military life. Many of the "old contemptiblcs" suffered from them on first enlistment, and they are quite understandable in a beginner. When, however, a soldier is brought to see that tho safety of his country, of his home, and. kith and kin depend upon his efficioncy, when he learns that tho duties he considered as unnecessary and irksome are tho product of 300 years of military expansion, and are necessary to a high efficiency; and when he finds that the military training improves him both mentally and physically, and increases his civil welfare, he naturally finds his military work of interest and value. But there is another advantage, and one which might bo called the "keyword" to success, in a military life; until it is accepted no real emcioncy can be obtained. This secret is not to treat military training as a form of drill, bnt necessary work, but to regard it as a game or pastime. For it is a game, and, in defence, tho noblest game ever played by man, and the one requiring more from its players than any other. Just as in football efficient combination is half the success of a match, and each member has his particular role to perform, so with soldiering. But there is a vast difforenco in numbers, and in war wc play against an antagonist using many fair and unfair advantages to break up oitr combination. For that reason, just as a "footer" captain controls his small team with firmness, so in a mili- | tary life the officers and n.c.o.'s control their teams by strict discipline. For a "footer" team or a regiment without high disciplino is contemptible, and both are ludicrously easy to defeat.

As a game, military training offers far more interesting possibilities than any other. Its problems arc unlimited. and differ in an extraordinary degree according to the .grasp. Once I learn to regard military training as a | game, its teachings will prove attrac- \ tive instead of dull, and much which, is hidden will bo revealed. This is a common-sense and democratic age, and it may be taken for granted that all that is unnecessary and archaic lias boon removed from military training. Saluting, for oxample, may seem unnecessary, but is the external sign of good discipline, and that of a great brotherhood. For, if a soldier has to 6aluto an officer, so tho officer has to salute the soldier. For countless ages there has been the military salute, dating back to the time whon "freemen" held up their hands to one another on meeting to show that they were not branded on the palm as slaves. Therefore, a military salute, unless improperly performed, is not a 6ign of servility *'but of equality. It could bo dispensed with; so could hatlifting, hand-shaking, kissing, and other salutations; but with it" would go much which it represents. Sometimes, it may be felt that there is too much standing on parade, and that time is thus being wasted. Often the fact that perfect discipline is only obtained by wearisome duties is entirely lost sight of. In civil life wo do just what our fancy dictates, with the result that we dislike standing; stiff or doing things we already know. What would a unit or company suffer if each member talked, moved, or chose his own subject according to his own inclination;-' _ It would bo a simple prey to a disciplined enemy. Lastly, I would like to refer to your units. .Between 1914 and 1918 your imits have won undying fame on tne battlefields of the world. Some of your regiments are as familiar to the world as'ttoc most famous of the Imperial regiments. Whatever regimental traditions you had before the war have now been added to a' thousandfold. Therefore, as a regiment lives on its traditions,' always romember that you are not honouring, but are honoured, L"s- belonging to your unit, and that "those who liavo given their lives for the Dominion have entrusted you with a most precious charge. Tho honour, esprit do corps, and reputation of your unit arc in your safe-keeping. It rests with you whether you add to its lustre, keep it spotless, or besmirch it. Remember that a unit is judged by its discipline, and that to obtain the~o requires both patience and determination. If you cannot servo at the front, you can play an important part in tho Empire's history bv doing your bestin the Territorial Force. Disciplined and efficient you arc invaluable, and at a timo when thousands arc giving their lives daily for the Empire, thoso who remain in safety and comfort can be expected to devote much of thoir spare time to military training, which will ensuro the future safety of the Dominion. lam convinced that you have tho necessary qualities and determination to make, not only an efficient defence force, bur. ono of the most formidable in the world. Let each individual Territorial accept the fact that he is an important factor in the future success of tho defence scheme, and we shall rapidly Dass from elementary, and tiresome, training, to advanced and interesting instruction and manoeuvre. Finally, I congratulate those of all ranks who havo during the past three abnormal years endeavoured to preserve and improve the discipline and efficiency of tho Territorial Force, and in many cases can compliment thvm on a state of increased discipline.