TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16209, 11 May 1918, Page 8

TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS TALKED

(SPECIAL TO "xnE TRESS.")

WELLINGTON, May 10. It appears that at last tho Defence authorities have arrived at a decision

regarding the officers who were called into camp in the middle of last year. They were Territorial officers, who weVo of tho First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve, who had not answered the call for volunteers, and. thoy wero called in as conscripts. To tho dismay of the authorities they came into camp wearing their badges of rank, and they refused to take them off. Very early in tho argument, it was learnedby the authorities, and by the public, that these officers had taken legal advice, and that they had come to a decision that if they were not allowed to hold their commissions, they would fight. They havo up till the present fought successfully, and the country has paid out to them the sum of £3000 in pay for no services at all, most of tho money having been paid for leave with pay. Tho matter was raised in a series of questions before tho Defence Expenditure Commission to-day. The question addressed to General ltobin read as follows: It is reported that about the middlo of 1917 some (30 or 70 officors, mainly Territorials, were taken into camp, for whom commissions in the Expeditionary Force could not be found. If this statement is correct, please explain: (a) How this state of affairs arose? (t) Was employment found for these officers, and oil what duty? (c) Wcro they discharged or granted leave? If the latter, was it with or -without pay? (d) How much has this error, if committed, cost? <e) What is the present position of the matter ? General Rnbjn submitted a written reply to the question as follows: The question is merely one of supply and demand. We havo available a number of Territorial officers who lack experience in the present war for whom ■vacancies cannot be found in the reinforcements drafts. The number of officers involved is really 42, which represents the balance of two classes drawn from 63 officers who were mobilised in July and August, 1917, for a special course of training. As tho result of this course 20 candidates were selected

from among those who gained the liighI est marks, tho remainder being given leave, as they objected to tho conditions under which they were called, to capip, viz., that if they were found unsuitable, or if no vacancies existed for their appointment to the Expeditionary Force with commissioned rank, they would Ix 3 revorted temporarily for service in the Expeditionary Force as n.c.o.'s. The question is a matter of ppi icy, and is now under oonsideratipn. The officers were in tfye first place granted leave without pay, hut as a solution of the problem could not be found, and the officers were -without means, pay was issued from time to time up to March 9th, 1918. No employment was found for these officers, as it was impossible to foresee when this question would bo settled, and leave was granted for short periods. They were not sent back to camp for the reason that their presence there created discontent, which was apt to depreciate the value of their own and their comrades' training. Their pay whilst on leave amounted to £2966. It is not admitted that an error was committed, as the situation was forced by tho provisions of' the Military Service Act, which is no re- I

specter of persons in its insistence that overy fit man must proceocj abroad when his turn comes. The Military Service Act had the effect of throwing a surplus of inexperienced officers on our hands, and the legal difficulties involved in reconciling the provisions of thp Military Service Act with the necessity for respecting the King's commission, if possible, caused unavoidable delay regarding these officers' disposal. This problem exists in other parts of the as applications are bping received asking for employment hero, the applicants stating thaE they are surplus in their own dominions.

"'Since this answer wa» written," added General Robin, "a decision has been come to. The men will have to come into camp as sergeants in the middle of this month.■'

General Anderson (the chairipan pf the Commicßiont said that h,e npprecinW the difficulty of the situation. "But, lie said, "they pnigt bo funnv sort of chaps. After they have had all the swank of Ijoing officers in peace tupes, jn time of war tjiey will not nght unless on their own terms. What if these young men will not go as sergeants whon they have their commissions?"

General Robin: Thev will be prosocuted as deserters. This is the last offer for tlio>m. If they do not como in as sergeants, they will have to come in as deserters.

General Anderson: The pathetic thing is, that these young feilpws should force such a situation on the Government.

Nn further reference Was made to tho matter at the Commission. It is understood that the partv of officers concerned have made their arrangements for just such a contmcren-v as has <irisen. Thev have been legally advised that thev must be eiven "commissioned rnnk. ™d that tbev cannot deprived of their commissions evcopt as tho result, of a court-martial They will nrobal.lv ihr authorities, and there will bo some local proceedings