"GIVE HIM A RIFLE!"

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 431, 13 February 1909, Page 7

"GIVE HIM A RIFLE!"

/ _ 1 (By "Mew. Ont,ook7.h v ") 'Being the story of how the writer once eaTv Gorman troops at,work, also some refeienco to Now Zealand politicians oni the general,question of War. Badgered, mopping his face iVa steamy room, toiling obstinately and • painfully to. tvaids his honorauura • through a junglo of platitudes, ono recalls, somewhat painfull v, a certain typo of politician at last election It is ossentially a Got ernmont type. Vividly one remembers the questions hurled at tho 1 candidate from , the back of the hall, and, more vividly still, one remembers tho truly remarkable, answers. What tyouM you do for the country settlers? Give them roads and bridges. \\ hat t\ ould you do for the wbrking man? Give him shoiter hours and higher viages. What would you do for tho employer? , Give him bigger piofits—if I dared. For education? Free school books. "For Defenco, did you say? Well, I want every man. "woman and child in this room to understand that lam a patriotic Britisher—yes, sir, a patriotic Britisher—and I would give every - man in tho Dominion a liilo and free ammunition to defend our hearths and homes—ayo, our hearths, our homes, our sweethearts and Bntish Libeity." (Loud applause) 'It is this last that stings me, and the eting about it is that it is all my own fault. I once had the misfortune to see German troops practising the storming of a position. ' I 'have since realised thit it is possible to furnish a man with a whole arsenal of lethal weapons, and, after he has boon so furnished, ho may accomplish nothing more notable than self-, destruction. v . ' j Moreover, I liavo been sadly lost all round. I For instance, when & very dramatic commander laid down concealment as one of the , chief duties of artillery the other week at Pigeon Bush, well-I pant. I gasp. Especially I tremble for Bill of the Bush and Jim Averago, with whom I sometimes converse on Lambton Quay, and who tells me (speaking with intimate reference to a possible call for contingents for some European jvar)'that he would bo "after it like a shot." Poor Bill I Poor Jim! ' Let us, understand each other. Bill Bush and Jim Avorage are wonderfully good chaps: and there is hardly anything they think they couldn t 'do. Their confidence is as sublime es. it is _ contagious to tho unwary. Jim i Average is modest enough, to admit (in strict confidence, between you and me) that in organised battle ho wouldn't be able to stand up against properly trained regulars; but he has a delightfully comfortable idea that he would somehow-scatter, and wander all over the country, and i shoot marvellously from behind tussocks, and bouldors, "as tho Boers did. You and I, who have looked into tho mattor, know that he would only prolong the agony in that way. and miserably (or gloriously) postpone tho predestined end. As the Boers did. ' " * i "^ 0 J™ l^o36 °f 'his article is to suggest to Jim Averago what might happen-to him, ill : trainod and undisciplined as lie is at present, if he , met the crowd* wo are going to talk, about. He would bo as good as dead ; and ho is too good to die. 'Imagine tho ground. The German'officer and I are standing at .the foot of a slopo leading up to the brow of the knoll wo shall call A. ,It 18 no imaginary situation, I rea ly Ba w it. From A there is a sharp . little drop to tho foot of a longer'slopo which toads up to tho higher crest ire shall call B. Ifiero is good cover for riflemen at B—please wateh me closely. The long slope leading to is is rough and difficult. According to tho politicians, amateur theorists, and' Jim Average, the men hidden'in tho cover at'B cbuld do such deadly work with the invincible rifle as would make .them secure from any »ttack^of.mon'rushing the position from A. Imagine, it you can, tho broiling day, with She 'German officer and I standing there, and all about us the, German troops in their white uniforms. Imagino the strong glare Jf sunlight in the '.the, deep blurs of ehadoiv wherever. jW/.'drptonltrecs are clumped \ou can cten , umagino tho perspiration that into my eyes, and still fails to blind me altogether to the- qualities of • those German troops. I am tho splash of red in tho picture - J >iand for ..the indomitable spirit and blind confidence of r tho~ glorious British colonies/ l< am (if those that are track-. t _ tionally, thankful tliat they are not as these Germans. 'There' are about five hundred of them, and I cheerfully prepared mysrlf to see tho things I had been prepared to sec. It is, tor instance, generally behoved by us, and especially by the politicians and Jim Average, tliat German i soldiers are matchless in closo_ order or parade-ground movements, but invariably much astray when they have to work or extended order. After every nar, we raise a great cry for tho loosor ordei , —for "intelligently," or) "on their own." Disorder is to bo made perfection in war. ; Wo r arc believed to be it.

: fi-v^Peoiding''thafefr^vare"rtjv , fidlomal' : Jdeae ; are' -■~i: e xalttdpttiid ;dtilomal-:pi:opeDßities'-are tickled/ ,;;/iGiveyUs &i^halice^:;a^d : ;we-.slia&striki^tlie': Sijtwar: Lordjtillilie" sure.; ; fl<Jw ; tinie-flies!^" ; ;:v : :''Ml ! iti 'all"tbe ;: Their' New t ''* Zealand : : Vo; do v this JjWitbf) 'snappEng itriggors : s':&ft>*yi'&> '^terj^ingjiSolthorQUglily^^Do^n; ; ;S: ;! ofy?a.>hair:. ; Prattle' ; but Si;'j v6luniiti6ußJy-t aßs:tlieidiscliarge ; ;g«p^h^M^'.siri2krmanys3a'fr4oti6n v ofja:;se'o- ; ; : .tli6i : fault; S J:»appinfctrigg€rß; yiu'dj'nererVnptice ':is; little' ;;W:tong:|like (that^;L.;iV.a;;^i^^^;^;':'■^;•^v.■■ , .„;■:;; ;' p:, myjEdmiratipiy- hnd'Hurried ,to ;P^^SGtennanAwth : taii''^uidaunt€d':.:cresti ! .sr:l' ;'.'- Bpqke,V^d^'the;' : i|i]!»rl)reter.; ;; st<ilidly ...trans-" ; ' i bfficßrV' ,; confessed"'-tb;"iib' , j :;<.?■.. tnat';tne";Gerfflaiisf iareSmatphlessJinriclose ■ ; . ..border, rimi,;- -EriElfili:::pppplo;i'*ispecially ■ cplo- ,, reokonUliaViii'-looße'order.ithe'Coldnial; rgs initiative , ', is-, and- -the ;, 'r>'K; -;.-W;'.Y";- : <"Tlie ioflieer. smiled. iridulgeiitly, ' :HisVcpiir-' < tesy; iwas'. nppalling, Wl\ am- just- going '.'to'" :;_^Bho^;ypu,^vfle''said.?ivSiti:^-:■'.'■■ v..: i iPfi:fV,;'l 1 : . - \ itsi.particles': ; mpnient' rt,a :savp; tlw^men , ne'xtfmbment; , ::■;, VEp;.swjftlythat:l opuldinbt- fplloW'tlie.opera- ;;•;■, ■.■:tiony:'all;.the-,lea'ding' lines *werb extended, -all" :./.vthej;uien^iere- ibsfe'tbXsightfaniong" ttlie I--- 'u yMZS-Vr-pi*?: to , s torm :> positioif; B, ;: ; ..wnere..tlie;.mvalaable-riflemen-were'secure in- ■ S Uipir,i6oTer---acoprdiife .■■..■i;'seoienpe;fbf: codified'by- - ■V '■'-.-■ ■': . :: 'They;:;6tarted:vtpvirorkFrfprward^up ; 3ie : >: vglacis-.lea<ling.up,to.B.\,Here r ahd there'they : -. J .flroppedya, man-put/ziust 'as if .he' had, been' % ;?;Bhpt.? :^.;iiod:: frpm- : and.the 'man ;< -,;.droppe<l. and ;-la}'lstill.":;As ■ Germans" know' V nothing::pr extended'-order..(\ve have agreed' s';;bh^that, : surelyl)(i yon : ..wou]d;.;expect, that .ri.vwheii-a.jnan-.feU'.the order : , would upset. :^ : ;vvNot ; ;.a :.bit Jpf.'it.UThefe :were''bits .of.'rnarsh, .',','oco<jsi6nal; : sireanis/' patches s thick bush. !,' '■['■■ The\.mfta / had 'i'to '■'; bunch;;.; \po' pass •■■■■.■/■'■ Boine-bf': these. : obstacles;.. but • so 'Booh ■ as <; ; a grassy: space"; the lino'.re^ V:,adjusted itselfi'.irith -the! jTlost v eision.'. Tho thing ms hiathematical, .it, was .■:. :disquieiiiig|':. : it' ; wa^, flat .defiance'and "lie-: ;■ : gation :of oiir ;inost.'.respectable xtheories:-con- '■;'■_■.. ■'.- wrning;'the.; perfection jthat'.j.'we !.are.; '.-Tliey .y/vskiritished; 'pver.-ai-mile ;'and: a- ! half /of;' that' ,i':-:-:..;';tangled:; sun y ,i: ■ and.l:.saw reßiimcd, . ::'.' as{'thousrK' , autoriiatically,;.at: every -scrap;(if ■ : ;::'opcn:;.' ; Tbero .sedmed: to;/be:no'.wbrd;:of ; co/.- ■ 'mahd at all.', rOnly:-tlie':subordinate officers ■f:-".";continually.-■; called.-; tke^Tan«e,'■ hhd ,the:,'men' :::methodically; -lowofed:Hheir Mightsiafeithey : :/,rftn.'f.;■ It.-was;;nearly ; .*.all";uphill.:;. I;:attempt ■nb.Vqomparisbn';with jiianb<sUvres that y/ : l ;,liflve/soCTi';:in7:New >. "■■■'.[/■ would.;i be absnrd—raud : .annoying; .to : :. Jini >-:,-'-:'tvera'cb; : 'A : :l^Vwal«|ied''.ttp. i ;wliole.:-inoVeni'cnt' ; '■'.;■ breathlessly: till tho'men .nrrivcd. at"the' last :>pincb.;i?,: andvnxed^lmyonets.; To .sec,- >ho ! , bng.line of r bright; steel in 'the- sun ,-;■: was ;magnificent;i ! ri,;'X-lkii : :? ;; '';'. ■; M ■'■ ■■■■*/■ ■';'. ■£: ;/; : you irtll 'tell;*ioS"that ; in actu'aliwar- ' VlareV-as'the.niehiwent.up.th'aK : lorig.'slope'hr ;,-:■;'V-'glabis,: : they; would bp picked off neatly, by the ;;:; riflemen: under, cover at : B.' -Don't vou : be..:lievo: it; .The: rifleman who lifted' his-head ■■■!■'■/.- for \ a second at B would have ;had it iiiobri.i; tinontlyi liftel:otT,his : shoulders by the bli? , ,- ,:; jtard' that'.;daiied',frpm'-'; top of -the slope '"-.-; A.:., Those!i.'riflen»n- : would"ineed- : -their : c6vor V,:-;for idefence : .so aKsolutely.^that..(as-coyer for' '.' -'offerioe).it woakl bevnluelese. ' :': ;1- ■/: .'>. :

••;.; : complacency of Jim Average • and; his mentors —the : complacency; with-: which ■ wo; have all :deeided that riflemen under coyer on. a hill.top"'ca'p:'safely;. ropol invading.-armies.■'■-■ It is, ■1/,find,':a' "great;mistake to make:ybur;;reckoning i withouV .counting in ; your.' enomios. .'Don , t.,dp"ii;i>-'V-'.'.' - -';.i''".;"'... ;-'-;V~ ;,;:;;■' ■■':.' .■■■;•' .

■ ■". .You. njuat , -;really • stop vand..:look. , at' this sketch'a .little...'lmngino'2oo:gleaming bay-. :onotsi. crouched; at C, and all; tlie : time,Bill ; ; and : ,'.Jim (lyiiigfprone at B); : cannot-;raise •their heads:.because of the"obyering'blizzard :bf-'Uead:-wh'ichv3pO?other-''.Giir'mana : ;''.ai;e.'- : de; , , ■livcring frorn-A: ■■ The.;200.-men ; qroucliedat C;are -safer;thah/if.they;were; ; in;;bed;.y;l3jll arid.-, Jim :■ -'cahriot Jget - their heads .out > froni' cbrorihg : rocka because of thatf. very; blizzard. .That, -is' . thy> ! - German tlieory: of .."covering fire'.".■'.'lt,':ivas introduced: in'to.'NewiZealand ' manoeuvres 'by Colonel Robiii, but it takes : a_ ■Ipng-'tini'e-;tt^aßp''a.-'iiew-'idea;^and ! ,our,:vol-. .unteers , have: not. grasped it -vet;'<]. Verily the ..'chief; of-the. general New.'. Zealand staff has iaj task; in,front'of.him,-:;'There.;is; only one. thing now";to.' be. said : about the sketch,:'and. it !is this:'.'Bill and Jini caririot even, run ifrom-B until;the blizzard stops..- And : whenlying at 0 will rush the .'position iwith , the' bayonet..'.So Bill, and l : JimVare'.''npt-^merdy:''pvtgenefallM/\".:^Mey, ;are"-'dead.''^^f^;;-.; ; v .'-i"., ; - ; . r -i ; \ >--.'^ : y^ : -;''"' ■'" ""'.".sFurther, 1 ; .. ; we'!;talk '■'■;. about'. -intelligence,-, iirid ■iiutiatiye^v^eryjvinah'.-pf-'thoso'.Ger'mans-'ob-:' iyiously.'knew.i'whiat.to do; liiitiatiyis-in tho unit is good;-but-it.must;bo initiative;under: discipline. Undisciplined, initiative; is-anarchy and!, destructive;;not,; and.: theViriitiatdr -ends toes-up/tfy There';must \have .been .words of :(Command^for-tlie,;dißtanc6 every .'manlhad to extend;'-but -F^neveriheard:..a.word.:. There was a compelling smoothnessVandprecisioh in that:.rush;. : hrid.some of the.thrill of:it;is-in' 'the-.blood'of-this .onlooker yet,' ■/ !> S ■■;- i i Had.'t:hese'Germans a- general .'theory ?'. If. they.:h'ad, : --I-think I;discovered it.. ''Whatr. .Eoeve'r-.thy;:ha'nd findeth 1 to do,'.do;it--with thy. might:?'.:, Nothing was too: much' : trouble all extra.work, ; ,out ofi.the'SrbutineVfiand;it^'was'.-all.'done'?.at a,! : tribmont'a notice,. just because that, pestileritly. 'polite -GOTnian/;;.officer.'; desired ito.vsKoTr , . the New' Zealand newspaper man-how five hundr;e<l German'.'enthiisiaste..'did. things."-.!'- ; , The .five hundred:'enthusiasts were: glad .to be 'of. Ber : ' litter kof:'-food:;'for ; ;thbuiht ) v : a:,deepj' respect .for;the / i.-;'And?the;:polite: officer':'was';.polite;"fe>;the ;finish.; : ,Hejassured:ine ; :that : he; : had Auckland; anfl. seeniNeiv-Zealahd^yoluriteers'. (i flo ( '; said/ KβtWouiht;their performance 'yery creditable; ; V;;lygroaned inwardly,' .while 'my; i face\Tvas .busy' smiling/ I, too,] had: seen Neif. :Zeala'rid'.^p'lnnfers''.:'V.*:^d'-;.'KBadi-.seen' : -tlie' :l6th-Schleswig;j:;V-.'i-;;'■■ :%:'fi.\'< -.i f-V,";AliiVi*tbatvTCrtTOiie'-may.;'".Bayy- ;^'*sufippsiiig-i r Bill andVJim were impregnably'entrenoned at : ;; :; S:v r '' : v"-';V:' ! ''- : ;-' ; ' :; ! i'.-ThW; a'nsTfer; ; is.'very simple'.: ~i. - : The-vlpth-' Schteswig- would, then dbwhat Bill and;. Jinn, :.witli all; their'.good points," will never: be able to/dp.'.as-long; »s, our poor;. Gpyerriment'.poli-: r tioiajis^ v are: ; (ire. , ';-'':'.;The;4eth, ;Schleswig:irould"mahpßUTrei'W .■■;.(■; :; ; 7i;-:t... v.j.SAiid-it' t i7puld..take too long to:explain here.