THAT IMPERIAL "RESERVE"

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2109, 28 March 1914, Page 6

THAT IMPERIAL "RESERVE"

POINTS FOR INSPECTING OFFICERS. "We have recently found Auckland divided in opinion. as to tho alleged reserve displayed to colonial by lmerial officers," and a local Territorial to a reporter yesterday. . "Had some of our Auckland friends been present at a recent camp of the local artillery tliey would have been able to make'an interesting comparison. On one date the forts wero officially visited by an officer of high rank, whoso first act' on entering each fort was to greet tho battery commander, with whom on leaving ho again exchanged remarks, accompanied by a shake of tho hand. On another date an official-visit was paid by a lesser light of tho service, accompanied by an assorted retinue, some in uniform and partly in mufti, who,' vwithout communication with anyone, selected a spot from which he witnessed the firing, which being elided, he evacuated the fort, passing, without tho faintest' sign of recognition, the officers of' the battery who had dutifully assembled to pay their respects to so distinguished a;visitor, and who were well known to him. •

""Wo seo hero in contrast two varying conceptions of what is correct deportment towards tho unpaid Territorial officer in the presence of'his juniors: the one that of a professional soldier whose life has been spent among exponents of the traditional reserve, the other that of a colonial. It should lie mentioned that\ the officer first referred to is an Imperial officer, and the lesser light a colonial officer. Such incidents are no .doubt trifling, but even trifling indications often guide a surccon in locating a malignant growth. It is said that there is a dearth . of gentlemen willing' to accept and retain commissions in the Wellington military district."