CAMP DISCIPLINE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2767, 10 May 1916, Page 6

CAMP DISCIPLINE

THE SOLDIERLY SPIRIT

COMMANDANT ADDRESSES "SIXTEENTH" '

The Oamp Commandant at. Trentham, Lieutenant-Colonel H. B. Potter, addressed the; Sixteenth Infantry and Engineers Reinforcements and tho officers and n.c.o.'s of the Eighteenth yesterday mwning on camp discipline and routine, as it concerned troop 3 while in training, camps and in.the field. Colonel Potter explained that discipline was tho living force, which turned a' crowd of men into an army, and ho showed the difference between the discipline of the British and the Germans; this being the imbuing of the men with- a soldierly spirit and the love of the game, while the other was a discipline based on fear which drove men into battle at the point of the revolver.

V Other points touched on in the address concerned camp sanitation. and hygiene, and tho personal cleanliness of the men which had been brought to so high tt pitch at Trentham that. the percentage of sickness had been reduced to a minimum. The prevalence of "grousers," men who are never satisfied, was also mentioned, and the Commandant contrasted this, type with- the man with a grievance. However Smpll this grievance might be, he asked the. men not to nurse it and not to write to the j-.apers or see. politicians about it. It was- a pretty big grievance which , camp headquarters could not -rectify. They should play tho game and aot like soldiers. In describing the granting tf -nightly, week-end,: and extended leave, Colonel Potter said that free railway and steamer tickets were granted to men going on extended leave, on the distinct understanding that the men did not overstay their leave. If they did 60, except for good reasons, they forfeited these concessions. "On the subject: of travelling ou trains," said CUonel Potter, "I want to remind you that this is a young country and it only possesses a. certain amount of rolling stock. Carriages cannot be kept idle.. They must bo used during the day, as.well as by troops in the evening, and if'men make them dirty, at night, they have to bo cleaned and fumigated during »tho next day,. thus depriving the railways of so many carriages for that day. That is why trucks have been used. I don't want to go back iv the trucKt>, and I ask you to see. that the carriages are not abused while in U6e on troop trains."

■:.. On the matter of police,' the Commandant urged the men to assist the civil police, the Red Caps, and the camp police in every way. The last-named had been selected for a duty which was not always pleasant, but they were going away with their Reinforcement and would fight in the trenches with their comrades. .: "I ask any of .you, whom the camp or military police in the city may find it necessary to apprehend, to go quietly. Dont set on to the police and: bully them. A soldier whjj gets drunk and does that sort of thing brings discredit on his comrades and his 'uniform. There are too many young fellows in Wellington who should be here. They are only too pleased to buy you drinks and say what a fine, brave fellow yen are. Well, we'll have them here by and bye." Colonel Potter was interrupted 'at this stage by an; outburst of applause. from the men. He concluded by explaining tho working of the canteen and urging tho new draft to strive to excel all j.revioua ones in efficiency. l It would be a hard task. They must emulate the Fifth and othar Reinforcements which Jiad l>e«n So fit and well trained tha\ they were sent straight to.the firing line.