DEFENCE SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 105, 27 January 1933, Page 13

DEFENCE SERVICES

News of Rank and File ON PARADE AND OFF Topics of the Moment (By "Liaison.”) The attempt to raise the sunken submarine has, after an Admiralty decision, been abandoned. When the submarine sank after being lifted in September she settled on one of the pumping hoses attached to the bow. Upon the pumping being resumed in December the hose was unable to function, and the water remained in the bow. This made it impossible to get her on an even keel when she came up stern first. Thus a piece of bad luck alone stood between the naval divers and success. It is possible that the authorities will estabifait a pew salvage section in the Navy, , , The work of M2 has demonstrated the great importance of salvage undertakings ip the Navy. If the section is established, recruits will be trained, and the knowledge gained in West Bay will be of the utmost value. " Few people realise what has been done bv the divers on the hull of the M2. Altogether, 1500 separate dives have been made to a depth of-108 feet where M2 lies. The men who have carried the work out have won the highest admiration of salvage experts.

Naval Cats and Collars. An order has been issued from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that '‘All cats in naval establishments must wear collars.” It is a strictorder, too, for it adds: “AU cats without collars will be summarily dealt with.” The announcement has profoundly stirred Chatham. Devonport and Portsmouth, especially as there is no mention of who is going to pay for the collars I

White Socks for Navy. Admiralty Fleet Orders recently announced that stocks of white socks at lid. per pa'r are available. The socks, it is understood, will be worn only with white shoes. Hitherto dark blue socks have been the regulation colour, and these have had to be worn even with white kit ip the tropics.

Relic of Trafalgar. A silver watch presented by Lady Hamilton and Hardy to Midshipman J. Pollard for ’"Service rendered during Trafalgar action, October 2L at L3Q,’ realised £l4l/15/- at a recent sale at Christie’s. Pollard shot at 1.30 p.m. the sharpshooter who mortally wounded Nelson ten minutes earlier. The New C.I.G.S.

The King, on the recommendation ot the Secretary of State lor War, Jias approved the appointment of General Sir Archibald A. Montgomery-Massnigberd, the present Adjutant-General, to be Cnief of the Imperial General Staff in succession to Field-Marshal Sir George F.Milne. The appointment will take place in the early part of next year, says "The Fighting Forces.” This appointment comes as a surprise to many, for it had been.confidently expected that, when a successor to Sir George Milpe was chosen, one of the definitely younger generals would be selected. The length of Sir George Milne’s term of office, with its consequent raising of age levels, has lent considerable colour to this expectation. The new C.I.G.S. is just 61 years of age. It must be remembered that the appointment of Chief of the Imperial General Staff is definitely a matter of Cabinet choice. The Cabinet, in appointing n successor to Sir George Milne, who has been remarkable for his broadminded and statesmanlike attitude, and keen realisation of the nation's real needs, during his tenure of office, must have been influenced by a wish to select one who bad been in

close touch with Sir George himself and could carry on his wise policy until toe world military situation, now in the melt-ing-pot at Geneva, was clearer. Apart from which there is no doubt in our minds that the near future will see a C.I.G.S. of all three Services combined.

Indispensable Sailors and Soldiers. However desirable disarmament may be it will be a long time before the world can do without our British sailors, soldiers and airmen." Scarcely a year passes without the services of our regular soldiers, and of the infantry in particular, being called upon to maintain order in.one or other of the outlying portions of the Empire, and even on occasion at home. Malabar, Shanghai, Kajuri, Burma, Cawnpore, Bombay, Dartmoor, each one of these names evokes memories of incidents which had :t not been for the firm influence of the British soldier might have developed into a calamity of an inconceivable nature. . In Shanghai in particular the value ot our troops to-day is inestimable. Ibe situation there is definitely uneasy. The Navy, too, plays an immensely important part, in peace time, perhaps even a bigger part than the. Army, for when there is trouble the services of the British Navy are available for each and every nation in 'distress, as'witness the occasion of the recent Greek earthquakes.

The Course Craze. A critic in au English journal draws attention to one obvious failure of the "course” craze so prevalent in the Army to-day. He says, truly, that there, is a tendency' toward sending young officers, on first’appointment, to courses instead of putting them in command of men and giving them responsible jobs, indeed the latest ideas seem to indicate that two years must elapse after joining before the voting officer is, so to speak, "passed out by his C. 0.; in short, he must put in two years of courses, etc., before he can be trusted and given a responsible job. The psychology of the whole, thing is to the critic utterly wrong. It is during those vitally important mid impressionable early years that willingness to accept responsibility is instilled into t|m young, and if it is not so instilled, it may never be fully acquired in after-life. The Navy makes no such mistake. From the time lie joins his ship—even as a naval cadet and most certainly as a midshipman —the embryo naval officer is given al] sorts of extremely responsible jobs. He tloes a little watchkeeping,, he is put in charge of a boat, he may even do a little navigation, and a host of other things, all of which fend to give, him that sublime attribute, confidence in himself. I’romotions and Transfers.

The following promotions and transfers were gazetted last evening:— The Wellington East Coast .Mounted RJfieS. —Lieutenant H. G. Witters, from the Hawke’s Bay Regiment, to he lieutenant, with seniority from September 13, 1029. •

The Regiment of N.Z. Artillery..—Captain J. B. 8. Lockhart, Regimental Supernumerary List, is posted to the I.3th Coast Battery. Lieutenant G. F. Falck, 20th Light Battery, Is transferred to the Reserve ot Officers, Class'l (b), R.D. I. Lieutenant N. A. Stephenson ceases to be posted to the 13111 Coast Battery, and is posted to the 15tl> Coast Battery. Lois Howie \ eale to be 2nd lieutenant, and is posted to the 9th Fjelil Battery. The undermentioned to be 2nd lieutenants, an<l are posted to the Sill Field Battery James Francis Tasker, Douglas Stonehouse. The Wellington Regiment.—Lieutenant J. H. Torlesse, Regimental Supernumerary List, 4s transferred to the Reserve of Officer's, Class I (b), R.D. 5. James Banbury Clive Geere-lVatson, to bo 2nd lieutenant, and is posted to the Ist Battalion. The Hawke's Bay Regiment.—Lieutenant H. G. Witters, Regimental Supernumerary List, is transferred to the Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles,

N,Z. Air Force.—Hubert 'Wentworth Duffey (late Flying Officer, Royal Air Force), tP'.be Flying. Officer, with seniority from January 1, 1029, and is posted to No. 4 (Army Co-operation) Squadron. The undermentioned to be pilot officers (on probation), and are posted to squadrons as state<l against their names: —John Cartliew Ashcroft.: No. 1 (Army Co-operation) Squadron; Sydney Richard Meatcbem, No. 2 (Bomber) Squadron; Donald Campbell, ■No. 4.(Army Co-operatioh) Squadron; John Joseph-Busch, No. 3 (Bomber) Squadron; Harry Nalder Major, No. 4 (Army Co-opera-tion) •, Squadron. Ronald Affleck Kirkup, No. 1 (Army Co-operation) Squadron.

New Zealand Army-Service .Corps.—Captain N, M,'Fry de'to be Major, and is appointed to command the Ist Composite Company,. The undermentioned to be 2nd lieutenants,- and are posted to the 3rd Composite Company Philip Arthur Bergman, Harry. Morris Jacobs/

Now Zealand Medical Corps.—Lieutenant M. S. Harris, M. 8,, attached Northern Depot, N.Z. Corps of Signals, to be captain. N.Z. Chaplains Department.—The Rev. R. ,T. Howie,- chaplain 4th class, resigns his commission.