AN ORDINARY MAN’S VIEW OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 68, 13 December 1939, Page 10

AN ORDINARY MAN’S VIEW OF THE WAR

Only One Day’s Leave DISAPPOINTMENT FOR MEN ON HOME DEFENCE (By Obsekvee.) Dear Mr. Jones, —As Minister of Defence you have issued a statement that tlie Territorials and National Alilitary Reservists engaged on home defence are to be allowed one day’s leave during the Christmas and New Year vacations. I for one am extremely sorry that, something a bit more generous was not done for these men. I feel that with a little give and take by tlie army authorities (by whom you must, of course, be guided in such matters) it could have been arranged among the men themselves for each to have three clear days off —though I had previously suggested a week—either at Christmas or at Now Year. I know that in season and out the defence services must be efficiently manned in event of a threat to these coasts from whatever quarter it may conic.

All tlie same, a roster could very well be worked out whereby a decent spelt could be managed without loss of efficiency in the forts aud batteries and at guard duty points. A man can't see much of his family in 24 hours at a season when most of all he wants to be with them, can he? Getting home and back makes a hole in such brief leave, particularly if the soldier has to travel any distance. After all, these fellows are your special interest; many of them are where they are as the result of your personal appeals before the war. I know several of them. Under military ‘ regulations they can't. or shouldn’t, make direct representations to your good self. But. believe me. they have a touching belief that “Jones will fix it,” meaning anything legitimate they want done involving policy questions, as this is. Hqve another look at it, sir, if you will.—Yours truly, OBSERVER. The Dolphin Tragedy.— H.P.B. (Carterton) writes to the Editor of "The Dominion,” as follows concerning the Dolphin tragedy:— In an article on December 7, “Observer” quotes a Government officer as suggesting that the Dolphin should have been permitted to proceed to the wharf: unmolested, and her master dealt with later. This might be read to imply that tlie Dolphin was trying to enter the inner harbour without a permit, the evidence shows, however, that when the shot was fired tlie Dolphin was heading to the fort and away from the inner harbour. The shot went almost the full length of the boat. This speaks for itself. A good citizen lost his life and his property was destroyed. Surely a heavy penalty for a technical error, if sucli error were committed— T1.1’.8.

Twenty-live Years Late.— A friend in Army Headquarters telephoned me in high glee yesterday. He had a true story which he thought deserved a -wider audience. A veteran of tlie last war called, it seemed, at headquarters, and asked where one applied “to join the force of 500 officers and men whom it had 'been decided to send to Samoa to relieve a similar number already there. ’ The orderly was mystified, and so was an officer to whom the would-be recruit was referred. They knew of no relieving force going to Samoa or anywhere else. ‘.'But I saw it in the paper last M'ednosday.” explained the man. The Army’s denials were unavailing. Then light broke on the orderly. It was iu the paper sell right, headed “Relieving I’arty But the applicant, in his baste to see the Army people, had overlooked the fact that the item was one of daily reprintings of extracts from “The Dominion” under the general heading “25 Years Ago.”