MILITARY CAMPS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 21, 26 January 1911, Page 2

MILITARY CAMPS.

THE MORAL ASPECT. REPLY BY THE COMMANDANT. Major-General Godley (Commandant of Forces) has forwarded the following reply to a correspondent who wrote concerning the morality of the camps, and, in view of the publicity given to the subject, his reply is being published :—: — "I am," he wrote, in receipt of your letter of 17th January 1911, in which you refer to the dangers which may exist in military camps for young men of an impressionable age. "I think that, in all probability, the accounts of immorality, etc., which have reached you have been much exaggerated, " but I am fully aliye to the importance of maintaining a high standard of conduct in camp, and will leave nothing undone to assure this. All camps under the new Act will be under strict discipline, and any sign of immorality, drinking, etc., will be severely dealt with and sternly put down. "It is, I regret to cay, impossible to let each man have a separate tent, owing to military considerations of space, transport, etc., to say nothing of expense, but in every case a speciallyselected non-commissioned officer or Benior private will be placed in charge of a tent, and held responsible for the conduct and behaviour of those in that tent; and every endeavour will be made to choose men of firmness and strength of character for these positions of responsibility. ■"I quite agree with you in realising tie importance of maintaining the toae in camp on as high a level as possible, and am very glad the subject has been ventilated by you and others. I know from experience that year by year the tone of military camp life is improving vastly, and I am confident that, under the new system, the example set by the influx of a large number of well brought up^ young men, such as you describe, will be a most potent factor in ensuring that the old breaches of morality and goo^l behaviour will absolutely disappear. "Commanding officers and all others will be directed to pay special attention to this question, and I feel sure that you will find your fears unfounded. ''Apart from the strict regulations ■which will be enforced, there will be little time at the new camps for any other pursuits than soldiering. I am glad that you wrote to me, and that I am able to give you this assurance. I should be much obliged if you can circulate it as widely as possible among those parents who are anxious on the subject."