"THE SEVENTHS"

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 85, 8 October 1915, Page 7

"THE SEVENTHS"

THEIR WORK REVIEWED PRAISE BY CHIEF OF STAFF INFANTRY'S HIGH STANDARD. THE MEANING OP DISCIPLINE. The 7th Reinforcements, having completed their training, were addressed upon the results of their work by Col. C. M. Gibbon, Chief of the General Staff, at Trentham Camp yesterday afternoon. Col. Gibbon, speaking to them as a soldier to soldiers, also gave them some sound advice, which was listened to intently. The contingent, numbering some 2500 men, was drawn up on the main parade ground in hollow square formation. Col. Gibbon, speaking from horseback, said it was his custom when the Reinforcements their training to tell them what he thought 'of their work, and also from his point of view to give them a few words -of advice before they left Trentham. The Tth Reinforcements' training had been somewhat seriously interfered with through various causes, mainly sickness, the breaking of camp, particularly as regards the Infantry, and the necessity for sending increased reinforcements for the Mounted Rifles, who were now being sent' practically as infantry. Then, for the artillery they had had to find new units. And then, in addition, the great amount of work that had been going on in the camp in mak- ' ing improvements had interfered with the work of training. MOUNTED RIFLES AND AR-' ' TDLLERY. The mounted men, as he had said before, "were being sent forward untrained in their particular work to some extent, owing to the necessity of having to send men to Egypt to take charge of the horses and release the others who were already there for the front. There were thousands of horses now in Egypt, and someone had to look after them. The 7th Mounteds would probably have to do this for a time, and while doing so would complete their own training. The Artillery were well up to the high standard reached at Trentham, although the Ammunition Column had not been through its full course of training, and required further instruction before going to the front. INFANTRY ABOVE THE AVERAGE. "As to the Infantry, I think the standard attained is above the average," declared Colonel Gibbon. Judging by their march over the Rimutakas and of what he had seen of them in camp and bivouac they knew how to look after themselves. Unpleasant though their constant changing about had been, it had all been training. In war they could not have any fixed plans. What they determined on to-day they might very probably have to change to-morrow. In learning how to look after themselves the Infantry had. had more training than any other draft that had preceded " them. In musketry, the Mounted Rifles had only fired the recruits' course, and in this had done about as well as the last Reinforcements. The musketry of the Infantry was better than that of any Reinforcement draft with the exception of the sths, 'but it must be remembered in considering this that the sths had excellent weather with very little wind in which to fire. The 7th Infantry fired under very different conditions. HIGH REPUTATION TO LIVE UP TO In sending them out from Trentham they felt confident that they would know their jobs when they went forward as Reinforcements to the units already in the field. They should not go there thinking that they knew everything. War itself was the best school of war, and m it they would learn much. They should remember that they had New Zealand's traditions to maintain. An officer in Egypt writing to him on what was hap. pening there stated that our Reinforcements were establishing such a name that they were looking for better in each succeeding draft. That was a very nigh reputation to live up to, and he hoped that the *7ths would do their best to maintain it. One of, the Smost vital points they had to remember was the necessity for discipline. The Germans at the outset of the war calculated on beating us because of the discipline of their armies. They did not think that our " men, especially those residing overseas, would submit to discipline. They had tried to teacb them that all important essential in New Zealand, and they had responded. He appealed to them specially to look- to their discipline when off duty and when fighting was not going on. They should remember that the regiment? with the best discipline suffered the least losses. That had been shown in the great retreat from Mons, but that was no new thing ; the same had happened in the retreat to Corunna. Discipline was everything in a war like the present. A great many of our losses in the earlier stages of the war were due to the men getting out of hand, which was explained in the lack of discipline. He warned them specially against indulging in drink, and thereby missing their ships. If the Reinforcements did not reach the front in full strength the shortage might seriously endanger the whole force. The sth and 6th Reinforcements when they left New Zealand had only one man absent, and on sailing from way ports had not left a single man behind. " Another way in which a man could betray his comrades was by failing to reach the front, and in this connection he specially warned them against •t& J&lk ._tJ__lfc_H» J«a_&___S._S_.

maintain the high reputation of the New Zealand Reinforcement drafts in way ports, and asked them never to neglect to salute officers abroad, including those of the Allied Forces. It cost them nothing, and kept up the reputation of New Zealand's troops. They should also specially endeavour to pull together. " ' WHAT IS AIMED AT. "The history of the war will be written one day, proceeded Colonel Gibbon. "Something will be written about us, about what our New Zealand troops did at the front. We want nothing that is written now without thought and consideration. What we want is the consid1 ered opinion of the historian, which will go down for all time as to what happened. I want it to be written in that book that the New Zealanders were the finest and best troops sent forward in the service of the Empire. That rests* with you ; it is in your hands. You have been set a magnificent example in the men who have gone before you. Play the game. Remember us whom you leave behind. The way in winch you acquit yourselves will be our only reward." Colonel Gibbon added that the infantry of the 6th Reinforcements were sent to 'the front within four days of landing in Egypt. That was a high compliment which had also been paid to the 4ths and the sths. The 7ths would be inspected upon their arrival there, and on their performances they would be judged. Some troops that had been sent to Egypt had been ordered into further periods of training. THE RIFLE BRIGADE Ist AND 2nd BATTALIONS. The Ist and 2nd Battalions, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, who have been completing their training in New Zealand at Rangiotu, were addressed by Colonel Gibbon upon similar lines on Tuesday last. He complimented them upon 'their work, saying that they had done very well, especially when the disabilities they had laboured under were taken into consideration. They had won a reputation which he hoped they would live up to.