MAILLARD NOAKE’S PAMPHLET.

Evening Star, Issue 7360, 4 November 1887, Page 4

MAILLARD NOAKE’S PAMPHLET.

TO THE EDITOR, Sir,— Allow me briefly to take exception to your leader of Saturday evening, in which you have evidently taken it for granted that the statements made in the pamphlet are true, and that Maillard (not “Maitland,” as you have it) Noakc, late a riding-master of the 15th Hussars, who was placed on half-pay on the 23rd April, 18G1, is really a great authority on defence matters. I protest against his bang accepted fitherasa “competent military authority ” or as an “experienced military critic,” It dots not always do to accept a man’s estimate of himself, or to swallow cn (jloho a man’s description of his own career. If you will wait the whirligig of time, it is more than probable you and others will learn more about this gentleman and his assumptions, and you will then be able to judge what weight to attach to his writings. I know of many inaccuracies of statement in that pamphlet of many assertions regarding himself that want qualifying, and it appears to me the pamphlet has been written with a view of promoting economy than with the object of blowing his own trumpet and of giving vent to some bad spleen against a superior officer and the Defence Department, against whom he has long had a grudge. One thing, however, is apparent in the pamphlet—that the proposed economy of L 50.000 out of L 77,000 is conspicuous by its absence. While events develop, Mr Maillard Noake might devote himself to training his regiment in the various details of detached duties, and in cultivating the spirit of section 6, Queen’s Regulations, two ports of soldierly duty I observed them very deficient in last time I came into contact with them.— I am, etc.. An Erector of N.Z, Dunedin, October 31.