OPEN WARFARE

Evening Star, Issue 16515, 29 August 1917, Page 3

OPEN WARFARE

WANTED MDKE THAN BOMB TRAINING AND GASSING- INSTRUCTION. AN EXPERTS RECOMMENDATIONS. [From Ouii Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 29. It appears from opinions expressed by Major-general A. 11. Russell, Officer Commanding tho New Zealand Division, in a letter to Colonel (ribbon, which letter was quoted by the Defence Minister in the House, yesterday, that the military authorities have gone mad about, bomb throwing. Major-General Russell says in the course of his letter: " I will tell you what they are teaching them at; Sling, and what I propose should be cut out there. At Sling they gob a thorough course of bombing, bayonet fighting, trench digging, rapid firing, and gas, but they do not do any open warfare. I am going over to England next week, and shall suggest that both gas and bombing be cut out of the course of instruction. lam doing this on the .around that in the case of bombing we have absolutely overdone the subject. We teach them bombing in England ; we teach them bombing at Etaples (our infantry base depot); we teach them bombing in the battalion schools and in the divisional schools; and we have earned it to such, a length that many men havo forgotten that they have a rifle, and think that the only thing _ to do is to throw a bomb. We are paying for it every day. As a matter of fact, there is very little to teach in bombing. A stout heart, a little practice, and a short course of instruction is all that is needed to mako an effective bomber. Gas I would out out, because it is impossible to get men so far removed as they are in England from the chance of being gassed to really appreciate' ths extreme necessity of thorough and efficient gas drill, and protection. Once they get over here arid have met a few gas ■shells they take quite a different view, and assimilate iiiFtmction very readily. In England it is perfunctory; At Staples it is a necessity, and we givo them further instruction in our divisional reinforcements campa' before allowing tfyem to go to the ■trenches. How far you teach these subjects in New Zealand I am unaware, but ■with the exception of bayonet fighting on the latest system I would out the last out and go for open warfare ail the time."