MILITARY TRAINING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2378, 19 December 1908, Page 5

MILITARY TRAINING.

AIR JUSTICE CHAPMAN’S VIEAV

A strong advocate of military training is found in Air J usticO Cliapn*iu, who discoursed at- some length on National. Defence at the breakingup ceremony at Wellington College the other day. ‘ “I have always considered, • said His Honor, “that rifle shooting and those things which go with, it, military drill and position drill, should be encouraged in .schools. 1 do not .mean that it Should be violently uuposed on boys. Only 40 years ago began in the great world of Europe that extraordinary strenuous competition among the nations. Somehow or other row we are driven to open the middle sheets of the newspapers to soo what, is happening' at Constantinople or Berlin. Before the year 1860 the nations jogged along comparatively easily, then war broke out, something set the whole world an competition, and every nation turned itself into an armed camp. .Compulsory military service rules in all the countries of The United Kingdom is saved alone by the sea that divides it from the Continent. If the eomipetiion is to continue, every country will sooner or later have to introduce a system of compulsory military service. Voluntary service is (alone the safeguard. The crowning triumph of voluntary service is sceu in the little country of Switzerland, which, ,in consequence, is always in a position or self-defence. , , . -... “AVliv should you not start- while you are boys?” asked His Honor, and build ta nation? You boys may make a .nation which shall never be called upon to submit to compulsoij service. These are the reasons why. every encouragement should be given to rifle shooting and voluntary service. I should .like to see every ablebodied -man give -a share of this time to the service of the (State, so that tlie old anon, the women, and the children dependent on them would know that there were defensive forces on our coasts ready to -answer any emergency.’ ’ (Applause.)