SINGING IN THE ARMY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9308, 5 March 1907, Page 2

SINGING IN THE ARMY.

The folio-wing interesting circular me- j morandum has been issued by General Lord Methuen, G.C.8., Commanding in Chief Eastern Command :— "Medical authorities state that singing helps to develop the lungs and keep men fit, and,' the general officer commanding in chief is of opinion that it is calculated to help men to forget their fatigue on the march and to assist in getting them along, and that not only then but in camp and quarters it tends to relieve monotony, and, if suitable songs are made use of, to raise the ideals and patriotism of aJI ranks. With the objectof introducing the habit of singing the general officer commanding in chief desires that some method' may be devised and put into practice in every unit of the command whereby good marching songs may be introduced, and men -who have a musical ear can be trained to sing them-

selves and lead the singing of their comrades. In this matter muoh depends on the attitude of the officers and on the encouiragement they give to the movement. The general officer commanding in chief wishes you to give the subject your earnest consideration, and to take such steps as you consider moat likely to ensure the experiment a good: start, and requests that you will report the steps you -have taken and the progress made by December 31, 1906. It may reasonably be hoped that an indirect 'result of encouraging soldietra to sing healthy, patriotic, and national songs may be to raise the tone of the now often somewhat poor class of entertainments provided for them in canteens, and that it will in "time be possible to substitute military for civil performers therein.'