"CARRY ON SERGEANT!"

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 86, 11 April 1916, Page 4

"CARRY ON SERGEANT!"

HINTS FOR YOUNG OFFICERS

In a series of amusing "Hints to yon rig. ■• officers. 3' "Senior Subaltern" in the Daily' Mail, thus points the way for the .tyro in respect to his first day with the battalion: —Respect your sergeant. He is your best friend. He may be a rough diamond; in the privacy of his soul he may be a villain: he may be a murderer-. But il you value your youthful life, keep sweet with him-. Your first day with the battalion you go on parade. You arc given a platoon. You have not the vaguest idea what to do, nor what is expected of you. Here is a. plan which 1 hand you gratis.' itonly needs a little memory. Learn off the words, "Carry on, sergeant,'' and your future is assured.

Watch their magic effect! The adjutant puts you in command of No. Ji platoon. Very well. Apply the formula. Shout, "Garry on, sergeant,'' at the top of your voice, even though you do not see anybody that, looks vaguely like a sergeant. But do nor worry. Someone will detach himself, from the rear, hurry round beside you, cough out, "'Toon, tschun!'1 and salute.

Return his salute and repent, "Carry- on, sergeant." ' •'Very good, sir," agrees the sergoant. "Will you inspect the rifles, sir?" ■ "■•• •, ~

Take him at his word. /'Oh. yes the rifles. Of course, the riflt?s, (Joocl idea. The rifles."

But lot him set the pace. Ho will bawl the magic formula. '''Toon. f'r "spot'shun, por-r-rt a'ms!" and will trot a way to the right of the hup. Follow him. You eannojt g»> wrong. Suddenly he will stop in front of a man and rap out: "Rifle rusty, belt squint, buttons dirty, pocket* open,, boots muddy, and grease on your tunic."

lou may not see any of these faults yourself—nevertheless, fix the man with a glassy eye and1 ask him what the blankety-blank he means by it. The sergeant will' back you up. And even though you make a slight mistake and start ticking otf the wrong man, ' the sergeant will suddenly find faults in the fellow sufficient to land him before a district court-martial, and so your face is saved.

.What do you do after the rifle in- f spec-lion? Tt is certainly rather it i problem to the tyro. But not 1o ' you who know. You will reiterate ' the enchanted words. The sergeant will do the rest. He will salute. "Yer.. sir, s'geant-major says b.-iv'-net-iigbting this rnovmng, sir; will T march them off. sir?" i

"March off? Yes. yes. March off.. Certainly. Good idea. Ca-ry on. j sergeant." And you will find your- | self being eyed with approval by the ] "C 0.," for while your platoon is ■ legging away for work, the others a'T-- beinsr footled about by subpltorns who have nof grasped, the intrinsic value of an obliging sergeant.