THEIR COUNTRY'S CALL.

Northern Advocate, 18 December 1911, Page 2

THEIR COUNTRY'S CALL.

GENERAL GODLEY AT WANGANUI

COLLEGE.

Officiating at the annual prize-giv-ing at Wanganui Collegiate School, General Godley made a fine speech on the value of discipline. After expressing his warm approval of the college cadets, whom he had inspected the previous day, General Godley said that he had been very glad to meet those cadets ? for under the new scheme of military training he looked to those boys, along with those of other schools, to be the backbone of the future citizen army. General Godley continued: —

"A word about dicipline. It is the best kind of individuality. ; People think a man has only to take up a rifle, and that unorganised effort will defend his country, but experience will show that this is not so. Military discipline is based on school discipline, and esprit-de-corps and comradeship

are the great factors which go to make up an efficient force. Boys, you have

great responsibilities in the new citizen army and a great example to live up to. The roll of honor in the hall show& that 85 boys went to South Africa several of whom lost their lives there. Some are still in the permanent forces, and we want more. I I want to see the boys do their best, and make it certain that the Wangahai Cadet Corps should set an example to all others. You boys who are now going into the world as lawyers, doctors, etc. } will later on be found in the ranks of the artillery, engineers, and town corps. The back-blocks will provide us with mounted men, but, remember, you should be as proud of your battery or regiment as you are of having been at Wanganui College. You, can all do your share. ' You will not all have the luck to be sold-' iers 365 days in the year, but remember, that whatever your rank and however few days in the year it may be, you have the honour of wearing the King's uniform in camp, you will renew school friendships and" old acquaintances. You can all make your impression felt in the new army, and set an example of., self-restraint, good fellowship, and obedience to authority aid self-sacrifice for the good of your country." He impressed his hearers, with the necessity for loyalty to their superiors and drew an object-lesson from the American Civil War, quoting the life of Stonewall Jackson as pictured, in "The Long Roll" (Mary Johnston) , which, he said, ranked as a wonderful example of what could be done by a citizen army. General God>ley concluded:

"Lawyers, doctors, farmers, and business men will vie with one another to play the game, and if the evil day comes and we have to defend our country, this grand little bit of the Empire will do its part. If I am here I shall look to Wanganui College boys as the stoutest fighters, and if I am in any other part of the Empire, I shall expect to hear that Wanganui boys

were foremost in doing their duty to

their King and country. What I want to say to you in conclusion is, that you must not wait till that day. Your country wants you now to set an example of cheerfully undergoing that drill and training by which only you can be prepared to meet the day of trial."