THE NEW ARMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15821, 19 January 1915, Page 4

THE NEW ARMY.

RUDYARD KIPLING'S PEN

PICTURES.

MEN WHO ARE IN EARNEST.

Mb. Rcdtard Kipling is publishing i series of articles in the Daily Telegraph on " The New Army in Training." We make some extracts from the first article, which".<;. describes scenes in a great camp where 1 battalions of Kitchener £ army are learning their new business. " ' -V" - An old soldier is watching the men ; drilling. - " '-""■''v'S "Good?" said I, deferentially. '"Yes," he said. '"Very good "ihen,f§ half to himself: '• (Juite different, '•■ I though." A p:vot-man close to as hid shifted a little inste id oi marking time figg the wheel. His face clouded, his $&*;£,- moved. Obviously he was cursing his omi' .iumsiness. ' \ fs§

" That's what I meant," said the veteran. "Innocent! Innocent! M*&? you, they ain't coin' it to be done with ft and get off. They're doin' it because— because they wart to do it." ";-»> " Wake up! Wake up there, Issberwood!" This was a young subaltern"* reminder flung at a back which strightaidf itself. That one human name coming [ out of all that maze of impersonal manoeuvring stuck in the memory Kb» wreckage on the ocean. «7/t " An it wasn't 'ardly even necessary jm caution Mister Issberwood," my companies; commented. " Prob'ly he's bitterly ashaniw of 'imself." '&$ I asked a leading question, because the old soldier told me that he was a miln*r/ policeman. t^B 'Crime? Crime?" said he. ""Hi? don't know what crime is—that lot don't-; none of 'em '" He mourned over theffl like a benevolent old Satan looking into busy Eden, and his last word was "Innfr cent ■?-'

Another picture is of a battalionevidently from the North. •" : j'>: : . "Yo' mun trail t'pick an' t' rifle at * J same time. Try again," said the instn* - -• lor. _ * ■:$$ An isolated company tried asrain w * l , set seriousness, and yet again. They ▼£!»>'* used to the pick—won their living by A in fact—and so favoured it more than the nifle: but miners don't carry picks a the trail by instinct, though they can twiodle their rifles as one twiddles walking-sticis.. Thev were clad in a blue garb tfcStdis-, guised all contours; yet their shoulders,'l backe. and loins could not altogether h«2f disguised, and these were excellent- & Another company, at physical drill ■ shirt and trousers, showed what superb material had offered itself to be worked upon, and bow much poise and directed,; strength had been added to that mater* in the past three months. When the new army gets all its EC* uniform, it -will gaze at itself lite a ne* Narcissus. But the present kit is**' describable. That is why. English fasbiJ«p; it has been made honourable by it* ? '-... wearers: and our world in t*e years to ecme will look back with reverence ** well as affection on those blue slops **■* that epileptic cap. -,!f. One far-seeing commandant who ■*! \ r special facilities has possessed himseT '.™f?l' brass buttons, thousands of 'era, hj?"-v he has added to bis men's outfit for y*«g moral effect of (a) having something'&<.£.'•, clean, and (b) of keep ; ne"it so. It h» paid. ~ if ,-•' In the point of food, the men, says Mr-' | Kipling, are extremely well looked af» wet canteen and drv, and he comments el;;. ; the domestic side" which they have developed. " _ r-'l In civil life men leave these things 9 their women-folk, but where women*** ~£ not. officers, inspecting ten's, feet, **~ suchlike, develop a she-side to 'heir le**£-; and evidently make non-coms, and **» develop it, too. A good soldier is *Sfjsf||l a bit of r,n old maid. -'T _ „ Mr. Kipling declares that all are tr^ 9 hard " with all the marked and nnae*" <CV voiced effort of our peoples when w* ** really at work" : ,'-^~ < '<