SENIOR CADETS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15930, 29 May 1915, Page 9

SENIOR CADETS.

SOLDIERS IN THE MAKING.

A NIGHT ON PARADE.

AT WORK AND PLAY.

There are many interesting sights to bo i BC»n in Auckland just now. when all | thoughts are directed toward soldiering and men and women are working unceasingly for patriotic causes ; but one of the most interesting was the scene at the Drill Hall on Thursday night, wlun one of the last senior cadet parades of the j military year—ending May 31 -took place. I The Drill Hall itself was occupied by territorials, and the Normal Sc'ool play ground—a big. asphalt ground, well lit | by arc-lampswas the parade-ground of • three companies-two senior cadet and j one territorial. The lamps were hardly i needed, for the moon shone brilliantly, i and there was julst that freshness in | the air that made drill manoeuvres and | exercise a most acceptable form of occu- I pation. A businesslike lot of youngsters | the cadets looked in trim khaki—a point in which they had the advantage of the territorials, many of whom were in mufti, owing to the scarcity of uniforms. Various evolutions of drill were carried out by the different companies, squad, section, and company drill, and physiqal exercise, while over in a far corner the Post and Telegraph cadets were busy at semaphore drill. The loud tramn, tramp of hundreds of feet in brisk movement, sharp commands of officers and frequent outspoken admonitions made a medley of •sound which had about it a certain businesslike quality, a hint that parades these days are not merely a duty carried out perfunctorily, but in the spirit of alertness, physical and mental, that is proof of soldierly training, both in men and boys. An interesting feature of the evening's parade was the presentation by the officer commanding the 18th Company, of the challenge cup and medal for marksmanship, and the various badges won by members during the year. The boys marched up in turn, saluted briskly, and received their badges, with a pleasure that was proof of their interest and efficiency in the preliminary work that goes to the making of New Zealand's soldiers. Work o! Senior Cadets. The present system of senior cadet training was inaugurated in 1911, at the June time as the territorial system. The total number of cadets in New Zealand is close on 26,000. organised into 348 companies. Auckland, city and suburbs, extending from Swanson to Otahuhu, comprises No. 1 Area-Group, with about 4000 | cadets. All hoys between the ages of 14 [ and 18 must serve, being drafted into the territorials upon reaching the latter age. There are 23 night-companies, those I drilling at night, and 20 day companies, consisting of boys attending secondarj schools and various colleges. These com- | panies are officered by schoolmasters, and I drill on their own grounds, while night companies parade at dfferent ponts according to districts. A certain amount oi drill i:; compulsory, each company having to do 50 drijls, sis half-day parades, and a prescribed course of musketry in the course of the year. Those who deliberately shirk their duties in this respect are taken before the. Magistrate's Court, just the' same , as •> their territorial brothers, but extreme measures are seldom . necessary. The work includes infantry ■ training, and various forms of drill, .musketry training which familiarises the boy with the use of the .303 service rifle, and includes individual marksmanship and collective field practice, carried out at the Penrose Rifle Range. Physical exercises and proper breathing also form part of the cadet's training, while knotting, splicing, compass-reading, and semaphore signalling aro among the technical subjects. Route marches are also carried out, six miles being the average distance, and a route march counts as a half-day parade. No definite syllabus is carried*out in full detail by every company, but the main j principles of training .are adhered to byall Enthusiasm of Cadets. The cadets show great interest in their training, although in their ranks, as in ! other organisations, there is a certain proportion with a strong natural . bias towards shirking, • But in the , main, they aro keen, and take a pride in their work. Certain badges aro given as the reward of good work, a red star, to be worn on the sleeve, representing a yearV full attendance at parade, a white star, worn beside it, good conduct, and a blue star efficiency. If the wearer fails to maintain this high standard, he loses his stare. Marksmanship badges, in the form of crossed rifles, are also prized, i awarded for 75 points out of a possible 105. An excellent illustration of the increasing efficiency of cadets is shown by the fact that whereas last year only-three of one company qualified as marksmen, 14 obtained their cadges this year. Where the training of a largo number of high-spirited boys is concerned, it is inevitable that there should, be a good deal of friction when junior officers are boys of almost equal age. Gyie instance, however, narrated by a company commander, affords a striking testimony as to what can be accomplished by boys of the true calibre. One such youthful officer, after a severe heckling by an in subordinate crowd, was finally hotly challenged to " Come out and fight." ■• "No, I won't fight while I'm in uniform." returned lie, "but you come along after parade, and I'll fix you'." So after parade, there was an adjournment to a suitable spot, and the young diseiplarinarian promptly " fixed" not only the principal offender, but two others ill such quick succession that since then the company in question has become-one of the most orderly and best disciplined of all. " Cadets" Sports Association.

A recent innovation that is making for the esprit de corps which counts for so much in the organisations such as this, is the formation of the Auckland Senior Cadets' Sports Association. The object of the association is to promote good, healthy sport, such as cricket, swimmingfootball, etc., among the cadets, so that by improving their physique and inculcating a spirit of fair play, they may beqome both better soldiers, and better citizens later en. The assoiiation affiliates with the existing associations, but plays only with other cadet companies, the special advantage of this being that sports and parades do not clash, and also that additional keenness is felt and pride taken in the achievement of each company. Both officers ami boys are entering keenly into the scheme, and it is hoped that as the idea grows much good will result in every way. A great incentive to a movement of this kind is the possession of trophies, alwavs highly prized by winning"teams, and 'the presentation of such to the association would undoubted'.)- add greatly to its success. the most important events in the history of the Auckland senior cadets have been the public reviews which have been held from time to time, at each of which they earned high praise from the inspecting i officers. There have been several King's 1 Birthday parades, and one in honour of ' i General Baden-Powell's visit to Auckland, I the last and largest of all being that mobi- ! lised by Captain Morton on the occasion • of Sir lan Hamilton's visit in May of last i vear, when the cadets and officers concerned were specially congratulated by both Lord Liverpool and General Hamill ton.