“DISMISSED!”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7021, 8 January 1910, Page 6

“DISMISSED!”

CASE OP CAPTAIN KNYVETT. INDIGNATION AMONG AUCKLAND VOLUNTEERS. PRESS ASSOCIATION - . AUCKLAND, January 7. Tho sequel to what is known throughout the Dominion as “the Knyvett case” was raado known this morning when Captain F. B. Knyvett received intimation that he had been found guilty and dismissed from the service.

To say that this has caused indignation -among his brother officers is putting the matter mildly, and some of their remarks would mako most interesting reading if there were no libel law in tho Dominion. It will bo remembered that some time ago Captain Knyvett and his company, the No. 1 Auckland Garrison Artillery, went down to Wellington as the guests of tho Potono Navals, but owing to some friction with headquarters—being alleged tbat the visit was undertaken

without proper authority—tho men came back to Auckland next day. An inquiry was held into this matter, and Captain Knyvett was exonerated from blame.

A short while afterwards the captain wrote a letter to the Minister for Defence making certain charges against the Chief of Staff (Colonel Bobin), such ,aa interference, want of tact, officialism, and doing things that damped the enthusiasm of the forces .throughout the Dominion, and it was out of ■this letter that the charges upon which Captain Knyvott was arrested ■arose. Nothing was doum for six •weeks, when a board consisting of Colonel Chaytor, Major Sandtmann, and Captain Bosworbh sat to hear the ■case, and it was then found that the charges ware quite different from those 1 upon which the arrest was made. THE DISMISSAL. The first intimation Captain Knyvett received of the result of the inquiry was the following letter from the Defence Office, Auckland, land addressed to Lieutenant-Colonel Patterson as Officer-Commanding the Garrison Artillery in Auckland: —■ “Court of Inquiry. Captain Knyvett“Xn connection with the above Court of Inquiry, convened on the x 21st ultimo, for the purpose of investigating charges preferred against Captain F. B. ICnyvett, • No. 1 Company Auckland Division N.Z.G.A., ho having been found guilty of an ‘act to the prejudice of good order and military discipline,’ his Excellency the Governor has been pleased to signify his pleasure under section 54 (2) of the Defence Act, 1908, upon this officer’s dismissal from the New Zealand Defence Forces and with effect from December 31st, 1909, and you will please inform him accordingly, reporting to this office at your earliest convenience. Having done so, notification will appear in the need; issue of the ‘New Zealand Gazette’ and General Orders.” The letter was signed by Captain Carpenter, in the absence of Colonel Wolfe, Officer Commanding the District. Colonel Patterson, who sent the letter on to Captain Knyvett, made the, following endorsement: “Forwarded for your infomna- , tion. Please notice that your ser- '

vices have been dispensed with as | from December 31st, 1909.” ■ | OPINIONS ON THE CASE. I Captain Knyvett, when seen by a j ■press representative, said he would '• prefer non to say anything on the mat- 1; ter at that stage, beyond that he was surprised. Other officers who were in- : terviewod talked freely on the question. “The court which inquired into the charges,” said one well-known officer, ‘‘was neither a court of inquiry nor a oourtmartial, as the court itself said at the outset. It was stated that the court would not inquire into he truth or otherwise of the allegations contained in Captain Knyve.tt’s •letter, but would merely inquire as to whether he was justified in asking that an inquiry should be hold into tho mutters he referred to. The, letter of dismissal refers to a Court of Inquiry. A Court of Inquiry has power to give a decision. This court, whatever its name was, stated that Captain Knyvett , was justified in sending the letter. It stated that distinctly on two occasions, That was tho ‘a-ct,’ I pretnirae, on which he was charged. He fully justified every paragraph, and the court said he had brought sufficient evidence to show his bona fides. The remarkable thing, to me, is bow ho can be found guilty of an ‘act’ in connection with which the court found that he was justified. All officers distinctly recognise that discipline must be strictly enforced and maintained,

’but a desire for common justice is inherent in every British subject and requires that if a man is not found guilty ho should bo acquitted. There is no’ question about it in this case ’Captain Knyvett _ was found by the board to be justified in sending the letter, and it is incomprehensible to mo how ho could ho afterwards found guilty. The court having stated that Captain Knyvett was justified in sending the letter upon, which ho was ■charged and. tried, it is inconceivable that any other person could find him guilty ou the same charges.” MUTINOUS COMPANY DEMONSTRATION IN FAVOUR OF KNYVETT. VOLUNTEERS THROW DOWN , THEIR ARMS. AUCKLAND, January 7. To-night was the ordinary drill night of Captain Knyvott’s company, the No. 1 Garrison Artillery. One hundred amd seventy-three men wore on parade, and Captain Knyvett, who appeared in mufti, made a statement of the position and shook 1 rands with the men individually. Earlier in Hie evening the nineteen men who formed tho company when Captain Knyvett took it oyer had met and come to tho conclusion that ho had been unfairly treated, and after Oaiptain Knyvett’s address to tho men they consulted with the rest of tho company, -with tho result that it was unanimously decided to throw in their belts and' accoutrements and refuse to participate in further parades until ■an inquiry ' had been held into the action of the ' Defence Council. and Captain Kynvott reinstated. A very enthusiastic demonstration then took place, Captain Kynvett being carried. shoulder high by his company, to tho accompaniment of, “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Feeding with regard to the case runs very hiijgji, and as not confined to volunteering circles. . . THE CHARGES. Captain Knyvett was charged on four counts with having committed an act to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that in hia letter to tho Minister 1 for' Defence he mad© use of the following expressions;— (1) “Preventing any possibility of a scandal leaking out to the public of the want of tact and interference of the chief of the general staff." (2) '"I have documents in my possession which, if published, would have created a grave scandal in volunteering throughout tho whole Dominion." (3) “Since these articles appeared I have been approached by many officers throughout the whole of the North Island who have had similar experiences of the unwarranted interference (and unexampled officialism of Colonel Robin." (4) “It seems to me that the chief ■ of the general stall has personally gone Out of hiis way to belittle, discourage, and dump the enthusiasm of the whole volunteer movement." CAPTAIN KNYVETT’S CAREER. Captain Knyvett is twenty-nine years of age, and has been identified with soldiering since he was twelve. _ When the Boer war broke out ho enlisted in the First Queensland Contingent, and . was present at actions at Sunnyside, the re- ! lief of Kimberley, Driotfontein, Sauna’s

. Post, Johannesburg, Diamond Hills and I Barberton. On completion of his ser- ! rice with the contingent he returned to Queensland, and joined the Fifth Oon- ! tingent of the Queensland Bushmen, i then on the point of departure. This time he went out with the ranx ■ of sergeant, and immediately on landing in Africa was made sergeant-major. He served with General Plummer, and was twice mentioned in despatches reserving the Distinguished Conduct Medal lor conspicuous bravery in'the field. After the war ho received fits commission _as lieutenant. hive days alter landing saw him once more bound tor the war, tills, time as lieutenant in the Commonwealth Uor,-e, with which ho served till peace was declared. , , In 1003 he came to New Zealand, and at once joined the Auckland Garrison Artillery. When he had been with this corps almost a year he took command. At that time the company was only sixteen strong, and without officers, so the prospects were not brigut, but since he took charge in 1111)5 Captain Knyvett has ■ raised the corps to the position of being ' the strongest in the Dominion. He has ’ missed successively the rank ex lieutei-. ant and captain, and last year sat and ‘ passed for the rank of major. , the le--1 1 gelations requiring seven years service wore interpreted to mean Lew Zealand ■ j wrnce Tins autnoriuas-relused to take ! Captain Knyvott's Australian seivice .n- ---■ i to consideration, and dMluied him tec ! rank of major. He holes ti.o | i decorations: Queen s M«lal, uilh seven ■ bars- King’s Medal, with tup bais, and the Distinguished Conduct Medal.