DOMINION SCOUTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7048, 9 February 1910, Page 1

DOMINION SCOUTS

ARREST OF TWO OFFICERS MILITANT COURT TO SIT TO. MORROW. AN UNAUTHORISED CANTEEN,

To-morrow a Military Court, comprising Lieut.-Cdonol G. F, C. Campbell (Wellington Garrison Artillery), Major Courtney (Wellington Garrison Artillery) and Captain Esson (Wellington City Rifles) will sit, at the instance of Lieut.Colonel Bauohop, officer commanding tho •Wellington district, to inquire into the circumstances attending the " arrest " of Captain Dalrym/ple and Lieutenant Hous--1 ton, of the Dominion Scouts. The incident which culminated in the arrest of these two officer© occurred about 1 o'clock on Sunday morning last. For some time there have been two (Parties in the corps, each favouring separate officers. The allegation is that Lieutenant Houston, on the morning in question, had some hot words with Captain Dalryimple, and the two came to blows, a scuffle ensuing which necessitated the intervention of another subaltern officer. Th© occurrence was reported by a staff-sergeant to Captain Duigan, instructional officer, at 6 o'clock next Dooming, and he placed Captain Dalrymple under arrest, a similar course being followed in regard to. Lieutenant Houston subsequently, under instructions of Lieut.-Colonel Bauchop. It is suggested that the alleged offence is all the more serious because of its occurrence in a training camp. Two distinct charges, it is understood, will bo preferred against both Captain Dalrymple and Lieutenant Houston. It is stated that drunkenness will be alleged in connection with the proceedings at the inquiry. As far as can be gathered an unauthorised canteen was a feature of the first few days of the camp. It was afterwards dosed by those in charge.

The Dominion Scouts is the newest corps in- th© Wellington Military District. Messrs Gardiner and Dalrymple, both of whom served with, some of tho later Now Zealand regiments in South Africa, were responsible for th© embodiment of the squadron. The name of tho corps, its officers and other details were arranged before any application, was made to the officer commanding the district, and many meetings were held long before the ** Scoutswere a part of the defence forces.

A small disagreement in regard to squadron accounts caused a little friction. It was at first understood that Mr Gardiner would become captain commanding, but later it was agreed that Mr Dalrymple should accept th© position. The squadron was uniformed as mounted infantry, but no immediate provisions were made for horsing it. Every man in the squadron is an exsoldier, with active service to bis credit, but the ranks were open to infantrymen ns well as to men who had belonged to the mounted branch. In order to capitate as mounted infantry the squadron obtained a proportion of horses for the camp of instruction,, and under the guidance of a cavalry stuff sergeant-major the officers and men who hitherto had no knowledge cf horsemanship have been taught some of the cl&ments. The Dominion Scouts, though nominally belonging to a mounted rifle regiment, have never paraded with the regiment.