COMPULSORY TRAINING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8365, 27 February 1913, Page 11

COMPULSORY TRAINING

To the Editor “N.Z. Times.” Sir, —For some time I have been watching Air P. C. Freeth’s vituperative bombardment of the anti-militar-ists, and I am beginning to wonder if he really takes himself seriously on this question of compulsory military training. His specious efforts to endow the "Fors” with all the virtues, grit and manliness, and the “Againsts” with the attributes of the worm—minus even the final “turn” — is, to my mind, utterly discreditable to a man in his position—for the axiom that no amount of military training could make a bravo man of a coward, and that the mere opposition to military training could never make a coward of a brave man, must penetrate even his rabid jingoism. Amongst the first batch of “absentminded beggars” of my regiment, drafted to the late South African war, were two men who were about as opposite in principle as, say, Messrs O’Regan and Freeth, nicknamed respectively “Fairy” and “Smiler.” The former had been for years our heavyweight champion lighter, and was the frothiest of, jingoes. Right throughout the voyage ho was roaring about what he would do when he got there —woe betide the cur that ho caught showing the white feather, etc., and he couldn’t find a name vile enough for “Smiler” (he hadn’t Mr Freeth's educational advantages), who was a man of peace and a pro-Boer. Their baptism of lire came in due course, and there ended “Fairy’s” froth. He forgot to look around for the “whitelivered curs,” and bent all his energies to securing a billet, hard or soft, anything, anywhere, that would take him out of the firing line. Eventually he became squadron cook, and put in the remainder of his time with the transport. “Smiler”—man of peace — fighting against his convictions, never left the firing line until the day peace was declared, and was ranked by his squadron officer as “indispensable.” These men were not isolated cases, but types, and my whole experience has taught mo that no reliance —in a crisis—can be placed in a man who is ever ready to dub bis fellows shirkers, poltroons, and cowards. —I am, etc., LANCER. Wellington, February 25th.