CAPT. KNYVETT'S ARREST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14700, 7 December 1909, Page 2

CAPT. KNYVETT'S ARREST

CAUSE OF THE TROUIiLIi THE CAPTAIN'S LETTER TO TIIE MINISTER. The arrest, of Captain F. B. Kuweit, commander of No. 1 Company, Auckland Garrison Artillery Volunteers, on a charge of insubordination has not been allowed to pass without comment from local papers. Captain Knyvett dedines to make any statement beyond that he had granted liu interviews in Wellington at the time the company paid its unacknowledged visit. The ' feeling in local Volunteer circles is entirely ill bis favour. He happens to he the most popular, if not the most enthusiastic, Volunteer officer in Auckland. The -No.1 Company, which this year celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, lias risen under his leadership to a standard of elliciency which recently brought it the Hudson Cup i'or the highest score with quickfiring gnns. The lank and file are highly indignant over the treatment aero,',led tlieiv superior officer, and clearly indicate that if he is not exonerated they will resign in a body. The actual cause of Captain Knyvett's suspension is said to be a letter which lie sent lo the lJcfence Minister. This letter refers to the efforts made by the officers of the Pefone Navals and Captain Knyvett's own company to cover up and prevent any possibility of a scandal leaking out to the public of Ilie alleged "want of tact and the interference of the Chief of the General Staff, Colonel Robin." The letter goes on to refer to the astonishment- of the oliicers on the Monday following when an article appeared in the Dominion stating that "No. 1 Company, by' coming to Wellington, had committed ,i very grave breach of discipline, and burlesqued the whole Volunteer Force throughout Ilie Dominion." Captain Knyvett's letter says that he is prepared to submit an affidavit from three officers who were present at a certain interview in the Dominion office as lo his authority for saying the matter was supplied by Colonel Ilobin. The letter continues " The result of this article in the Dominion has been that the Volunteer movement and my corps in particular (which is the largest without question in the whole of New Zealand) nave been belittled and burlesqued to an astounding extent. Article after article iia-s appeared in the Wellington papers, and interview after interview has been atcorded by the Chief of General Staff, and the statements made by him in these interviews I am prepared to prove are entirely wrong. " In addition, it seems lo me thai the Chief of Staff has personally gone out of his way to belittle, discourage, and damp Hie enthusiasm of the whole Volunteering movement. Since these articles have appeared, I have been approached by many officers throughout the whole of the North Island, who Iwivo had similar experiences of the unwarranted interference and unexampled officialism of Colonel Robin. Not- only have Volunteers themselves been subject lo his interference, but many prominent force officers have tolcl me (which I am prepared to prove at an inquiry) that- h has many times had private interviews with persons, from privates to colonels, to the undoubted disadvantage ot the discipline of the forces throughout the Dominion. "Further, in the duties laid down for the Defence Councils, I find the duties for the Chief ofGeneral Staff are Field organisation, miltitary operations, staff duties, military training, military education, military intelligence, mobilisation, and war regulations. No motion of any kind is made in this of the duties or discipline. "If any mepibev oj Ilie Defence Council had any complaint to make about the action of myself and the corps, U was Colonel Tuson, A.A.G. 1 respectfully submit that- at no time have my officers or/ myself committed the smallest breach of the regulations. " I have been under provocation, owing to the many articles which have appeared in t.iie Dominion from the pen of Colonel Robin, but T have withheld writing to the press, well knowing 1 should obtain from you justice. I have.documents in my possession which, if published, would iia've created a grave scandal in Volunteering throughout the whole 'Dominion. " I most respectfully ask for an official inquiry into the conduct- of the head of the Defence Denartment, Colonel Robin, an officer who has a private channel of communication with an Opposition paper (the Dominion) in Wellington, and gives articles and information oT a nature calculated to be contrary to the best traditions and interest of the service." PRESS COMMENT. (FROU OUR OWN COHKKSl'okdkkt.) AUCKLAND, December 6.

Says the Auckland Star: "We agree entirely with the Xew Zealand Tim-es that whatever be the finding of the courtmartial set up to consider Captain Knyvett's ca?e. public opinion will not be satisfied with this oflieial verdict alone. All that the Military Court will attempt to do is to decide whether Captain Ivnyv&tt was or was not guilty of a breach of discipline in willing a. letter to tire Defence Department- commenting upon tin condv.ct of his military superior. No doubt the court-martial will settle this )»int in strict accordance with military la.w, but what the general public would like to know its whether Captain Knyvett's allegations are true so far as Auckland is concerned. It seems to us that without any undue sensitiveness on our part wc may all reasonably claim to feel interested in the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the recent visit of mi Auckland Volunteer corps to Wellington, but while we would be glad lo see llij blame for this fiasco put 11)1011 the right shoulders, Captain Knyvett's letter raises other questions even more important than this. I! our system of national defence is ever to attain any reasonable 'standard of efficiency there must be 110 suspicion of anything approaching ' undue influence ' on the part of the superior officers or insubordination among the subalterns. The general public lias the right to demand that such charges as those, made by Captain ICnyvett against the chief of the staff sha.il be either substantiated or disproved, and wo fe-al sure Hint Colonel Robin himself will see the necessity for refusing to be content with the purely formal verdict of a, military court, and will endorse the demand for a public inquiry,"