THE MILITARY MEDAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16888, 28 December 1916, Page 5

THE MILITARY MEDAL.

AWARDED TO SERGEANT DREDGE. JSuwa hu.s been t ived from tlio front that (Jiirajd iS.Z.AI.G., at crno tiiiK) a member of tnu old ivuiiedm Kiiigiueer Volunteers ,liaa bixsn awarded tnu Military Modal l'or UistaigulHliutl butvmi in Frauoo. ttorgcaiit J.»recJgo lolt with tho lirst draft of tuo .N.Z.M.0., and has boon ou activc iscrvico over since. tic has two brothers at tho front, also a nephew, a son of Ivir D. li Dredge, of Jtoslyn. Mr J. Dreujfo is onotlier brother.

"cnucmxioN."

THE MILITARY PUNISHMENT.

A correspondent has forwarded us the following extract from un article in tho Daily Sketch, London, of October 30, 19ib, since it bears on a recent cable message winch had reference to the infliction in tno army of the punishment known as "crucifixion " : —

".When our soldiers are mentioned iu a theatre, at a concert, or public meeting thy audience bursts into applause. When we leud about tneir great deeds our hearts thrill with pride. When Cabinet Ministers praise Britain's great tight lor liberty and justice they are praising the soldier, and away at the lront is a soidier strapped to a wheel. There he is iu the open lor all men to see. French and Belgian civilians look at him as they pass by, and shrug their shoulders. Britain is on their side in tho great war, but surely her soul is the soul of the Hun. The crucified soldier, white-faced, with bitten lips, and black rage in his heart, sees everyttiing, though lor shame's sake he cannot raise h<s eyes. Yes, you will say, but surely it is for some horrible offence we punish brave men like brute beasts! Why, no"! for driving a motor car too fast, for taking a glass of stout, for overstaying leave by an hour, for losing a gas helmet, for doing things which in civilian life would earn at worst a reprimand. But discipline must be maintained! Who doubts it V Is not tho French discipline severo and effective? Yet in the French army a soldier is not thus degraded. Our French comrades wonder at us and our barbarous ways, and yet, as a rule, wo look quite civilised. . . There aro severo punishments all round in the army. Men aro sentenced to 10, 20 years' penal servitude; men are shot. But these things stir tho army far less than the strapping to a wheel. A good soldier never mutinies, but if ever in South Africa our army was nigh to mutiny it was because of the torturo neatly labelled ' field punishment No. I.' " [Wo believe thore is no foundation for the suggestion that " field punishment No. 1 " is inflicted for trivial offences. These are said to be invariably punched by the condemnation of the offender to the performance of fatigue duties. It is. we are assured, only for grave offences that " field punishment No. 1 " is ordered.]

WORK AT MOim^OTON Last week was a very busy time at the Mornington Council Chambers. Seventy - two housewifes, 700 servico bags, 44 soap bags, 10 woollen scarves, 126 handkerchiefs, and a number of soaks, balaclava caps, sh.rts, and cufl's were packed to be sent to the Early Settlers' Hall, 'lhe December monthly Belgian collcction, amounting to £52 S6 sd, was received. The ladies of the PrLsbytorian Guild (per Mesdames Ford and Fyfe) sent their week's work—l 44 service bugs, 12 housewifes, and 12 handkerchiefs. A splendid donation of woollen scarves (knitted) vvaa received from Mrs L. B. Logan (Greenvale, Kelso). A number of service bags were also received from St. Mary's Ladies' Work.ug Party (per Mrs •Small). The following have sent donations : —

Lady Liverpool Fund: Mesdames Jones, Austin, Brewer, Kingston, Miss Telfer, Mrs. L. B. Logan (Kelso), Presbyterian Ladies' Guild, and St. Mary's Ladies' Working Party. British and Belgian Relief: Mesdames Handle (Bellekuowes), Watt (per Mr W. Laley), Storey, and Miss Telfer. Dominion Parcels: Mrs and Miss Mackisack, 5s (December); collected per Mrs Henderson, 2s. Wool Fund: Sale of wool, 2e. lied Cross: Mesdames Randle (Belleknowes) and Austin. Work will be resumed on the third Thursday in January. It is hoped that ladies will continue knitting during the holidays, as socks and balaclava "caps aro always urgently needed. RED CROSS WORK.

A parcel containing the following goods has been sent to the Red Cross rooms from Clinton: —3 limb rests, 26 njanytail bandages, 12 facecloths, 9 pyjama girdles, 6 pneumonia jackets, 16 handkerchiefs, 10 day shirts, 6 pyjama suits, 6 pairs underpants, 6 service bags, 5 fomentation pads, 1 bed quilt for Brockenhurst Hospital, 30 operation cloths, 20 diet cloths, 30 medicine cloths, 67 eye bandages, old linen. Those who contributed goods were: Clinton School girls, Poputiuioa School girls, Mesdames Shoppard, Biaikie, Luke, Bain, Matheson, King, Borthwick, Misses M'Kinnon, Matheson, Divers.

SPECIAL WAR SERVICES.

INTERCESSION AND THANKSGIVING.

The Anglican Primate (Bishop Nevill) has received the following telegram from the Hon. J. Allen (Acting Prime Minister): — " Arrangements are being made for tho holding throughout the Empire of special war services of intercession, thanksgiving, and commemoration at New Year time, and his Excellency tho Governor has received a telegram from the Secretary of State advising that his Majesty the King has appointed Sunday, tho 31st inst., as the day on which to hold such services. No special form of service is prescribed.. Will you kindly do all in your power to have this fact made as widely known as possible." THE SOMME FIGHTING. Rifleman R. T. Blair, of Dunback, was wounded on the Sommc front on September 15. Under the protection of the artillery his company was charging the enemy's trenches when he was struck on the neck by a piece of flying shell, "and it seemed," ho says, "as if a horse had kicked me." After the wound had been bandaged he lay in a shell-hole till it was safe to get back to the dressing station, as the machine gun bullets were cutting up the ground close by. "My wound is healing, and I am j going to the convalescent camp at Hornchureh. and from there we got our furlough of about 21 days."