OTAGO HIGH SCHOOL CADETS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17423, 18 September 1918, Page 7

OTAGO HIGH SCHOOL CADETS

RECORD NUMBER IN CAMP. t Colonel Gibbon (Chief of the General Staff) Visited the c<unp at 'ialiuna Park yesterday morning. Colonel Sleeman (director ol military training), Lieutenant-colonel J. Cowie Nienolis, and Major Cooper were also present. Ihe officers inspected tiie camp and the training arrangements, and after the inspection Colonel Gibbon congratulated the officers on the appearance of tile cadets and expressed satisfaction with the work done Colonel Sleeman addressed the boys. U'ne boys were kept busy training the day, the sergeant-majors showing a keen interest in their work and taking great pains to brine the boys on in their drill. Groups of other boys, gathered round sergeant-majors were being instructed in the mechanism of the rifle; signalling companies were demonstrating their ability in this important section of military operations, and the band also received marching and musical instruction from Lieutenant George. On Thursday aiternoon the cadets will give a publio display. Colonel Sleeman delivered another address to the massed troops in the afternoon. He congratulated them upon the good work that had been done during the previous two days, and said that pressure of other work necessitated his proceeding north before the end of the camp. He felt, however, the utmost confidence in leaving the cadets in the hands of such an able officer as Major Shand, with the knowledge that their standard of discipline and efficiency was already so satisfactory. The speaker emphasised the importance of the military qualities of punctuality, discipline, and obedience, the obtaining of which all contributed to the creation or strengthening of self-respect and soldierly spirit.. No matter what the after career of a cadet, civil or military, his successful future was assured provided he learnt those necessary things to help him in his struggle through life. Unquestionably the school contingent was rapidly becoming one of the best in the dominion, possessing as it did a good military spirit, which was assisted by its head master and the far-seeing Dunedin citizens. The corps had entered camn with a strength of 408 cadets, which was the greatest number yet placed in camp by any secondary school at one time. This was most creditable, particularly as even the boys who had only joined the school in June were already showing a high standard of discipline and a creditable knowledge of their work He hoped to visit the school and inspect the cadet battalion in October. In the evening Lieutenant-colonel Strong of the Coast Defence Detachment gave °a lantern lecture in the Y.M.C.A. marquee. Plus was very interesting, and was highly Appreciated. °

Colonel Sleeman will leave for the north this morning.