ABOULUTION OF SOLUTING

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXIX, Issue 3996, 20 November 1918, Page 2

ABOULUTION OF SOLUTING

It is significant of the new character of the army of to-day that from time to time the suggestion should be made that the military salute should be either abolished or made a much less important thing than it is. In the Times a few weeks- ago an officer advocated the abolition of saluting in the streets, save when a junior actually addresses a senior or is o. duty. The Daily Mail, in supporting this demand for a modification of the existing rules, declared that as a matter of fact, in spite of the efforts of military authorities, both officers and men in many cases tacitly conopire to avoid the burden laid upon them by the simple process of not seeing each other in the street. In the ensuingcorrespondence it appeared that tho weight of opinion in the service was in' favour of modification, although one "field officer of" 17 years' service " declared that to alter the rules in any way would be to undermine the discipline of the army. One of those who took part in the discussion was a New Zealander, and his point of view, wo should say, must have appeared quit.'? new to English readers. "These regulations," he said, ■" were framed, for your small professional army, and have not been altered since the war called up 6,000,000 men. War," he added, "is no' longer a two-hour 'stunt' in little red jackets. "If I .book seats at the theatre I am obliged to salute every officer in the vestibule anrl stand stiffly at attention, dropping a box of chocolates on the carpet and extending my fingers down the seams of my trousers. Passing officers on our way up the stairs, I must ton my head and eyes sharply to right and left (having left my hat in the cloak room), and should I find an officer sitting in my seat I must either return home or disturb* the performance by looking for ?. n.c.o. In no circumstances may I approach him alone (Para. 1791)." This he did not consider altogether illogical, for, he pointed out, "really I should not have seats in the dress circle at all. I am thought to be up in the gallery with his housemaid."