COLONEL SOMMERVILLE ON THE WAR.

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 32

COLONEL SOMMERVILLE ON THE WAR.

j During a conversation with a reporter of the ; "Wellington Post, Colonel Sommerville, who ' has just returned from South Africa, in reply i to the question what he thought of Tommy ' Atkins, said :— " What do I think of Tommy? " Why, that lie is a grand fighting machine — the very best. You cannot give too much praise to Tommy. But he doesn't think for himself, and that makes the great difference between the Imperial and the colonial troops. One Imperial colonel admitted to me that the colonial made the better soldier because he was the better educated man. This education enabled the colc«ial to think for himtelf, ' while Tommy left the thinking to his officers. In matters of discipline" Tommy is a marvel. , It is recorded that at Spion Hop one company ; was given an order to He down, and they continued in the same attitude for half a day, simply because no one told them to get up again. An officer had lo go round and tell them they could get up !" Asked for a comparison between the Imperial and the colonial officers, the Colonel said the greate3t point of difference was in the treatment of tbe rank and file. The colonial officer knew all his men, fraternised with them, chatted with them, and took an interest in the™. There was none of this between the Imperial officer and Tommy, from whom the officer held strictly aloof. The New Zealander did not think the British army would lose discipline if the officers took a greater interest in their men. Rather the opposite, lie , thought, and he pointed out as proof tho obedience shown by the colonial troops towards their officers. The Imperial officers who had gone through the campaign with colonials had declared that their discipline had , been first-classT 1 " What is the general opinion concerning our boys at the front?" repeated the Colonel j '"Nothing 1 but praise, both for men and officers. The New Zfalanders have gained kudos ' on all hands, and even Colonel Hutchison, [ who was in charge of the Queenslanders, said ; that, whilst all the colonials deserved great ! praise, if he had to single out the best company he would give the palm to the Maorilanders.'' After seeing the majority of the colonial forces in the field for himself, Colonel Sommervillc had come to the conclusion that our various contingents were as well officered as any.