THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 6

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

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The youthful Socialist undergoing military detention at Taiaroa Heads for failure to render personal service is developing principles. At the outset he showed a very nice spirit, performing readily the military duties assigned to him, saluting the olliccis, and generally maintaining a respectful, common-sense, attitude. In such circumstances detention at Taiaroa Heads is tolerable, the cond-lions being made quite comfortable. About the time the news of the Ripa Island pantomime filtered througn the Territorial at the Heads decided that it was against his principles to render military service, and declm d to continue. A patient'staff substituted light fatigue dut.es, and those were performed without protest until by some strange operation the principles developed so that any kind of work while under detention constituted an infraction of the principl* s. Thereupon (about, a week ago) the Territorial “ downed tools.” Since then he has been kept locked up, except during certain periods set apart for exercise, of which ho lias been allowed more than the regulations stipulate. ILs refusal to obey orders, however, will bring him before the magistrate, who may prescribe an extension of the detention, which, under ordinary circumstances, would have expired in about a week. The camp at Taiaroa Hoads for those who have failed to complete the number of parades during the first year will date from August 12. This camp lias been arranged in pursuance of the department s determination that a man shall not buy himself out of service through the medium of fines. pi Territorial is fined for failure to render

equivalent for the arrears of training, otherwise the man who could afford it might merely pay fines instead of service. So it conies about that all Territorials in Otago who have failed to render satisfactory service for the past military year, whether they have paid lines or not. are warned to attend a camp at Taiaroa Hoads for such period as is accessary to complete their shortage of service. Lieut. Bell, adjutant of the 7th (Southland) Mounted Regiment, will bo in command, and will be assisted by Staff-sergeant-majors Portcous and Wright. About 120 men in various parts of the Otago district have been warned to attend. They will be accommodated in the barracks and tents. Those warned mostly belong to the infantry. The following communication from headquarters furnishes the reply to a question put to me recently by a correspondent: "In re Regimental Cooks. —1 am directed to inform you that there is no objection to members of the Territorial Force who attended the last instructional camp at Trentham being again allowed to attend the proposed course in October next.”

With Major Ritchie the year 1913 is calculated to remain a year of exceptionally fragrant memory. First the jubilee of the Otago Roys’ High School, later the jubilee of the Battery to whicli he has devoted so much time and enthusiastic attention, and between whiles the most memorable event of all—an impending trip to Australia to enlist in the ranks of the honourable company of Benedicts. At the mess dinner the o Hicer,-, led by Lieutenant-colonel M'Ara, cheered Major Ritchie on in this his latest venture, and incidentally referred to the excellent results which had attended hi-s command of B Battery. Caught on the hop, Major Ritchie yet contrived a neat response, in the course of which he generously passed on to his officers and non-com-service, but the fine is not accepted as the

missioned officers the credit for the efficiency of his battery.

Tlio reunion of “ old boys” to celebrate tho jubilee of the Otago Boys’ High School ‘•has given the old scltool a great ‘ boost’ ” —to borrow from the remarks of an “old boy” whose vocabulary cannot wholly bo credited to the school. The gathering of so many men of worth to bear testimony to the excellence of the institution, its teaching, and its associations cannot fail to impress the present-day scholars with a new and enriched sense of pr <le in a school which has played such an important pail in the development of sterling manhood. The present generation might well be proud of the showing the past scholars make in tiie army. The highest military positions in the Otago district are held by ex-pupils of the Otago Boys’ High School as witness: Ollicor commanding the district, Colonel A. Bauchop; officer commanding the Otago Mounted Brigade, Colonel J. C. Nichols; officer commanding the Otago Infantry Brigade, Colonel E. It. Smith; officers cominancliiig unite, iJeutoiiaiit-Colonola Strong, Bowler, M‘Ara, Stewart, Major Ritchie; and there arc numerous company commanders and others who might be mentioned. Then there are the heroic spirits who have given their jives while fighting their country’s foes. The zeal for service in defence of country and Empire should die hard in a school boasting such traditions. Evidence that the pupils of to-day will uphold the traditions of the past is not wanting. The display of rifle and physical exercises by tbc seboiurs wus excel.out. The physical exercises under the direction of Colour-sergeant Park, who was a member of tlio Now Zealand team which excelled in Canada, were remarkably well done. The lino spirit shown by the Morris Brothers in presenting a handsome trophy for military competitions at the school will do

its share in keeping alive the flame of patriotism. The following local cadets have been selected to represent New Zealand in the annual World Competition for Earl Roberts's trophy; Cadets E. C. Scrivener (Kaikorai Cadets), E. G. Scrimshaw (West Dunedin Cadets), L. N. Ritchie (0.8. High School Cadets), R. S. Stool (0.8. High School Cadets), A. R. Alexander (Mornington Cadets), Wright, (Waitaki Boys High School Cadets), Evens (Waitaki Boys High School Cadets). These cadets will go to Wellington on August 26, and will encamp and practice assiduously at the Trentham Rifle Range until the match is fired, leaving for home again on August 29. They will receive an allowance of 4s per day, less camp expenses. To each cadet is being issued one of the latest pattern short rifles. In connection with the jubilee of B Battery, to bo celebrated this year, an historical record) of the con*? is being prepared, and will ho issued in illustrated pamphlet ’ form. The members of the battery are taking a keen interest in their now guns, whch, although the shields and sighte have not vet been issued, are in regular use.

A Territorial transferring from one unit to another must return his greatcoat, badges, metal, arms, and accoutrements to company store. An incident that happened during the fighting at Lelyfontein, in the South African campaign showed the mottle tho Canadian contingent was made of. There were a few of the Canadian M.I. with tho Shropshire Light Infantry, and they fought with their usual gallantry, tho Regulars buying the unique experience of watching! from ”a distance of 600 yards or so one of the Canadians winning the V.C. Sergeant Holland, Canadian M. 1., was in charge of a maxim gun, when ho found himself tightly pressed by the enemy, several of whom were riding down upon him with

the object of capturing the gun, but the gallant sergeant was too smart for them, for, seeing their little game, with remarkable presence of mind ho unlimbcred the gun from its carriage and, taking off his jacket, wrapped the now smoking gun in it. He fired from it up to the very last moment he could, then, mounting a horse standing near, he laid the gun in front of him, and, leaning forward, galloped away to the rear, followed by a good number of shots from the Boers.