TAKEN BY SURPRISE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10887, 27 February 1914, Page 2

TAKEN BY SURPRISE.

Whatever opinion General Sir lan Hamilton tufty have formed of the men on parade at the Royal lark, Melbourne, ou Ititli February, he was probably not impressed by their leaders. Whatever exteuuafciusrcir cumstances, says the Age, there may j, a ve been for the men ou such a hot day, there can be no excuse for the nearest possible approach to a fiasco that has been witnessed on a local parade grruud for many years. General Hamilton arrived before the troops were ready, and his puir appearance “rattled” the leu.*ms. It needed even then the promotion of the instructional staff, and even the intervention of General Hamilton himself, to set the elaborately prepared machinery in working order. Yet the troops were poorly led, ami marched baclly—and not even the heat of the day could account for the wavering, bent lines,' the R.ok of atteot ou fo 'detail, the poor slope of the rifles, and the übsenco of essential orders by the officers. WHAT HAS GONE WRONG? From out of the thick avenue of trees which borders the drive leading to the Zoological Gardens the cavalcade of mounted officers rode on to the parade ground with General Hamilton at their head He reined up sharply in front of the saluting flag, and his staff officers, the State Commandant, Oolonel Parnell, and the members of the headquarters staff formed up around him. For fully two minutes General Hamilton sat on Jr's horse, erect and alert, Oolonel Tope faced his brigade, and seemed in ignorance of the fact that the soldier for whom he was waiting was in turn waiting a salute which was due to him —the general salute. The troops stood at ea e, the rifles were nushouldered, and the bands were silent. The position was one to chill the staff officer’s blood, and even the spectators began to wonder if something had gone wrong. Everything seemed to stand still for several minutes. Then a staff officer galloped across the parade ground, and his message to Oolonel Tope was brief—‘‘The General has arrived, sir. ” Then came the belated orders and with painful slowuers they passed down the line. The troops came to attention, and in places the bayonets glistened in the son as several units shouldered arms. An iust-mc lates, and Ell the rifles were carried to the “present” and General Hamilton’s hand flew to lris helmet in response. There wasa further pause, and the baud, scarcely audible, struck up the notes of the salute. The whole movement was lacking in military precision. CROWDING AND DISORDER.

Almost; before the lasi bars of tbs salute had been completed, and while the troops stood with their rifles at the “present,” General Hamilton rode forward and gave au order himself. It sound crisp and clear in the strong wind, ‘‘Slope arms!” The command was addressed, not so much to the troops as to the brigadier, who now fell in and rode alongside the Inspector-General to the south end of the line. It did not take very long for the General to ride among the thousand troops and note what details he had to note. He took up his position again at the saluting base, and the, troops commenced to march past. Again there was hesitancy and seeming misunderstanding about the orders. Tha baud' started a martial tune which could not ha heard, and an orderly wag despstohed to bring them nearer. Even when the first battalion was in position and ready to advance, an operation which bad been carried out with much bungling, crowding, and disorder, the band was still not in position. Major Dowse galloped furiously across the ground and gave aa order, and the band then quickly came nearer, Then the march past began. Bearing in mind that the officers were “rattled” by tha quickness of events, and making due allowance for the fact that it had been a matter of great difficult? for many of the troops to don their uniforms after leaving their civil occupations and parade by SI p.m., and in some cases as early as 2 p.m., the marching was disappointing compared with what has been seen at parades last year of younger troops, and the officers gave their commands very poorly. Even in the final salute when the line had been re-formed there was apparently no attempt made to apprise the band of the fact that it should change its tune. GENERAL HAMILTON’S LESSON.

General Hamilton then expressed a desire to address the officers, and summoned them around him in the best position for his voice to reach them in the wind. “I always taka the opportanity at parades,” he began, *‘of giving the officers the benefit oi my small experience. There is something to he learned even from a ceremonial parade, as there is something, to be learned from everything. In the first place. I want yon to get it ont of yonr minds that the style of parade has anything to do with There is nothing very warlike aDoot it. We want to see the men marching and drilling antler arms, and to see that the whole thing bangs together. This is not war, but it shows the wav the troops are exercised and handled. The Germans still attach importance to ceremonial parades, and frankly place high value upon seeing that everything moves with a snap and without a hitch. Now the first thing that Is to bo learnt is not to be taken by surprise when the General comes. Place a man on the road, jess as you place a soout iu the field in action, fcr {lie General is the enemy on this occa aion. The General is there to try to pick faults, and you want to see that 1 Ifcile things like placing the band and general details are all right, eo that they strike the tig soldier. It is the only way on ceremonial parade shat you can impress him. After having said that, I now want to say that I am pleased with the look of these lads and the way they hold themselves and the way thev march past It is not easy to anarch here, because the feet do not snake any sound, as they would in the barrack square. I look beyond the mere march lag, and look at the men’s faces, and I see that they.are themselves. lam told that the numbers are all that could be expected. I am very thankful so you for coming here to-day, end I thank you very much.” The officers then rejoined their units, and the parade, after saluting, broke off. General Hamilton rode round the parade ground, watching the men exercising in company drill in various portions of the field. He personally spoke to the officers of the work they were doing.