MILITARY DISCIPLINE.

Southland Times, Issue 3296, 13 January 1879, Page 3

MILITARY DISCIPLINE.

A. strange episode pccmTedatNottingham recently (says the Weekly Despatch) during the Royal visit, which tends to show on what a slender reed the military discipUne of our troops rests. .The 84th Regiment - wereisent frorrithe Sheffield barracks to act as a guard- of honor. They were marshalled in Chapel-bar,taking up position three paces apart on each side of the street. •There was. a tedious delay -when waiting for the return of Royalty from the castle. Everyone was weary with w*aiting about an hour beyond the expected time, and the soldiers,though" standing at ease," seemed specially -plagued : with heat and ennui. .Suddenly an inspired mischief-maker on the roof of one .of: the crowded houses, dropped a penny into the clear roadway, and the money "was instantly picked up by one of the gallant 84th. Before a minute -had elapsed,': several shillings worth; of coppers must bave been thrown into, the '. street from roofs arid windows, and a. most ■■" "undignified scramble i ensiled amongst the soldiers, who unhesitatingly broke their ranks, amid: 'the daughter arid, applause of the people.' The two 'officers in charge in Chapel-bar were naturally indignant, but were quite ;powerless,f or the copper shower continued, ; and the red-coated gleaners reaped the fruits abrtost under the officers' legs. At last loud ; words of threatened "cotrrt-martial" were heard, and some balfdozeri men were ordered to fall out, and despatched on sentry {duty up and , down * the street. But their position only amused the spectators all the -more; and as the sentries marched the coppers fell thick in front and rear. Even- -then the copper shower proved tod seductive for their T martial spirits, and many coins were hastily picked up as they Walked, Avhilst others . were thrust into their hands by cliildreny . who ran forward arid picked them up for the sentries amid the cheersof the crowd. Seeing the failure of :this device the officers ; orderedthe sentries back into line and called out aTcorporal to take down the names of every man Who left the ranks. But now -the roars of laughter were redoubled,; for the corporal,standing well out in the centre of the street, became himself the target- of A the metallic "rain,atid it was better^ than any ':• -farce on the';"boar / cls to seje how adiibtly the _ a corporal darted out /a hand to catch .an<l. pocket the coppers whenever the officers' .! eyes off him. -It , was ail in vain; :'■'-.;■ officers and non-commissoned officers were powerless to check the greed for coppers. AA. The game continued fitfully for nearly an . hour,- and on one of the officers shewing ■'.* his ihdighatidn actively- by tufnmg brie of ; the soldiers' pockets inside otit, the crowd hooted ' arid "began to pelt-him with orange peel arid other: more.' iuripleasant though soft substances,- T were looking hasty; arid -more tbari^iark ; was beginning to be f apprehended by sorrie of the spectators ' ' wheri^brfrro eftely came r iri sightati;he top' : oi'ihe stxeet,wben " instantly the -84th were ".. attention '"7 and the crowd found •another occupation {in. gazing arid, cheering, ." j If sucli an: incident Tas ttris had pecured 'among the T troops .ai the opening of the French Exhibition, what a sUpply.of moral t( eopy'^wouldhaye been suppnedby the specials, but as it liappened : ; only in England this mstru ctive incident was passed over in . silence, so far as we know, by all the metropolitan. Press, as Ta subject too dangerous jf or treatment. a