"BARRACKS" OF INSTRUCTION.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14875, 25 September 1918, Page 3

"BARRACKS" OF INSTRUCTION.

AT NELSON COLLEGE

Following jtlie practice instituted is 1917, the Nefsoh. Coilcge. i^ now holding a' "barracks" by courtesy of. ; the headmaster (Mr IL L. Fowler) ,■-.,. trie Board of Governors, the Defence1 Department. ;The barracks were instituted by the present Director of Military Training Lieutenant-Colonel 3. L. Sleeman, 1.U.5,, who will spend two days with the present barracks before returning to Wellington. The commandant is Major Conway ; assisted by 3la]"or Blackett as seconu in command, with 'Major Broad as adjutant, and Captain McKay as quartermaster. Major-C. V. Leeming, M.C., is in charge of the artillery section. At, tho first parade held yesterday afternoon the appearance of the cadets showed that the lessonsvlearned during the past year have been most beneficial. During'the parade Lieutenant-Colonel Sleeman was interviewed by a representative of the ''Colonist"' regarding the necessity, and ; . value of holding such courses 'of instruction. He stated .that in his opinion nothing was productive of greater value at the present time than this course of instruction. The second-, ary schools possessed the very finest type of youth suitable for the creation of officer. Prior to the war Colonel Sleeman was commanding the Othcers Training Corps in Ireland and for sixyears had in his charge a large mimber bf universities' and school 'contingents. These were similar in type to the secondary schools of the Dominion and supplied'the army with vast numbers oi well trained officers at the minimum [of expense, without interfering with [the civil careers of the students, ihe war had now reached a period when the end-was definitely in sight, but although i the enemy was suffering defeat it would probably • take a ■■■ , considerable time to deliver Ihe '.'knock-out" blow. That bein^ so the probabilities were that many attending the. barracks would bo called upon ttf "serve .at the front before the end. For these the instruction given would prove of priceless value., Apart from -this consideration there was the fact that New Zealand was entirely de-] pendent upon its cadets and territorial forces for its adeq\iate protection. A large, rich and desirable Dominion, xmi populated as it was, had to rely upon I its entire mnnhood for its protection.It was unable to support a, standing army, anch without a fleet, it became es-j sential that :this manhood should be F drained to arms until the'whole reached a satisfactory estate of efficiency and discipline. ; This could not1 be the case until the defence force . Avas able to be; measured /in /brigades -or; ey.en divisions i Unfortunately,, ycontinued \ Colonel;| .'Slojcimmv- the: time: taken, for defence i ■training ;.was Jittle^:Fbr; |example; cadet*,in;-four; .years /of ' training performed 208 hours ,ot ihstrueftion only; In the Expeditionary For.cc training camps or in the -Imperial Army, the: recruit performed 600 nours in six months, nearly tAvp-thirds more than the cadet of four, yearn' training, who Avas expected to arrive at a similar standard of efficiency and discipline. So also Avith the. territorial training of foulyears, which.,, although, giving a. slightly greater number of hours, still left very Tittle timefor the amount of knowledge required by thcysoldier of tonlay. These were .significant points which should be re^ferilbered/ by all who realise the importance of preparation. To quote that famous man, Lord Roberts, "the best way to prevent1 Avar is to be prepared i'orit." After the war, indeed, NeAV Zealand's task in preparing for defence would ho very great, said Colonel Sleeman. Had the training of cadets and territorials been stopped in 1914 over 50,000 cadets and territorials • now possessing \a creditable degree of efficiency and discipline 'would ■'- have been entirely mitrained.y- •: The-'-'.training'- received by. these, owing to the; far-sight-ed policy the Dominion, Avould permit the: defence/forces:of th^',futiu;e to.arriye/iten'xsjitrsf^acipr^ .^ahdai;d>.pf training'/witli/great rapidity, once" the necessary "steps were -taken- to improve this *rainingH.in : >thte /lightrof -pastexperience. Th^ref ovvk in graining ;the cadejbs -of the secondary Depart--meat; v was vtraining • /tlief JYe^y finest-! material available iii the ;Dominion,>with a view; to encouraging a large percentage of it to seek for commissioned l-ank. The greater-the competition for commissions,, the better standard of officer, and-it Avas certainly from the ranks of secondary schools that the future officers, ofv the defence forces should be' locked -for... Tliis >var had sho/wn that mere -% pßysical strength; and ■■■■brayerj''' counter! for. nothing Avhen opposed to discipline and efficiency. To obtain both these desirable things well trained,, capable and enthusiastic officers must' bo obtained. The officer Avho Avas not also a capable instructor was useless in modern Avar, Lack of efficiency meant dii-ect loiss-of life an.l treasure, therefore the duty of providing the future officers v.as one of the most important things at the present time. For this reason the Department, continued Colonel Sleeman, had encouraged the holding,of these barracks, although a large portion of the credit ox holding them must bo gi\-en to the -school' authorities concerned.

The -J)efence Department contributed a small portion of the cost, But it was Jai-gelv fpuncl by the cadets or- the schools themselves.

' \ The work [Kii^ormed at these barracks !.is exactly the isame as that-performed in [the Expeditionary i>orco training "wimps/ everything being done an miiitar,v marmeiy ; bugle , calls/mounting gxmrds, etc. . To show that these bar^ racks have spread in.popularity. Colonel Sloemau sr.irl that ■-last year Ise'lson Col■!e;,;o v.a? one of four schools'■ which foiind it■■y.cssilsle to hold; them; This! year, ii-j less: than one dozen schools tiu-oiighout -thfv Dominion are" h'olr!inc; barracks of. instruction, "\ivh ile otlie7\s hope to liold: tljem ; early in tlie coming year. The cadets have |>eenpxtreniely ixood, and the object Jias; been attained :in every case.. ; ,; ; ■'■ -.■■■"■■ ; ■•.■•I-ast'oypH.ing..at. the ■Collejve,; Lieuten-ant-Colonel SleemaiiLvave a most interesting lecture :tq the- cadets on ".The Air. Past, Present and O*-utiire//v - •^.■••- ■. ■• .;••■; ■•■ • -■■; ■;■.■ - ■■'.' ■ - -;' .'.. -,■ ■'.. To-day trainin<r '•■svllauuß will 1)ol , carried on, anduthis eyeniug GblpneL N:! ■ rP. : Adams/'C.iVLG. % v Camp Commandant, i ■;v;m: gi-co an..arldrcss:cn: "Cmiin Or«'-ani-