AT NELSON COLLEGE.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14893, 16 October 1918, Page 2 (Supplement)

AT NELSON COLLEGE.

(From "The Colonist," Sept. 25th.) Following the: ; practice, instituted ,i« 1917, the Nelson College is now holding a "barracks" by courtesy of the headmaster (Mr H. L: Fowler), tne Board, of Governors, and the Defence Department. The barracks were instituted by the present Director of Military Training, Lieutenant-Colonel J. L. Sleeman, 1.G.5., who will spend two days with the present barracks before returning/ to Wellington. The commandant is Major Conway,iassisted by Major Blackett a« second 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 tne lessons learned 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 secondary schools possessed the very finest type of youth suitable for the creation of officers. Prior to the war Colonel Sleeman was commanding the Officers' Training Corps in Ireland and for six years had in his charge a large" number of universities and school contingents. These were similar in type to the secondary schools of the Dominion and supplied the army with vast numbers of well trained officers at the minimum of expense, without interfering with the civil careers of the students. The war had now reached a period when the end Was definitely in sight, but although tke enemy was suffering defeat it wouid probably take a considerable time to deliver the "knock-out" blow. That being so the probabilities were that many attending the barracks would be called upon to 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 depondent upon its cadets and territorial forces for its adequate protection. A large, rich and desirable Dominion, unpopulated as it was, had to rely upon its entire manhood for its protection. It was unable to support a standing army, and, without a licet, it became essential that this manhood shoxild be trained to arms until the "whole reached a satisfactory state of efficiency and discipline. This could not be tire case wntil tho defence force was able to be measured in brigades or even divisions Unfortunately, continued Colonel , Sleeman, the time taken for defence training was extraordinarily little. For example, tho cadet -in four years of training performed 208 hours of instruction only. In the Expeditionary Force training camps or in the. Imperial Army, the recruit performed 600 hours in six months, nearly two-thirds more than the cadet of four yearn' training, who was expected to arrive at a similar standard of efficiency and discipline. So also with the territorial training of four years, which, although giving a slightly greater number of hours, still left very little time for the amount of knowledge required by the soldier of to-day. These were significant points which should be remembered by all who realise the importance of preparation. To quote that famous man, Lord Roberts, "the best way to prevent War is to be prepared for it." After the war, indeed, New Zealand s task in. preparing for defence would be very great, said Colonel Sleeman. Bad the training of cadets and territorials been stopped in 1914 over ol),000 cadets and territorials now possessing a creditable degree of efficiency and discipline would have been entirely untrained. The trainino received .by these, owing to the far-sight-ed policy of the Dominion, would permit the defence forces of the future to arrive at a satisfactory standard of training with ,greatcrapidity y once the necessary steps were taken to improve this training in the.iight of past experience; ilierefore in training the cadets of the secondary schools the Defence Department was training the very finest material available in the Dominion with a view to encouraging a, large percentage ot it to seek for commissioned rank. Ihe greater the competition for commissions, the better standard of officer, and it was certainly from the ranks of secondary schools that the future officers oi- the defence forces should be looked for. This war had shown that mere physical strength and bravery counted tor nothing when" opposed to di-seiphne and efficiency. To obtain both these desirable things well trained, capable and enthusiastic officers must be obtained The officer who was not also a capable instructor wa-s useless in modern war Ljick of efficiency meant direct loss of hf e an J treasure, theretoie the duty of providing the future officers was one of the most important things at the present time. For this reason the Department, continued Colonel Sleeman, had encouraged the holding of those barracks although a large portion of the credit of holding them must be given to the school authorities concerned. Tiie Defence Department contributed a amah the cost, but it-was largely found by ; the cadets or the schools; themselves, , The work performer! at these 'barrack* is exactly^the same m that performed in the Expeditionary Force training camps, everything being done in milftary manner, bugle calls, mounting guards, etc. To show that these barqw ye -WITi in Popularity, Colonel Sleeman said that last year Nelson College was one of • four schools which found it possible to hold them This year no less than one dozen schools throughout the Dominion are Eoldihc barrack., of instruction, /while other! hope to hold them early in the coming .year. Hiev.cadets have been extremely good, and tho object' has been attained in every case. Last evening at the College, Lieuten-ant-Colonel bleeman gave a most interesting lecture to the cadets on "The Future.^ 1'8 ' PaStj PreS6nt and To-day the training syllabus will be carried on, and this evening Colonel N P Adams, CM G,Camp Commanda^ sat on ™ an "Camp OtZ™ 1