MILITARY ETIQUETTE IN AUSTRALIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12928, 20 March 1906, Page 2

MILITARY ETIQUETTE IN AUSTRALIA.

PARADING SOLDIERS" FIANCEES. Major Hawker, <f the AeslraHaa Ariallery, is being tried by court-martial at Melbourne on various charge*. Major Hawker was cramiocd on Saturday, March 3:<j, by Mr Maxwell. regarding the charge jh.it he ordered Gunner HfUJder to parade bis intended wife before him.

Witness stated that he Sold the staffcaptain that he would like to #ee Houlder, and also Houlder s intended wife. It was not intended as an order, bat as a request. Witness had done this in many places, bat not in Victoria. This was the only occasion t>n which be had done it in Victoria. »>«"* was your object in interviewing

Witness: I considered it mv duly As commanding officer I had to protect cmtans as well a* officer*. I have bad many instances where men have married girls, telling them that thev were sergeants, and getting more par than tfacv really were, and the girls found out when too late that a soldier's par was not salfacient to keep * wife and iauiiJy «a. In such cases they had to go out aod -tarn their own living. I have had several cases of girls being left destitute bv their soldier husbands. That is what "influenced me m asking the woman whether she reallv knew what the pay of the nun wa.«. I did not know who she was. she nii"bfc have been a girl from the count tv. * Do you still intend So pursue the *ame course?—l shall not be able to purswthe same com>e. as there seeais to be wnic objection to it. Ihit 1 still tbiifc it y 3 proper thing to <|<»/ Has any objection been taken before*— None whatever

\ou admit you went outside vour mil;, jary duties in this ewe.—Xo; beraiuv the lady had a r:ght to refuse to see nic. It was only a request bv me. The President: Is this a usua3 or customary thing to doT—I have had 21 years' service, and I have found it to be* customary. Men are tmnllr pleased to find that such aa interest is taken in ibcm bv their officers. ■"

Mr Maxwell: Voor only reason was to see that the lady was not being deceived 11 — Yes.

It had noshing: to do with asctrSaininj; whether she was a respectable girl?—X<k Jshc had a certificate of character from a clergyman.

To Mr Madd-ck : I teceircd no objection from Houlder or his intended wife. The interview took only five minute*. Olonel Le Messurisr. examined bv the president, said that if a nun married without leave he would not 1« pot <r,n the married establishment, «jd; therefor*, would have to keep himself and wife oat «f his "miners pay. Tlrst w.is u«i sufficient, .-onscqucntly care was taken to m?c that wive* were nni deceived. I? would not do to ditchirge mtn simply becanws •hey married unsuitable wives. y\tn wer« traitied, and became an asset. and it would never d*# to allow them to obtain their discbarge by their simple marrying a wife who would make herself troublesome Mr Maxwell: Maj-r Hawker bid the fact before him that this ladT pt*s.**s*ed a certificate of character fr«.m "a cl^rgytnaji* Witness: You can ■«■. them 3«v thccjoKs (laughter.) - * ■•

Senator St vies: Would am officer re-cnl tbe parading of hi« intended wife? Witness : Personally. I should ml mind at all.

Supposing you ns-ked to ** the intruded wife of a captain, would He remit it I—lf ho did be would not wv anything about, jt. Witness said it was very ncccsmtry i n garrison towns in England" to inquire regarding, the intended wives at men. *<»me of whom would gel hnld of » girl and marry her after being Rationed ai a ph& a week. The gbls would know o«tabsr about the position* of their h»*?>sndit. A good deal of tact xf,rs needed here. Witness had not found it nccowry 3o have x ynung w*man paraded for hi* inspection. In (hue ca*c. Major Hawker wj« «nly here two month*, and did Hot know *}« local condition*.