THE BRITISH SOLDIER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6362, 17 December 1898, Page 2

THE BRITISH SOLDIER.

. . Conan,. t)oyie >; after snendmg a week near the Blandford encampment'of 25,000 men, : I writes in the " Speaker '-.:W , -. ».And, after all, this "i-taJt- about the boy i soldier in the British, army has been, veiy I much; overdone. I have ~ sefen very many thousands of ' them, 7 within the last week near enough to look into their eyes, and the impression which they have left is that of alert manhood, smart- and intelligent, at tue very age for the- maximum of physical work. A little campaigning, a little hardening, and they are still the solditrs of Barossa and Allmera, still the infantry which live again in Napier's fiery pages. The years have only added intelligence, education, and morality. Another Badajos or San Sebastian may be stormed, but never again will it be sacked. That stain upon the discipline of the British array will not be renewed by the youngsters. You have but to stand liere and use your eyes to convince yourself that this adverse criticism has been pushed too far. These bright-faced fellows, with their boyish swagger, tKeir beloved • forelock curled oyer the! side of their forehead, .their heels beating j crisply upon the pavement as they pass, are ! as good material 1 as air ofircer could wish to I handle. "They are the material- which the / officers in the portico have Handled- when they set right all those little entanglements ! above-mentioned. • There - may be more : fjre j. in the Highlander, and more devilment "in * the Irishman, but you will hear officers Of J long service say that when it comes "to a ! hard pinch they are . perfectly; satisfied / if! they can have beside them 'the patient, ' docile, sturdy infantry of the English i shires Patient they are to a degree. For j a week I have seen them, heavy laden and ' overmarched, with a blazing sun above ' them, holding on tenaciously to their work, j The grumblers met. with no sympathy from : their comrades. " God. bli' me, call this ! soldierin'," I heard one limping infantryman \ cry. • " Sony •. you • 'listed, ain't you?" cried ' the others. " Come, Jerry, give us a step i dance, old man." And the relations be- ' tween the company. officers and the men are : admirable. You will see the rear company j captain, like a hen with a straggling line of : chickens, exhorting . and advising the i stragglers. " Give me your gun a bit. Now j loose: your straps. Well, if you must- fall • out, don r t be more- than two. minutest" 1 ! "No, sir, I won't." And He ish ? t.