ON GUARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9430, 2 January 1909, Page 2

ON GUARD.

. Witb Hotting to Look After. Among the many good stories told by Sir Jbvelyn Wood is one concerning a sentry at Plymouth, who, on being asked to define his duties, answered: "1 am to prevent anyone landing at the steps below me in plain clothes except Lord Morley and Lord Mount Eclgcumbe." The General then inquired if the man knew the noble lords in question by sight, and was informed that, far from this being the case, he did not know one lord from another. At this stage of the proceedings General Sir Forestier Walker, who was present, remarked that when he was in command at the southern seaport he had the sentry removed, and that there was some justification for the abolition of the post can be gathered from Sir Forestier's , observation. "His orders were much better in my time; they ran, ' I am not to allow anyone to bathe at these steps improperly dressed, except Lord Mount Edgcumbe.' " Some little time ago, when one evening a visitor was challenged by the sentry stationed outside a certain Yeomanry camp in Berkshire, the stranger replied that he was in search of a certain officer, and would be obliged if any information concerning the whereabouts of the same was forthcoming. After due consideration the sentry" replied, "I don't know where he is, but if you see the corporal of the guard tell him I am hungry, as I have not been relieved all day," a statement that the corporal duly verified with the exclamation, "Good gracious! I really forgot all about him." Now, the Plymouth sentry aforementioned had not" been forgotten, though in all probability the real reason for establishing his post had been ; but as a matter of fact, although it is very easy to forget the origin of some ridiculous instances of red-tapeism, to cut the bonds is a very different matter. Some years agOj for example, an old ironclad^ La Gahsoriiere, to wit, was used by the French' naval authorities as a target for melinite projectiles, and after the customary bombardment was over, for the purpose of an official post-mortem the battered remains were towed to Cherbourg, docked, and a sentry stationed at the side of the dock to prevent the inquisitive pursuing their investigations too closely. In due course the victim of the official experiment wa3 taken away, but the orders for the sentry were not countermanded, and when last heard of the sentry was still on duty by the dock side, but all he ' guards is but a memory, and a defective one at that. The forgotten sentry of Cherbourg has, or had, a confrere in arms at Chatham whose duties, though more important than those of the Gallic soldier, did not secure him from being the vic^'m of numerous entanglements of red* tape. The Chatham man had something tangible to guard at all events, the same being an institution at which numerous important documents were kept, but he was at a certain disadvantage with the Cherbourg sentry, Inasmuch as his only weapon of defence or attack was a thick stick. In the days of long ago a sentry on duty at this

who failed to answer his challenge, after which sad happening hie lethal weapon was taken from him and his j successors and the club substituted. Prior to this mournful incident it bad been customary to supply the sentry on duty at this spot with ten rounds of ammunition in place of the customary four, and even when, in due course, the swbrd was turned into a ploughshare, or rather the rifle into a dub, the allowance* of ammunition was still forthcoming. Than red tape few things are more unyielding. When, some years ago, the War Office withdrew from Dumbarton Castle its entire garrison, comprising one soldier, end placed that ancient fortress in the care of the Dumbarton Town Council, some there may have been who wondered to what purpose this flying column would be put. It is just possible that, having marched out of Dumbarton with colours flying and all the honours of peace, the garrison may have been despatched to guard Kil worth camp end range in Cpunty Cork. To put a garrieon of one in charge of a camp large enough to accommodate 15,000 troops and boasting 14,000 acres of range lands, divers permanent buildings, postal and telegraph offices, and other erections, would, on the face of it, appear to be taxing the capacity of the unit somewhat high; but it was done some years ago, and, although arduous, the duties of the Munster Fufalier in charge were light in comparison with those of the Swiss Guard who defends an entire State— the Papal State — from invasion. In iiaye of yore, between the apostolic palace and the Castle of St Angelo a covered passage existed, through which the Pope could pass, .from the. Vatican to the fortress ; but when, in 1870, the Papal States were abolished and the Castle of St Angelo fell into the hands of the representatives of United Italy, the passage was cut through, the door at the Vatican end walled up, and a sentry, whose duties in the twentieth century are scarcely as onerous as they "'■ might appear at first sight to be,* set on. guard on the Vatican side of the wall to ward off any attack in that direction. .'■»■ Theoretically r the sentry never leaves hie post without orders to that effect, but doubtless occasions Wise when, without any dereliction of Auty, he can and does retire, without receiving formal permission. Few sentries, one would imagine, would be quite so conscientious as the hero of Hoheniihden, who, after the battle of that name in 1800, was placed on "guard and forgotten. After a few months' solitary sentry go, without relief, the average territorial, in all probability, would consider himself justified in retiring . in good order, but the* sentry of 1800 had other ideas,- so he remained where he was, married, and settled down in the nearest village, and when, in 1806, the French army came marching, along that Wiay it found the veteran of 1800, uniformed and ready, occupying r the httl upon which he bad been stationed. To him came a general, and asked what he was doing, and to this question the man of armour-olad purpose replied: "** Put here by General Mpreau, sir, to mount guard in 1800." "Been here ever since P" queried the officer. "Yes, sir." ; " All right, I must see you get your arrears of pay-" . : So runs the story, a veritable comedy in its way, but what possibilities in' the way of tragedy exist in the incident had but the army passed the veteran by unnoticed and unrewarded. -