MILITARY NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11504, 28 September 1915, Page 5

MILITARY NOTES.

THE RECENT EXAMINATIONS. EXAMINERS' CANDID COMMENT. "Short and sweet" are the remarks by the examiner on the papers in this year's promotion examination for the New Zealand Medical Corps: "Two candidates presented themselves for promotion, both majors. Thoy both did very good papers, and showed they had an intimatd knowledge of the work." On this year's garrison Artillery examination for promotion, the examiner observes: "I have practically no remark s to make, as of the three candidates two made no marks and the remaining candidate, though not. by any means brilliant, yet had a very fair working knowledge of his subject, and would be well able to efficiently tarry out his duties " TACTICAL FITNESS. Of the military promotion examination on tactical fitness for command, thp examiner says: '"The results of this examination were very disappointing. It is obvious that much more practice is required in writing operation orders before officers should present themselves for this examination" ; " officers had little or no idea of what steps aro required to put a. force mto billets for the night, and to mako the necessary arrangements for security "; "one candidate sent the whole of his mounted troops right across the Thames as soon as he received the order to halt"; and "most candidates failed to recognise the principle that outpost piquets by day aro placed on the best line of resistance in the best positions to repulse the enemy, but by night are placed in the neighbourhood of roads and other possible lines cf advance of the enemy. Whilst _ higii ground is suitable for observation by day, it is the worst possible for observation by night." "THERE ARE NONE." The remarks with regard to this year's examinations for promotion on army signalling (mounted signal troop) and army telegraphy and' telephony (divisional signal company) and coast defence, electric lighting, army service corps and sanitation remind one of Mark Twain's chapter headed " Snakes in Ireland." and consisting of the three words, "There are none.'' The examiner simply says, "No candidates sat for examination in the above subject?.'' Indeed, no paper was set in army telegraphy and telephony (division _ signal corps). Referring to the examination on army telegraphy and telephony (post and telegraph corps), the examiner remarks: "It, is very evident that the candidates who' presented themselves have little or nr> opportunity of becoming familiar with the practical working or" army telegraphy and telephony. Where their telegraph experience dovetailed' with the questions asked they were able to answer the questions) accurately and in detail, but apart from this they seemed to rely entirely on the text boi>k for answers to questions that were practical as distinct from theoretical." A COMMON ERR OK. Commenting on the answers tr> the questions on yeomanry and mounted rifles training, in this years examinations for military promotion, the examiner says that among the lieutenants who sat "«everal candidates omitted a very important part of the duties of a lire unit- commander—via., to carry out such orders as he may receive from his superior commander, and use his own judgment in default of definite orders '' In the answers to one of the questions, lie remarks: "A remarks: "A common error by young officers on the subject of outposts was displayed. The first duty of a commander of a force halting for the night in an enemy's country is to decide on his disposition in ca>° of attack, and'to arrange the quartering of his command' and tlie positions of his outposts accordingly. Moat of the. answers dealt with the placing of outposts only, and ignored or treated the dispositions fcr attack as & secondary consideration. While the outposts may occupy the ground on which the main, body may have to deploy, it is_ necessary to remember tne first, consideration on halting for the night is the selection of ground in case of attack: the placing of outposts must be nib,servient to this." With regard to the captains, the examiner says: "The answers to these questions call for few remarks. Only two candidates sat, and both passed."