CHANCE FOR YOUTH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 196, 20 August 1934, Page 8

CHANCE FOR YOUTH

NAVY’S NEW PROGRAMMJ I am waiting this from an arme<? naval camp somewhere in Bute. The commanding officer is a midshipman t and his garrison consists of two able seamen and ten boys, all from the battleship Valiant, which is lying off Rothesay, writes Hector By water in the Daily Telegraph. We left the ship at 9.30 in the morning, and half an hour later landed in face of heavy lire from an imaginary enemy, whose resistance would doubtless have been more stubborn but foi the menace of the Valiant’s 15in guns. Our gallant crew, advancing in skirmishing order, occupied a meadow close to the beach. Strategically the position was excellent for we had the sea at our backs, and both roads leading down to the beach could be swept by our fire. We had barely settled down when a sentry gave the alarm. The enemy was deploying for a frontal attack. Within ten seconds our garrison had taken cover in the long grass, the Lewis gun. section in the centre, and eager riflemen on either flank. Terse orders came from our youthful commanding officer: “Enemy approaching down the hill---range 200 yards, ten rounds rapid.” Thon came the sowing-machine chatter of the Lewis gun and the rattle of rifle bolts. This dramatic episode was but one of a series of “initiative’’ tests held by crews from the Valiant. Each party, under a midshipman, with an ablo seaman as second in command, was assigned some unusual task either on board or ashore, the nature of the job being revealed only at the last moment. A special keenness was exhibited by the able seamen concerned, all of whom are about to take their examination for high rating. The boys, too, entered into the spirit f the thing with the utmost zest, and in the landing expedition in which 1 took part they showed remarkable aptitude for field tactics. Senior officers from the ship were present, but beyond an occasional word of advice or encouragement they did not interfere. The morning’s drill was essentially a show for the young, and the programme was framed on the modern navy’s principle that the youngent embryo officer or rating must be given every opportunity to develop initiative and sense of responsibility. The navy w r ants men, not automatons.