LENIENT DISCIPLINE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XXII, 30 May 1896, Page 644

LENIENT DISCIPLINE.

‘ Skulking and misbehaviour in action were treated severely by all worthy commanding officers,’ says Captain C. A. Stevens, historian of his company, * but disobedience of orders of an unimportant or trivial nature, where the comfort of the soldier was concerned, was sometimes treated leniently.’ Two instances ar? cited. On one of the long marches where rations were scarce, a man in Company A stole a chicken, notwithstanding the general orders against foraging. Not knowing when he would have a chance to cook it, he put it alive in his haversack.

The chicken peeped loudly, and as the soldier was near the head of the regiment Colonel Berdan could not well pretend that he did not hear it. The soldier was put in the guard-house, and at court-martial the next day the colonel asked why he was under arrest. ‘ For stealing a chicken,’ replied the soldier. ‘ Are you sure ?’ asked the Colonel. ‘ Yes,’ responded the man, meekly. ‘ Keep him under guard at the rear of the regiment,’ ordered the colonel.

A day or so later the soldier was again questioned and gave the same answer. For the third time he was questioned, and becoming more outspoken because of his long humiliation, he changed his answer. ‘ For not having cut the chicken’s head off,’ he said. ‘Go to your company'.’ said the colonel. No more chickens were carried alive in haversacks.

On another occasion, when the regiment camped for the night there was no wood for fire to boil the coffee, so that, despite orders to the contrary, the men were compelled to take fence rails. One of the men, in order to save time, made a short cut, which took him in front of the colonel’s tent.

He was at once brought to a halt, and then and there made to march in front of the tent for half an hour with the rail across his back. The colonel then stopped him aud asked him if he knew for what he had been punished. ‘ Oh, yes '. because I did not go behind your tent,’ was the prompt reply. ‘ Go to your company !’ said the colonel.

The soldier was well laughed at by his comrades, and the old proverb was made clear to him that ‘ the longest way round is the shortest way home.’