FIGHTING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2431, 20 February 1909, Page 7

FIGHTING.

• general BADEN-POWELL on X SCOUTING RECONNAISSANCE <>• . " Lieut.-General Baden-Powell recently addressed a gathering of Territorial officers and non-commissioned officers' in the Cambridge Hall, Newcastle, on die subject of scouting and reconnaissance. Tho General said that the events of the past few weeks showed the importance of their being prepared-for the ■^a,fence of the country. There was (Business before them, and their trainiumbiid to bo as practical as possible fo/%'htiug. There was danger to the country unless they really trained their meii on practical lines. The time was past for military parade uork; they had got to teach them practical fighting. A volunteer force had not time to go round the whole curriculum appointed for regular troops; they must make straight for ’ the point, and that was fighting. The most important thing to teach the nlo u was marksmanship—practical shooting—and, added to that, judging >'distance. These were points which he 4 was afraid had been left very much neglected from one cause or another. Judging distance was entirely in em.bVycTat present, but the men should he taught to practise it every day. It meant three-quarters of the battle of good shooting. Bull’s : eye shooting was of no real practical use in the field, though it was useful training recruits. The second thing of importance was scouting and reconnaissance.

. and the third was marching power and emiurance. They had a great deal to Adearn in keeping men fit and trim. In 'the fourth place he put actual drill and manoeuvres in formed bodies. Ho found that in learning the first three men gradually picked up drill as they found a use for it. He advocated scouting for all ranks and for all men in ail branches of the service. If taught them the three C’s of a soldier: Courage, Com monsense, and Cunning. The chief essentials to be

taught were to notice small si gnu, to read Hie meaning of them, and to nstpromptly on what information was i Ybunil out. For home defence scoutfug was specially valuable, because il had to be remembered that an enemy would bo working in a country entirely strange to thorn, and our knowledge of the country would make up for any deficiency there might be between volunteers and regular trained troops, and would be our one stand-by. Reconnaissance, the General continued, was divided into two parts: reeonnaissance of ground, and reconnalssancc of the enemy, which was the

more exciting of the two

It was no-

cessar.v that they should not be over fit bold, like some Colonials in South Africa, who said they were prepared to dash into the, month of hell. That was no good if they coukl not coinc back and tel! them what bell was like in-ide. (Laughter.) The whole of our success depended upon the accuracy of our scouting, and sending in informa cion that scouts were able to obtain. Ho urged the value of the men being able to" draw plans and to draw a panorama sketch of scenery, ana also to be able to draw from memory. He remembered an old Boer, who, though ho was unable to road or write, Ais yet able to draw a position which -Xs so valuable that- he gave him £o for it. He also, urged that men should be able to find their way by the stars, and it was necessary that they Afield cultivate their eyesight. The sight of a spear in the distance had made a tremendous difference in a campaign. In conclusion, he asked officers to encourage their men in the ways indicated by means of games and competitions.