CAPTAIN KNYVETT’S DISMISSAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2707, 11 January 1910, Page 3

CAPTAIN KNYVETT’S DISMISSAL.

“A NEW ZEALAND DREYFUS CASE.” Intense indignation has been- excited in. volunteering circles in Auckland by the dismissal from the service of Captain F. B. Knyvett, of No. 1 Company, Auckland Division New ‘Zealand . Garrison Artillery. His company resigned in a body as a protest against the action of the Defence Department, and general sympathy for him is- expressed throughout the force in Auckland. OPINIONS OF' OFFICERS. Officers and volunteers who were interviewed (says the “New Zealand Herald”) spoke with considerable beat on the .matter. “It is a travesty on justice.” declared one who had no connection with the trial. “I do not think the Government would have dared to forward such a finding had it not been that Parliament will not sit for six months, and the volunteer S3 rstem is presently to be superseded by a compulsory system. It would have disorganised the whole volunteer system of Auckland, if not beyond. As it is. I will not be surprised if a number Oi officers resign, as an emergency meeting of officers is to be. held next week to consider the position. Personally I keenly regret that such an efficient and energetic officer as Captain Knyvett should have been dismissed on a decision which seems so much , at variance with tiio comments of the Court.” A second officer who was interviewed reviewed the circumstances leading up to the inquiry, which, it will be remembered. was conducted by Colonel Cbaytor, Major Sandt-man, and 'Captain Bos worth, in conrequenee of a letter sent bv Captain Ivuyvett to the Minister of Defence, complaining of interference, want-of tact, and officialism on the part of Colonel Robin (chief-of-etaff)'. The Court, said this officer', was neither court of inquiry ut" a court-martial, f.r.d bad cidv autbrrivy.

on its own confession, to inquire as to whether Captain Knyvctt was justified in asking that an inquiry should be held into the matters lie referred to. On two occasions the Court stated that Captain Knyvctt was justified in sending the letter, and found that he bad shown his bona fides. Yet after this. Captain Knyvett was dismissed, though the only conclusion was that the ‘‘act to the prejudice of good order and military discipline” which led to his dismissal was the sending of this letter. • i “Wo cannot possibly realise that such a thing could have happened,” said another officer. “In fact, it seems like a gigantic practical joke, but we nevertheless realise that it is a huge calamity. Captain Knyvett was not fighting for himself alone, but for the whole of the Auckland division. We feel that we have not been properly treated in regard to the constitution of the Court, for Captain Knyvett was informed that the Court had no power to pronounce a punitive verdict. On top of that, however, he is dismissed in a manner which is only in keeping with the irregular methods that have characterised the inquiry all through. The affair will cast a distinct gloom upon the new .military regime soon to be established, and unless something transpires it will not be surprising if no territorial officers are available at Auckland. We regard Captain Knyvett-as absolutely the pick of the Auckland officers, and none have more distinguished service. They have, therefore, chosen our best man, andi hit as hard as they possibly could.” It is interesting to- note (says the “Herald”) that Captain Knyvett would have secured the highly-prized 20 years’ service medal next year. His service dates back to early boyhood, and he also took part in the South African war. THE COMPANY’S PROTEST—RESIGNATION. The indignation of members of No. 1 Company, of which Captain Knyvett had command, found vent in a sensational and highly dramatic manner at the Drill Hall, Wellesley-street, last Friday night. It was the.occasion of the company's first parade of the new year, and there was a muster of 173 men. Under ordinary circumstances the fall-in should have taken place at eight p.m.. but it was delayed for half an hour in order to allow No. 2 Company N.Z.G.A. to parade and march off co their annual training encampment at Fort Cautley. Jn the meantime the men of No. 1 Company having fallen into general conversation, the word went quickly, round that their popular captain had been submitted to the indignity of dismissal. Nineteen artillerymen immediately adjourned to the orderly-room to discuss the position. They were the members who solely comprised’ the company when Captain Knyvett took it in hand three or four years ago. Their minds were quickly made up to a drastic course of action, and it- was that they would throw in their arms and decline to appear upon any military parade . until Captain Knyvett had been reinstated and an inquiry had been held into the action of those responsible for his dismissal. “Fall-in !” came the order from the gun-room, and every man formed up to attention. The routine of electing a lieutenant to the company was gone through, and then Captain Knyvctt. in multi, came forward to say farewell to the company for which lie bod expended-so much labor of lov-e. J.i<? was, be said, extremely sorry to leave them, but he exhorted them to pull together. like the good soldiers they had proved themselves, and under the guidance of their lieutenants to strive towards winning all the competition shields of the Dominion. Lieutenant Pullen then spoke of the great- esteem in which the departing captain was held by the whole company, and said Ihe breach would cause untold pain. He honed, however, that the men would take to heart the kimlly advice of Captain Knyvett in regard to their co-ope-ration for the welfare of an honored company.

AX IMPRESSIVE SCENE. “Are wo downhearted?” called a member of the company as the officers wore retiring after handing over the parade to Sergeant-Major Hill for dismissal, and after intimation had been given that the usual parade would be hold oil Friday night. “No.” chorused 173 lusty voices. ‘‘We’ll stick to vnu “Yes. we’ll stick to you.” and “We go out with you,” was called with an ominous meaning, but the officers had passed over to their club-rooms and were out of hearing. Now one of the 19 “boys of the old brigade” stopped forth to tell his comrades what the old luyids of the company had decided upon. He moved that the company as a whole take the nctiom indicated. The scene that followed was one of striking impressiveness. Hardly had the proposition been put before the hands of every artilleryman commenced to unbuckle the belt at his waist, and a minute later the equivalent to surrendered swords were strewn on the floor. Thus was the senior artillery company of New Zealand, one of the strongest," reduced to nothing a few months after celebrating the jubilee which had crownedi a flourishing career. The men had begun to filo out silently when Captain Knyvett returned fro .-a the officers’ club to bid thorn farewell. Each man was shaken warmly h*- the hand, and then commenced an outburst of enthus’sm that made the Crill Hall resound to the echo Captain Knyvett was carried shoulder high into the open, where a crowd of sympthctic civilians had assembled, and unrestrained cheering rent the air. “For He’s! a Jolly Good Fellow” was sung until throats were hoarse, when furthef cheers were given for Mrs Knyvett and fer the Garrison Artillery officers who had stood by the arrested officer in his trial. Many minutes of excited demonstration passed before the hero of the hour effected a retreat to the officers’ club, and for some time afterwards he was loudly serenaded from the front of the Defence Office. “We want Knyvett” was the stimulated call, with ever and anon a revival of the rousing war cry of the company. “Who are we?—Knyvett’s bulldogs.” The evening! was well advanced before the demonstrating crowd had dwindled down to small proportions.