New-York tribune., 1906-12-09

since Lieu tenant Couard- Of the royal navy
has lust been cort-rnartialled for the role wnlcn
he played in connection with the recent serious
uutnv Of The naval stokers at Portsmouth.
muuny Is hioh was brought about by the order
which he gave 70 d number OF the men that they
should g down on their knees, il may be timely
% consider The question OF kneeling. The lat
ts- figures extensively in our exisIence-that is
10 sav. II the existence Of those OF US who be-
l0ng 70 the masculine persuasion We are all or
US a. some tine or another Of our lives on our
knees especially + we happen TO have expert
enced the pangs of love or the consultations Of
religion 7 is q posture that Is 10 be found in
almost every country and cline, no matter
whether the people have attained the highest
pnnt Of civilization or are plunged in the most
Trufound DEPTHS of barbarisra: and the carvings
on the ruins i'm Egypt furnish US with convincing
demonstration that II was as common thousands
q years before the Christian era as II is to-day
z Lieutenant Collard has been court-rnartiaiieo'
It Is not 50 much on account OF the fact that ne
commanded the stokers 10 kneel as because or
me circumstances in relation 10 the affair. An
afhcer IN the British navy who has occasion to
address large body of men viii often direct the
front ranks n kneei so that his words may reach
hose in the rear The sailors in such cases as
these Offer no more objection 70 complying with
knee during fire and bayonet drill and riHe
practice. But in this particular instance MI
conard seems 10 have ordered the men on their
knees nv way If punishment They were leaV-
ing the drill shed and returning 70 barracks at
the conclusion OF roIlcsn. when he took excep-
ton 10 The noise which they were making while
fling OUT into the grounds and accordingly or
dered them all back and into line. and then IN
tones q anger shouted the command, ''On the
knees AS be subsequently explained II was
for the purpose or delivering a reproot 10 me
entire force. But the men, VINO were most OF
them Young fellows 10 whom this kneeling ma
neuvre was nor familiar. construed 1t as pun
shmeut and ~ an attempt by an unpopular
ofacer 10 humlIare and deInean them. and so
they refused t9 obey II may be added that
Lieutenant CoIard had already some time preVi-
ously been called 10 severe account By his supe-
rors for The lack II consideration with which
ne treated -he men under his command
Whether American naval officers in addressing
bodies % men ever order those in front 10 kneel
20 thar 1heir voices may reach the rear ranks
an unable To say But n IS difficult 10 imagine
any American sailor no matter how high spir-
tied. taking exception 10 a command of this
kind s. long as no humiliation is meant thereby.
IN fact. an American tar would attach no more
important ro f. than when ordered 10 lie hat
On his stomach in collision drill or when directed
70 Knee in skirnlish nanRuvres on land OF
course il all depends upon the way in which
no order is gwen and the apparent object
hsrepf. sHd lr Young officer possessed OF A
sNeiied head ana II an offensive manner toward
his interiors We're 10 order even old and seasoned
Seanen oa their knees 10y way Of punishment IN
'rdei 20 huriliate them he would certainly
Tear something more about the matter, even Il
'Hey obeved orders
ymeers both - the navy and Of the army, for
ne matter ~ thar. are often required by the
+h'sencies - service 70 go down on their knees,
4ho a. one thinks the worse of them for II. For
'N'ance. ir England whenever new colors are
'1Sefrated and presented 10 regiment TWO
-sAlor officers Of The latter receive the flags on
-aeo Knee from the ruler or from his dele
1 Then. too. officers. no matter whether ad-
''N ~ generals are called upon To kneei
TA receiving The honor Of knighthood from
sovereign which is administered IN the to--
"s fashion. The officer drops on ms lei
-'a then lh~ monarch takes a sword from
" the eqleTTles or aides De camp IN attend
aho strikes him gently with the blade oI
' sAou-aer. ezclaining Rise. Sir Richard
- @flEur. % the case may be- During
reign i- was customary for the cahdl-
- AT KING hood 10 kiss the queens mar
ao s'f dubbed him knight After goins
~ ms knee he would extend ms Iigh'
s.r, Na'A uppeun0st and on his her majesty
S. her hand 10 be kissed she was Fe..