Evening star., 1940-05-04
Inspecting Canadians
In England Proves
No Formal Affair
General, in Bottle Dress,
'Tokes Samples Of
Bottolion Units
BY c. b. PYPHER.

| OottObIVU OUItS
BY C. b. PYPHER.
ALDERSHOT, England (N.A.N.
Al. (By AirmaiD There was 4
time when a generals inspection
was an affair Of pomp, circumstance
and some profanity, q parade that
called for spit and polish and that
to the private soldier seemed de-
signed merely to test his endurance.
Then the battalion was drawn up
in regular, rigid lines, the officers
with drawn swords in front. The
general, booted, spurred and distin-
guished from all others by the SUI
perior sparkle Of his dress, walked
along the ranks with the command
ing officers, watched few evolu-
tions, took the salute at the march
past and rode away with his stan.
being remote and aloof.
That was the old method Of test
ing q battalion.
A few days ago three Of us, cor
respondents, CHANGED upon an in
.spection of the Edmonton battalion.
1t had already begun when we ar
rived. At first glance 1t seemed to
be over.
Troops Not Massed.
There were no massed troops on
the high. hard, level parade ground.
Near us was small detachment of
soldiers standing at ease. On the
far side were others in a small group
and other little groups were on
either flank.
There's the general" said an
ofticer who was with us, pointing
across the square We went over
but couldn't pick him out. They all
seemed to be private soldiers. AS
we came close one of them turned.
showing the weather-beaten face
and shrewd eyes OF Maj. Gen. Nc
Naughton, c. B., c. M. G., d. S. O.
He wore battle dress and forage
cap of what seemed to be the same
material as that worn by the troops.
He had neither shining boots nor
spurs and his hands were ungloved.
Red dots on his collar were his only
visible distinction.
He greeted us with the easy
friendliness that never seems to de-
sert him and then crossed the
square to the side, where some SOL
dlers were lying behind small in
struments OF war. There he sat on
his heels. watching the way the
men handled their weapons-trench
MISUNDERSTANDING them and ex-
planning to us how the things
worked.
Takes Samples.
From there he went to his car
and invited us to accompany him
to the butts, where other soldiers
from the battalion were to 20
through their musketry exercises.
AS we went he explained that it
was impossible to see all the men
OF every unit at all their various
duties, SO he was taking samples, in
the method of wheat grader test
ing car with his probe.
Ihere was no picking of groups
specially proficient at this or that:
the men were taken at random from
the battalion. In this way we could
get fair notion of the units gen.
eral efficiency. When he had gone
through all the units he knew pretty
well how his division was getting on.
On the way to the butts he spoke
OF his men, and it was easy to see
he was not dissatisfied with what
he had seen. He was proud OF his
troops, not only as a soldier but as a
Canadian, proud of their response
to the Canadian method of handling
them, and proud. especially, Of the
good feeling between all ranks, a
feeling that is at once apparent
even to a civilian.
At the butts two squads were
tested, one with rifles. the other with
Bren guns. The men were not vet
marksmen-they had still their mus
kerry to debut they knew how to
handle their weapons, they obeyed
instructions smartly. and under the
eye OF the general they showed SOL
dierly keenness without any trace of
nervousness. The samples were
good.
Formal Inspection.
From the butts We went back to
the parade grounds, where a COM
pany was drawing up. in fighting
kit. with fixed bayonets. This was
the sample taken for formal in
spection. The general passed along
the ranks. looking each man up and
down. Then he took his position
at the saluting base.
The men. who to a civilian eye
had appeared admirable. marched
past In flrst-class style, and at the
word OF command came to a halt
like an automaton, with a sharp
clack OF scores Of heels together. It
occurred to me then that Gen. Nc
Naughton has said long ago in
Ottawa that If he inspected men on
parade then saw them in move
ment-any movement at all-he
could tell what kind Of soldiers they
were.
That's smart-looking outfit"
said to an officer.
"Yes," he said with a smile, "and
they really shouldn't be. They
aren't men from the companies;
they're headquarters details"
The inspection was over. The
general had taken the run of mine"
and knew he could depend on the
Edmontons when the time came.