Nissen News - 15.12.1941, Blaðsíða 8

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NISSEN NEWS
Lies of Ancient Rome
Several interesting rolls of parchment
were recently unearthed from an old
Roman Camp in S. Wales. They appear
to be documents inscribed by the Com-
mander of the Roman army of occupa-
tion which was protecting Rritain at that
period. While much of the writing is now
illegible, what remains throws important
light on the activities of the army, and
we have been granted permission to re-
print a portion of it in these columns.
In translating, we have endeavoured to
adhere as rigidly as possible to the ori-
ginal.
The following extract has the peculiar
heading — “Daily Part One Orders by
Horatio, Gommander of the 5th (Roman)
Light Field Ambulance” and we under-
stand that, even in these days, a quaint
survival of this type of document is in
use. What remains of the Order reads
as followrs:
1. DUTIES:
Officer of the Camp-GlaudiusSuansius
Ne?ct for Duty-Tregi Midlundius
Orderly Centurion-Camdina Ualius
Next for Duty-Minus Denturius
Sergeant at Arms-Passius Cracio
Next for Duty-Uillium Uippio.
2. CHARIOTS—It is brought to the not-
ice of all troops that the stub axles
of chariots, steel, brass-fitted, must be
thoroughly oiled. It is tlie responsi-
bility of the Roman Army Service
Corps attd. to maintain these vehicles.
All hrasses will be polished.
3. ARMS—When proceeding into Suans-
ium swords will not be carried. Jav-
elins may, however, be worn.
4. BATHS—Pending the construction of
the new Roman building at Bath, the
tegion will make use of the River
Towe. Troops are forbidden to use
the British baths.
5. OUT OF BOUNDS—The Cafe Celtic
is deelared out of bound to all ranks.
6. PEAT DETAIL—The Orderly Centur-
ion will provide 12 men for peat de-
tail tomorrow. They will parade at
sunrise w^earing fatigue togas.
8. EDUCATION—Copies of “Caesar’s
Gallic Wars” are now available and
may be obtained from Senator Cocs-
ius at the Legion Office. A lecture
on “Tiberius’ Victories on the Rhine”
\vi 11 be given at sunset by Guilium
Davidius.
!). MEAD ISSUE—There will be a spec-
ial mead issue tonight to celebrate
the cessation of the recent eruption
of Vesuvius.
10. ORDER OF THE DAY—The follow-
ing Order of the Day has been issu-
ed by Hadrian, Emperor of the Ro-
mans: —
“I, Hadrian, wish to express my
appreciation for the magnificent work
which the garrison has done in er-
ecting the defensive wall against the
barbaric tribes of the north. I am
conscious of the difficulties which
have beset you in this work, but the
wall is now complete and our terri-
tory is immune from the marauding
attacks of the Scots. The Roman Em-
pire is proud of her forces who are
stationed in this lonely outpost.”
Other documents unearthed bear refer-
ence to a type of training known in those
days as “schemes”(pronounced“Skeems”).
Readers will probably be able to supply
information as to whether this type of
military training has fallen into disuse
nowadays. The writer has never encoun-
tered a modern counter-part of this an-
eient custom.
This document refers to the “blue-trim-
med togas” worn by the “enemy” and
gives a list of Medical herbs which were
to be drawn from the Master of the
Quarters. Inter-communication was main-
tained by chariot D.Rs. During the “ac-
tion” troops were fed on a peculiar kind
of preserved meat, supplemented by a soft