TRAINING THE CADETS.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 52, 2 March 1909, Page 6

TRAINING THE CADETS.

■ ft, - :a. '""/;;:;/ -' THE BOYS UNDER CANVAS. Alongside the iPapakuura Ta_way station in a large fielu, surrounded by a thick belt of giiih trees, the regular whitfe | lines of tents denote the location —: the camp" bf the cadets belonging to the No. 1 arid No. 2 Battalions. NuinfeHcally, i —ie camp 1b cohsideraibly stronger than' that of last year, wh en there were about 318 hoys and six officers —ider canvas, against this year's total Of about 480 •boys and 16 officers. Lieut.-C—. Loveday is present at the camp as a general supervisor, and the .command is in the hands of Major _©bb (No. 1 Battalion) arid _Tajor Kay (So. 2 Battalion). I/ieut. Gihb, of the No. 2 Native Rifles, is in attendance, and also Staff-Sergt.-—[ajor Cheator. Major Robb controls "*'the all important commissariat, and ,td Major ; Kay is entrusted the direction of camp duty and discipline. —

A fatigue party went up on Saturday, and arranged a lot of the preliminary ■work. The pitching of the 50 odd tents was' splendidly carried out toy "the''boys, the .sergeant-major awarding . the prize for the best amd most accurately pitched tent to the Onehunga Cadets, of "the No. 1 _attalion, and the Mt. -Albert corps, of the No. 2 Battalion. The canteen is erected close to the gates, and not far off is the field hospital, _ts. Purdie and Carolan having arranged to carry, out any necessary surgical work. The following companies went into camp yesterday: Xo. 1 Battalion (Major Robb) 8a (Ca.pt. Kenny, Lieuts. Friar and McEldowney), Mt. Roskill 14, Epsbin 30, Remuera 14, EHerslie 42 {Capt. Matthews), Otahuhu 45 (Oapt. Bullen), Newmarket 5, Parnell 15; No. B !B_t-.-6n (Mfc-joi-' lK_y)>—"r""|aera_>rdstreet 55, Northco.te 20, Newton West 20, Mt. Albert 40, Mt. Eden 58 (Capt. Gatenby), Normal School 25 ('Adjutant Walker), Chapel-street 2, Nelson-street 1, Kewtoin East 10. It will be seen from these figures that thougfi the muster from some of the suburb*in schools is excellent, many are poorly represented, while most of the large city schools, such as POnsonby, Richmond-road, etc., have no representatives whatever from the large companies which they possess.

The following routine will be observed each day until the camp is struck on Saturday: Reveille 6.30 a.m., dress for company parade 6.45 a.m., company parade 7 a.m., rations 7.45 a.m., breakfast 8 a.m.; commanding officers' parade —Dress 0.45 a.m., fail in 10 a.m., first dinner call 11.45 a.m., second dinner call 12 a.m.; afternoon parade-HDress for parade 1.45 pjn., fall in 2 p.m., tea first call 4.45 p.m., second call 5 p.m., retreat 6 p.m., first post 8.30 p.m., call for orders 8.30 p.m., second post 9 p.m., lights out 9.15 p.m.

Tent iuspection ahd swimming parade take place daily, amd the defaulters' parade is -timed for 9.16 a.m. . Divine service is held morning and evening, according to the rota arranged by the chaplains.

Although yesterday there was a certain amount of irregularity inseparable from the commencement of such a camp, yet it was wonderful to observe the speed With which the young soldiers adapted themselves to military routine. The vigilant eye of the Sergeant-major Is everywhere, and any laggards or defaulters are soon brought up to the mark. All the sanitary arrangements have been carried out in accordance with military regulations and under the supervision of the District Health Department. The water supply for washing and drinking is ample, and the large camp kitchen is under the supervision of six cooks, assisted by a number of orderlies. The fare is plentiful and varied, as will be observed from the camp menu. Before morning parade coffee and biscuits are served, while the eight o'clock breakfast comprises porridge with sausages, stew or chop alternately, bread, butter, jam and coffee. At dinner the boys receive soup, meat, vegetables, the choice of two puddings, apples and limejuice; and for tea they nave bread, butter, and jam, cakes, and tea. At the mess the fare varies but little from that supplied to the boys.

Each tent sends its orderly sergeant, with a fixed number of privates, to the cook-house when the bugle sounds the call for meals. Under the eye of Sergt.major Cheator they receive their rations, and take them to their messmates in the tents. Short work is made Of the provisions, and then everything is washed up, tents tidied and all is ready for the inspection by the officer of the day.

In addition to the usual company and battalion manoeuvres, arrangements are to be made for a sham fight, each boy receiving an Allowance *>f caps which make plenty of noise and smoke, and thus add to the zest of the mimic combat. The guards are set and most rigorously kept by the boys, in a manner which would do credit to many adult companies. Many are the stories told of the vigilant boy sentries, and one related at mess is worth repeating. An officer, thinking to test the reliability of his sentries, passed through the lines in mufti, after the usual challenge. To return, however, was more difficult, and on reaching the gates a voice Tang out from the darkness: "Haiti who goes there V " Friend," replied the officer, but was promptly informed that no civilians were permitted within the lines after ten o'clock. Ignoring "The sentry's words, he tried to push past, but there was at once a shrill yell *of "Guard, turn out!", and though the intruder " legged it " to the. best of his ability, a rifle barrel thrust between his feet brought him to earth and subsequently to the guard tent. The guardb are set in such a way that no boy leaves the camp without doing his turn at sentry-go. The defaulters taken to the guard tent during the night for various breaches of camp discipline are marched under escort before their commanding officer in the morning, when they receive their sentence of so many hours' fatigue ftuty— digging trenches, chopping wood, carrying water, peeling potatoes, etc.

A special train on Wednesday will convey any visitors to the camp. Several members of the Board, and a number of staff officers are expected.