TROOPS IN TRAINING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 215, 9 September 1914, Page 8

TROOPS IN TRAINING.

THE MEN AT EPSOM CAMP. SHOW DAILY IMPROVEMENT. FAVOURED BY THE WEATHER. Every day sees the troops in camp at Epsom make a distinct advance in their progress towards the high standard of proficiency "which has been set by those responsible for the training. The oxtended period during which they have ibeen under canvas has had the distinct advantage that it has given an opportunity for more thorough training than would otherwise have been possible. Tt has also "resulted beneficially in providing an opportunity to purge the rolls of all whose first enthusiasm was greater than their sincerity of purpose, and of others who "were signed on under false pretences as to their age and other qualifications for enlistment. Every unit is now at full strength, with keen and capable men "waiting to get in, so that there Tvill be elimination of the comparatively unfit right up to the date of embarkation. To-day the whole of the mounted regiment spent the day a.t Penrose at musketry practice. It is reported that the whole of the combatant force, the infantry and the mounted rifles, have made most encouraging progress in marksmanship, and in fire discipline generall} - . The four companies of infantry spent the day in their several training areas at platoon and company, drill and field manoeuvres. The Field Ambulance Company devoted their time to the specialised training which comprises the sco,pe of their particular duties. The men of the Army Service Corps always have their time fully occupied in transport and supply duties about the camp and at the- troopships. The troops in training have been exceedingly fortunate in having such a spell of finr wea-tber during their stay m camp. The outbreak erf coughs anif colds 'has been dissipated by the favourable weather and by the keener realisation on the part of the men as to the necessity for unceasing care in the matter of physical fitness. To-day hundreds of the tente were folded away ■while the warm sun and drying wind were given every chance, to "sweeten" the. ground and the bedding material. Leave from camp in thp evenings has been reduced to a minimum, but there is always plenty of diversion for the men during their Tiours of leisure before "lights ont." The commodious mar-j quees erected by the V.M.C.A., the CJS.M.S., and the Catholic Federation, are well patronised, and while some occupy themselves with mneic and games, others take the opportunity .to write letters to their home folks. The marquees are well stocked 'with reading matter for those who wish to spend their evenings quietly in that way. Last night a eamip concert by the Salvation Army was largely patronised, and was greatly enjoyed. PAY DAY TO-DAY. To-day was pay day in tamp, an event that naturally is regarded with much interest by all the men. The amount of money disbursed runs into .between £3.000 "and £4,000 per week, and the actual paying over *isa matter involving considerable work. The minimum j»y for a private is 4/ per day. and the payjnents run from that amount upwards.

An acquittance roll is prepared for each company by the officers concerned, and these are sent to District Headquarters. "When tho rolls have been checked the money is drawn in separate amounts for each company, and taken to camp by special envoy. The sums are handed over to the officer commanding each unit, who is responsible for its correct disbursement. The allowances are made on the basis laid down for New Zealand training- camps. As soon as the troops embark the payments will be made on a war basis—half-payments being available for disposal according to individual instructions duly recorded and attended to. . Certain active service allowances for officers are not being granted during the currency of the mobilisation camps. This procedure has • given ■ rise to a certain amount of adverse criticism, the contention being put forward (with some justification) that officers as well as men became ipart of the Expeditionary Force from the date oftheir attestation. LECTURES IX CAMP. To-night a lecture will bo delivered by the O.C. .Field Ambulance Company to the officers of all arms, on "The Relation of the Medical .Service to the Combatant Arms'." On Thursday evening Major C. R. Macdonald, General Staff Officer of the Auckland District, .will deliver a eextes of lectures to the men. to the aS.C.O-s, and to the officers of the Infantry Battalion. The lecture to the men will be delivered in the Show grandstand, and the other lectures 'will be delivered in the lecture hall at the grandstand. Major Macdonald will also lecture to the Mounted Regiment on ' Saturday evening. A COMFORTABLE FIELI> HOSPITAL. An interesting feature of the trainingcamp is the establishment of a field hospital in the grandstand of Alexandra [Park, adjoining the camping ground. Hero the .well known red cross floats over a most comfortable establishment in charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Bat-c-helor (of Dunedin), with Sergeant A. Roberts as Nursing-Sergeant. The (hospital "staff" has been supplied iby the "B" section (the Auckland section) o£ the Field 'Ambulance Company, and comprises an adequate number of duty orderlies and a cook. The hospital is not overtaxed—the general health of the camp is fortunately very good—but it serves a nrost useful purpose. To-day there were four occupants of the comfortable cots, and two more were due to go in. The experience has. been that two or three days in has tt>een quite sufficient to eet t/he patients on their feet again. The nature of the sickness is, of course, not serious, but whenever a man has a high temperature he ie immediately sent across to a hospital cot. The cooking facilities at the Trotting Club's grandstand are naturally excellent compared with .those available at the canvas town adjoining, and the ambulance men arc skilful nurses. Apart from the duties of the field hospital, very thorough arrangements exist to take proper care of -what old soldiers call "the sick',. lame and lazy." The "sick parade" -is.-a feature of each day's iwirtiae, and "'the.SregnnEn.tal medical officers (quite-aparfc-fromHihe ambulance company) attend station to'grve instructions regardingr tfroseTnen brought' Befor- themiby the ■"eick cprponala." Some aTe treated at once, and are dismissed to attend to their ordinary duties, others are marked down for lighter duties to keep them from moping

about, and the field hospital is used only ,wSen it is deemed advisable that a 'man should lie up altogether for a spell. • Minor ailmente<are mostly confined to instances of blistered feet, .but as the men grow harder, and learn the absolute necessity for taking care of their feet, troubles of this kind are becoming more and more infrequent. MORE DRIVERS WANTED. A request ha* been forwarded to the provincial office of tho Farmers' Union ■by the Defence Department for the recruiting of 30 more drivers for the trajifeport division of the Expeditionary Forces at. Palmcrcton North. Steps are being taken by thp .provincial secretary (Mr. A. Schmitt) accordingly. Candidates for selection must be between the. ages of 22 'and 35, while their weight must not exceed 13st. Ability to drive and a thorough understanding of horses are essential. Applicants must present themselves for medical inspection at the Farmers' Union offices not later than Z p.m. on Monday next.