CAMP STRUCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 39, 15 February 1930, Page 11

CAMP STRUCK.

TENTS FLOODED OUT. AUCKLAND REGIMENT'S ORDEAL. CAMP COMMANDANT'S v -CONGRATULATIONS. . The adaptability of New, Zealandyouth in circumstances of an unpleasant character was demonstrated yesterday when the men of. the Ist Battalion, Auckland Regiment, went about the business 'of striking camp at Narrow Neck, after -an uncomfortable night of downpour, in a cheerful and methodical manner. Their work earned the commendation of Lieutenant-Colonel T. H. Dawson, oflicer in command of the camp, who said the manner in which they behaved in the torrential rain did them credit, and they had shown qualities essential to good soldiers. Camp was not to have been struck, till this morning, but, as a result of I the heavy rain, which flooded the' tents ] a,nd soaked many of the men's kits, it.; was decided to pay the battalion off ' yesterday afternoon to avoid another night of wretchedness. • During the I afternoon the. men left in companies for the . city. -- a . ' ( . | In the early hours of Friday morning the men awoke.'to find the rain heavily. Several of the" tents were flooded to a depth of two or three inches. Numbers of the men, were 'compelled to remove their bedding to the huts, where they, slept> for the rest of - the night, but "the majority of the battalion was able to remain under canvas till dawn. Surface water had flooded nearly every tent by 6 a.m., and there was a general movement to the, mess huts. Officers, some of thrill dressed in bathing cjsttimes and sandshoes, worked hard with non-commissioned officers and men, sparing, no effort to make those under tKir . command as comfortable as circumstances would permit. A 'series of drill and' other competitions had to be abandoned owing to the" rain. The only competition actually decided was the guard-mounting contest, ,won by C Company under. Captain W. H. Fortune. - ■ ■- ' v In - addressing" the .men ,before camp was ' struck yesterday, Colonel Dawson congratulated them on their work and" behaviour. .' He had felt fears at the

beginning of the camp, that, on account of the very large number of new officers and men who would naturally, not be accustomed to the work, the battalion would not be able to maintain its high reputation. However, he was pleased to say that the work of the battalion had been very ,satisfactory, the standard set haying,eclipsed that of last year.