FIELD LESSONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 19, 24 January 1939, Page 8

FIELD LESSONS.

MILITARY SCHOOL. f INTENSIVE TRAINING. CAMP AT NARROW NECK. From daylight to dark the sharp word of command i* lteing heard at the Narrow Xeck camp this week. A session of the Northern District Military School is in progress, and 26 officers and 04 non-commissioned officer* are receiving a course of intensive training. They have been drawn from King's College. Takapuna Grammar School, the Seddon Memorial Technical College, the Napier and Dannevirke High Schools; also from the Paeroa, Whangarei and Hamilton areas. The officers undergoing training arc school teachers, and the non-commis-sioned officer* are lads of an average age of seventeen years. At the end of the present week another similar camp will commence, but the number will be larger, 64 officers and 110 non-commis-sioned officers. They will be representative of King'* College, the Mount Albert Grammar School, the Seddon Memorial Technical College, Sacred Heart College and the Auckland and Takapuna Grammar School*. Briefly, the training work is to instruct school officers in general duty, map reading and field sketching, while the boys receive squad drill, in the word of command and instruction in the handling of various weapons, which range from machine guns to rifle*. The work of instruction is in the hands of Major G. Dittner, M.C., who is the camp commandant, assisted by members of the staff corps of the Northern Military district. Narrow Neck camp haa become a permanent training location with properly laid ont roads, a large sealed parade ground, wooden hutment* which are largo and comfortable, and all the amenities of public services. The permanent staff includes three officers and six non-commissioned officers, and during the school camps the training staff ha* been augmented. Organised Programme. From reveille, at 6.0 a.m., to lights out, at 10.4f. p.m., a carefully organised Srograuinie is carried on, with various reaks for spells and meals. There is a bathing parade twice a day, and that is very popular with everybody. At the clone of the day's work there is general leave, and the "country boys find much to attract them in Mie city. Officers at the aamp explained that everv effort was made to have the instruction as interesting as possible, and one of the modern methods in that direction is use of the film. A darkened hut building had a big attendance this morning, and a machine was casting on a large, white screen a picture of military manoeuvres in England, featuring cavalry taking advantage of wooded country td get into attacking position. As the picture went along an officer explained the military movements, and his comment was in the nature of a teacher addressing a class. At other stagea of the day the trainees formed into groups, and received rifle and marching instruction, each group being in charge of an instructor. Probably, some of the trainees will find the present week all too short. There is plenty of work to do, but the recreational side is not lost sight of, and j in spare time there is a recreation hall which contains plenty of literature, a piano, and facilities for playing tabletennis. And in addition the commissariat is run on lines that please. The food is ample and enticing, there is a chair for everybody, and snow-white table cloths bring memories of home. The canteen is a much sought campcentre at the stated times that it is open, and a Casual visitor would be apt to judge that the commodity most in demand there was ice cream.

Latest Development#. Tlie eamp is the second of its kind that has been held at Narrow Neck, one having been held last year* The course of training enables '-totli the lai'<s and their ollicers to learn the latest developments hi military methods ami the use of modern weapons. When the boya complete their secondary school course they will be well fitted to assist in building up the territorial movement. During the past year the Public Works Department has accomplished a lot in the direction of making Narrow Neck a modern camp, and it is evident that there has been large expenditure. The beautiflcation angle has not been lost eight of, and beds of sweet peaa, gladioli and dahlias are at present adding a very colourful touch to the general layout. Major Dittmer speaks in high praiee of his charges. He said to-day they had taken up their work in a thoroughly earnest way and that the discipline had been exemplary.

The skill and industry of Chinese farmers are so great that the poorest among them contrive to make a living put of the lew square yards .of ground.