SHAM FIGHT AT AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume XLII, Issue 6304, 2 December 1885, Page 6

SHAM FIGHT AT AUCKLAND.

AUCKLAND, November 9. The sham fight psssed off satisfactorily. All the local corps were present, save the Coromandel Bifid Corps. Total, 1600. The Hinemoa, as a Russian cruiser, made an attempt to enter the harbor, but was silenced by the forts Cautley and Resolution, and a dummy cruiser was blown up by a submarine mine. Subsequently six companies of Navals embarked on the Hinemoa, under Captain Commandant Leroy, and landing off Taranski Biver as a Bussian invading force, advanced on Auckland, and were met by a de- : fending force, whioh comprised' the balance of the local forces, under Colonel Lyons at close marioaavrea. Sir George Whitmore, as umpire, declared,the battle a drawn one, and stated the Navals had gained an advantage, but failed to fellow it up, and made Borne mistakes. Two parties of the Navalfl got through to Auckland, and pulled tbe flags down in the city park, and hoisted the Russian flag there. They also interviewed the custodian of the Bank of New Zealand, and made arrangements, if necessary, by seizing the steamer Birkenhead for transferring booty, preparatory to marching, to wade overland, and joining the Bussian cruiser in the gulf. Bain set in at one o'clock, and the troops were drenched. The hills round Auckland and the steamers in harbor were crowded with spectators to view the military spectacle. . WELLINGTON, November 12. :

At the invitation of Colonel Lyon, the officers of the volunteers, of the district assembled at the drill-shed today for the purpose of meeting the Hon. Colonel Sir G. Whitmore. There was a large attendance of officers. Colonel.Whitmore had a sketch plan spread in front of him, and addressing the officers on the operations of the late sham fight, said he was exceedingly well satisfied. Tbe Permanent Artillery had made progress beyond the limit. he had anticipated/ and the state of efficiency into which Major Badham. had brought the Torpedo Corps, under Lieutenant Lodder, was very creditable indeed, while tbe way in which Capt. Fairchild threw himself into the spirit Of the thing made this part of the operations highly successful, by imparting to it a sort of reulistio appearance. Beferring of tiie raid ot Lieutenant Parkes' detachment of Navals into Auckland, Colonel Whitmore said what Captain Levy did in order to get past the bridge and into Auckland, was done entirely, without his approval, and was not to be commended from a military or jocular point of view. He thought it a joke sending people into a town, and it might have produced a feeling of unpleasantness. :If the officers were not themselves obedient to orders they could not expect men to be. However, thiß was" only, .technical disr obedience, yet it deserved to be pointed out so that no encouragement might be given to insubordination. He came now to Colonel Lyon's share of the defence operations. He must say he did not regard his share of the proceedings with unmixed' satisfaction. Acting 'as Colonel Lyon did, it-was quite possible for the Navals to have crept round his flank and past him. The way in which the Navals moved forward was brilliant and very good. Colonel Whitmore went on to find fault with the Cavalry for want of unity of action, each trooper seemrrig to rely on his own judgment, and frequently : " getting amongst the enemy. As : the troops were landed at St. Hellinß, it was quite possible for the companies to have been' taken prisoners in deiaiL He went on to give praise to Captains Daveney and Dargaville for the assistance they had rendered as umpires. He then proceeded to impress on the officers the importance of having absolute obedience from their men if they wished to prevent sham fights developing into something like larrikinism. The men were apt to lose their heads, and do as a few did on Monday, for he heard some shout "charge bayonets." That kind of things was much to be deprecated. Speaking generally, he was quite certain that Monday's sham fight was the best turn out of Volunteers that he ever had seen in the colony.