THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S CRITICISM.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12767, 2 April 1907, Page 7

THE INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S CRITICISM.

Colonel Davis, tho Inspector-General, during the course of his remarks to the officers on tho mancruvie-s, enid the work that morning consisted of a tactical inarch towards Cliristchnrch by Colonel Smith's force, the length of tnc march and the selection of a camp for the nitrht being left to tho commanding offi :rr. Colonel OinfFey'fi force was ordered , to leave, camp, at 6.30 o'clock, and cipturo or destroy the invaders. Tiie plans of Colonel Smith's force were piitirely successful, and there was no fault to find with his strategy or tactile. He did the wisest thing ho could do in stationing himself in the Waimakariri river-bed, which w» enclose:! , counirv. TTe vms on level terms with the d"'fenders. During his advance to this position ho had left flanks to scour the country. If he had boon attacked, all he had to do wne to sink down into iho Tiver-bed, and he vaa quite tmfe. Colonel Smith had encountered* f»ma.ll pintles of mounted mon. whieli he had bnitdied (wi'.'o, and when the operations oea.wd, the officer con i maiidine; tli" defenders did not know where tho enemy (Colonel Smith's force) was. r*-»lo:ifl Chaffoy'e force was squandeVed riVht along the front, as if it was a screen for the main force, lnrt instead they were tho main force. The fi<'!d gun. by which that force had been strengthened that day. had been placed on the Mslvern Hills, where it was perfectly wolors. He didi not keep any men in hand, and con«*vrn"ntls' had no means of communicating with his main body. "What hn should h;>ve done -n-JK to .send out several small bodies of alxMit four men enc.'i to art n patrols. He should ako have establishe<l a signal etation for r'-vrrin , ; t }■>*■«■ em-invK movements. Colonel Chnffcy ehoubl have had his main b'v'iy on the Pine f J rove road. T-ifr" it jiriictiorse.'l with the Wnforrrrn r-T.d. a;id !;e should h'ivr> had L'lin. in f anfry. and ahnrt 100 hiindrri niftiiif'l rifle- at this .vp-jt. If he had had the«so m«»n in position dirertly he came into action with CV/0r." , ! f»niitV-» main ')"•]•,' of infantry <n Minchin's ror.d. he ccnM have slipped lii-s infantry in frent of t?;:-n!, \nin« lie got round nirl atta '•:<.■'! tlum wujj, hi* irc-,ntfd riflVs in the rear. This was not done, mil *'"v nsnlt had i;ad ben fnil'ire. Altcj-tlif ;• the man-fT-r'vre= h:id l-een very anj • •<l'lai to iin , .tiling he ha:] feeen in tjie pfVy,-- rr> Xn the piesr-nt.

Kv.r raii;i>i'4 o; rrnti: i , ,* -v<>n» <oni-ir.r-nfwl at i o'cbrk. !■.::;{ nt 3.:>0 the tn>p train left for Christchurch.