THE VOLUNTEERS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12904, 9 September 1907, Page 8

THE VOLUNTEERS.

MILITARY MAN(EUVRES OX CASHMKRE HII/LS.

The past month has been one of the most important in the history of volunteering in Cluistchurch, for during that time tho volunteers hrvu boon, en to speak, on their trial. Immediately on taking up his appointment, Colonel Davies commenced his inspections of the volunteers of tho colony, corps by corps, inspecting them not only in drill but in tho more intricate and serviceable work that would be required in tho field.'

So far us Christchnrch ie concerned, tho drill inspections .are completed, and several of the corps have added to their reputations by tho manner in which the work lias been carried through. Notably was this the case with regard to the Engineers, City Guards, Highlanders, and Linwood Jlifles. But, good ss tho work was, these corps had yet to be tested with others in actual field work before their efficiency could be accurately judged. In order that this test might be thorough, a scheme was arranged by which the combined forces could show their ability to scout, skirmish, take advantage of cover and reconnoitre, as they would in the face of the enemy. Christchurch is so situated that there is no difficulty in finding suitable ground for this class of work, and when a spot was selected on the Cashmere Hills, the owners of the estate at once consented to the use of the ground for the manoeuvres. '

THE SCHEME. With the ground once selected,'ft scheme was propounded by Liout.-Col-onel Hawkins; officer commanding the Canterbury district, .and approved of by Colonel Da vice. The scheme eot forth that reliable information had been re* oeived on the morning of Saturday that an enemy had landed et-Ge*! , ernor's Bay and was now advancingfby Hackthorn Boad, via DyerVPass, to Ohfistchurch. The enemy had a email force, consisting- of one field Ran, one Maxim, <and5?.150 infantry. With.the object back the enemy, or at.- least' of holding .him in check, a local fighting force was supposed to hare been hurriedly got together. This force consisted of,the E Battery Field Artillery, Canterbury Engineers, one squadron of Mounted Rifles, two bat* talions of infantry, one cycle corps, 1 and a company of cadets. In addition there were medical, transport, divisional ammnnition and supply columns, such as would be needed, in the face of an enemy. With this body* Colonel Hawkins felt sure he oould circumvent the movements of the opposing force. The enemy was under the command of Captain Stewart, of the Highlanders; While Hawkins had tile general direction of the scheme, Lieutenant-Colonel Creewell was the officer to whom was entrusted the main work of the defence, '.-as he.was to hare command of the whole of the infantry, Major Drayton had th* tecond battalion of infantry, and it was expected that these battalions combined would make it very hot for the advancing enemy, and, so hairy him tli at he would either be forced to take up an unfavourable position or retire. A field battery of two guns under Captain Duncan was allotted the task of keening the enemy's artillery, nnder Lieutenant Bcattie, in check, end on the western side the position, wae allotted to a squadron of mounted rifles and a number of cyclists. The cyclists, in addition to acting cc ece-uts, were to assist the mountod men, and to make topographical sketched of'the country and position, under the direction of Captain A. E. Luttrell, the Intelligence Officer for the district. It woe expect* ed that Captain Stewart would advanco his Artillery to ,a position near Victoria Park before opening fire, and with thw idea a position be* tween the' Gasfcmere homestead .and Dyer!s Pju» road, and about 900 yards from Cashmere road, was taken up by Colonel Hawkins as an observation station, and here the defenders' guns had an open position allotted them. Colonel Creswell's force "was placed in a position covering a front from the hay stocks to near , the Eyerie Pass road, tho ido* being that he would advance obliquely, taking every advantage of the good cover afforded, - until ho got into touch with . the mounted force, and the two would then form a driving body. With this scheme properly carried out the front would be co completely covered that there vould bo very little room for the enemy to get through. The Engineers were detailed to erect field telephones and telegraph*, so as to keep ' the different sections of the force in communication with each other, end with the commander of the defence. Colonel Davies, as Inspector-General,. was to overlook the whole from a point selected by him, 400 ft high, about 1700 yards from the haystacks.

It will be eeon that the scheme paTO eeope for all tho necessary operations, the only fault being tho difficulty of crowding it into two hours, the time allotted. THE MANOEUVRES.

The Christchiireh City Guards, College Rifles, Sydenham Rifles, City Rifles, Imperial Rifles and Lmwood Rifles mustered at the hayatacke at 2.80 p.m., where, under the command of Liexitenant-Colonel Creswell, they proceeded towards the old quarry road. The Sydenham and Lmwood Rifles, under Captains Murphy and King, took the extreme right, followed by t<ho City Riflce under Captain Loasby, the City Guards under Captain Bishop, and the College Rifles under Lieutenant Hewlett, -while the remainder of the infantry, with the Queen* Cadets, were located on the right of the position in charge of Major Drayton. Colonel CresweH's command later June tioned with tho Mounted Rifles near the old quarry rood. Colonel Davios, the Inepector-Geno-ral, arrircd about three o'clock, aooomEanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, ieuxenant-Oolonel Day, V.D., Captain Studholmo (Aehiburton Mounted Rifles), and Captain Howell {loth Bengal Lanoers), and proceeded to the round hill, about 400 ft high, to tho east of the haystacks, from which he overlooked both the inradere' and defendere' posiMeantime Lieutenant-Colonel Hawkins with Captain Totter ami his staff went to a point about OOOjtls up the

advanced the Quoetf, -oSS'fSSIH ed order: M » skimfchuirfiiPliß a lowed,them to\tat» of the cover afforded.' 'l&ffiSflHH vice and Native Rifl< WIsSmB under h» control. paoo, thoir ldia^.u ß mg woll w»th -tiie yelknr ejxlenliam Hiflca foribcd ih2"3iiHlH screen of Colonel CrcsvraUvlSSßiH ivines. JJoth these oomtii«SiHH vaneed to the top of. near Colonel Davietf. poeiSHlH taking advantage of located tJie enemy on ffiSfflfflß road. The City KiieTJSSEHH iU&m formed an extended linn trS9B« Lin wood Kifle*. acted' as supporta. UklV'raW Rifles ue a reserve. • the'(nrtj*J3Sfflßl %T n w " «w«n«l Riflce and City Guani*; Rifles wended along tho ridge, end the eiMiiSMH spending a lew rounds in chock them, adopted the raifci HBW Wae femsß in order, to lender's fire, but they mad4#3Bfß take of not firing at the vi IHH a course which had it beenS ™i would liave deceived <fcfi HI flank naiik (Captain Drayton% oooiSSffiiß tins timo apjieared to ,«v*SS BB nang back, alwhough SfflK possibly be within*^&JßßW ol tho tnomy, and spoilt the result of c uarSSulß HI opening. A party. o f der Lieutenant Midgley, eSSSS fIH ssarSiS'SuaraH their «rri()ee were , n o7ffi«ei Lieutenant Kiddy, with' party, oocupied a centraFStuSaiffl Evane^w^KS^H Snel 'ttSSI , Hawkina , , respectively; oonstant forces. An of Lieutenant Brad%fSl!fflHH estreane right of tfc? deWwfl^ffl iiad a week in whidT to' aWJM other inatead of a very hriJm2HSIH The jfront "of CbJpnel Hawfci2lHH mand waa very ■ 'itihnii ■ tIHHB the Lmwood Rifles or the manosuvro ranee, i -Frote: ; thi«':,n^. ; sß^!!!l. B JBB ;«W>ut, -eu||iMaS™ *nv*d©rs been. u«ina-' would have bf*n very pany loft.; Other, nWvt?'-tSII3H would Lave mot - Major JDrayton's foro«a; : advance, but they had aiid oould not got near tbe fore the operation* of the defender*' Lieut.;,'3oattie>.to;.'. I this ■ time, but. only,ier '■k u varde/ Th o Rii«\ contoc*. with the to the right ami which <»used tliem to they k l»^:j^praS|^B tLm r failed in it«. »wk, andTittfiw3ie of them the enßagemet-Sie :.:Colonel; bji7 v «ei^|e