AT FORT JERVOIS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13095, 21 April 1908, Page 5

AT FORT JERVOIS.

It w.™ anticipated, m view of certain information which had teen received -from the Fortress Commander at Arlington, that Sunday night would jrrove the anoet eventful since the fort was occupied on Thursday nitrlit On Sunday afternoon Major Biime, Chief A.5.0., received a tefccrra.m statins that- it was expected that I detachment of the Blue (attacking) Forco would make a, determined attack on tho fort from tho Wile at tho rear. The garrison, however, were fully prepared for all emergencies, a;nd looked forward to the anticipated fight wdtih keen interest. Shortly after 8 o'clock the detachment in charge of tlie electric light station at Battery Point got their seaTC'hlig'ht to work, and swept the harbour•"from end to end. It was kept at work till nearly ten o'dock, aml a.bout that hour I/ieutenamt Sandle. R.N.Z.A., and Lieutenants Leo and Parker, of tho Xaval Cadets, who had volunteered for outpost duty, left the fort quietly and proceeded over tho low hills between the fort and Pura-u for nearly a mile, and remained on duty all night, with the object of detecting the approach of the expected attacking force. Hour after Ihour passed without any isiOT of tflre enemy, and at six o'clock the disappointed trio returned to the fort.

lit had been intended to hold battle practice during tho morning, but the strong nor'-east gale- had raised a very heavy sen in the harbour, making it iwpcssi'blo for the launch to attempt to "tow targets. The id.wi.-was, therefore, abandoned, and the men were exercised at gir.n drill instead. At 10 o'clock Colonel Ccoper, Coast Defence Commander, accontpanied by Major Hume, Chief Artillery Staff Officer, went across to tho eoarchlight station at Battery Point, where an inspection was held. Colonel Cooper complimented the staff on the cleanliness and general efficiency of the station.

The Engineers did excellent work- tt Fort Jervois, in addition services in running the searcV.ighfc. One detachment attended to the receiving and despatching of signal messages between the fort and Addiction, >na Dyers Pass, while the electrical section laid a cable from tho fort across tihe mouth of Purau Boy to tho mainland, thus placing the fort in telephonic coir.nninitation with Port Levy, Pnraii, Charteris Bay, Tcddington and Templeton.

At 2 p.m. tho.troops musfc>red on the parade ■ ground, where- t-V*»3 r wore addresaxl by Colonel Ct>op<?r, ivho thanked th«n for tl«?ir close aitent-an to djrty during the progress of the mantßuvres. Hβ said ho resetted th »t there had not bcea moro co-owe ration nith the tmd forces than there had been, as itirould bavo made tho work

dets had not been present in camp j at the fort. He had arranged that the lads were to receive rations and 1 . an allowance of two shillings per diy, j but somebody had told them that they ! ought to receive four shillings per day —tho same as the men—and they had expressed themselves as unwilling to j come for less. Ho had, therefore, cancelled the arrangement* for them to be- present, but he was pleased to sec that their officers had ] set a good example by attending the > camp at the Fort, and he hoped that ■ the men, when they returned home, i would mako it their business to tell the lads what they had missed by not being present. Ho was very pleased with the behaviour of tho men while in camp, and in spite of what had been said against canteens a.t Easter Camps, he was proud to be able to say that their canteen, under the choree of Quarter-master-Sergeant Knight, R.N.Z.A.,had been very successfully conducted. The following order was then read by Captain Oakes, Adjutant of the Lyttelton Artillery Division: —"Colonel Cooper desires to express his very high appreciation of the manner in which all ranks have performed their respective duties. Ho regretted very much that circumstances prevented his being continuously with them. The work done has been highly satisfactory and instructive. Hi*> thanks are duo to Major Hume, A.S.O.< who has devoted much time and care in carrying out all matters appertaining to the manoeuvres, and it is to him that most credit must he given for the successful issue. Owing to the small strength of the R.N.Z.A., they have had arduous duties both before and during camp, and the O.C. thanks them for the willingness they J have displayed. The En section has proved a most valuable adjunct to the forces under his control, by their zealous work. The two Cadet officers are thanked for the efficient assistance they have given." Colonel Cooper afterwards specially thanked the members of the Bearer Corps for the exoelI lent work done by them.

After cheers had been given, the camp was struck.