THE EASTER MANÆUVRES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13095, 21 April 1908, Page 6

THE EASTER MANÆUVRES.

Tho Easter manoeuvres which have been learned on in tho different centres during the last few days seem to have been much more in the nature of actual active service than those of

any previous year. The men engaged have oertainly experienced , , in some cases, many of the discomforts to he met with in campaigning, and from all accounts they put up with them, if not actually without grumbling, at all events with a cheerful determination to make the best of them. Volunteering is understood , to bo on its last trial this year. Wβ do not know, of course, how far official statements in this direction aire meant to 1» taken literally, especially in view of the Premier's recent pronouncement against any form of compulsory service. But it is quite possible that if the muster for

tho manoeuvres had been less satisfactory, or if the men had shown a less willing spirit, some modification of tho present system would have been advocated by the Defence Council. We do not say that this may not yet be found advisable, but of thajb one will be able to judge better' whkn tho comments of tho authorities yon tho mancouvres are mado public./ Mistakes have been

made during tho recent operations; they are as inevitable in sham fighting as in actual warfare. T3io fact that Wellington an,di Dnnedin weflo captured by tho attacking force, and that Ohristchurch, too, would have fallen into the hands of the invaders had not tho latter generously foreborno to press their advantage lest they should spoil the official plan, will no doubt teach a useful lesson to those whoso duty it is to arrange, as best they may with the material available, for the defence of the cities. Tho plans evidently gave room for the eoceroiso ,of ontorpriso and initiative, tho qualities which would be exorcised by any invader, and the defence authorities should therefore have learned something of the weak places an our armour that they did not realise before.