THE EASTER MANÆEUVRES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13098, 24 April 1908, Page 4

THE EASTER MANÆEUVRES.

I * . I (FROM A CORBESrOXDEXT.) j WELLINGTON, April 23. I A lengthy discussion is taKuig place j here as to whether the Blue iorc-e, I some four hundred strong, which got i past the defendors' linos on Sunday j P'-ht, and entered Wellington, ivally cajxtured the city. j Speaking at- a dinjtior last night, j Liout.-Colonol W. Duthio. command or j of the lkd force, mid that ho could tell a little about those four hundred men. Word readied him at one o'clock in the morning that a force, estimated to number about eighty, u-ns passing into Wellington. He got two of his .st.-.H officers roused out, and they had a discussion as to -whether they'thould stop tJie invaders or not. The conclusion arrived _;t was that if the Blues liked to knock off soldiering and go and plav marbles in front of the Post Office, they could do so. He and his officers were not- going to rouse out all their men to stop what thoy considered a childish freak. By it the Blues had most seriously weakened the position of their can>.p, while the four hundred men were without ammunition. Thev could not have got out of Wellington again. The sending of tJiat four hundred men was the most disastrous tiling done by the Blue force.