THE KINLOCH CAMP.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14073, 19 June 1911, Page 8

THE KINLOCH CAMP.

« CONCLUDED ON SATURDAY. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The Kinloch camp which has proved a very successful and instructive one, concluded on Saturday, all the remaining riflemen departing with their "swags" for their homes on the Peninsula soon after breakfast. The morning broke beautifully fine and the homegoing of tho competitors was mado under far more congenial conditions than the journey to the camp, which was made in torrents of rain. .Some of those who had been under canvas bad ridden very long distances—one of them over sixty miles—over shockingly bad roads and it says a great deal for their enthusiasm that they did not let the bad weather deter them. Two most interesting lectures were given while the camp was in progress, one on "Etiquette and Customs iii the Military Service," by Lieut. Blair the officer in charge of the camp, and the other on "Musketry" by SergeantMajor Henderson, of tho School of Musketry, Hythe. Captain H. D. Buchanan, the commandant, presided at the latter function. Tho lecturer dwelt on musketry generally touching on the various subheads of a recruit's musketry training as follows:-—Visual training, judging distance, aiming intructicn, firing instruction, group practice with miniature ammunition, classification practice- in tho classification range, individual field practice, and collectivo field practice, which is tho final stage of iv solider's progressive training, dealing with the judging of distance, tho speaker said this was a most important point and one which was sadly neglected. Ho explained that if an error in the estimation of a range was mado at ranges over 1000 yds a company of average shots would make more hits than a company of competent marksmen, the stood shots placing their "groups" all over or under the targets while the average shots scattered their firing over ilie field and more hits resulted. Under SuOyds men could bo trained to be accurate in snap-shooting, but beyond that distanco carefully controlled collective fire was much more effective. Tho result to be looked for was moro moral than material effect.

One striking fact about tho shooting was that in tho individual firing com?ietition tho young shots—that is tho >oys, who had had very little Bisley training, proved themselves better service shots than the old, tried bulls-eye shots, getting six hits in 40 seconds as against 4 hits by the old tried shots. The most important field operation held during the camp was the general skirmishing by the senior men, who were in charge of Lieutenant Blair, Lieutenant Acton-Adams, and Ser-geant-Major Henderson. Captains H, 3>. Buchanan and Overton were also present. Henderson was the instructor. Tho general idea was to illustrate tho various methods of advancing in general line covered by tho fire of specially detached troop 3. When tho firing got too hot, the men advanced by squads, covered by the fire of tho other men, until a dense line was built up within decisive range. Tbo movement was. very effectively carried out; the officers and the instructors complimenting the men on their work. An analysis of the shooting was made by tho instructors, and worked out as follows:—Number-of firers, 36; rounds fired, 640; hits, 15; porcentago of hits to rounds fired, 2.5; figures hit, percentage of loss inflicted, 93. On Friday evening a social gathering was held, presided over by Captain Buchanan. Among those present were a number of ladies. The Commandant presented' the various" shields and prizes to tho successful competitors, and in-doiiig so expressed himself as well pleased with the success of the camp, despite the fact that tho weather had been almost as bad. as it could possibly bo for the first few days. Ho made special reference, to the work done by Major Foster. Lieut. Blair and Ser-geant-Major Henderson, remarking that the last named was as efficient and popular an instructor as it would bo possible to obtain anywhere. Cheers wero then given for the officers, Ser-geant-Major Henderson and the other instructors. . . In returning thanks, Maior Foster expressed ;the gratitude of the officers, non-commissioned officers and the men, to CaDtain Buchanan for his great munificence in bearing the expense ot the Kinloch camps. No man in Iscw Zealand had done so much in thomterests of rifle shooting as Captain Buchanan, and they all greatly appreciated his hospitality. . Hearty cheers were then given tor Captain^Buchanan. Lieutenant Blair warmly thanked tho officere, instructors', and men, for their attention to detail, stating that his reEort on the camp to headquarters would o a very favourable one. New Zealand, ho said, Avas extremely fortunate in obtaining the services of such a. man as Sergeant-Major Henderson. Thanks to the Commandant, they had all had a really good time, and he, for one, hoped to be among them again next year. (Loud applause.) Mention was also mado of Mr "Andy" Murray, Captain Buchanan's popular station-manager, who did everything within his power to make the men comfortable, and did not care 'to what trouble ho put himself on their behalf. It was largely owing to his efforts that the camp was so successful, and his kindness* was greatly appreciated by everybody. During the evening a mock "Trial by Jury" was held, and proved decidedly amusing. The "judge" was exTrooper Hussoy. who wore a tremend' ous wig. andwhose. witty, if not exactly legal, phraseology created much merriment. Lieutenant Blair was the "prosecutor," Mr W. H- Montgomery was the counsel for defendants, and Ser-geant-Major Henderson was " Clerk of the Court."

In connection with the prize-lists Mr J. F. Buchanan's trophy for competition among the members of the C.V.C was won by Lieutenant Acton-Adams.