EASTER ENCAMPMENTS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14620, 22 March 1913, Page 12

EASTER ENCAMPMENTS.

THE YALDHURST CAMP,

A TOWN UNDER CANVAS

GOOD WEATHER AND MERRY MEN.

NOTES FROM THE LINES

"Wo have all known vaguely that our Defence scheme is a very big thing, but few have had any idea how great, or can have any idea until they have attended a battalion camp such as is being held at Yaldhurst now. Tho camp is a town under canvas, with wide, clean streets, and flag poles here and there to mark the headquarters of a regiment. And other guides are not "wanting," for with whitened stones the Territorials have made signs so that he who wanders amidst the tents may know whose lines he is in; and the mere spoiling out of the name and number has not satisfied them. They have worked out also in stones the regimental badges. The most noticeable is that of tho Nelson Regiment whose stag is a picture that might have been much worse done in some easier medium than whitened pebbles. The great tiling at- Yaldhurst is the work in hand, the really serious business of making preparations for a possible evil emergency, and it is of the duties to be done that tho men talk most.

THE SOCIAL SIDE. At the same time the Church of England Men's Society is doing much to make the leisure time profitable as well as pleasant. It has three large marquees together, with accommodation for, perhaps, a thousand men, games of all kinds, from euchre to the half-forgotten but now reviving ping pong. A piano also has very little idle time, and seems like to be well-worn at the end of the training period. Mr W. S. G. Cameron, who has charge of the tent, is a man of ripo experience in such work, and is being well assisted by -Uγ It. Godfrey. At night the Society's tent, atid also that of the Y.M.O'.A., wliero Mr G. Stoning is helped by Messrs O. Gauntlet, J. Hay, and J . Overend, are bright with acetylene gas, in fact the brightest places in the camp. Each night the \.M.C.A. and C.E.M.S. hold little services, and one regiment, at least, the 13th, commences each day with a little prayer. Tomorrow there will be services for all denominations, the Anglicans celebrating Communion at 8 a.m., and his Lordship Bishop Julius preaching in the afternoon. Last night the Rev. Mr Sedgwick conducted a service illustrated by lantern slides.

THE MUSTER. The bare figures themselves are almost astonishing, the musters being:— No. 1 Engineers, 5 officers and 102 .nen. Ist Regiment, 26 officers and 432 men. 2nd Regiment, 17 officers and 438 men. 12th Regiment, 18 officers and <*>i men. 13th Regiment, 20 officers and 551 men.

No. 3 Ambulance , one officer and 62 men.

Signal Corps, 1 officer and 16 men. Tho keenest but most good-natured rivalry exists between the units, and there is constant enquiry as to whether more mpn will come in. At least one hope that Gene#al Godley and Colonel Heard have expressed lias been realised, the, "company spirit" has become a very real thing, and it is clear that the men are thinking of their own units all tho time, and are eager that they shall win praise and deserve it.

DISCIPLINE. The discipline is strict, and most strictly enforced, the hedge surrounding the camp being considered the boundary, and the highways are picketed lest there should be some adventurer reckless enough to break camp. Here and there and everywhere one notices the red badges of the camp police. And these same camp police are having a quite easy time. Only three offenders of any sort hare been cantured, and their, evil deeds were of such slight character that it seemed they might easily be forgotten. The whole place is most orderly, and there was very little uproar even on Thursday night when the Ist Regiment marched in at about ten o'clock, the regimental band blowing at its head and the thick dust rising from the swinging feet. . THE MARCHING. These marches in are a fine feature, and it is clear thai; each man does his level best when he is on the road. The Ist Regiment was a trifle ragged as it passed between tho lines of fathers and mothers, and sisters and cousins and aunts as it left King Edward Barracks on Thursday night, but when it left the tramcars at the terminus it pulled itself together and covered the four or five miles with the easy, sprinsy step that marks tho marching of men who are strong and able to put the miles behind them. The Nelson Regiment showed well yesterday morning, though its little march was really rather distressing. The sun was hot and the dust heavy, and tho close fences prevented any breath of wind cooling the men who swung along in their heavy kit. Wednesday next, ! when the men are marched into town to have practice in entraining and detraining will give the townspeople an opportunity of seeing their young men at their best. Of course' when the talk turns to marching one hears more and more of the great journey of the Wostlanders. Thfi tale of thoir prowrss is through all the land, and their O.C.j Colonel Richardson, has received many congratulations, notably one from General Godley. stating that he is delighted to hear of tho great march across Otira, and asking that the men be congratulated on his behalf. Major Austin, of Greymouth, has telegraphed all. sayinc how glad he is that the men have established so good a record.

THE COMMISSARIAT. The talk about the food seems to have been a very little business after all. That there was any real shortage seems to be rather unlikely, in view of tho fact that it was discovered yesterday that one unit had drawn rations for 247 men in excess of its actual muster. Mnjor H. H. Brown, assistant-quartermaster-general, says that the whole business aroso through the inexperience of the men themselves. They had not learnt the good motto of the English, soldier when he is drawing rations to think of his mates first and 1 himself afterwards. It was a case of first come first served, and those who alleged that they did not get enough must have come very late indeed. There is certainly no stint, and while all that can bo done is being done to keep down waste, it is clear that more food is often drawn than can be eaten. The food figures are astounding; 3679 pounds of bread is the day's allowance; 166 gallons of milk was Thursday's allowance, and 144 yesterday's. Butter is served three times per week, and it is clear that there is quite sufficient of it. The colonial reputation for meat rating is well sustained; 41331b having been consumed — roughly, Major Brown says two pounds ncr man per day. Hβ points ont that this is a very groat deal when compared with the Imperial allowance of 3lb ncr day. And as for tea drinking, it is a matter past all belief. Only

the cooks know how much is drunk with each meal, and they aro almost scared to speak of it, as, the most modest estimate would seem much like an exaggeration. HEALTHY MEN. The medical branch has had a rather busy time, rouyhly, one hundred little cases having been attended to, but not one has been serious enough to necessitate removal to the hospital. For the most part they have been merely matters of cut finders and "tummy"* aches. The men really have not time to be ill; their days are very full. Thursday, for example, saw the time well occupied from revoille, at 6.30, to lights out, at 10.15, the work being the anuual course of musketry, fire instruction, physical -training, squad drill, section drill, and rifle exercises. Yesterday they were nil busy at company work and musketry, and exercised by thoir company commanders, the Engineers at bridge building, and the signallers at work on a field telegraph. ALL GOING "WELL. The O.C. of the camp, Colonel W. A. Day, expresses himself as well pleased with the muster., the spirit of the men, and thoir conduct. The Brigade Major, Captain A. Critchlcy Snhnonson, says that nil matters are really going very well. There is amnio water available now, and a.s it is "deep artesian there can be no doubt at all about its quality. The first day it was a trifle cloudy, but that is all avcll settled now.

Music is playing a very part in the camn, there boi-vj; no fewer than t.Virce regimental bands under eanr.ns. The bu'jlors have been amalgamated, too, and the twenty of then can make themselves heard vepy distinctly. AN INTER-REHTMENTAL TOURNEY. The 13th Rerriment is busy choosing its champions for the challenge to be decided on Tuesday night, when its best men are to meet the chosen of the Coast Defence in a 100 yards race, a ttirr of wnr, and boxing at bantam, 11 *■•. and Preliminary sports arc beinrj held by the 13th each evening at 6.15.