EASTER MANOEUVRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 151, 20 March 1908, Page 8

EASTER MANOEUVRES.

DETAILS OF THE LAND FORCES. THE " BLUES " AND THE " REDS." In The Dominion of Tuesday last fchero appeared fuU'detailn of the arrangements for tile operations to be carried out at the forts by the Garrison Artillery during the forthcoming Easter manoeuvres. . , ■ The arrangements for the, carrying out of tactical operations by tho troops on land aro now practically complete. The details aro as follow:— THE RAIDERS—BLUE FORCE. Tho raiding forco (Blue), which will bo under tho command of Lieut.-Colonol John Watt, V.D., Officer Commanding the No. 2 (Wang&nui; Battalion, will consist of all tho troops between PalincTston North and Tarauaki —.two battalions of mounted rillcs (Nos. 1 and 3), and two of infantry (Nos. 2 and 4) —together with Engineers, Field Hospital Corps, and first ami second line transport complete.

. Tllis force will mobilise, during Thursday evening and Friday morning,-, at Paremata, sixteen miles distant by rail from Wellington, and from this baso, at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 17, "will develop, and, to tlio best of tlioir ability, carry out an attack upon Wellington. The plan of operations will, of course, bo ombodied in a "special idea" which will bo worked out by the officer commanding the raiders and his staff.

THE DEFENDERS—RED FORCE. Tlio "Red," or defending force, under Lieu-tonant-Colonel W. G: Duthie, Ofiiccr Commanding the No. 1 Battalion Wellington lliflo Voluutccrs, will''consist of two 'battalions of mounted rifles (Nos. 2 and 4), and'three infantry battalions (Nos. 1, 3 and 5) —comprising all the troops from Wellington to Napier—together with Field' Artillery, Engineers, Field Hospital Corps, and first, and' second lino transport.' This forco will mobiliso during Thursday evening, and Friday morning at Johnson ville, which' will be the " Red" base. . TRANSPORT, RATIONS, ETC. Arrangements for the.transport by rail of troops to■ their respective mobilisation camps at Paromata . and Johnsonvillo have ... been practically completed, and. details wili be available later....

. lold service pay and free rations will bo issued to all ranks. The scalo of payment is as ( follows: Lieut.-Colonel, £1 Is. per diem, wit-h forago for,one horse; surgeon-general, £1 '55., witn forago for ono horse; P.M.O and senior medical officers of all battalions, •—'l Is., with forago for one horso; surgeoncaptain, 18s.; major commanding division' or battalion; £1 Is., with forago for ono horse: oaptain, 155.; licutonant, lis.; adjutant, 3s. 6d. m addition to pay, and horse forage for rank; quartor-master, : 13s: Gd.; staff-ser- ■ pants,. Bs.; sergeants,' 65.; corporals, ss. • trumpeters and buglers, 45.; ' gunners, sappern, or privates,. 4s. ; , .. ... ; Dry cantooiis, at which troops will bo able to purcliasQ anything—not included in the frea rations—which they may require, will bo established at each camp. Aji efficient staff of umpires is being organised by the Officer' Commanding. the ; District (Lieut.-ColoiiGl, A. Baucliop, C.M.G.) who, will himself supervise the manoeuvres! Colonel R; H. Davies, C.B. (Inspector-Gen-eral of t the I<preps'), wil).also bo present.. attention, is beings given to the organisation and operations of:'the Field Hospital Corps, which will bo-supervised by the Principal Mcdicnl Officer. Surgeon Liout,Colonel the Hon. W. B. Collins,, M.D. Advertisements calling for tenders for field transport, rations, etc.,' will appear in a day or two. . ■ , '. . . J

The entire scheme of manoeuvres to bo put mto operation this year has been drafted 011 a scale never before attempted, and friven fair weather, - arid keen enthusiasm on tho' part of both officers and men, thb ' manoeuvres should not only bo highly successful, but should .prove.to.bo a, most:valuable ex! porionce for all concerned. ' , / '