THE RESULT AT DUNEDIN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 177, 21 April 1908, Page 8

THE RESULT AT DUNEDIN.

'DEFENDING FORCE STRONGLY : CRITICISED. (by telegraph.—press association.). ; Dunctlin, April 20.. ■ ine Volunteer manreuvres, which commenced on''Friday, have, concluded, the men returning home this afternoon. The manoauvres resulted in a victory for Blue- (attacking) , force, the Red's, /(defending) cavalry being captured. " „ At the conclusion Colonel Smyth (Officer Commanding the district) addressed the officers. Ho said the Red force had attempted to cover too much ground, and mounted rifles had been seni.out seven miles unsupported. Ho had. been sorry- to see some men of the Red force rfn outpost duty daily, and mounted men had been left out' at night—quite unnecessary proceedings. The Red's outposts had not been relieved daily, and in consequence the men were, absolutely .dead beat, wjiilo the horses' could hardly walk. ; As .to information," • the Reds had £ot none, although the •'• outposts were within a quarter of a mile of the Blue camp on Friday night. ' The work performed by the mounted ■ rifles on both sides had been excellent, and the work by the Red's battery, was very good. ' ' Commenting on the Blue's .work Colonel Smyth, said the; first move had been- well thought, out and ably executed, but he had been disappointed with-the terrible inaction and deadly stagnation, following. The. Blue's' men . had been well placed and regularly relieved, and thus'kept fresh. ' In concluding,- Colonel Smyth; said if, the Blues ,had_ been aware of the miserable stato of affairs ill the, Reds' camp they would have, marclied ,over'..them. ; Even a girls".school could havo done 4 it,' and a trained enemy. would ha%:<r brushed thq lleds away like flies, owing to so many of the Red, force being on outpost duty so.far from camp. .The men; had been starving whilo the meat in camp was unused. .