MIMIC WARFARE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 329, 16 October 1908, Page 7

MIMIC WARFARE.

EASTER MANOEUVRES--1909. SURPRISE TARGET SHOOTING. LIVE SHELLS AND BALL CARTRIDGE. Colonel A. W. Robin, C.8., Chief of tho Goiieral Staff, Las completed tho general scheme for the military manoeuvres to' 1 bo hold all over tho Dominion during Easter, 1909. Discussing tho main features of tho scheme with our representative yesterday, Colonel Robin said that tho last manoeuvres revealed a number of weaknesses, visible only to expert oyes. It had therefore been decided that for tho next year's operation the instructional element would preponderate. , District Operations. Tho manoeuvres in each district will bo , tinder the direction of-the officer commanding that district. This officer will submit to 'headquarters a scheme of attack and defence. .. Tho first three days will be purely instructional, leading up to a surprise attack oh the fourth day, when the whole force will be equipped on a war basis, and every detail of supply and' transport faithfully adhered to. Surprise targets will be placed in concealed position, to bo fired at with livo shells by . the artillery and ball cartridge by the riflemen. This will afford opportunity for testing firo discipline, and effect. The battle practicobytho artillery and the riflemen will,-of course, be conducted with every precaution for .the safety of the general public. The', operations to be carried out on the fourth day will form the basis of the first three days' instructional manoeuvres. The operations will bo carefully rehearsed during these days, and wherever tactical errors are made,.the units concerned will be stopped, the error' explained, and the operations rehearsed. The result will bo that on the fourth, day the, troops will manoeuvre in the surprise, . operations with the confidence gained by the lessons of their previous trainings "There' will be no running about, higgledy-piggledy, as was noticed at the last manoeuvres," said Colonel Robin. " There .will be three phases of the fourth day's manoeuvres—the advance, the attack, and thp rearguard action." • Programme for 1910. Following upon these instructional manoeuvres, the forces will carry out their daylight parades more intelligently, and with greater profit- to themselves. In 1910 there will be a repetition of tho Red and Blue operations which formed the basis of tho 1908 manoeuvres, when it is anticipated that the , instructional operations of 1909 will bear good fruit. Supply and transport are to receive special attention next year, and tho commissariat will, bo'severely tested and criticised. "The man on au isolated post must be a definito item in tho arrangements for supply—every 'detail will bo carefully ohecked, . remarked tho Colonel. "There were recently received into the; Defence Stores Department, 10,000 waterproof sheetings, and a like number of mess-tins." Defence cadets and Rifle-Clubs. ' liast Easter there was weeping, and wailing and gnashing of teeth among the defence cadets, who liad to stay at home, and read iir the graphic accounts of the doings of their bigger. Mothers : in-'arms of what'they should also have bfeon doing. There were also deep mutterings among the Dofenco Rifle Clubs, who,, rightly'considering themselves as units .of defence, wanted to know why they had not been asked to assist in the defence of their country. The Council of-Dcfenoo has decided . that in tho instructional camps of Easter, 1909, a,place will be found for both cadets and the rifle club men. Of course, military . operations such as the Red and Blue manoeuvres of 1908 were, were hardly ' the place for defence cadets. ' At next year's instructional camp the cadets' will undergo four days' training, under conditions which will.offectuslly..safeguard..'not : only.their phy- • eical, but.their moral health. t The . riflo club men will be invited to put in .'.two:-. days' 'instructional practice, ■ with extended drill; field-firing-'with-. ball cartridge at "surprise targets; the' ammunition for which will: be issued free. Billeting allowances will also be granted. Carrlson Artillery. ; The Garrison Artillery will carry out big gun praotice, . fort-manning, searchlight work, night : firing,, and battle practice. The basis of operations will be . mainly instructional,i leading up to a surprise attack and battle practice, in which the co-operation of 0 warship will in all probability be secured