EASTER MANOEUVRES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 476, 7 April 1909, Page 1

EASTER MANOEUVRES.

IN THE WELLINCTON DISTRICT. ■ THE PROGRAMME REVIEWED. To-morrow evening after 5 o'clock, thffmobilisation of iho troops of tho Wellington military district will commence. Troop trains from all parts of the district will pull out of tho various centres, bound for a common terminus—Oringi, near Woodville, while across tlio water iho companies constituting tho garrison artillery division will be ferried to Mnhaiiga Hay, in readiness for tlio roooption of an imaginary enemy. The programme for tho operations to bo carried out by tlio land forces at Oringi, liavo already been detailed in Tiih Dominion. Briefly., a supposed enemy, represented by a skeleton. "Bluo" force, will leave Porangahau on Friday, en route for tho important junction at Woodville, tho objective. To. frustrate this intention, a composite field column, under Lieutenant-Colonel., Bauebop, Office Commanding tlio Wellington district, will mobilise at Oringi during to-morrow evening and the early hours of Friday morning,, and during tho period of tbo Easter holidays will carry out in complete detail tbo duties of a fighting force on active service, shifting its camp each day. Upwards of 1500 men aro expected to take part in tbo manoeuvres, which should provide several distinct features of interest, apart from tlie main tactical scheme underlying the whole; the work of tho artillery, the field engineers, tho signallers, the army pigeon express, and so on, is mere picturesque, and, on tho surface more easily understood by tho public than the less obtrusive work of tho infantry and mounted men. ■ ■

With the Garrison Gunners, ... At tho forts commanding tho .entrance.'to the harbour, tho garrison gunners . will mobilise in preparation for an attack by two oruisors, with transports, which are supposed to bo prowling about in tho neighbouring waters, and "from information received" 'an understood to bo meditating descent on \Vel» lington on Friday. Based on this idea, a scheme of fort defence has been drafted br Lioutenant-Cqloncl (J. F. C. commanding tho garrison artillery division. Tho Royal New Zealand Artillery Company will proceed to Fort Ballance under order 3 from their officer commanding; tho Wellington and I'otone Navals, and tho ElectricLight Section, will embark by 7.45 p.m. tomorrow evening on board the JanioSeddonfor. Mahanga Bay. Company cutters will bo towed to oamp by the Janic Sedflon, leaving at 7.30 p.m. Men's baggage by Janio Seddon, at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday.. Any tables, trestles, or heavy camp material desired by companies must bo sent to tlio Janio Scddon on Thursday in tinio for the 2 o'clock trip. ' Tho following will comprise tho divisional staff:—Major llumo, Staff Oflicor; Captain Symoii, Adjutant and Paymaster; SurgeonCaptain Gilnicr, Surgeon, Captain Perry, Sur-geon-Captain Sliand; Lioutonant Slonian, Quartermaster; It.S.M. Withers, Divisional Sorgoant-Major; Q.M.S. Doncaster, Divisional Q.M.S. Immediately on arrival at camp tho troops will fall in and he orgauised into reliefs by officers commanding companies, after which the first relief will proceed to man all positions and make preparations for defence. Tho electric lights will ho manned by tho R.N.Z.A. and the Electric Light Company, and run continuously from dark till dawn. The - following hours will bo observed, unless special conditions, suck as wheu manoeuvres aro being carried out, necessi* tato alterations:— Reveille ... 5.45 a.m. Early morning coffee ... G " Parade (O.C. Company) 6.30 " Breakfast • 7.30 " Parade (Dvisional) ... 9 . " Dinner ... ... ... 1" p.m. Parade (Divisional) ... 2.15 " Tea ... , 5.30 " Retreat ... ... 5.30 " First posts.:. •■••• ■ ••■ 9-30 " Secondipost;. '•;,. '■'~. 10'." , Lights out ... ... 10.15 "

As it is recognised that there may bo'iso« latod cases where men may..bo unable to attend camp on Saturday, , leave 'of absence may bo granted to men who require to corao into town to work on Saturday morning; such cases must, however, bo inquired into and vouched for by commanding officers of corps, and recorded. .-■•.•■■ Rations will bo issued by the Defence' Department for four days, commencing with Friday, in accordance with the scalo laid down by. regulation. Companies may draw , extra'rations, but will bo surcharged. Battle Practice and Night Firing. During, tho manoeuvres attacks, will pro. bably bo'mado by day and by night, and it is most important that every officer, N.C.0., and man should make himself acquainted with tho following standing orders: — (a.) No gun is to fire shotted rounds by night unless a red lamp is shown at tho fort by the staff officer as an indication that the' course is clear and projectiles may be used. ' , (b.) Blank charges only arc to be used if a white lamp is shown in place of tho red. one. (c.) G.G.C.'s aro responsible that no gun is fired with projectile unless tho target is within tho safo arc of fire as indicated by the markings in each gun-emplacement.. ~ (d.) During the day, when ~,atfocls;s, Vl are made, tho flag signals "G.2",wi1l bo,hoisted by tlio staff officer at Fort Ballahco'wlieii it is unsafe to firo projectiles and when blank only may bo used; but as soon as tho target enters tlio safe arc of firo tho red flag, will bo hoisted as a signal to proceed with projectiles. . . .... (o.) Shortly before firing; at night-time a rocket will bo lired from tho fort. If range is clear picket boats will reply by a flaro; if not clear,.by a rocket.(f.) If a vessel enters guarded area the nearest picket boat will firo a rocket, to bo followed by a flare when danger is past.

(g.j-A rockpt from tho fort is always interrogatory, and is answered from picket boat by flaro or rocket according as rango is clear or foul. . (h.) Tug-boat will hoist red light at masthead at night to correspond with red flag by day.. . ■ ■ (i.) Searchlight, signals to tug-boat at night: Beams crossed, "Go on other course" ; ono beam skied, "turn"; both beams skied, "come in." • '■• ' ■ Tho programme of events will bo, subject to circumstances, as follows:—Thursday, April 8: 9 p.m.—Preliminary work. Friday, April 9: 2 a.m.—Surprise, attack by torpedo boats (towed targets); during tho day, fort-manning and reconnaissance of coast line; 4 p.m. —Attack on cruiser (towed targets), at long range, heavy guns; ': 9 p.m. until midnight—Attack ou torpedo boats. , Saturday, April 10: 1 a.m. —Battle practice, bombardment of torpedo boats, (towed targets), during the early morning—fortmanning and gunnory;ll a.m. —big guns in action, attack on cruiser (towed targets): During tho afternoon, incoming steamers will be "held up" by the examination vessel, duo care being taken that the public convenience is safeguarded. 11 p.m.— Quick-firing guns in action. Sunday, April 11 —Inspection by tho Officer Commanding the Division in the morn, ing, and Divine Service at Seatoun in tho afternoon ; midnight—long rango bombardment by heavy guns. Monday, April 12—Forces divided for an attack on Fort Ballanco by sea and land forces, followed by final inspection; 5 p.m.—. , payment of troops and demobilisation. Throughout the period of Iho manoeuvres, n'"war-game," closoly associated with. Uu> progress of tlio various events, will bo playoj by the officers. Tho chief umpire will' b\ Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, who, from his box at the Firo Commander's Station, will receive the progress reports from tho "Blue Force" officers (who will bo at Scorching Day, under Lieutenant Jticklo), and the "Hod Force," situated at Malianga Bay. under Lieutenant Sommerville. :.