ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 479, 12 April 1909, Page 6

ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD

mcnt in tho compromiso of these mighty futilities. And lest, after one of these temporary stoppages, the slaves of the game should hesitate about going on, she bids them take heart from fogs and inky nights and other things which mako all manner of uncouth enterprises possiblo in tho faco of any weapons. If a flotilla of destroyers had really been out in tho Strait 011 Saturday afternoon, tho night which followed would havo been a capital one to attempt running them in. Tho fact seems to bo that though tho forts are well placed, the guns reasonably good, and the gunners keen and efficientj the port of Wellington needs better electric projectors, and moro-.of ihem. On Saturday night the little target was only dimly discernible through tho gun-sight, and a denser fog would, no doubt, havo screened a destroyer fiom view. The Twelve-Pounder Begins. "Look out; thero's the first, shot 1" called a dripping figuro bending besido the man with tho rake, and one was conscious of a yellow blink as if the cover of a policeman's lamp had been suddenly opened and closed. One— two—three—four—seconds, and then a tall fountain of white water flung up beyond tho target, and presently a second waterfall as the twelve-pound projectile ricochetted 3000 yards further and and scored the sea again, and then "boom—boom"—the lazy double report arriving long after tho shot had sunk to its final rest. "Fifty over," called the man with tho rake, and a dripping figuro with a dripping note-book wrote it down. "Forty over," called tho observer onco more, as a second water-spout rose on tho wake of the "Scddon," and again tho sodden notebook took chargo of tlio fact, and the drcnched officer bent for tho third time over tho rake. "Twenty overl" Fifty overV "Thirty short!" came tho succeeding calls, and then a lull; the steady snoro of tho steamer's engines became audible, and the deck bands looked about them and wondered if anything had gone wrong on shore. A rocket had been agreed 011 as tho danger signal, and everyone's responsibility had been defined beforehand, but there was 110 rocket, and nothing for it but to wait and speculate. The Firing Suspended. At last, slowly, a black impertinence, lumbered into the illuminated belt, and lumbered slowly through it, showing her red port light, and taking her time. A cargo boat of somo sort sho seemed, with, perhaps, a playful captain, not very particular how long he held the firing up. After she passed, ten moro shots came, and were duly marked "under" or "over," tho fog and rain, thickened, and presently ono of tho shore searchlights lifted its pencil of white, smoky light, off tho harbour and threw it up among the clouds. It was then midnight, and ono understood' that tho forts had had enough of it. Tho 6-pounder series had been abandoned, and tho launch was headed for tho shore. AVhen Lieutenant Somervillo spread out a wet sheet showing tho scores in tho little cabin, it was seen that if the target had been a destroyer it would probably havo been hulled four or five times. And a destroyer, with its thin plates and scantlings, cannot stand being hulled very much. A Day of Disappointments. For tho gunners and their officers the day was a disappointing ono taking it altogether, iho interruptions caused by the coming and going of incessant ships mado out coast artillery practico more difficult and arduous than is the caso at Home, whero a flotilla of picquet boats aro supplied by the navy and keep tho range clcar. On Saturday evening both Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell and Major Humo shouldered a good deal of , responsibility, and carried it right up to tho point whero prudenco showed that it was desirable to stop. A shot that lifts itself out of- tho water after tho first impact, and starts off on a two-milo oxcursioli into tho night is not exactly a pleasant thing, and, as soon as it became impossible to observe tho ricochets, the order to ceaso firo was given.

Heavy Gun Series. All round, too, tho weather was bad for shooting. When tho dawn shivored in on Saturday morning, the relief told off for tho 8-inch and 6-inch series wero ready, but tho opportunity for firing did not occur till late in tho afternoon, and then only in a grey, bleak light. Nevertheless, Lieutenant Meredith got seven hits out of eight shots with tho six-inch gun, and ono shot was a beautiful " water-lino hit," sevoring tho rope attached to the target. With tho slowfiring eight-inch gun, Lieutenant M'Kellar was not so successful. This gun is welllcnoiva as a difficult ono to rango with, but, nevertheless, it achioved threo hits, and any ono of its 2cwt. projectiles coming 011 board an ordinary cruiser would have made her commander think twico boforo going any further. During these two series, pettyoliiccrs Calnan and Mackay acted as gitngrotip commanders for the six-inch gun, and IJ.1 J . 0. Mackay for the 8-inch picce. Tho mean range was about 5000 yards. It is hoped to get olf moro shooting to-day. Tho Spirit of Mark Tapley. Scant rations, cold nights, and a full allowance of gale aro among tho things which strike tho visitor to tho camp. Oil Friday it was as much as a strong man could do to make his way round Point Halswell in tho face of the wind. But nothing seems quite able to damp tho good spirits of healthy, colonial youth, and judging from

the cheerful bursts of song and laughter that come at times from the men's quarters, 0110 conjectures that some camp humorist is throwing out his challenge to the elements after the fashion of the jester in the old ballad:, . "Aha! Sir Killjoy," cryd the Kyngu, This day your ruin spelles— Although your armes are cap-a-pie, lly armes are cap-and-bells." War Came and War Theory. Tho war ganio progresses in between times, and tho maps-of tho respective sides aro now studded with coloured pins as tho attack and defence doveiops. In tin's connection one notices how advanced many New Zealand ollicers aro becoming in military theory, and how tho man who has seen service in South Africa is not allowed to have things all his own way. One occasionally hears little, enlightening scraps of conversation, roughly after this line: "AVhy dm you put that gun therop" "Jb'or cover." "But you can't win by hiding from your enemy; you must shoot him, and, besides, yo'ur best cover is your own lire." "Ah! if you had been in Africa with the tli Contingent, you would not say that. I'vo seen a column stuck up all day by a siuglo gun well-hidden by the Boers on tho side of a hill." "Indeed! Stuck up all day?" "Yes! All day!" ( "Why did you not extend a section or two and skirmish that gun out of its nest?" 'It would liavo cost too many men." "Oh, there you are; you want to mako war without anyo'no bfcing hurt." The argument seldom gets much past this, for when tho South African tolls tho theorist that ho "simply doesn't know anything about it," the theorist retorts that the "war experience man" is just liko a motor driver who knows how to turn a handle or two, but is not an electrician for all that. In these New Zealand war games, tho military student sometimes gets a rather bad time from an umpire with Boer War ideas. Ho may want a certain position, and is told that lie cannot liavo it—it would cost too many mon. Such is tho respect that South African nfilitaires have for tho defensive power of the modern riflle. But it does not follow that tne "Boer War' man" is always right. Indeed, according to tho light cf German and Japanese theory, he is nearlv always wrong: Personnel. The officers at present in camp at Mahanga Bay are: LieutenanWlolonel G. P. C. Campbell V.D. m command; ■ staff-officer, Major Humo; adjutant, Captain Symon; quartermaster, Lieutenant Sloman; in charge of permanent force, Lieutenant lUicklo and Lieutenant Standish; Wellington Navals Lieutenants Somerville, Mert dith, and MKellar; No. 3 Electric Light Company, Lieutenants Brown and Ellico. TROUBLE IN CANTERBURY. THE TRAIN ONLY FIVE HOURS LATE. REARGUARD ACTION. Mr Tli LEG it A I'H rit ESS ASSOCIATION.) m, . Ashburton, April 10. J-lie annual Easter manoeuvres of tho Canterbury volunteers aro being held this year at Mount homers, where 1185 men encamped. Active operations commenced on Good Friday, but tho wtirk was of an instructional nature only, and was much curtailed owing to tho breakdown of tho railway transport arrangements, tho. train bringing three-quar-ters of the troops being five hours late in arriving on account of their being insufficient engmo power, v To-day's work comprised an attack on outposts with a new to testing their vigilance and tho efficiency of their methods of commnmcation. Later a manoeuvro, which developed into a rearguard action, was commenccu, tho idea being that a 1 mounted brigade attacking the infantry and battery. Tho scene of operations was a riverbod and a low, wide plain, part of which was fringed with downs and plateaux. A road ran parallel with the river, and along this tho infantry had previously advanced, ino mounted brigado fought an engagement against tho field battery guns, and tho infantry forco was then ordered to retire. A portion of tho mounted force could bo sec-n movmg about on low-lying hills to tho south, but tho direction of their advance was uncertain.' Tho retiring infantry forco had to guard against a (lank movement by the enemy, which would possibly cut them off from their camp, and to prevent this tho forces scouted in open order under tover at right angles to the road on each flank, commanding tho river-bed and tho plateaux on each side of it. A rearguard action was successfully carried out, tho mounted brigado failing to outflank tho defenders, whose rct'rcmont to camp was made in good order. This afternoon field firing practice with ball cartridge took placo, all arm-carrying sections participating. Colonel Robin was present yesterday.

It's most consoling, when you're ill, To think about tho doctor's bill. And add unto tho time you'vo lost, The money his attendanco cost; And realise 'twas lack of senso That caused you all the groat expense. Because when first your chest got wheezy, Woods' Peppermint Cure would havo mado things easy. 2