KITCHENER'S VISIT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 747, 21 February 1910, Page 5

KITCHENER'S VISIT.

FIELD DAY AT DUNEDIN

FUTURE MOVEMENTS.

IBy Tolecraph.—Proes Association.) V l ■. Dunedin, February 20.' ■> . Contrary to expectations, the force oj some 2000. men encamped at. Abbotsford : were, not called . out ' unexpectedly, but'' paraded for inspection according to orders previously issued nt 8 a.m. yesterday, ■ Lord ■ Kitchener, accompanied by ' the Prime .Minister 'and' - members of -'..the' Defence Council, arrived by motor from Dunedin shortly after; 3 o'clock. .Ho nh<J his. party/ we're' then provided with horses, ipd; immediately proceeded' to inspect the assembled troops. Tho -Mounted Rifles made a very -fine display, and there fe reason 'to believo were very favourably' viewed by the Field-Marshal! Haying seen the mountedmen march out camp, Lord Kitchener inspected the- ifl. fantry,. B Battery, Engineers, Ambulanco and then:. stationed 'himself with the Prime; Minister and watched the' four battalions, follow-the cavalry- iii'tha direction of Abbotsford. : : ,

Defending Dunedin.

Orders .had . been, given by;-'Lord--Kitchener, to Lieutenant-Colonel' Smythe, who was in charge of the force, that his ' command was to defend Dunedin from kn enemy-, reported to be 'landing at Taieri - I ''- mouth. Between tho camp and Taieri ' mouth are three hills—Jefferys Hill Scroggs_Hill, and Saddle Hill—with tha J Chain JliUs leading frora Saddle Hill to- : : ' ■ Dunedin. -: Lieutenant-Colonel iv v , 'S 1 Smythe made his arrangements'promptly -V.--' and thoroughly. Tho country in. thevicinity of -Dunedin has- been' his special -. - o ;-s in pe' his ■ appointment here,',; and S Saddle.Hill and its vicinity have necossitated his particular attention. Ho ordered' tho B.Brigade to. take iTdefensiye'position | : at Jeffery Itill, occupying Sc'roggs Hill aa " a .false ; position. Two regiments -of ;'-' mounted troops and one section of V'v. G; were told off as a protective force,: and ;i----were to occuny. Scroggs' Hill, reconnoitring towards Taieri mouth. An advance guard '-i two companies of infantry and ,'onaW®' squadron of mounted . troops was . also - detailed, and a rearguard. cpinpiiny,' -Kr-'.';-; thus leaving, two. battalions as the mam body stationed, on the north'side"bf 'Sad^e : V i c'-'-Hill, . Tho ■ Engineers. on the right' flank' threw up some entrenchments,- arid th<> .' left flank was similarly strengthened.' A!' M telephone was : also laid down, flat; signallors appeared on aU tho hill-tops, the field ambulance got into.poMtion nqv'-{' ; ,Vi lar from headquarters, whilo B Pattory ; ' •at headquarters was hold in readiness-to 11 proceed to tho front, and all tho dis, positions - had 1 been' .completed. Soon ..' - ntfd-day, '; f- which,■:■ ; considering that.it was after 9 o'clock when tho fofce left camp, was remarkably quick wprk, By . thus -placing: his ,fqrce,. liieutcnanti Colonel Smythe .was able to command the- ' two -main _ roads -; leading from Taieri ■: mouth, and, while, occupying,, a; particuMy, strong 'p^^n.-'-had'-'-aT^lable^'a.' l^':' vhain Hills, which .also; olfored excellent ' opportunities to' a defending force.. '

A Hard Man: fgr the Stuff to Follow.' . While tho arrangement-.; ' were being ' '•*' piAuß, Lord Kitchener, accompanied by hia staff,, was-appearing. unexpectedly, m dif- .y v;;. ferent;: partsof the countryovor 'which the y operations- were •' taking ' and' ' •- persons - interested . remarked " upon tho sonsnming energy of tho Field-Marshal and the rapidity with, which he travelled. ■ ' ' < At one moment: ho ; was on a* distant hill. : ' side, .a' short distance in advance •of hia hotly pursuing staff. Ten-minutes later,'Z ; the little party was'descried at an entirely , different point. of '-: ;the -compass;'--Lord' 'V Kitchener visited-evciy; unit of the- de. fending force, and, while- staying only a moment, seemed to see 'everything. He;: : V: seldom speke, and made -no , commenta:-.'. upon Colonel Smythe's. dispositions. '*'■£?

Field-Marshal Visits His Sister, ; About 1 p.m. ho ordered the force hcli 11 in . reserve ;.at . headquarters: to "reinforce the-fortified position, and two batt&liona of- mounter: rifles aiidß.Ba-tterv movecl / . rapidly out to. the front. Lord Kit. ■ cliener watched theso. movements ; : tookonc more/look at the engineers' for-' " : tification, 'and with scarcely i'a word, s'l} noiinced; that he had * seen-. sufficient, and rodo to the foot of the hill, caught big ■ motor-car and returned to Diinedm, At < • ; 2: p.m. .■ the march back to camp com- ■. ■ ■■ menced,: tho • troops returning.;home .to.. . '• tho...city late in ■ tho day, ; ;■: . _Lord Kitchener left Dunedin with hi* ■ • .sister (Mrs. Parker) by motor-car .this '; - morning,. and was. expected ; to; spend tha afternoon and evening with. her. at her •' home at Kurow. He will leave Oamarq for.tho north by the second express to> v morrow and go on to Christchurch. •

. Christchurch Preparations. . t; . (Br Telecra|)h.—Presn AiSQciatlon.l '

Christchurch, February 20. Preparations for Lord Kitchener's'visit are practically completed. .A camp order issued yesterday [.anticipates that:&e'"y6l<,/.i,i unteprs will be given an- opportunity tai; / show, their , enduranco and soldierly qualities on Wednesday, as provision is made for,an. alarnr by night or day. ; ; . Publio /notice, is being given, of the fact , that,-from "Tuesday, morflitigtill '■. Wednesday * morning Lyttelton Harbour 11 wilj be under war conditions, and ex-'- ', amination service may be in force' all the time,. : Notice of such service - bejng in ' - foroo will be given at Adderley Heaid bv • a signal consisting by, day of three red balls, or shapes resembling balls, arranged > < ;•: Vertically' at the signal station rand by f night- of three' red lights similarly dis-, posed- During tho . timo examination" service is. in force all vessels entering . theharbour may be required to stop for - examination by the defenoo authorities. ' -: The South Canterbury, battalion of', schoql cadets; and a' detachment. of '• boy :; ; scouts arrived m Christchurch by tha • first; express on Saturday • afternoon, , There are about 350 all told, and they immediately marohed to Hagloy Part,' 1 whert they will encamp "till, after- Lorij - Kitohoner. reviews them on Tuesday, -;;.v There was a ohnrch paTa/io this.marnihß, ■ - - . The major portion of: the cadets w'ijj ■ join the camp to-morrow..'.'; ~, > -