LORD KITCHENER'S TEST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 753, 28 February 1910, Page 6

LORD KITCHENER'S TEST.

MANEUVRE DAY ON HILLS. DEFENDERS BADLY POSTED. ; , STRONG ATTACK BY COLONEL BAUCHOP. i . ~— : — - . I ' THE FIQLD-MARSHAL'S OPINION.^

of ' the;:- mobilisatid'n' v camp; 'at «|A%.JdtasonySle;.;,on;;:Tliursday;..:^ pfef; have'"'disclbsedia^pbptila--' s'^^ii9nV^*)idit';te£-.m.enian^'-tie"!prd l rerbial , ;.-^^^**?Wv;^W ; '.^^»'":^.'-" < #' ll P. SIBK. Vto'^nearly^3o(W.;:", : 'At" 8 fc:.|:| Sattrday,: Lord' Kitchener: came, s%j|£ andgnearlyvi S000.; men : - spreai i ~themselves |g^tetfth^bilis'inorth ;; ,of; : Jol^i^^ i:Kf|J|>^mjpire;";.'exactly^ j«%]|j|Md, , ;-:.quitej ; inio^ .know;, t'ByJi ;p.m:v'^";";ha^'drawn "<l^^'bii:Jbwn-''cbnclusidnsva& ga|l^.and^departed ',- iri-:;,his;ymotor^ar! / -!;T6^day Sff'S t Wtl?.™?i.;is'|deseiH^^these'.3^Vm'en^.haTe'

:#>£%'rerarned; ; fe-S^fcfetell;':the! ■- interesting .v'story -of '. what Saturday;': ||;i||!t^msnaers': :^ ;§j|4w'pp, ; jPfficer-Cpmm^^ a^iirtdfitrict, Vl \ and •■) :.Lie'utenant-Cnlonel; : :' Joyce, |;^picommaMng"' : :;tiie]i;'Neisbn'.S district:;! To i'fSjgjtLieutenahfr^ or: any. |fe|?|Biin£on;.tha^^ £!s£): W>'-■• ? n 9* :'idV 'Lieutehant-'Cploner; Bauchop igg£^hati'bf:;tal^gMt;;frbm^^

iSif S*j m P.l e il'tactical : | exercise'.Vbv'er;'ground/faf, : ;' ; Cqipnel';y;Ba^ 6^?^6l ;;' l ;^ o ' -;his IPl^&shajrs^Ml^like'^^r^hills : ; in?,the: fe : the.apprpa'ch.'.tc'.Johri-; $l'? 0 ;;:T /and ;;eithery ;side./y/ in/w'ar/ ; !.it J b or ;an?iinpbrtant/ defensive'position,' rp^)jpJlrMpn^lea;.lf,(b!e^ g;;/^merit,; ; ,'a;i;muct:istibnger; •"force-icpuld.^be ■ Its [^Mijcaptiirer-;^^iie,'?mbm'yi'^'thiexefore;i.vrould' i'^ijipbialf/rbssentral/'part^p'f^his";^ Sgg^b^n^q/v/|;y/^/;;/^ *'J^^'i^eryj/gobd;-i; '-Now; :/;if^thV;ireader;:-will'' s sinvple-Hfe |^g:;*nQ^to;.ndges/brarichingVofl; Thef Dbttonr'bf ] tJie/kite-^the'apex; j^;V,if.:(ib.;trianglex^Gblb^ ;.tbiee.;a'nd/fo.ur;miles;/nbrtn-. |^H^^^://iuit;:p^Ta^^H^-^al^ f4TffilH&Miß™&y> '•-wh^t^i'appen'edjirasvttis':' i.g;si ; .| Jwce.^'Ba.d^hu'ibr'be Semi^ ; '* ■*<%^^^^^f'^^''^if^^fi'^'^ :^y::^i\ iJllj^^aJtefly;/;^^ S|igpentJ?in«hisJ'ihohM^^ f%'fj bacfcbprie^f /pprirua. thrbugh; p^&/the;yaUey;7:a : s^brig^fbrjb/albngieach/'ridge. MMt e r^dSmoTCd3;offj^l^tnrM:"at j^f^#nceS;Th'ereXco^ oulyj ;bneicpnbiusidn''fethisTnianbeWe ||^;Sgffie^pt-ure;.:;bf;iMar^ King \ low? ? hiihv;; 'W^'L^fff rdrovo torrential isb-oweri S^ftf-jaorpss;JtheJ'camp.^J The '■-. day i was- '• appar-'* i.«iS«}ently>idoomed. >At/ 4! £m. ■■'. the : : rouse -call aid ifie'armv' ?^W?l^^."-te.Wi^ ; JongHaxpecM ? ;, /£®' l1 ?r' f <i&J-'^ '"-There -{-tlieir r disappoinlmexit";;not^got: ; a .'fine ; appeared l ?. ( -?i7? owteau'O Second; ;I.7Ki'';; might: hot;, come. ; <i$M: He ;.m]ght:ab'-'with//tlierii-ias; he'did/with fcj'i& ;,Vstep/^the'/Vproßsedthey;^/s'ay/.'bf,;; police-/intenup-" fe/jS/? l^'/ukely.;^. .There;; were / ■offier-idiscbm-; '/™j# tertihg' ; ;circumstanoes;::vMany/of the'riien' J'CSiHf hadS l ? B^ ; little,;br v /rib had /been;' fjffii'tf?' exceedingly /hot'; WM-. M?V vjnoj&i ;, and.iba'ttalion,.-' after "■ battalion.-regi-?|s# : Pft™P''r iriarched; ? ;dbwi; 'the vsleeping' /vil-: ;'¥'?(? '?E°V'? n d' disappearedltKrough/ a "gap 4 : in pf3A g?d ;: %htehed /: perceptibly, r £ the ';, showers ■ i%f^. d V?1 < ' ome^^; - lesi -.^"'eat.■'•• 'and. with, the 5:'%-;: pnghtening?.of.',the.;generalVpfpspect '■• the' S^Bpuita/ofyall^b^anjtovrise;;^;^:^ pif of \<w W;B ; \ W t-some Jtime,; and : ' it \ : was • ' well.' ,'pri"' to-. l S'i^- ; :\ ite •;;«;/«|tte:;artivalv:of-the''.FieldrMarshal.t'.'The fd;V.r,;.r' Nelson/.; division' at' Marshall'&-th6':.-Bed 1 4;Sv c, ■:< Joyce,- : .'boii"'. %i'J' K 8 ■, pv °f- -H./''B.attery J i: sSivfCaptamcj.Grace,'.'-/'ten ..companies of .'irisf@ riamry.tunder,: ; ; iieutz-Cblphels l ;M?arlahe -• j r;iihs> ahdjtiflarkriess, ';• aVdetacJimerit /b'f '■ mbunted' SR?sti™en,?under <IJent. t Celohel/,Chayter; / and/ 'vJfAi/'.ia 'v.field /ambulance.-; corps, '■■'■ approximately ; meri.';';. Colonel' Bauchbp's force i;. ; iX»r;BlueV-paraded" along ./.the'; road ■•' near/its /t!(!^HJ>°i'!vn< v insisted/pf/; ! D i yßattery,/fbur | s^;«'i|uns;'';pyclists,.-:engineers; ; - signallirig corps. ' "l/^pjeld,. ambulance; corps, i/fourfeen/ -. squad/'S.ir i5 o J?P*''.. It ' ls se 11 .' aid, 35:/cbmpaiaes of in- «; S^j^te:' B^ ta Mon;;:;;/ : ®>.'-Llg.uthies 270 i vLiout./Colonel S ? «;jHughes;-Napier;/128, ..Lieut-Colonel/His-'f^-3?Pi yNew ■ Plymouth;-..- 232,':. LieuKdlonel ?;:■■,?'■'-'O.Key:r J Wairarapa/..'-.275.- a °!"V;yTato.;>The.;details';ef/'the''rapunted regK J-^ ; S^'s ww * ;:a ' s :' foll o*^Wang'anui; 1 .-Majof' A'V'/-* aT . I - 3 'l l9B ''' ll asterton,;/ 'Major X Cameron,; S&-V>lJ™e«». ;132;i;Napier, v Ma;ior. Saridtmanri,' •fe'®| 9 V ; '« In /: r . tmi id!;figures;/<the Blue Force. «^;|OTmbered::over;2ooofineri/;; Theoretically, is-i-r; -s-™; odds i were.:U'6 -.to; brie'/in: f avobr/'of .S: ! /';.F- B * ne '; .as;''he:.Eed.;Foroereally. represented' iS^iFasmuohrlarger; l body/ of -troops.' ;'-;.:'':

i4(k;!!v;:^ feveri'of "expectancy.: spread Si : .{:;i^ lo PS;Jhe,line,';ahd"anxious: ; hea'ds craned' ■& U' :. : »™«d;; for Va-' glimpse.' of the -.-.war-lord;'-s ? nt |y>ljhP?Wieats; sounded, upon the G';^-'!ea::,yahd.:excited' -:battali6n. : :.commanders s,',.;? '6touted:; '-'Shun!".- -/The'lines stiffened; : to ■--.';";,-•■. attention. v. False /alarm: ''It: was Captain sS^^^ifeffo: for-,'>,.:/;-/tno /Field-Marshals ■' was a J/ja;/,' Then "came ■ the i/if-;;;distantvhum.;of aVmotor/iand- : presently' ;//y;;;?a^big v touring:6ar.;slid /slowly.round the and/proceed; at'■ a. snail's pace along f* ; A//therliile. ::Colonel/A. -W.':Sobin; Chief of /.://.//the"New.:Zealand/General Staff,- was in ;.i'--;.;';the ir(in"tseat,:whiloiL()rd'Kitchener, with v!/;;/; his,/Chief-of-Staff,/; Cownel'.vKirkpatrick, cast 3fi//./by{the;-hpod:;of/thojear. /Two'othercars' i.//.'j.'also'.'.form«d':/poit?,; of ./'-'the! - -. procession.' i-JK': : S barryiiig;': other /members ': iof the ■■■ Council ,;;^i/vOf//I)eferice;..« the""Primer -Minister" (Sir £*//Joseph . : Ward),VGolonels : .H;;P.Tuson,-B. '!£il!. ■Jv/Cplliiis ( -; 1 J;f\B;-!pnrdy, :the/Hon. Dr. girSi'Collins,- ■ ■ ;'liiente'naat-Coloh'el >' / Duncan, i;£-';.',,'.Maj'or./Brandon,varid/Others. ■'~-• -7 :

y;fcjc ■, Arrived ,'- at - they ttid fjai ythe- line,/ the ; .;v;:^.-Field : Marshal;got/,out,:,stretchedhis legs, or::..a;;man ; with, such !■:a/ferocious: •jj;' {'j;reputation, : ., /[beamed-.-; most .',/ benignly.: jjv^"l:Xieatenant.-Coldnel■-. Joyce, who,/appeared $'i/i; ratberj! nervous,.. handed/ his ■■ operation g-iJ,?sbrdersVto ;-, Kirkpatrick;,•■ .-'■ ."K." f/,5;; ; glanced;sharply "about, him, .as if, taking salient/aspects-of .the..country, uS ;^A'/and>:ijhen, ; 'turned to .Lieutenant-Colonel f-;;:/'; Joyces "AH 'ready ?{*'■ he -asked. ■''■ Lieuten-'&<>■;';.(':ant-Colonel-'Joyce;.signified:that-he was... ; S.v< c ''and w£s£watchod':'.-th^ 6:.-ffl';pbsitions./l:Theh':-ne.'got:;into':his'.motor tfv--? tojir..-: and ! ,tte >. thiee . cars ..dißOßpeared

round; the .'bend of', the. road; Awhile 'two anxious pressmen,-pursued vthem.;at •■> hard'gallop^for:'a'■-distance-'.of over 'three, inil6s:j : '/>-v--i-''.-'.-;v-'.r-::' .-.■-.-•'■■!. '■'■■■■■ .(':/<■>".•

On their arrival' at Tawa, the inspection of ."Lieutenant-Colonel'-' Ba'uch'op's.' force Svas.soon" accomplished.' Orders, were given; mounted orderlies galloped this way and that,iwhile flagjiyaggers-'made signs from various points, and, so'-clear.and definite were .ColonelVßauchop's. orders' that;his force'..resolved 'itself out of; column .into line of 'battle.''as ■ smoothly :ss a machine.--Disapproves Of; ; His:'Horse;'! ,';: .1- "K.",then:ieft'.his l ,:car.-and asked ' : fqr his horse;' 'The 'string' of : 'led''horses iva's brought 'up'' smartly. 8 -It was originally intended ''that" tho : Field-Marshal; should' fide7Matai,Y Mr^.V.Simmon'ds's.'handsome; black;cob,Ybiit'Maitai' 'was considered rather: light for";.a.','man' of'lord-. Kitchener's 1 weight.".. 'A"well : bred- animal,' of stouter' build;': but rather "countrified: look-. ingi'-withiits; flowing: tail and 1 mane, : was brought: i forward;. ■ij.-vTC'V -looked-; at I it: critically, -up; and ; dowh,',.,fore and : aft,' : and," then, 'with an expression which might' have meant a,good:mahy'thing's,-!but on. this "could "only, be'-''interpreted■ in' one ■'■ way, looked'-round - at.: the,.other :hbrses, ; and >theh ■ back:-at his ;.owdJ ; Cap--, tain Chesney'svhbrse:was next;bfiered-up, for-'.the'! honour,-. but.'v'K.'', finally. decided. to tie first'aham'aVaiter';all,. mounted easily', by. his,:staff, -rode : back'albngjthe: road for- a -short distance,' ■ tbiwhere'lie' could; view" .the" opening ■'; of the-attack.; ; The... party ; there: for : sofne time,-'watching .the".development, of' ffie up 'the',Tawa..'Yalley : and' the' flanking ridges, :'arid then fo'de. back' towards"?Marshall's'.j:.;Th'e'- v area".of. ''"the 'manoeuvre :-'beihg','Dractically.-. confined" to; the r '; i :Valley,:;the:'adja'ceh't;ridges, and;.the Murs.;ana : saddles'.,of,jMarsh : all's Hill.the' ileld-Marsfiall's.movem'en.ts'were notdiff r : .ficult;ltb.':';i'6llow.- ";"Sd': visited''the princi-: pal 'points'-of .'thd : :area,Jsaying'nothing-r-; so'far'RSvtheipressm'en^-ereiconcerhea—. but; evidently';thihtong 'a,: lot;"; .A \\' : , A;

What.- " K.'HThbught.;;/;. '■. v ;';<"' Z\^ : ' '/'; //Abbut* one '< o'clock, .'just'-'as/I'-the ;com:mander,.of /the'; attacking force '.was. about to bring;his'lrianoeuvre:to.a;climax,.;Lord•. : suffi;: cient,i ; calleji.;]ap,J,liis^ car/:;and . returned ■•'te':to'Tl^M,^ii>A-''v.'W':W : ."i-^ > ''BW-'..' •';.■'''■ '■ -::.';Before-leavin'g:.he/.b'riefly : discussed -with . the;'stafi.' I .;brie,;br ■' ttf p l v'p'oints'.-.. in. connec;withi;the'vTvork;;6f,;the ! morning'..-, He. ■.was : ;understood;to 'say^-sb'.it,is that^the; ;■ erida^ '.Coloneli Joyce; was • l ierr:.ipt : frorh /pert ecti', ~that^it.! : had bad showing generally.;;" Lieu .at-/ tackihg., force' had'faUedVto : appreciate ,'the, (weakness ;jpf J. 'the': l /]deforice, i '. :protracting : - :; the_. the' ;l w6rk of'the .Blue f orce'lwas.-satisf ao-; .^ry;^HeiTOi-. , ..nnderatb.b^'^tS'; : :Bay;CalsOi : .' . that iwjth. a 'proper'' system. of■; scontiiitr' .position .'wpuld r have.' been', (disclosed, ■ and : ■the.";'attack. pushed'/.'.hdriie' '.'with;' greater. ■ ; rapidityß4;i:;^.fe;--:i.Kiv;i7:\,';;;;''i':; :> V v; -■' :.-; A'notheri.-piece: of ./•comment' ■ reported... of !hfmj.%s.;.tnat'lK^nbti(ied i iinramcient , -'a't-' ■tenti6nl-tb.'smallii'matters;'-of. ; detail'about' the /uniforms..';. Quite-a/ number '/of. men were/.we'aring. cfvrlHn-!bVe'r'cbats;'?in' : fiat 'defiance /pf'fall ; ' r the'rules'.'of." war..'.-.What /'%"'/';;wdul'u.:^ ithTbugnontv;th^'» ! 'fdreM: ( Jdress.-' fdr./particular^boinpanies;■• or*.bat-' talibris;;:. >He'.'fu'rther;i;;suggested,-;:.it lis stated,'that : it I ;'would, be -'.a Jgood V thing for.; the . teaining vbf *;the '-"'New. Zealand. -for^^ : if(;ann;iffiperiaV'nmt , -tipned-.in'.'' > th'>'';p.qmiiiiori' for a 'while,, as ! :.... : ;^:.< .;; ; -^^H^^^^^ .i/-In^ttei ; ]&Bl{tV'-b£!J;ti^V;rott-rted ; r.'T'oom- : iments'.;:'pf'.-''tJie' .'the.; main : lmperf eotioris. ■" appear;' to.-, have l , originated 'in : :.insuffioierit ire'e'dnria'issance'.' In" : operat-' iing;'.as';:it;didi<Blue:;;;undbubte'dly '//'held' ;trumps.-: ;;Th6:;.attacking i force'' knew that iEed'r.was-vweak,' but did, not''apparently ;trouble :to'ascertainlthe'.bsact extent of :tho...weakness,i'arid.herioe.delayedithb final assault./t00...•10ng,'. thus;'. ; 'adduig:.. : td • -the.' :,weaker^side's..'chances.'bf. obtaining rein-. jfbrcements'.,:. f.The.'wort'!df '■ the. mounted' ■meh'-was''(lisKuctiy good.,' The artillery, .which,;frdm '.the.•left'-side..of ' the : valley ;was;suppdrtirig jthe.atfe'ckof the 'right, flanking' party,;.;was.' riot;>in" evidence i. till the close,of.;the' action, when the booriiing .'of/the igiins-marked- the 'climax, -.of the,' .manoeuvre;;.' As. 'things:-were,.ithere.'was ~nd:.;need for.' the '.Blue; "aitilleryi;to come: ■interaction' sooner.'' Eed'did .not. budge;; ;did not. even' sUow.-.itself;:';'and anyaction from iß.'Battefy ;wbuld,:. under' these : 'cir- : . cum'stances, i'have.:; been'; a .waste of: : am-munitiori.-'While. on;this subject,.a word 1 .of praise is .due te ;D /Battery ;for' the; ex.'wirenty,Tey;:3:'in.'''wluchV'the.\ heavy'rguns' ;were.;hauled;;u'p, the slippery :.hillsidb..The ptraining gun..teams ;had- a hard, task,'but with ..the .assistance ;bf stay-ropes 'to -hold' the.... guns',,.the..' 'hirsef.V. were 'allowed' ;a_.;breathing'.-spell. 1 ..:Th8:,. fact- reinains,:then,that;Blue?s;attackwas, L in the'mairii: ■sound.-; The dispositions' were correct; the '■various.units,'or'the attack!;ac'complished ; what;,was.'/expected;, of Hhem... . But'th'e climax,\accordihg-tb;*'K.-," was something like ran 'hour : ; late,: due,, it is /stated,' toimperfect/reconnaissance"': in"; /the /beginriing./arid an over-estimate of the'enemy's' strength;';;'.':.//. '&:;'<."■.::*■:■. ,■■-.■-:■.:. : :'■,•■■* ■