STAFF RIDES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 946, 13 October 1910, Page 6

STAFF RIDES.

•-; : :;: : GOOD, WORK; BY /INFANTRY':' •"; ■ :':■'€';-■ '■?■■■?■': OFFICERS.:-'- "■.■'■ : ~. \ '■■"■■'.\ '/: ':'.:■ ' : ''■ ■"' ■' '' *'- : '-\ : -} '■'';';' ' ■':■]': . Yesterday's'field tactics'by the : "Vfelling-' ton Rifle''Battalion at Treritham furnished .an' illustratipn -, of ■ the value; not to v say the: extreme importance, of, staff, rides for officers., The whole of the operations' bore evidence .of thoughtful .prearrangoment,. of careful; study of the manoeuvre area. , ; The phrase "staff ride" is'a; technical one,'varied''occasionally by the expression "staff tour,",-and. is ..used to. describe the: preliminary study, -of the ground over which it is proposed'to can-y' out 'peace manoeuvres/.0r,, in; war,, the. area *of an engagement.; Applying the. term "to'local 'conditions, ; staff ..tours should frequently bo-made , by officers' of the. Wellington .Garrison in -order'' that a thprougli knowledge of. the-,country they; would have to,. defend vin war, or man-, oeuvre , over' in rleace-time, .may': bo obtained.;' As' a;preliminary' 'to yesterday's.; .tactical'exercise,';.the .officers of the .battalion.went out .to .Trenthaih .sonieidays previously,' selected' tho.jnanoeuvre ,'afea, discussed- various schemes of attack and defence, worked' but special ideas, appreoiations, operatioii , '-orders.■'. prepared maps, -etc:; with -the result thiit when .the troops'were brought to^thei ground they ; were exercised intelligently, , and'upon a 'definite■ scheme.. of attack.. , , and ; , defence,, , their, officers displayed ' more ".conn- , .denpe ; in the handling of .their. men. • Another reyiiience'of the desire of battalion, officers to attain, a higher,degree of -efficiency, is .tov.be noted in the'fact ,that no' fewer- than seven..-officers have l qualified ■'■$ by; examination'..../for;-'.field ■ rank (major), ;while, the .majority, of the. sub.alterns hold. certificates for /the. rank of, captain.;;:; ■:^.}.] : ;£ : -V.-,:"'''■." ; .''-""■■' '■■" -:. l: '■',•'' i .