ASSAULT AT ARMS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2550, 26 August 1915, Page 8

ASSAULT AT ARMS

TJio New Zealand Patriotic Society,' in conjunction with the Wellington military authorities, is arranging, to hold a. grand assault-at-arms and a realistic and spectacular 6ham battle at Newtown Park, afternoon and evening, oil Saturday, September 4, in aid of the Wounded Soldiers'.' Fund. The society has been extremely fortunate in securing the services as organiser of Captain Leopold M'Laglen, jiu-jitsu champion of the world, and tho inventor of the present system of bayonet lighting. Captain M'Laglen lias just returned from the South Island, where Jie successfully organised similar displays at Invercargill, Dunedin, and Ohristchurch, and he anticipates, in view of the cordial co-opera-tion lie is receiving from t'lie military officials here, that the Wellington display will even eclipse the three fine .performances given in the South Island. One of the star attractions will ,be the great , realistic shani battle in which a very large ■ number of Territorials, cadets, and nurses will take part. In addition to this item there 1 will be a massed jiu-jitsu display by a large body of tlio Wellington Police Force; massed bayonet fighting, mounted and dismounted,' soveral' exciting equestrian events in which a number of country residents will participate; a unique test of physical endurance by Captain M'Laghlen, who will withstand the combined pulling power of two draught horses. As a concluding event, Captain M'Laglilen will endeavour to lower his previous world's record with the broadsword by' cutting eiglit sheep in half while going at full, gallop on horseback. The programme, with several alterations, will be repeated in ' the evening, when the park will be brilliantly illuminated, and the sham fight will take the form of a night attack, bringing in the use of the searchlight. The total proceeds are to be devoted to the Wounded' Soldiers' Fund, which the society considers, in view of the recent heavy casualty lists, must be considerably augmented.