MARCHING THROUGH SNOW

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2880, 19 September 1916, Page 7

MARCHING THROUGH SNOW

■ ♦ SEVENTEENTHS CROSS THE HILL COLD NIGHTS IN BIVOUAC The Seventeenth Infantry Reinforcements, which left Trontham on Thursday on a two days' march to Featherston, with field manoeuvres en route, reached the latter camp at 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. During the trip,' lino . weather, with cold nights, was experienced. Snow was lying on tho higher peaks and on some of the shady slopes ot tho llimutakas when the troops went through. The days, however, wero hn© antl sunny. 'Tho Seventeenths, about 1600 strong, In charge of Lieutenant-Colonel C. R. Macdonald, Chief Infantry Instructor, and Maior Barton, left Tr,entham Camp at about orio o'clock on Thursday, and marched to Wallacovillo and Mangaroa,, where, in several detachments, tliey took up outpost positions for night manoeuvres and for the attack at dawn. Tho day had been fine and . sunny, but as night came on o cold wind blew from the south, with occasional sharp and heavy showers. Oh the heights It was snowing, and the bivouac was rather a chilly one. The nigiit operations were carried out successfully, and tho attack at dawn was most realistic. After breakfasting in the field, tho troops marched to Kaitoke, arriving thero at eleven o'clock. They went Into bivouac, and afterwards were engaged in field work, tho weather being clear and sunny, with a southerly wind. Towards ovening the wind died down. A severe frost was experienced during the night, and the wholo of tho country sido showed whito when daylight came. - Evon after tho sun had shone for somo time, a good deal of the snow on tlio hills did not melt. ■On Saturday, . passengers by tho Wairarapa trains, m crossing tho hill, frero surprised to find snow lying beside the" metals, whilo the slopes at the Summit were brilliantly besprinkled with gleaming snow. It lay in tho sheep-tracks, and had not melted, as the snow had done which lay on tho sheer slopes. On the road across tho "hill" there was mors snow than on the railway, In places it was lying nearly a foot' deep. Needless to say, it was fine marching weather. The column of khaki winding up tho Snolino along snow-clad slopes, their ruddy,' healthy faces, surmounted in many cases with garlands of groen leaves that had been wound roiind the wearers' hats, and the singing of the men, was picturesque. The summit was reached about 11 o'olock, and the luncheon provided by tho Featherston Branch of the Wairarapa Patriots Sooiety was thoroughly appreciated. Colonel Gibbon, Chief of Staff, who had inspected tho troops' work while at Mangaroa and Kaitoke, accompaniqd them to tho summit, and' saw them set off, at a few minutes after noon, on the last stage, of the march to Featheraton« 'file tittle cobbler, of Featherston, the soldiers' mas. cot, was at their head from Kaitoko to Featherston. • Oh' the Featherston side of the hill the Seventeenths descended from winter's chill to.summer's warmth. When they stepped' out on the level road from Featherston to the camp, they wero perspiring freoly, and had begun hi look tired. Tho Feathorstah Camp Brass Band and Trumpet Band, undei Bandmasters Wicks and Chegwin, met tlio column two miles lip tho hill, and played them along the iast four miles of the " march.. 4 . Saturday afternoon is .'a slack time in camp—what is called, in the Navy, a make-and-mend' day. Hundreds of soldiers who were enjoying a siesta before going to. bathing parade, waited impatiently for the arrival of the Seventeenths. ■ When at last they came into view the men crowded to the gates. Through an avenue of khaki, the troops, to the lively music of tho bands, swung into camp, whore the' Camp Commandant, Lieut.-Colonel N. P. Adams, met the column. The Seventeenths proved themselves a very fit lot, hot one man having fallen out en route. Their time, too, on Saturday's march, was excellent, arid their march discipline good.