COAST BATTERY IN CAMP

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 101, 24 January 1927, Page 8

COAST BATTERY IN CAMP

WEEK’S TRAINING AT FORT DORSET HEAVY GUN PRACTICE A week under canvas, living the life of a soldier, proved beneficial to the officers and men of the 15th Coast Battery, New Zealand Artillery, who returned to their homes yesterday after seven davs of militarv training at Fort Dorset. Some 200 of Wellington’s youth were in camp, the average age being 111 (■cars. All appear to have enjoyed their week’s training, and, indeed, it would be difficult to have found depression am where in the lines at the fort. The officer commanding the camp vas Major I. Abel and the second in command Captain Carty. The detachment officers were Lieuts. J. Levv, C. Williamson, and J. Blakeney. Lieut. F. J. Dillon was camp adjutant, and his assistant Lieut. Gallagher, while the chaplain was Chaplain-Major D. Calder. Major Abel told a Dominion reporter that a great deal of valuable work had been accomplished and that the improvement shown by the battery during the week had been remarkable. “The bovs,” .et added, “are a fine crowd, energetic, willing.' and eager to learn, with the result that the week Jia d been an enjovable one for both officers and men. The, camp has been free from sickness and the tent life and the routine of military training has agreed with all.” That the aptitude for soldiering is inherited by the territorial of. to-day was effectively demonstrated on Saturday when the general public were given an opportunity of seeing the men at work at an “At Home” held at the fort. This atttracted a large crowd of visitors, including the Director of Artillerv, Colonel I*. Synion, C.M.G., D. 5.0., and the Minister of Health (Hon. J. A. Young). A “state of war” existed', and the battery, having had an intensive course in gun-drill, was called upon to defend Wellington against an “enemy” cruiser endeavouring to enter the Heads. A target, towed by the Government steamer, Janie Seddon, was the “enemy,” and at a range of about 3000 yards the six-inch guns opened fire. 'Those who were on the hill at the rear of .the gun emplacements had an excellent view of the “action.” From the guns the shells went screeching over the sea and the effectiveness of the fire was apparent when the sweeping charge splashed into the sea in and around the target. The shooting was excellent, and even to anyone unversed in the effect of heavy artillery fire, it could be seen that had a ship actually been in the place of the target, the great majority of shells fired would have been hits and" that any vessel would have suffered severely. An exhibition of battery fire with 'twelye-pounders was also given. Here again the range finding must have been remarkably accurate for the shooting was again of a high standard. The military quality of these voting soldiers, and the benefit: of the week's training were again displayed, when the gunners handled their piece of artillery with the precision and steadiness of seasoned troops. The machine-gunners were also seen at work, and here there was no need for imagination. All that was required, for realism was a living enemy. The magazines were tilled with ' cartridges and the Lewis guns poured out potential death against the target across the sea below. Militarv instruction, however, is not the only purpose of a camp, for physical cxctcises form quite an important part of the syllabus. A display of tabloid athletics was provided, and created a great deal of interest, the competition being won by the electric light and engineers details. Afternoon tea was provided, while several side-shows in aid of the Artillery Queen in the coming pageant (Miss LGleeu Norwood) were also conducted. 't'hc troops were formed, up at the end of the day, when the Minister of Health was called upon to address them. Mr Young congratulated the men on their healtliv and manly appearance, and said that he thoroughly appreciated the expeditious manner in which thev ba dcarried out the battery drill that had been demonstrated that afternoon. He briefly explained that discipline and team work, which played .so essential a part of their military training, had its influence on their character as' men. It made for self-control and. respect for constituted autliorit.y, without which no man was fit to have control over others. The purpose of the British militarv svstetu was not to instill a love of war to remind all that preparation to defend their country, its people and institutions was the best a><iiirar»ce against war. The cups', trophies, and medals won hv the men of the various detachments ,fnr efficiency were I lien presented by Miss Eileen Norwood.