MANŒUVRES AT MIRAMAR. VOLUNTEERS IN THE FIELD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 46, 24 February 1908, Page 3

MANŒUVRES AT MIRAMAR. VOLUNTEERS IN THE FIELD.

Miramar Peninsula is the poition. of Wellington's surroundings which is committed to the care of the Wellington. Rifle Battalion, as its' special charge in the cvont of Wellington being 'invaded by a hostile force. That being so, it is fitting that the battalion should be exercised over tho . ground .whenever' practicable, and it was tlie' recognition of this fact that led to a daylight disppsition of the- battalion, and its auxiliaries across tho ppninsula last Satur* day afternoon. The auxiliaries comprised D/ battery and the Wellington Engineers. An attacking fo ( rce, consisting of the cadets of St. Patrick's ■College; supported by a field gun detachment from D battery, went over to •Miramar by steamer, and thenco deployed'westward. The scheme- drawn up provided for tho Wellington Rifle Battalion,, supported by tho Engineers and a field gun, worked from the Maranuixpass by a sqiiad of batterymen, making sncfi disposition as would best suit foir repelling the invaders. Tho scheme was one which gave amplo scope for initiative, and it was carried through in a manner that must have been educative for those t'iking part in the movements. Tiif Wellington companies of garrison artillery, which have just completed their sixteen days' training course at the harbour forts, remained to man the guns as the scheme was being gone on with, so that the manoeuvres woro carried out in a manner, which approximated to actual conditions of warfare. The guns were worked without ammunition, on account of the drynsss of tho country, and the risk of fire. After the manoeuvres /the men. were adressed by Colonel Robm, chief of staff, who expressed himself well satisfied with the way in. which the scheme had oeen carried out. Th 6 "raiding party" was led by Lieut. -Colonel Bauchop, officer commanding the district, and the battalion yps under Lieut.-Colonel Duthie.