DEFENCE FORCES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18, 23 January 1911, Page 7

DEFENCE FORCES.

OPERATIONS AT THE WEEK-END BATTERY AND BATTALION. Good work has been done by the D Battery since it struck camp at Hutt Park, and went into camp at FeatherBt:on for it 6 annual firing tests. On Saturday, as on the previous day, the wind blew with a force that mad© the Wellington breezes seem like gentle zephyis, but the Battery, after its experience of the previous day and night, had become somewhat acclimatised, _and left at an early hour for Cross Creek, On returning to camp at Featherston an interesting scheme was carried out, the Battery engaging targets along the whole route. The shooting in all cases was excellent, both from concealed and open positions. A party of officers from the Tauherenikau training camp witnessed the operations. The day's work was hard but interesting, and the men, whose enthusiasm has been characteristic, gladly turned out after dinner and a rest, to engage in night firing at targets on the hills. The ranges, angles, and lines of fire had been carefully laid out during the day, and, as on a previous occasion, 6ome excellent practice was made. On Sunday the Battery turned it 6 attention, to entrenching work, besides which there was an ''alarm" turn out (in which the men showed to great advantage) and a route march of some tea miles. All the operations have been conducted in a most creditable manner, more especially, when it 16 borne in mind that many of the horses (there are seventy-five in use) had never seen or heard a gun before. The D Battery drivers pride themselves somewhat on their ability to break horses to the guns in double quick time. This morning the live shell practice was completed, and the classification, series got off. The Battery entrained for Wellington at 1.15 and is due in VI ellington about 7 p.m. During its encampment the Battery has done hard and serviceable work in all departments, and frequently under difficulties, and all Tanks deserve credit. There has been a shortage of officers — three of them have had to attend the camp of instruction at Tauherenikau. The officer commanding has been far from well, and the average of recruits is larger than usual. About fifty of tho men have put in five days' continuous training, and all hands have done four days' continuous training, in addition to twelve morning and evening camp parades, and two half and two whole days — a, total of 60 hours' continuous training. The thanks of the Battery are dus, and are greatly accorded to Messrs Barton, Speedy, Walker, and Tringham for the use of their land for the shooting operations. Lieut. Standish, R.N.Z.A. and Sergt. -Majors Wilson and Valentine acted ac Range Officers. The chief umpire was Capt. G. F. Richardson, Chief Instructor of garrison and Field Artillery, who has paid unremitting attention to £he work of the Battery both in camp and during the shooting operations. Captain EHis, and Liems Rose and Hollis acted as recorders. I _ _____