IN WAR TRAINING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 83, 5 October 1914, Page 8

IN WAR TRAINING

'i m TROOPS HARD AT WORK D-MORROW'S BATTLE CANTEENS ON TROOPSHIPS. TAKEN OVER BY GOVERNMENT. The various unite of the Main Expeditionary Force now in Wellington settled down this morning to another hard week's training. The Wellington Infantry Battalion proceeded to Trentham for musketry practice, i while the Otago Infantry Battalion marched out to Miiamar and Seatoun. for battalion training. The Canterbury Infantry Battalion went to Karon also for battalion training. The mounted regiments -were engaged to-day in squadron training and musketry, ■ ' Tho Field Artillery Brigade at the Hutt Park and various other units were likewise kept busily employed. WHERE TO VIEW THE BATTLE. Considerable interest is being display' ed by both the troops and the public m to-morrow's battle, which will be fought out at Miramar and Seatoun. Owing to the necessity for observing secrecy no announcement can be made as to the exact number of troops that will be engaged, but the programme of training issued last week indicates that at Lyall Bay to-morrow two infantry battalions will be under special orders. The best points of vantage for witnessing the j operations will be from the hill at Sea- ! toim, above the tunnol, or on the Mira-mar-road'abutting on the golf links. The battle will not start before eleven o'clock. MOUNTED RIFLES' TRAINING. The programme of training for the Mounted Rifles for the next four days has been fixed as follows : To-morrow (Tuesday), squadron training and musketry; Wednesday, tactical exercises under orders of the brigadier ; Thursday and Friday, musketry and squadron training and outposts. On Saturday all units of tha Mounted Rifles Brigade and the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment will concentrate at Lower Hutt^ with the rest' of the units of the Expeditionary Force now in Wellington. SELECTING REGIMENTAL SCOUTS. Where this has not been already done, officers commanding mounted units are now selecting regimental scouts, who will be organised and given' preliminary training under a selected officer. The composition in each case will be as under : Two section per squadron, plus one sergeant-scout. When these twentyfour men have been detienitely selected they will be formed into permanent sections in their squadrons. CANTEENS TAKEN OVER. The Government it is authoritatively stated has definitely decided to take over the canteens on the whole of the troopships, and to run them with its own officers. Special Government officers are now engaged in taking stock, and the canteens accordingly are passing under Government control. It is understood that th« contractors without exception are allowing the goods to be taken over at the invoice price. GENERAL GODLEY RETURNS. Major-General Sir Alexander Godley, Commander of the Expedition, who has been inspecting the Auckland troops, returned to Wellington yesterday morning, and later attended the church parade in the Harbour Board's U Shed. YESTERDAY'S CHURCH PARADE. The whole of the members of the Expeditionary Force in Wellington attended church parade yesterday morning. Tho mounted units encamped in and about the city paraded at their respective centres, and Divine service was conducted by their chaplains. The Protestant members of the dismounted units quartered on the troopships paraded 4 for Divine service in the Harbour Board's U Shed, the total number of men present being about 3000. The aervice, which was conducted by several chaplains, was a particularly impressive one. During the service a collection was taken up among the troops in aid of the widow of the unfortunate man who was killed by falling' dovm the hold of the transport Athenic the other day, and resulted in £42 7s 9d being collected. The Roman Catholic members _ of the dismounted unite attended Divine service at, Bucklestreet and the Basilica. In the evening Divine service was conducted in U shed by Brigadier Bray, of the Salvation Army, the Silver Band assisting. The service was largely attended by the men. During the. stay of the troops in Wellington Sunday evening services will be conducted in the shed alternately by the Salvation Army and the V.M.C.A. authorities. PROMOTED ACTING-SERGEANTS. Headquarters clerks and the pay clerks, have all been given acting-ser-geants' appointments.