IN FINE FORM

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 132, 5 June 1915, Page 6

IN FINE FORM

sth REINFORCEMENTS WHAT THEY CAN DO BAY AND NIGHT OPERATIONS. WHOLE FORCE EXERCISED! ' The whole of the Mounted Rifles and Infantry of the sth Reinforcements, who have been in strenuous training at Trentham during the past four months, were placed upon a further test yesterday morning, when they were maTched out of camp for all day and night operations, concluding with an attack at dawn. After a very cold night, yesterday morning broke with a, dense fog encircling the •camp, but this had no effect in dampening the ardour of the men of the sths, who, in physique and general keenness, are equal to any of the contingents that have yet been despatched out of New Zealand. They were entering upon a task which they had long_ been looking forward to, and when reveille was sounded at 6 a.m. every man was astir busily preparing his kit and accoutrements. The infantry as they marched out of camp at 9 a.m. with a swinging stride furnished a fine spectacle, and were immediately followed by the Mounted Rifles, whose appearance was also something to admire. Both units . were quickly swallowed up in the mist and were known -no more to Trentham until they returned some 24 hours later. THE DAY OPERATIONS. The Infantry marched in the direction of Upper Hutt, while the Mounted Rifles crossed the range over into Whiteman's Valley. Shortly after 10 o'clock the mist cleared away and the operations for the rest of the day were conducted in sunshine. This added to. the zeal of the troops, who were immediately exercised in tactical operations. The Infantry confined their efforts during the morning to practising the second and -third phases t of the attack, and lunched at Maidstone * Park, after which the force was 'split into two, 0 and D companies proceeding to Wallaceville to join the Mounted Rifles, while A arid B companies made off in the direction of Mangaroa Hill. The Mounted Rifles on arrival in Whiteman's Valley got to work %y making an assault on Barney's Hill, one squadron acting on the defence against the remaining three, combined. Some valuable lessons were learned as a result, both forces acquitting themselves creditably. The Mounteds lunched in the field, and during the afternoon were further tested by fighting a. rearguard action down Whiteman's Valley in ths direction of Wallaceville. On arrival there the Mounteds were joined by C and D companies of the Infantry, and the > combined force, less three** troops, who formed a rearguard fat Swanson's Farm, prepared to bivouac for the night, cooking their own dinner. This constituted the attacking force. A' and B companies of the Infantry, forming the defenders, had arrived at Man-^ garoa ,Hill in the meantime, and after throwing out a strong line of protective outposts, also went into bivouac. While it was still light the attackers sent out one troop of Mounted Rifles to reconnoitre the enemy's position,- and the defenders proved equally vigilant, also sending out scouting patrols. The information ob.tained by the mounted pati;ols was particularly good. Both forces then settled down for the night. And a cold night it proved to be. A NIGHT OUT IN THE HARD FROST. ( ' ■ ■ The sun had no sooner gone d6wri' than the atmosphere became exceedingly chilly, and as the night \yore on the cold became more intense, a hard frost setting in,- which, to -those who had to experience it in the open, was < almost enough to freeze the blood. The prospect of becoming frozen, however, had- no terrors for the sth Reinforcements, who knew that the British in Flanders had 'experienced much worse conditions," and' that while they were about it they might just as well get introduced to Jack 1 Frost, of whom they will probably see a good deal, later on in following the soldier's life. They accordingly made the best of things ; some of them sought the shelter of the neighbouring hedges, while the remainder from preference" lay ' down in the open field under a canopy of twinkling stars. Wrapped up in their great coats and blankets, a few managed to got a little sleep, but the great majority, inexperienced in the rigours of campaigning, were unable to enjoy that compensation aftej; their hard day's work. They were thus able to make quite a lengthy study of the stars, and as the moon came up shedding its pale light they were able to watch that too. At 3.30 a.m. the whole of the attacking force was roused (it needed very little to do that) and silently prepared to launch themselves on the enemy's position. No 'order was spoken above p whisper and everything possible was done to minimise sound, so as not to prematurely advise the enemy of what was coming. It was still 'freezing hard, and when the snake-like column moved out in the moonlight the roads rind grass were pretty well covered white, and ice had formed wherever there warp pools of water. The outposts on Mangaroa Hill meanwhile were very much on the lookout for the enemy, and the whole force expecting an attack stood in Teadiness to receive it. « ATTACK AT DAWN. As they neared the defenders' stronghold the attacking force spread out in extended order, the Mounted Rifles acting upon the right flank, and advanced cautiously. As it was impossible to see very clearly the attackers got well up to the defenders' position before they were discovered, and when that happened they delivered their assault in earnest. The defenders replying Vith equal vigour, the whole valley was soon awakened with the sharp reports of musketry, blazing rifles could be distinguished in every direction, and as the fire grew in intensity and th^ attackers pressed their assault home the effect created was still more remarkable. Only blank cartridge being used, there were, of course, no casualties, and when the attack " had developed sufficiently far to bring the opposing forces almost into contact the cease fire was sounded, and the battle was over. A PLUNGE INTO THE ICY RIVER. The last few minutes, just as dawn was breaking, provided a really stirring scene. Keen as the atmosphere 'was, the men were keener still. Nothing could stop_ them — not even the icy cold river flowing along the foot of the 'hill. Unable to find any bridge near by, some forty members of the Mounted Rifles, determined to get at the defenders, plunged into the icy stream, arid waded through to_ the other side, every man up to his middle. It required some doing, considering that the fight was only a sham one, but it showed the stuff of which the sths,are made. Generally speaking, the operation was earned out very creditably, the officers and men engaged proving, in the opinion of experts, that they have reached an even higher state of efficiency than the '4th Reinforcements, who up to tho present have held the reputation of being the best-trained force that has yet been turned out in New Zealand. This probably is accounted for, not in individual gunfirioiity, Jmj, .in^jh^^Jact .that ike

training at Trentham, with the lapse of time, is becoming more thorough, and more Staff instructors, some of them with th© highest qualifications, are being employed. MARCH BACK TO CAMP AND OUT AGAIN. The engagement over, 'the infantry breakfasted in the field, while the Mounted Rifles marched straight back to camp. The infantry then also marched back, in the highest spirits, singing and whistling on their way, and not appearing to be the least fatigued after their arduous labours. Another special feature of the all-day and night operations was the excellent work performed by the Army Service Corps. Fifteen transport wagons were sent out, with a full day's rations, and the various units were supplied without any unnecessary delay, demonstrating that in this respect the Trentham Reinforcements Camp is certainly self-con-tained. Th© operations were supervised by Major Macdonald, 1.G.5., and Capt. ..Cardale, and Capt. N. P. Adams, Camp Adjutant, acted as staff officer to tho attacking force. During the afternoon Lieut.-CoL C. M. Gibbon, Chief of the General Staff, inspected the dispositions of the forces and was again present to see the attacking force move out before dawn and the subsequent engagement. The Hon. Jas Allen, Minister of Defence, accompanied by the Camp Commandant (Lieut. -Col. H. R. Potter) and his own private secretary (Mr. Fred Matthews), also inspected the positions of the troops in th©' afternoon and evening and witnessed the men cooking their evening meal in the 'field. On returning to camp the Mounted Rifles, still fresh, employed the rest of the morning in attending their horses. The infantry also found that their work was not yet done. After li hours in camp they were sent out again to practice the defence until noon, and were thus engaged in' practically continuous operations for 28 hours. On, their second return^ they were still fit and cheerful, and inspired the admiration of their comrades in arms. They were men who had been tried and .not found wanting.