Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 12026, 26 October 1903, Page 2

three cwmpaniasi of' infantry—-namely, th Dtinedin Rifles, Cavershnm Rifles, and Gree] Mand Rifles. This wing occupied groom from Green Island to the sea coast, th whole line of the defence taking in som sn miles of country. The centre of the d€ fencue was Green Island itself, and this wa sjrpppsed to be put into a State of defenc according to plans which were drawn up hj Captain Ross, commanding the Dunedin En gmeers. Captain Ross also had to fix on aw mark cm his map as many sites for signa stations as might be fonnd necessary i place all points of <the. fine in comnrunicatio] with headquarters, which was located a Kaikorai Hill. Captain Ross effected thi by means of four stations—A station at Kai korai Hill, B station at Abbots HAL C sta ■tion at Dempster's farm (above Green Is hind), and D station at EjrHan<Fs farm (01 the Brighton road), C being mere! a transmitting 6ta/fcion from D t' A. Provisions • were made in th signalling scheme for the use of the helii m the daytime, which in fine weather wouh have made direct communication betweei D and A possible, and for the limeligh and Bigbie lamps at night. Field telegrapl communication from Kaikorai Hill to Look out Point also entered into the sjgnallim arrangements. The reserve consisted of si: companies of infantry, Tinder Major Hislop who disposed four companies in support o Major Myers, and two in support of Cap tain Stoneham. The field hospital, nnda Surgeon-major Will, accompanied the win< commanded by Major Myers. Colone Robin acted as chief umpire, and was as sisted by Major Chalmer (Artillery) nnc Brigade-surgeon Lieutenant-colonel De Lau tour (medical branch). Two or three hour were spent in working out the scheme, fix ing on ground to be held, and sketching country, after which the parade reassem bled at Green Island, and sat down to din ner. kindly provided by the Green Islanc Rifles. In tie absence of Colonel Robin who had to consider reports, Lieutenant colonel Smith in i short speech convevec to Captain Macdonald, of the Green Islanc Rifles, the thanks of the officers present for the entertainment provided. After din ner an adjournment was made to the Greei Island Drill Hall, where Colonel Robin re viewed and criticised the day's work, into every part of it very minutely. In tli< course of his remarks the colonel stated thai he should like to have the .exercise trie: : over again on the same country, and il possible, with the section commanders pre sent as well as the officers. It should b( mentioned that besades the purely field arm; which took part in the tour, the carrisor artfllery branch was also represented, tt» supposition being that the coastal batteries had been temporarily stripped of a 6in position gun and a Nordenfeldt. The garrisor artillery officers decided to put their heavy piece in position on the high ground in reai of the centre of the line of defence, so as to be able not only to sweep all aproaclies to Green Island itself, but also to be able to deliver its fire to either flank should such be tlu-eatened. The gun also occupied a position whence it could easily have been withdrawn in the event of defeat, and the garrison artillery officers are to be complimented on their selection of ground for its emplacement. The following officers took part in the tour:—Battalion: Lieutenadtcolonei Smith, Major Myers, Captain-adju-tant Stoneham, and Surgeon-major Will; Lieutenants Jack and Douglas (Dunedin City Guards); Captain Cameron and Lieutenant M'Laurin (East Taieri Rifles), Lieutenants Cameron and Dempster (Dunedin Highland Rifles), Captain Jackson and Lieutenant Hawkes (Dunedin Rifles), Captain M'Ara I and Lieutenant Ussher (Dunedin Cirv Rifles), Lieutenant Dobson (Wakari Rifles), Lieutenants Bremner and Emerson (Caversham Rifles). Captain M'Douald and lieutenants AJtchison and M'Leau (Green Island Rifles), Lieutenant Wolstenholme (Dunedin Cycling Corps). Field Artillery: Lieutenants Haydon, Ritchie, Hellyer (B Battery). Garrison Artillery: Captain Fredric, Lieutenants Hellyer, Haggit, and Doull. Engineers : Captain Ross. Cadets: Major Boslop and Lieutenant Brydone.