TERRITORIALS.

Evening Star, Issue 14511, 1 November 1910, Page 3

TERRITORIALS.

, [By SKraMxaHKß.] Item* •/ interest concerning Corps (Town and Country), SHrsotmg. and.. Territorial notes generally wM be Copy, addressed to SktTrnMner, should be in hand not , later than Monday morning. The, period of mourning for the late Ring will expire on Sunday next (6th November). After that date the' crape band will not bo worn by officers. The following officers will sit for examination on Wednesday, 7th December, as under: —At Dunedin: Captain P. Marshall (Officers’ Training Corps), Major M. K. M'Culloch (No. 3 Battalion Otago Defence Cadets). At Oamaru: Captains H. H. Allan and D. S, Chisholm (No. 3 Battalion Defence Cadets). Corps intending to compete for the Sargood Cup this year are asked to send in to the local office as early as possible the dates on which they propose to have the shooting carried out. The regulation in connection with this competition is that it must bo completed before the 31st December. . The Ist Battalion, Otago Rifles, parade for battalion drill on Monday, 14th November. During November inspections will be carried out by the O.C. as under : Cycle and Signalling Corps and Dunedin Rifles, 7th ; Wakari Rifles, 21st; Highland Rifles and Battalion Band, 22nd; City Guards, 28th; and Cavereham Rifles, 29th. In all cases the companies will parade in marching order for inspection. An examination for N.C.O.s’ certificates will be held in the Garrison Hall on Friday, 9th December. The battalion orders lay down that in future all lance-sergeants, sergeants, color-sergeants, and the battalion sergeantmajor and quartermaster-sergeant, will wear the sash on all occasions except when in marching order. This regulation is made so that the senior N.C.O.s can be easily distinguished. In walking out and to and from parade, N.C.O.s not carrying a rifle are instructed to carry a regulation cane. For information of all officers wearing the Sam Browne belts and sword, the following is the correct procedure: (a) The Sam Browne belt is to be worn on all parades. Only one cress belt is worn. In drill order no pouch or revolver case is to be carried on the belt. (b) When no sword is worn dismounted officers will not wear hog and slings on their belt. (c) The steel scabbard is only worn with full dress. In undress uniform the leather scabbard is always used with leather sword knot when Sam Browne belt is worn. (d) In full dress (with exception of frock coat) sword belts, other than the Sam Browne belt, will be worn under the tunic. Highland corps wear the belts over the doublet. Officers carrying the colors may wear sword bells over tunic and under sash. (e) The sword is never to be drawn on battalion or company parades, with the exception of ceremonial parade and when troops have bayonets fixed. The value of regimental tours was exemplified last week in the tour organised by the Officers’ Club, and those wishing to learn more regarding the method of conducting and carrying out similar tactical schemes, or desiring to make a further study of the writing of orders in the field, should read ‘ Staff Rides,’ a publication written by Captain A. H. Marindin (the Black Watch), and published by Messrs Hugh Rees, Limited, London. This book is written to include information, on the subject from the new field service regulations, and although the style is elementary the instruction will none the less be appreciated. Officers will gain much useful knowledge by a study of ‘Staff Rides,’ and should make a point of obtaining a copy.

Another publication issued by the same firm is ‘ Questions and Answers on Field Service Regulations,’ edited by Captain H. R. Gall (late sth Fusiliers). This is principally written for officers entering for examinations, and will be found of valuable assistance in studying the field service regulations. This book we also highly recommend to our readers.

The following promotions are notified in the 4th Battalion, Otago RiflesOlutha Rifles: Lance-corporals Lake and Summers to acting sergeants. Popotunoa Rifles: Sergeant J. B. Calder to Color-sergeant, Corporal Sheed to sergeant. Acting Lieutenant Waite, of the 2nd Regiment, Otago Mounted Rifles, who has been employed in the local Defence Office for the past few months, is temporarily attached for duty to the Ist Regiment, Otago Mounted Rifles, while the regiment is in camp. The principal alteration made by the Legislative Council, when dealing with the Defence Act was the introduction of a section regarding the payment of fines inflicted by the officer commanding a unit or corps for breach of any regulation. The provisions of the section are as follow : (a) Every such order shall be served npon the person to whom the order relates by delivering a copy thereof to him personally, or by posting the copy by registered letter addressed to him at his last known place of abode. (b) If the fine is not paid to the officer who made the order within seven clays after service thereof, as aforesaid, that officer may Transmit a duplicate of the order, certified under his hand, to the clerk of the nearest Magistrate’s Court, who shall file the same; and the order so filed shall operate as if it were a judgment duly recovered in that court in an action for debt. (c) Any person on whom such order ia served as aforesaid may, at any time within seven days after the said order has been so served, notify the officer who made the order that he intends to appeal therefrom to the officer commanding the district, and cm such appeal being mode the officer commanding the district shall, as soon as practicable, inquire into the matter, and may either confirm or cancel the order, or may reduce the amount of the fine. (d) In the event of such appeal not being upheld, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section shall apply to the order made on each appeal. (e) The Governor may, by regulations under the principal Act, prescribe the manner in which appeals under this section are to be made .and determined. The 2nd Battalion Otago Rifles (Invercargill) intend holding a field day at Riverton on Wednesday, 9th November. The Invercargill Guards, Oreti Rifles, Awarua Rifles, and the Battalion Band parade on Tuesday evening, and march in column of route some six miles in the direction of Riverton Beach, where a site has been arranged to camp overnight. Next morning early some ball-firing will be practised, after which the troops will march to attack Riverton, this place being defended by the Colac Bay Rifles. It is mentioned that much interest is being taken in the work, and all companies expect to have good musters. Lieutenant-colonel Smyth, O.C. District, is also expected to be present ou the day of the manoeuvres. A board of survey, consisting of Captain Gard’ner, R.NXA., and Captain Hickey, A.A.6., assembled at the central battery on Wednesday last for the purpose of writing off stores that have became unserviceable. The recruits who have been undergoing iitettmetien from Staff Sergeant-major RasCUu scare examined on Wednesday evenlast by Captain Hickey, A.A.G., in the work earned out daring the course. There were some sixteen recruits present, ten belonging to the Engineers and six to the Battalion. After the examination was completed Captain Hickey advised that all had passed. Those in the Engineers who completed the coarse -are Sappers Rutherford, Cameron, Steadman, Morris, Knight, Mellor, Thompson, Lawson, Hungerford, Nicholls; while the Battalion recruits are Privates Walsh, Qrindly, Schulter, Kelham (of the City Guards), and Privates Gear and Brooks (of the Caversham Rifles), who'will be posted to their respective companies. The next recruit squad will start on Wednesday, 9th November, and be continned every .Friday and Wednesday there-

'after.* This evening those who have ,gone 1 through thereoruit course will muster at the Oaversham tram tenninna, where they will be given some practical instruction in and sentries’ and outpost work. In order that the value of the instruction may bo properly appreciated, it has been arranged for the-Oaversham Rifles to endeavor to pass through the lines without being seen by the outposts. The following are the dates arranged for corps to go into camp:—B Battery, 28th January to 12th February; Engineers, 3rd to 18th February; Cycle Corps, 26th January to’ Ist February; Officers’ Training Corps (ambulance section), 12th to 19th November; 2nd Regiment 0.M.R., 14th to 21st January; Bruce Rifles and 4th Battalion Band (at Milton), sth to 10th November. Nothing has yet been decided regarding a camp for the Ist Battalion 0.R., but the Green Island Rifles propose to go into camp from the 10th to 17th December, and it is probable that the remainder of the infantry companies will form a combined camp about February. On Saturday, the 29th nit., the B Battery held their first week-end camp at Tahuna Park, when there were 102 members on parade. This was the first occasion when the Battery paraded in their new field service uniforms, and the khaki with the red facing , made the members look very smart. After arrival at the Park, various fatigue parties were told off to pitch camp and attend to the victualling arrangements, while the remainder of the Battery was instructed in fir© discipline under Major Ritchie. The gunners and recruits on the various subsections were instructed in gun-laying and fuze-setting. On Sunday reveille sounded at 6.30, and Divine service was held at 9.30 by Chaplain-major Dutton. Work on Sunday was similar to that held on Saturday afternoon. Drivers wore instructed in driving, etc. The specialist section, under Captain Roberts, made the most of their time, and besides practising range-taking and signalling, spent a portion of the afternoon practising riding. The time spent in camp was most profiti able for everybody, and as the weather was propitious, full advantage of the time was taken for instruction. Major Ritchie hopes, as this camp was so successful, to hold a similar camp before the Battery goes into their annual camp next January,