TERRITORIALS.

Evening Star, Issue 14525, 29 November 1910, Page 2

TERRITORIALS.

[By Skirmishes.] Items of interest concerning Corps (Town and Country), Shooting, and Territorial notes generally will be accepted. Copy, addressed to "Skirmisher,' should be in hand not later than Monday morning. Captain Richardson, chief instructor for artillery services, arrived in Dunedin by me first express on Saturday, and will probably remain hero until the beginning of next week. He is iu camp with the I? Battery officers and N.C.O.s at Tahuna Park, and will be present with the Port Navals at the Heads for their firing ai Saturday next. Mr F. H. Pope, who was for some time connected with the Dunedin Highland Rifles as lieutenant, has been promoted to the managership of the State Fire Insurance Company at Auckland, and left Dunedin to-day for that city. It is almost :ertain that Mr Pope will connect himself Kith the Territorials in tho North when he settles down in his new position. The programme for the Southland Riflo Association meeting, to be held on the Grrasmere range, Invercargill, on 26th and 27th December, has been decided on, and will be issued shortly. Every endeavor will be made to make the meeting sue- ." cessful, and it is expected that entries will be received from all over the district. The Dunedin Navals have quite settled down again, and aro steadily working to wake the members proficient in their duties. The examinations for badges and personal payments have already commenced, and are being carried out each Thursday evening, so that they will be completed before tho company go in for their annual training, which will bo carried out from 21st January to sth February. The infantry section of the Officers' Training Corps completed their annual training on Saturday last after having put in ten days under canvas. The section camped at Waitati on the same ground as the medical section, and some excellent instruction was carried out. Staff Ser-geant-majors Colbert and Rassarn assisted in -the training, and great interest was uiken in tho work by members. The syllabus during tho camp embraced field engineering and infantry work, whilo physical drill and bathing in the mornings kept tho members healthy, and assisted in increasing the appetites of everyono to such an extent that the "cookhouse" call was always a welcomo one. Beautiful weather was experienced throughout, and several long marches were carried out. The camp broke up on Saturday, when all the equipment was transported to the railway, after which tho corps marched through to Dunedin, a distance of about fourteen miles, iu full marching order. The opinion of those who took part is that altogether the 1910 camp was a most successful and enjoyable one. . The B Battery held their 6econd weekend camp at Tahuna Park on Saturday and Sunday last, when a strenuous and" very beneficial time was put in by all ranks". Saturday afternoon was almost wholly taken up with shell practice, the guns being worked principally by the recruits, in order to give them a practical knowledge of actual service conditions- The battery occupied a concealed position at tho south end of Tahuna Park, the targets being Bird and the adjacent island off Tomahawk Beach. Despite the fact that tho guns were being worked almost entirely by the newer men, the shooting was very satisfactory. All the men not actually required at the Park with the guns were sent off to 'tomahawk Head to observe the restdts of fire, and the specialists formed the lines of communication between the observing station, Lawyer Head, and Tahuna Park. Captain Richardson, from Wellington, arrived daring tho afternoon, and witnessed the practice, and in the evening gave a short lecture on the work of the Battery. On Sunday reveille was sounded at 6.50. and work commenced at 7 a.m. Divine service was held by Chaplain-major Dutton at 9.30 a.m., after which each detachment went about its own particular work. In order to save time at the annual camp, a number of tho practical tests were put through. The drivers were examined in driving and harnessing, and a number of gunners in gun-laying. Tho specialists received ridiug instruction in tb.3 morning, and the rest of the day was taken up with signalling, range-taking, and sketching. ft has been arranged for the officers and r.on-commifiskmed officers to stay in camp during this week for instructional purposes, and ic is the intention to take advantage of this opportunity to put all the non-commissioned officers through their practical examinations. The O.C. district i Lieutenant-colonel Smyth) was present at . the firing on the Saturday afternoon. i As intimated in last week's notes, we i insert the papers ?et at the last examination . for majcr and lieutenant-colonel. Any ■ officer wishing to work out the tactical scheme may obtain a copy of the map from the A.A.G. Captain Hickey will also be I glad to correct the paper for any who may < desire it. : —For Major and Lieutenant-colonel. All . Arms. (First Paper.)— General Idea. t A-red force of all arms is being concentrated at Deal with a, view to an advance X.W. via Wye, and at mid-day on the 6th September you are placed in command of a force consisting of— One regiment mounted rifle 6, with machine gun. One battery field artiUery. One company field, engineers. One battalion infantry. ; Qne section field ambulance. And ordered to move at 1.50 p.m. to so- ( cure the bridges over the river Lea for the passage of tho main force, which is to move at 6.30 the following morning There is a telegraph lino (not ehown on map) , along the main Deal-Wye Toad; the river ] Lea is flooded, and the bridges shown on tho map are th" ;.:dy ones available. —Special Idea.— 1 At 9.30 p.m. on 6th September you ro- ' ceive reliable information that a Blue force I of approximately double your own strength < which is moving U.K. has halted for the, * night at store. The Blue force appears to < have inado a long march; il is under orders to march again at four o'clock the < following morning. c 1. Give (a) yoar appreciation of the ' situation; (b) your orders to your force; ■' and (c) your report to your G.O.C. at ' Deal. ■ 1 2. Blue, who has been informed of £ your position, moves at 4 a.m., as I ordered, and advances to attack you. £ Explain and show on tho map the posi- < tion you take up, in accordance with t your orders in (b), and the works you i: would carry out to strengthen your posi- 1 tion. —For Major and Lieutenant - colonel. < Mounted Rifles and Infantry. > (Second Paper.)— 1 1. Discuss the effect of tho increased power of firearms and improved means c of communication upon the attack as I compared to the defence. c 2. Discuss the value of night opera- £ tions and the precautions necessary in order that such operations may have a * chance of success. _ " ' 3. What do you consider the most suit- [ able formation, for a regiment or bat- ' talion in crossing country which affords ' some but not much cover under long a range artillery fire? f 4. Ton are placed in command of out- ' posts to a force which has halted for \ the night. Give the various headings ? with which your outpost orders -would ' deal. £ The engineers on Saturday last held the \ first of the daylight parades, when there ' was a fair attendance of members. The ' field engineers received instruction in field ' geometry and the construction of fire y trenches. This was carried out practically 1 on the beach, explanation on the worn ( afterwards being given. It is proposed to hold the second daylight parade on Saturday, 10th December, when instruction will be given in demolitions and the us© of j explosives. Thero will be no evening , parades of tho company held during De- ' centner, but an examination for N.C.O.s' i certificates will be held on Friday, 16th -

T December. At a meeting of tlie Shooting Committee, held last week, the following delegates were appointed:—Ladies' challenge shield, Lieutenant Scott; bugle competition, Sergeant Keilav; Otago Ritle Association, Quartermaster-sergeant Wills, i Arrangements have been made to fire a ■ shooting match 011 Monday, December 26, between teams representing the Christ--1 church and the Dunedin Non-commis-sioned Officers' Clubs. The secretary of tho Dunedin Club has called a meeting of tho Committee! for Wednesday evening to make full arrangements regarding same. The Winton "Rifles last week held a camp at Winton, when thero was--a good attendance of members present., Stalf Sergeant-major Bishop, attached to the 4th Battalion (Invercargill), was in camp with tho corps, and assisted in tho instruction. Tho mornings wore devoted to physical drill, and in the evenings practical" instruction in infantry training was carried out, short lectures following upon the different subjects. •Shooting on Saturday next at the Polichet Bay Rango will be carried out at the 300 yds and 500 yds Tangcs. Tho range officer for tho day will be supplied by tho Dunedin Rifles. Tho Field Ambulance Corps held the first of their daylight parades at Clark's paddock, Woodliaugh. when thero was a goixl attendance. On arrival at the ground tho company were told off in sections, ami casualties placed out on the hills. The patients were brought in after first aid had been rendered, and were then loaded into the ambulance waggons Sand tiiken to tho collect iing stations, where they were examined, and any mistakes in treatment pointed out. The No. 2 Company d'arrison Artillery (Port Chalmers Navals) during last week put in some very good work. Reveille is sounded at 5.50' a.m., coffee 5.40, parade 5.50, first breakfast 6.30. second breakfast 7, lunch 12. dinner 5.40 p.m. Details for tho HeatTs fall i" at 6.15, remainder of company 6.45, tattoo 9.50, last post 10, lights out 10.15. In tho morning the oflicers and N.C.O.s arc formed into squads and are instructed by themselves in gun drill, squad drill, and'musketry, while the rest of tho company an: given instruction in semaphore signalling by the R.X.Z.A. instructors. Til the evening one-half of tho company proceed to the Heads for instruction on tho guns there, while the other half remain at the camp. On Saturday last the whole company proceeded to the Heads, when the following guns wore fired:—6in gun, four rounds for testing the calibration and four rounds for instructional purpose, all of which wore hits; 12-pounder q.f.. two series of six shots each, registering twelve hits, notwithstanding tho fact th:il two misfires wero experienced, thus delaying tho shooting. On Monday evening two scries of eight shots each will be fired from tho 6-pounder q.f. for instructional purposes, and on Wednesday evening class firing will bo carried out on this gun. This consists of tiring two series of twenty rounds each, tho target being picked up w'ith the search. j light, which is also worked by a section [of tho company. On Saturday next the company tiro five rounds for class tiring and nine rounds for battle practice from the 6in gun. and also two scries of twenty founds each for class tiring on the !12-pounder q.f. On Sunday morning the company, along with tho Port Chalmers Band, marched to the Congregational Church, whero divino service was conducted by tho Rev. .Mr Grant. In tho afternoon the camp was thrown open for inspection, the band enlivening the proceedings with musical selections, while tho afternoon tea tent was presided over by Mrs Dodds, who was assisted by a number of other ladies in dispensing tea to the visitors. Among those present during tho afternoon wore Lieutenant-colonel Smyth (O.C. district). Major Fredric, Lieutenants Doull and Cooke, His Worship tho Mayor (Mr F. W. Platts), and a large number of friends of the company. —Military Book Review.— When in the field an officer, whether employed on stalf or regimental duty, often requires a formula or detail, only to bo found by reference to official tcvt books, which are not always to hand. This want is supplied by tho ' Officers' Pocket Book,' issued by Messrs Gale and Polden, Ltd., and edited by Major W. H. P. Plomer, Royal Irish Fusiliers, and officers will do well to securo a cony. The 'Pocket Book' contains information on many subjects, amongst others being military engineering, reconnaisauce, advance and rear guards, outposts, and framing orders, and is altogether invaluable for military work. It also contains an inset, which can be renewed, for writing orders and detailing picquets. 'Field Fortification,' with notes on the text books, is the latest book in the engineering series issued by Messrs Gale and Polden, Ltd. This has been compiled by Lieutenant-general H. 1). Hutchinson, C.5.1., lato director of staff duties, and corrected up to February, 1910, by Colonel A. C. MacDonnell, late R.E. The publication contains all information regarding fortification work, and is freely illustrated. It deals fully with the various styles of trenches, revetments, defence of villages, etc., bridging and demolitions, and also includes a chapter on the application of field fortifications to tactical schemes. The book will bo found useful for all brandies of the service, and will no doubt find a ready stile.