THE SUTTON CAMP.

Evening Star, Issue 15173, 2 May 1913, Page 2

THE SUTTON CAMP.

[Special to the Stae.] ' "BUTTON, May i. Although it may hot be given to many to be born soldiers, yet, if ever a soldier can bo made by zeal and hard work, the Mounted Territorials now in camp .-at. Button will all be first-rate soldiers in the course of time. The commendable zest with which the men have carried out their work during the past 12 days has brought nothing but praise from the officers. Certainly the troops have nothing to complain of, as all the arrangements have been complete in every detail and their quarters are very comfortable, while the food (a most necessary factor in any camp) has been of the best. Not a single complaint has been lodged against insufficient rations or unsavory cooking. The soaking rain which set. m oh Wednesday morning continued throughout the night, and abated shortly after breakfast this morning. The camping ground is now a veritable quagmire. The tents are surrounded by mud 4in deep, and progress is exceedingly difficult. Here and there patches of water provide an unwelcome experience for many a trooper who ventures out in the dark. It was originally intended to strike camp on Friday afternoon, and for the men to sleep at night in a big marquee; but the indications are that the tents will be too wet to pack, and it is improbable that the arrangements will be adhered to.

This morning three regiments went through brigade work in attack over ground intended to be used for a mimic battle. In the afternoon an attack was made on a position held by infantry. Details which represented a mounted riflfe . regiment and a section of the Artillery Brigade advanced in narrow columns of fours, with the oth and 12th Regiments forming the main attacking force, while' a counter attack was delivered by the 7th. After the day's work all the officers were assembled, and a general discussion on the result of the .operations took place. Comments were made by the O.C. Otago District, Major Grant; Captain Moore, and the officers commanding the regiments. The Ambulance Corps were engaged in the forenoon with bandaging practice, and in the afternoon instructive addresses were given by Corporal Fraser, Privates Stubbs, Grant, and M'Lehnan on the dispensing of medicines and various complaints for which they are administered. Only a few minor cases were treated in the hospital to-day* and the institution is now empty. Captain Sandall, artillery instructor, R.N.Z.A., arrived in camp this morning to take charge of the Permanent Staff., which will remain to attend to the Government property. Chaplain-captain Bush-King has been

busy to-day distributing luggage labels and string free to the troops, and his action is very much appreciated. The pickets are much indebted to this chaplam for supplying hot coffee while they are carrying out their duties at midnight.