TERRITORIALS.

Evening Star, Issue 15914, 21 September 1915, Page 2

TERRITORIALS.

[By Skirmisher.] Hems of interest concerning Corps ('Town &ftd Country), Shooting, and Territoricd notes generally will be accepted. Copy, aitdftised to “ Skirmisher ,” should be in hand not later than Monday morning. Sergeant G. Gourlay -and -Sergeant A. B. Ainarfe, of the sth Mounted Rifles (Otago Hussars), have been promoted to the .rank of .second lieutenant. Sergeants E. C. Speckling, W. K. Hamilton, and G. E. H. Garden have been promoted to the rank of second lieutenant in the 4th (Otago) Regiment. Bombardier H. Porteous, of the New Zealand Field Artillery, .and at present clerk in the Headquarters Office, has been awarded the New Zealand Artillery long service and good conduct medal. Bombardier Porteotns has a service of over 18 yeans. Tl'e Waitaki Boys’ High, School have 240 old boys on active service. Of these, 51 are commissioned officers and 47 noncommissioned officers. Seventeen have been killed in action* 22 ere Wounded, and a number reported missing. The members of the Christchurch rifle clubs are quite determined to carry out their usual programme during the year. The season opened a. few- weeks back, and shooting- is being carried on vigorously. Ammunition is plentiful, but the cost is very high, and makes ah afternoon’s sport very dear. Perhaps later, when the supply exceeds the demand, the cost mav be lowered.

- In a very few weeks’ time the new and spacious Drill Hall at Kensington will be occupied by our Territorials and Cadets, and the Garrison Hall will be a thing of the past, so fat as parades are concerned. For many years our Volunteers and Territorials have suffered great inconvenience, and everyone interested is looking forward with pleasure to the change. Accommodation in the way of orderly rooms and store rooms will be provided for each unit, and officers and non-commissioned officers will find large and well-lighted rooms for their convenience. The group office will also bo situated in the building, and this will be an extra convenience to area officers and officers commanding units, who will he able to do any business required on the evening of the parade of the company. The Oval being bo near at hard, no doubt unit commanders and instructors will use that for drill purposes on a, fine night. Taking everything into consideration, the new Drill Hall is just the thine badly wanted.

A new system of physical training is about to be "introduced here, which is known as the battalion system of running, and which consists more or less Of crosscountry running, lire men are divided to their running powers into packs of 50 or 40 each. It is of greatest ■importance that the running capacity of the men be ascertained before placing them in their respective packs. If this is not done, good and bad runners will be mixed, together, to the detriment of both the men themselves and the system. The packs will be lettered or numbered, the best men being placed ip the first pack, the next grade in the second pack, and so on. To each pack is attached one officer and two n.c.o.s. The officer- takes control, and the n.c.o.s assist him, one taking the head and the other the rear of the pack On the days Selected for running the men will parade in running kit and greatcoats. On no account should the whole of the men turn out in their running kit unless they are going to run, as in bad weather, they are hound to suffer. This idea of training is a. good one, provided, of course, that due attention is paid to the physical condition of each man. If, however, the organisation of the packs is not carefully carried out, and good runners are placed in the pack with poor runners, and "old men with grey hair arc made to run against their will, and the length of the run is excessive, then much harm to the individuals may result. On this account, then, an officer with a knowledge of running should be detailed, whose duty it should be to organise, manage, and supervise the runninoof the men. If this is done, the success of the system from the-very start will be assured.

Sergeant-major Colbert, who has for "the last 12 months been acting as camp sergeantmajor at Trentham, has been in town during the last week. The dates for the musketry or concentration camps in connection with the sih Mounted Rifles have now been definitely fixed as follow:-—B Squadron, at Oamaiu, October 2 to October 9; D Squadron, Hawea Flat, October 16 to October 23; D Squadron. Arrowtown, November 20 to November 27; A and D Squadron, TVluga.tui, December 4 to December 11; C Squadron, Eanfurly,-January 22 to January 29. Men who are unable to attend their local camp are warned that they must do their 10 evening drills, 12 halfday parades, and musketry at the nearest drill centre, and must notify their squadron commander of their intention to do so. From every point of view, this method of lumping drills and parades together and carrying them out at a special camp is most satisfactory, and is availed of not only by country members, but also by most of those in the towns.

“A” Company, 4th Otago Regiment, held their weekly parade last evening, the work for the night being set down for route marching. There was a good muster, and after inspection the company was formed up and, headed by four drummers of the Cadets’ bugle baud, the company marched via Cumberland street and Anderson Bay road to the Ocean Beach, doing the full distance in 38 minutes, which under the conditions must be considered extremely good. After a. short spell the company returned to town over the same route, doing the distance in slightly better time. A word of thanks is due to the drummer hoys, who kept the men in step and mad© the march a very enjoyable one.

In my notes of last, week I advocated the study of a book entitled ‘ New Company Drill Simplified,’ by Lieutenant R. Btupart. In conjunction with this concise guide to those who have not mastered the drill I must drliw the attention of my many readers to Holbrook’s drill diagram, which consists of 12 sheets, the size of each being’ 16 inches by 10 inches. The diagrams are based upon ‘ Infantry Training, 1914,’ which is issued by command of the Army Council. The commands of the company commander are clearly seen in large type, the Orders of the platoon commander being shown in smaller type at the spot required. The sheets with the movements of sections in the first few pages are very clearly shown. The front rank men are indicated by semi-circles in black, the rear rank by hatohured semicircles. This is a new departure in showing clearly the positions of ranks, and has undoubtedly many advantages. The close column movements, column movements, line movements, and movements from fours are shown in thick and thin black lines, and if carefully studied one cannot fail to grasp the many movements in a short space of time. Iter lecturing the sheets aro of a handy size to place on the side of a blackboard for reference.

Most of use are watching keenly the movements of our brother soldiers and comrades on. far-distant shores. 1 am informed .that the Royal, Naval Brigade, who fought conspicuously and who are now interned in Holland, are in for a better lime than their comrades who have fallen into German hands. The men pursue their studies at their own will in a schoolroom, they attend Divine service in an improvised chapel, they work at various arts and crafts, and their life is rendered less dull by various kinds of amusements. They recently beat a Dutch "soccer’’ team by .5 goals to nil, and play Rugby football among _ themselves. There are many who would like to know ho\v the Nettr Zealanders are faring who arb prisoners in the Hands of the Turks. Up to the present time wo have heard little of their doings. A suggestion has been made to hie that the _ tiine is Opportune for ns to send •ChfiStntas piasentS to our bops who are at Gallipoli. Hints is precious,, and perhaps the various Units might collect articles, such as tobacco and cigarettes, which wolild be greatly appreciated. A little Coiisitleratißti Oil'out part wotlld let dtir tomritks. who have left these shores -know

that we have their welfare at heart. I will be pleased to receive any assistance and suggestions in this direction. I hope our Territorials and Cadets will not let the coming season pass by without 'in' some way showing their appreciation of the gallant cervices of the men at -the front. Staff-instructor W. R. C. White lias been transferred from Otautau to Trentham as instructor, and his place is being filled by Sergeant-instructor W. D Cleland. Sergeant-major Catto <mes to group 13, sub area 45, vice Sergeant Cleland. „ • S.M.S. contributes as follows ; —Change Step.— The foot before the foot that is behind Becomes the- foot behind the foot before In Awif-t succession* on the march designed By martial precedent- and custom’s law; But- should you want the foot that is before. ; To fail for once to be the foot behind For one step, only one step and ho more, This is the method you will bear in mind : - : - The foot advancing will complete its pace, The hollow of the rear foot will be brought In quick-step’s tempo, till it finds its place Firmly against tho front heel; thus vou ought To lose no time, nor ground, and, what is mote, Take two successive paces so arranged i The foot behind shall be -the foot before, Proving undoubtedly the- step is changed. When marking time, to chaugc the step is quite

An easy matter; brevity entreats A one-line explanation, brief, tho’ right ; The same foot now makes two Successive beats.