TERRITORIALS.

Evening Star, Issue 15968, 23 November 1915, Page 2

TERRITORIALS.

[By Skibsiisheb.] Hems of interest concerning Corps (Tov>n and Country), Shooting, and Territorial notes generally will be accepted. Copy, addressed to "Skirmisher," should be in land not later than Monday morning. The next examination for officers sitting for promotion and also for non-commis-sioned officers sitting for first appointments to commission in the Territorial Force and Senior Cadets will be held in Dunedin and other centres in February, 1916. Forms provided for the purpose should be completed with the name and rank of candidates, and forwarded to district headquarters not later than December 15, 1915. The Colonial Auxiliary Forces officers' decoration has been awarded to Captain K. P. Lacey, officer commanding Divisional Signal Corps. This awarcf is for 20 years' commissioned service. Sergeant-instructor H. Montgomery, Otago, has been promoted to staff sergeantmajor. Sergeant-major Montgomery, who left New Zealand with the Main Body of the Expeditionary Force, and who remained in Egypt for a lengthy period in charge of the horse camp at Med?:, went to the Dardanelles with the Sixth Reinforcements. Long-service and good-conduct medals have been awarded to the following members of the Royal New Zealand Artillery stationed at Dunedin :—Sergeant E. Wainhouse, Gunners AV. Ainswoi'th. E. J. Barwell, and J. F. Gibson.

Captain P. Doull, who has just recently been transferred in the Customs Department to Timaru, has received word of his promotion to the'rank of major in the Coast Defence' Detachment of the 4th Otago Regiment. The Non-commissioned Officers" Club in Dunedin was at one time a very live institution, and much good was derived by members from the various Jecturcs and exercises arranged by the committee. The one drawback at that time was the want of a suitable club room in the Garrison Hall, and many suggestions were made for improving the accommodation. Unfortunately for the club a large number of the best, members volunteered and were accepted for service with the Expeditionary Force, but'there are sldl a large number of n.c.o.s in the district who might, with abvaiitage, meet periodically and derive- both pleasure and instruction from such meetings. The accommodation provided in the new Drill Hall at Kensington for the non-commis-sioned officers is of the best, and I think it is time some move was made towards reviving the old or starting a- new club. A certain amount of furniture is required for the club room, but there seems to be some difficulty in procuring funds for this purpose. Perhaps officers commanding units might do something in the matter, as I feel certain that an attractive club room would be the means of drawing the non-coms, together and .■>f assisting young corporals and sergeants to become efficient in their work.

The following notifications appear in the latest ' Gazette ' : —Sergeant L. R. Austin, Coast Defence Detachment (4th Regiment), to be second-lieutenant: Captains J. Jenkins and D. B. Shand to be majors in the sth Mounted. Rifles: Color-sergeant V. Foster (sth Mounted Rifles) to be second-lieutenant; T. N. Watt. J. N. Spedding. T. Julian, F. Fitchett. C. Lee. N. Hitchcock. F. W. Kemp to be captains; and P. B. Benham and A. M. Marshall to be lieutenants in the New Zealand Medical Corps.

The musketry course for Territorials is being carried on every Saturday at Pelichet Bay range. The Coast Defence Detachment of the 4th Regiment have completed their course. Inst Saturday being the last day for this unit. The Signal Corps have completed their practices, and if other units get through the course before the Christmas holidays commence there may be some chance of field firing and company competitions taking place shortly after work is resumed for the New Year. Half-day parades are now allowed for men attending the range for the musketry.

A district exercise for the benefit of senior officers of the Staff Corps and Territorial Force, will be held over ground at Waikouaiti without troops for a period li three days, commenting on the evening of January 14. 1916. Preliminary arrangements have already been made for the ground and accommodation, and the scheme is being prepared. Officers will not be asked to write an appreciation of the situation as formerly, and at the exercise writing will be' reduced to a minimum.

The Divisional Signal Corps, like all other units, have lost a number of noncommissioned officers, who have been accepted for service with the Expeditionary Force. To replace these officers a class of instruction was carried out. and at the conclusion a competitive examination was held. Twenty candidates presented themselves for examination, and the following acting appointments have been made, to be confirmed in three months:—Corporals D. Lindsay and X. Sandes to be sergeants,: Privates X. French. Ireland. Caldwell, and Carey to bo corporals: and Private Rcid to be lance-corporal.

The oW Dunedin Engineer Volunteers were responsible, for a. large number passing through the- rolls, and'it is interesting fo note how many ex-members of the company are serving as officers .in the Expeditionary Force. Appended are a list of names of officers who are serving which have occurred to the writer. Perhaps there are others which f have overlooked : -—Colonel AVill. Lieutenant-colonel 0. Barclay. .Major Ross, Major 'Waite. Captain Beekman. Lieutenants M'Crorie. Black. W.-iite (killed). Davidson. May. Statham (killed). Dennistou. Smith, and. Sar< T ood (killed). It has been decided to establish a new arm of the New Zealand Defence Forces in the form of a Dental Service Corps. A provisional organisation has been drawn up as follows :—The- corps will consist of (a) administrative officers, one director of dental services ranking as lieutenantcolonel and one ii.ssista.nt director of dental services Tanking as major; (b) executive officers ranking as majors, captains, and lieutenants. The corps will be employed first with the troops at the front, and secondly with the reinforcements in camp, in the proportion as a maximum of 1 per I,OCO up to S.CCO. As many dental mechanics as are considered necessary may ho appointed with the rank of sergeant.* The Dtinediii Rifle Club opened their season on .Saturday last, when the first competition for the president's prize was fired. The day was by no means a good one for shooting, but despite the weather conditions some good scores were registered. Rifleman "Dippie opened at oCO yards with six bull's-eyes, but, unfortunately for him, just 'as the last shot was fired, a. gust of wind sprang up which carried him into the inne'r ring," Erivin.cc him a total of 34 for the range. There were several 32's, and 30 was quite common. There was a. good attendance of aiiembers for an opening day, several new members being included in'the number.

■ I hilt the members of-the mounted section of the National Hcserve are still keen on their work is proved hy the hir-ie attendance of members at- "the monthly parades which arc regularly hold. Last Sunday morning there was"a bi> muster on Tomahawk Beach, and under the direction of Captain Pinter, of the sth Mounted Rifles, mho instructive and interesting work was performed. The old volunteer spirit, is very apparent in tins section, And the enthusiasm which wa* so riotice-ablc when the section was first formed is still there— an example to many .-.•ther units of the reserve.

S.M.'s contributie.n this -week oft the 'Training Manual' is as follows : MAFvCHING IN SINGLE RANK. Take a glanco along- the line .-it any price, It will help to keep the dressing very

nice. For you cannot do without it. And the more yon think about it You'll conclude it's a very good device. You may get the order "Double by the right," Then to save a. lot of trouble, well, you might Just remember that you know it, And to what and who you owe it, Then no trouble from the '" double " vou'll invite.

Changing tempo from one measure to another, Complete the pace before you start the other: Then adopt the new position Of the arms and the condition Of the "Quick march," " Double," "Step out," or his brother. Right incline you make precisely half a turn.

And you march in a direction vou will learn

That is neither left nor right. But diagonal, and quite A distinction you will very soon discern.