TERRITORIALS.

Evening Star, Issue 17032, 1 May 1919, Page 8

TERRITORIALS.

[By SKiEMisHia.] 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 G. C. S. Dyer, XW Zealand Staff Corps, is appointed Assistant Adju-Unt-goneral 'Otago military district. Dated Ist April, 1919- , ( , Lieutenant William A. Gundy resigns hia commission, New Zealand Post and Telegraph Corps (South Island). Dated 20th March, 1919. ',,„.,, Second Lieutenant Donald Gilbert Iveninedy, 10th (Xorth Otago) Regiment, is i trimsfened to the 7th (Wellington West Coast) Regiment, Dated 3rd April, 1919. ! The Rev. William Kewitaon, chaplain to the forces, third class, retires under the provisions of paragraph 127 (a), general regulations, 1913. Dated 2nd April, 1919. Captain W. Hardham. V.C., has been awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces' long service medal for over 20 years' sorYcsterdav was the last day for the firing of the Western Electric Shield competition. This shield is competed for annually by teams of five men picked from the various companies of the Post and Telegraph Engineers throughout the Dominion. No. 4 Company, Dunedin, entered one team this'_ year, and were favored with ideal conditions on Tuesday afternoon. The Pelichet Bay range was at its best, the light was good, and not a breath of wind to mar the shooting. The Dunedin team were somewhat handicapped owing to the company not being able to secure an issue of rilles since the beginning of the war, and' were consequently unable to get in the practice required". It is anticipated that the coming military vear will see an alteration in this respect, and this company may be looked to to put up some good scores. The'shooting, however, was fair under the circumstances. Mr R. Booth, Superintendent of Telegraphs, supervised arrangements at tho firing point, while Lieutenant R, D. Veitch overlooked the marking from the trench. The marking was capably undertaken by Range Warden Daley and "his assistant, A "considerable amount of doubt still exists as to the status, of members of the Expeditionary Force who have rendered service abroad or in New Zealand, and their liability for service in tho Territorial Force. This question appears to be covered bv general orders as under: G. 0., S3/16:" Exemption of returned soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force from military training in the Territorial Force and general training sec- ! tion.—Pursuant to section 16 of the Ex- \ peditiona.ry . Forces Act, 1915, soldiers who return to New Zealand and are discharged from the Expeditionary Force, but who remain liable for service in the I Territorial Force, G.T.S., or reserve, and i arc medically fit, will not bo called upon i to perform any military training for the I period of Lhe'war, except at their own request. .G. 0., 274,17: Territorial Force Eiikienev of members serving in the New Zealalid Expeditionary Force and on i special duty in New Zealand.—(l) Persons liable for training under the Defence Act, 1909, and its amendments, shall be classed as efficient: (a) For any military year during a part of which they have served as members of the. New Zealand Expeditionary Force in camp or beyond_ the seas ; ib) for any military year during which 'thev have been called up on actual home service as members of the home service branch of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and have so served for a period of not less than three months (shorter periods will be taken into consideration when compiling service for classification). Company commanders should now have no difficulty in determining any member's liability" for training. Sir James Allen" has received a telegram from the High Commissioner stating that the Admiralty cannot give a definite date for the demobilisation of the Motor Boat, Patrol, but it will take place as early as possible. A special district order was issued yesterday by the officer commanding district calling a parade, of all veterans, returned soldiers. Territorials, and Senior Cadets for Saturday, 3rd insl,, for the presentation of honors and awards won on the field; time, 2.50 p.m. Officers commanding units-will endeavor to have as large a muster as possible. Dress, drill order without rifles. Officers will not wear swords. Companies will fall in outside, Kensington Drill Hall, and be in readiness to move off under the direction of a staff officer at. 2.20 p.m. Parade states will be handed to the, A.A.G. before, moving off. At the. conclusion of the ceremony 0.0. units will take charge, and march their units to place of assembly and dismiss. The officer "commanding 4th Regiment will arrange to havo band in attendance, Owing to the above ceremonial parade, group riile meeting will again be postponed. The date is now fixed for Saturday, 51st May, the last day of the present military year. It has been decided to reduce the "entrance fees to 2s 6d for Territorials and Is for Cadets for the whole meeting. Those who have already paid full entrance fees may have their money refunded on application to the group commander. There is little doubt that this reduction in fee* should be a great inducement to those shots who havo so far failed to enter. Staff SergeantK-major G. A. Smith (W. 0.) and J. Beaumont (W.O.i, both ot whom were instructing officers and u.c.o.s in Trentham military camp, are now stationed in Dunedin. Since February these instructors have been holding classes every Monday evening at 7.50 at Kensington Drill Hall for the purpose of schooling n.c.o.s (Territorial ana Cadet) in the art of instructing. S.M. Smith deals with infantry drill, S.M. Beaumont musketry, and they are assisted by S.M. Johnson, who takes the physical classes. The object of these classes is to give n.c.0.« a thorough grounding, commencing from the first principles, and gradually working up to the sitting for first appointment examinations. It should be readdy recognised by all n.c.o.s, who doubtless aim at some day holding commissions in the Territorial and Cadet Forces, that such an excellent chance should not be missed, and even man should make it his business to attend, and attend regularly. Especially to those contemplating sitting for their first appointment examination in August should these classes appeal. Physical drill and musketry are being made the chief features of the Cadet training under (|,,> IK . V> - scheme. The new physical drill is arranged in 12 tables, commencing with the easier practices, and gradually working up to the more strenuous exercises. The principle- carried out at an evening drill is to commence with light exorcises, working up to heavier movements, and diminishing again to easy work, and finally finishing up with a game which is beneficial as veil as interesting to the lads. This new scheme has had the offet of increasing the attendances at drills 25 per cent., mid the bnyi are showing more keenness all round. With regard Vo the musketry, it only requires some of the lending firms to come forward and offer their support by presenting bo mo good prizes for competition, and the Cadets in the Otago military district would be very hard to beat. Last evening about n dozen Territorial and Cadet officers presented themselves for their lieutenant's examination. The infantry and musketry was conducted by Major 'O. 11. Moller. group commander, and map reading by Lieutenant M'Cvorie. I understand all pas-M I will reply to V.J.'s query in my notes next week.