DEFENCE TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 21637, 5 February 1934, Page 14

DEFENCE TOPICS

NEWS FROM THE SERVICES [By Sam Browne.] NAVAL RESERVE SEA TRAINING The Otago Division, R.N.V.R., commenced annual sea-training in H.M.S. Wakakura on January 6, and three sections have completed seven days’ training. The gunneiw practices this year have been carried out off Oamaru, the ship returning each night and berthing alongside the wharf in Oamaru Harbour. Shore leave is given in watches each night, and is thoroughly enjoyed by all hands. The third section sailed on Saturday from Victoria wharf and returned on Friday. The fifth section, which comprises ratings qualifying in minesweeping, will probably proceed direct to Akaroa, where sweeping with the Orepcssa. sweep will be carried out, Akaroa being most suitable for this work. PARADES Both sub-divisions will commence training at divisional headquarters on March 1, afterwards breaking into the usual Wednesday and Thursday nights. Further information will be promulgated later. BOAT SAILING The silver cup won by the Ist whaler at the Broad Bay regatta on New Year’s Day was handed over to the commanding officer (Commander E. F. Watson). In this race six whalers were entered—two from H.M.S. Veronica, two from H.M.S. Laburnum, and two from B.N.V.R. The keenness shown by this division in the sailing races reflects great credit on the coxswains and crews concerned. COMMUNICATIONS BRANCH Wireless telegraphy exercises were carried out during the stay of H.M. sloops Veronica and Laburnum over the Christmas and New Year holidays, and the results have been most satisfactory. On Monday nights voluntary instruction will be carried out at headquarters for V/S and W/T ratings. MOUNTED RIFLES PARADE TO-NIGHT The portion of the Otago Mounted Rifles stationed in Dunedin will resume parades after the Christmas break to-night, when a parade will be held at the Drill Hall. ARTILLERY 12TH FIELD BATTERY ' The 12th (Field) Battery, accompanied by the 3rd Artillery Band, left Dunedin for the animal camp on Saturday morning. The parade strength numbered approximately ninety all ranks, which figure has been made possible by the kindness of a number of employers in allowing their employees leave "of absence to attend the annual seven days under canvas at Sutton. Live shell practice will be carried out on Thursday ami Friday next with the 4.5 in Howitzers, with which the battery is equipped. Shooting with aeroplane observation will be a feature of the training, the plane coming down from Wigrara aerodrome for this purpose, together with two planes from the Taieri aerodrome. The gunnery this year will be of a more advanced nature, and will involve the employment of survey methods in laying out the lines of fire. Manoeuvre and other phases of artillery technique will also receive attention—there being over eighty horses available for the field work. Every hour of the camp will be made the most of, as a fairly extensive syllabus has been arranged, and work will proceed from 5.30 a.m. till 10 p-m. The lighter side of camp life, however, lias not been overlooked, and arrangements are in train for a sports meeting, concert, and dance after the serious work is over, when the members of the unit will look forward to renewing the acquaintance of their many friends amongst the residents or Sutton and Middlemarch. Camp conditions will also be enlivened bv the presence of the band, which was successful in winning the B grade championship last year. The battery is under the command of Major L. A. Rhodes, and associated with him are Captain J. F. G. Stark, Lieutenants J. C. M/Fnrlane, L. J. Faliev, and Second-Lieutenant J. G. Warington. Padre Lionel Richards, who has watched over tho spiritual welfare of the unit for many years, is also present, this being unfortunately his last camp prior to his departure to Invercargill. The medical officer, Captain Gerald Fitzgerald, is precluded from attending through illness. His place is being taken by Dr Stronaoh (Middlernarcli). The camp commandant is Major A. B. Williams. D. 5.0., R.N.Z A., and Captain W. Pollard, R.N.Z.A., is camp adjutant. Major H. D. M’Hugh, M.C., N.Z.S.C. (staff officer in charge of Southland district), Captain W. Murphy, M.C., N.Z.S.C. (adjutant Canterbury Regiment), Captain K. J. Walker, N.Z.S.C. (adjutant Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry) and Captain S. M. Satterthwaite, N.Z..S C. (adjutant Otago Regiment) are also present. Hon. Lieutenant H. Davie is in charge of the Third Artillery Band, Southern Command. 14TH MEDIUM BATTERY There will be a parade of the 14th Medium Battery at Central Battery, St. Kilda, this evening. As tho time remaining before the battery proceeds to annual camp and live shell practice, at Sutton, is compax-atively short, a good attendance is particularly desired. All ranks are reminded that the dates allotted to the battery for camp are from February 17 to the 24th. These elates include the dates of arrival and departure. THE OTAGO REGIMENT RESUMPTION OF TRAINING The Otago Regiment resumed its training with a battalion parade at the Drill Hall last Monday evening. After the unit had been inspected by the commanding officer (Lieutenant-colonel A. S. Falconer, D. 5.0., M.C.), a period of revisionary close order drill was carried out. Company parades will be held on the usual evenings until the regiment goes into camp. ANNUAL GAMP The unit will again go into camp at Waikouaiti this year on the same site as last year. The camp will commence on February 25, and will continue for one week. Besides the Otago Regiment there

will be under canvas in the same area the First Battalion, the Southland Regiment, the Third Field Ambulance, and the Otago University Medical Company. A wide field is covered by tho syllabus which progresses from elementary tactical work up to scheme in which one battalion will be in attack and the other will be in the defence. A course for officers will be held at the camp site on the week-end preceding the camp, so that they may carry out a preliminary tactical scheme.