The Military Tournament.

Hastings Standard, Issue 374, 16 July 1897, Page 4

The Military Tournament.

THE BUSHRANGING FEATS OF THE SYDNEY MEN. The Royal Military Tournament began on 27th May. The proceedings began with a display by the Gordon Boys from Chobham, which (says the Times), both with cadet rifles and with Indian clubs, was excellent. Next came the musical ride by G Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery, which was as inspiring a performance, as perfect an exhibition of power, of elegence, and of men's control over horses as the heart of man could desire. Then came the piece of central interest in the whole spectacle, in the shape of " The Pageant, our Army, 1704 - 1882." That, beyond all question, was a triumphant success. First, the assembly looked upon types of the British Army as it appeared under Marlborough at Blenheim. We then passed to the era of Waterloo, when the uniform was far more awkward and comfortless than ever it had been before. Next came the representatives of the regiments which fought at Inkerman. And last the men who fought and won at Tel-el-Kebir, in the foreign fighting guise which is familiar to all. The charge of the cavalry of four eras which ended the display was stirring and effective. Cheering also was the display by the New South Wales Mounted Riffes, representing an attack upon bushrangers, and then, after an exhibition by the Army Gymnastic Staff, came the musical double ride by the 3rd Dragoon Guards. After a cycling display by the 2Gth Middlesex Volunteers cime the throwing of the djerid by Zaptiehs of the Cyprus Military Police. The men are fine fellows, well built, lithe ani sinewy as panthers. As they dashed into the arena, tarbush on head, mounted on their wiry ponies, they had the appearance of first-rate horsemen ; but the djerid-tbrowing was a sorry performance. A? djerid-throw-ing it may have been good : as throwing a blunt, light stick 6ft. or 7ft. long, such as a djerid seems to be, it was distinctly poor. Next, after a naval display with guns by a detachment from Her Majesty's ship Excellent, came the highly stimulating and picturesque Dyak war dance, which will

probably cavr-e mors public entertainment than nr:v cthtr piH of the tour-nr-rriT,-. It is a wild ari errancing performance.. Tho pertnnnaiiee ended with u, combined display, which lost something from tbe - absence of customary scenery. It vos, however, far less deafening than previous performances of the kind. Of tho New South Welshmen's part in the performance another account says :—Fifteen of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles, under Captain A. J. 0. Thomson, gave an exhibition of an incident in Australian bush life as follows Four bushrangers raid a selection, and drive into the arena stolen horses. On one is bound a rouseabout whom they had taken prisoner at the farm. Tying the rouseabout's horse to the fence, they proceed to yard the others with stockwhips. The bushrangers, finding their own horses knocked up by the long ride, decide to ride the stolen ones. Whilst they are engaged at work the roustabout escapes, and gallops off to inform the police. On the road he meets a detachment of Mounted Rifles, who are training in reconnoitring work. The officer of the Rifles decides to pursue the robbers, taking the rouseabout as their guide. The bushrangers hearing horses approaching, and having no means of escape, prepare for their defence. The detachment of Rifles appear on the scene, and the men immediately dismount for the attack, sending their horses under cover. An officer calls upon the bushrangers to surrender. They reply with a shot which wounds the bugler. The officer attacks with half the party, sending the remainder to secure the settlers' horses. Several shots are interchanged, resulting in one of the Riflemen and two of the bushrangers being wounded. The bushrangers surrender and are made prisoners. They are lashed by the Mounted Rifles to the settlers' horses and are led away with the wounded men out of the arena. This stirring programme was most faithfully executed by Captain Thompson and his " merrie men." The dexterous manner in which the bushrangers manipulated the stockwhip caused admiring comment. The chief feature was the admirable manner in which Rough-rider Morgan retained his seat 011 a wild and seemingly unmanageable buckjumper, and his horsemanship was cheered to the echo. The only fault with the exhibition was that it' was of too short duration, and the audience would have liked a more prolonged display of Morgan's horsemanship. There was not a man present professing the least knowledge of riding who was not lost in admiration at the manner in which Morgan retained his seat. For sheer reckless mad galloping the New South Wales Rifles exhibition has never been equalled.