DEFENCE DOINGS

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 26, 31 January 1913, Page 2

DEFENCE DOINGS

(Notes by "Centurion.''')

THE SALAMANDER COOKER

An army marches and fights on its stomach, which is the commissariat. Many debacles pictured in history have begun at the cooking lines. What is claimed to be a boon to defence bodies on the march is the Salamander cooker invented recently by Lieut. J. F. G. Roberts, Wellington. With this machine a meal can be cooked in any weather, either in camp or on the march, for 500 men. The Salamander is quicker than a kitchen range, as the heating is regular and instantaneous throughout. The boilers contain enough water to make tea or coffee for 500 men, and will boil in a few minutes on refilling. Roasting, boiling, frying, or baking can all be carried on at the same in .different temperatures, thus giving a varied bill of fare. Cleanliness and scientific cooking thus take the place of unsavory camp methods. Soup and other foods can be kept hot and boiling at instant notice, and hot water is always available. The Salamander burns coal, coke, or wood, and will cook for one day on 1 cwt. of coal. No attention is required outside the ordinary duties of the cook, who acts as stoker. No fry-pans are carried, ) and no outfit except specially con- .1 structed stew-pans, which are' built, for the machine, and which are un- • affected by inequalities of the road '. when cooking on the march. A full j day's rations for 500 men can be : carried on each machine. The Sala-; mander can be used for military field j work, railway work, contractors', J shearers', flaxmillers' camps, and large picnic parties. It has come as : the foundation of an efficient and ■ mobile commissariat, which turns a' fighting unit into a machine that; marches, fights, sleeps—and marches again. There is no waiting for weary men, no building of ovens, no digging of cooking lines. The Salamander %lts, and the "meal is handed to the men who eat, lie down to sleep, wake to march, halt'; to eat, and march again. Certainty, celerity, efficiency, and mobility describe the Salamander.

Captain Avery recently bought one of these machines, sufficient for the requirements of 500 men, for the Tenth Mounted Regiment.

SHOOTING INSTRUCTION

The Territorials and senior cadets of the Havelock drill centre fired part 1 (preliminary inatruction) of the annual course of musketry at Havelock on Saturday last. The men took a very keen interest in the shooting, which was very satisfactory, considering that it was the first attempt at firing for some of them. Private W. G. Beckett wa stop scorer for the day, gaining 66 points out of a possible 84. Private C. L. Pickering was second with 63 points, and Trooper E. G. Hutchmson third with. 60 points. The course will be continued on February 15th.

Several members of the Havelock Defence Rifle Club, including the president and secretary, were present, and assisted Sergt.-Major Reid in coaching the men. Mrs Dr. Williams, assisted by Mesdames W. H. Smith, A. Scott, F. Gome, J. Gorrie, Orsman, and Miss Grorne, provided afternoon tea for the men on the range, which waa very much appreciated, and came as a surPJ 1S® to the men. At the conclusion ot the shooting three hearty cheers wero given for the kindness of tho ladies.

During the afternoon a five-shot ladies' match was fired, Mrs Dr Williams winning easily, finding the target every shot, Miss Gorrio being rr°?d^ Ser?*--Major Reid congratulated, the ladies on their efforts with tho rifle.

On Wednesday the Territorials and senior cadets of the Grove drill centre fired part 1, and on Saturday the Carlnke men will fire the same,, and Canvastown men will do so on February otn.