SIR IAN HAMILTON'S VISIT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9740, 5 March 1914, Page 5

SIR IAN HAMILTON'S VISIT.

LARGE FORCE TO ASSEMBLE AT TAKAPAU. INSPECTION OF CADETS.

As was previously announced the DeP fence Department is holding lour big , combined camps this year in place of j the number of brigade camps held in i, ™ e The Wellington division of » 5 6 Vrn l^* l force is *° be concentrated at lakapau several miles north of - Dannevirke, and in all some 6000 men , will be under canvas there. These include five infantry battalions, , three batteries, one company of engineers, one company of mounted field ambulance and one company of ambulance.

lhe chief feature of this camp, which commences on April 27 and lasts until May- y will be the inspection of the forces by Sir lan Hamilton, InspectorGeneral of Oversea Forces. Sir lan will arrive at the camp on the afternoon M 2l' sth^ nd J t a T e ° n the ni gfo Of May 6th. The whole of Wednesdav, May 6, will be spent in a sham fight, and tor that purpose the camp is to be divided into two forces—the browns and the whites. For the purpose of the manoeuvres it is to be imagined that the Auckland and Wellington dietricts are independent States at war. The Auckland army has commenced a march on A\oodville, the capital of the Wellington State, and has landed at Napier To prevent the siege of the capital, the Wellington force has proceeded to Takapau and there the opposing armies will meet. Si; lan will be a spectator of the manoeuvres and his comments on the showing made will no doubt be awaited with -interest. Territorials in consequence are looking forward to the coming camp with considerable interest. Blank ammunition will be used at the manoeuvres, the Department having

made arrangements for the issue of 30 rounds per rifle, 30 per 18 pounder and 20 rounds per howitzer. Colonel E. W. Chaytor, officer com. manding the "Wellington military district, will be in command of the Vamp. The rest of the time of the camp will be occupied in general training, but of a more advanced nature than at previous camps. The artillery will carry out their annual live shell practice. The newly-formed Army Service corps and the Railway Transport corps will attend this year to the transport work. The former corps will also have the matter of supplies in its care. Sir lan Hamilton will inspect the senior cadets of the Wellington military district, as under:—Hastings, May 16th, all Hawke'g Bay and Gisborne cadets; Palmerston North, May 18th, Manawatu cadets; Wanganui, May 19th, Wanganui and district cadets';

New Plymouth, May 20th, Taranaki cadets; Wellington, May 23rd, Wellington, Petone and Hutt cadets; Master, ton, May 25th, Wairarapa cadets. The inspection will take the form of a ceremonial parade, except at Palmerston North where the cadete will be inspected in field operations. At Wellington a combined display of physical drill will be given.

The Palmerston North manoeuvres are to be held at Fitzherbert AVest on the property of Mr J. 0. Batchelar, stretching on the right of the road between Monro's and Keeble's hills. General Godley has expressed the desire that every effort should be made to furnish each cadet company with distinctive hat-bands before the inspection.