ROUTE MARCHING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 216, 10 August 1940, Page 8

ROUTE MARCHING.

TROOPS’ STAMINA. (From the Official War Correspondent attached to the New Zealand Forces in Britain.) Received August 10, 12.57 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 9. After three field exercises in three weeks, the New Zealand Expeditionary Force will spend next week in camp, concentrating on unit drill in preparation for another full-scale field manoeuvre the week following. The route march of infantry, General Frcyberg’s references to which in opening the New Zealand Forces Club drew good-humoured laughter from the participants, disclosed some laxity in the care of the feet, hut, taken generally, the instances of feet giving out were relatively few and not serious. Avoidable cracking on the march is regarded primarily as a reflection on the man’s platoon commander. who is responsible for instruction in the care of the feet. Typical of the quick recoveries that

have been made is that of an IS-year-old private who returned to camp with 24 blisters in various stages. He was heard this morning lamenting that there were not a further twenty miles to-day, as he Avished to chalk Aip a hundred miles for the week. As a matter of fact, although the distance actually marched was 83 miles, many of the men probably completed 100 h,y the addition of evening strolls for exploratory and other purposes. Four hundred travelled by bus this afternoon to Windsor Castle under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A., which is organising a series of such trips to scenic and historic places. Sixty to seventy Avere guests for the afternoon and evening of private hostesses resident in the districts surrounding the camps.