THE VOLUNTEERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 17 June 1907, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS.

OBSERVATIONS ON SWISS ARMY MANOEUVRES. CO OPERATION OP THE GENERAL PUBLIC. The following circular, being an extract from the obserrations of Colonel A. Keene. D.5.0., during the Swiss Army manoeuvres, is being published, in the colonial newspapers in order to attract the attention and gain the sympathy of employers towards the New Zetland volunteers The extract reads as follows :--'• The most marked :mpr<*s.°ion left on the mind of the Biilish observer of these manoeuvres must. I think, be one of surprise and delight at the interest and enthusiasm felt by all classes of the Swiss for the national army, their pride in its high state of training, their Keen insight into the manoeuvres, and their kindly care for the individual soldier.' "l'vry newspaper published a copy of the manoeuvres ard of the " ordre de rMailli ,' which showed all the units taking part in the manoeuvres, the namisofthe commandants and of all 'he etafl: concerned. The banks of Zurifh and the factories near were closed in order to give the employees an opportunity of seeing tho manoeuvres, and special trains conveyed thousands of spectators to the ground. Every booking clerk could tell you what station to book for to see the work of the day. and each train carried sightseers who, furnished with map* and coloured pencils, could tell you where Red had spent the ninht, and" how Blue should act. Kind villagers watered the roads iii front of thoir houses to keep duwn the dust, and brought wator in tuba and buckets for tho refreshment of Hit parched and wearied soldiers — in short — it was the realisation of Kipling's ' Army of a Dream.'" A parade of the Nelson Rifles will be held to-night at 7.30, when every member must attend. After parade there will be an election for a lieutenant if the corps.