VOLUNTEERING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11057, 8 May 1899, Page 3

VOLUNTEERING NEWS.

DAYLIGHT PARADE. A daylight parade of tho Auckland Infantry Battalion No. 1 was called for Saturday afternoon, and, notwithstanding the inclemency of tho weather, there was an excellent muster of all the companies except two. As the parado was meant for practical outside instruction tho cadet oompanics of St. John's College, Grammar School, and King's College, asked (through their officers) and were allowed to join. It says much for the voluni leering spirit in tho battalion that officers and men can be found to turn out in such numbers for general instruction and field work. The cadets, too, mustered well, and deserve every credit for turning out in such unfavourable weather. Major Murray, officer commanding the battalion, divided tho parade into two portions, one under Major While to act on the defence; the other, under the adjutant, Captain Maior, to form the attack. The whole marched to tho Domain, which was the sceno of operations. Area and boundaries having been already communicated to the respective commanders, a certain lime was given each for disposition of their forces before rounding the bugle to commence hostilities. In the memo, ol instructions given out by Major Murray, it was clearly laid clown that within certain areas tho attack and defence could choose their own ground. Tho main purpose of the operations was for instruction of officers in handling their men and controlling the fire rather than in general tactics. Points were given for fire discipline and economy in the expenditure of ammunition, and the commanders of the respective forces were to furnish Maior Murray at the close of tho manoeuvres with a written report, giving a general outline of the work done by their respective commands, the reasons for "that work, unci the manner in which it was performed. For the defence, Major White had under his command tho Victoria No. 1 Natives, Auckland Rifles, and No. 2 Victoria Companies. The position he took up was a strong one. being the wooded knoll facing the Cricket Ground grandstand, where, in addition to the timber cover, there were several excellent rifle pits and a large amount of stonewall cover. Several outposts were also thrown out by Major White, and wero rapidly retired on touching the enemy. The attacking force consisted of Nos. 2 and 3 Natives, Newton Rifles, and the three companies of cadets. Captain Major, who inarched the whole -of his force to the Newmarket side of the Domain, made his attack disposition as follows:— No. 2 Native Rifles on the right were ordered to seize the battalion's old camp ground and advance till within range, and then open fire from cover of the bush. In the centre No. 3 Natives and Newton Rifles wero placed, with orders to take the best cover available and open firo as soon as the commanding officer's "commence" had sounded. On a- hill to his left Captain Major placed the Grammar School Cadets, with somewhat similar orders. From this latter position he was supposed to have a cross-fire on the defence when the latter extended to meet his central attack. On his extreme left the King's College Cadets were In lake cover on the hospital side of the Domain, on the ritrht flank or rear of defenders' nosiiion, till joined bv St. John's Cadets and Natives No. 3. withdrawn from the centre. \ determined attack from here was then to be made on the defence bv alternate rushes. The disposition of the attack was extremelv well made, the defence stubborn and well sustained, while Ihe nature if the ground nermiHed an excellent oversight of Mi*> "-■- discipline and general work on both sides. Maior Murrav acted as umpire, and the "cease fire" was sounded close on five o'clock. The whole wero then formed up for the inarch home.