THE EASTER VOLUNTEER MANOEUVRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12524, 17 March 1904, Page 6

THE EASTER VOLUNTEER MANOEUVRES.

EMPLOYERS OF VOLUNTEERS APPEALED TO.

Yesterday afternoon Colonel Davies, officer commanding the Auckland volunteer district, waited on His Worship the Mayor (Hon. E. Mitchelson) in connection with the forthcoming volunteer manoeuvres at Easter. The object was to obtain the sympathy and assistance of employers and the public generally in the manoeuvres, and to appeal to the former through the Mayor to contribute as far as possible to the success of the affair by giving employees who may bo members of volunteer corps the necessary leave between Good Friday and Easter Monday (inclusive). His Worship promised to appeal to employers by means of : advertisement and to take all other steps in his power to make the manoeuvres a success and ensure a good muster of volunteers. Colonel Davies was subsequently introduced by Major G. W. S. Patterson to Mr. John Roid, chairman of. the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and on the facts being placed before him that gentleman expressed sympathy with the movement and intimated that he would call a special meeting of the „ committee of the Chamber of Commerce with the object of appealing to employers to give the required leave to such of their employees as belong to the volunteer service. The meeting will probably be held to-morrow. As already announced in these columns a very interesting and comprehensive scheme has been drawn up for the Easter manoeuvres, and will take the form of an attack by a supposed hostile force on the Auckland forts. Publication of the details would, of course, defeat the ends aimed at, but it may be mentioned that the forts will be manned and a defending force disposed in much, the same positions as would be necessary in time of war. An attacking force will be sent; out with sealed orders, , and approaching the harbour from a distance will attack the defenders both by land and sea. They -will take with them four days' rations, and the vessel or which they will embark will represent a foreign cruiser. No communications will be allowed to pass between the attacking and defending forces except as enemies, and everything will be carried out under service conditions. Colonel Davies will direct the whole, and will act as umpire-in-chief. He will have associated with him assistant umpires. A state of war will be supposed to exist as from midday on Good Friday till midday on Easter Monday, and on the completion of the manoeuvres it. is quite likely that the colonel will mobilise the whole of the forces on the Takapuna racecourse for review. This will give the publio an opportunity of seeing the volunteers together on the Monday afternoon after -their short, but arduous, campaign.