MILITARY TOURNAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15499, 5 January 1914, Page 9

MILITARY TOURNAMENT

territorials at play.

SPECTACULAR EVENTS.

CANVAS CITY AT EPSOM. EXCELLENT WEATHER CONDITIONS. NUMEROUS COMPETITORS. A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING. There is a white canvas city in the A. and P. Association's show grounds, at Epsom, where the ninth annual New Zealand naval and military tournament commenced on Saturday. Two thousand territorials and senior cadets have assembled to demonstrate and increase their military efficiency, and interest and instruct the public in so doing. The spectacular and picturesque side of military training is here presented. Take the drive of the Royal New Zealand Artillery, for example. It was an extremely pretty and soul-stirring spectacle, and it demanded precisely those qualities which make for the efficient handling and tra.nsport of artillery on active service. Into the spacious ring which front® the stand enter four guns, drawn by six-,arse teams. The Royal Artillery Band, which has come from the Exhibition specially to play for this manoeuvre, strikes up a trot, and the teams commence describing figures in the ring with the precision of infantry. Circles, ellipses, figures 8, and mazes those teams describe by ones, twos, threes, and fours, and so completely are they under the control of their drivers that their evolutions are geometrically perfect, and when they form up again it is in perfect alignment. Then the trot changes to a gallop, and still keeping perfect time and distance the teams gyrate and pirouette through some more of the intricate diagram prepared for them by Major Ma id low. Finally there is a march past to the strains of the Royal Artillery March. .It was a fine exhibition of the skill of theWtillery drivers, there being only a few minor flaws during the execution of all the complicated evolutions. Two of the teams were from Auckland, one from Palmerston North, and one from Napier. Cockade Fighting. This was the most spectacular event of the day, but there was plenty to interest and entertain. Usually several events were going on in the ring at once. In one corner there might be a tug-of-war, in another two men might be lunging and parrying with foils, and in another cockade fighting might be in progress. The cockade fight,ing_ though not carried to its final stages on Saturday, provided -Tint, exciting sport, and he-iity cheer. rented one competitor who loot'his cockade intact for Several miunte* against the onslaughts o£ two opponents. The tent-pegging was another popular event, and amongst the competitions with an element of humonr were the needlethreading lace and the harem race, in which competitors had to ride over hurdles, decapitate the Turk's head, secure the paper concealed -t hollow of neck, giving description of ictlour of scarf worn by •lady to be rescivvi, and secure the dummy and ride back with it. Route marching, signalling, rifle exercises, and drill tentpitching, and the I yd-Lindsay figured in Saturday's 'irogramnie An Important Event.

5 One of the most important events was 5 the field artillery competition, for which I 1 11 teams entered. Detachments came from, . batteries in Invercargill, Christchuirch, > I Canterbury, Dunedin, Nelson, Hamilton, ' and Auckland. The 18-pounder Q.F. guns » were used, and the total marks obtainable were 200, but deductions were made for i various errors. Several of the teams fared . rather badly. Defective gunlaying ap- , peared to be the chief trouble, many of , the layers incorrectly setting the ri.nge in- , dicator or. the deflection leaf. Bad riding . was responsible tor substantial loss of j points in one or two instance?. The winning wam was A leasn from C. Battery, Invercargill against whom only "-o points were deducted. Team A from Battery, bunt- was second with points dedt '• 0 Notwithstanding i "* some of the teams lost many good points, the fact remains that such "a competition is bound to have a good effect on the ew Zealand (field Artillery, and efit -s should be made to make it apparent belore ilia a,nr al of General Sir lan Hanrlton, Inspector-General of the Overseas Forces, who is to make an inspection of the New Zealand territorials. Senior Cadets' Efficiency. G"eat -efforts to achieve success at the tournament have been made by the vari- ' oils senior cadet corps throughout the Do-! minion, and the result v?as reflected in the high standard oi efficiency of all the teams, particularly ii, the rifle" exercises Their smartness and general bearing created an i excellent impression in the minds of the public. First prize in the rifle exercises event was taken by Lieut. A. E. Jones's team from St. Stephen's Maori boys' school, which gained 192 points. These lads, all of them natives, executed their various duties admirably, and when they left the field they were accorded warm applause from the spectators and the other competing teams. As illustrating the keenI ness of the cadets it appears that they all I agreed to forego their holiday in order 1 that they might remain in town and prac- ! tise for the tournament. The team from 1 the school came third in the senior cadets' tent-pitching competition. During the afternoon another team if the bo--.-, was r successful i,-- a i-.it-of r Kca' am ; rit j -moth' r fe,- or cadet corps an-:', the v. u j wa.' so popular th.'.t the boyu gaze a tiuki to the delight and the tpp: ecl-iive spectators. Commendable work was done by the two teams entered by the Wellington Technical College for the senior cadets' signalling event. The judges (Opts. Dawson and ■ McOilp). both of whom are experts in signalling, state that they have never before seen anything to equal the perform- 1 ances of these two teams. Corporal Armstrong, of the Wellington Technical College A tram, was considered to he exceptionally expert, and Captain Dawson is going to present him with a special prize. A Pretty Display.

The insic .11 ride, performer] by 'lie Wai kato_ Mounted Rifles. provided a- prettv display. The hand o f the 3rd (Auckland) Mounted Utiles played the accompaniment, to the ride. Armed with g.-.ilv bedecked lances, the troops went through a variety of evolut ions and tableau f<nmations. which made ,i pleasing spectacle. Only one thin? marred the ride, ami that was the pace It was slightly slow, and did nd aeioid with the rvtlun of the " Keel Row." the air played by th» hand. I 1 .-.-iblv a rnorp suitable piece ,n '~lit have been rliosrn a- ;n accompaniment,. Nevertheless, the display was sue-cc-ssftii. and (lie salute and tin- march [wist the grandstand were larried out in "ix«] ttyle. Features of the Tournament. J he features of the tournaments were •he excellent entries of senior cadets and the tew entiies of Auckland citv territorial-. It was hjtf to the tountrv territorials to uphold the honour of the province. Sailors from 11.M.5. Philomel entered for some of the events, .and some Maoris were present and gave a. haka. Altogether there were 5740 individual entries, manv of them in team events, Co], K. S. Heard was present., and a large number of officer . A number of lions were played during the afternoon bv the 3rd (Auckland) Mounted Rifles Hand. There was a very fair attendance of tie public,

the takings at the gates and stands during the afternoon being £117. In the afternoon the boys from the native school at Te Kao, who have walked over three miles to Auckland to attend the Exhibition, paid a visit to the tournament. An enormous amount of work has been put into the arrangements for the tournament by Capt. H. C. Nutsford, N.Z.S.C., and it speaks well for him that every event on Saturday went off without a hitch. Programme for To-day. An interesting programme has been reserved for to-day_ including machine gun, field ambulance, and artillery driving competitions, lance v. sword, wrestling on horseback, sabre v. sabre (senior cooets). machine gun competition, demolition competition, tent-pegging by sections, physical drill (senior cadets), officers' jumping competition, barrel fiier raft competition, artillery drive (R.N.Z.A.), tent-pegging (permanent staff], harem race obstacle race., musical ride (4th W.M.R.), tug-of-war (mounted), Arab tent-pegging (permanent staff), rescue race, and general parade. The Prize List. The following are the results of Saturday's events : —• Route Marching 'Senior Cadets): About three miles Wellington Y.M.C.A. 1221 point*), 1 . Sergeant Domigan's A team, Goro High School ('217 points), '2; Sergeant Luke's team, Wellington College (213 points), and New Plymouth High School (213 points), equal, 3. Over 50 teams competed. Morse Signalling: Div. Sig. Company, Auckland (200 points), 1; Div. Sig. Company, Dunedin (195 points), 2; C Battery, Invercnririll 1182 points), 3. The judge commented on the very creditable work of the winning team. Rifle 1 >.-rinses by Territorials (teams of one N.C.O. it.d eight men): Sergent Grindell's team, 1 Jth (W.E.C.) Regiment, 93, 1; Sergeant Stevens's team, 2nd (County) Regiment. 83. 2; Lieutenant Dunnett's team, C Battery (invercargill), 87. 3. There were 27 teams in this competition, and the following rifle exercises were performed:—Attention, slope arms, present arms, slope arms, change arms, change arms, secure arms, slope arm.i, order arms, fix bay..--"'', unfix bayonets, 'rail arms, change Err. r-nange arms, order arms, ground arms 'site up arms, stand at ease. Bugle Competition (only three calls, as selected by the judges): Bugler Maxwell. 4th ' O .ago) Regiment (100 marks), 1; Bugler Moir, Invercargill Cadets (99 marks), 2' Bugler Bourdox, Infantry Signalling Co.', Christchurch (99 marks), 3. The judge, Mr. A . if" stretton. conductor of the Royal Artillery Band - said that on (he whole the bugle laying was highly satisfactory. There were a! competitors, and Buglers Moir. Bourdox, and Browne (Mornington S.C.) had to blow again J or places, each scoring 39 marks on the first attempt. e ? a^9 i re , Signalling (Territorials) Ser?180 f° i 9 r eam ' ? rd FA - Auckland 180 marks), 1 ; Corporal Barclay's team. C Battery. Invercargill (143 marks), 2; Private no?™ 3 u team 51, (Wellington) Regiment Dunedin (111 'mark" 111 Lllburne ' s team ' I St ml Ch , er r rill (for l? ams °f one N.C.O. and ,? en ' • .Corporal Burgess's team - No. 3 TW- Ambulance (Nelson), 1 : Lieutenant edinl VT 't v'r. ld Ambulance (Dun--9 PiflW a Sergeant McCormacK's team, No. 4 tie Id Ambulance (Dunedin), 3 f m^ d , h ° r9e9, over , hurdles, ' for teams of tour horses, one rider to lead three horses' Sergeant Penny 11th N.A.M.R, (124 marks)', £ r ,' V „ T? ollard , 4th Waikato M.R. (119 (117 marks), 8 Smith ' ' lth Waikato M ' R ' ield r A «!?J! e,y 9? mpetilion (total marks, „7'. L Battery (A team), Invercargill (2 points deducted), 1; B Battery (A team), Dunedin (3 Points deducted). 2. Nine other .from C Battery (Invercargill), E Battery (Christchurch). B Battery (Dunedin), H Bnii ' in* els<) V Battery (Auckland), G battery (Hamilton), and Ammunition Column (Canterbury), also competed in this event. Tent Pitching and Striking (Territorials:; I Gunner Collier s B team, G Batten .'Hamil- | ton) 86 points,.l; B tee.i.., c Battery (Is m- ) Co.";'. i,. ooir-s, 2. ifine other loiras, t I 1 " 1 -' - mattery (lnver -argill), i2;ii Resim-iat. ! 4th Otago Regim.riit, 6tH Htaraki Regin.ent, Coast Detenca L-etachnient, Ist Canterbury ; Keeiment. Bth Southland Regime at, No 3 Fieid Company (Auckland) Engineers, and O. Battery (Hamilton), also participated in this competition. Tent-pegging, Permanent Staff: SergeantMajor Woods, N.Z.P.S.. 1: Sergeant-Major Innes, a N.Z.P.S.. 2; Sergeant-Major Sloan, iN./i.r.0.. 3. Physical Drill Competition (Territorials): Ist Battalion team, 9th (Wellington) Regiment 76 points, 1; B team. South Island .Railway Corps, 73 points. 2; A team. North Island Railway Corps, 72 points, 3. Eleven other teams entered for this event. Foil v Foil (for officers): Lieutenant Barnes No. 1 Field Company (Christchurch) Engineers. 1; Captain Fleming, 4th (Otago) Regiment. 2: Lieutenant J. G. Cowan, 10th (North Ot;igo) Regiment. 3. Nine other officers competed. Tent Pitching and Striking (Senior Cadets): Sergeant Scott's team. 47th (Waimate) S.C., 88 points. 1; Sergeant Lynsky's team (Technical College. Petone». 86 points, 2; Sergeant Francis Jones's A team, '21st (Auckland), S.C., 84 points. 3. Thirty other teams competed. Rifle Exercises (Senior Cadets): Lieutenant A. E. Jones's team, 21st (Auckland St. Stephen's Maori Boys' School). 192 points, 1; Sergeant Meldrum's team. 180 points, -2; Colour-Sergeant Brook-Taylor's team, 66tli (Chr'stchurc'rt), and Sergeant Domigan's A team (Gore High School), 175 points each, 3. In this event there were 73 other teams. Officers' Tilting and Tent Pegging: Captain J. E. Barton (N.Z.S.C.), 36 points, 1: Lieuten?nt W. Dnan's Ist (Canterbury Yeomanry) M.R., 34 points, 2. Lieutenant W. T. Ml, 2nd (Wellington) M.R., 31 po.'ntß, 3. Tweoljtwo others also conpeted. I LVyd-Lin Itay Cc -ripe tit ion (foi testing s3i- ■ cier.'i' of mocnled rifles in proceeding into, during, and alter action); Sergeant Cooper's team, Ist (Canterbury Yeomanry).. M.R., 82 points, 1; Sergeant-Major Edgar's ucd Sergeant Reddell's teams tied for second place with 68 points each Sergeant McGregor's and Private Swayne's teams from the 4th 'Waikato) M.R.. tied for third place with 66 points each. Eleven othe' teams competed. Heliograph Competition (Territorials): Divisional Signal Company (Auckland!, 80 points, 1; Divisional Bignal Company (Dunedin), 62 points, These were the only two competing teams. Special Signalling Prize: In the Morse signalling event for Territorials, Sergeant Dignan. of the Auckland Divisional Signal Company, won a gold medal, a special prize presented for the best all-round Morse signaller. Harem Race: Sergeant-Trumpeter Munro, 3rd (Auckland) M.R.. 1; Private Brosaheai,, 3th (South Canterbury, 1 M.R., 2. There were 47 other competitors. Threading-needlo Race: Bombardier W. Townsend, R.N.Z.A. ilnvercargill). 1; Private Roberts, 62nd (Wanganui) S.C?., 2; Private Fay, P. and T. Corps (Christchurch), 3. There were .139 other competitors in this event. Semaphore Signalling (Senior Cadets): Wellington Technical College A team, 1; Wellington Technical College B team, 2; Wellington P. and T., 3. There were 26 entries in this event. The judges (Captains Dawson and McGilp) expressed high appreciation of the work of the boys, especially that of the first and second teams. Tug-of-war (Senior Cadets): St. Stephen's Maori Boys' School. 1: Rangiora, 2; Bluff, 3. In the final of the tug-of-war between a team from H.M.S. Philomel and the Fifth (Wellington) Regiment, the navy men were victorious.