DOMINION'S TROOPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15687, 14 August 1914, Page 6

DOMINION'S TROOPS

AUCKLAND MEN,

COMPLETING MOBILISATION

ADDITIONS TO- THE CAMP.

9 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS

The Auckland military district is contributing about 2000 men to the Dominion's expeditionary forco of 8000. Already 250 have been sent South, and about one-half of the remainder will have assembled by to-day in the local mobilisation camp at Epsom, whore training is being carried out until such time as the force is required at the main concentration camp at Palmerston North. A number of squads from country centres in the Auckland military district are arriving daily at the local camp, some coming by steamer and some by train. Captain Alderman, N.Z.S.C, is now acting as camp commandant, ais Lieutenant-Colonel Pluggo has takon over the command of his' regiment. It is anticipated that the whole of tho Auckland portion of tho expeditionary force will be mobilised by the end of this week.

In the meantime, hundreds of volunteers, who cannot bo accepted for service with tho expeditionary force, are taking tho place of those territorials who have been selected to go to tho front. In this way the territorial forces will be maintained at full strength. The members of the A Battery of tho N.Z.F.A., who have volunteered for service with the expeditionary force, were suddenly mobilised yesterday at very short notice. It is anticipated that this section of the force will leav4 almost immediately for the Palmerston North camp.

The National Reserve.

Ovor 1000 men have already enrolled themselves in the National Reserve, a fair proportion expressing their willingness to proceed at once on active service, if required. Mr. Bell, who is in charge of the Auckland contingent of the reserve, has expressed himself as highly pleased with the type of men volunteering, many of them having been on active service before. Every effort is- being made to have those ready to go to the front drafted into territorial units.

A number of the members of the Auckland Motor-cycle Club were enrolled yesterday, and will bo attached to the 3rd Auckland company. Four ; motorcycles have been donated to this section of the force, the rest of the men supplying their own machines.

Composition of the Force.

The Auckland portion of the expeditionary force will consist of four infantry companies drawn from the 3rd Auckland, 6th Hauraki, 15th North' Auckland, and 16th Waikato regiments. The three squadrons of mounted troops will be drawn from the 3rd Auckland, 4th Waikafto, and 11th North Auckland Mounted Rifles. In addition there will be a number of signallers, engineers, artillerymen, and others. V More Officers Appointed. In addition to the appointments of officers announced yesterday, Major McCarroll, Captain Hingston, Captain Mackesy, Lieutenants Johnson, A. C. M. Finlayson, and Preston Logan, the last-named being a son of Colonel Logan, hare been appointed to the 11th Mounted Rifles squadron. Lieutenant-Colonel Mackesy will be in command of the mounted men as a whole, Major Chapman being his second in command, and Captain F. A. Wood, N.Z.S.C, adjutant. Major Stuckcy, of the Coast Defence Infantry Detachment, will take the place of Captain Clark in the. 6th Hauraki, company, the latter not being available. Lieutenant Webster has been appointed to. the 15th, North Auckland company." At Work In the Forts. In J,ho meantime, while, public attention is centred chiefly on the mobilisation of the expeditionary force, the men of the Garrison Artillery Division, to the number of nearly 400, are doing sterling -work in the forts. These guardians of the harbour, owing to a shortage in complement, have had by no means an easy time since they were mobilised. Long hours of duty, including night work for the manipulation of searchlights, have been their lot, but -all the men are very keen, and have the knowledge that they are doing just as much for their Empire as the volunteers in tho expeditionary force. It is anticipated that before long tho full complement in each fort will ho made upj and, if the Coast Defence Infantry ; Detachment is Mobilised too, there will not be nearly so much to be done in the way of patrol duty.

Those who are doing their duty in the forts would much appreciate any gifts in tho way of luxuries and magazines. Such gifts may be left at the harbourmaster's office at the Queen's Wharf, and will be taken by the Defence authorities direct to the forts. At present it is impossible to grant any leave to those in the forts, so that this arrangement for the supply of goods will enable parents and others to attend to the wants of the men.

GISBORNE CONTINGENT.

FULLY EQUIPPED TROOP.

[BT TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] Gisborn'e, Thursday.

No district in the . Dominion has surpassed Gisborno in its patriotic fervour. Some of the men who are included in the district's quota of the expeditionary force rode 48 hours continuously so that they might not miss their opportunity. The mounted section will leave Gisborne fully equipped, so generous has been the district in providing horses. Some of the animals covered a journey of 100 miles to reach Gisborne, many of them arriving in excellent fettle.

. It is the ambition of the public to makefile Gisborne troop one of the best equipped of the force, and arrangements are being made to have some of the poorer horses exchanged for better ones at Dannevirke.

MAILS FOR THE FORCE.

[by TELEGRAPH.— association.]

Wellington, Thursday.

Mails for members of the advance guard of tho expeditionary force will be despatched from Wellington when opportunity offers. Letters should be addressed to Wellington, and should show the rank, name of regiment in which the member is serving, and also "Advance Party, New Zealand Expeditionary Forco." The name of the troopship should also bo mentioned, ■ if kapwa.