UNDER CANVAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15900, 24 April 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

UNDER CANVAS.

BY LIECT. -COLONEL A. A. GRACE, N.4-F.A.

At this time of year, when the troops ot the country undergo their course of training under canvas, there must ho many people who, having relatives who are in the New Zealand Army, are likely to wish for some information bearing on the life of the troops in camp ; therefore, writing from such a camp in which I have been for nearly a week, I shall describe simply and without technical details the life which the men live, while undergoing their annual course of training in camp. The force consists of Mounted Rifles and Field Artillery, and the site of the camp is such that a man gets into his lungs the maximum amount of oxygen in the .given time. Then, too, with this open-air life necessarily goes, a healthy amount of physical exercise, so that ho comes hungry to his meals—and I have, noticed that his appetite is truly wonderful. The scale of rations for troops in the field allows him per diem Hlb of bread, ljlb of fresh meat, ioV of coffee, 107. of tea, 3oz of sugar, Joa of salt, l-360z of pepper, lib of potatoes or other fresh vegetables, Jib of jam, and other things, on the medical officer's recommendation and by order of the officer commanding the district. In this camp ho gets all that and more, for experienced quartermasters and quartermastersergeants have a clever way of spending tho funds drawn by their units for food which is surprising, and 1 have seen men having bacon for breakfast and excellent plum-pudding for their second course at dinner. The cooking, of course, is a great question. In this camp it is performed by a master-cook, assisted by men supplied by the various units, and I must confess that the meals ho produces aro excellent. Tho men's health is looked after very carefully, and the sanitary arrangements aro quite good. If any man develops any ailment, there is a first-class doctor, » regimental officer, who attends to men who are off-colour." So far he has had very little to do, aid, barring accidents, I expect he. will live a healthy but idle life while the camp lasts. 'llio horses are as well looked after as the men. Each horse is allowed, according to tho scale laid down, 61b of oats und 101b i f oaten sheaf chaff, and are groomed, watered and fed three times a day. Most of the horses in camp belong to the men who ride them (men of the Mounted Rifles), and they can well bo left to look after their beasts, which it is safe to prophesy will go out of camp in better fettle than when they came in. To look after sick horses there is a veterinary surgeon, who gives careful attention to any sick cases in the horselines. So that, yon see, both man and beast are well looked after. I must not forget to mention that there is a chaplain in camp, nay, two, of different denominations, who work in harmony ; so that the religious side of life is not neglected. Those gentlemen give a good deal of their time to creating wholesome amusements for the men. The day begins at 5.45 a.m., when reveille is sounded, and the troops fall-in half an hour later for stables. The horses aro watered, thoroughly groomed and fed, and the horse-lines are cleaned up and disinfected. After this tho men have- breakfast (8 a.m.). At 8.50 a.m. boot and suddlo sounds, and half an hour later they fall-in for roll call, inspection, and prayers. The work of drill and inance'ivre now begins, the units move out of camp over a slight riso and are lost on the plain, . where .there is plenty ol room for them to carry out their work. The camp meanwhile is quiet and empty save for the orderlies and details left behind to do fatigue work and assist quar masters and cooks. In about two hour; and a-half the troops are back in camp, and stables are the first tiling attendee to, after which the men have their dinner (12.30 p.m.). At 2 p.m. the fall-in sounds and drill is .carried on till evening stables, which are held at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. retreat sounds and the men have their tea. Guards aro mounted at 7 p.m. The evening is given to lectures, when the officers lecture to their men on such subjects as aro of importance to their arm of tho service. After this the men amuse themselves till last post with singing patriotic songs, such as " Tippcrnry," "Rule Britannia," "Soldiers of the King," "Sons of the Sea," always concluding with "God Save the King." There is also a Y.M.C.A. tent within the lines, where men can read the papers and write letters. But there is little time for recreation in the daily programme 1 have roughly outlined. The life is regular, healthy and useful. For thojo who have, sons undergoing training in camps of instruction such as I am describing, let mo say that it is hard to see how their suns could bo looked after more carefully than is tho case with the troops among whom lam living. Tho officers are glad to attend to quite small matters connected with tho comfort and welfare of their men, and as these officers in most cases have held commissions for years— five, seven and even fifteen in some casks— there is scarcely a point about camp life and military duty with which they are not conversant. The junior officers perform their duties under the scrutiny of their seniors, and aro corrected in regarel to mistakes they make, are taught their duties, and have inculcated in them the spirit of soldierlincss and discipline, in order that they may be tit to command others. Of course, many of the junior officers are promoted non commissioned officers, and were trained soldiers of many yoars' service before they received their commissions. In these circumstances I can confidently assure those whoso sons are serving the country in these training-camps that no bettei lite could be open to them. I know thai the young men I sec carrying out then military duties are hugely enjoying the manly life they are living, and would regret to miss the annual training-camp as the autumn amies round. Nearly all o! the non-commissioned officers are men ol an ago which exempts them from service, but they stop with their units from sheei love of the military life. At this time, when Britain is at war, and when no one can foretell what the future nas in store for tho Empire and our own country, the training in these camps takes on a serious character which in times of peace is often lacking. 1 mark a certain griraness in the demeanour of "he men as they go about theii duties in camp, and more especially wher they are on parade. It seems to me the) are not only anxious but determined t( lit themselves for the task for which thej are being prepared— defence of the country, if ever they should be called or to act. The spirit of camaraderie auc good fellowship which exists among then: is casiiy observable by a- casual visitor t< the camp. Evidently they havo grasped the truth of the principle that strengtl lies in unity. They are not in any waj spectacular when on parade, but thej look quite serviceable and workmanlike Their movements may not be character ised by that exactness which one woule wish, but when it comes to the businesi part of the job—shooting—l am satistiec from what I have seen that they woulc be quite Uglv customers. Of course short camps ot' about a fortnight are onl; long enough to prevent the regiments anc batteries from getting, rusty, and are nol long enough to put a polish on the units But oven a short course of training sue! as this is of incalculable benefit, and can not be otherwise than of great service t< the country. How many troops then are at the present time ready to take tin field in defence of the country I am no prepared to say, but. 1 feel, after what ' have jeen, that with a month's traininj in camp subsequent to mobilisation thej would be quite able to give a very goo< account <>f themselves. And owing t< its remoteness thin country would ge moie than a month's, warning of an; aggressive moremfnt which might b« "alculated to do lb harm.