LITE AT THE CAMPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16098, 11 December 1915, Page 4

LITE AT THE CAMPS

THE SYSTEM OF "FATIGUES." REMOVAL OF ALL DIET. CAMPAIGN AGAINST FLIES. Bit. S. TAKNING. Awat. from the-view of an average visitor to Trentham is a little wooden hub, on the outer edge of tie acres of biddings. It is absurdly insignificant to ths casual eye, but it has an importance far exceedrng its claim to notice on appearances only - This is the headquarters of the quartermaster's department, which acts as a military Martha, busy with many things that make life comfortable and healthful at the camp. . The supply of food and the cooking, the housing, sanitation, the issue of arms, uniforms, and other equipment, the workshops of carpenters, plumbers, blacksmiths, tailors, bootmakers, and saddlers, and various other matters, come under i uie camp quartermaster. Captain McCristell, whose office is like a "little porch attached to the building where his staff is distributed. When the captain has an assistant with hhn in the porch the place "fairly full," and when a curious person intrudes tie hall is crowded. However, only the civilian seemed to be conscious of the congestion ; the others were too busy to have any sense of discomfort. Ready for a Bush. The quartermaster's department will be working night and day soon, for a record is to be made in the issue of the complete equipment of clothing and arms. The best time to date was the week or so taken for the " tenths." The " elevenths" will go through the mill in three days; at one end of the machine they will enter a* raw material, clad in all kinds of sac suits and boots (black or tanned), caps, bowlers, and slouch hats. In three days they will be in uniform, with rifles, bayonets, and other necessaries. The head of a workshop has -always the rank of quartermaster-sergeant, and the tt>«>i under Ivm assist in <iny necessary repairs to iho camp. Before a man can a.tain the rank of quartermaster-sergeant he has to pass an examination which thoroughly tests him. He has to show clear knowledge of sanitation schemes for camp and field, the transport and handling of food and munitions, watersupply, cooking, and other operations. The instruction and training are given by Quartermaster-Sergeant Sharpe. "At Home " in 67 Hutments. From his first day at camp to the last the recruit has reason to know that the quartermaster's office is at work. Bethe newcomers step into Trentham their huts have been marked off on a plan j i lie total number of these soldier-houses I 1= -ow 67. which count as 134 half-huts, numbered from the headquarters' aide, which is at the back, from the layman's view-point. To the ordinary visitor, entering the camp by the broad highway, the front, as he sees it, is really the back. TT„ ge< ,«, the ] act rows of the infantry's huta. The order artillery engineers, mounted rifles, infantry. Next week, when the ninths' march in over the Rimutakas, onlookers wall see the force drawn up near the camp entrance. Suddenly there will bo a move onward, and in a few minutes no litjtle army will be visible. It will have vanished into the quarters planned and prepared. The officers will have copies of the plan showing the hate available for the several companies and therefore the men will go easily and quickly to the right places. Cult of Cleanliness. Each unit as it comes into Trentham provides its own butchers and cooks, who retain their position while in camp; tbey are assisted daily by a number of men detailed from each company. m Another responsibility for each company is the cleaning of its own linen, to which men are assigned in rotation. Each occupant of a hut has his daily turn in sequence, as an orderly to keep the room clean and tidy. The non-commissioned officer in charge of the hut has a roster m which the names are entered, to ensure equality of sacrifice. " Each company has its day, in turn, at providing the fatigue parties, guards, pickets, and headquarters orderlies. During that day the members of a whole company are the handy men, over a hundred, for all kinds of camp work. The present number of companies is 19, comprising one of artillery, one of engineers, six of mounted rifles, and 11 of infantry. Therefore, a company's turn for this duty comes ones in 19 days. At 8.30 am. the "fatigue day" begins briskly with a parade' of 65 men, required for certain tasks. On this day the proudest private may be kno w n as a broom, ' or a "bag," or "a shovel," according to the article which he uses in the onset against rubbish and refuse, for the day's needs are tersely noted thus in a quartermaster-sergeant's book—so many brooms, bags, shovels, etc Oth6r Facts of " Fatigue," Any day special fatigue parties may be needed. As soon as the men are on parade the order comes : " Fall out carpenters," or - Fall out, plumbers." Other days a reinforcement of pickers and shovellers may be required, and skilled hands are always in readiness. To a man accustomed to heavy navying, the broom is a toy which he enjoys pushing and swishing. "It's a God-send," said one brawny toiler, to whom the broom was as a wisp of hay. The " Signers" are paraded again at 1.30 p.m. When the ordinary work is done pits are due to assist the incinerator in the safe and neat disposal of refuse. One understands now why Trentham has no smell, and few flies. It is not a case of "swat that fly," but "swat that refuse, swat that dirt, swat that feedine or breeding place of flies." It is the old ft » 0 n of tai advised and so little heeded Prevention is better than cure." • Members of the " permanent fatiguers" have lately been mentioned by newspaper correspondents who enquired whether single men had been retained in " steadv ISLi at J Tr f n^ ham - These workers, manual and clerical, are mainly soldiers who are debarred by physical defects from service overseas, and their number includes some men who have returned from ?° T ?l ihea ° "fatiguers" continue to be soldiers, subject to military regulations and other conditions of the service.