NIGHT-MARCHING CONTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16963, 24 September 1918, Page 6

NIGHT-MARCHING CONTEST.

TERRITORIALS' AND CADETS, ACTIVE SERVICE CONDITIONS. The 'first round of a night marching competition for territorials' and. senior cadets . was held in an Auckland marine suburban ,' district last evening under the direction ' i of Major Sir Robert Walker, general staff 1 officer, Auckland. It is the first occasion on which a competition of the kind has been held locally, and district territorial I j units and senior cadet companies have I taken a very keen interest in it. I I The object of night marching is to conf ! centrate forces under cover of darkness j for surprise attacks against the enemy, 11 In order that night marching tactics may I 1 bo completely successful, it is necessary to ' act with great caution and with an en- \ I tire absence of unnecessary noise. The ; ] rattling of accoutrements, unguarded conI; versation, or the flash of a light may ■ each contribute to the defeat of ' 1 the undertaking. Those who took i! part in the march last evening had j been trained assiduously, preparatory to ': the competition, and it is the opinion of " j Sir Robert Walker and all other officer# 1 1 who were present that the work per--1 1 formed was excellent, considering the i weather conditions and the difficult nature ' of the country the competitors had to J negotiate. The discipline permeating all ; ranks, especially the senior cadets, showed a very high sense of duty. All obstacles encountered had to be negotiated with an ! absence of noise. The sky was much beclouded, and few stars or lights were I showing. Apart from compass bearings [' the competitors had nothing to guide ' j them. The recent rain had made the ■ ground very heavy, and at one stage the ' vanguard of one team found themselves ' in a swamp. ' Four teams took part last evening—A ' Battery, N.Z.F.A., in charge of Lieutenant I I (J West; No. 3 Company, Field Engi- ' • neers, commanded by Lieutenant Ashley i I Divisional Signal Company, in charge of I I Lieutenant McPherson; and B area, No. ' | 1 group. Senior Cadets, under the command of Lieutenant Logan. Each team r consisted of 30 men. One umpire accom- • panied ' each team. The umpires were ' Major H. Peacock. Captain W Q. Kowifh, • Captain S. Mellpwes, and Lieutenant J. ' D. (ramble. Major Sir Robert Walker was chief umpire. The distance to be covered ! was one mile. As far as could be judged • last night, A Battery appeared to hav« 5 been most successful, on tho evening's 5 work. This team reached a point not fa* 1 distant from the propel finishing jwst. Unfortunately two of the team* were given an indifferent lead, through the officers in r command failing to make due allowanco t foi a variation in the compass. ! Tho competition will be continued at * future dale. Lady Walker has promised a silver challenge cup to the winning tea®.