VOLUNTEERS AT WORK

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6451, 24 February 1908, Page 6

VOLUNTEERS AT WORK

FIELD I>AY ON SATURDAY. TIU<: WLLLNOTON BATTALION. infn'it v volunteers took tho Held .",n Soturdn.v'afternoon, pre tty ;..im"h .it Lhi- way .ley would hove hod to laT; it hod tin- Yl„ Patricks ( cadets Iksti the real erimny they reprcseriicd. Thai, is to say. the battalion wight have stayed in the hold v.nof rations ami shelter. Klaboratf preparations had hem. made f„r the ram l.v the St. Patrick's College cadets. iM'dfjr the officer eonirmimiinß tbo district. and ;i fboiightful Rceeim* i«d h m-n carefully considered whereby thri fotvc might get safely pa:.t the forces that were out to destroy them a,d Pike the foyts. The destroying: force was well equipped, for it had two

•tipis (A tile L> I hit lory, transport rain.ns. tents, camp equipment, a field telneranh, nnd—for tho first time—-si-mailers.

li these essentials were really used, and use.l with effect. The invaders, it world appear, took up a position at the -Miramar cutting before tho appoints d Uiia , the V hief-of-Slafl', ir. Ins atHro-s to tho ofTieors after Hie battle, mentioning that tliis was n breach of manoeuvre etiquette. It is possible, however, tliat this raiding force may have been on the ground in order to .• econnoitre it before moving to ihe country on tho Soatoun heights, whore it was arranged tho operations should begin. M’hatovor advantage this occupation may have given the emdets. il would appear to tho unbiased spectator that in effect there is not a living member of tho gallant band. From Crawford's road tho invaders could lie clearly soon with the aid of firld ghissccj, hub it was evident tliat the officer commanding this force was insisting on his men taking cover wherever possible. The country fought o’ver is extremely well adapted for such manoeuvres, the Chief-of-StaiF holding that there is none so good near any of the centre** in New Zealand The WeUingtm battalion, under Col Duthio, was exceptionally well handled The reads at Ktlbirme viero properly patrolled, and the weak spots held with effect. Tho cyclists were used with groat discretion as despatch l)oa/rers. Tho advance lino of the force was in constant communication with the commanding o/fice.r’s headquarters by tele phono, and tho signallers were placvd in such positions as to bo able to easily read their comrades’ messages, although well hidden from the enemy. Tho ground had been reconnoitred and t hero noddy examined previous to tho operations. Tho ranges had boon ascertained and tho natural features of tho country used with care. Tho battelion move:! forward to tho attack in columns of companies, wide severed and well spread out. Officers commanding companies entered inbj tho spirit of tho fight, and this was all tho more creditable as no ammunition was used, it having been deeded that owing to the extreme dryness of the gra-ss this would bo dangerous to property. Blank cartridge will often fire grass. Holding troops in reserve at the base was a good line, for it is certain had ihere been any method of calculating casualitics choy would have been needed to strengthen the firing lino. It is likely that tho enemy, who was a omfty person, had refused to bunch bis men, and with the aid of fieldglasses one could momentarily pick up small detached parties of him here and there.

The battalion used its field guns with effect. Although no shots were fired, the guns to tho right and left flank aero carefully screened, and it was impossible for friend or foe to see gun or gunners. The invader's gun was also well hidden. The scouts, flankers, rearguards and screens of both sides did tluir duty in a workmanlike manner, and returning to the base, in time for the arrival of the transport with the baggage, all hands directed tents, drew rations and cooked and ate them. The bearer corps, with its red-cross ambulance gaggon. added the touch of reality, and officers and men seemed to fool that some good had been accomplished, The sandy downs of the Miramar peninsula, and the Seatoun hills offer .a splendid school for military manoeuvres, the heights of Kil birnio are suitable for the purposes of oliservation, and there is ample space on tho flats to erect tents. The Chief-cf-Staff, i addressing tho officers after the manoeuvres, expressed himself pleased with the work done. He pointed out some minor defects, and asked Colonel Duthie to take his men nut on a similar expedition when there was no longer any fear that blank cartridge might fir otho grass. Following is the parade state, excluding the invading force fund the artillery and engineering sections.— Staff G, Guards 31. College Rifles. 39. Kolhuvnes 3-1, Civil Service 35, Post and Telegraph 42, College 25, Zealandia 39, Highlanders 30, Field Hospital and Bearers 1.2. Cyclists 8. The battalion band marched to the base with tho troops, but did,not fall in after the manoeuvres. I

THE CADET CAMP.

PRESENTATION OF SHOOTING TROPHIES. Formed up in a square, with their faces about three shades browner than when their camping experiences started, the Third Cadet Battalion paraded on Saturday afternoon at the camp in Hutt Park racecourse to witness the presentation of shooting trophies by the Hon. James McGowan, Minister of Mines and Justice. Major Burlinson was in command, and tho other officers on parade were Adjutant Bctihune and Quartonuaste-r Bennett. The visitors included Messrs W. H. Field, M.P., F. K. De Cb.stro (of the Education Department), G. L. Stewart (secretary of the Wellington Education Board), and Inspectors Tennant and Oukewell.

“Junior Soldiers of the King” was tho form of address used' by tho Minister in speaking to tho assembled cadets. Ho first presented to the Potono Company tho Kobbell shield, which they won this year in a district shooting competition with a score of 400 out of a possible 420. Ho complimented tho team open doing so well, and suggested that their ability to shoot straight might make them valuable citizens if over the time came to defend their country from an enemy., They had learned to shoot straight, and another important thing was to bo able to live straight. If they could do both, they need not fear anyone on the face of tho earth. Mr \V. H. Field, M.P., who represented tho Wellington Education

Hoard, conveyed Captain KcbbclTs ;; -<‘>l mvj* for ‘hir, uou-a Momiance, due ‘to th t fa t tha, fie had, l;k>- many oJier l-o pioiecL ins home Iroui hush fire*.

Tiie Hon. James McGowan presented to Private Walton, of Levin District liicb Sob oi, the Colonial Ammunition company’s cup offered to the highest scorer in the North island Challenge shield competition within tho combined education districts of Wellington, Wanganui, and Taranaki. Three oncers were given far the winners; -Mr iiorno, headmaster of IV tone District High School. thanked tho lion. James McGowan and other visitors for their attendance, and this ended the ceremony.

Tho Minister officiated, as judge in a dean-tent comoctition. He inspected tho whole camp, finding everything orderly, and the boys smart and intonated hi their work. Tho camp is run on military lines, with a guard night ami day. Military custom is also followed in having a canteen, whore, instead of beer, the young soldier obtains gingf'rado and similar beverages, and tho popular lollie. Air -McGowan caused much jubilation among tho juvenile military by handing Major Buriinson a sum sufficient to enable every cadet to sample tho attractions of tho canteen. . On two occasions last week, Colonel Robin, of the Defence Council, showed his interest in tho cadet movement bv visiting the camp. He was received by Mqor Buriinson at the head of tho battalion, and tho companies were put through a scries of tactical exorcises. ARTILLERY CAMP.

Tie first camp of the Wellington Division of Garrison Artillery, Colonel G. E. C. Campbell commanding, oop'*, eluded on Saturday. Thoro is a misconception in the city that tho camp just hold is the camp of tho Wolkiigton Nava la alone. Tho division, however, includes all the Garrison Artillery. On Saturday mourning the smoke over the harbour was too dense to permit quick-firer class-firing to be done, and in tho afternoon inability to obtain full squads necessitated the postponement of the quick-firer until blaster. No. 1 Company wras, therefore, not on duty. No. 3 Company (Electric Light section) wore examined individually on Friday night and on Saturday, these examinations finishing at 5 o’clock. The division struck camp, and returned to town in the Defence boat Janio Seddon. Speaking to a “ Times ” reporter last night, Colonel Campbell remarked that the camp bad been a highly successful on© from the ik)int of view of instruction and ofticiency. Ho was satisfied with the keenness and intelligence shown by all ranks during tho past fortnight.

SHAM FIGHT. Feilding was besieged on Saturday by an army of attackers from Pahneiston, consisting of about a hundred and fifty cadets from tho College street and Oampboll street schools, in charge ot Captain Warden, lieutenant Haydon and Lieutenant Lyons, and a company of the Manawatu Mounted Rifles under Captain Peach. The army travelled bv train to Aorangi, the plan of campaign being that tho invaders had readied Oroua bridge during the previous night, and had thrown out cutposts across the river. Feilding put up a desperate fight, hut were worn down bv weight of numbers, and eventually counted out. Tho vanquished warriors wore generous, and feasted the conquorors. Major Tatum in charge of tho Third Regiment Mounted_ Kifl.es, watched the operations and addressed the men. . _____