EASTER MANOEUVRES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6490, 9 April 1908, Page 6

EASTER MANOEUVRES

ARTILLERY WORK.

Tho Royal No 7 .'’ Zealand Artillery will go into camp for tho whole of Easter week at Mahenga Bay—underneath Fort Balkmce. This will not deter available Permanent Force men pitching tents for tho mobile hold forces at Pahautanui and Johnsonvillo.

Nos. 1 and 3 companies (volunteers) will join the Permanent Artillery on the Thursday preceding Good Friday. The Pctono Navals will camp at Dorset Point, Scatoun, and man a battery of quick-firing guns placed on tho cite selected for the new fort- Colonel Campbell has been notified that a force of infantry will bo placed at his disposal for the protection of the forts from land attacks.

The director of artillery has pointed out that although all batteries are well-trained in. fire discipline gunnery and shooting they aro not offio ient in tactical work. The essence of field artillery work is in concealment. Artillery aro warned to use actual and not supposititious entrenchments when necessary. For coast artillery manoeuvres the work for each hour of the day and night for a "week has ucen carefully detailed. BATTLE PRACTICE,

The forts will bo actually manned on Thursday, April 16th, at 8 p.m. On Friday during a time that is secret there will be a '''surprise alarm/’ battlo practice, the R.N.Z.A. classfiring: and the guns tested for errors made during the day. Officers are ordered to pJuy the “war game” based on the scheme of tho manoeuvres. The men will be addressed by the Officer Commanding, and as much as the situation as is deemed advisable explained to them. On Saturday there is to bo an attach by torpedo boit»3 service ;nd battlo practice from all quickfn'or guns, doing range bombardment and field firing at targets representing a landing force will follow. On, Sunday, tho 19th, the day of peace, will settle on Mahenga until midnight, when the armistice will conclude. 'Officers have to visit tho “Red Farce” during the armistice. They will be expected to carry whifyo flags.

On Monday there Trill be a couple of alarms, battle practice and fiol-1 firing to resist the targets that insist ort coming ashore, and at 2 p.m. tho forces under Colonel Campbell demobilise.

The vessels used by tho coast defence will be the Janie Seddon, an oil launch and five cutters. Officers are instructed to rehearse every conceivable form of surprise and tactical situation. It is also an instruction that where it is, absolutely dangerous to fire shell at night blank should be used and war conditions followed as usual. A “danger officer 1 ’ will b© appointed for.each battery and he will be the responsible person in regard to tho use of service ammunition. MILITARY CANTEENS.

Both tho - “Blues” and the “Beds” during Easter manoeuvres will have access te a canteen, tho permission to obtain this military adjunct having boon granted by tho authorities yes-tmd-y.

Speaking to Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, Officer Commanding the Welling - ton Division Garrison Artillery, yesterday a “Times” inquire}- elicted his Opinion cn canteens.

“I would not have a 'canteen within a hundred miles of any troops under my command,” ho said, speaking figuratively. “I have held camps every year since 1887, and have never had a canteen yet. More, canteen, less work.” Colonel Campbell Inti mated that as the troops under his command iiad shown nc distress at the prohibition and had done good w T ork the . necessity for canteens was not apparent. Although not a prohibitionist he would never allow a canteen in a division tamp.

COASTAL DEFENCE.

EXAMINATION OF VESSELS. Efforts will be made during the Easter manoeuvres to carry out as far as possible the actual conditions of war service, which, in addition to the usual volunteer demonstrations, will also include the matter of coastal defence. With a view to this being effectively done, Colonel Tuson, Adju-tant-General of the Forces, has addressed the following circular te the Wellington, Auckland, Lyttelton, and Otago Boards:— I have the honour te inform you that it has been decided te carry out coast defence manoeuvres in connection with harbour defence® . of Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin, respectively," during Easter. During these manoeuvres it is intended to rehearse certain war conditions, including tho examination of vessels entering the harbour, if the Board has no objection. This

examination will bp carried out by a vessel specially detailed to act an 1 examination vessel ’ for several hours eaoh day. It is not anticipated that harbour traffic will -bo inconvenienced, as the examination service will only probably bo put into force during hours when tho

traffic is inconsiderable, probably from II p.m. te 3 a.m. on the nights of 17-18th, 18-l9fch, 19-20fch inst., and from 3 p.m. te 5 p.m. daily. I will be glad if you will kindly- help the department in this matter by bringing it to the notice of shipping masters and the local harbour authorities. I wonld also be glad if you will inform me if your Board has any objection to the carrying out of the scheme as suggested. - The following signals will bo used during the operations:— 1 rocket—Enemy in sight. 3 rockets—Enemy attempting a landing. 3 rockets—Enemy has landed.

The gun alarms will be similar. Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, commanding the Garrison Division of Naval Artillery, trill act as Coast Dfefonoe Commander, and Captain Richardson as director of all harbour defence 1 operations at Wellington. The 'chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board (Mr T. M. Wilford) states with regard to this request that, so far as the Board is concerned, it must regard the matter as one for arrangement between the Council of Defence and the shipping companies.

Major Macintosh, who .will be in command of tho Raster manoeuvres^ of the First Battalion Wellington Rifle Volunteers, has issued his orders ia regard to. falling in, baggage, etc. Tho hail alien, less J Company, null fall in at the central drillshod on Thursday, the 15th inst. t 7.45 p.m., to proceed to Johnsonvillo. The

baggage must bo at tho drillshod and ready to go on the waggon at 7 p.m.

No. V Company, Wellington Engineers, will parade at 7.30 to-night at tho Buckle street drillshed, when iho Officer Commanding tho district will present the Now Zealand ICnginoors* Annual Challenge Shield which tho company has won for the current roar.