CONCLUDING STAGES OF SHOOTING AT TRENTHAM

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12393, 12 March 1926, Page 11

CONCLUDING STAGES OF SHOOTING AT TRENTHAM

NOVEL BATTLE MANOEUVRES PERMANENT STAFF WIN REGIMENTAL TEAMS MATCH (“Times” Special Reporter.) IRENTHAM, March n. Teams matches and battlefield manoeuvres were the chief events at the Army rifle meeting to-day, most of the individual events having been disposed of yesterday. The regimental and services teams match was fired, the cadet and machine-gun Sections also finishing up their competitions. All that now remains is the shoot for the King’s medal, which will be fired to-morrow morning.

There was no wind on the ranges to-day, and in the afternoon a strong sun beat down upon the competitors in the Services match.. The fine weather which has prevailed throughput the meeting has enabled the officials to keep well ahead of the schedule, with the result that the finish will be recorded sooner than was at first anticipated, In fact several extra matches were fired to-day on account of the men having time on their hands.

The roost interesting feature of the day’s operations was the battle practice, while the second phase of the night firing—with the Vickers guns—was disposed of this evening.. MACHINE-GUN SHIELDS The mqchine-gun events were most interesting, and all types were seen in action on the ranges at different work. The Northern depot captured the McKinley Cup. which was shot for for the first time. This trophy was presented by Lieut.-Colonel W. W. McKinley, officer commanding the New Zealand Army Service Corps. The contest for the Stratford Shield was also instituted, tfor the first _ time, the points involving the battalion Vickers and Lewis guns and rifle teams. The shield was presented by the Mayor, councillors and townspeople of Stafford, England, fo commemorate the kindly feeling of the people to those New * Zealanders who . were stationed at Brocton camp during the Great War. This was won by North Auckland with an aggregate score of 758 points. The central command nermanent staff took the regimental teams match with a score of 632, First Battalion Wellington Regiment following with 603. - x , In the afternoon a demonstration of Vickers, Lewis Hotchkiss guns and individual rifleß was held,. and after each had concluded its firing, all guns were turned on one target in a concentrated' fife—merely to show the effect- of the united ramifications of tie whole front.