THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15064, 10 February 1911, Page 3

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

By. Skktry.

[Items of interest • concerning corps (town and country), shooting, and defence matters generally will be accepted. Copy, addressed to " Sentry," should be in hand by noon on Thursday.]

The location o? the camp in which the Dunedin lingineers are established for their annual course of 16 days' training is that charming spot in Kaikorai- Valley, where several previous camps have been held. Parades are held morning and evening. The daily routine during the camp is:— Reveille, 5.30 an 3 parade at 5.65; breakfast, 6.30; dinner, 6.20 p.m.; parade, 7; first, post, 9.30; last post, 10; lights out, 10.15. At the morning parade the members are practised in physical drill ami semaphore signalling, and in the evening field engineering work is carried out. Tho signallers also practice signalling with flage and lamps, and the members of the telegraph section will receive instruction in construction of telephone lines and the ■different parts of the instruments, etc. After spending Friday and Saturday with B Battery, Lieutenant-colonel Smyth will inspect the 3rd Battalion, whioh goes into camp at Oaniaru to-day. It is rumoured that a fourth company of Garrison Artillery is to bo formed in Auckland.

The following non-commissioned officers passed the medical tost at Dunedin on Wednesday, and left yesterday to join tho camp at Tauherinikau:—Colour-sergeant Alexander, Colour-sergeant Edwards (King's Rifles), Colour-sergeant Muir (Ist Railway Pioneers), and Sergeant O'Hara (Cluthn. Rifles). Mr Lynoh, a civilian in the Railway Department, also passed, but. was unable to make immediate arrangements to attend the camp! Uo Ist Battalion Otago Rifles will parade at the Caversham tram torminus to-morrow, when tho judging distance and entrenchment tests- in connection with tho Shield Competition will be carried cut Twenty-five years a member of one company constitutes a record to treasure with pride. Last Friday Captain Dempster completed his 25th year with the Dunedin Hiljhja.nd Rifles, in which company, commencine from the bottom, he has attained the' top"run.g of the ladder. Captain Dempster, who was not in camp with the Ist Battalion, proposes to capitate by _ going into camp with the 3rd Battalion, at Oamara.

A photograph of rare interest, _ rtproEonting the personn-el of the Dunedin (Sly Guards in 1874, was reproduced in Jast week's ii>sue of the Otago Witness. Lieu-tenant-colonel Smith, who supplied the original, has been able to identify all but ■three in tile picture, and will be glad of. information as to the three unnamed. His address is Water street, Dunedin.

Congratulations to Lioutenant-quartor-nwster MonorielT, who this evening will receives from members of the Dunedin Highland Rides and a few friends a gift to mark the occasion of his approaching marriage.

Tine "Lost Post" fimotion which the Dunedin Navals were in the midst of arranging when they wero recalled to life tentatively, will now be proceeded with, the date mentioned being towards the close of thifl month. It is proposed to make this a memorablo function of some magnitude, the Garrison Hall being retained for it, and leading civic dignitaries being included on tiho list of invitations.

Plans for carrying out the reorganisation of the OtaKo forces under the new scheme have already been laid. In a circular from the local headquarters officers commanding l-egiments a.nd battalions are instructed to proceed at once with the formation of such new oompanics or reinstating of reserve companies, or recruiting for existing companies, as may be required, and to forward as soon as possible their recommendations villi regard to the appointment or promotion of officers or non-commissioned officers who may bo required to complete the establishments.

As the outcome of the visit of the Commadant to Dunedin, it has been decided to organise troops between Winton and Kingston, tapping such townships as Lumsden, Athol, etc. It'is probable that the reserve corps at Qucenstown will be reinstated. Captain Morris, formerly adjutant of the Third Battalion, with headquarters at Oamaru, has tendered his services to raise in Oamaru the Mounted Brigade Communication Company. It ie understood that acceptance of (Ms offer has been recommended Tho Mounted Ambulance Company will probably bo established at, Invorcargill. Lieutenant-colonel Bowler has the matter in hand, and is calling a meeting of the local medical men to discuss the proposiKelso Mounted Rifles (at present attached to the Second Regiment Otago Mounted Bifles), and Clutha Mounted Rifles and Tuapeka Mounted Rifles (of tho First Regimon't), together with a fourth squadron yet to be found, will comprise tho new Third Regiment. The fourth squadron will probably h» raised in tho vicinity of "lilto'n or Clinton. Lieutenant-cclonol M'Clymont has been asked to recommend an officer to undertake tho raising of this squadron. Captain 6. H. Stewart, O.C. Kelso Mounted Rifles, being tho senior officer in the companies comorising tho new regiment, it is nrnbnble that he will bo given command "of the Third Rcirimcnt. Following tho same principle, Captain Grigw, of the Clutha Mounted Rifles, should bs second in command. . Lieutenant Williams, of the Dunedin Engineers, ■ has in hand the organisation of the new field troop of Engineers. It, is understood "thut the Oroti Rifles hav<s applied for permission to bo'Ofne n nucleus" of the peoond "e'd artillery battery, which is to be located nt Invcrcnrpjll, nrdf that the granting of the application hns been recommended. TWs should prove a fortuitous arrangement, the Owti Rifles havim originally been the I Battery. Under the new scheme there arc. nlc , '

of vacancies for officers. In addition to t.lie officers required to fiill present vacancies and to take charge of new companies there will l>e required complete brigade staffs of officers for both mounted and infantry brigade?. The Imperial establishment for a monnW briffado includes ono brisadiergcneral (colonel nresumably would be the rank here), one aide-dc-cani]), one brigadiermajor, one staff cantain, and ono signalling officer. An extra officer will be required to take charge of the Dunodin section of thn Garrison Artillery corps, 'whose headqunrtors lire to be n't Port Chalmers. It is prolwblp that this section will comprise about 20 men, drawn, it is hoped, from tV late r>iin«!i.! Nnvsds. invl t''"t i< - ; " drill at Central Battery, with the object of manning the. β-incli ?in> at, Troro:Heads. It is considered •"'•■"'-' that nny of the officers of tlio old Duncdin Navals will accept this command. Members of B Battery left in great heart tor their trek which is bow prooeedioK

between Hampdon and Oamaru. Capital preparatory work has been done in tho camp at Tahuna Park. . Throughout the camp, although' there was some unsettled weather, not a parade was misfed. An idea of the work done is Rained from the fact (hat the examination of the following was completed :—Four officers, 23 non-eoinmis-sicnod officers, 59 men in laying, 39 men in gunnery, 25 men in driving, and four trumpeters. Quartermaster-sergeant West saw to it thitt the men were well fed, and tho result was a congenial canra. Jjieuienant-colonel Smyth (O.C. District), Captain. Gard'ner (R.N.Z.A.), Captain Ellis (Pctone Navals), Lieutenant, M'Kon/ie (1) Battnry). and Surgeon-captain O'Neill purposed witnessing the trek and tho shooting.

On previous oocasions a squad from tho Duncdin Engineers has accompanied tho Battery to undertake the signalling work during the shoot. This year, owing to the excellent state of efficiency to which the Battery's own specialises have attained under the direction of Corporal Burn, there will be no need for signallers from another branch of tho service. It is worthy of remark that these specialists, whoso work includes sketching, signalling, range-find-ing, and a host of other matters, havo gained a good deal of their knowledge in 1 their own timo, frequently spending Saturday afternoons studying one or other branch of their duties.

The Field Ambulance detachment which accompanied tho B Battery to Hampdon showed fine enthusiasm, being willing to sacrifice two ami a-hnif days' wages in order to attend.

Tho following announcement with reference to the probationary appointments at the training camp is published in a northern paper "by authority' , : —"Tho following officers and non-commiseioned officers have left the camp at Tautercnikau —Captain Harris, Sergeants Don, Hoklen, Johnston, Kerr, Ryan, and Peers, 6ome at their own request. The Commandant hopes it will bo dearly understood that in no case has there boen any, fault to find, with those officers and non-commissioned officers. They havo worked extremely hard and well during tho whole time they have bren at camp, and only leave booaueo it is realised by the authorities, and in moot casca by themselves, that they do not in a.ll respects quite fulfil tho very high standard of military qualification required in new adjutants and area non-commis-sioned officers.'"

A correspondent inquires the year in which an Easter encampment of Otago Volunteers was first held in Oama,ru. Can any reader supply?

" Trooper's" complaint last week has served a useful purpose, as witness tho two contributions which follow this paragraph. " Tommy Tussock, Junior" will please accept "Sentry's" thanks for hie notes.

Dear "Sentry,"—"Trooper" has been complaining that there wore no notes from tho 2nd Regiment O.M.R. while they woro in oamp at Wyndham.

Perhaps " Sentry" will remember that at that camp, as well as at tho Ist Regiment camp, there was a C.E.M.S. Regimental Institute, and had ho arranged with tho representative of tho institute ho would, without doubt, have supplied you with copy and notes. Other journals interested in tho camp did this, and were not without note. Perhaps " Sentry" will remember this whenever he would like notes of camps more distant than he can ceonveniently get at, for there may be an institute at each camp if' arrangements can be successfully made from time to time. Wishing " Sentry" and the Tcrritorkla all good health,—l am, always, Dunedin, February 6. On Guard. "Sentry" will always bo pleased to receive notes from tho promoters of that excellent institution, the C.E.M.S. Regimental Institute. 2nd REGIMENT UNDER CANVAS. Dear " Sentry,"—Having noticed that you would like some notes concerning the doings of 2nd Otago Mounted Regiment, I venture to send somo impressions 'which, though only those of a " rooky," may amuse, if they do not instruct, the older liande—l moan, tho veteran service men.

Perhaps you know that tho regiment has been recruiting all tho past winter. A good many old hands had dropped out. I mean, had taken thciv discharges. Is that right? However, there were vacancies, and I filled ono of thorn. I think tho feeling with mo6t of us who were recruits was that wd wanted to join a livo lot of men, and do our work in our country and under men wo knew. So we joined our local troope wherever we lived. All winter we had to work. Every Saturday fortnight, no matter what the weather, drill was liolcl—turnings, _ physical drill, riflo drill, saluting, marching, signals, shooting, and I don't remember all the rest. Sometimes wo had tho whole afternoon shooting, and then finished up with drill about 10 at night. At last tho sergeant-major seemed fairly satisfied, and we had all to attend a parade to be passed ' into tho 6quadron by tho captain and adjutant. At tho parade wo hoard about camp, and before long received our orders to attend it. "Uniform, arms, sufficient blanket*;, cleaning gear for hoieo and man," etc. Well, I thought of everything, rolled up about five blankets, put in a lot of things my corporal told me to leavo behind, forgetting my toothbrush, and at last reached the station in time to truck the horses. At eovoral stations wo. gathered our men, and at last steamed into Wyndham. Quietly the horses were led out. and saddled up, and in a. very short time wo were formed up ami vrcro riding off two and two, while carts followed with tho baggage. We new chums at tho game had just to do as we were told, and as each recruit had an old hand near him we couldn't go far wrong. When we reached camp some of U3 had to hold horses, while others were placed on eentry over baggage, and others put up tents or dug post holes or fastened tether ropes. When tents and horeo lines were up wo oarried straw for bedding and put our lugago into our placee. By this timo wo were all told off into tents, troops and fours all together, horses in front of us, so that we could turn out quickly. We were glad of tea in the big marquee, and after tea had a little time to seo what tho other squadrons were doing. Then the bugles seemed to be going continually, and in a little.we were told it was timo 'o turn in, and before I was half undressed someone said, "Lights out," and our corporal blew out tho candle, saying "Lcok alive, next timo, young 'un." Straw beds are not half bad, and we wore all tired, but some who were not far oft would talk almost all night, and brought on us all a " wigging" next morning. On Sunday we turned ont early, watered horses, cleaned up lines, groomed and fed the horses, cleaned up tenle, then breakfast. After breakfast a general clean-up, and then church parade, a piano for an organ, two chaplains in uniform, and the colonel leading the regiment in the singing. When that crowd started to sing it sounded fine. After Eervico we had a

bit of drill, then dinner, and after dinner had the horses out. and they wore glad to have a scamper. Then we had leave to go for a stroll, and a good many of us went.. Some to church, some to see friends, and some to fice the country, while many walked about making acquaintance with tho men of other squadrons. It was fine to see about 300 men in camp, and to watch the different ways of doing the work.—l am, etc., Tommy Tussock, Jbniob. [Here tho printer intervenes, and bids " Sentry " insert tho lino —" To be continued."]