THE TERRITORIALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15708, 10 March 1913, Page 8

THE TERRITORIALS

CAMP AT MATARAE. The Field Artillery Brigade eamp at Matarae was brought to a conclusion on Saturday, when all threo companies—B Battery, C Battery, and the Engineers—returned to their homes. The striking of tho tents was left to the staff -of permanent men, who will remain in camp for a few days so that no delay was experienced in leaving Sutton, tho train moving off punctually at 12.30 p.m., and reaching Dunetiin nt 3.40, enabling tho Invcrcargill men to go south by tho second express. Capital weather prevailed' throughout the week, and a pleasant and profitable timo was experienced by all ranks. On Friday the men were inspected by General Godley, other visitors to the camp being Colonol Bauchop {O.C. district), and Mr John Wilson (Mayor of Dunedin). The two batteries were paraded on tho rising ground above the camp, and after inspection £y tho General proceeded -to the shooting ground, taking up separate positions, and each firing several series at targets on the hillside behind Gladbrook Station. On completing these series B Battery limbered up, and proceeding across country, ranged up in lino with C Battery, tho eight gun 6 opening fire on infantry entrenched on tho hillside some three or four thousand yards distant. The spectacle was unique in tho military history of Otago, and,to those who witnessed it magnificent and impressive. The service of the guns was splendid, the men being remarkably quiet and steady, and the smoke over the heads of tho "enomy" indicated how accurato was tho shooting. On th© order "cease firing" the men were ranged up and briefly addressed by General Godley, who expressed his pleasuro at being present to inspect tho two batteries, and at the work which they had carried out. The way in which they had driven up and taken ground was splendid; Tho work of C Battery \vas excellent, considering it was but a new battery, and had not long been equipped with the new 18-pounder guns. B Battery's shooting had also been excellent in view of the fact that they were using old guns. They would shortly bo provided with new howitzers— the most modern guns in tho world—and in his opinion they wero very worthy to have them. In conclusion General Godley again expressed his pleasure at tho work of the batteries, and at the progress which they had made since the last annual camp, ajjd paid a tribute to tho work of tho drivers in such rough country. ' The Engineers were also inspected by the General, who expressed his lively sense of satisfaction at their general appearance and at the practical work which had been done.

A pleasing feature in connection with tho camp has been the total absence of complaint by the men under canvas as to the manner of their treatment. There has not been a word of serious criticism on tho commissariat department, for which praise is due to the various quarter-masters concerned. Especially is this so in the case of B Battery, Quartermaster-sergeant West, being as of old, unfailing and far-seeing in his supervision of this important detail.