OTAGO INFANTRY BRIGADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15736, 12 April 1913, Page 10

OTAGO INFANTRY BRIGADE.

ENCAMPMENT AT SUTTON,

REMAINDER OF TROOPS ARRIVE.

(Feom Oue Special Rbforteb.)

SUTTON, April 11.

Operations at the Territorial encampment here proceeded satisfactorily to-day, and the period of "marking time," which had obtained prior to the arrival of the remainder of the troops, was concluded. A marked change for .the woree occurred in the weather during the day, and interfered to some extent with the prescribed manceuvres. Last night the air was mild almost to the verge of warmness, and the morning broke hot and muggy, with thunderclouds looming ominously overhead. Early in the afternoon rain commenced to fall, and some heavy driving showers were experienced, which made matters most unpleasant for everybody. The troops, however', submitted to their illfortune with a good grace, and disposed themselves as comfortably as circumstances would permit.

In the morning the three regiments in camp carried out routine drill, similar in nature to that which has occiroied their attention during the past few days. The 14th regiment settled down to its work speedily under Colonel M'Clymont and Captain Henderson, who, so far, had always led the other regiments to the drilling areas. During the day outpost work and battalion drill occupied the attention of this regiment, and the men acquitted themselves extremely well. The men of the eighth regiment were engaged upon attack practice this morning, and also gave a good showing.' In the words of the officer commanding this battalion (Major 'Watson's) they " destroyed the enemy eo effectively that it,was not even necessary to entrench the ground.'' The point of.this remark may be better appreciated when it is mentioned that the equipment for entrenching work has not yet come to hand. In the afternoon the eighth regiment was variously engaged upon musketry instruction and defence work. The tenth regiment carried'out a very efficient outpost scheme during the morning, tinder the. guidance of the officer in charge (Captain Vine). The afternoon was devoted to carrying out the annual musketry course of the regiment, and this work was well advanced an spite of the unfavourable conditions.

The chief event to-day was the arrival of the main body of the troops, thus bringing up the total number of men at present under canvas to considerably'over 2000. The parade statements giving tho exact number of men and officers in camp are not yet available, but it i 6 expected that all the regiments will be only a few men short of their complements. The 4th (Otago) regiment, mustering 423 men and 17 officers, under the command of Colonel M'Ara, entrained at Dunedin promptly at half-past ten' this morning, and set out for the camp. At Green Island another company of 43 men and one officer was entrained, which, with the detachment of this regiment previously in camp, brings its present strength up tb 21 officers and 476 men. The following troops were also entrained at Dunedin this morning;—A detachment of the coast defence, numbering 46 men, 3 officers,, and 41 men of the signalling corps and one officer and 45 men of the field ambulance' corps. Sutton was reached at 10 minutes past 1, and the regiment was expeditiously de|'trained, after which it was drawn up in quarter-column ' formation. Within 20 'minutes the large body of men, numbering in-all-742 rank and file, moved off in the direction of the camp in columns of fours. Driving showers of rain were encountered during the greater part of the journey, but the brisk march kept the men warm, and but littlo grumbling was heard. Shortly before half-past 2 the troops were played into camp by the 14th Regimental Band, and were met by Colonel Smith and Captain Moore. Within a very short space, of- time the men had been allotted their tents and were making their new homes as comfortable as possible.'' In some cases nine and 10 men were placed in one tent, and this was the cause of considerable complaint in the ranks. In addition to this they were only allotted one bale of straw per tent, as compared with, one and a-h-alf bales at the Wai-rongoa camp last year. The transport arrangements for this regiment, which were supervised i;y Captain Price, had been most efficiently managed, and as a result the men's baggage arrived in camp simultaneously with themselves, and was distributed forthwith. Though, it was mentioned in the preliminary instructions that the men were to bring one day's rations with them, they were, nevertheless; served with a hot meal shortly after s'o'clock,

H Company in. this regiment seems to be actuated by an unusual degree of enterprise, for some timo ago the men organised a concert, with the proceeds of which they provided themselves with khaki shirts. This company is the only one in camp that possesses these shirts, arid as the night promises to bo both cold and raw the men will feel tho benefit of them.

The hospital arrangements, which are under the control of Colonel Will (P.M.0., Otago district) are now fairly complete, but are not being utilised to any groat extent, as the health of the men generally is very good. Last night,a private of the 14th Regiment was proceeding to this institution for medical attention, and when crossing the footbridge over the Sutton stream he fell into the water and struck his head on the bottom. The man was not much hurt, but the sudden immersion in the cold waters of the stream, seemed to have affected his memory, fori on arriving at the hospital, he was unable to recall the nature of his complaint.

The remainder of the 10th.and Bth Regiments arrived in camo about 10 o'clock to-night, and were posted to their quarters without delay. Tho detachment of the former numbered. 245 men and five officers, under tho command of Major J. M. Forrester (0.C.), Major Searle (second in command), and Captain F. Hudson (adjutant). The augmentation to the Bth Regiment numbered about 80 men, under tho command of Captain Crowther.

To-night the camp is brisk and animated, as, of course, is only to be expected where over 2000 men arc enjoying themselves in •a wide diversity of Ways. The Y.M.C.A. and Church of England Men's Society Institute are crowded with men writing letters or amusing themselves with jest, song, and story. The weather is damp and cold, with a light drizzle falling, but there is. no wind. Captain Moore's lectures are proving a source of great interest, and are beiiig well attended by the officers.. To-morrow will be occupied in battalion drill, and on Sunday there will be a church parade in the morning and a voluntary service, conducted by the various chaplains, in tho evening.