THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15765, 16 May 1913, Page 8

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

By Sentry. [Items of Interest oonoernlng oorps (town and oountry), shooting, and defenoe' matters generally will be aooepted Oopy, addressed to " Sentry," should be In haail by noon on Thursday.] Arrangements arc still "in tho air," but ic is understood that a big parade of Territorials and Cadets will bo held in Dunedin on Juno 2, in celebration of tho King's Birthday and the visit of H.M.S. New Zea-

In weather which is a weird jumblo of rain, hail, sunshine, and frost, with a preponderance of everything except tho sunshine, tho "casuals" in camp at Waitati aro having a mixed experience. One consoling fact is the vindication of tho judgment of those who selected tho site, which up to Wednesday had kept wonderfully clean owing to tho sandy nature of the soil. Up to tho same date the number in camp (lid not exceed 80, but (ho muster is expected to reach the maximum to-morrow. From present indications, it seems likely that a fair proportion of the names on tho books as liable for attendance at this cajnp will bo missing. Tho twenty-five yards' range was Hearing completion, and beforo this will no doubt- be in oommission. A boon at any time, in tho present turbulency of elements the Rev. C. J. Bush-King's regimental' institute will be specially comforting.

Officers commanding districts and their staff officers aro cxpccted to visit annually at least two camps outside their own districts. Colonel Bauchop and Major Grant are fulfilling this condition by visiting this week the camp at Oringi. They previously attended tlio Canterbury infantry encampment. The following men have been chosen to represent, tli-i Kiwi Defence Rifle Club against tho Goodwood Club, on tho former's range, next Saturday, starting at 12 noon sharp; ranges 500 and 600 yards:—Riflemen Keith. F. Crimp, Jon<s| W. Crimp, Johnston, Latta, Keys, Burgess, Fogarty, Brown, D. Parsons, Fletcher; emergency, W. Still. The projected removal of Captain Thorns fiom to Christehurch is no doubt dictated by wisdom in high places, but it is nono the less regretted bv those who have como into contact with him. Taking charge of the Senior Cadets in Otago when the present cadet organisation was quite in tho nebulous state, Captain Thorns had to do somo hard thinking over the mapping out of tho district, the formation of companies, the training of officers and noncommissioned officers, tho allocation of drill centres, the engaging of-drill halls, etc. It is fair to eay that, it is due almost entirely to the zeal and diligence of Captain Thoins, with the assistance of a staff of capable instructors, that the cadet organisation hero is so thorough. As a volunteer officer lie was a bundle of enthusiasm. In the larger sphere as a staff officer ho has been even more so. At the recent camp at Sutton, Captain Thorns wns known for the fnct that lie did everything nt the gallop. This is hut characteristic. Amongst tin' Echeinos in which Captain Thorns has busied himself oil behalf of the cadets is ono for providing trophies anil another for the equipment of up-to-diito bands, ami both eclionies arc well under way. Captain Thorns, who has the satisfaction of looking forward to working under his former commanding officer. Colonel Smyth, will carry away the good wishos of a largo number of Otago friends. Captain Nowlands has commenced the delivery of a series of interesting, instructive lectures on. sanitation lo No. 2 Company N.Z. Engineers. _ The lirst of the lectures (which will be given monthly) was listened to on Wednesday lust with attentive interest. Last week mention was made of a disc system of signalling designed to displace the

flags in certain circumstances. The merits of this disc system were accorded cordial l (.'cognition, but there was really no intention to claim that the invention was akin to the supernatural, as tlio linotype seemiiigly tried to suggest 111 the namo Diety. Tho jJietz Signalling lJiec—that is tlio name. A departure in military etiquette is threatened. A young man presented himself at a recent parade of Senior Cadets and in answer to an inquiry as to his identity ho majestically drew from his jacket an immaculate gilt edged card announcing his namo and occupation and handed it to the astonished inetiiietor. It took iho amazed sergeant-major quite several seconds to realise that this was a Senior Cadet reporting himself for duty.

A very lax moral conscience with respect to Governme'it property is a common failing amongst soldiers in camp Some men who would jealously conserve tlio butter, and the soap, and iho blacking at home, and who would scorn to "lift" their neighbours' washing from the lines, think nothing of carrying off a Government oiled sheet valued at about 7s 6d, or wantonly driving a bayonet through a wash hand basin. Occasionally a venturesomo breaker of the commandment "Thou slialt not steal" has found an opportunity to get away with tlio very tent that has covered him, A oasc of the kind i 6 recalled. A tent had mysteriously ''disappeared from a squadron camp, and later an officer travelling in a railway train observed in the distance a tent of military pattern which he suspected to be the missing one. On his return he was to investigate, but whether or not he traced the culprit was not discloscd. In respect, to the infantry brigade's camp and those which preceded it the Government property was treated with considerable respect, the returns showing a percentage of losses so trifling as to be almost negligible. This is a satisfactory stafe of affairs, and just as it should be. With tho mounted brigade, however, the attention given to these matters has been anything but satisfactory. A visitor to the camp says that Government property lias been left lying about in such a way as to suggest lack of method, and an utter indifference on the part of some to the value of the property.

Printed on good paper and stapled into a presentable brown cover, The Territorial, local journal of 16 pages, designed principally to meet tho wants of Territorials and othere interested in tho doings of the New Zealand Army, makes its first appeal for public support. The attitude of tl'.is publication towards compulsory service is definitely friendly, as tho following extract from the foreword makes abundantly clear; " Wo would like it understood that we have no use for backsliders or others opposed to the Territorial movement, in tlio dominion, neither can we tolerate those ' heroes' who would rather go to prison than endeavour to make men of themselves; nor yet the hoodlums, who, unfortunately, are to bo found ot tho various camps stirring up strifo amongst the men.!' The first issue is eminently readable. The one signed articlc is in Frank Morton's vigorous style. Tho leading article is a sane answer to tha question "Why Should We Train?" An interesting sketch of the career of a V.C. hero is calculated to make a soldier of Major Grant's 'modesty blush. Tho Territorial schome is dealt with in another special article, and there are sundry sketches, verses, and tit-bits of more or less point. Altogether, tho promoters have produced a paper which, if somewhat restricted in tho total of : ts columns, should find an increasing eirclc of readers.

The achievements of the New Zealand Senior Cadets team, which carried all before it in Canada, arc such as the members of that team, along with the whole of the populace of New Zealand, may retain proud memories of. The New Zealand Government has properly deckled to give the members; of the team trophies to commemorate the visit. E.ich member of the team will rcceivo an M.L.H.E. short rifle and a medal. The medals are of gold and enamel, with a representation of tho fkgs of the Dominions (Canada and New Zealand) crossed around, which is inscribed on the obverse side " New Zealand Contingent." and on the reverso side " Canada, 1912," the whole being surmounted bv two crossed rifles. The following is a list of members of tho contingent at present residing in Otago, who will bo recipients of the medal:—Cadet R. S. Park, Cadet A. Bracks, Cadet J. C, Sonieryille, and Cadet N. R. Domigan. Cadet Park will also be presented with a silver cun won by him as a member of the successful tug-of-war team.

MOUNTED BRIGADE CAMP. • An esteemed correspondent forwards tho following lines on the recent Mounted Brigade camp:—Sutton 6eoms a long way from anywhere, but tho journey interested the down-country boyi greatly, and their amazement at the plumb condition of tho sheep was comical. " What do tho sheep live on? Rocks !" Rocks everywhere, and the riders wondered where horses would get 10, but when the time came to gallop tracks were found, and even though rabbitholes were numerous, fow spills, if any, occurred.

Camp life was pleasant; tho largo ntiml>er of men crowding tho various marquees made the evenings lively, and the provision made in tho shape of music, games, boxing, and wrestling, and other athletic exercises, besides tho quiet places for reading and writing, proved very acceptable to all. Thanks are duo, and gratefully tendered, to all the agencies which were at work on behalf of the soldier lads.

The general aspect of the men in camp was young, though here and there a "bieux moustachc "—a rclio of the old days—was 6een, and the vigorous, youth seen on all sides was something ■ to stir the onlooker, and mako him proud of his cotintrv.

The day proved a fairly busy one, though 6omc were heard regretting the old summer camps, with "reveille" at 5.30, and a long summer day ending at dusk. The different regiments fraternised, and got on well together, a friendly rivalry evidently existing between . the "Dandy Fifth," the "Solid Seventh," and tho " Eager Twelfth." Tho action of an officer though, in telling a slouching recruit of his regiment to smarten up for fear of his being mistaken for a man of another regiment in camp, was not calculated to maintain that harmony which tho brigadier desired to see between the" different regiments. Food was good and plentiful, many being unable to dispose of the daily ration. Few complaints were made; somo wcro tho result of a man who,preferred "well-done" meat getting a dripping " undercut," and others resulted from the mess orderly coining last in the row and being short of his supply, but theso little matters were soon righted by the energetic quartermaster, and if a shortage on one article did occur the plenty of another made up for it. The men enjoyed the work, but there was a large number who evidently had never read that the four extra days in- camp were to make up for daylight parades rot held. Some seemed to think that they should bo paid for these four days; some that they should go homo when the week was up. It almost seems as if a uniform system would bo necessary to prevent misunderstanding, and consequently grumbling. The wet days were not enjoyable. Tho soil, churned up by the hoofs of hundreds of horses, was sticky at first, and then slippery, and the tents soon grew damp and uncomfortable. The men stuck to their work to the end, though tho last parties to leave camp on Saturday morning wero not sorry to be out of the mud. Tho journey .home of tlio southern men was rendered very wearisome by the delay on the line. When some of the 7th got home is not known; some _of the 12th took till 4 a.m. on Sunday, if not longer. Tho horses felt the long journey, and somo got down in tho trucks, and could hardly bo got to stand again. The new menagerie stylo of truck, open all round, is a very cold one for ho-f.es to travel in, and also, owing to tho absence of slats of wood on the doors, is apt. to cause accidents, owing to horses slipping when going in or out.

Some of the camp 'life was amusing, but the little jokes were generally confined to parties of friends who made raids on each others' tents in a friendly way, or joined in a melee that caused a pleasant excitement in Ihe lines. Ono joker removed tho last towel from the tent of a cold-water fanatic, and for two days he was reduced to a handkerchief—for his other towel was doing duty as a bandage on a horse's leg. At last the peculiar ait of the flag (lying from the rogimonlnl firtTpolo caught the adjutant's eye, and the lost property was recovered. Of the boxing matches, pillow fichts. and wrestling, the concerts, tho friendly visits amongst the tents little need be slid, but the commencement of a friendly feelintr between the regiments of the Otago Brigade has been the result of tlie camp, and that feeling should crow and help in making the brisrade what all Otngo folk wish it to be—a body of soldierly comrades, readv and willing for anv work which may fall to their lot.