EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16183, 19 September 1914, Page 11

EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

TAHUNA CAMP. Another day of steady work was put in yesterday by the men at tho Tahoina camp. Tho infantry were engaged in platoon and oompany training and drill, under their various officers, aid the mounted squadrons were engaged in separate duties. The 12th Regiment, under Major Grigor, was at tho PeJichet Bay rifle range, doing musketry training. Tho 7th Regiment, under Major M'Kenzie, left camp in the morning, and was engaged in reconnaie&anc© work at Mount Grand all day, having taken forage and provisions to last the day. The sth Regiment, under Major Orbell, was engaged in outpost and other tactical work at tho Tomahawk Beach. The long spell of continual and steady training has had its effect on both arms in the oamip, and all the men arc showing now a briskness in obeying orders and a thoroughness in their work to which they were foreign on their arrival. In that respect, indeed, the delay in their departure has been fortunate, for it hae given the officers a chance of " licking thoir men into shape," so to speak, and those officers themselves who have not had experience apart from the general training and oamp work, a useful period in which to grow aocuetomed to command. It is now a very trim little force that will leave Otago, and while it has not. of oourso.. mastered tho finer points that years of training place in tho possession of the seasoned body of troops, it is, neverthelees, a reasonably efficient fighting machine, which may be expected to do good work at the front. Tho army service men —an important branch of the force —are becoming adopt in the use of the highly-organised machinery which makes their work of such supreme importance, and the Ambulance Corps is rapidly perfecting itself in tho details of ite craft. Shooting is an important part of the training of all tho soldiers, and frequent practices at the range aro ensuring that a reasonably high proportion of the bullets fired at the front by the New Zealanders will find their billet. The health of all continues excellent, and tho horses are also proving thoir mettfe by keeping clear of tho eick lines. There are, of course, a fow laid up. bait skilful veterinary treatment is keeping the undesirable list down. There is ahvays music at the oamp. for both the pi.p n and brass bands are practising assiduously. Hie pipe band marched thrmwh the city yesterday, and impressed the publin favourably with its quality. The mcsnbers ofth-e pip? band, on active service, take thfir placo in tho firing line with the rret of tho troops —a privilege denied to tho'brass bandsmen, who engage in ambulance and duties when their services aro not required. If or the first time yesterday tho pin" ban:! plaved at reveille. Vsir'OMS animals whieh act as mascote are to be sen about the cn.mp. and th"?' l 'will, in flll probability, acoompany tho troops on voyage. Practicallv no additions are now lying mad" to the total of the men in camp, whioh will f-'ail at its nresent, strensrth. Tho parade etate was as follows: — Mounted. Headquarters Staff 42 Attached 6 5Ui Regiment 176 7th 176 l?.t,h Regiment 175 Machine gun 27 Total 602 INFANTRY. ■ HeadquartT3 Staff 75 Otago Company 227 Southland Company ' 22,7 North' Otago Company 227 .South Otago Company 227 Base detail ... 101 Machine gun section 18 No. 17 Platoon 3 Attached to medical section 8 Total 1113 Canterbury Mounted Rifles ... 50 Ono of tho offioers in charge of the infantry signalling section, Lieutenant R. E. Egglceton. who was unfortunate enough to lose a wallet containing a large sum of money whilst in camp, was the recipient of a purse of sovereins on Thursday night, subscribed bv the officers of tho mounted regiment REINFORCEMENTS. Entries for the first reinforcements ; cniTrrg in so freely that the «uthor:t .. will be able to ex!»rc ! eo n gi"at : fy;ng dw- . CTctionarv powr in se'cettnc their nrr el>d there i* likely to be n contest, to < speak, in physical -fficVrtc-y for a placn -n the force. Territnrals will lv* se'eetnrl first, then the m'Mi whi hnd tra n ncr of rom<-. ijort. nnd the absolutely 'raw" men ■will have to enro! early to have a ch"iiee KTLDA 'PATRIOTIC CONCERT. W'lli thr> object of swel'-'ntr thn lopal ■Relief Fund a pstriotirs concert ■> to b" held in the Coronation Hall St TC W_i. on W"dn°sday The concert yill be under the patronaore of h>s Worclnp th" Mivor. and a fn 1 ! orchestra, under the leadership nf Mr F F. Thomas, will b~ nrwit. T'i- nnalitv of tho pnt.ertn:pm«nt. may bft gauged from the list of art'sts contr'Tmt'ng: Mr» R. A Power. N. Mav U-"wn. P. Waters. V. Br rep. P. M. B-ittlinm. M«v* "nine's pupils. Messrs .1 Tjeeeh. <T. M M'OonneTl. L'vin Brown, 'and E. Bill. TThleaux. dances, and rniis-'cal and clooutionary items will bo included.