New Zealand Mounted Rifles.

Otago Witness, Issue 2397, 8 February 1900, Page 36

New Zealand Mounted Rifles.

The above is a reproduction upon a reduced scale of a military plan issued at Arundel on the 9th December last, and subsequently sent by Major Robin to his people in Dunedin, as likely to be of interest here. It was accompanied by a memorandum, which would probably be sufficient to make its meaning clear to all who have an elementary knowledge of military tactics, but a few words of explanation may not be out of place. We shall reproduce the memorandum at the close of this paragraph. The " orders "in conjunction with the plan detail the position which each division of " Our Contingent " would take up upon an alarm being given; and they provide for a retirement in case that should be neetjssary. All the positions are marked, and the directions are clear and specific. The mark "M.N.," indicates magnetic north. The plan and the accompanying orders relate only to our fragment of the troops then at' Arundel, and to obtain any comprehensive idea of the plan of defence, knowledge of all the other plans and orders would be necessary. Still this gives some idea of the foresight displayed, and the precautions that are taken, as a matter of ordinary military duty. It will be seen that every little unit of the force has its allotted work mapped out ; so that there may be no confusion and no mistakes ; that no section of the troops may be left ineffective, and that if it is best to hold the men in reserve they may still occupy the most effective positions. All contingencies are provided for, as far as pos- I sible, and in the event of a retirement being necessary, either because of a reverse, or for stratagetical reasons, clear directions are ; given as to how the retirement is to be made, so as to fit in with other movements, and to combine an impregnable position. It will be noticed that an order is given to intimate any purposed retirement on the part of our men to the artillery, which is a less mobile force, and will, of course, have had its plan of operations previously made known to it. It will also be noticed that every section in action has a knowledge of the range and direction of our guns, and that so far as is known the locale of the enemy is indicated. Other directions ancl instructions are given, the value of which is obvious, and as was anticipated by Major Robin, the plan and copy of the orders will probably prove of interest to the public, and especially to volunteers — officers and men. The memo, accompanying the plan was as follows : Rough idea of defence of Arundel as far as concerns the N.Z.M.R.'s, which had to be hurriedly drawn up. Other troops, of course, issued their own. That is, the Carbineers, Imperial Mounted Infantry, 6th Dragoons, New South "Wales Lancers, Berkshire (three companies). This was done on return, 9th December, from a two days' running engagement against odds six to one. Since then the enemy did attack, but he got very badly mauled by our four guns, Horse Artillery. Orders for occupation of position allotted to N.Z.M.R.'s in case defence of Arundel necessary: — 1. On alarm all horses to be saddled up and tents lowered. No. 3's to saddle horses, and, under an officer, be marched to hollow at back of camp for cover. 2. JNfo. 1 Division No. 1 Company to proceed to hold t"he kopje marked B, and defend it to flank and front, as may be required. No. 2 Division 1 Company to proceed and hold kopje A, to enable No. 1 Division to fall back on it if necessary, or No. 2 reinforce No. 1 Division if necessary. No. 3 Division No. 1 Company to remain in head of hollow way, close to A in support, Nos. 1 and 2 Divisions of Nc. 2 Company to form on front face of A; No. 3 Division No. 2 to form in hollow way some distance nearer railway neck than No. 3 Division of No. 1 Company, to support. 3. Should a retirement of the kopje be necessary, it must be quickly carried out by all making by the shortest route to the hollow way, and down to kraal and farm in neck. Warning to be first given to artillery. 4. I will be on • -kopje A" somewhere about mark *. Captain Davis will command the section towards the ''flank, Captain Madock that towards the front. 5. It will be necessay to exercise contol oyer the expenditure of ammunition, and each division and section leader must impress this on their men.

A. W. EOBIN, Major N.Z.M.R.