EASTER MANCEUVRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 29

EASTER MANCEUVRES.

EASTER MANOEUVRES

AX ATTACK FROM THE SOUTH,

The natural outcome of the extension of the Volunteer movement is an extended field of operations at any Easter or other encampment Volunteers may hold. The encampment the Volunteers of Otago aud Southland have just entered upon is an instance of this, the manoeuvres outlined for the Easter holidays being on a more extended scale than anything that has been undertaken previous^'. Practical tests of efficiency have become both desirable and necessary, and unless men are given the opportunity of gaining experience and knowledge by actual work in the field on lines as nearly approaching what is met with in active warfare as possible it can scarcely be expected that Volunteers will become what everyone desires to see them — a, body of men which, should emergency arise, will be in a position to successfuly cope with trained troops. The material is there to work upon, but the opportunities to bring out what is best in that material are unfortunately not of frequent occurrence. In provious encampments the officers and men of the Volunteer Force have always evinced a readiness and eagerness to profit by the opportunities placed within their grasp for the attainment of a knowledge of field movements in the open, and arduous and difficult as the duties imposed upon them have in many instances been t they have performed those duties with cheerfulness and without murmur, and have, even under extremely unpleasant conditions, become enthusiastic over their work. It is but little use putting, a. gun into the hands of a man unless he is taught how to use it effectively, and this applies very largely to field movements.- Much may be learnt from drill books, which are admirable in their : way, but what is there learnt requires to •be put into actual practice in the open. It is the school in which the finishing lessons ■ are given, where the student receives a practical demonstration of what he has read, and where a more lasting impression is made upon him. The unfortunate point is that there is such a lapse of time between these field experiences that much rhafc is learnt must of necessity be forgotten. Still, much good must accrue from these practical lessons, no matter, how few and far between they may be. . In the case of the present encampment the men started unfortunately as regards weather, which was bitterly cold and bleak, an experience that will give them an idea of what the conditions of the soldier may be on occasions. The scene in the vicinity of' the Garrison Hall on Thursday evening was a busy one as the- various corps taking part in the manoeuvres prepared to take their departure. The infantry proceeded south by train, while the artillery and engineers had to proceed by road.

THE GENERAL IDEA.

The general idea- of tHe operations which commenced' on Friday is that a force called the Blue has landed at Taieri Mouth with the object, in conjunction with their ships, of forcing their way to a position dominating Dunedin from a south and westerly direction. The ships after assisting the landing party may possibly engage the Ocean Beach and the Taiaroa Heads Batteries. These attempts will be opposed by a- force called the Red. The situation at daybreak on Friday was supposed to be that the Blue, or attacking force, was camped at Otokia, and th& Red. or de^ fending force, in the vicinity of Saddle Hill, the forts- being manned. The first: thing to be done in the morning was to organise commands and prepare for active operations, which were commenced at 2.30 p.m., these operations being^ continued on Saturday. Next morning active operations as far as possible were suspended between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6" p.m. On Monday opera-

tions were resumed and continued 1 until midday. T-he mancewres were not

so miioh to see who would- win or who would lose as to put into- practice the general management of supplies, transports, requisitions- orders, outpost, reconnaissance, and attack and defence under as nearly as possible service conditions, and to show the difficulties an O.C. force has to contend

wifch in the field.

The infantry left town on Thursday night by the 10.20" train, the Field Artillery. J Engineers, aud Bearer Corps inarching out ' by the road. The men of the Fourth Batj talion arrived by the train from the south at 10 p.m. The entraining and detraining i operations were very well carried out, but ! it was noticeable that the squadron was 1 evidently gaining its first experience in j detraining its horses as a squadron. The ! Heavy rain that had fallen the night before had made the district roads almost impassable, and the work of transport was attended with very great difficulty. The men all, however, worked with a will, and in face of serious obstacles manager] to ultimately reach their destinations. The troops were reaching the defending camp all through the night, and it was not til^ nearly midday that everything was got shipshape and the men made as comfortable as the condition of things permitted. A e-'stem of police was organised in the TSefending 1 camp on Friday morning, and it was found necessary to change the base of suouly, owing to the difficulty of transport. Tho mounted men were all engaged in patrol duty during a portion jf Friday. The men were naraded in the morning, and wore addressed by Colonel Smith, and informed of the nature of the manoeuvres about to take place, so that they might have an __ intelligent understanding of what was going on. Signal stations were established to keep up a communication between the different portions of the defending force.

Ths settlers in nearly every instance afforded tho troops every facilit3 T to rnvvy out the operations, and in many cases they kindly placed barns and ouibuildinjrs at the disposal of the nipn, and made them a3 comfortable as nn&aihle.