THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 14

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

By Sentry. In the latest issue of the New Zealand fWtbe is intimated the award of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration to Major J. M. Forrester, 3rd battalion 0.8. V., .and acceptance of the resignation of Lieutenant Mackenzie, of the iWaka-ri Rifles. . . ' . „ :„ Occasionally an intimation appears in the Gazette in less than several xnonths after the happening. This is the caeo in connection with the cashiering of ez-Uip-tain Knyvett. which is duly announced m the current ikue of the Gazette "he having been found guilty of an act to the pre--iudice of good order and military discipline," the dismissal taking eftect as from December 31, 1909. The Dunedin Cycle and Signalling Carps is one of those companies which flemish like a green bay tree, although with perhaps, even lees obtru*eness. Personal enthusiasm from the officers down to the latest recruits furnishes the explanation. Recently permission to go into camp was obtained by the corps. A grant of a specified sum was obtained, but it was not sufficient to cover the cost of a 10 days camp such as is proposed. Thereupon the members of the corps agreed to contribute Ss each towards the cost—an illustration of the interest they have in their training. It is anticipated that about 70 men will go into barracks to-day to work steadily and earnestly in preparation for the examinations to be held at the conclusion of the camp. The training camp just concluded-by JNo. 2 Field Ambulance was one of the best held since the company was formed. Under the skilled direction of their capable officer*—Captain Ritchie, Captain Moore, and Lieutenant Bone—the men worked well* taking a keen interest in the training, and the tnon-commiesioned officers were •right up to the mark in their duties. The men were specially instructed in forming field hospital encampments, dressing stations, stretcher drill, company drill, and waggon drill. The first aid work was also explained and demonstrated. The usual routine of barracks was observed, and the discipline and behaviour of the men was all that could be desired. The O.C. the District inspected the company on Saturday, 15th, when reveille wee Bounded at 4- a.m. The camp was inspected and proceeded to Tahuna Park. He»o the Field Ambulance encampment was formed . by the Tent Division. The Bearer Division proceeded forward,, and formed a dressing station, and from this ' point the bearer 'squads were sent forward to search for wounded (the members of Officers' Training Corps, who have been in camp, furnished the casualties). Wounded .were attended to, brought to the dressing 'station, examined, loaded into waggons, and then taken to the Field Ambulance encampment, when they were placed in tents provided for the sick. Casualties were then examined, the bearer sections were drawn in, and the dressing station was struck. The Field Ambulance encampment was next struck, and the company then marched back to barracks, the whole of the movement being completed by 6.30 S.m. In the afternoon the annual inspection and examination by P.M.O. Lieutenantcolonel Will, Y.D., and the board officers was held, all members present being examined in practical work. This was the close of a very strenuous day's work. The •Pipe Band mustered on Sunday morniiug, 'and played the corps to church at the Car-jg-ill Road Methodist Church, where the Utev. Mr Grigg delivered an appropriate "discourse. In the afternoon the Garrison ■Sand assembled, and gave an _ excellent afternoon's programme. Many visitors inspected, the Field Hospital and Field 'Ambulance encampment, during the afterjncon. Recruits are offering very freely ah present for the Otago Hussars. Lieutenant ■Hastie informs me that he could easily ■recruit up to 100, but in view of the closing of the "Volunteer year shortly he fc not accepting recruits meantime. The opinion is held by some that the will be composed solely of men jotf 21 years of 'age and over, the contention being that all youth* between 18 and EL years of age will be compelled to_ nut &n their training in trie general training Section, and that not until they have completed that term in tha general training jfreetion. may they voluntarily join the, TcrVitorials, or, if necessary, be into the Territorials compttlsorily. The interpretation of the new act, however, is that M a youth is willing to serve in the Territorial Forces he will not be required to .gfcndergo his term in the general training 'section. It is certainly not intended that drouths who have completed their three years 'id tho general training section shall be jDonnpelled to fill the vacancies in the Territorial Force. When there are vacancies in the ranks of the Territorials to be rilled only youths who have still some time to serve in the general training section will •be transferred', and as scon a.s they have completed three years of efficient service, Snoluding the period in the general training section, they will be drafted into the (reserve, unless thev prefer to continue in the ranks of the Territorials. This is Clearly laid down in the Defence Act, clause 28, pa l '- 3 > which reads:— ''Every person under the age of 30 years who has been classified as efficient for three years Shall, in the prescribed manner, be drafted into the reserve, unless, on application, he is permitted to continue in the Territorial Force: Provided that in the case «f members transferred to the Territorial Force from the general training section,

efficient service in the latter shall bo deemed to be efficient service in the Territorial Force." The medical section of the Officers' Training Corps spent a very profitable period in barracks. Out of a strength of 30 a total "of 25 put in the training, and the absentees were all satisfactorily accounted for. Captain Malcolm, the officer commanding, is out of the Dominion at present, but the two tentative subalterns, Lieutenants O'Callaghan _ and Fenwick. controlled judiciously. Lieut.colonel Will, V.D., was present as instructor. Parades were held at 5.15 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7.30 p.m, and lectures were given each evening at 8.30. The lecturers were Lieut.-colonel Will (military hygiene), Captain Ritchie, of No." 2 Field Ambulance (two lectures, with practical demonstrations, on first aid, fracture, and dislocation treatment), and Captain and Adjutant M'Ara (discipline). Everything went smoothly during the camp, and the discipline and behaviour were excellent. Lieut.-colonel Smyth inspected the corps on the 15th, and expressed himself as gratified. Manoeuvres in Stretcher drill and squad company drill were held in Tahuna Pto-k after the inspection at Central Battery. In his inspection of the Australian 1 forces, Field-marshal Kitchener is living up to his reputation for hard work and impenetrability. He is in the saddle at all hours, or whirling along in a motor car in order to reach all points at which manoeuvres are proceeding. He is keen.ly observant of the minutest detail, but he rarely makes a comment unless to his staff officers, whilst his taciturnity is such that when he smiles the newspapers record the circumstance. Writing of the miwiceuvrej of the New South W T a!es troops a Sydney scribe tells that there were mistakes—■ many of them, —and Lord Kitchener, in the ordinary run of things, was not flow to notice them and to comment upon them in his own grim fashion. Yet now and again ho seemed to suddenly remember that lie was not in command, but was an onlooker, notwithstanding his high degree. At such times he would Rjdl himself up short, and scold at himself'as much as to say, "Kitchener, you may think hand, but you may not sjjeai." Then he would smile pleasantly upon somebody near him, until another- incident attracted his attention. There was one passing incident that may be quoted to illustrate what is meant. Lord Kitchener was riding with his staff, and the local staff around him. Suddenly lie turned in the saddle with an air of having evolved a new idea, and addressing an officer of high standing, said: "I say, So-and-so, those orders oi yours are—are—are' —oh ! yes." Then be turned away, amd left the admiring crowd around him to wonder what those orders were or what the peculiarity was about them that had induced close thought by the distinguished visitor. He made few suggestions during the exercises. Such as they were, his remarks were curt, and very much to the point. For instance, as he came into tihe camp, he was attracted by a well-turned-out brigade guard. "What have you there?" he asked. " The brigade guard," he was informed. " Quite unnecessary in the daytime. A waste of good men." That brigade guard was dismounted. That is a sample of Kitchener criticism (continues the writer) and Australian compliance. So far as can be ascertained, the sphinxlike Field-marshal paid only one compliment to-day. It was while the Fourth Light Horse Regiment was drilling. Ho rode between the squadrons. He watched tho movements for a moment. "How long have theee men been drilling together?" he asked Lieut.-co-!. Miarkwell. " This ia the first time since. August, 1908, sir." was the reply. " They are- doing it excellently," ho said, his wandering eyes ranging far over tho commanding officer's head, as he shook his horse tip into a canter. The Public Works Department is making- good progress with the work of providing- increased accommodation at Trerstharrr in readiness for the Rifle Association's meeting in March aext. Kpw firing mounds are being made at, 800, 900. and ICOO yards, and work is being carried on in connection with the butts, which will provide 12 additional targets for longranjre purposes. fbe water supply is in good order, a concrete cistern having been erected. The site of the camp will be altered and brought nearer the railway station, as it will need to be in the reai" of the thousand yards range, but it will not be any further than in the past from the mess tent. New targets are being constructed, and. it in anticipated that everything will be in readiness for the opening l of the meeting. Members of No. 2 Company G.A.V., Auckland, keenly resent the sugßCPt'on which has lately found currency to true effect that No. 1 Company (ex-Captain Krtyvett's command) is superior to f-.o other companies in strength and general efficiency. They protest. («ays an AwcW.nd paper) that such .;> statement is entity contrary to fact. The maximum strength of a garrison artillery company is. ing to the regulations. 151 gunners and six officers, or 157 of all ranks. T ; -e rotation strength of No, 1 Comp&nv is stated to be 153. wbil°t that of No. ? Cor.-.>->n-. v is said to be 155 of all ran>Ve. Further : t is stated that No. 1 Company fa not th« on-lv company in Auckland able to fro into ca.mp and man a fort without the ance of the Permanent Force, nor is it trum that it ifi the nnlv company which can tro into oamp fully equipped. The No. 1 Oomoany has no dress uniform.. The No. 2 Company has complete electric ligiit and

engine-drivers' section, and therefore it is , untrue to assert that No. 1 Company alone possesses there- sections. The No. 2 Com- | pany marched into camp recently with 145 men, the greatest that ever marched into camp in Auckland. It is further suggested ■ that recent events might be taken as a reflection on the discipline of No. 1 Company, which is certainly as perfect as that of any local body of Volunteers.