THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 6

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

By Sentry. [ltems of iptereet concerning corps (town and country), shooting, and defence matters general]? will be accepted. Copy, addressed to " Sentry," should be in baud by noon on Thursday.] Unices notified to the contrary officers should wear swords when being inspected To put in their training with the lUtli Regiment, whose camp commenced at Oamaru last week. 36 men of tho 4th Regiment, one from No. 2 Comnany Field Engineers, and one from B Battery, left Dunedin by train. About 18 men from the Milton district and 13 from Southland also went forward, in addition to two start officer;; and two sergeant-major instructors. Member© of the Kiwi Rifle Club mustered 17 strong for practice on the range on March 30. The ranges were 200, 50U, and 600 yards. Several of the men were using the new peep sights for the first time, and some were likewise using the short rifle for the first time. Tho advantages of the peep eight were specially recognised. The fiiSt impression of the short rifle was that satisfactory results were obtained up to 500 yards, but thereafter the firing was erratic. Nino officers of the 4th Regiment and one of No. 2 Company New Zealand Field Engineers took advantage of the opportunity afforded for advancement, by attending on Gocd Friday the regimental tour conducted by Major Grant. Working in tho direction of Abbott's Hill, at tho back of Hume's Asylum, the officers studied an advance guard problem and an attack problem. In the evening the officers met and Major Grant criticised the orders written during the day. On the following day five officers were out again, outposts and the occupying of a defensive position engaging their attention. A profitable and pleasant time was spent by those participat

in p. Waitati will be the scene of another Territorial camp shortly, No. 2 Field Ambulance and No. 7 Mounted Field Ambulance commencing their training on the Show Ground on April 20. No. 7 Mounted Field Ambulance come* all the way from Invercarxill, and the Oama.ru section of No. 2 Field Ambulance will travel from Oamaru to attend. The Dunedin section of No. 2 Field Ambulance has been parading strongly, and the members are keen. As with other arms, this will be the first occasion upon which the medical force at this end of the Dominion has been collected together since the inauguration of the present scheme, and a profitable training period is anticipated. For the encampment of the 14th Regiment (South Otago Rifles) at Milton, from May 1 to 8, the daily routine (Sunday excepted) is to be:—Reveille, 6 a.m.; parade (physical training), 6.30 to 7 a.m.; breakfast. 7.30 a.m.; parade, 8.45 to 10.15 a.m.; parade, 10.30 to 12 noon; dinner. 12.30 p.m.; parade, 1.30 to 3 p.m.; parade, 3.15 to 4.15 p.m.; tea. 5 p.m.; Sunday, church parade, 11 a.m. Lieutenant-colonel M'Clymont, the officer commanding the regiment, has donated a shield, which will be presented to the best all-round company at the termination of the camp. The company winning the shield will have the name of the oompanv engraved thereon, and will hold it until the next oamp. The Church of England Men's Society will establish a regimental institute, and there will also be a dry canteen, at which cordials, fruit, tobacco, etc.. may be obtained. The Rev. W Hewitson, 8.A., who has just returned from an overseas tour, has been promoted from chaplain 4th class to be chaplain 3rd class. Second Lieutenant .J. W. Dow. of No. 2 Field Company New Zealand Engineers, has qualified for promotion to the rank of lieutenant. An impression prevails that, appointment as second lieutenant is merely an acting appointment, and that a commission is not granted until the candidate qualifies as lieutenant. This is quite erroneous, the IOCOnd lieutenant receiving his commission in l.ho same way as his senior receives a lieutenant's certificate. There will bo no competitions this year for what have hitherto been known as the Ist Battalion Otago Rifles Challenge Shieid and the Hardware Association's Cup. Next year, when the companies of the 4th Regiment havo quite settled down to regular work, the competitions will no doubt be revived under conditions revised to meet the altered circumstances. The shield was last won by the Cavershom Rifles and the cup by the Dunedin City Guards. Both trophies now revert to the regiment.

Bth REGIMENT (SOUTHLAND RIFLES) IN CAMP. The Bth Regiment (Southland Rifles) held its first annual training camp on the Gore show grounds commencing on Tuesday 26th J&irch, under Lieutenant-colonel Roync, V.D., assisted by Acting Major Watson, Captain Moore," and Captain-adjutant Wheeler. The total number of officers, N.C.O.'s and men in camp was 510. The first night was not a success, for the rain came down in torrents, and it was not long before the whole camp was under water, and many had to seek shelter in the grandstand, etc The rain fell all day Wednesday and on part of Thursday, and many were seeking a dry spot where they could lay not only their heads but also their feet. Here the excellent work of the chaplain came in for commendation, for he had made an arrangement in the C.E.M.S. Institute for drying the men's sox and boors, and there was a ready response when lie intimated that boots and sox could bo dried at the institute. All through the camp, indeed, the Rev. Bush-King made himself popular with officers and men, and the men showed their appreciation of his forethought by making good use of the conveniences he provided. The rev. gentleman gave tf&v&ral lantern entertainments in addition to conducting a lantern service. By Thursday evening the weather had cleared up. and there wore prospects of fin© weather for the remainder of the week, which were fully realised. With reveille at 6 a.m. the day's work began in earnest, and what with physical drill and exercises for both officers and men, a good preparation was made for breakfast, which was succeeded each morning by the reading of prayers. On Friday the principal medical officer, Colonel J. R, Purdy. from headquarters at Wellington, made an official inspection of the camp. On Saturday the 0.0. District, Colonel Smyth, paid a visit to. the camp. Sunday morning l was devoted to a general clean up. in view of the expected visit of the public during the afternoon. At 7.30 a.m. the Rev. Bush-King provided a celebration of holy communion for the Church of England men in camp, and at 11 the parade service was conducted by the Yen. Archdeacon Stocker, of Lrjvercargili. During Sunday afternoon fully 1500 visitors came into camp, and the Territorials were fully occupied all the afternoon showing their friends around or forming happy relationship with the fair visitors. The centres of interest for the visitors were the plum-pudding pot, the best-arranged and kept, tent in the camp, and the institute. The cooks had conceived the idea of providing a monster plum pudding for dinner, and this involved the getting of a. 400-ga.llon iron tank in which to boil it. The pudding weighed 4001 b, and was kept boiled for about 13 hours. When served it proved hn excellent one, and great interest was taken not only in the novel manner of preparation, but also in getting it stowed into its proper quarters, for by the next morning there was very little left. The menu for the officers' mess was also an item of interest, for amongst other things served up (as per the "Me and You") were frizzled souls (Rush-King's), nuts (colonels only), and " cusheu" seats 5s extra. As a memento each officer was presented with an autographed copy of this novel menu. Monday morning was devoted to squad and battalion drill and a clean-up in view of the inspection by the O.C District, which was at 10.30. At the close. Colonel S.nyth expressed himself pleased with the signs of progress made by the Bth Regiment during the short time at their disposal. This reflected credit on the officers commanding units, and also on the O.C. Regiment and his staff. He said that the men were doing only elementary work, but what had been done bad been done well, and the men seemed keen for their work and also for the honour and reputation of the regiment A high ideal had been set both by officers and men, and it was evident that each one had striven to fulfil that ideal, and it was to l>e hoped that next year the men would all be assembled in camp, keener than ever to excel in their work. The 0.0. also inspected and expressed aproval of the work of the (7.E.M.5. General leave was granted for tho remainder of the day, and at night the officers entertained the men with a concert, (he- enjoyment of which was evident by the demand for encores. Tuesday brought more steady and progressive drills. In the evening a bonfire concert was held. The bonfire was arranged by the and the N.C.O.'s were respor:fib!c <c-r tho programme, and in this they were not far behind the programme of the" previous evening Camp was struck on Wednesday, and by 1 o'clock the most of the men had entrained for their respective destinations.

Thc onerous duties of adjutant fell on Captain Wheeler, and 1 the success of the camp was without doubt largely due to the great amount of cheerful work he pat in. Mention must also be made of the members of the Permanent Staff—Captain Moore Sergeant majors Burgess, M'Clardy, and Sui ton (the last-named with his novel violin). Just before the regiment left for the trains the 0.C., Colonel Boyne, thanked all for their enthusiasm and work, and their loyalty to himself and the staff. He intimated that it would be the last time he would meet them under canvas as their O.C. but he hoped that in the future they would have just as happy and successful camps, and that the high reputation of the Bth Regiment would be maintained by one and all. The chaplain also thanked the men for their appreciative us© of the O.E.M.S. During the week's encampment 1100 letters had been written and posted in the institute, and fully 500 had been received into camp. Three cheers were given for the chaplain, and the men were marched to the railway station to the merry strains of the regimental band, which had also enlivened many an hour in camp with excellent music GARRISON ARTILLERY AT WORK. Dear "Sentry,"—No. 2 Company N.Z.G.A. (Port Chalmers Navals), including a detachment of the ammunition column from Dunedin, are encamped at Ota go Heads. Favoured with fair weather, no time has hepn lost. The daily routine in the camp yH— Reveille', 6 a.m.; coffee, till 0.15; fall in, 6.30; breakfast, 8 a.m.; tent inspection, 8.45; fall in, 9 a.m. ; dinner, 12.30 p.m.; fall in, 2 p.m.; dismiss, 4 p m.; retreat, sunset; first post, 9.30 p.m., after which a short optional church service is held in the schoolroom, conducted by the Revs. A. T. Reid and A. Whyte; last post, 10 p.m. j lights out, 10.15 p.m. In the various rooms in the barracks the "whole company messes. The camp was inspected on Saturday and Monday by Colonel Allen and Colonel Smyth, accompanied by Major Grant, and again on Tuesday by Colonel Johnston. Thursday will be the big day, when the company will be inspected by Major-general Gocilcy, and a series of firing will be done from the 6in, 12pr. q.f., and 6pr. q.f. guns. During the camp an Amusement Committee has been doino; excellent work, judging by the peals of laughter and the sound of those rollicking; chorusee that test the roof of even a barrack room. To-night (Wednesday) wo are promised something in the way of a treat by the Jubilee Minstrel Troupe. One incident—and only one—has marred the enjoyment of the camp. Gunner Spiers, of the ammunition column, accidentally slipped whilst chasing a football, and broke his collar-bone. He was attended to by the medical officer, and returned to his home much to his sorrow, as ho stated lie was having "the time of his life." The men are in great nick, and the best of humour prevails. Major Dodos and his officers are delighted with the results of the camp. The residents at the Heads have been invited to all our amusements, with the result that every evening all the houses have been deserted. The officers in camp are:—Major Dodds, Captain Crawford, Lieutenants Braithwaite 1 , Mitchell, and M'Kellar, Captain Saudie, Captain Borrie, and Chaplain-cap-tains Read and Whyte. A Marathon race and a tug-of-war created great interest. The Marathon race, which covered a distance of a mile and a-haif over taxing country, proved n stern contest, those finishing first being Trumpeter Booth (scratch). Corporal Mains (15sec), Gunner Dungey (scratch), and Gunner Darkness. The tug-of-war drew entries from six teams of stalwarts, the specialists prevailing after a titanic struggle.—l am. etc., GUNNER.