HIGH SCHOOL CADET CAMP

Otago Witness, Issue 3314, 19 September 1917, Page 46

HIGH SCHOOL CADET CAMP

Heavy and instructive work was executed on Friday in various branches of military warfare by the High School Cadets in camp at Tahuna Park. The morning was mainly occupied in exercises in platoon drill and rifle instruction. Later tho whole of the cadets moved out to conduct rn attack in the field. An advance guard was thrown out, with tho result that an operation eventuated involving A, B, and C Companies, each of which was allotted given points to attack. The manoeuvre was adjudicated upon .by Majors Sleeman and Cooper, Major Sleeman observing that tho operation was executed in excellent style, especially in view of the fact that tho companies were inexperienced.

At 2 o'clock in the afternoon visitors were admitted to the camp, and were privileged to witness a march past (Colonel Cowio Nicholls taking the sahite), which was headed by the school's bugle band. _ Tho march past was conducted under the jurisdiction of Lieutenant A. K. Anderson. Subsequently Major Sleeman addressed tho boys, and observed that their general discipline both on parade and off parade was tho finest he had witnessed in New Zealand. At the same time, he remarked that their carriage and bearing as a whole were such as any educational institution mightwell be proud of. At 3 o'clock tho battalion fell in, and gave an exhibition of attack, the south end of tho ground being defended by No. 1 Platoon, under Lieutenant G. F. Thomson, with an outpost consisting of Nos. 3 and 4 Platoons, under Lieutenant D. C. Anderson. The whole operation was arranged _as a night manoeuvre. The attack was carried out with great eagerness and enthusiasm, and finally culminated in a charge, and afc 4 o'clock the battalion was distributed under staff sergeant-majors, who conducted various exercises of infantry, rifle, and general musketry instructions. Later in tho afternoon the camp commandant (Major Sleeman) made a few farewell remarks to his charges. Ho complimented the boys on their excellent work, expressing his delight and satisfaction with their fine spirit and well-disciplined behaviour. They were, ho said, the finest set of boys ho had yet met with in his colonial experience, and were in every particular a credit to their school. As regards their training, this had, no doubt, been imparted by a diligent officer, who was without question in a major degree responsible for the excellent showing they had made in camp. At the conclusion of his remarks tho boys gave_ Major Sleeman and the camp officers rousing cheers, after which they convoyed the visitors over the various points of the encampment. In the evening the boys were entertained by tho Otag'o High School -Old Boys' Association at a musical evening, when Mr Mallard (vice-president of the association) occupied .the * chair. An excellent musical programme was submitted, items being contributed by Colonel Strong and Messrs Ha ggitt, Burton. Carter, Canter, Mirams, and Thomson. The function concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.