Saturday’s Camp.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2762, 17 April 1900, Page 4

Saturday’s Camp.

Following out the plan of operations, Saturday was devoted to consecutive plans of field operations with a view to checking the enemy’s advance. The camp was early astir, breakfast being over and all ready for a start about 9 a.m. The Mounted Brigade left camp at this hour, and took up positions which commanded a large extent of country, from the sea line at about the Washdyke well up and along the Levels Valley road, and right away, roughly, in southerly and westerly direction, to near the boundary of the Hadlow estate. The Brigade’s special mission was “ to reconnoitre the enemy, which is supposed to be in the direction of Timaru, compile a report of the country gone over, map out the roads and bridges, take an inventory of what rolling stock is available on the railway, and pick up generally any information that is available; officers to provide themselves with sketch book and to report fully.” Friendly farmers encountered the first cossack posts at the Washdyke, and right along as far as the eye could see over the extent of country named, scouts and outposts could be picked up. Our former remark that the uniform of the O.Y.G. was easiest seen was practically demonstrated, for scarlet coats could be picked up without the aid of field glasses as easily as possible. On

the other hand, it was impossible to locate ‘ k!i;ld-uniformed troopers with the naked eye, and our representative even with a good field-glass had a difficulty in doing so, flashing swords and bayonets the p-ineipal aids -its el ping him to do. We understand th v the ,l enemy ” were reported by D'o cavalry to be thousands strong Tiraaru way, strongly entrenched, and that, a large commando was working round to the back of the camp. This was where the infantry came in. The First Brigade (Colonel Cordon) were marched out to the hills overlooking Cliffs Road, the North Canterbury Battalion under Major Day being detailed for outpost work, and the Second Brigade being in reserve Colonel Gordon andhis officers got g their men into splendid positions, commanda capital view of the surrounding country, and were able to hold their own without calling up their reeerve, who were somewhat disgusted at their “ masterly inactivity.” There is one good thing to be said, however, and that is that Colonel Moore placed his batin a most sheltered valley, and i if then?outposts had been badly driven in they could have taken the enemy at very short range, and, of course, driven them off with great loss. Here again we have a word to say on uniforms. The most of the men of the Ist battalion in their dark clothing were picked up on the brown downs as easily as possible, whilst the majority of the men of No. 2 battalion in khaki were so hard to distinguish at a distance that they were taken by a civilian onlooker tor a strawstack 1 And he would not be satisfied till the field glass was trained on them, and he then saw by a slight movement among them and by their shining arms that they were really a body of men. The second brigade under Colonel Webb, with the battalions in command of Major Smith and Colonel Headland respectively, went through their work in a more southerly and westerly direction, Glcniti being roughly away to their front. The officers in command of the reserve in this case also chose a splendid spot to He in wait, and are to be warmly complimented on the way they discharged an onerous duty. The work done by this brigade was on similar lines to that of the first brigade, namely, carrying on field operations with a view to trj ing to stop the enemy advancing on the railway line. The officers and men gained a thorough knowledge of the country round about their camp, so that it will be easily worked over to-day in the general engagement or real defence of the railway and camp. We may add here that the cycle corps did excellent work, it being astonishing how smarfly they got over country that surveyors group under the term “rolling downs.” The Mountei Brigade returned to camp about 11.30 a.m., and the infantry at 1.30 p.m., the whole army having done a splendid morning’s work on the lines sketched out above. The Artillery Brigade did not leave camp, but for all this they had no means an idle time. The batteries were horsed, No. 1 with four horses to each gun, and I No. 2 with two'horses, and theft-horse] battery had some exceptionally hard work to go through. The ground near the camp was utilised, and the battery came into action-front at the gallop, and at the 1800 yards range, were put through the firing exercise for about an hour. The work done was on the whole excellent, especially when it is borne in mind that the horses were very raw at their work, and had to -be whipped into wheeling, etc., for limbering up and other movements. The Engineers were engaged at extending the telegraph service to the staff officers’ tents, and to the headquarters’ tent of the mounted brigade; digging trenches in “ New Zealand Hill”—a work by the bye which was cleanly done; and also throwing three earthworkbridgesover thecreek which runs at the foot of the hill and forms the boundary to the parade ground. They also carried out numerous minor works. The signallers, of which useful branch there are not many in camp, also had some useful practice inside the lines. One of the most interesting branches of the volunteer army is the “ Bearer Corps,” composed of men from Christ--1 church and Dunedin, who are carrying on exactly the same work —save that the picture we look upon is one of peace—that the medical corps are doing in South Africa. The corps in camp is actively i controlled by Dr Captain Parsons. On Saturday he was in charge at the front at the “ collecting station," where he was attended by stretcher bearers and an ambulance van. So many volunteers are ticketed for “ operations,” and are sent in by the doctor to the “ dressing , station.” This was just in touch with the lines of the camp and, on Saturday, was in charge of Sergeant Bone. Here the “ casualties ” were collected, “slightly wounded,” and “ dangerously wounded,” cases being kept separate, i A descriptive entry for the former was “ shot in the left leg,” and for the latter“fracture, severe hemorrhage, scalp i wound." Such work is deeply interesting, and is carried out with the latest . appliances, combined with the arms of , the volunteers themselves, such as the use of the bayonet for splints and the rifle where the leg is badly riddled from , foot to thigh. From the dressing , station the wounded men are taken to the hospital, which is the most healthy and sheltered spot in camp. The hospital is fully furnished, with operating table, troughs, etc., etc. So far the bearer corps have had a busy time, having up to yesterday treated about 50 cases. The most of these were trivial, the usual camp ailments, but four were somewhat serious. Two of these were mentioned in our Saturday's report; one happened on Saturday evening to an artilleryman whose horse rolled on him, and crushed his chest and bruised one leg rather severely, and the other yesterday when the camp cook of the Invercargill m?n had a fit, , fell into the fire and was severely burned. All these cases were attended to with skill and experience by the medical officer and his staff. Their work is truly of vast benefit, and is carried _ out in a spirit characteristic of the Britisher in every land. ’ Yesterday was truly a “ People’s Day,’ the visitors to the camp, from all over South Canterbury, numbering at one time in the afternoon fully 5000. _ All the corps paraded at 10 a.m. for divine service, the tents having previously to this been tidied up for inspection of the battalion lines by the commanding officers. The church parade was formed up opposite the staff officers’ tents line, the preacher being the Rev. Mr Adcock. The parade was so large that but few of the men could hear the preacher’s voice. Nearly all, however, joined heartily in the hymns. Close by the Rev. Messrs Buttle and Woodward conducted a service also, but, owing we understand, to it not being properly notified to officers • of companies, it was poorly attended. i Directly after the service the “ lines” : were inspected, and we learned (the i press censor said this was not for pubi lication) that the Dunedin Engineers had the best kept tent of the lot. VVe also learnt that Colour-Sergeant Hig--1 gins’ squad won the prize for their tent in a “ private competition.” The orders for the afternoon were : Mounted Brigade to parade at 2.30, and infantry at 3 p.m., and the numerous visitors got their most ardent wish gratified—the spectacle of the whole force on the parade ground. The orders were carried out promptly, the Mounted Brigade falling in opposite their lines, and riding over the down to the fiat paddock beyond, where they went through some movements at the walk and at the trot. The Brigade was then divided, three troops being taken for scouting and outpost work, while the others were kept in reserve and exercised in brigade movements at the rear. The scouting and outpost work was very interesting, it being quite exciting to watch the men dismount and extend, while the riderless horses were led away by other troopers to the nearest cover, and for the time being safely hidden. “ That’s what our boys have to do

among the liners” was quite a common Wuile these evolutions wore bring gone through. lu the •nefii.uu.ie the infantry w< re busy on uie flat, the 2nd brigade going through oattciiijn drill, and the Ist Brigade ex 'ended cider drill—scouting and ekirnvsbhig, The 2nd Baltalion of the 'aMer wen* right across the parade sic r;id. ia three long lines, finishing up with a gallant bayonet charge on the gorse fence ; while the lat Battalion had two companies out skirmishing and the others as snpports and reserves. The whole scene was very animated and realistic. On return to eamp the united parade was dismissed.