DEFENCE NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 14096, 30 April 1909, Page 3

DEFENCE NOTES

(By "Vernier”). An overcoat, the property of the 2nd Battalion, and belonging to the Battalion Sergt.-Major, has been missing since the manoeuvres at Mandeville. Information regarding its whereabouts will be welcomed at the Defence Office, Invercargill. With reference to the commissariat department and its alleged shortcomings what time the troops were in '(he field, a circular memo, has been issued by Lieut.Col. Boyne to the officers of his command asking for particulars of Irregularities and suggestions whereby matters could be improved. The state of affairs, adds the memo., that characterised the department at Mandeville must not be allowed to continue If troops are to attend operations of the kind. Returns showing the number of officers, N.C.O.’s and men who have earned capitation for the volunteer year 19081909 have been asked for by the Defence Council. Regimental and Battalion commanders are required also to state the number of times their commands have been together during the past year, and how long on each occasion. The parades called for by the InspectorGeneral are to be counted in these returns. Capitation returns and Easter manoeuvres monies are now coming to hand. At a parade of the Oreti Rifles held on Tuesday last the O.C. congratulated the Company upon the satisfactory settlement of the respective claims. Ho further stated that payment would be made on the first opportunity. The Company hold their annual meeting on the 25th prox., when advantage will be taken to officially open the new orderly room placed at the disposal of the Company. As showing the acute stage which the question of defence has reached in the Home Land late files quote as follows: “Sir John Barker, Bart., M.P., is responsible for an informal reception to be held in connection with a conference between employers and Mr Haldane on the 23rd inst. This will be at 4 o’clock at the Whitehall Rooms of the Hotel Metropole, and a cordial welcome is extended to any employers interested in the Territorial movement who may not have received an invitation. Accompanying the letter is the list of firms who are willing to grant 21 days’ holiday every year on full pay to employees belonging to the "Terrors,” and who put in 14 days at camp. The signatures represent employers of over 33,000 men, and the hon. sec.. Mr Geo. Pragnell, will be glad to receive further names.” In a Regimental Order (2/09) LieuLCol. Bowler notifies his appreciation of the good work done at the manoeuvres, and states that the keenness of all ranks was most gratifying and the good discipline of the men in camp and their steadiness in the field was most satisfactory. The O.C, Regiment also desires to thank his command, hot., officers and men, for the qualities notea by the O.C. District and evidenced under most arduous circumstances.

In General Orders (20/4/09) appears a note to the effect that Hieut. Salmon. Bluff Guards. R.V.. has been awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ decoration.

Thb Right Hon. the Minister of Defence has approved of the recommendation that a Promotion Board be established in each district, to deal with the promotions of officers above the rank of captain. The Board has been established authoratively and is constituted as follows:—

(1) The Inspector-General New Zealand Defence Forces; (2) The Olflcer Commanding the District ; (3) The senior competent officer of the arm of the service to which the officer whose promotion is under consideration belongs. It will be remembered that in the report for the year ending February, 190 S. the Council of Defence recommended an Institution of the hind noted. The above, from General Orders, indicates that the suggestion has been carried into practice.

Acting-Captain Pow has been appointed to the command of A Company, Invercargill High School Carets, and Act-ing-Caplain McGrath to be Acting-Cap-tain B. Company of the same battalion. Writing with regards to the Easier operations a contemporary remarks:— “The practical training which the whole force received ’as undoubtedly been good for officers and men alike, but there is no doubt that the discipline of the camp itself left a lot to be desired. Officers commanding corps and various units were not strict enough with those in their charge, and there was an almost total lack of tiiose small matters which go such a long way towards the making of good soldiers. It was the rule, and not the exception, to sec men going up to officers without saluting, and it was also quite a common occurrence for men to walk through the staff officers' lines qtiite unconcernedly, which in itself was a most undesirable thing. This all goes to show that discipline was evidently not encouraged. Of course, there were some corps of highly disciplined men, but they were the exception to the general rule." For a part of their winter syllabus the City Guards purpose holding weekly company parades with the idea of further improving the physical and soldierly qualities of individual members. The scheme is an ambitious one, and if met with the amount of success it merits will give the company an ideal status previously attained by no other volunteer corps. There are also a number of N.C.O. vacancies, the filling of which will be accomplished through the medium of company examinations for which candidates are already preparing. The Oreli Rifles will conduct all examinations for N.C.O. rank on the IStli prox. Tite services of the Auckland Highland Rifles, with headquarters at Auckland. have been accepted as from the Ist Maxell, 1909. The parade states of the Wellington District Forces of all ranks encamped at Oringi show a total of 1930. Of these 192 were officers. 42C N.C.O.’s, 51 buglers, and 12G1 privates. The details of units were: —General Staff: Brigade Staff. 19; D Battery, 9G; Engineers.ss; Wanganui Mounted Regiment.99; Wellington Mounted Regiment, 71; Palmerston Nortii Mounted Regiment, 70; Napier Mounted Regiment. 3G; Ist Battalion Wellington R.V., 4G2; 2nd Battalion (Wanganui). 236; 3rd Battalion (Napfer). HP: 4th Battalion (Taranaki), IS9; sth Batalion (WoodviUe;, 10S; Garrison Band, 19; Field Ambulance, 19; Medical Officers, o; Veterinary Officers, 2; Permanent Force. 9; unattached officers, 6; Cadets, 317; total, 1930. The Rille Club . camp was held at Hokowhltu. Skirmishing operations were carried out, the Officer in Command expressing his satisfaction thereat. Forty-nine men took part in the advance moving and bail-firing practice. Out of a possible 25 the splendid average of 20 per man was nipde, one target being riddled beyond recognition. Colonel Collins said he was extremely pleased with the camp, the principal object of which was to teach discipline. Accurate marksmanship was of course important, but unless each unit was. trained to discipline there must inevitably be a weakness.