OVER THE MOUNTAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1917, Page 8

OVER THE MOUNTAIN.

"4J» ' ' , " 33rd REIXFORCEMEXTS. -MARCH FROM FEATHERSTOX TO TREXTIIAM. Wellington, Thursday. Tho 33rd Reinforcements arrived at Trcntliam yesterday morning at 10 o'clock, -having completed the march from Fcatherston in some twenty-eight hours, starting on Tuesday morning at 0.5 a.m. Beautiful weather was experienced throughout, with the exception of a heavy shower Which fell before 5 o'clock on Tuesday night. It was feared that the troops would experience a wet night, but the shy cleared in half an hour and a beautiful moonlight night followed. The troops reached the summit of the hill at 10 o'clock in splendid order, headed by Colonel .T. K. Macdonald and Colonel Adams, C.M.0., the latter coming as far as the hill. Colonel Macdonald, as usual, came on to the Kaitokc bivouac at Collins' farm, which was reached at 1.40 after two hours' rest on the mountain top. From the camp to the. top of., the hill is a distance, of, S£ miles, including .a stiff climb of 1700 fectj which was achieved in three "hours 'fifty-five minute*,. '.The-downward journey is, roughly,. 61 miles., and was done in an hour and twenty minutes, without undue .pressure. The., troop* went down.to the .Firka : ratnbi river for the usual bathing parade. On Wednesday morning they marched out from the bivouac at Kaitokc, and continued straight on to Trenthim, where they arrived shortly before 10 o'clock. The usual night operations at Trcntliam were cut out of the programme. The troops followed the usual march discipline, halts being made for ten minutes every hour. Colonel Macdonaht marched over the hill with the men, handing his horse to a private to ride, and also bivouacked with the men at night. The transport and food arrangements were splendidly carried out. tlip men's comfort being attended to in every way. Besides their rifles the men carried greatcoats, rolledbandolier fashion. The Wairarapa ladies provided buns, tea, and saveloys at the summit of the Rimntakas. Tt. was a great sight to see the lonrr line of troops file down the mountainside in khaki, the familiar hue of the uniform standing out well against the background of bush scenery. They were cheered lustilv as they wended on their way. and the men gave hearty cheers for the ladies who so thonehtfullv provided the refreshments after the stiff climb to the top of the mount. A singular feature of the march was that very few men fell out. and it is stated' that t-h« march discipline was the best of am* reinforcement that has undertaken this march. All nlong t'jf? route the people cheered tho bnvs as they wended along, with brisrht. cheerful faces. tanned almost red with the sun. their sturdv phys'iipi" and perfect health betokening the beneficial effects of (he Snartan-like life in the camp, where the flabby muscles of sedentarv workers arc soon tightened up and the whole bodily machine renewed, as it were, and brought to the utmost efficiencv. At the Upper Nutt the Trcntliam Band attached itself to the head of the column and played the troops into camp in approved style. ■ The weather was very hot on both days and tho roads very dusty. Tho ■troops bore up well, however, and kept ut) tho British tradition of singing as tliev marched. The 33rd Reinforcements, a splendid bodv of men in every way, are officered as follows: —O.C. A Company. Captain .T. C. McKillop-. O.C, B Company. Lieut. Kirk; O.C. O Company, Lieut. Tailor; O.C. D Company. Lieut. Don: O.C. K Company, Lieut. Hill. The F Company is still at Tauhcrenikau. under Captain R. .T £. Seddon, and will come on later by rail. The 34th Army Service Corps, under Lieut. Sharp, will come over from Fcatherston to Kaitol»e, and will continue coming to Trentham. bringing all the equipment—blankets, dixies,- etc.— across the hill with them. General service wagon? are being over. Staff-Sergeant-Major Collins, W.O. (warrant officer) and Regimental Wheeler McMillan assisted to make the march the success it undoubtedly was.