THE EASTER CAMP.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3237, 16 April 1900, Page 3

THE EASTER CAMP.

Following out the plan of operations, Saturday wag devoted to consecutive plans of f eld 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! 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, m 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 m 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 fcouid see over the extent of country named, scouts and outposts could be picked up. Our former remark that the uniform of the 0.V.0. 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 the khaki-uaiformed troopers with the naked eye, and our representative even with a good field-glass had a difficulty m doing so, flashing swords and bayonets being the principal aids m helping him to do. We understand that the " enemy " were reported by the cavalry to be thousands strong Timaru way, strongly entrenched, and that a large commando was working round to the bnck of the- camp. This was where the infantry came m. The First Brigade (Colonel Gordon) 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 m reserve. Colonel Gordon and his officers got their men into splendid positions, commanda capital view ,of the surrounding country, and were able to hold their own without calling up their reserve, 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 battalion m a most sheltered valley, and if their outoosts had been badly driven m they could have taken the enemy at very snort 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 m their dark clothing were picked up on the brown downs as easily. as possible, whilst the majority of the men of No. 2 battalion m khaki were so hard to distinguish at a distance that they were taken by ' a civilian onlooker for a strawstack ! And be 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 m command of Major Smith and Colonel Eeadland respectively, went through their work m a more southerly and westerly direction, Gleniti being roughly away to their front. The officers m command of the reserve m this case also shoee a splendid spot to lie m wait, and are to be warmly complimented on the tvay they discharged an onerous duty. Fhe work done by this brigade was on similar lines to that of the first brigade, namely, carrying on field operations ivith a view to trj ing to stop the enemy idvancing on the railway line. The )fficers and men gained a thorough mowledge of the country round about heir camp, so that it will be easily worked over to-day m the general engagement or real defence of the railvay and camp. We may add _here ,hafc the cycle corps did excellent work, t being astonishing how smarfly they jot over country that surveyors group mder the term "rolling downs." The &oUitel Brigade returned to camp ibout 11.30 a.m., and the infantry at L.30 p.m., the whole 'army having done i splendid morning's work on the lines sketched out above. The Artillery Brigade did not leave :amp, but for all this they had no means m idle time. The batteries were horsed, SJo. 1 with four horses to each gun, and Sfo. 2 with two^horses, and the 4-horse sattery had some exceptionally hard ivork to go through. The ground near ;he camp was utilised, and the battery ?a me into action-front at' the gallop, and it the 1800 yards range, were put through he firing exercise for about an hour. The ;vork done was on the whole excellent, especially when it is borne m mind that -he horses were very raw at their work, md had to be whipped into wheeling, Jtc, for limbering up and other novements. The Engineers were engaged at extending the telegraph service to the staff officers' tents, md to the headquarters' tent of the nounted brigade; digging trenches m ' New Zealand Hill"— a work by the bye vhieh was cleanly done; and also throwng three earthwork bridges over the creek yhich runs at the foot of the hill and 'orms the boundary to the parade ;round. They also carried out numerous ninor works. The signallers, of which l&eful branch there are not many m ;amp, also had some useful practice nside the lines. : One of the most interesting branches )f the volunteer army is the •• Bearer 3orps," composed of men from Christjhurch and Dunedin, who are carrying m exactly the same work— save that the jicture we look upon is one of peace— ihat the medical corps are doing m South Africa. The corps m camp is actively jontrolled by Dr Captain Parsons. On Saturday he was m charge at the front it the " collecting _ station," where he vas attended by stretcher bearers and an imbalance van. So many volunteers are iicketed for " operations," and are sent n by the doctor to the '• dressing itation." Thiswas.juat m touch with he lines of the camp and, on Saturday, vas m charge of« Sergeant Bone. Here ;he " casualties " were collected, •slightly wounded,?' and " dangerously vounded," cases being kept separate. 1 descriptive entry for the former was ' shot m the left leg," and for the latter 1 fracture, severe hemorrhage, scalp vound." Such work is deeply interestng, and is carried out with the latest ippliances, combined with the arms of ;he volunteers themselves, such as the iße of the bayonet for splints and the :ifle where the leg is badly riddled from ;oot to thigh. From the dressing station the wounded men are. taken to ihe hospital, .which is the mOBt healthy md sheltered spot m camp. The hospital is fully furnished, with operating ;able, troughs, etd, eto. So far the aearer corps have had a busy time, saving up to yesterday treated about 50 jases. The most of these were trivial, ihe usual camp ailments, but four were somewhat serious. Two of these were mentioned In our Saturday's report ; jne happened on Saturday evening to m artilleryman whose horse rolled jn him, and crushed his cheet and Druised one leg rather severely, and the jther yesterday when the camp cook yt the Invercargill men had a fit, iell into the fire and was severely burned. Ml these esses were attended to with skill and experience by the medical officer and his staff. Their work is truly }f vast benefit, and is carried out m a spirit characteristic of the Britisher m svery land. Yesterday was truly a " People's Day," the visitors to the camp, from all over South Canterbury, numbering at one time m the afternoon fully 5000. All the corps paraded at 10 a,m. for divine service, the tents having previously to thl a 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 A.dcock. The parade was so large that but few of the men could bear the preacher's voice. Nearly all, however, joined heartily m 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, Directly after the service the " linea" were inspected, and we learned (the press censor eaid this was not for publication) that the Dunedin Engineers had the best kept tent of the lot. We also learnt that Colour-Sergeant Higgins' squad won the prize for their tent m 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 epectscle of the whole force on the parade ground. The orders were carried out promptly, the Mounted Brigade falling m opposite their lines, and riding over the down to the flat paddock beyond, where they went through aome 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 m reserve and exercised m brigade movements at the rear. The scouting and outpost work wan very interesting, it being quite exciting to watch the men dismount and extend, while the riderless horses, were led away by other troop'TH to the nearest cover, and for the time being safely hidden. " That's what our boys have to do among the Boors" was quite a common remark while these evolutions were being gone through. In the meantime the infantry w«r« busy on the flat, the 2nd Brigade going through battalion drill, and the let B'igade extended order drill— scouting asvi t^tirmishing. The 2nd Battalion of the latter went right across the parade ground m three long lines, finishing up with a gallant bayonet charge on the gorse fence ; while the Ist Battalion had two companies out skirmishing and the others as snpporta and reserves. The. whole scene was very animated and realistic. On return to camp the united parade was dismissed. To-day there will be a general engagement In defence of the railway line and camp over the ground worked ou Saturday, and tents will be struck this afternoon, the southern men retiring early. The engagement starts about half past 8 o'clock. In the " march m state " published by ua on Saturday are to be added the Ellesmere Mounted Kifles, 36 officers and men. The Dunedin Engineers, Uaptrtin Barclay and 85 men, was the strongest eorp3 m camp. The grand total of all ranks m camp is about 1800. The review parade will take place immediately after the morning operations, between noon aud 1 p.m., and there will be nothing for the public to see after that, as the afternoon will be occupied with packing up and striking camp. Sight-seers must therefore be on the ground early if they would see the manoeuvres and parade, the volunteers leaving camp for the former about 830 a.m. We are requested to make this statement to avoid disappointment to would-be spectators. On March 9th, according to Home papers, there has been sent into South Africa, or at sea on the way there, and counting all colonials and naval a under arms, a total of 205,605 men, 53,343 horses 139 machine, and 461 other guns. The losses of dead, wounded, and invalided, have to be deducted from these. Death-dealing and destructive Lyddite Shell Forms part of modern soldiers' art. Not as of old when noble warriors fell, Laid rudely low by spear or dart. Yet war's degrading to the human race, And will not make our lives secure, Though one can now all dirty weather face • By taking Woods' Great Peppermint, Cure.