THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10682, 31 January 1913, Page 1

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

! STAFF TOUR AT TEMUKA. THE PLAN OF OPERATIONS. About sixty members of the New Zealand military forces arrived in Temuka on Tuesday to take part' in a "staff ride" which is at present taking place, concluding on Saturday. The scheme of operations is briefly as follows: —lt is supposed that a fleet of " Brown " transports arrived at Timaru some days ago with the intention of landing a large force of all arms. _As many as possible found' berth in the harbour, and others anchored outside preparing to disembark there, but a southerly wind springing up made it necessary for these to make to sea. The situation of the "Red", forces of 'Canterbury and Otago is precarious, as they 1 are widely separated. To avoid defeat in detail it is necessary to form a junction. The co-oocratioii of the North Island troops demands concentration of the South Island troops in some locality north of Timaru. In order to relieve the 'Otago force it is necessary to demonstrate against the enemy and thus prevent it sending a detachment to cut, the Otago force off. In order to effect a 'junction the Otago fi'orce j-must- move from » Oamarn- .-to; Fairlie, via Duritroon, west of - the Hunters' Hills, using the hills as a screen. 1

The " Red - "...force require to .be reinforced by North-. Island troops, and these have embarked for Picton and are to come, thence by train to .Orari (the railway line having been, completed from Picton). Directions for destruction of the bridges over the Tepiuka and Opihi Rivers have been: issued, and- the mounted corps of; Canterbury are- holding a line along the Opihi. while the remainder of the •force concentrates at' Ger'aldine. Notice is. to be" received that the Otago forces are moving slowly from Kurow to Fairlie, and directions : will be issued for the provision of supplies at Fairlie. The Otago force, delayed by, bad roads, is supposed to- ' have reached Fairlie about noon on Wednesday. On Tuesday Word was received f rom the; inhabitants of Pleasant. Point that a force, of "Brown" cavalry .had reached there. and had been reinforced by troops of all arms.

. .The officers of the." Red " force,were asked to appreciate the situation by B;'p.m. on Tuesday and state what steps should be taken in the circumstances. On Tuesday the officers commenced their examination" of the country for the purpose of solving the problem, aided by an excellent map. prepared for the purpose, and on Wednesday and yesterday they' proceeded' to carry out their plaiis, dealing, of course, with hypothetical troops. ; The ; following officers , are taking part in the . operations: —-Maior-Gen-eral A. J. Godley, C.8.. Captain Estcourt, Colonel E. S. Heard, Colonel E. W. C. Chaytor, T.D., LieutenantColonel G. E. Johnston, Colonel J. R. Purdy, Colonel. R. Logan, A.D.C., Lieu'tenant-Colonel D. Pringle, Lieu-, tenant-Colonel W. Bloonifield; Lieuten-ant-Colonel Moorehouse, LieutenantColonel R. A. Chaffoy, Colonel J. C. Nicholls, Colonel A. H. Russell, A.D.C., Colonel V. S. Smyth, Colonel C. T. Major, D.5.0.. Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon G. J. Smith, M.L.C., Colonel R. W. Tate, Colonel A. Bauchop, Lieuten-ant-Colonel J. B. M'Clymont, Lieuten-ant-Colonel the Hon R. Heaton Rhodes, M.P., Lieutenant-Colonel Sandtmann, Lieutenant-Colpnel Chalmers, Major W. G. Braitliwaite, D.5.0., Major J. E. Cochrane, Major J. S. •Maidlow, Major J. C. Hughes, D.5.0.. Maior W. R. Pinwill, Major P. C, Femvick. Major D. B. M'Kenzie, Major R. W. Cummings, Lieuten-ant-Colonel H: 0. ■ Knox. 'Q.M.G.j Maior the Hon R. H. Collins, D.5.0., Major J. D. Grant, 'V.C., Captain A. Moore, D.5.0.. Major J. E. Hume, Cantain A. W. Macarthur-Onslow, Captain C. \W. Melville, Captain A. C. B. Critchley-Salmonson, Captain J. E. Barton, daptain W. L. H. Burgess, Captain S/ A. Grant, Captain Cr-E. Andrews, Captain G. C. Hamilton, Captain W. J. Foster, Lieutenants Black, B. Tripp, J. Tripp, Dixon, Elworthy, M'Donald, Evans, Lysaght, Barker and Richards, Second-Lieuten-ants J. M. Richmond and A. T. G. Rhodes.