CAMP ABANDONED.

Wairarapa Age, 14 February 1934, Page 5

CAMP ABANDONED.

SECOND INFANTRY BRIGADE FLOODED OUT. WAIPUKURAU, February 13 The Second Infantry Brigade camp, the first since 1914, which commenced on Saturday under Colonel Cunningham, has been abandoned owing to extraordinarily wet weather. There has been a fall of 192 points since early on Sunday, and lost night the men shifted to the racecourse buildings.

This morning the tents were not habitable, and tne gtound was flooded and there was* a possibility of sickness. Naturally the officers and men, ami also the people of the district, keenly regret the development. Arrangements have been made for the evacuation of the troops. The officers are to remain to complete a week’s training. Follow ing an inspection of the camp at daybreak no time was lost in taking the necessary action, and 280 men left for the south by the 10 o’clock special train for Wanganui. The usual morning train to Napier carried 140. A successful day’s operations was carried out yesterday, despite the inclemency of the weather. This is the first interruption in seven years of local camp experience by such continued unseasonable conditions. Fractieally every man volunteered to remain behind to strike camp.—(P.A.)

A message received Iby the Minister of Defence in Wellington yesterday stated that 80 per cent, of the Territorial officers, men of the Ambulance Corps, and the headquarters staff were remaining to complete the course mapped out for the camp, but that as there was no sign of abatement of the bad weather it was decided in the interests of the health of the men to allow them to return to their homes. The Masterton men returned yesterday.