Military Training

Waikato Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1440, 28 April 1914, Page 5

Military Training

INSPECTOR GENERAL ARRIVES AT BLUFF. By Telegraph.—Press Association! Invercargill, Monday. General lan Hamilton arrived at Bluff "by the steamer Moeraki this morning and was met by General Godley and the Mayor of Bluff. After inspection of his bodyguard General Hamilton said this was the first time ms had come into contact with New Zealand troops since the war in South Africa, where they rendered distinguished service. As a Colonel who had served in the Gordon Highlanders all liis life, and who was now, colonel in the Camerons, he as very pleased to aeethe tartan. He felt there as a likeness to the Old Country when he looked upon the tartans and the cut of the men comprising the bodyguard. The party reached ■ town at 11 fc a.m., and an inspection of the cadsts was held in the showgrounds. The weather was fine and thert was a splendid turnout. ■

REVIEW OP CADETS. r ONE youth drops' dead. Invercargill, this day. A sad incident occurred in connec- . tion with the review of cadets by Sir lan Hamilton yesterday. As the cadets were leaving the showground Thomas McDermott, aged eighteen, suddenly pitched forward and fell on his face. He was picked up and taken to the hospital, but on examination life was extinct. The doctor - was unable to give definite information .as to the cause of death, and an inquest will be held. THE NORTHERN CONTINGENT. Whangarei, Monday. , About four hundred territorials from Whangarei and northern districts are leaving here today to,attend the camp at Cambridge. The'infantry are embarking by the Manaia, and the mounted -contingent is ' proceeding overland this afternoon to the railway at Kaiwaka, resting at Mangapai tonight. - ' THE NELSON CAMP. Nelson, this day. ' The work at the Territorials’ camp : at Tapawera Das now' commenced in • earnest. -It comprises, the Tenth Mounted Regiment,’a battery of the Twelfth Infantry,/Regiment, and a section of the filed Ambulance. Field work is being carried out making ready for the sham battle with cooperation of all troops for General Hamilton’s visit on Monday next. . Colonel Chaffey is in charge. Milch rain is being experienced, but all the men have made the best of it and .played the game. About 1300 men are under canvas, and all arrangements are carried but in excellent order by Captains Avery and Thoms. VARIOUS CAMP NOTES.

A detachment of the Field Ambulance Corps arrived in camp yesterday. Yesterday’s additions to the camp membership included 32 officers, 1020 men and 400. horses., Thirteen officers and 357 men are due to arrive by, special trains tomorrow, bringing with them 180 horses. Mr H. W. Sraales, of Thornton road —;a very enthusiastic supporter of the Defence scheme, —has generously offeredja supply of green fodder for the horses of the Headquarters staff, and his kindly offer has been availed of. L One of the items on the special train yesterday afternoon was a fine large riiotor car for the use of the' headquarters staff., The senior chaplain’of each denomination will arrange for the holding of divine service as required. Divine service will be held in the camp on Sunday, 3rd May, and the colours of the 6th (Hauraki) and 16tn (Waikato) Regiments will be consecrated.

; Wednesday, 6th May,, will be devoted to a rehearsal for the combined operations which will be carried out for inspection by General Sir I an Hamilton, InspectoivGeneral of the' 1 Overseas Forces, Fiday, Bth May. On Thursday, 7th* May, the morning will be devoted to the rehearsal of the ceremonial inspection by General Hamilton in* the afternoon. The first of the troops, other than the fatigue parties, to arrive in camp'were the E squadron of the 4th (Waikato) Mounted Rifles, who under Major Chapman, Officer 'commanding the Regiment, left Opotiki last Mon ,day and marched to Rotorua, where tey entrained on Saturday morning, reaching the camp in the afternoon. The other squadrous of the 4th Regiment arrived late yesterday atternoon. D Squadron from Tauranga, and the 3rd Auckland and 11th North Auckland Regiments with various infantry platoons and other details, came by special trains yesterday. The other branches of the service will reach camp qr. Friday, Ist May, and, the work of training will be taken up in earnest on Saturday and will be continued until the following Friday night. * About five hundred troopers proceeded to the flrie range this morning, making quite an imposing spectacle as the cavaclade marched past. Loud reports of volley firing were •heard in town this morning, the sounds rioming from the rifle range.

No intoxicating liquor of any kind is to be brought into, nor to be in the possession of anyone, in camp, except such as may be in charge of M.O.’s for medical purposes. Any person violating the above regulation renders himself liable to a fine of £2o.'

No one can leave without permission r from his commanding odfficer. No N.CiO. or man may leave camp without a pass properly drawn up and signed by his commanding officer. All hotels and hotel bars in Cambridge are “out of bounds.” Hautapu station and the supply depot are “out of to all except those on duty. Visitors will only be allowed in camp between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily, except-on Sundays, when they can enter the camp after 9 a.m. No person wili be allowed in the camp unless in possession of a card of admission, signed by the provost marshal. A Te Awamutu man has, by appointment, opened a barber’s saloon at Hautapu in connection with the territorial encampment The Salvation Army is represented, Adjutant Gray, of Aukland being in’ charge of the large marquee, where a reading matter and writing materials are obtainable gratis. On Sunday morning next religious, .services will be conducted, with vocal and instrumental selections, the adjutant officiating. Two large dry canteens have been erected—one each behind the mounted and infantry lines, here practically anything that a soldier may require can be purchased at reasonable prices. , Three regimental bands will be in camp, including that belonging to the 3rd Auckland Rifles (Countess of Ranfurly’s Own). On Friday, Bth May, a field day will be held, when all the forces will engage in a sham fight.. This will be the biggest military movement ever carried out in the Auckland district. During the past week advance fatigue parties and members of the R.N.Z.A. have been engaged in the ere-tion of tents which stretch in long line for over half a mile, with the headquarters staff on the extreme right, and the 16th Waikato Regiment on Hie left, with mounted rifles, signalling companies, artillery, engineers, medical corps and infantry between’

The only territorials who are not taking part in Lhe training camps are the companies of Garrison Artillery, Whose place is necessarily at the various coastal forts.

On the afternoon of 13th May the Inspector, General will inspect the massed cadets ot Auckland City and environs and of North Auckland. This parade will be one bt the largest of Sir lain Hamilton’s whole* tour, and it is expected that some 4500 senior cadets will be assembled at the Domain on the afternoon of the inspection.

A central post and telegraph office is being established in' camp, and letter-box has been fixed at thea head quarters of each unit. Arrangements have been made by district headquarters, in conjunction with the postal authorities, for the collection and delivery, of all correspondence. Letters to the camp should be addressed: Name of individual, name of unit, camp Hautapu. The divisional signal company will establish telephonic communication between district headquarters and that of each brigade in camp. The officials in charge of the C.E.M.S., Y.M.C.A., arid Salvation Army tents will be very pleased to receive parcels s of magazines, short story books, or illustrated , papers for the use of the men in camp. These institutions have erected large marquees at the camp and provide facilities for reading and writing—an arrangement which has already beeri freely availed of..