WITH THE TERRITORIALS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXV, Issue 11648, 23 April 1913, Page 5

WITH THE TERRITORIALS.

A DAY AT ORINGI.

LIFE AND WOEK IN CAMP,

■ (Bit Tek<jraph.) (Special Reporter)

DANNEVIRKE, Wednesday,

When alighting from tho train at Oringi, tho eye is struck by a white canvass town —not. a village, because there are over three thousand men under canvass, and tho rows and rows of tents, tho Union Jacks, and rod, green ana white ilags, make an imposing show. An Ideal Spot. Oringi is an ideal camping ground, and a better spot could not have been chosen for this, tho largest. camp yet held in New Zealand. There is plenty of flat country for mantmivring large bodies of nujn, and surrounding this are. hills steep and covered with stumps and trees, river beds and patches of bush. The ground is adapted for all manlier of work, and is being taken full advantage of. There is a fine stream close handy, from which water is pumped an.l conveyed by pipes to all parts of the camp. Bustle of Camp Life. On entering tho camp, a variety of sounds break on the ear. A snatch of song from one tent, bugle calls from another, several Territorials practising on band instruments, sounds of horses galloping, tho camp postman's motor bike buzzing, dishes rattling and men hammering—all is bustle and activity, but all is orderly. Early in the morning bodies of men are seen moving out from camp in different directions. One Company go<\« out t<; dv gun work, another for ambulance instruction, and the 7th Kegiinent, which your represoi:■"onipur.ies, makes for the river bed with the hills at the back to do outpost work. Outpost Work. When the River conies in sight one is apt to wonder how the body of men is to reach the other side unless they swim, but. it is soon found that the Engineers have been at work here, and a bridge spans the stream. Two thousand men crossed this bridge last week thus giving proof of its strength. After crossing a strip of rough log-strewn country, a halt is called for a short spell. Then the "Regiment once more advances in easy order across swamps and small gullies till the foot of the hill is reached. In getting over the bogs the men have to go' steady, balancing themselves on rotten logs ami branches, a slip from which would mean immersion in the black mud. When the foot of the hill is reached, another halt is called, and then the Regiment is told that a supposed enemy is advancing from Woodville on Dannevirke, and they have to throw out pickets and sentries. The men are divided into Companies, and disperse towards tho' river, where they quickly mingle with the stumps and become undistinguishable to any but a sharp eye. When all arc posted and have got a grasp of the idea, the men arc recalk-d, and lunch at the foot of the hill. After lunch operations are resumed and continued to about four o'clock, when- the men return to camp somewhat tired, but with good appetites. Quiet, Orderly, Satisfied. The camp seems to have settled down in earnest. The majority of the men arc satisfied with the treatment meted out to them. The food is good, and there is a plentiful supply. The men are well behaved. One of the Staff-Sergeaiit-Mrgors stated that ho had been in many camps, but this was the quietest and most orderly he had ever attended. One thing is noticeable in the camp, and that is the large numbers of men -who are on tho sick list. Every day fifty or more men line up for sick parade, and are duly attended to by the Ambulance Corps "which, by the way, is composed mostly of Masterton men. Several men are dispatched on stretchers by the train every day, either bound for their homes or for the Dannevirke Hospital. where twelve beds are reserved for the use of the Territorials. A Route March. To-day (Wednesday) the whole of the men in ramp will be sent on a route march to Dannevirke. The sight of over .'iOOO men on the march should be something worth witnessing.