TERRITORIAL ARMY

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21042, 19 February 1940, Page 6

TERRITORIAL ARMY

BIG MANOEUVRES HELD WEEK AT WAIOURU CAMP One of the largest territorial military manoeuvres held in New Zealand for many years concluded at the Waiouru camp on Saturday, when several units from many centres in New Zealand, including the Second Medium Battery, from Hamilton, were engaged in realistic training. The territorials were in camp for a week, the units including infantry and artillery, with the result that all ranks gained experience which normal training routine could not give. About 70 members of the Second Medium Battery attended tha manoeuvres under Captain F. Yendell.

During the week the manoeuvre! were visited by Major-General J. E. Duigan, N.Z.S.C., Chief of the General Staff, who commented that without the territorial forces New Zealand would not have had officers and non-commissioned officers, and the expeditionary force would not have been made possible so soon. The weather was particularly trying, but the degree of accuracy of the shooting of the Second Medium Battery is stated to have been excellent, even at the 16,000 yards range, despite the fact that many senior officers and non-commissioned officers from the unit are already serving with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. EXAMINING RECRUITS 150 IN AREA THIS WEEK Medical boards will be active examining recruits in several centres in the No. 4 (Hamilton) military area this week. About 150 men have been notified that they will be medically and dentally examined. Beards will sit at Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Taumarunui, and Te Kuiti on Wednesday, and one at Huntly on I Thursday. FILLING SECOND ECHELON RESULT OF SPECIAL APPEAL The appeal last week in the No. 4 (Hamilton) area for 25 recruits who were wanted immediately to fill vacancies in the second echelon, and for special draling to the third echelon of the Second New Zealand ; Expeditionary Force, had a good response. Nearly all the required men , enlisted. They will encamp on Friday of this week, assembling at the . Drill Hall, Hamilton, at noon on that day.