H.—l9

22

Details of Inspections — continued.

In addition to the above inspections, I was present at the Easter manoeuvres in Canterbury, and have on two occasions (one at .New Plymouth and one at Wanganui) inspected as many Infantry as could be mustered for field-work in the afternoon. At Easter in Canterbury, out of a strength of 1,965 on the rolls of units ordered to camp, a total of 659 attended. A summary of the above state gives the following result for all the adult corps inspected, Easter excluded: — Establishment of corps ordered to parade ... ... ... ... 8,825 Enrolled strength of corps ordered to parade ... ... ... 5,827 Total present at inspections ... ... ... ... ... 3,601 Thus, at Easter, in Canterbury, only 33 per cent, of the enrolled strength attended camp, while at other inspections 62 per cent, of enrolled strength, or 40 per cent, of establishment, have jjaraded. These results I do not consider satisfactory, and I trust the parades will be much better attended in future. Field Artillery. A separate report in detail by the late Artillery Staff Officer accompanies the report of the Defence Council. The corps I have inspected have been generally well officered, the N.C.O.s and men are of very good stamp, are keen and well drilled, and have turned out well. I have only been able to see one corpsat work in the field (at Easter), but from what I saw then and from questions I have asked, and simple tactical problems I have given at inspections connected with the uses of Field Artillery in the field, I am convinced that it is necessary for this arm to get much more work in the field in daylight. lam also of the opinion that more of the time available should be devoted to training in direct laying (and less to indirect laying and firing from behind cover), to choice of positions and to manoeuvre, than has been done recently. I feel sure that very rarely, if ever, the batteries would be required to fire from behind cover when fighting in this country, as the probability is that the Field Artillery would lie employed to prevent landings from boats, against skirmishers, or light field-guns landed from ships; often against moving targets, to cope with which the latter method is, of course, useless. It is right that the batteries should understand the methods and practise indirect laying, firing from behind cover, &c, but, as I believe, it will seldom if ever be used here, I consider the greater portion of their service practice should be in the direction of making them as perfect as possible in the work they will in all probability be called upon to do. Garrison Artillery. A separate report from the late Artillery Staff Officer on this branch of the service is also attached to the report of the Defence Council. I have had no opporttmity of inspecting these corps yet, except at Auckland. I did, however, see one corps at Wellington at work on the occasion on which I accompanied to the forts the Hon. the Acting Minister for Defence. I am glad to be able to report that the Auckland Garrison Artillery corps, which were not in a good state of efficiency a year ago, have decidedly improved, as is also shown by the A.S.O.s report. This branch of the Volunteer Force should be, and, I believe, is, more efficient and ready for service than any other, for the following reasons: They have the officers and men of the R.N.Z.A. as instructors, and as a highly trained nucleus which would form a stiffening and supply a number of experts to work with them in war-time; they have always before them, and thoroughly know, the locality and area over which they would have to fight; as a force they do not move from their positions, communication is easier to keep up, and they are therefore more easily commanded, and a great deal of their training can be done at night. Therefore, although their work is largely scientific and needs thorough training, as they are keen and work hard, under existing conditions I consider they will always be more ready than other arms, their peace training more nearly resembling the work they would do in war. Engineers. A full report from the Engineer Staff Officer accompanies the report of the Defence Council. Except at Easter, I have had no opportunity of seeing these corps in the field. The corps that attended the manoeuvres in Canterbury did good work in laying field-telephone lines, &c. I hope

Branoh of Service. Number of Corps. Present on Parade. Total Enrolled Strength. Establishment. t, Percentage Percentage j s of Enrolled Establish . StreD g h ment P resent present. Field Artillery Mounted Rifles Engineers Infantry 1 12 2 33 Wellington. 65 | 89 387 639 77 150 1,121 1,611 81 1,008 210 3,000 73 60* 50 69* I 80 38* 37 37 Infantry Battalion, 1st 2nd, Wanganui 4th, Sentry Hill Cadets, Infantry Also inspect '.'.'. 8 id on a second occasii 358 525 84 205 122 285 375 439 m. 567 388 462 504 "85 64*