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(f.) Engineers. (1.) Field Companies. —The field companies are somewhat handicapped at the present time, as they have only a limited amount of technical stores at their disposal, and have not the technical vehicles which would make them mobile enough to carry out training in engineering in suitable and varying localities. With the material these units have at their disposal they have performed good work. There is, however, a tendency among all companies not to give adequate consideration to working-parties. Officers and non-commissioned officers should be practised in making out working-party tables and in carrying out work with a minimum amount of orders and talk. When men are working there should be little time to talk, and noise only tends to confusion. During camp, smoking should not be allowed while the men are at work; spells for the purpose should be given in the morning and afternoon instead. All companies seem to be conversant with the various types of earthwork and bridging expedients. The field companies should encamp with Infantry brigades this year in order that they may have the advantage of working with the Infantry, and also that the limited amount of technical equipment available, and the services of the Engineer instructors, may be shared by the Infantry signal companies. (2.) Signal Companies-. —ln many cases these companies did their training last year independently of any Mounted or Infantry unit, which, owing to the preliminary nature of their training, was in the circumstances excusable; but they must remember that they are a most important adjunct to the Mounted Rifles and Infantry brigades, and must devote all their energies during the forthcoming summer to fitting themselves for the duties of communication which will fall to their lot at the brigade camps next autumn. In at least one case last year a signal company did not quite realize its duties, and was trained too much on the lines of an ordinary company of Infantry. (3.) Railway Corps. —Owing to difficulties of organization, the training has so far been confined to squad drill with Infantry units. Steps must be taken to nominate officers and to drawup a definite syllabus of instruction for the two battalions on the lines which have already been generally indicated from Headquarters. The corps should be of great assistance in the concentration of units for the brigade camps in the autumn. (g.) Infantry. The training of the Infantry has been only of an elementary character, owing to the circumstance that it commenced so late in the year. This training was, as a rule, undertaken by the officers of the New Zealand Staff Corps and the non-commissioned officers of the Permanent Staff, since the majority of the Territorial officers and non-commissioned officers were not themselves sufficiently trained to undertake the duties of instruction. The training therefore consisted chiefly of squad and company drills, physical exercises, and elementary musketry instruction. Owing to the paucity of instructors great difficulty was experienced in large centres, since the squads to be trained were too large, and individual attention was not possible. But as the Territorial officers and non-commissioned officers become efficient and are able to undertake the training themselves these difficulties will be overcome in the near future. Generally speaking, the whole- and half-day parades have not been so well attended as could be wished, especially in the towns. Unless these parades are better attended it is not possible to carry on the more advanced training that is so essential for the efficiency of a unit. All ranks seem quick at picking up their work, but, as a rule, lack that steadiness in the ranks which is necessary to bring about the best results. Steadiness in the ranks is a sure indication of a good state of discipline, and this should be impressed on all concerned. There is sometimes also an indication of a want of uniformity in training. It is here that central schools of instruction, at which officers and non-commissioned officers from all parts of the Dominion should attend, prove so valuable, and when these are held in the future every effort should be made to take advantage of them. Company training in the field should be the rule for the current training season, and every effort should be made to get out of the drill-hall, even for the ordinary evening drills. We have already got beyond the stage of mechanical drill in the drill-hall, and there is no reason why, in the summer, the rendezvous of a company for its evening drill should not be on a convenient hill-top on the outskirts of a town instead of at the drill-hall. The use of a limited number of motor and other cyclists for intercommunication should be encouraged in all battalions, (h.) Army Service Corps. A nucleus of our eventual Army Service Corps organization will be established this year by the formation of supply-depots at the brigade camps, and the training of selected officers and non-commissioned officers in this most important branch of army organization will be begun at a special camp of instruction in January. (j.) Post and Telegraph Corps. The training has so far consisted only of squad drill with Tnfantry units, but I trust that the organization of the two battalions will be so developed this summer that they will shortly be able to carry out their own training, and that at next year's camps the corps will be in a position to cater for our needs as regards these services.

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