H. 19

4

(c.) Territorial Field Artillery. Since last report it has been found possible to provide uniform for all recruits. All batteries have carried out their full course of evening drills during the year, and also the half-day parades. In the case of the Auckland Brigade the half-day parades were postponed and made up by four extra days in camp. Annua] training-camps have been completed by all batteries. Training is considerably handicapped by lack of equipment, but the state of efficiency shown during camp was surprising considering the personnel is of only one to two years' training, and considering also the lack of equipment. Shell practice was carried on by all batteries during camp, fifty rounds being allotted to each battery. The practice was entirely of an instructional nature, and was conducted deliberately so that the utmost instruction could be obtained from the small amount of ammunition available. On the whole the practice was good considering the limited training and experience of the non-commissioned officers and men. Owing to the absence of so many of our Field Artillery officers with the Expeditionary Force, there is a shortage of officers right through the Dominion. A few young officers are coming in under the first-appointment scheme, and several temporary appointments have been made. Every battery has now sufficient officers to carry on the training. The prominent feature of the Field Artillery is the continued keenness of all ranks to make themselves efficient and the readiness with which extra time is given for training. This spirit is reflected very noticeably in the Reinforcement drafts of the Expeditionary Force. (d.) School Cadet Artillery. The training of the Cadets is being carried out in conjunction with their parent batteries, and the material on issue is at their disposal when not required for Territorial purposes. A keen interest is shown in all work. No allowance of ammunition was made this year for shell practice for the Cadets, but, where possible, Artillery Cadets were present at the shooting of their parent batteries. 7. Garrison Artillery. During the year four non-commissioned officers and men have been killed in action in France; eleven non-commissioned officers and men have been invalided to New Zealand, discharged from the Expeditionary Force, and reabsorbed into the strength of the Royal New Zealand Artillery. Of the latter, three have subsequently been discharged from the regiment as medically unfit, and also one who returned last year. (a.) Enlistments. Enlistments in the Field Artillery Section have been suspended during the war. In the other sections in the Royal New Zealand Artillery men under twenty are enlisted, and of these only three have been taken on. (b.) Home Service Section, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, attacJied to lloyal New Zealand Artillery. When it was known that all remaining non-commissioned officers and men belonging to Division 1, Expeditionary Force Reserve, were to go into camp, permission was given to enlist for home service a number of men ineligible for active service, to replace those about to go into camp, and some sixty men were enlisted and trained for three months, when they relieved the regular members of the Royal New Zealand Artillery who proceeded to camp on the 6th February, 1917. These home-service recruits were required to serve on probation for two months before being finally accepted, and a number were found to be unsatisfactory. A few others were not physically strong enough to undergo the training. On the whole, however, the scheme has been successful. Concerning the home-service details attached to the Garrison Section, Royal New Zealand Artillery, the method of enlistment and training were, owing to special circumstances, somewhat different from those employed with the Field Artillery. All members of the Royal New Zealand Artillery who were in the First Division of the Military Service Act proceeded to camp on the 6th February, 1917. Home-service men were enlisted to replace the Royal New Zealand Artillery, Garrison Section. A preference for enlistment has always been given to returned soldiers, and with this object in view the various returned soldiers' associations and clubs were communicated with, but the response has not come up to expectations. Owing to the different duties, including the furnishing of sentries over detention prisoners, escorts and guards over places of military importance, the training of the Garrison Artillery Home Section details has not progressed very rapidly,.but they are now proving useful as District Gunners, and are acquiring a knowledge of range-finding and gun-laying. As shown in the report upon the Territorial Garrison Artillery, the trained non-commissioned officers and men have almost all gone on active service. Those remaining are composed of the postings of the last two years. Fortunately there still remain a number of Royal New Zealand Artillery non-commissioned officers and soldiers with long service capable of supplying a stiffening of trained signallers, layers, and electric-light specialists. All non-commissioned officers not detailed for special duty have charge of portions of the coast-defence works and keep ledgers relating to the armament. Under them are trained