H.—l9

5

gunners who, assisted by home-service men, keep the armament, electric lights, telephones, and various instruments in an efficient condition. Both non-commissioned officers and gunners instruct Territorials, and their efforts require to be greater than in peace owing to the Territorial gunners, as they become old enough, joining Reinforcements, the work of training then having to be commenced again with fresh men. 8. Engineers. (a.) Field Companies. The work of the Field Engineers has been most satisfactory, and has been characterized by up-to-date instruction and work. The shortage of experienced officers and non-commissioned officers has been largely compensated for by the energy and military keenness of those remaining. The field-work has been particularly good. More attention has been paid in the majority of units to close-order drill and elementary recruit and musketry instruction. (b.) Signal Units. The Signal units have been considerably handicapped for lack of equipment. Notwithstanding this the)' have performed useful training-work, and the standard of discipline and individual efficiency has been satisfactory. The importance of Signal units to a modern army is now better understood, and as a result an increasing interest has been shown by all ranks. (o.) Railway Battalions. The work and training of the Railway Battalions has been carried out continuously during the past season. The lack of instructors and the shortage of experienced officers, owing to the majority having volunteered for active service, has added to the difficulties, although it is fully recognized that these features were unavoidable in the circumstances. Training has been continued throughout, and the men have received instructions in infantry drill, musketry, and elementary military engineering. A fair proportion of the whole strength has been exercised in the annual musketry course, the interest of the men having been considerably encouraged in this branch of training through the provision of the Railway Department of 25-yards miniature ranges at the four centres. Week-end camps have been held where the conditions permitted, and the benefits derived from this means of giving a reasonably long period of continuous training are such as to justify every encouragement. The latest figures available show that forty-one officers and 838 men of the battalions have volunteered for active service, and are away from the battalions. It is considered that, having regard to the difficulties experienced, several companies have made steady improvement, and, generally speaking, the officers have devoted much time and labour to holding their commands together, and maintained the standard of efficiency which they had attained at the outbreak of the war. Opportunity was given several of the junior probationary officers to submit themselves for Examination " A " before being confirmed in their appointment, and in the majority of cases they did well, showing that they had taken advantage of the limited opportunities available to increase their efficiency. • (d.) Post and Telegraph Corps. The work of the Post and Telegraph Engineer Corps has been of a highly satisfactory nature ami more advanced than heretofore. The fact of having so man}' members of the corps on active service—twenty-two commissioned officers and 843 other ranks —many of whom have earned distinction and honour on the battlefield, has had a most stimulating effect. The members filling the ranks in New Zealand recognize how very real, necessary, and important the work they are doing as signallers is in modern warfare. The fact that members are selected for the wireless services abroad has opened up another legitimate channel of proving their worth, of which they are taking full advantage. Wireless classes under the guidance of able instructors (gentlemen highly skilled and having the necessary technical qualifications and holding important positions in the Post and Telegraph Service) have been formed in the chief centres with good results. It has been realized by officers and men that the military work for which they are most suited from the very nature of their daily duties is signalling in all branches, consequently concentration has been brought to bear on this side of the service with the most gratifying results, as shown by the number of Post and Telegraph Engineer Corps men selected for signalling-work at the front in preference to all others. The corps is an excellent training-ground for members joining the Expeditionary Force. 9. Infantry. The work performed by all ranks during the present training-year has been most creditable. Several units inspected were found to have considerably increased their standard in discipline and efficiency since last year. In only a few cases was it found that units had declined in this respect. The discipline of the majority of units has been excellent, an increasing improvement being made in this direction. When the great difficulties of the present abnormal times, the shortage of experienced officers and non-commissioned officers, and the reduced training-time caused