early morning camp SCENE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14833, 26 November 1913, Page 10

early morning camp SCENE.

WITH y THE* TRAIN- ■;. ■ CONTINGENT.

An almost dead silence feigned in the camp when the special reporter o|'' The Press" detailed■/' for- : the?:'. loot forces was passed, by"/', the . seriiries at .the.- gate. A , few lights gleamed -.in ~ some pf ' the tents and shone from the windows of some of the permanent buildings.. The only, signs of life'were-'about the motor .cars, which were drawn:up in several long rows in. readiness for ... an .early start.; .';.-..,' ; :; . . ■■'..',' -- '. , i: ; ;'; MEN DEPART. By midnight everything was still and quiet, but few of the; men;were asleep, although the early starting mounted men were. "Reveille; was sounded for them at 1 a.m., and instantly several hundreds of men turned out into the darkness. r - .'■ Their •■'. active preparations made some stir and all but the heaviest sleepers were roused," but there was no confusion. . As if they were seasoned campaigners, ■ they fed and saddled their,homes arid snatched a hasty meal, washed down with copious draughts of hot tea or/coffee; Then' sQuad after squad' of mounted "specials" < formed !**•'■ ■■ '" ■.■■•■-■■'^•,... .■■'■:'■■". -, ... ' They made a brave show even in the dim light which preceded actual daybreak. By 3.15 a.m. the last squads of mounted men were away. MOTOR-CAR TRANSPORT. The day had scarcely, broken,, when the mofor cars and motor lorries, thirty or more, formed into a long-line in the' main avenue. - The owners and drivers were giving their services gratuitously in providing motor transport for 150 "specials" who, had been detailed- as scouts and patrols to, watch the railway, signal-boxes, both ends of the and as an advance party of the.main body of foot "specials." ■ It had been. arranged that' the motor detachment should proceed at easy speed to Heathcote Valley, where the men \ were to take. up. their •allotted places to guard the Christchurch .end of'"'the tunnel, while the remainder made their - way on foot over tho Bridle Path to Lyttelton, there, to take lip their allotted posts. ADVANCE GUARD AT HEATHCOTE. Punctually, at -1 a.m., the long, procession of cars passed out of the gates, moving-in regular line.at" easy speed. They had a ■ very quiet and .uneventful run out to Heathcoto Valley. One or two stray men wero passed, Dut for the most part the roads were wholly ■ deserted. > * — Nearing Heathcote some early risers, including strikers and their, families watched the unwonted spectacle; passing. There were "boos" and cries of "scabs" from a few, and one woman, gave vent to her feelings' in a torrent of epithets and wordy abuse, the objects of which answered with cheers * or laughter. The cars reached Heathcote at 4.30* and after tho ''specials" had formed ; up, returned, to '■ town. A squad of the foot "specials" was told off to guard the railway signalbox,; and. another was posted to watch

the tunnel mouth, while the main body marched away up the Bridle Path, " and over in to Lyttelton,, where they arrived a little ahead of the mounted men. THE MAIN BODY MOVES. Meanwhile the main body of foot "specials" at the Show Grounds had turned out in full strength. They paraded near the grand-stand in separate detachments while the roll. was called and final preparations made. The men were then marched into the great dining-room under the grand-stand, where they had a good square meai of plain fare and hot tea and coffee. Several lorries were busily engaged in carting the gear and personal effects of the whole body of "specials," and the bed and general camp equipment from the parade ground to the train. Load after load was stacked high on the lorries by willing hands and taken to the railway siding, where men were busily engaged in loading the trucks. The eun was ■ shining brightly and warmly from a cloudless sky when, shortly after 6.30 a.m. tho main body of foot "specials" and a detachment of Arbitration unionists mustered in orderly array on the parade grounds. A few minutes later the order to march was given, and the men advanced in squads to the waiting train at the siding. The last of the gear was trucked, and punctually at 6 o'clock the long train started for Lyttelton, timed to arrive at 6.30 a.m. Those left behind cheered their comrades as they started, and as the train passed the various crossings stray spectators waved their hands and cheered. Occasionally there was a faint cry of "Scabs." BY TRAIN TO LYTTELTON. The train steamed slowly through Christchurch station, and was cheered on its way by little groups and by the small detachments of "specials" stationed at the crossings at Linwood, Opawa and Woolston. A few strikers, standing outside their houses as the train drew up the incline into Heathcote Valley, yelled "scab" and other epithets. The train stopped for a minute or two at the station, where it.was seen that the advance guard, per motors, and a few mounted "specials" were guarding signal-box and tunnel mouth. > To ensure that all was clear in the tunnel,'a "pilot" engine went through, ahead of the special train, which started as coon as the "all clear" signal was received from Lyttelton: The tunnel journey took about five niinutes. As the train emerged, it was .seen that the pre-arranged plans had been carried out to the letter. The port seemed alive with "specials."