TERRITORIALS AT BURNHAM.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16164, 19 March 1918, Page 6

TERRITORIALS AT BURNHAM.

ANNUAL CAMP COMMENCES

This year, instead of holding detached camps all over the countryside for every little unit, the military authorities have decided to hold central continuous camps where Territorials will receive their week's annual training; Tinder canvas at whatever period suits them within certain specified limits. The main camp in the Canterbury Military District officially began yesterday at Burnham, and there are also subsidiary camps at Marshlands (Nelson) and Tapawera (Nelson). The Burnliam camp will be attended by all units from Canterbury province and the West Coast.

The Industrial School site has been placed at the disposal of tho military authorities, and it provides an excellent encampment, being well sheltered and having a light porous soil. Several of the institution buildings have also been loaned to the military, and these have been gladly availed of, providing, as they do, needed comforts for the Territorials undergoing their course of instruction, and the members of the instructional staff who will be required to remain at Burnham during the wholo course of tho encampment. Among other purposes, tho school buildings have been utilised for sleeping and mess accommodation for the staff, recreation Quarters for the men, and a dry canteen, n an adjoining meadow is pitched tho camp, and so complete aro the arrangements that even a hot-water scrvico has been provided for. Tho school swimming bath will no doubt be gladly availed of, and tho fruit from the justlyfamed orchard and tho healthy-looking vegetables grown by the school 'authorities will no doubt provide a pleasing variety of fare for tho men during their sojourn under canvas.

The Bumham camp will bo in existence for over five weeks, tho time being divided into five periods of one week cach. A Territorial may sele:t any one of theso> j>eriods f or term of training. The final period ends oji April 30th. It. is anticipated that the new scheme will save the country £5000 in the. Canterbury Military [District alono, besides securing increased efficiency and better training for tho Territorials. The preliminary operations were begun on Friday, and yesterday morning thero were 73 men in camp. These were reinforced late in tho afternoon by 350 more from Christchurch, mostly members of the Ist (Canterbury) Regiment and tho E Battery N.Z.F.A. When a fresh, body of men arrivo at the camp they are immediately classified for instructional purposes in ono of tho folclasses : (a) Raw recruits, (b) in-aifferently-trained men, (c) partiallytrained men, (d) well-trained Territorials, and their instruction is conducted accordingly. The Artillery and Mounted Rifies will drill without horses. As m other years, the Army Service 'oorps will supply the camp with rations. Inis unit has its headquarters at the Burnham railway station* the supplies being under charge of Sergeant-Major Lrlover and tho transport under the control of S?rgeant>Major Kett. A liberal scale of rations has been provided. 1 cam P commandant is Major W. C. Morrison, N.Z.C.S.. and his staff consists of Lieutenant R. A. Hawkins, adjutant: Captain T. Archey, quartermaster; 2nd Lieutenant H. W. Webb, nss'stant camp quartermaster; Staff Sergeant-Major A. . Brant, camp ser-geant-major ; Regimental Quarter-master-Sergeant E. J. Solomon, camp-ouartormastor-sergeant; and Sergeant H. G. Reeves, ordorly-room sergeant. The instructional staff comprises Lieutenants R. S. P. Hopkins, A. V. Williams, and M. W. P. Blathwayt,' Staff Sergeant-Major L. R. Shuttleworth. Regimental Sergeants-Major R. G. Ritchie. W. R. Pike, E. W. Webb, snd F. T. Rochford, Staff Sergeants I>. Moffatt aid R. A. Green, Regimental Sergeant-Majors F. B. Wright. G. Wiilers, A. W. Gracie. and W. L. Joyco, and Sergeant F. A. Weatherall. Medical officers will also bo in attendance at tho cnmi).