SAVAGE WARFARE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 688, 13 December 1909, Page 8

SAVAGE WARFARE.

.-■ - ; "■■'■-■'•'■; - ■■'■ " — ♦.-,.■ ■. : ■-■ '■;■ :'-,:, BATTALION FIELD TACTICS.'. Acting, apparently. <m the. iflea that In-.war —as in. most other circumstances—it is the un expected that .often -happens,; the - Wellingtor Ritlo Battalion- on-'Saturday 'proceeded to 'i'rentham by the 1.50 p.m. train 'for the -purpos of.engaging in certain tactical exercises; sue! as might be adopted to the requirements'" o) savage, warfare;. As a ohahge;from wide ex 'tensions and loose-order movements,, it may b< said .to -supply 'just a nice-element of. varietj to the -mo, of ■"■ a volunteer, while,', as : s test, of drill—for. drill is almosteverything h operations; against' savages—it has some prao tical value.. Of course,' it' requires a considerable stretch of: the imagination to , endow il with' a semblance of. probability, for 'savagei are becoming such' a diminishing atom in tin world's wars that practising their extermination. according 'to the rules' of. the game i< not. a very important' matter. , 7 • ; .The exercises carried out included battalior movements in close order—marching iii quarter column, deploying from.same, and so onand this naturally was excellent practice fo) ceremonial drill purposes. Thero ' were' alsc movements in echelon,' which- have had theii value -on. many battlefields, and always will nave, especially in situations where shock tac bes arid the element of. surprise are sought t< be -introduced by a. fast-footed >enemy.. . Sue! formations are the. handiest for changing int< line of battle on any front,' and- they give ar officer,an'easy and effectivo way of guarding ■his flanks. The "square" supersedes "th< ecnelon '.when the enemy suddenly succeec m surrounding the defence,■' and, as has beei stated;-the swift execution of all these'movements depends on drill. ,A notable instau'et of good, drill in a ticklish situation was thai given ■ by Sir Macdonald's Soudanese bngade at Omdurman, n'here sonie 3000 men ha<] to be brought into line,on south-west fronl almost in a flash, arid. then resolved' out oi line on that front, into line on a' 'northerr front immediately afterwards. In.such a cast there:, would not need to.be any mistakes in the-.word o£ command ob. the part of-the battalion . and company commanders. With good drill, however, it would ■ .be , very ' simple. Altogether, a strenuous afternoon's work' was put , in by the-.battalion, , and the hot. and thirsty men were very thankful for a briel respite before train time. The respite -. was devoted to' an attack unba.-Mrs. HaganV'af tiernobn tea and "soft-drinks' , oanWien.'. ' '-.i '■ The day's operations' were 'directed by LieutColonel W. Q. Duthie, Officer. Commandinc the Battalion. Lieut.-Colonel -Duthie's staff in eluded' Major C. D. Mackintosh, Captain-ana-Adjutant J. A. Cowles, Pay-and-Quartor-Mas-ter-Captain P. B. Mabin, Battalion Sergeant Cobmbes, and Orderly Eooin Sergeant Charters.. The district staff was represented bv Captain R.-O. Cliesney, D.A;A.G., and Stan Sorgetmt-Major J.' Rose., The.parade state o) the: company-units was l.ns- follows:-Citi Rifles; 50; Guards, 33; Post and Tolerant] Rines, 14; Highland Eifles, 37; L Zealaridia Rifles. 38; College Rifles, 26; Kelburne Rifles' ,35; Civil Service Rifles, .15; Cycle Corns U , ' "Hull Valley Rifles, 26; Victoria Collegs O.T;C, 26; staff, 8; total. 377. S