OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 706, 4 January 1910, Page 3

OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS.

. 'CAMP. AT rMAKIBIKffii.: '■'' •...'Encamped at Makirikiri, on tile Wauganui lliver, the members of the Yw\. torift College Officers' Training Corps are putting in a period of .practicaL instruction, in military, science, and, incidentally, having on' enjoyable holiday.-, Ths" camp is' close, to the ,river, on a. high, sandy flat of about. good l supply of water. . Major, lascelles,' of; the . General' , Instructional ;Stafr,.'is supervising- the camp; and the instructor and .'■ the twenty-two ■ non-commis-sionod officers and men wlio' have elected to spend part of their, holidays in learning something of the practical side of-.the_ art of .war, are given plenty to. do: Other officers present are Captain-and Adjutant. J. A.\Cowles, ,of .tho :staff .of; the. First Wellington ■'■ Rifle •.'.' Battalion^.'.; Captain. Beere," and Lieutenants.-Atkinson • and: Rhortt, v officers of,' the . corps, ■ and.' Staff Sergeant-Major- Eose. ; : The , Eev. Sir. Dove, headmaster of :Wanganui ; Col r . lege, is alsQ ',: .-' '■, "■'"/' '.. > ;-, \Vork' begins early;, the' day's; routine being as , follows:—■ .■..-., .; ■ ' ••' ; '■ Beveille, ; 5 ' a.ni.; /bathing:. parado, ,5.30 a.m.; physical■:drill,' ;6: a.m.; breakfast, 7; a.m.; tent \ inspection, :8 a.m.;; parade's, B.SO to 10.30: a.m.; ■ and: 11 r ;a.m. to 12:30' ; p.m-.; dinner, 1 p.mV; .parades, 2.15 to "3.30, and'3.4s t0.5 -p.m.; ■bathingiparade,' ■5 pan.; tea, , 6p;m.; le'cture,',B p.m/ to 10: p.m.!;. "First :Posti" ;9.30 :p.m.;';"Last Post," 10 p.m.;/"Lights Out,: 10.15; p.m. .The object, of, the . training ■- is, 'first,' to' instruct "the members ,of .the corps, and, second do, teach them hoy .to instruct. others. 'Squads -.are.'drilled and instructed {by. members in- turn, ■•: their work being criticised by_,Major Lascelles the other officers .present;, ; So far, 'instruction '.'has been given ,: in•■'.'' ; camp duties, "squad, drill, 'rifle exercises, .physical drill-(daily), ■ masketfy,. instruction (aiming . and pressing ihe trigger), • firing practice,, collective', firing, and v, skirmish-, ing, use of cover, and company drill. .Lectures by Major.', Lascelles; in the. evening are usually (devoted; to criticisms'of: work done,'and expositions (of the duties for,, the following, ;day.". ; Lectures ■ have also been given in principles of..- training, {discipline, elementary/musketry/.training, fire t'aotics, , ?attack,, .defence, : protections' and topography.'. The>rwork ;is/ hard; but not too, severe,, and "the' members of • tho, ;Corps are in ..very. -fit. condition. i . Dis- ; .cipfine is ,very strict) {and all duties are 1 carried {out in"■■conformity .'.with the' , best, principles:' : ' Even ; in.the{short, space of, -'tirtie. already-.'taken- up, : a ,very" great improvement- is'.notieeable, ; and, the men are'.acimiring 'a very -'soldierly;'.bearing; • Letters addressed: to'the: camp..at' Ma-; kirikirij are .called .for; daily. ;V v