THE LAST WEEK

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1079, 18 March 1911, Page 6

THE LAST WEEK

AT TAUHERINIKAU CAMP. UNITY OF PURPOSE AND IDEALS. WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. Yesterday tho tents at Tauhcrinikau camp were struck, and tho adjutants and non-commissioned ofliccrs who on tho first of next month, aro to report for duty in their respectivo districts, left for tlieir'homes, to enjoy a well-earned holiday, arrange their affairs, and pack up their household goods, in readiness for their various "fiittings," for many of them will bo stationed miles from their present homes. For example, D Battery has supplied three adjutant officers—Lieutenants Glendining, Skelley, and Avery. Lieutenant Glendining goes to Gore, Southland; Lieutenant Skelley to Napier, and Lieutenant Avery to Blenheim. Exeunt Omnos. • Tho final morning was devoted to battalion drill, and a lecture ou discipline was given by Colonel Heard, Director of Military training and Staff Duties, at the conclusion of which General Godley laid stress 011 the example which all who had been trained in the camp should set to the forces at large. Gen■cral Godley then summed up, and thanked ali ranks for the way thoy had worked in camp, laying stress on the, energy and goodwill of the old perman■ent staff sergeant-majors in carrying out' the instructions in camp. Tho 'General also expressed appreciation of the way the Permanent Force had carried out the somewhat, thankless task of doing tho fatigue duties' which had fallen to them, but which had been so necessary to enable thoso attending for instruction' to be properly trained and kept at work.' Ho expressed a hope that they would continue to set a high example of discipline and efficiency to tho Defence Forco generally. Ho also thanked the staff of the camp for tho zealous way they had worked to successfully carry through the course of 1 instruction.

' Iti conclusion, the General acknowledged his grateful thanks to Mr. Quintbn Donald, oil whose land the. camp had been situated. He, himself, the Defence 'Department, and, indeed, all tranks wero deeply indebted to Mr. Don;ald for his courtesy and generosity in ■lending thd land. for. its position had •very materially contributed to its success, and tho comfort of thoso under canvas. Ho also desired to thank tho and committee of tho Tauherinikau racecourse for their.courtesy and tho Messrs. Bidwill, for their kindness in allowing manoeuvres to be carried out oil their land, and finally he thanked tho railway and postal officials, and all those in Fcatherston and the surrounding district for the • help they liad given. ; Colonel Robin, C.8., Adjutant and Quartermaster-General of the Forces, who has been assisting throughout in all matters. of organisation, has made arrangements for the disposal of the hories which were purchased for use at tho- School of Instruction. Tho cafnp' broke up in the afternoon, am] the-majority of the visiting officers and all under instruction left for their ■homes by the afternoon train. Tho proclamation calling,on all those liable for service to register themsu'ves will bo posted on April o. 'A Valuable Week. During the last week of tho camp the whole of tho General Staff at Headquarters, the officers commanding the military districts, with their adjutants, find practically cvory regimental commanding officer in. New "Zealand, with his second in command, were present, and conferences, presided over by the Commandant of the Forces, were hold daily on matters concerning regimental nomenclatures, uniforms, the regulations at present being drafted, and so on. The list of visiting officers who spent the last week in camp, included, in addition to'the members of the General Staff at Headquarters Captain Grant, Captain Robinson, Captain Whyte, Captain Barton, who recently landed from England. From Auckland: Coloriel Wolfe, Lieut-Colonel Bell, Lieut.-Colonel Ward,' Lieut.-Colonel' Steadman, Major Hlcomfiold, Major Major, Major Mackesy, Major Plugge, Major Sheriton, Captain Carpenter, Captain Pilkington, Captain Home, Captain Cummings, Captain Allen, Lieut. Smythe. From Wellington: Colonel Chaytor, Lieut.-Colonel Hislop, Lieut.-Colonel Tait-, Lieut.-Colonel" Hughes, Lieut.Colonel Russell, Lieut.-Colonel Malono, Lieut.-Colonel Pringle, Major Meklrum, 'Major Charters, Major Turner, Major •fiandtman, Major Davis.

From Canterbury: Colonel Hawkins, iLieut.-Colonel Smith, Lient.-Colonel .Day, Lieut.-Colonel Chaffey, • Lieut.Colonel Doans, Lieut.-Colonel Milton, •Lieut.-Colonel Bryant, Captain Potter, Captain Wain. From Otago: Colonel Smyth, Lieut.Colonel Logan, Lieut.-Colonel Mahan, Lieut.-Colonel Boyne, Lieut.-Colonel 'Nicbolls,' Major MacAra, , Major Mitchell, Captain Hickie, D.5.0., Captain iStuart. The general opinion expressed among ■the visiting officers was that the week's ■work and the daily association with tho •General and the members of his/staff 2had_ been of tho greatest valuo in establishing a cordial understanding all xonnd. Tho headquarters staff was brought into personal touch with the •district staffs and citizen field officers from all over tho Dominion. A common ■understanding and a uniform set 'of ideals has been created which, it is agreed, must inevitably work out for a high mark to be aimed at, a strong •unity of purpose, and a friendly and isympathetic bond .'between tho heads ■of the defence administration and the forces. HEALTH AND SANITATION. A AYORD IN SEASON. One of the evenings in camp was idevoted to a Jccture 011 sanitation, b/ Colonel J. R. Purdy, Director-General of Medical Services. General Godley, in his remarks at the end, laid great stress 011 the enormous importance of good sanitary arrangements and disoipliiio in a. camp; on it the health of a force depended, and it was tho duty of every officer,. N.C.0., and man to endeavour to carry out all sanitary regulations. Ho asked all present to note tho arrangement of tho camp of instruction, which had been laid out by Captain Browne, and which might be. taken as a model camp, , These •were the outcome of bitter experience on servico and elsewhere, and were drawn up in tho interests of all concerned —it would be impossiblo to pay too much attention to them. Great stress was also laid on the necessity for using stout, broad-toed boots in marching, anil the importance of attending to men's feet. As an instance of what progress could and had been mado in this way. General Godley described marches which had been carried out bv a division (90,000 men} in the general manoeuvres in England of two years ago. ,The threo brigades were separated and marched 33 miles, 31 miles, and 29 miles, respectively, to concentrate; on the completion of the march the whole force attacked a position, and on conclusion of tho attack tho men oommenoed to dig 1 hemselves in on the ground seized. The men finished, in giod condition; and hardly a man bad fallen out. This is to be compared with tho pre-Afriean times* wbea so much attention was

not paid to points affecting the genera! health and well-being of the men, and when tea miles a d-iy was considered a normal day's march,and fifteen milcn a forced inarch. Now theso long lone marches of 25 to 30 miles are carried out day after day in manoeuvres, , often»followed by an action, and tho -men,are-.none tho worso. ; These remarks will' bo appreciated .by those who aro accustomed to see a-largo percentage of their men fall out on even a short march. DRILL, DRILL, DRILL, A LESSON FROM JAPAN. Two interesting.points from .tho lectures ; ■ , "If steadiness'in'the ■ field-is to bi: obtained, drill should nob' bo looked upon as a somewhat unnecessary formality—it is a real necessity, if-discipline and training is to' reach'a high standard."—Captain Hamiltoii. _ "When tho Japanese reserves first joined tho armies in Manchuria, in spito of tho fact that they had been put through a severe course-'.of .fieldtraining before leaving. Japan, thev were put back to do nothing, but drill and ceremonial drill for six weeks, because they lacked that steadiness which is so absolutely essential:to ensure success when nnder fire..;., Without this they were not considered;: fit) to talus their place in the ranks.''-—General (iodiey.