SOME TINY STEPS IN TACTICS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1678, 19 February 1913, Page 8

SOME TINY STEPS IN TACTICS.

FOR LOCAL TROOPS. INFANTRY & HARBOUR FORTS. Colonel Purdy, C.M.0., inspected the camp of tlio sth Regiment at Trentharn yesterday, and pronounced it the cleanest, and best from the medical point of view that ho had as yet visited. The health of the troops-is excellent; in a great part this may bo attributed to good food and good sanitation. Mock Battle for Infantry. So far the work, has been, of an elementary nature, but to-day the sth Regiment, will have a tasto of manoeuvring. They will cross the.Hutt River, and attack, an imaginary enemy that has been temporarily held up by an advnnco detachment at Hay wards. Hero the enemy have entrenched themselves—or, at least, the "general and special ideas" says so. The troops will therefore bo going over fairly difficult country in the vicinity of Mt: Cecil, and the ridge of hills running to Fahautaniii. _ The mock attack will be watched and criticised by Colonel E. W. C. Chaytor, 0.C.D., and Colonel G. F. C. Campbell,' the Coast Defence Commander. : To-day's work, will in a degree, be preparatory to that scheduled for Friday, when 1 the troops will continuo to-day's manoeuvres under-the eye of the G.0.C., Major-General A. J. Gcdley, C.B. Major A. A. Corrigan,. who is at present in command of the sth Regiment, reports that the nien aro "working hard and playin? hard," which is just as 'it should be. _D Battery, who have been' doing a little route marching, arc expected back from Waikanae at Trentham some timo to-day. It will be interesting to note now they fared on, the road. "Make Believe" by the, Janie Soddon. The Garrison Artillery, ensconced in their three forts, have been doing admirable work.. They continued their' target practice yesterday. Tho shooting was in some cases very good, and, on the whole, very fair, a general average of between 70 to' 80. per centv boing. maintained. ....... In addition to the guns that were, fired yesterday, the big Bin. gun at Fort Bal-'lance-wns fired for the'first time by the .Territorials. To.da.ythe s.s Janie Seddon will poso as a. belligerent "battleship" entering the harbour with intent to destroy, hue vrjll steam, in through tho entrance and_run the gauntlet of .tho'two'Tin. guns at tort Dorset; Then, nssumirig-the assumption, is theoretical-that she has got past them safely, or, bearing in mind that she is no longer, the Janie Seddon, but a real lino battleship fitted with Win. guns, that she.;, has effectually silenced Fort Dorset with a stray shell or two, then she will steam past death-trap £<;o. 2-to wit, Fort Ballance, aiid the big Bm., spit-firo at Kau Point'." Onco more must she silouceor be silenced; if for a second time she does .the silencing, then, a battle-scarred warriors-tor 6rirely the Kau Point 8-incher will leave ,a mark— will steam majestically to her final encounter, and take' up.a position behind Somes Island. Then shall the twin slim, {■weii 6in. disappearing guns "Al" and A 2 —the pride of Major Bevan and No. 5 Company Garrison Artillery, strive to isavo the town. They aro the last.trap. On Friday, when-Major-General A. J. Godley, C.8., is. present, battles-practice will asain be the order of tho day, and, in addition, the infantry will act in conjunction, with the, garrisoned forts, andi bsi on, the alert to. oppose any .troops that in her battle-act N tho ■ Janie Seddon may see fit to land upon our loyal shores.