CAPITAL WORK.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1708, 27 March 1913, Page 6

CAPITAL WORK.

BY INFANTRY AT YALDHURST. MARCHING & ENTRAINING. FINE RECEPTION IN STREET. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ■Christchurcli, March 20. Tho Territorials' in. camp at Yuldhurst were put through marching and entraining, and detraining movements to-day. in the'morning they marched in from camp, and through tfho city, and lunched at liagiey Park. They tlien marched to tho railway station, entrained in two troop trains, detrained at Hornby, and, marched back to Yaldhurst. ' The parado strength was:—New Zealand Engineers: 5 officers, 97 men; Signal Corps: 2 officers,.s4 men; First Regiment : 21 officers, 4I)G men j Second ltegiliiont: 18 officers, 450 men; Twelfth Regiment: 17 officers, 531 men. Thirteenth 22 Officers, 491 men; No. 3 Field Ambulance: 1 officer, 71 men; Headquarters Staff: 2 officers, 1 man. The .march through tho town was in every way impressive, and the greatest interest was evinced on tho part ot tho people, and tho route, first and last, .must have been lined by many thousands. So keen were some that the aid of taxis, cars, and cabs was invoked, and a journey made down, tho route to catch first the glimpse of tho people's Territorials. After lunch at Hagloy Park tho men marched in two divisions to the station, wliero two special troop trains were at command for their return to Hornby. The arrangements for entraining wero excellent, and thero was no delay on the station. Without any bustle at \iU the men were accommodated in their respective carriages, and, in the case of second division, the time \ that elapsed from the timo of the men marching on to the station to that when tho train steamed out was only twenty-tWo minutes. This was very good_ for a. first entraiument, and would be improved upon considerably on another occasion. The commanders of units were each seen by a reporter, and all declared that they were well satisfied with the march,, and the conduct and discipline of the men and tlho physique shown.

GENERAL'S ENCONIUM, HIS IDEA OF OUR YOUNG MEN. "I was most agreeably surprised with the- very fine performance of tho men,' General Godley said to a reporter tonight." It was a hot day, and the roads were dusty. They carried packs to which they aro not used, and tlie way in which they marched'through Christchurch, and the march oil the whole, would have dono credit to regular troops. The men havo marched altogether about 17 miles. I went out in the noon and saw them marching into camp. 1 They marched in cheerfully, and, stepping up to their chins, as if they had done only a few miles. I also saw the entrapment at Christchurch, and was very much impressed and pleased at the orderly and methodical way in which'it. wns carried out, and with tho good discipline and silence of the men. Altogether, I think it has been a very proud day for the Canterbury infantry brigade, and that from Nelson, the Sounds, tho West Coast, as well as North and South Canterbury, all joined together. ' Such a soldierlv performance, is a great cr.edit to the Canterbury Military District. "I. havo already expressed my appreciation, of the fine march done by the West Coast men to get to camp, and I have been pleased also to hear of tho good order and good behaviour of the men who came bv sea, and I am sure that all will vie with one another in keeping up the high reputation which they have made in Canterbury. I inspected the camps thoroughly this afternoon, and was very pleased with tlio general arrangements for supplies, cooking, and water. '.We hoped to eet all these things still better in, the future, but, considering that this is the first camp, I think that tho mann<v"r">nt reflects great % credit on all corc;!i'"u' with it. To show what tho> spirit- .if _ the men is, I may say that'l " that.' within ten minutes of gcttiil r to camp after, this tiring march, u .argo proportion were playing football. Since I was last in Christchurch 1 hav:> inspected many nioro cadet companies in the North Island, and have found a steady improvement wherever I havogone. Now.that most of them have been issued with new, proper cadet uniforms I am eagerly looking forward to them getting their rifles, as I hope they will in the course of n few months. They have been ordered from England.' I have 110 doubt that tho cadet corps of tho Dominion aro well fitted to havo and to'carry arms." Asked as to where any detention barracks were to be established in Christchurch, the General said that he hoped that they would not bo necessary, but. if I hey are, they will probably go to Fort Jervois, but ho refused to believo that they will bo wanted to any extent, and ho was quite convinced that, with a better understanding of what was required, and a better idea of the aims and obiects of tho scheme, and the efforts of officers to do all that they could for the boys undergoing universal training, thoso yoliiig men who havo objected will gradually grow fewer and fewer. He was convinced that much of tho opposition arose from misunderstanding, and lie had seen enough of tho young New Zeatnnder to realise that when no is con-, vinced of the need for'service lie is pnly too glad to give it. Many of those who at first did not like tho idea of joining tho citizen force will prove to bo amongst tho best soldiers."