BREAKING THEM IN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2134, 28 April 1914, Page 6

BREAKING THEM IN.

TERRITORIALS AT TAKAPAU.

A DAY OF SUNSHINE.

MUSTERING A BRIGADE. (By Telejfrapli.—Special Koportcr.l Takapau Camp, April 27. A day of glorious sunshine, tho bluo sky being plentifully filled with fleecy clouds scudding before a breei'/O which contained just a. hint of winter, effectively dispelled any drooping spirits at Takapau to-day. It was in striking contrast to yesterday's dismal drizzlo and heavy rain. A consequent brightness was also to bo seen in tho face of every Territorial. Active operations were-not indulged in by the infantry brigade, but, in the afternoon, tho mounted regiments went across to their manoeuvre ground l —a gently undulated country lying to tho north-west of tho camp site, and mado available to the Defence Department by Mr. Price, a largo landholder. The advance party of tho sth Regiment have got to work in earnest to pitch camp for the remainder of tho Wellington men who come in on Friday. With tho exception of ihe 11th (Taranaki) Regiment, none of tho infantry regiments are at full strength yet, but 149 infantrymen are now in camp. Till Friday the training will mostly bo for the mounted regiments, but tho infantrymen in camp to put in extra drills will commence work to-morrow morning.

The Howitzer and His Brethren. During tho course of tlio camp the work dono by tho artillery will be valuable for tho men. F Battery (Napier) will havo 18-pounders in use, but tho howitzers of J Battery (Palmerston North) are said to be the mos.t powerful guns of their class in existence, and much in advance of what are at present used by many of the Continental Powers. Tho peculiar advantage of tho howitzer as a field arm is that it can overcome cover. It fires at a high angle, and, if well-ranged, on tho hoads of the enemy. Tho howitzers which are now in camp have a rang© of about 7000, yards. On Hay 7 and 8 the artillery will practise with livo shell in the Terrace Hills, firing towards Mount Misery, which lies in a south-easterly direction from the camp, and about tirce and" a half miles away. A small rifle range has been fitted up at .tho back of the camp, where the men who have not completed thoii.- musketry course will do so during the next.four days. The machine gun section will also. put in some practice.

The Coal—All Arms Combined. The general idea of all the training is to work on progressive lines, starting with company training and going towards tactical exercises of all arms cc-mbined. With this idea in view the mounted brigade will do regimental training in tactical attack and defence on May 4 in co-operation with the- field artillery who will be exercised in riding and driving and fire - discipline work. Again, on May 7, tho mounted brigade will operate with the mounted ambulance who will arrange supplies, collection of casualties, etc.

Detraining Horses and Men. An interesting report has. been made by Captain A. C. Stevens in his capacity of railway transport staff officer and' superintendent of detraining arrangements._ On Sunday ho supervised the detraining of approximately 2076 men and 1591 horses, and, he states, these men and horses were detrained without casualty of any sort. In the course of the report Captain Stevens mentions that tho utmost assistance was rendered tho Defence - Department by Mr'. Mouatt, of the Railway Headquarters Office and his assistants, and, by their efforts,_ the difficulties of the day were considerably lessened. So far as tho horse transport was concerned, the work was dono admirably; but both drivers and horses were overworked, and more transport was really necessary on account of the heavy going_ occasioned by the inclement weather which prevailed throughout the day. Tho men were astir shortly after 4 a.m., and the last load of baegage did not.reach camp till 1 a.m. The transport did not break down, and tho greatest credit was due to tho officers responsible and the director for maintaining the supply of vehicles throughout the day at both the Takapua Station and the camp siding. If it is possible t<s draw a comparison, the 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles) was the best and smartest regiment at detraining and marching. Another good nieco of work was done by some monnted troops from Feilding_ who detrained 100 horses in soven minutes. ■ All arms will have settled down to work on Saturday when the order for the dav will be as follows:—Mounted Rifles Brigade, Mounted Signal Troop, telephone and signalling, field artillery,' driving and gun drill and field manoeuvres, infantry brigade, company trainln*and attack practice, Divisional Signalling Comoany, telephone and signalling, Field Engineers, contraction work