TROOPS AT TAKAPAU

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2135, 29 April 1914, Page 8

TROOPS AT TAKAPAU

iiIISmtIMOMtISINCSI^

OVER ; VAS;

CAMPAICNINCjIN-jRAiN^I

■ ■;■■■■; (B7.\Tel«rrath.r Special:'StporUr.Vy-v' '.. ''■"'' April 28." Almost continuous ■ rain made conditions ■. decidedly unpleasant .'■ to-day. Monday's tine weather gave out! during the night, and, when reveille, sounded over the camp this morning, ttu iireeH■siint downtwur ■' had set in, equalling that of Susidity. Iu tho aft<irimo!) ;i squally wind sprung up, and two large social marquees wore blown down. Fortunately Iho advance guard of tho sfch (Wellington) Regiment had been r>b!o, during yesterday, to pilch the. majority of tho tents in readiness for the advent of the regiment on Friday. So tltoy /will go in on comparatively dry ground. Work whs out of tho question to-rliiy . for the • infantry fejiimonte, and tiro musketry, which tt had been been i»umsled to proceed with at tho camp range, eoultl act bo gone on with. The mounted men iacud tho rain, and proceeded to an nrca'on the south-cast side of the camp, where troop training was carried out during the day, Tho weather is certainly discouraging, and, with so much rain, the ground is becoming thoroughly wet. ' '>'

For the fnnor>Man. Tho new «nmp cookers are giving entire satisfaction, rind hot food in plenty is provided for tho men, Especially appreciated is this at (i.30 a.m., when Itofc coifeo is provided prior to tha infantry doing, physical drill. So far thero hfts been'no coif on the- hospital accommodation, and tho troops under eansas aro in good spirits, despite the unfortunate climatic conditions. In th«i eve.iimg. fifteen per cent, of the men •aro allowed camp leave, and tho majority of these tad their way to I'akapau.

Social Side of Ganvasstown. On tho camp area itself everything has been provided to meet the social <le- : tmuids, and- the generous niarqueesj 'erected by tho Church of England. J Roman Catholic Church, Y.M.C.A., aucl Salvation Army have bcoii well patronised. In addition, there is au enclosed picture theatre,- and shooting gaUory. Bo_ the'gr&tuids in tho area devoted to tuis purpose mghtfj' present t-ho appoaraiico of a fair ground. The enterprising proprietor of tho picture stioiv intends also to give, opon-air exhibitions when trio weather moderates, but, from present appearances, the picture show men will. have given up first. Still, as a Territorial with a convincing flow of language ill an adjacent, tent has* just replied to an interrogation, "Tilings arc going all i-igiit, but dashed wot, though," and they are wet. The only dry place is tho cook's house, where thebig salamander cookers send forth an appetising odour all day, and Territorials linger longingly in au endeavour to get warm.

The Toilers* Perhaps the hardest-worked jnen about the camp are the transport men. Prom early morniug till long after dark they Mo driving goods, in tho limited number oft vehicles from Takapau Station, which is a good two mites away from the entrance gates, to the camp site. From the entrance gates (whore lie tho headquarters) to tho sth Keshncuf tents, which are at the end of the infantry. lines, is another mile.

Numbers Now in Camp. The parade stato of the cliffereirt brandies at present- in temp is as follows :— Headquarters.—9 officers, 2 jnea, B.N.Z.A.—One officer, 23 men. Mounted Rifles.—63 officers, 13.56 nifin. Engineers.—9 officers, U men. Infantry Brigade—49 officers, 1461 m&n, (There will be 2000 on Friday night.) Army Service Corps (a new branch) — 1 officer, 2-5 men. Attached are 14 officers and 7p others, making a grand total of 138 officers and 2997 men. The Mounted Field Ambulance and the medical units are innludflcl with the Mounted Rifles, and tho Field Ambulance with the infantry. To-nipjit one officer and six Permanent wen arrive , with 17 horses, making a total of 1146 horses in camp.

FelWfng's Ffna Record. In the Mounted Brigade the. Feildmg squadron of the Ist, Mounted Rifles has put up something in the nature of an attendftnco record, having <J6 man ia camp out of a total number of 97, They are very keen to have their full number, and an urgent telegram has been dispatched to the missing member, praying him to make haste, and put in an appearance. Ho is expected to meet the wishes of his comrades, and net, stay over for the extension caniß. If so, the troop will have an attendance -of 100 par coat.

G&mpttment for Pafilatua^ The Mounted Signalling Corps has also done we'll, having S3 men in camp out of 23, tho remaining man being absent, sick. . Tho Mounted Signalling Corps ia composed of IVimtua young men, and, speaking to the reporters this mottling, an Imperial offer expressed tile opinion that they were- the finest body of young; men that he. had yet scon in New Zealand. Such praise must bo indeed pleasing to Lieutenant Herbert, who is in command. H© haft given a great; deal of care to the training of his signallers, and is himself a. man of war experienco, having served in tho Transvaal, where lie received the Que<?ii's Medal aiid two clasps.

TIPS FOft TEARITORIAf.& Every member of tho Fifth fW-eHinji-ion) Regiment has been supplied with a usohtl Docket oonrpanion, entitled "Tips for Territorials, "Jn which is set forth, in language happily free from the terfie and technical terms which feature the cotftai of tho orthodox sen-ice text-book, "What Every Tcrri- ; t'Oria) Infantryman Should Kiioir." By-' <la.v or night, from "Reveille" to ' "Lights Out," the littlo Ijooklot. irhid? is the work of Captain R. W. Wilkinsoii fAssistant-Adjutant of tho "Fifth"), is the mentor and friend of the infantryman who diosifes to feeep the straight aiid narrow way. For example, hwo is a friendly "caution" l»y tlie author: "Don't ro oni of caiap'witl»» oat a pass; if you arc- -caught remember it may mean stopping all leave, and you wilt probably pet 'tlie order of tho batli , from vonr pals." Captain Wilkinson's book has been approved by Colonel Heard, Chief of tlift General Staff, who is well pleased with the production.