TROOPS AT TAKAPAU

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2139, 4 May 1914, Page 6

TROOPS AT TAKAPAU

A TRYING WEEK-END

SATURDAY'S WILD WEATHER

TENTS BLOWN DOWN

PLANS FOR THE MANOEUVRES.

(By Telegrnph.-Special Keporto.) Tahapau, May 3. | The week-end at Takapau camp will long bo remembered by tho 6000 odd men of that tented field. From "Reveille" till "Lights Out," and long after there was a howling southerly gale, with an Antarctic bite in its breath, and to-day driving rain raged across 1 ? am kv. .° 11 ,Saturda - v th ° main streets oi the tented community became - toughs, whilo the saggy tents, changed from a glistening wimc to a dismal grej, loomed up in the driving squalls iifco ghoulish omblems of mortality. A dispiriting'wetness pervaded the camp, tainting the straw -with a musty odour and soaking men, horses, and things generally with a thoroughness that no persuasion, or profanity could ameliorate, lhe horses were removed from the lines and picketed behind a belt of tail pines, where they were as comfortable as they could bo in tho circumstances.

Hie gale, m its career, took toll of certain tents, and was no respecter of persons, either. It levelled with one toll swoop the quarters of the Officer Commanding the District (Colonel Chavtor; tne headquarters office, the Church or. Jingland marquee, the Y. MC A marquee, the Salvation Armv marquee! and the mess marquee of the Mounted Brigade officers. All the bell tents stood up well. Altogether, it was tho worst day in the experience of the Territorials, and everyone was properly M» Ukf -! „ ,vheil the Smidav morning Kcveille roused tho camp to" a perfect day, with hardly a cloud in the BKy, save a fleecy mantle tjiac traded along the tops of the Ruahine peiys, and a light,, fresh breeze, which, with the genial sun, rapidly dried the camp and restored the spirits of its population, trough it all not a grumbling voice struck a discordant note. In the general effort to make the best of things m a sportsmanlike way, the cooks worked bravely to supply that hrat line of defence,,against which tho advent of tho elements breaks impotentj.V I tor, given a good, square meal, it 13 a poor heart indeed that cannot reloicc. There was a big run on the Army store for the thick-soled, watertight, boots which the Defence Department retails to tho Territorials at 14s ' Per pairr-boots which are universally acclaimed to be. first-class companion's on a wet campaign, while blankets and gum-boots also found a quick sale. Training work was left largely to the discretion of tho regimental commanders. Ihe mounted men made an early start for squadron work across Hie Porangahau River, while all the infantry regiments also went out for drill and company exercises. The engineers set to work on entrenchments, the artillerymen on gun drill and driving, while tho signallers also inado a brave start, but it was not Jong before everybody returned to camp to light tho common enemy—the southerly buster. Church In the Field. Sunday was an off day except for the routine fatigues, the general understanding being that tho day was to be given over to getting; dry and comfortable- after tho rigours of the previous (lays visitation. Church parades for various denominations were held. Dur-

ing the forenoon Bishop Sedgwick con- . ducted tho Anglican aervico the mount- . cd troops' parade, and also conducted ! evening service. Archdeacon Evans as- - sisted by tho Rov. W. H. Walton, coni ducted divine service for the Anglican , Church parade of tho infantry corps, , the Very Rev. Dean M'Kenn'a cele- , brated Mass for the Roman Catholic i members at 8 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. A I combined service for members of the i Nonconformist Churches was conducted i- by Chaplain-Major Ltixton, assisted by > Chaplain-Captains the Revs. F VV ; Boyes, A. T. Thompson, J. A. -Asher! ■ and G. Butt, while Brigadier Hoare, assisted by Ensign Qamer, conducted . the Salvation Army service The regi- ■ mental bands participated' in the ser- , vices, assisting quito impressively with ! the musical portion of the proceedings. Impromptu Football. Impromptu football matches have been played, tho principal event of .which was an interprovincial contest between Wellington and Taranaki. This - event attracted a big crowd on tho line, and the Taranaki team, which boasted a'sprinkling of "reps," marched on to -tho grounds headed by their band and colours, after which the band wheeled and marched offt with an- encouraging blaze of martial music. Alas, tho doughty men of tho west coast went down to the prowess of the Wellington team, which defeated them by 6 points to 3, after a battle which, as one of the spectators expressed it, "was more worth a beb than many a match played at tho Athletic Park."" Big Days Ahead. Monday is to be a day of general preparations for tho two big days of trial—Tuesday and Wednesday—when Lieutenant-General Sir lan Hamilton, Inspector-General of tho Oveaseas Forces, will come to sec and pass judgment on tho present condition and progross of tho Wellington Military District troops. Tho General will arrive in Wellington from Nelson by H.M.S. Phycho, and leave Thorndon Station for Paimorston by the 7.45 a.m. New Plymouth express. At Palmerston ho will board a special train for Takapau, where lie-will arrive at 2.30 p.m., when I a general inspection of the troops will j take place. ! Oil Wednesday tho troops will manoeuvre over the ground in the vicinity of the camp under the eyo of tho Inspec-tor-General, and for theso manoeuvres a tactical exercise has been planned on the following schemes: "Auckland and Wellington are two independent states between whom strained relations have, existed for some time. Auckland precipitates a crisis by imposing a 100 per cent, protection tariff on all Wellington goods and commences a secret mobilisation of troops, this being regarded by the Premier of Wellington as an unfriendly nct._ War is declared.. Tho movements of tho two armies up to tho opening of manoeuvres cannot yet be told as both sides must necessarily be kept in ignorance of these interesting matters until General Hamilton arrives. , After the day's operations are over tho troops will march past, and Sir lan Hamilton will then leave for Palmerston to catch the midnight overland express at that junction. j • 1 Health of the Camp Excellent. i Tho health of all concerned is excel- \ lent. Private Macallister, of Foxton, f having developed insipient quinsy, has fl been sent home. An alarmist report „ was circulated to the effect that an out- g break of ptomaine poisoning had follow- f ed on the consumption by two of the t men of some tinned pears, but inquiry " showed that very little was in the report. ' A little medicine was all that ' was needed and the cases were not even a serious enough to he entered on tho p sick list. *

The men of D Battery are wonderine; wb.atb.er horsa* for thair four 15^

pounders aro to descend likfi Manua from heaven, for they have none on earth and are feeling lather ill-nscd about it.

The second report of the transport officer (Captain Stevens) is very complimentary to all cetwerncd who landed at Takapau last Friday and especially to the sth Wellington's who marked in with about six officers to each company under excellent disciplitio. Sergeants' Mess. The sergeants' moss of the sth Weilington Regiment held their animal meeting on Friday night, Sergeant-Ma-jor Bould presiding. The report and balance-sheet _werc satisfactory. The president declined re-election expressing the opinion that the position should go round. Sergeant-Major Lang, A Company, was elected president. SergeantMajor Hercus, 0. Company, ed vice-president, and Sergeant Nimme, C Company, secretary. The five ser-geant-majors of the regiment were appointed a committee of management. WORK AT TAPAWERA* EVERYTHING GOING ON SATIS- ■ FACTOEttY. j <By T«leßraph,-?te*s Assoct&Mo'n.) . Nelson, May 2. The Tapawera camp is very successful. The discipline is excellent. Real progress has been made in nil departments. The men have tee.li quite satisfied with the food. All played the game. Captain Avery's and Thorns'g arrangements worked like clockwork, and all the men aro satisfied. The weather cleared, and the work was completely carried out.

Sir lan Hamilton, inspects the divi a'on on Monday.

The Camp Canteen is selliii? Pluenaj'l freely to sufferers from sore throats.*