STRIKING'TENTS AT TAKAPAU

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2144, 9 May 1914, Page 6

STRIKING'TENTS AT TAKAPAU

—. —g.. FINISHING TOUCHES TO THE TRAINING AMUSING COUNTER-BUST TO THE J RED FEDS. Signs of tho approaching evacuation of Takapau camp by the field troops of the Wellington Divisional , Command were seen yesterday. in* tlio departure of the Daitncrirlo! district squadron of tlio East Coast M-ouuteds, ou route for 5 homo by road, in full 'marcliiug order, s ivitli a wagon-load of eauip impedimenta ( as part of tlitt column, Tlio Gisborn-e 1 Squadron also set oat hy road for Na« 1 pier, tliero to embark for transport by ' sea to their borne port. Tito (Jisbotno J infantry proceed north to-day, Yester- r day the J) Battery wero taken out i'o-r . live shell practice with, tho 15-po-unders i amongst the' hills .it tho back, ofiitho ,< camp. The mounted men were taken ' over the scene of Wednesday's mimic battle, and re-fougjit their part of tie ' engagement, ■'coifcotiiig their • previous ! mistakes, and re-enforcing the lessons ! of that ■ day. The iufa-ntry regiments spent the day inbattalioif drill, while < the engineers pursued their useful and 1 highly important occupations of build- 1 ing bridges,.laying'mines', and other en- 1 gineering tasks essentia] to tho art of ' war. This corps has been of groat as- ' sistance to tlio artillery in constructing i bridges for the 'crosscountry tactics or- < dered for the' guns, and have shown > great keenness 111 their work. J To-day the men will, finish up their i work by noon, awl the afternoon will : be given, up to sports,, in which the s competition is expected to be vor.v keen. 1 To-morrow (Swlay) everybody will 1 be up bright and <mrlyj: for entraining : will commence at onee. Takapau Sta- ' tion will resemble a mobilisation centre 1 in war time, with trewp' tfaitrs, crammed with horses and n;en, pulling eat 1 north and south. ' Night- will foil on a j comparatively deserted camp, savo for ' the staff 'officers, instructors, and cooks, . who will'bo required for the ten-day "casual" camp, which is to follow for 1 those who were tumble to attem the big . camp. The Crack Band,. Nearly every regiment in camp was accompanied -fcy .its own hand, which played, it .out of. camp as it'marched „ to its training ground, and met it at tli«» gate to welcome it . taw? on its return,' wheeling ift at the head 'and cheering them on the.ma«h in with an inspiriting blaze of martial imisie. Easily the crack band of the .Dominion is the Regimental Ban-ii of . the sth (Wellington) . Infantry, .which, under Bandmaster has worked very, hard to attain its'present , state of efliciency. The band mastered 52 instruments, and while its regiment was .away during tho day; poetised assiduously, forenoon and afternoon, in tlio 1 band marquee. Tho bandmaster has beta a bandsman since ho was'a, youngster of eight years, and his father was a/graduate of Kneller Hall, the famous training school for afitty bandmasters. Tho sth takes great pride'in its band, which is supported, in addition >to the 'small Government grant, by $ regimental band fund, contributed to by the officers. The public will .have an opportunity of hearing the band,, 'ss the' regiment marches through tie city ta-morfOSv afternoon. The Camp Post Office. Tlio Press representatives, and, indeed , everybody in camp, wore greatly indebted to the officials of tho camp post office, which was in charge -of Mr. A. Dawson, for the Many courtesies ex- ]. tended by the camp postmaster and life staff. It was a hard-worked staff, small in tho beginning,, with only one telegraph instrument, and only the postmaster, but as the camp poptitation grew to 6000 odd tho work of tlio post offito increased to enormous proportions* Another instrument was jn-stalied to cops with tho telegraph work, and tlio staff was strengthened, till the interior <jf. the 'marqueexprcsented ail, aspect of bustling energy worthy, of. the post office of a large provincial centre'. AN "ARTFUU DODCER." ANTI-RED FED; MANIFESTO. An amusing cotaiter-b'ast to tho Red Fed ebullition, which has, disturbed the good order and discipline, of tho Takapau camp, descended' upon tji« inmatfs of tho various tents 1 in tha shape, of a shower of printed .'lodgers. .It. may he taken as representing theattitude ofthe majority of those in camp to the malcontents, and speaks, for itself. Tho following is a.copy of themanifesto ICHABOD 1 . '.'Dear Down-trodden Warriors, — "What if Wellington, Ne&on, and the Crimean Warriors (and all i the other lights, who have made history) have suffered through rain, snow, and hardship .to establish our mighty' Empire of Freedom. All this, dear brothers, is hut a flea-bite' to' .the miserable martyrdom you havo heeti called upon to endure for 'the last few days, and our loving- hearts go out ■ ill sympathy, overflowing with tears, and should further hardships bo expert enced by our noble brothers, we ate prepared to advance further tokens of,our love in the following wan* ; nor: — 6000 pairs strong woollen stoek-* ings. knitted hy our own dear hands. 6000 feeding bstti.es from tho children. 6000 chest-protectors from the old ladies." , 6000 bottles cough tincture* ' 6000 hot water battles. . 6000 nice soft eider-dawn otiilts. and an assortment of ftas.y chairs, . lounges, and soft cushions.' Also, dear afflicted warriors, if there is any other little thing -wl'ick the brutal authorities have not supplied, ' ju.st.givc- us the tip. ( Your tearfully afflicted sisters, THE WHITE FEATHER CUMSUFFRAGETTE SOCIETY. | As a last thought, We have a few hundred old flamftl petticoats which would keep out the cold nicely. To Glorious Band of : ; WHITE FEATHERS, ' ' Slush Camp, ' Takapau. Tho rumour Went round the camp • last night that tho disaffected section 1 in camp intended to make trouble, rind. ' an atmosphere of sttspeasfs Was distinctly perceptible after "Lights out," Since' the outbreak oft Sunday last, special precautions in the shape of "inlying pickets" were adopted, and very - complete arrangements are understood ! to have been made to Meet a recurrence ] of any disorder within the tines. Last j nightj however, was aft uneventful one, t r CRACK SQUABR&N. j RECEPTION AT DANXEniIKE. 1 Dannevirke, May 8. 1 D Squadron of Mounted Rifles, from 3 Dannevirke, Woodvitle, and intemedi- . ntc districts, who won the Islington Shield, presented for competition 8 amongst the squadroiis of the 9th j Mounted Regiment far general efficiency during the past twelve, months, ii and also; for work at the Oringi and r Takapau camps, were accorded a civic 1 'wcicomo on returning to jO'sMiCvirkc - this afternoon. The Mayor etilogised t their efforts, and comfslimented the men ' on the distinction gained. The hand ' played "See. the Cotufuering: Hora 0 Comes." Captain Armstrong returnod thanks for tho hormuv accofded his company, and said that the reception _ indicated the interest of the community in the mounted troops.