THE TROOPS RETURN

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2145, 11 May 1914, Page 5

THE TROOPS RETURN

: $_ _ . WITHOUT THEIR BAND DISAPPOINTED PUBLIC / Public interest in our. citizen soldiers was evinced in a romarkablo manner yesterday, when some thousands of the Wellington public turned out to wolcoino the utli Regiment on their return from Takapau camp. Tho afternoon was bitterly cold, with a suggestion of vain in tho air, but long before the.special train was tlu the platform of Thorwlon Station wan crowded, while 'Lambton Quay was lined'with people almost from end to end. At the station to moot the Territorials was tho Minister of Defenco (tho Hon. Jas. Allen.) The.onlookers, were deprived of anything in tho naturo of a spoctaoular arrival, for it was foiirfd that tho 680 Torritorials, when they arrived (and tho train only p;ot in at 4.5 p.m.), had lost their Regimental band. It was a fact, of course, to ho regret-' tcd,and seems to have occurred through an incident at Takapau station. How the Band Was Left. Speaking to a; reporter after the arrival of tho train OolonelL. Harcourt Turner, .Commandant of the sth Hcgim.ont, said that ho and the ■ sergeant really wished to apologise to tho public , for any disappointment which they may have felt'in not hearing tho band lead tho. men back to tho barracks. Colonel Turner stated that when Reveille sountl- ■ ed at Takapau at 4 a.m. yesterday tho regiment turned put smartly, in drenching rain. Tho baggage was packed and loaded on tho transports, and, at 6 o clock, the men had a hot breakfast, and left camp at 6 a.m., tojnit in a two-mile march through the mud to Takapau station. Everyone was in good spirits, despite tho elements, which scorned determined to keep up a bad record. Colonel Tuvnor had been instructed to entrain at Takapau on the side of tho train away from tho departure platform, and lie followed theso instructions out to tho letter. All the men were got. safely on board the train, with tho exception of tho officers, and tho bandsmen. The stationmaster and the guard wore- on tho platform at the time and, it is stated, without' reference to what-was going on at the other side ol tho train, the signal for depart tura was given, and the train moved off, Trying to Stop tho Train. The officers ran after the train, and succeeded in boarding it, but the bandsmen, hampered by their instruments, wero left lamenting. Colonel Turner and Captain.Wilkinson went immediately to tho guard's van and applied tho brakes, but tho guard would not delay the tram, despite tho fact that there •was no groat rush for time, as Woodville v.'as roached eleven minutes ahead of schedule. From Woodville Colonel Turner telephoned Mr. Mouatt, traffic manager, asking that the band should bo Bent on -to Palmorston by a trajn 50 minutes behind tho first one, but the in en. were not entrained for over two hours when a Wellington train brought them down. , , The presence of the band was keenly ruissed by tho mon of tho regiment, who iiad to march, to the Drill Hall, Wellington, unaccompanied by tho stirriV Btraina of martiaf music, .which was an° ticipated foy the public which turned out , to dp honour to tho returned Territonns.:,Th6y looked none tho worse ior then- period jinder canvas ,in weather that can well, he described as atrocious.' Colonel Turner seated' That ho "•as well pleased- with! tho conduct of tho men of the sth Regiment right through the. camp-; and W nM«&o ttLmHl f rq ? hCy 2 ispersed thafc Hart never had occasion to . hold an orderly court or reprimand a man