GUARDIANS OF THE GATE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2237, 25 August 1914, Page 6

GUARDIANS OF THE GATE

GARRISON GUNNERS AT WORK.

To-morKw the loud and -clamorous voice of engines of destruction will resound about .the city. It will not be war, but a grim echo of war. Had tnere been no war, no sound of shoot- }££. wouI d awakou the city to-morrow. Lno forts have now been manned for several weeks, and while they are still there guarding the gateway to the city the men are to indulge in big gun practice, and this practice will servo as their annual 'schooling in this branch of their i work. . . . Among, those - who will go ir/to the forts for tho purpose of partaking in the practice are 100 men of the ;'ex-Naval Volunteers. These men are regarded as as especially valuable body of defenders. In most instances' their experience is worth a great deal, and apart from that they are. of excellent physique. In fact, in almost all instances they are very powerful men, and there is more in the forts which can. be done much more expeditiously by strong men than by younger and less matured men. And the enthusiasm of the exNavals is of the -highest degree. No one ever doubted this, but, moreover, the members of the corps have already proved it,by the sacrifices they have made since the outbreak of war. In order to help in keeping the forts manned, they' have done long stretches of duty—24. hours without relief—lost considerable pay, and have generally liad to reach the forts by a long walk after a hard day's work. . . , ■

The shooting will be intermittent in order not to interfere with shipping, firing being suspended whenever ships appear in the vicinity of the fire zone. The Nejv Zealand gunners 'have done Very . satisfactory shooting in practice. During the visit of Sir lan Hamilton (the Inspector-General of the' Overseas Forces), gun practice was carried out, and the result of the test was the result which might be expected if the Garrison Artillery was suddenly called out without warning. General Hamilton spoke well of the shooting.

Three little camps around the coast near the entrance to Wellington Harbour bear silent evidence of the good work a number of citizens and some of tho Territorials are doing by way of night patrol. Just at present the camps aro practically unoccupied, but in a few days they will be in full use. When the transports leave, the civilians who are willing to assist in this work will go under canvas for several days, perhaps a week The'patrol is, of course, a night affair. Tho watch is kept,from ovening till daylight. Tho camps aro at Breaker Bay, Palmer Head, and the eastern side of Bay. Somo portions of the coast closo to the harbour aro hidden from the .'view of the signal station, and it is reckoned that it might be possible for a vessel to run in on tho western 6ido of Palmer Head and land troops. Against such remote possibilities tho night watch is. maintained.