THE MOUNTED MEN.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2269, 1 October 1914, Page 6

THE MOUNTED MEN.

INSPECTION BY GENERAL GODLEY.

TROOPS IN TRAINING.

Tho detention of tho Expeditionary Forco in Now Zealand, coupled with the lact that the wliolo force, with tho exception of tho Auckland contingent, is in Wellington, is being taken advantage of by tho Commandant of tho Force (Majop-Gencral Sir Aloxandcr Godloy) to get into porsonal touch with the men at work. Yesterday General Godloy proceeded to 'ftentham whero over 900 officers and mon of tho Mounted Rifles are in camp, carrying on their r.rainiftg along tho lines commenced at I'almerston North. General Gcdlei' spent tho afternoon inspecting tho troopers, who by now liavo becomo very efficient in tho saddle. Tho horses and men alike havo benefited by tlio rigorous training tliey have undergone. It is interesting to rccall that the In-spector-General of Overseas Forces (Sir lan Hamilton) had an opportunity of seeing the New . Zealand mounted troops in action during the South African war. He admitted tlioy were a fine body, and the impression ho gained then w;as not lessened when he saw other New Zealand mounted regiments during his visit to New Zealand earlier in tho present year. This is borno out by the report presented to Parliament by Sir lan Hamilton, in which he said: "Finally, I can only say that I have served in war already with tho New Zealand Mounted Riflos. and I should esteem myself lucky indeed if ever I had the good fortune to encounter Continental cavalry - in reasonably broken ground with them at my right hand."

Such praise from such a distinguished soldier as Sir lan Hamilton is something any body of soldiers could be proud of. When, the words were written, and it must) be . remembered that the In-spector-General of Oversea Forces was not .given to, fulson e flattery as was shown by some of his trenchant criticism, the possibility of. a European war had not loomed up. Now Sir lan Hamilton may havo the. opportunity he mentioned, and may be reasonably sure that tho Mounted Riflos of the New Zealand. Expeditionary Force will not fail to uphold tho high reputation gained by others.'

General Godloy saw the men at their best yesterday afternoon. For nearly, two months they - have ; been training, a.nd the ground in tlio vicinity of Ti-on-tham. Racecourse lends itself admirably for manoeuvres. Next week, all unit's of the Mounted Rifles Brigade' and the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment, will carry out training under orders of tho brigadier nf the Mounted Rifles Brigade and the Officer Commanding respectively. On Wednosdny tho Mounted Rifles at Trontham will carry out a tactical exercise.

General Godley was yesterday acromnnnied by his aide-de-camp, Lieut. Rhodes. To-day, ho loaves for Auckland to insrwet t-li0" Auckland contingent, and no will be back in 'Wellington in timo to witness the field manoeuvres of the troops next week. Some alteration has been made in the pronosals for next week's manoeuvres. Tliey will now be holrLn't Lyall Bay on' Tuesday, Karon on Thursday, and the force will concentrate either at Petone or Lower Hutt on Saturday. The Infantry Worfc. Two battalions of infantry aro exercised in and around Wellington daily, lesterday the Canterbury Battalion went to Newtown Park, and the Wellington Battalion to . Miramar, where they put in a whole day's drill. The Canterbury men were engaged in platoon and physical drill, visual training ■and musketry instruction, and, in the afternoon, extended order, work, close order clnll, and sorttaplioita signalling, liiero was a large gathering of spectators at the Park to witness the men training The Wellington Battalion spent the morni\g in marching, and ludsing distance. 1 and devoted the afternoon to skirmishing and niucketry. The inarch back, shortly after 'four o'clock each day, affords sn opportunity of seems sprno capital marching. ' Tha battalions, less those going to' Clvdo Quay, nsunlly pass along Waterloo' Quay bo--4 and 4.30 o'clock <v>oh aft-ernonTi To-.dav the Canterbury Battalion will go to. Karori Park for. company training, and the Otago Battalion'will do company training at Miramar. • Riflemen's Help. Following up their action of offering their services in.the training in musketry of-the Territorials, the Wellington riflemen have gone a step further, and lire offering the use 9f the private club ranges to the military authorities. Major H. Marshall, of, the Riflo Clubs' Reserve Corps, yesterday waited' on Colonel Braithwaite and extended this offer. In\ doing so, lie pointed out that it was felt that the l'rentham range would not bo sufficient to ,meet all tho needs of the > authorities. Colonol Braithwaite,... in. thanking tho ■ riflemen for the offer, said that 110 doubt it would be availed of.

file Otago Infantry .Battalion went to- Trfenthain, range yesterday for mus-ketry-practice, and company training. I.lie Wellington Battalion will go .to Trenthani to-day . for musketry - and judging distanco training. They leave [iambton Station at. 8.30 a.m..