TRAINING THE TROOPS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2270, 2 October 1914, Page 6

TRAINING THE TROOPS.

BUST DAY FOR ALL RANKS. The Expeditionary Force in Wellington has now settled down to a steady course of. training, along lines lafd down by the commanding officers. To-mor-row afternoon, on the occasion of the military sports, the men will get a welcome respite from their work.' The idea of holding sports has caught on with the men, and already a large number of entries have been received for tho championship events. , Tho Wellington Infantry Battalion had a good day at Trentham yesterday. The men were put through a course of judging distance and musketry training. They have had a good deal of training along these lines now, and are becoming fairly efficient in this import | ant branch of military work. ' Tho Canterbury' Infantry Battalion marched to Karori Park for company training yesterday, while the Otago. Infantrymen proceeded to Miramar, and wcr'o engaged in company drill, in attack. entrenching, aud cooking in messtins. This last branch of training is appreciated by tho men, but there are not many expert cooks on tho ranks. Tho in'struction'of the Mounted Rifles is proceeding apace, and each day the men are strenuously operating, both afoot and mounted.

To-day tho Canterbury Battalion have their day at Trentham, when they indulge in musketry, field training, close order drill, and physical drill. Tho Otago Battalion will be at Jliramar, for company drill, attack, and cooking in mess-tins. . Tho Wellington" Battalion will be at Karori Park for skirmishing and company attack. Artillery at Hutt Park. More field guns ore expected to arrive! at the Hutt l'arlt camp to-day, with 128 rnou aud six liorsos.

Artillery drill is being steadily gone on with, and the health of tlio meu is excellent. The camp is to be. connected with the telephone. Regarding the lighting, which previously consisted mainly of candles, thanks aro expressed to the Mayor of Petone (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) for three lamps and a tin of kerosene; Mr. J. Piper, half a dozen lamps; Messrs. E. Turner and T. Bolton, ono lamp each. Tlio gas manager of the Petone Borough Council (Mr. Masters) has also fitted up several lamps for the camp. A football match is to bo played cn the park to-morrow between teams representing Petone and tho camp. ;

LEAVE TO THE MEN. QUESTION IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Hon. G. Jones asked in tlio Legislative Council laist evening if the Government would take stops to moro stringently control the sale of alcoholic liquors to members of the Expeditionary Forie. Mr. Jones said that members of the council must have noticed with sorrow that a certain number of young men in the Forco had been taking more than was good for them, and had exhibited tho fact in the streets. Whilst he said that with considerable regret, lie was bound to oonfess that tho conduct of tho men on tho wholo had been admirable. He had been moved to speak on the subject partly by a letter which had been published ever the signature of tho Bishop of Wellington. 1 The Leador of the Council (Hon. H. D. Boll) said that the matter had' been the subject 'of anxious consideration by tho Government. It had to be remembered that theso men were under the control of tho military authorities, and that it was extremely difficult for officers to refuse leave to those young fellows who had their friends here. It was obvious that it was a difficult question, this matter of tlio granting of leave. ; The subject had received, and Avas receiving, tho consideration of the military authorities as well as the Government. He wished to emphasise the fact that the Government had no right to interfere with the control of tho men now that they "'we oil board tho transports. He thought that it had lieon too little recognised that discipline was'essential, and that the discipline now was,the discipline of the military authorities, and that far too much was being heard of grievances which should be reported to, the military authorities. The Government could, of course, call the attention of tho military authorities to tho ,matter. It might have been possible for the transports to lie at a poj-t other than the por 1 ; of a large city, but.ho believed that it was not considered desirable. Jf the ships lay hero, tho men naturally asked for-leave, and that was difficult to refuse. He hoped that it would be remembered that, while the military authorities recognised that there should bo no undue opportunity for license, they could not control the liberty of the men when it was granted. It was an extremely difficult question. What could bo done was being done, much, he was happy to say, at the instanco of the men themselves.

ENTERTAINING THE MEN. CLUB-ROOM IN SYDNEY STREET. ; A meeting of ladies, was held at Mrs. W. ,F. Massey's residence, Tinakori Road, ou Wednesday morning to consider plans for -entertaining members of tho Expeditionary during their enforced stay in Wellington. Mrs. Mnssey presided, and in opening tho.proceedings expressed the pleasure she felt' >n calling a meeting, in conjunction with Mrs; Salmond. All the other members! of the Ministry and their wives were in tho . greatest sympathy with the movement, and would'do .all: in their, power to help. There were present at the meeting: Lady Godley, Mrs. H. D. Bell, Airs. F. M. B. Fisher, Mrs. Coleridge, Mrs. Garland, Miss Coates, Mrs. Royd Garlick, Miss Harcourt, and Mrs. Chatfield. Apologies- wore received from Lady Stout, Mrs. A. L. Herd mail, Miss Fraser,, Mrs, Algar Williams, and Mrs. Tripp. . Mrs. Salmond was elected lion, seere- ; tary and Mrs. Tripp lion, treasurer. After discussion it was . decided to take the Sydney Street Schoolroom and arrange it as a club for the use of the troopers between the hours of 6 and 10. Card tables-and writing materials and tables will bo provided, also magazines arid newspapers. A number of business firms and citizens have been very generous in. offering donations of money Mid goods. The gymnasium will be fitted np with punching halls and boxing gloves, and Mrs. Royd Garlick is send--1 mg masks and foils for fencing. Each evening some form of amusement will be provided, and lis;ht refreshments will he dispensed. The club will bo opened on Saturday evening at 6 o'clock, and also Sunday at 5, when tea will be provided. Different ladies of tho. committee have arranged to take separate evenings to provide,entertainment niid refreshment during tho week. All tho men are oordially invited to attend at any time.

The Brennan and Fuller Company, through tho local manager, Mr. Walter Fuller, lias decided that during tlie timo the Expeditionary Force is in Wellington all members who come in uniform, will be admitted at half-price to His Majesty's Theatre. Mr. Fuller ren-1 lises that many of the Force are without friends in 'Wellington, and perhaps find time lagging of an evening, which 1 reasons have induced him to make this I generous concession.

MILITARY SPORTS MEETING, Arrangements have now been completed for the Military Sports Meeting to be hold at Newtown Park at 2-p:ni. to-morrow. There will be 31 events in all. The first event will start at '2 o'clock, and it is hoped .to get through tlio programme by 5 p.m. Besides tho 15 standard championship events there will be a number of variety races, which should cause a great deal of amusement. The performances of the.. "Jack Tars" at ithe last carnival in March ar& no doubt still fresh in the minds of the people who attended, and on this occasion tlie blindfold barrel race, the soar and pillow fight, tho obstacle race, the . sack race, and the boot and barrel race should bo interesting and amusing. The military authorities state that the entries are coining in well. Competitors aTe reminded that, they mus* be on their marks at the allotted time, as it will be necessary to get the events off punctually. There will be something going on the whole of the after-, noon. The various running races, field events, mid variety races will be competed for at the same 'time in different parts of the field.