THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2272, 5 October 1914, Page 6

THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.

THIS WEEK'S TRAINING ARRANGEMENTS.

SOLDIER ATHLETES.

The Expeditionary Force quartered at Wellington put in a very good week's framing up to Saturday, and, as fine weather was experienced, the men had a pleasant time. By no* the members composing the force are exceptionally well trained for a volunteer contingent. The ranges in and around Wellington are in constant and the amount of shooting put in by tho different arms during the week has been considerable. The shooting of the men has improved vastly from when they first went into camp, so the long delay has not been without considerable compensation. Last week was mainly devoted to company training. At the various camps the mounted men have been out exercising on the hills daily, as independent units, while a battalion of infantry has each day gone to Trentham for musketry practice,. and the other two battalions have exercised independent of pne another. For this week the training will be of a more elaborate nature. To-day, Wednesday, and Friday, the company training will proceed as usual, but on Tuesdav two infantry battalions will go to Lyall Bay for field work, and a similar body will proceed to Karori for manoeuvres. On Saturday the big feature will be a concentration of the whole of the Expeditionary Force, including the artillery brigade, at Lower Hutt or Petone.

Tho Hutt Park Camp. Several thousand persons visited the Hutt Park yesterday, the gateß being thrown open-to the public for the day. A church parade was "held on the grounds in the morning, the chaplain delivering an impressive sermon, whilst a squad of Roman Catholics paraded at Petone to attend the service ' there. Visitors remarked upon the fact that officers and men "roughed it" together, the only apparent difference between the commanding officer's quarters and that of a trooper's being that tho former had tho luxury of a sack upon the floor, but otherwise tho conditions were identical. Gunner Miles was taken to Wellington Hospital, having developed an at'taok' of pneumonia, but generally the men's health is good. ' A large marquee lent by the Y.M.O.A. has been erected for the purpose of holding entertainments, and this evening the Petone citizens will provide a programme. To-morrow evening a concert arranged by a Lower Hutt Committee will be submitted, and next Friday the same body will give another entertainment. On Thursday, October 15, tho whole camp i 6 invited to attend a grand concert at the King George Theatre, Lower Hutt, organised bj a local committee.