CHANGING CAMPS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2607, 1 November 1915, Page 6

CHANGING CAMPS

THE EIGHTHS & NINTHS BIVOUACS AND NIGHT MANOEUVRES There was_ a complete change-in Uie personnel of tie uniformed visitors irom Trentham Canio to the City on Saturday nignt j they were nearly all men of tlie Eighth Infantry Iloinforcernents who had completed their march from Tauherinikau to Trentham At noon that day. Without being boastful, the Lighths are rather proud of their 30mile march, in full fcit, with skirmisbmgs and night manoeuvres oil routo. Very few of tliem were too tired to enjoy leave in Wellington when it. was granted. Some had washed tbe dust of the roads olf in the new hot showers, the installation of which was not completed when tlie Eighths were in Trenxham.

"I 6aid to one of the Headquarters chaps, one of the bronzed soldiers related, "1 said to .him. 'Have you started bathing parades yet, my son?' And he said, 'I'es, my lad, you'll get washed to slow music -on the 9th, 16th, and -ord of every month, so write it'in your note-book before you forget.' That's what he said, but I got a wash wiiihout waiting as long as that. Those hot showers aro all right, and its good to be back at Trentham."

Finishing Fit. When the Eighths, marching in column, wero played intoi camp at Trentliain by the Trentham ami Tauherinikau Uamp Bands, they were dusty and tired out, except in a few raro instances nono of them looked at all done, though they had boon out of their blankets t since four o'clock that morning, fighting <t mimic engagement ■on Jlimgaroa Hill. Tho first stage of their journey was where most of them fslt'. Wio march. Setting out from, Tauherinikau as untried' men, so far as route-marching over a long distance was concerned, many wero a little anxious as to their ability to stand the test, and in the first stage, tho stiffest climbing, from Featlierston-to tho Summit, was encountered. Then it was that boots and equipment chafed, if they were not w-ell fitting. But at the first night's bivouac these things wero adjusted, and the road was not arduous after that, while increased confidence helped thom along. For 1600 men to march the distance and do the work they did en route, with only 17 of them falling out from footsoreness and weariness, was a good performance. The Eighths may well feel pleased with themselves. ,

The Attack at 1 Dawn. Much of the pleasant recollection the men have of the march is in connection with the night attack, or, to be exact, the dawn.attack, made by 0, D, E, and l l ' companies on the position occupied by A and B companies on Mungaroa Hill. The four companies which attacked went into bivouac on Friday night at Wallaceville township, which is a mile and a half distant from tho railway station of that name, by tlio road' that winds over tho hill to tho eastward. Excepting the' outposts, the men slept soundly. in both tho camps. At 3 a.m., however, the Wallaceville men were quietly roused by the n.c.o.'s and were given hot coffee aild tea. They were then ordered to stand to arms. All orders wero given in whispers, and conversation was forbidden except in whispers. At four o'clock, when the first larlcs wero ascending 1 to - 'greet- the dawn that was just beginning to make the eastern skies grey, the four companies were marched out. Within a quarter of an hour they were in touch with the enemy and began to skirmish, their rifles being loaded with blank cartridge. There were about 1000 men in the attacking party, which came on in extended order, the steady outbursts of flame from the rifles and the cracklo and ring of the reports making an iinpressivo display. Some of the men found a shallow river between them and the position attacked. They promptly dashed into the chilly water and swept onwards. Other natural obstacles were as easily disposed of, and in somo instances soldiers with a- senso of humour found opportunity to give it rein. ; Humours of Battle. Such a- case occurred when an impetuous soldier in the dim light foil into a hole scoured out by storm water. His comrado at once called to him: "Hi, Jumbo, what ore you hiding for? That's not a communication trench. Up and at 'em, Guards." And Jumbo scrambled out again and up and at 'em. Once when a whistle blew for the men to take cover two of them tried to get behind the same tree stump, a thin and inadequate shelter for one man. How they would have settled the dispute was never shown. • The order to' advance settled it for them.

A rabbit, disturbed by the soldiors, escaped; from what it must have regarded as the biggest shooting party it ever met with.

/Poor littlo bunny," said one, "running like that and- not a shot among us."

"It would be all the eamo if you had," a joker replied. As the attack developed the defenders' rifles joined in with rattling volleys, and the firing became fast and furious until the bugle called "Coase fire." That was at a few minutes after five o'clock. Defenders and: attackers then joined forcos and marched to Upper Hutt, where the/ bathed in the river before having breakfast. The bands met them there soon afterwards and played them along the road to camp. Colonel Smythe, Major Cowles, .and Major. Wolstenholme and other officers of the May Morn camp witnessed the mimic fight. It is considered that the tactics followed were good, and the men's coolness and determination most commendable. The whole operation •is held to have heon a most useful experience for the men, and no doubt will become a part of the training, of eaoh of the reinforcements when, as partly trained men, thoycome back to Trentham, tho camp which they left a« raw I recruits. 1

Nlnthß In Tauherinikau. The Ninth Infantry Reinforcements, which went by train to Featherston on Thursday, en routo to Tauherinikau, had a busy time on that day. Before leaving they had to put their 'hutments 'into spick and span order. They set to work to do so vory early, and with their other duties added, had done what to many of these new troops was a day's work ere they set out for the railway • station, where a troop train awaited them. At Featherston they foil in again, and were inarched to tho camp, about four miles away. Even this short march is said to have tired many of the men, who wore fresh from desk or counter and unused to hard physical work. They were all cheerful, however, and eager to get on with tho training which will make them fit to emulate the march of the Eighths, whose placo they have taken at Tauherinikau.