TROOPS ON FARM LANDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2717, 11 March 1916, Page 12

TROOPS ON FARM LANDS

PROTECTION FROM DAMAGE

CONSIDERATION FOR THE FARMER

■rile training areas for' troops encamped at Trentlmm and F'eatherston cover a large proportion of the land surrounding the camps; with a few exceptions the owners of paddocks hare placed themat the disposal of the military authorities, oil the understanding that no damage is done, by the troops, and that, the live stock grazing thercoa is alarmed as little as possible. In ihc camp orders all ranks are urged to. realise the importance of recognising this understanding, and of causing as little damage and alarm as possible to the property of these patriotic land, owners. Owners of property have been given small red flags to display in any paddock which they do not wish tho troops to enter. Dwellinghousea, schools, farm yards, churches, cemoteries, orchards, and gardens are always forbidden ground, as aro the grounds to which entry has been refused, and notice of intention to manoeuvre men ori certain ground is always given to the owners. Strain on Fences. In manoeuvres, especially when conducted at night, of largo bodies of Iroops, theio is a severe strain on wire fences. Hundreds of men squeezing through the wires may, by their very numbers, cause damage. Officers aro i instructed that- the inen must not bo allowed to climb in ciwvds over fences and gates, and wherover possible tho gates must be opened and slip-rails taken down; and tlieso openings carerulty dosed again after the_ troops have passed. In order to repair any damage which may occur, each troop, pla-, toon, or. other body, cavries a hammer, a pair of wire-cutters, and a supply of nails. 3 £ tho damage is beyond tlio scope of tools, it is carefully noted and Immediately reported to the Officer Commanding. Til© presence of large bodies of mounted men in the neighbourhood tends to excite valuable racehorses and thoroughbred mares, of which there aro a number in the vicinity of Trentham Camp, as. well as prize cattle. For this reason, mounted men are forbidden to gallop past paddocks in which such animals are grazing. Dairy cows aiso abound in the district between Silvorstream and Upper flutt. Tlieso animals' aro not allowed to run before ! troops when manoeuvring, but aro driven lo a flank by a party of men detailed for the purpose.' Since the mounted _ rifles have been transferred for training to the new camp at Feath orston,_t'hese remarks, so far as Trenlham is concerned, now apply 'more particularly to infantry. In night manoeuvres, a large mass of men ap. proachfng in tho darkness'lias a most alarming effect upon sheep, cattle, and horses, and every care is taken to minimise their fright._ Sheep, if frightened, rush in mobs into fences and injure themselves. Gun and Wagon Wheels. The nature of the , soil in tho manoeuvre area renders it, in all but ver> 'fry seasons, 1 peculiarly liable to be cut up by horses and wheels after rain. The gun-cavringes and Wagons "aid tho horses' hoofs quickly make a mess of it. v Hero, as in other directions,- all care is taken to avoid damage, even to file extent of packing tlio wagons on lltie edges of i"batfs, antl not taking them Tiito tho paddocks at all. Officers and men aro also held responsible that their horses and those belonging to men under their command do no damage by grazing, or gnawing, or tugging at fruit trees, or hedges. "When trenches or hples of any kind .have to be dug the sods must be carefully cut and put on ono side, so as to bo replaced when the excavations are filled in, which must be done before the troops icave the place. AVhen firing with bltyik. cartridges,' officers commanding units are instructed to obs'crvo whether cattle, sheep, or liorsos aro being frightgned by the noise. If so, firing must cease at once. In tlieso, and ill a dozen other ways, the interests of landowners are safeguarded, as they, should bo in times of peace. But a very brief experience in Sold manoeuvres is sufficient to indicate what the conditions would be in real warfare, •/lieu such restrictions were removed, and whrti utter devastation an invading army must, leave in its wake, after passing through rich farm lands.