ELEVENTHS' MARCH

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2722, 17 March 1916, Page 6

ELEVENTHS' MARCH

THE POSSIBLE ACHIEVED

OVER THE MMUTAKAS

"lb was a picnic', I'vo done stilfor cramps than that."

Tins opinion, expressed by it sturdy young soldier ol' tnu Eleventh infantry Koimorcciiioiits, appeared to be shared b.v a considerable number of tlio 1600 men who marched irom Fcathor.ston to Kaitoko yesterday morning. 'L'ho timo occupied in the marcli was half an hour less tlnin that tal;en by tlio Tenth, and not a man fell out. Thoro is a reason for ovorylJiiiig, iioiroiw, and what was a picnic to the men of the Eleventh would bo a pretty hard gruolling for half-trained men, and that is what several of the Keini'oreemeiits which have crossed tho Kimtitaka were. Tho Tenth and Eleventh had lour weeks' moro training than any previous liciiilorcements, ere they were-put to the big march test. and, moreover,, tho Eleventh had a protty substantial stiffening of moil lrom tho infantry Reserve, who have had oven more training than the Eleventh. Only tho infantry took part in tho march', tho Signallers and Engineers are on leave, and could not, theroforo, talco part, as it was originally intended that they should. Order of March. Tho troops were under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Macdonald, Infantry Instructor, and they moved out from tho bivouac they had occupied noar Featherston Gamp, at 4 a.m., when it was still dark. 15 Company, under Lieut. Thompson, was leading, followed by F Company. Lieut. Elifle, 'G Company, Lieut. Caigo, H Compaiiy, .Lieut. Edwards, A Company, Captain Sliand, B Company, Lieut. Scoou,, C Company, Lieut. M'Uowan, and D Company,, Lieut. Wollstead. Tho usual changes in l'ho order of march were made on routs. The column was headed by the Mounted "Rifles Trumpet Band, which led them as far as Featherston. Tho trip up the liill was cool, and the Summit was reached at a quarter to eight o'clock. . At the Summit. The Chief of tho Gcnoral Staff, Colonel Gibbon, and the Camp Commandant of Trer.thiim, Lieut.-Colonel Potter, mot the. column at tho Summit. Here also were tho ' tireless members of the Wairarapa Patriotic Society, under Dr. Palmer, who had risen betimes and taken to tlio top of the hill tho materials for a morning meal. The pieco de resistance on this occasion consisted of sausages, and tlio men did full justice to the menu; At 9 o'clock a start was made for Kaitoko, the men cheering their hostesses and hosts 'as they passed. Colonel Gibbon and Lieut.Colonel Potter accompanied them as far as Collie?s Farm, ivliere the bivouao was made. The opinion was expressed that tho Eleventh's'march discipline was.excellent, in fact tho possible has been achieved in this march across the mountain, and it- only remains for the succeeding Reinforcements to achieve as much, for tliey cannot do mo/e. Further Operations. At six o'clock this morning'the troops were to leave their bivouac and move to Maidstone Park, Upper Hutt,'indulging in operations on the .way. ' This evening tho Tenth Artillery will join them, and tho forces having divided into two bodies wili bivouac at Mungaroa and Wallaceville, in readiness for the attack of one force of troops upon the other 'at dawn to-morrow.