RETURN OF THE TROOPS

Evening Star, Issue 19804, 1 March 1928, Page 6

RETURN OF THE TROOPS

MATARAE EVACUATED HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL MANOEUVRES The League of Nations, most worthy of organisations, is doing its best to bring about a lasting, world-wide peace, but it is safe to say that as long as human beings inhabit this globe a military atmosphere will always have a certain amount of fascination. So it came about that when the First Battaliou, Otago Regiment, and the "University Company of the New Zealand Medical Corps "returned by train to Dunedin this morning after being put through their paces at the annual camp held at. Matarae a large crowd gathered outside the railway station to meet the men of those units. “ Reveille ’’for the campers this morning was sounded at 5 a.m., arid by 9 a.m. all had to he on hoard the train, which, running exactly to time-table, pulled in to Dunedin at 11 a.m. sharp to ‘.be accompaniment of htarty chewing from the lads in khaki. In orderly fashion the troops were marshalled on the platform, air], preparatory to the march through the city, were lined up in column of route from Anznc square along Lower High street, the parade in all comprising nearly a thousand men. Conspicuous among those who welcomed the campers homo were the members of the First Battalion Band, who, led by Bandmaster Lieutenant L. Arten, subsequently played them through the streets to the Oval to the tunc of ‘The Grand Little Army.’ Lieutenant-colonel H. E. Barrowclough, D. 5.0., M. 0., was in command.

Tlio kit-bags having been loaded on to lorries for conveyance to the Oval, the battalion marched off in column of fours into Stuart street at about halfpast 11, A Company loading. Interested spectators, who were much impressed with the fine healthy appearance of the young soldiers, were lined up on the pavements to see them as they swung along through Princes street. Generally speaking, the marching was good. The band marched between A and II Companies, and the color party, bearing the new colors, presented last year by members of the Women’s Club, preceded C Company. By midday tho men bad been dismissed at the Oval. Details of the manoeuvres on Tuesday last include the, information that a inarch was made towards Gladbrook, and a big advance on Sutton was staged. A and B Companies captured tho bridgehead, and C company pushed through over the bridge and took up a position on the eastern side of the river. A, B, and I) Companies took np positions on the western side, where they wont into bivouac. The movements were successful and most instructue, but finally it was decided, after Majorgeneral Young, the G.0.C., bad inspected D Company’s outpost position, that a return should he made to Matarac. Orders were given tor the retreat, at 11.30 p.m.. and shortly alter midnight the men were hack in the main camp. The weather, it should be added, was none too warm for sleeping Yesterday morning the battalion was inspected by Major-general and the afternoon was devoted to military sports. Tn the tent-pegging competition .Lieutenant-colonel Barrowelough, the winner, showed great prowess, and a verv close second was S.S.M. Whyte. Wrestling on horseback, pillow-fighting, and tug-of-war events created much enthusiasm.