MILITARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2170, 21 April 1908, Page 1

MILITARY.

EASTER MANOEUVRES. ■* "WELLINGTON. Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 20. The official verdict of the umpires is that honors are with the attacking party in the military manoeuvres, which closed to-day. .That is to say, that Wellington has fallout So far as can he gathered from experts, the result of the operations is to show that Wellington could he successfully defended from Johusonville against a raiding force if about 2000 men were available. In this instance the defenders only had some 1200 men to operate with, and they made the mistake of covering too wide an area, the result being that their chain of posts contained several weak links. In

actual warfare moro concentration would ho desirable. On this occasion tho victory rosted with the Blues, tho raiding force, solely through their night marches, via Ngahauranga, to Wellington. For that they deserve credit, but it could not have been successful had the Ngahauranga forts boon properly manned. Tho manoeuvres are regarded by the experts as being highly educational, and the energy, pluck, and endurance displayed by the men, especially during tho cold, wot spoil of weather, deserves the highest commendation. All ranks concluded tho proceedings with a feeling that on tho whole they had had a good .time, and that their sum of experience had been largely increased. In a word, tho Easter manoeuvres were a success. LieutenantColonel Bauchop, Ollicer Commanding, has issued -the following general order: “The director of manoeuvres, in doeiding to conclude the movement, wishes to oxnress his pleasure at tho work and the result of the manoeuvres started under the severest weather conditions. Cheerfulness,tho attribute of all good soldiers, was always manifest. Tho work done .by both" sides was creditable, and shows marked advance along tho road _to efficiency. Tho training that was initiated found its culmination in manoeuvres under war conditions inseparable from new manoeuvres.” He wishes, the troops a safe passage to their homes, and a return of such othor fixtures in the future.

DUNEDIN. Press Association. DUNEDIN, April 20. The volunteer manoeuvres which commenced on Friday have concluded, tho men returning homo this afternoon. . The manoeuvres resulted in a victory lor the Blue (attacking) force, tho Reds (defending) cavalry being captured. At the conclusion Colonel Smyth (commanding the district) addressed the officers. He said the Red force attempted t-o cover too much ground, and mounted rifles had been sent out seven miles unsupported He had been sorry to see some men of the Red force on outpost duty daily, and mounted men had been left out at night. This was quite an unnecessary proceeding. The Reds outposts had not been relieved daily, and in consequence tho men were absolutely dead heat, while their horses could hardly walk. As to information the Rods got non©, although their outposts wero within a quarter of a mile of tho Blue camp on Friday night. Tho work performed by the mounted rifles on both sides had been excellent, and tho work by tho Reds’ battery was very good. Commenting on tho Blues’ work, Colonel Smyth said the first move had been well thought out and ably executed, but lie has been disappointed with the terrible inaction and deadly stagnation following. Tho Blues’ men had. been well placed, and regularly relieved, and wore thus kept fresh. In concluding, the Colouel said if the Blues had been aware of the miserable state of affairs in tho Reds’ camp, they would have marched over them. Even girls from school could have done it, and a trained enemy would have brushed tho Reds away like flies. Owing to so many of the Red force being on outpost duty so far from camp, the men had been starving while there was meat in the camp unused.