DEFENCE NOTES

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 29 April 1915, Page 3

DEFENCE NOTES

HELENSVILLE PLATOON OF THE

KAIPARA RIFLE CLUB

The Helensville Platoon of the Kaipara Defence Eifle Club paraded on Saturday last, the 24th inst., when they were put through company and squad drill' by Lieut. C. White, of the 15th (North Auckland) Regiment. The parade was a great success and the men were very keen. The Platoon wishes to tender its thanks to Lieut. White for the very able and painstaking manner in which he handled the men. * ■:{- ■%. At a meeting of the fiLelensyille | Platoon of the Kaipara Kifle dlub, held en Monday last, a suggestion was put forward by Lieut. White, who has been acting-instructor to the Platoon, regarding the holding of a camp for members of th.6 Club. After mu(;h discussion it was decided to hold same, commencing on Thursday evening 6) to Monday evening (May 10). Much interest is being taken by members, and it is hoped to have 30 or more under canvas. Members able to attend the whole or any portion of the time are requested to hand in their names with time of attendance, to Q,.M.S. Fosbroke, not lattr than Friday evening next at 5 p,m. Application for camp gear has been made to District Headquarters, and Captain Turley, on behalf of the Club, is asking the Department t(> "loan" a Sergt.-Major during the camp. Thobe attending will require to take :— Blankets, knife, fork, spoon, plate, mug, washing and shaving gear, extra pahboots, change underclothing, '2 pair socks, dubbin, oil, flannel, pailliase, etc. •" ■>:■ « Captain Turley returned from Whangarei last week, and has resumed duty at Helensville. There have been several applications from recruits wishing to join the next re-inforcement drafts. A letter has been received by a prominent resident here from a Sergt.-Major now in Egypt, which reads as follows: "We have a General here belonging to the artillery, he was in charge of the artillery on the retirement from Mons, and he has been giving lectures on the subject, which have proved most interesting. In dealing with the retirement, he states it was a prearranged affair, as the Germans had not given the French time to mobilise, so the order was given for the British troops to retire but to bring all the Germans with them to within 20 miles of Paris, where the French were mobilising in this formation, i.e., half oval, with the French on each flank and the British in the centre. The idea was to get the Germans inside and then close, but they got the tip and started to retire at once. The British fought and retired 267 miles in 19 days, the infantry only had four hours sleep very day, mounteds three hours, and the General and staff one hour. This General states he had only 19 hours sleep the whole time. There is no doubt it was a wonderful retirement —the greatest in history.