The Easter Encampment.

Manawatu Herald, 12 March 1903, Page 2

The Easter Encampment.

Captain Walsh has received wOrs that the encampment of the.Wanganui battalion has been authorised. We notice that the N.Z. Times says:—ln connection with the annual Eastertide marches of the Wellington Rifle Battalion, which this year will be cotducted in the Manawatu district, it has; been suggested to the Government that the occasion will provide an excellent opportunity for bringing together all the forces of volunteers which at that time will be manoeuvring in the vicinity. There will be forces from Wanganui, Napier, Palmerston and Woodville marching at the time, and the suggestion is that all these forces should make Foxton their terminal point, arriving there about Sunday. If this were done it would give an opportunity of carrying out manoeuvres on a largo scale. Part of the

forces might represent an enemy that had landed at Foxton, and was on its way to attack Wellington, and something approaching active service conditions could be obtained by keeping the movement proposals of each side known only to itself. A time-limit for movement could also be arranged, and the uncertainty that would exist as to what time and segment would reach a given point would lend special usefulness to the lesson. The idea is a very good one, and as it possesses the advantage from a departmental viewpoint of offering a considerable reduction on the expenses incurred by the stationary camps of old,days (which, by the way, are now admitted to have been comparatively useless) no doubt the plan will be adopted. The Manawatu district is very suitable for the manoeuvring work proposed to be carried out, there being a long stretch of country covered with low sand hills and diversified with scrubby country, thus giving every 'opportunity for attack or defence. ’Lieutenant Colonel Collins is in communication with other rifle battalions on the matter, with a view to bringing them into accord with the suggestion.