THE 7th BATTERY IN ACTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2817, 29 November 1924, Page 2

THE 7th BATTERY IN ACTION.

. PRACTICE SHOOT WITH EIG HTEEN- POUNDERS. On Friday Mm 7th Artillery Battery, camped on the local racecourse held their practice shoot with the eighteen pounders. Quite a number of local residents accepted Captain Bollard’s invitation to the public to. he present and had their firs! glimpse of artillery in action. Active service conditions were observed throughout the practice and “the enemy” engaged in. The “shoot" was very spectacular from the onlooker’s point of view. In the morning the battery took up n position to the north of the racecourse, and engaged in fire on two different targets, one after the other, representing - infantr' - entrenched and artillery in action. The range was about two miles. Shortly after taking up this position, a move had to be made “owing to heavy enemy shelling on the battery position and other enemy infantry were engaged.” All series were fired by Lieutenant Gamer and Second Lieutenant. Brophy, acting as gun position officer.

In the afternoon these two officers reversed positions. The Battery took up a fresh position further north and three- series in all were fired at three different targets, the ranges being about two miles and two and e-half miles.

The guns are in charge of a General Position Officer, who is in telephone or flag communication with the “O Pip,” or Directing station, posted on some prominent position, in this ease the hill at the rifle range. At “O Pip” the range is worked out by means of a range-finder and various calculations, and communicated down,to the G.P.O. who issued orders to the guns accordingly, “correctors”, being communicated to tlie guns after each shot until the target has been “bracketed.” The firing on Thursday was “indirect firing,” the guns not being able to see the target. With this battery, using eighteen-pounders, the object is not to register a direct hit, but to “bracket” the target; that is to place one shell over it and one in front of it. Shrapnel being used, the whole area is thus covered. The target used for the practice were pieces of material measuring six feet by four. In conversation with LieutenantColonel Gard’ner, our representative was informed that the shooting was highly satisfactory throughout, considering the small amount of time the battery has been in training. During the day the Battery was inspected liv Colonel Commandant C G. Powles, C.M.G., D. 5.0., A.D.C., Commanding a Central Command. The practice was also witnessed by Lieutenant-Colonel Gard’ner, D.S.O. R.N.Z.A., Director of Artillery. In conversation with Colonel Powles, our representative was informed that good work was being done by the Battery signalling corps in transmitting orders by field telephone and flags from “0. Pip” to the guns. Colonel Powles said that, considering these men were new at the business, they had made wonderful progress. At the guns orders were carried out smoothly and work was decidedly good. The drivers, in bringing up the guns and changing of position twice during the day, were deserving of great praise, especially taking into consideration the fact that they had small opportunity to work with horses and also the number of untrained horses in the teams. The Inspection Officers expressed great pleasure at the comfort of the camp, and remarked on the generosity of the Racing Club Committee in placing their buildings and grounds at the disposal of the Battery. At the conclusion - of the shoot the Battery was assembled and ad-

dressed Uy Lieutenant Gard’ner. He congratulated the men on their very fine shooting. He said the staff was constituted of new hands and they had made surprising progress. The performance they had just witnessed was a very creditable one and he was hopeful of having a very fine staff next year. The work on the guns had been very satisfactory, It was perhaps a trifle slow, but they did not mind that when they got accuracy.' Speed would come later. The “laying” of the guns had also been very satisfactory and very accurately done. The work at the guns had been quiet and orderly, which was very important. The work of the drivers was good and lie hoped that next year the Battery would have more horses to handle. He hoped next year that the Battery Commanders would have more freedom and that tactical work would he developed. For this, however, it was very necessary to have good riders. He was pleased to see that the horses were in “good nick,” which showed that they had been looked after during their activities in camp. The care of horses was an important factor of an artillery camp.

Colonel Pqwlcs endorsed the previous speaker’s remarks and said he was very pleased with the behaviour bf the men while in camp. He said it was quite possible next year would again see the men in camp on the racecourse.

Questioned as to whether he thought it probable that this Military District would make Foxton its training headquarters, Colonel Powles said he thought that it was more than probable. The matter rested, to a certain extent, on how the heavy howitzer battery got on in February. The country was ideal for the eighteen-pounders, hut was rather on the flat side for howitzers.

The 7th Battery .vacated camp yesterday and were replaced by the Bth Palmerston North 4.5 Howitzer Battery The Battery paraded about 100 strong under the command of Captain C. Wood, with whom was associated Lieut. Buchanan. CapLain Pollard is camp adjutant.