VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 120, 16 April 1884, Page 3

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

The Wellington Encampment. Easter Monday Review*

. j [Wellington Paper,] I At the camp all was bustle and activity from an early hour m the morning. The veveille sounded at 6 o'clock, and the battalion drill took place shortly afterwards. The brigade »vas now divided into an attackiug and ; defending force, the camp being the position to be attacked and defended. The attacking free was made up as follows :— Wi' n ' 'i i Naval Artillery (Captain Abbo : >, ' Wanganui Rifles (Captain V, r ai:), Wanganui City Rifles (CaplaM Hutchison), Marton Royal Rifles (Captain Skermar)), Patea Rifles and Palmerston Rifles, Wellington Naval Artillery (Captain Johnston), D Battery Artillery (Captain McCredie), Wellington City Rifles (Captain Crowe), City Guards (Captain Loveday), Wellington Rifles (Lieutenant Steele). The defending force consisted of the Alexandra Cavalry (Captain Soramerville), ,H Battery ArtiU. lery (Captain Walcott), Nelson Naval' Artillery (Lieutenant Simpson), Nelson City, Rifl es (fjieutenan t , Paton) , , Waimea,' Rifles. (Captain Franklyn), and ', .the Wei lington College . Cadet's (Captain Firth.) The Wellington and Wanganui men, forming a battalion of eight companies, were ; marched out of. camp to form the attacking party, under the command of Major Stapp, Captain, McCrcdie being m command of the artillery. . The defenders of the camp were under the command, of Major Pitt, and comprised the Nelson ! contingent, the Alexandra Cavalry, and the Wellington Cadets, under the command of Captain Firth. On the rigfct and left flanks were the two, i2-pounder. guns of ihe H Battery, JS elson Artillery, the formor under the command of Lieutenant Toplis, and the guns of the attackiug force flanked the main body of iufuntry, who ad- ■ vsmced m open column of attack from entrance to the park. The defending force now opened out into skirmishing^ orijeiy and Majbu Pitt ordered them to"! He fdown, or take what shelter they could obtain, aud reserve their fire while the cavalry, m two divisions^ rode for- ; ward at a hand-gallop to meet the enemy who up to this time kept their guiis ajiiet. .Qn .the advance of the cavalry,; however^ the artillery <rpened fire, 'arid Captain Sommerville's troops observing the enemy to be strongly supported by artil lery, , ret veateql with '" s - ™ e?1 * a good order, while'- the defending guns commenced a brisk fire on the advancing columns. The whole defending force was now ordered o advance, and open fire on the enemy, amlthe cavalry made repeated dashes at the advancing cplumns. of the latter ; in open order, but were repeatedly repulsed. The attacking party, now advanced steadily upon 'the defended position, and the defenders retreated into camp, where the infantry formed into open line along' the whole front, while the cavalry took up a position m the centre, where they made frequent and brilliant sorties upon the enemy., They, however, checked the advance of the at ack, and when within eighty; yards of the camp the latter carried ,the position with a rush, and the battle was over. The scene at this juncture was a mo^tani'.v. >ied one, and gave the spectators a f.od mimic idea of "glorious way." lie defenders of the camp were so do 3 to . their opponents that it. is a wonder that the powder of the opposing parties did not burn each other's faces. The cavalry .made one njore deperate abortive attempt to take tiie guns of the enemy. The picture at this , juncture .was the nearest approach, .to the awful reality of warfare which ...could be imagined. The attacking party made an impetuous rush, a"nd, partially intoxicated "with their supposititious victory after . successfully withstanding the charge of the cavalry, made a gallant rush tor the camp, amidst such cheera as could" only emanate from the throats of British Boldiery. The cavalry.having dashed through the lines of the enemy, reformed m the rear, and again charged the rear of the attacking party, and m this manoeuvre displayed some exceedingly pvoMy sword exercise and pursuing practice illustrative of cutting down iufantry. The plan of the fight was drawn up by, and carried ouf under the instruction of Colonel Pearce and his adjutants.- The mknceuvies were entered into by the men with spirit, aud were well carried out there being no visible confusion on either side as is often witnessed at affairs of the kind. The movements of the cavalry were especially brilliant, and the working of the guns was greatly to the credit of the artillery. The fight was witnessed by thousands of spectators, who found capital accommodation for the occasion on the hills m the immediate neighborhood. Many also took a close interest m the proceedings, and amongst those who looked on with an evidently practical interest were the Hon the Premier, the Hon Mr Bryce, and Lieut-Colonel Header. At. the conclusion of the fight the men reformed column and reentered the camp; where they were dismissed for a quarter of an hour or soTo prepare for full drpss parade. As : far as' the encampment is concerned the Easter holidays have passed oft with every success, and the enjoyment! it has afforded to the public will long: be remembered m Wellington. At about mid*sifternoon there must have been some 6000 or 7000 people on the ground witnessing the review. Perhaps there has never been ; such a "'turn out" of holiday-makers m the, annals of the place.