MOBILISATION IN DUNEDIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 14

MOBILISATION IN DUNEDIN.

A<n emergency mobilisation of the Volunteers of the Otago district took place on the 4th simultaneously in Dunedin, Invercargill, and Oamaru. In Dunedin, ajt half-past 7, the firebell at the Central Station, in the Octagon pealed continuously for six minutes, and the suburban bells, taking up the signal, were instrumental in making known the call to ■arms far and wide. But the alarm was not altogether successful. For some reason, a number of men living at a distance from the fireballs were uncertain as to the significance of the ringing, and others did not hear the bells at all, consequently the muster was not as large as was expected. The public took a keen interest in the display, and thronged to the Garrison Hall and the Railway Station to witness the proceedings. The organisation of the men had been well planned by Lieu-tenant-colonel Smyth, OC. Otago District, and throughout the bustle that was inseparable from the occasion, everything was conducted in the best spirit and in excellent order, and not the slightest mishap occurred during the evening. The supposition was that the city was being attacked on the north and ako on the south. Men wjere posted at Mihiwaka and Port Chalmers to the north, and at the Chain Hills to the south, and the Dunedin force was to assemble and go to their assistance with the utmost possible despatch. The Engineers were the first to make their way to the Railway Station. It was their parade night at the Garrison Hall, so the honour of being first at the rendezvous was easily theirs. Other companies soon assembled, some .in fair numbers and others with a mere handful of members, and At half-past 9, or* two hours after the oaU, there wane 499 men on parade, 'served with ammunition of other equipment, as the case required, and. ready to march or to entrain. The parade state was as follows: — Staff.— Lieutenant-colonel Smyth, O.C. Otago District, Lieutenant-colonel de Lautour. P.M.0., Captain M'lndoe, Captain Morris, Lieutenant Laoey I

I B Btfctery.— Four officers, 66 other ranks ; —total, 70. , Engineers.— Five officers, 52 other ranks; i —total, 57. j Huseais.— Two officers, 14 other ranks; — j total, 16. ■ Pioneers.— Two officers, 15 other ranks ; — j total, 17. First Battalion.— Ten officers, 100 other ranks;— total, 110. I Field Ambulance.— Three officers, 19 ! other ranks ; —total, 22. | Garrison Band. — One officer, IS other j ranks; — total, 16. j Pipe Band — Four of all ranks. J Staff of First Regiment, Otago Mounted ', Rifles. — One officer, 2 other ranks, l R.N.Z.A.— One officer, 30 oiher ranks; — ; total, 31. i Staff of Garrison ArtiH«<ry. — Five officers, 2 other ranks ;- -total, 7. ! No. 1 Company.— Four officers, 75 other ranks; — total, 79. No. 2 Company.— Three officers, 59 other ranks; — total, 62. , Total number on parade, 499. The total I number of men in the Dunedin district is, [ roughly speaking, about 1100. ' Subsequent to the carrying out of the , orders, the officers were called together, ; and Lieutenant-colonel Smyth briefly j addressed them. He said his desire jin ordering the muster was to see j how many men he could lay his I hands an in the event of an emergency j arising, the men to be equipped and ready jto move off at the shortest notice. The I muster was really an experiment, and it I asemed to him it had not answered its purpose very well. The Garrison Artillery and the .Battery had made good musters; the Engineers were also very good. The Engineers had a parade that night, which J <no doubt helped them. He should have j liked to see the battalion a good deal | stronger, aiso the Pioneers. He had been | informed by staff officers there had been j some trouble about the bell — that men i were not certain whether it was the fire- | bell or not. He asked the officers to look ! into that matter, and find out if such was the case. On a sudden call like that, he thought the companies ought to be mustered, at anyirate, half their strength. They had to remember that in the event of danger they might get a sudiden call, and. j with that fact in his mind, he had wished i to ascertain how many men he could get. 1 It was supposed that foroes were holding an at Port Chalmers and at the Chain Hills, and the Dunedin Volunteers weare to go to their help. The forces at these points were not very strong, but in the case of am enemy feeling its way .into the city they could give it a lot of trouble until rein- : forcements reached them. It was evident I he thought, there had been some mistake i about the signal. If, on investigation, thi s was found to be so, another muster could be arranged. The ammunition, tools, etc., were then collected in a waggon, and the men marched I back to the Garrison Hall by way of Stuart I street, Princes street, and .High street