THE TERRITORIALS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 88, 21 April 1913, Page 5

THE TERRITORIALS.

DUCKING A JOURNALIST. [Per Press Association.] Dunedin, April 20. At the Territorial camp at Sutton a. regrettable incident occurred yesterday, when a newspaper reporter, whose reports to his paper had evidently caused indignation amongst the 4th Regiment, was ducked in a stream. Fatigue duty was proceeding at the time, and the officers were busily engaged, and there was no one present to prevent the action, while by the time an orderly officer reached the scene the men responsible had disappeared. It is alleged that the District Staff Officers were near enough to have prevente'd the occurrence, but took no action.

WITH THE Xlth. REGIMENT. Dannevirke, April 21. The camp of Territorials at Oringi' is now in full swing. The men have 1 settled down to the life in good style, and are taking a keen interest,in the j work. Practically no leave has been granted. The health of the men generally is good, though minor ailments, such as I colds, toothaches, etc., claim a fair number of captures. ' It was intended to march through Dannevirke yesterday to give; the, citizens an opportunity of seeing the better side of the Territorial move,ment. A large crowd assembled in. the town, only to be disappointed, as .the parade wgs. qancelled,, pad, ; thp, fact could not be made generally known in time. The parade, which was postponed to enable routine work as regards a record of books being carried out, will be held on Wednesday.

A thin .vein of humour is still found penetrating the schist rock of the more serious business of the camp (says the special reporter of the Otago Daily Times in writing of the camp at Sutton). The latest examples that have come under notice are typical of many others. At 7.30 the other morning a sick parade was held. As one man who was reported sick failed to put in an appearance, the officer in charge issued the following order:—“Corporal, go and tell Private Blank to come hero at once, and see that he doubles up.” The corporal sot out on his mission, and when ho returned he delivered himself of the following curt message:—“Please, sir, he’s doubled up.” The irritable'ser-geant-major is also responsible for much unconscious humor, of which the following are two good examples:— One morning a company had just gone on parade and the men were not so steady as they might have been. The sergeant-major endured it for some time, and then he called out in stentorian terms:—“Stand still, you men. Don’t wobble about like a blanc mange.” It was some moments before the men were able to stand still, and though the sergeant-major was furious he did not feel disposed to make any further remarks. A good example of unintentional wit comes from the ranges. A sergeantmajor was instructing a squad in musketry practice and had reached the last four men. He was in something of a quandary for a few moments, but a ray of light at last burned a hole in his perplexity, and ho said: “The first three men will shoot | together, and then the colour scout will shoot himself.” i