UNDER CANVAS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10, 2 May 1914, Page 2

UNDER CANVAS.

(By Our Terry). Under canvas for all tlie Terries throughout New Zealand this year will prove more interesting than any other previous camp, chiefly on account of the visit of inspection being paid by the Inspector-General ol the Overseas forces, General Sir lan Hamilton, and the more advanced work that will lie gone through when the whole of the Regiihcnts come in The Xlth Taranaki Rifles arrived on Sunday afternoon about I o’clock, being 12 hours in the train, but it was not so tiresome as one' would think—perhaps the .idea of a good holiday in the open air kept the hours from weigh, ing heavily, but it was o'lite long enough. By the time we had picked up the last batch at Waitotara we (had a big train, and in the early morning the Terries thought they would have to get out and shove, but with the aid of a good deal of sand and a lot ol cheering the engines managed the hill. As far as the inner man was concerned, there was a plentiful supply ol pies in each carriage, and short work was made of them. By the way nearly every carriage about two o’clock doused the glim with the exception ot one or so, and as your Terry happened in it, there was no sleep for him until Sunday night, but it was not missed in the swopping of yarns and singing of choruses.

Perhaps while on the subject of trains, it is very gratifying to find in the orders of Tuesday morning the following little paragraph:—“Special mention.—The Divisional Commander congratulated the XI. Regiment on the soldierly manner in which it detrained and marched into camp. The officer commanding regiment specially commends the Adjutant, Pioneer Sergeant Southam and the advance party for the manner in which they carried out their respective duties prior to the arrival of the regiment. The Officer Commanding the Regiment is very pleased' at the good spirit displayed by all hands under the present somewhat trying conditions.” Captain Stevens, railway transport officer, specially singled out the Xlth for being the smartest regiment to detrain and march off, and all this praise for marching out in the pouring rain. The weather has been of a very mixed order; rain all Sunday afternoon and all the night, hut Monday was a glorious day and dried things up beautifully, but Tuesday morning saw the ground in a terrible state underfoot. Consequently on Tuesday the men had a comparatively easy day of it. This afternoon, how-' ever, rain lias kept oil a little and the whole of the men are on parade, doing company drill, and the men who have not completed their musketry arc completing their courses. The “H Sompany (Stratford) are credited with being the slickest and quietest to entrain of the whole Regiment.

Altogether there are about 3000 men in camp and 2600 are expected in next Friday; when the work will commence in earnest. The Xlth contribute 703 under command of Lieut.-Colonel Malone and the Regimental hand coming in on Friday will bring the total to 723. The officers of the Xlth at present in camp are:—Lieut-Col. Malone, Majors Fletcher, Leech, Clarke, Captain Brunt, Limits. Kirk, Shepherd, Fur by, Hartnell, Buxton, Well, Taylor, Narhy, Crutch, Munro, Gilbert, Mercer, Urquhart, Morrison, McColl, Medical Officer (Capt. A. Home), Chaplain (Rev. F. G. Evans).

Regimental Staff.—Adjutant McDonnell, Regimental Sergeant-Major McGlade, and Q.M.S. Collins. Attached to the regiment for duty: Cadet officers, Lieuts. Jones, Lister and Clarke; attached to the permanent staff for duty, Capt. Braddell, SorgtMajors Bonner, Thompson and Henry.

The conduct of the men to date has been very good, and as lias been remarked, they have had some provocation from the boss of the weather.

The schenfe of work is very comprehensive, and is of a thoroughly progressive nature. During the first loindays the men are being mainly exercised in company drill, from which they proceed to battalion, and then to brigade work, the whole of the units operating in the manoeuvres THE CAMP SITE. The parties responsible for the selection of the site of the camp could not very well have chosen a better position. It is on Mr Sidney Johnston’s property, about two and a-half miles from Takapau. The camp is pitched on a level piece of country with low-lying hills to the south and the Ruahine Ranges, snow capped, to the west. A river well sheltered forms the western boundary of the camp, while on the east side the railway line forms the boundary. The actual camp covers several hundred acres, and most of the surrounding country has been divided off into ten different training grounds, where, when the whole oi the men are assembled, the troops will take daily exercise. Out towards the mountains a training ground has been specially engaged for the mounteds. Just now there are 10/30 belltents erected, besides numerous marquees. Quarters are located for the Army Service Corps, Kield Artillery Brigade, the Divisional Headquarters | and Infantry Brigade'. Immediately to the rear of the latter the whole of the Mounted Brigade', with its 1/300 horses is quartered, these arms of services being separated by an infantry brigade parade ground 100 yards by 100 yards. The Regiment is running a daily newspaper, “Xlth Reg. Bulletin,” but the editor keeps bis identity a secret, as it is more than his job is worth to divulge bis identity. The puns are hard bitters and oven a Scotchman can see through thorn at first sight.

:,Th© “H” Coy, (Stratford) and E, Coy. (Eltham) are, under the new system, now amalgamated into a double company and organised into four platoons, each under command of a subaltern officer. The new drill is rapidly being mastered, and the organisation lias proved most successful. The food is of the best and is well cooked. As an example, dinner for the men consisted of chops and beef • and curry and rice, rice and prunes, (bread and jam, and plenty ol it. j XI play the 2nd .Mounted to-rnor-[row, they having accepted our chul■lenge. Dean McKenna bolds a service every morning at (3..‘50 for Homan Catholics. The earn]) is well off for amusement tents and canteens. Reading and amusement marquees are provided by the Presbyterian Church (15),V..M.C.A., C.E.M.S., and Catholic Federation, while there is a shooting gallery and

a picture show, so that we are very up to date, but whether they can come up to the “movies' of Strattoid, 1 have not yet been able to find out. The canteen is well managed, and the prices are very reasonable. “Anything from an needle to an anchor would just about describe them. Owing to the extraordinary heavy ‘traffic the railway department will not be able to handle any ol the men until next Sunday, which will mean the men putting in an extra day without pay, hut it seems unavoidable, and il the weather keeps up, no one will regret the extra day.

SIR lAN HAMILTON AT CHRISTCHURCH. [Per Press Association.! Christchurch, May 1. General Sir lan Hamilton inspected the Territorial camp at Kowhai to-day. After the general salute had been given, the Inspector-General rode through the lines, and his inspection was . very thorough. He pointed out faults here and them, but his remarks were more often than not complimentary, and indicated that he was pleased with the appearance and steadiness of the men. The discipline was wonderfully good. The General wished to see the men it work, and in a few words he rapped out his little scheme to replace :he complete field manoeuvres of Colonel Smyth which had been abandoned through the soaking 01 the ■’ills. Tig; j .General was greatly pleased with d the ' smartness of the nountod troops, and impressed with ■heir physique and the line quality of their mounts, ir TIkI inspection over, the whole division was formed up for the : march past, which wah a splendid finish; those present were greatly impressed kvith the magnificent spectacle of diroe thousand troops marching 'past in linos extending over half ia mile. REAL WORK COMMENCES. Takapau Camp, May 1. i ■ Approximately. HOOD imorq,.infantry arrived at the Takapau camp during to-day. They were from the Main trunk, Wellington and Hawke’s Bay list riots. ‘The - number under canvas now is 6000, including 1500 nounteds; i

Weather conditions are at present ionbtful, though the rain kept off hiring tlie day. The lines are gradually drying* up, hut having been cut ihont a good deal it will not take nuch rain to put them in a sloppy condition jijgiiih." Rifleman Lobh, of New Plymouth; who was supposed to have had appendicitis', and Trooper Blackstock, of Taranaki, who was kicked by a horse, ire both progressing very satisfactorily. This afternoon Private McKenjde, of Napier, sprained a knee while working, and was despatched to his home. To-morrow field operations commence on a large scale, and the men will he put to work in real earnest.