The Easter Encampment and Sham Fight at Sydney.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 200, 23 April 1887, Page 4

The Easter Encampment and Sham Fight at Sydney.

The whole of the Permanent and Volunteer forces of New South Wales were put through manoeuvres at Easter. His Excellency I<ord Carrington visited the"camp, accompanied by the Marquis of Huntley, Lord Sandhurst and his brother the Hon. Mr. Mansfield, and Lord Bertie, Major Gascoigne, and Captain Sneriffe, As.D.C. After lunch the batteries were manned, according to the usual detail, with the object of resisting a supposed attack upon Sydney by a hostile fleet. The artillery work at South Head was superintended by Major Bunbury, and the operations on George's and Middle Heads wore under the care of Bolonel Bingham, the .übiquitous supervisor andchief instructor of the artillery. Lord Carrington and party were conducted by Colonel Roberts to his directing station on George's Head, where telegraphic communication with Middle and South Heads has ,heen established. They were then joined by Admiral Tryon sm his flag-lieu-t'enat, Mr Pakenham. Tie South Head batteries opened fire, but after a few rounds the firing was stopped by boats coming round Nor tli Head, a trouble which is always felt at this time of the $'ear. While waiting for the range to cle*r we noticed the gunharge Neptune, manned by the N. A. V., making her way to the Head, and when otf Lady Bay she dropped ,*t cutter, a gig, and a steam launch, all manned and armed, .which she had been .towing. These wer,e duly watched. The Neptune steamed od through tbc Heads, and at three minutes past 4, a flash and sraoL,; from her bow told us the attack had beguvThe batteries replied, taking as their mark a square rock at the foot of North Head. The right 25-ton gun mado a splendid shot ad it, cutting the top of the rock, and the other guns wore also aimed with practically cfTcjotive accuracy. The Neptune and her three boats advanced against us, firing as they came on, the bow gun on tho Neptune boing very .smartly served. As the enemy advanced into , tlio fairway between the

Heads, the scene from George's Head was picturesque. The fleet worked up the harbour on a long swell, and engaged in a heavy encounter with our batteries, which fired Vapidly and with precision until a falling shower drifted into the front of North Head, and shut out the mark. There was also a stoppage by reason of boats rounding the Head. When the fleet got within small-arm range, the boats opened upon us, while the Neptune, having silenced Middle Head for the time being, attacked South Head, and then went at George's Head and the Obelisk battery, in an attempt to cover her boats, while they countermined our mine-field in Obelisk Bay. It was at this decisive moment that, under circumstances such as the proper equipment of torpedo corps, the Neptune would have been blown up by a torpedo ; but as we had no means of laying a torpedo none was fired. It was intended that the Avurnus should discharge a Schwartzkoff torpedo, and her appearance at this iiibtant would have simply .squelched the enemy. The situation was one in which the rush of the Avernus would have been a fine spectacular climax, and for practical purposes would have bhown the immenoo value of the torpedo boats. The cnemy'b fleet had followed no leongnihcd tactics, and at this timo weie light into the fatal trap. A dash round Middle Head from her hiding-place would have put the Avernus in the rear of the licet with cs-ery bottom at her mercy, but for some mysterious reason the A\ ci mis did not. come, ami the fleet had to be fought with guns only, and the Neptune, slmvly ; hi earning astern, pounded at our battci ie& j as fa°t as her men could work. The engagement then lo.st all definable, features, anS it became impossible to rucognise any scheme or purpose, either in supposition or fact. The bugler on the Neptune sounded the "Ceasefire," and itappeared that the licet was. aboat to withdraw, when the firing began suddenly ; but the whole affau had now i cached a stage ot chaotic bewilderment, and so the engagement ended. It was useful as far as it gave an opportunity for shot practice ; and certainly the shooting was very good. The square rock below North Read "will soon be knocked out of shape at this rate. The visitors were taken down to Middle Head to see the close of the engagement, and were then shown over the magazine by Colonel liobei ts. One of the magazines was lit by electricity supplied by an accumulator of 24 cells, carrying 10 incandescent lamps. The light was perfectly clear and steady, and the immediate adoption of the electiic lamp may be considered certain.