VOLUNTEER MANOEUVRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 18 November 1907, Page 4

VOLUNTEER MANOEUVRES.

"Spectator," writing to the Stratford Post, criticises the recent military manoeuvres at Stratford. We make the following extracts from his letter:— '•.... The attacking force under Major Liardet advanced in extended skirmishing order, but so handled that a concentrated movement could be made either ou the right, the left, or the centre, wherever the defence showed weakness. Considering the forces at their disposal, and the nature of the ground over which the attack was being made, the defence, under Major Malone, took up a peculiar position. .... Their centre for some strange reason, was left ijuite open The left wing of the attacking force

. . . . came into contact with the defending scouts, drove them back on their main body, and soon becamo hoily engaged with the attempted ambuscaJers. These they held in check. Captain Hine, with his mounted infantry, advanced quickly, and with practically no opposition, on the centre- This move seemed to drag all the reserves from the hill, exposing that position to an assault. The right wing of the attackers seeing their chance and taking advantage of the opening, carried the hill by storm The attack, using

Starnes' Hill as a base, by an enveloping movement, could then have swept the defenders against the river and pinned them there. This would have left a clear passage to Stratford. The mounted infantry could have made their dash in. . . . Unfortunately, for some unknown and inexplicable reason, because there was still about an hour to go, when the hill was carried by the attack the command "cease fire" " was given by the umpire. . . . Considering that, by the instructions he had still an hour an a-half to go, it is a pity that Major Liardet was not allowed to complete his movement, unless, of ' course, the umpire considered that he had by carrying the hill put the defence out of action. . . . Leaving the centre undefended, and with such country to skirmish over, was a fatal weakness in the defence, and with the withdrawal of the reserves on the hill, and the prompt assault on the weakened position entitle the attack to the credit of victory. ["Spectator's'' account is at'variance with that of the oliiters of the defence force, who holds that Major Liardet's men walked into the ambush prepared for them, and were trapped.] "Spectator" has hardly a true grip of the facts. First of all, he asserts that the centre of the defenders' position was left open. So it was, as far as the attackers could see. But Major Maloue had not left this position undefended. In this centre were the two reserve forces, one in advance of the other. Had the mounted men succeeded in taking Starnes' Hill and endeavored to gallop through to Stratford they would have encountered the main body. Again, there was not one yard of the whole of the defenders' front that was not within decisive rille range, 700 or 800 yards. "Spectator" seems to hold the opinion that unless there is a continuous rank of men across a valley that valley is undefended. So long as the intervening land can be swept by rifle-lire from two bases there is a defence far more effective timn the stationing of men at frequent intervals. And in this instance the whole of the defenders' front was capable of being held by a wall of whistling lead. Again, when the mouuteds attacked, they were fired upon by two forces at such close range that it was reasonable to supouse that- half the men would be placed hors de combat. But, evidently appreciating the fact that only blank cartridge was used, tliev advanced at a gallop to within a few'hundred yards, and, having met the fire, immediately and without retiring re-formed and charged the hill. Though rifles were cracking from the entrenchments, on they came. Was it likely that that force could have gained that crest without a loss? The idea of the attackers certainly seemed to lw that they had only to gallop through the opposing ranks of infantry and reach Stratford, crying "We're through!" much like the boys who play "King Caesar" at school. No comment is needed upon a charge of mounted infantry upon an entrenched hill in the face of a withering fire, with the ataek unsupported bv artillery or by reserve. It is quite likely 'that '•'cease fire" was sounded because the umpire considered the attackers should by tin's time have been all dead.