THE TERRITORIALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 254, 26 April 1912, Page 7

THE TERRITORIALS.

——— ■■ ■ -—■■■ CAMP STRUCK AT HAWERA. INTERESTING REMARKS BY COLONEL MALONE. Yesterday saw the last of the Taramaki Territorial camp at Hawera, the whole of the regiment returning to their respective destinations, some of them having to go as far as Taumarunui. The New Plymouth section entrained at the ltacecourse about noon, and Teached home shortly after three o'clock. The men returned in good health and spirits, looking all the better for their week's sojourn in the open. It speaks well for the way in which the camp was run by Colonel Malone and his officers, when it is mentioned that there was not one case of accident or serious illness entailed by the continuous encampment. The Egmont Racing Club is deserving of great thanks for placing its grounds and buildings at the disposal of the military authorities for the week. The huildjngs .proved of groat service, and added much to the comfort and amusement of the men, especially during, the last few days, which were never free from rain. General Godley was highly pleased, with what he saw during his flying visit. "You have," he told Colonel Malone, "got a really, good show. I expected that you would have such. I would like to say that I am greatly pleased with the men, and I am satisfied that we have in Taranaki the makings of a first-class regiment." "A GOOD LOT OF FELLOWS." Chatting with a News representative, the Colonel said that he was satisfied that the men were a good lot of fellows i in every way. Somewhat to his astonishment he found them to be extremely amenable'to discipline. He believed, in! fact, that the highest discipline would I eventually be got out of the men, subject, of course, to proper handling. Questioned as to the conduct of the Territorials during their slay under canvas at Hawera, the Colonel described it as excrnplary. He added that one rather extraordinary thing, ivhich astonished but none the less pleased him, waa the exceptionally clean speech of the men. ' In a camp of over (500 men he had quite' expected that he would hear a considerable amount of bad language. . Reviewing the nine days, however, he could honestly say that although he had always been about and had had, without "spying," opportunities to judge fully, he had practically heard bad language on ' only two occasions. " NOT FINE WEATHER SOLDIERS." ; "As regards the weather," continued Colonel Malone. "I am really pleased, in one sense, that we had two very bad days, because it proved to me that the men are not 'fair-weather' soldiers. They i kept up their spirits wonderfully. So far as their drill was concerned, the efficiency attained was really remarkable. The steadiness of the regiment," he concluded, "is most commendable." NEXT YEAR'S CAMP. Questioned as to next year's camp, the Colonel said it would take the forsi of a brigade encampment, which -would be ; attended by all the infantry regiments ■ composing the Wellington Brigade, of which Taranaki was a unit. Some 4000 t Territorials would then be under canvas. The cam]) would most probably be held at Marton.