THE TERRITORIALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 284, 23 April 1913, Page 3

THE TERRITORIALS.

"THE MAIMED AND THE HALT."

Per Press Association,

Dannevirke, Last Night. Training at Oringi camp is progressing favorably, the men entering into the spirit of the work in fine style. The hospital staff is kept busy attending to minor ailments. Over ninety were re- ! ported sick this morning, but the majority of the cases were only trivial. However, nine Territorials are in Dannevirke Hospital this afternoon, the causes ranging from appendicitis (one case, Francis Postwin, Sandon ) to sprained ankles and injuries to limbs. The names of those in hospital, additional to Postwin, are Ernest Gibbons and Frank Kelly (both of the Upper Hutt), Herbert Bishop (New Plymouth), Thomas Sabin (Makotuku), Maurice Grogan (Wanganui), Sydney Tait (Gis- I borne), Percy Pragnell (Masterton), and I Herbert Watts (Napier). None of the ' cases are reported as serious by the 1 hospital authorities.

THE OIUNGI CAMP.

THE DANNEYIRKIi DISTURBANCE.

(From Our Own Correspondent)

During the journev to camp speculation was rife as to the truth of rumours •in circulation lately as to the wild doings of some of the "long sentence" men who arrived m camp on Monday, and were alleged to have raised Cain in DanneVnke when on leave. The camp seemed quite orderly, however, somewhat to the general surprise, and your representative gathered that general leave had been granted and all but a small minority observed the conditions, implied and otherwise, of this privilege. Of this minority your representative was pleased to learn that the Taranaki men did not as was reported, form the majority. The men from the butter province did little to damage the reputation tliev have rightly earned for efficiency iii camp and order])' conduct on leave. 1 _The parade state of the Taranaki Regiment is as follows;-A Companv (New Plymouth). Major Fletcher and Lieut. Crutch and 44 men; B Company' (New Plymoath), Captain Boon, Lieut. Hurtnel and <>2 men; C Company (Patea), o7 men; D. Company, Ingle-! wood Major Leech, Lieuts. Gilbert and Vnb ,n aDd n 05 men; E Company,! Eltham, 49; 1< Company (Hawdra),

Captains Bishop and Cox, and 22 men; j (Stratford), Lieut. Winder and 38 J men; medical corps, Captain (Dr.) Home and 24 men; Taranaki Garrison Band, Conductor Cummins and 24 men. Colonel iMalone is commanding officer of the Reciment. Those in a position to judge are greatly surprised with the wonderful advance the Territorials, have made in all departments of their work sinee last years camp. Especially noticeable is 'the fact that the men are much iriore amenable to camp discipline than was the case last year. It is now that the defence scheme is being put to the test, and the result so far- leaves no room for doubt that the optimistic predictions of its sponsors will be realised. There are t approximately 3000 men under canvas < and they come from as far north as the Mokau River in the West and Gisborne in the East, and as far south as Weilington. It is in fact the biggest trainnig camp yet held since the inauguration of the compulsory scheme, the next largest being that at Auckland where 2000 men were encamped. The camp is in fact complete in itself and practically ready to take the field, and the excellence of the training in respect to the Defence Vorce as a whole cannot be over emphasised. From now onwardsithe work will be of an entirely practical nature. It will comprise attack and defence by companies, regiments, battalions. and the brigade respectively. With the ushering in of the second vear's training, it is noticeable that the stings of discipline have been lightened somewhat. The application of the "screw," however, has boon uindled with tact and discretion bv the nithoritics,. with the result that it is icarcely perceptible, except to old ;imers~-not that thev resent it. nor do lie main body of the Territorials in amp.

('AMP-BREAKING

A WEAK-KNEED POLICY.

The conduct of the roystercrs in Dan|iievirke last week has re-acted on the camn in general. The aftermath of the revels made itself apparent in camp on Saturday. (lie nion expected general leave to visit DanneviYke, and all leave had been cancelled. Applicants.for leave armed with friends to visit, dying friends and all the usual accessories of leaveseekers were met with a peremptory refusal. In addition it was mooted in camp that the Brigade were to vindicate their honor-hy marching into Danncvirke on Sunday afternoon to show that the men were capable of-behaving themselves in a town. Sunday is ust unlly a day off, and the Territorials did j not relish the idea of a twelve-mile march to Dimievirke.-Some of the Imldet spirits made up their minds to break camp in spite of the strong; bodies of pickets posted at all bridges and cross roads, and parading Dannevirke in search of cam)) breakers. Accordijigly the rebels mustered one hundred strong, J and amid shouts and counter shouts, gesticulations and warlike demonstrations. marched up the road to Dannevirke armed with saplings, stones and other weapons of offence to rush the pickets. Uproar raged round the camp. Bands of noisy supporters followed at a distance along the railway line to see thu fun. Xoise proved the downfall of ihe camp breakers. A party of officers set oil in a motor car to overtake them, and were greeted with lioots and one or two missiles. They drove oil, and the rebels passed the first picket—a small one. About a mile further up the road Ihey were intercepted bv the officers and a strong [ticket. Asked to explain their conduct the men said in language more pointed than polite, that they resented the cancellation of leave as punishing the many for the few, and they objected to the Sunday march into Dannevirke. After a wild harangue they were prevailed 011 to return to camp and lay their grievance before the Brigadier-General, who quietened them with a promise of leave at a later date. It was an ugly incident, and but for tactful handling it. might have been worse. The handling of offenders leaves something to be desired. however, in the matter of severity. The penalties for such insubordination should be sharp. One man who put in two days in Dannevirke without leave was fined 2s (id. No doubt the authorities will see to it that in future penal-ties-will increase as an indication tint all insurbordination will be nut down with o firm hand. As it is it lias had a. very bad eli'eet on the discipline of the Brigade in general, and there are all sorts of rumors of what will be done unless leave is granted. The authorities had a good chance of dealing summarily with the offenders, but their week-kneed action lias inspired the men with the dangerous sentiment that breaking camp is not a very risky expedient, " NOTHING OFFENSIVE."

ALAIOIIST REPORTS DEPRECATED BY RESIDENTS. While in Dnnncvirke at the end of last week Police Inspector O'Donovan made exhaustive enquiries into the recent

statements concerning the crowd of Territorials, encamped Oringi, to that town. "jjjH On Tuesday night, he said, about H men landed in Dannevirke by the 731* p.m. train, and most of these ;WHH youths under the age of twegtyHßMH These latter were consequently not.wwO to be supplied with liquor at the hnaaOß There was no drunkenness on the BtreeSTsS The places of amusement were not at tliat hour, and the men paraded 'timß streets in groups, gome of course in«|§B dulging in the usual horseplay and mtmjSßj key tricks, but no damage was dona tftjara the township. According to the locrifj&jj police, the men had committed no of the peace, and had used no offensive-j39 behaviour towards others, as complained of. They dc])arted for the camp at 1 and while entraining two panes of glast fea in a carriage were broken ally. During the journey the men indulged again in their horseplay, 'ijs Amongst the crowd nix men were under" tlie influence of drink, and a few fladw'?*® of whisky were visible amongst them, "'W's No passengers .were molested or inter- !'<#) fered with. ,$! "It is just what one would expect," the inspector concluded, "amongst a -V crowd of young fellows. I saw some*. l ) of the leading citizens of Dannevirke,' 'ls and they rather deprecated the report® siMi which had been sent out." -- • V-iijiji