TAKAPAU CAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 280, 29 April 1914, Page 8

TAKAPAU CAMP.

THE TROOPS' OPERATION'S. Takapau, Tuesday. Operations for the first four days will be chiefly confined to the mounted men, though those men who entered the camp early for the purpose of making up parades will be drilled and put through the musketry course. A small range has been erected -against the hillside. for this purpose, and the machine guns will practice on it as well. The whole force will be in camp on Friday, including batteries) and engineers. In connection with the former the P. Battery (Napier) have several IS-poundera in camp, and the J Battery have their howitzers. The latter, ■it may be mentioned, are the most powerful guns in existence at the present time, and are similar to those used in the British Army. The shell, which is loaded with lyddite, when it leaves the gun rises to a. great height, and it' is particularly useful for sweeping trenches in which an opposing force is located. On May 7 and 8 these guns will he used on targets which will be placed iu the direction of Mount Misery, which is about three and a-half miles south-east of the camp. The training at Takapau this year on progressive lines, but in accordance with the principles of war the instruction will start with company training and then work will be so developed that the various arms of the service will have an opportunity of working together. On Kridav the mounted brigade will do squadron and tactical exercises,, including attacks and defence, while the remainder (with the exception of the signal troop, who will be engaged in telephone work and signalling) will he occupied in concentration work. On Saturday the mounted, brigade will indulge in regimental training and tactical protection, while the field artillery will be employed at driving, gun drill and Held manoeuvres. The infantry will undergo company training and attack work, while No.' 4 Company Field Engineers will be occupied in construction work, trench work and stable routine-.

Oh Similar titers will be a church parSI ill'. 'l'iit motnitwl brigade will undergo more regimental training on Monday, besides tactical attack anil defence. Tiie Held artillery will engage in riding and driving and lire discipline. Company training, attack and outposts will bo the instruction for tile infantry brigade, while the Engineers will continue their construction work.

The following l day the mounted brigade will do troop and squadron train: ii;g, and there will he stall' reconnaissance for senior officers, while the field artillery will join in brigade manoeuvres. The infantry, along \.;ith Xo. 4 Company Field Engineers, \yill engagu in battalion training and attack anil ,iufence.

The great day will be Wednesday, that the engineers and infantry will he curried out by all branches of the services, and Sir lan Hamilton will inspect the forces. There will probably be further Held exercises on Thursday and Friday, and 011 Saturday cump will be struck.

On Tuesday, Hay 5, it will be seen that the cnginers and infantry will be working together in currying out a defence scheme, while on May 7 the mounted regiment are co-operating wifrji the field ambulance to supply casualties ami collect the wounded. On May 8 the infantry will combine with the fiold artillery, so tiiat they will get practice in working together, and so the scheme is carried out. IT,AISIC FOR TARAXAKI iIEX. The work of the transport department at Takapau on Sunday night is favorably commented on by Captain A. C. Stevens, railway transport officer. In a report to the officer commanding the camp (Colonel Ohaytor) he states that he superintended the detraining arrangements of approximately 3076 men and l.'ißl horses at Takapau station, and all was completed without casualty. So far as tile horse transport wa.s concerned it worked admiral)]; , but both drivels and horses were ovi-rvorked, and more transport was really ::eee99ary on account of (he heavy going occasioned by Hie inclement weather which prevailed throughout the day. The drivers were going from 4 a.m. till about i oiflock next morning. The utmost assistance was rendered to the Defence Department by Mr, Mouatt, of tho railway headquarters staff. The state of the carriage was, on the whole, good. 11' it were possible to draw any distinction he would single out the Xftli Regiment (Taranaki Rifles) as the best and smartest regiment at detraining and marching oil'. Some good work was also done by mounted men from TfeiUling, who detrained one hundred horses in seven minutes.