THE TERRITORIALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 233, 11 March 1915, Page 5

THE TERRITORIALS.

END OF FIRST CAMP. The camp at Eewa Rewa was broken Up yesterday morning. The Taumaraiuii men left by the mail train, embarking at Smart Road, and the Strat- ■ ford, llaweraj and Inglicwood men left ' just after .'J a.m. for their respective destinations. The A company acted as ' rearguard, and was diligently engaged ' all the morning taking down the marquees, tents, and clearing the precincts ,■ of the camp. The New Plymouth com. ■ panics marched to the drillshed, where ' thoy received their baggage, and were '. dismissed aboiit 3.30 p.m. A camp-fire concert under Chaplain - Evans was held on Tuesday night. (The ] programme was as varied as it was comprehensive and comprised all the latest music hall ditties, ending with "God Save the King." Many men, thinking it would be an innovation, slept by the glowing embers of the camp fire throughout the night. Major Bellringor, in the officers' mess yesterday morning, took the opportunity of thanking all non-regimental otiicers who had so graciously and readily responded to the call for the assistance of Reserve officers. The war, he said, had caused many blanks in the ranks ' of the regiment, and without their help r the camp could not have been so sue- ° cessfully conducted.. The regiment was ' under a great obligation to them, and > greatly appreciated the services they *j had so ably rqndered. Major Harper, ] of Wanganui, on behalf of the visiting , officers, said he considered the camp had j been an ideal one. He was not alto- i gctlier a stranger to the 11th Regiment, c having attended one of their camps < some twenty years ago. It was cer- i tainly one of the cleanest of camps he c had ever been in. It would be impos- i sible to find a more enthusiastic* ener- i getic, and willing lot of lads. Considering the majority of the men compris- ' 1 ing the, regiment were from farms, and not used to restrictions, the discipline * had been excellent. Personally, he had " learnt many things from the conduct of ! the camp which would be of use to him, \ and he would always carry a grateful , remembrance of the regiment and its * officers. For the material benefits received, for ,tlfe effectual working, splendid management, and satisfactory progress and termination of one of the best, camps he had ever attended, exclusive thanks were due to the administration of the Major and his staff. Major Harper's remarks were endorsed by acclamation. '' . OTHER COMMENT. Major Leech l told an Inglcwood Record c representative that he considered the B camp just closed had been the most sue- B cessful one ever held. They were able + to take the field every day during the i encampment, and as a consequence thor- ' oughly good and much finished work was put through. Everything in con- I section with the camp was carried,out , in. capital style, splendid arrangements ; for both work and plaj, and perfectf*com- ' missariat. The only drawback, says I the paper, was the absence of anything ' to grumble, about, which, of course, would be severely felt by any commun- ' ity of New Zcalanders. ] From the Eltham Argus: The D. Com- ! party (Eltham) 11th Regiment returned ; to Eltham from the annual encampment at Rcwa Eewa. All the men look well , and bronzed, and speak in' the highest J terms of their treatment, and the instruction they received. There was no -j trouble of any description; every man ' was eager and set about his work with ' a will. An officer informed an Argus representative that it was the cleanest ( camp he hud yet seen. The.ro. was no ' dirt or rubbish of any description to be * seen. Everything was spick and span. " This indeed speaks volumes for the offi- ' ccrs and men. s C ===== t