OUR SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1915, Page 4

OUR SOLDIERS.

TRAINING IX FULL SWING. PARTICUjARS OF THE SIXTH AXi) SEV EN'll REINFORCE MJiXTS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, August 2.

The trouble at Trentham Camp and .the National Government negotiations have distracted attention to a large extent during went weeks from the actual work of the troops, some seven thousand in number, now undergping trailing. The sudden removal of the men from Trentham, and their distribution over several camps, interfered considerably with the training, particularly in musketry, since suitable ranges were not, readily obtainable under the new conditions. There was a shortage of instructor, since the staff which hud been adequate when all the men were gathered at one point could not be divided into three or four stalls. But Hi# dillieulty was quickly overcome, and it ajypears, 011 the whole, -that the improvement in the health and the spirits of the mien, consequent upon their removal from the old cam]), has balanced any loss suffered in other respects. Training is in full awing again now, and the men are looking well and fit. Sonic of them—the Oth Reinforcements —are just finishing their long leave, and they are expected to leave for their destination,within the next, two or three weeks. The Oth Reinforcements were not taken away from Trentham Camp, partly because the time available 'or the completion of their training waa short, ft is an open secret that thi» reinforcement draft is not going to take I horses, and, further, that it will be accompanied iby the mounted men of the 7th Reinforcements, who also will leave their horses here. The Minister for Defence mentioned the other day that a portion of the horses sent with the i)tli Reinforcements had been landed in India. The fact, is that horses are not wanted in the Oardanelles. A few team's were landed there for the purpose of the batteries, liut they made easy marks for the Tuikiih sniper's, and now mules arc being used. The horse's that have been sent away from New Zealand with the Main Expeditionary For.e and subsequent reinforcements are in Egypt, where their care ha:; been a serious problem for the authorities at, tile New Zealand base. The mounted men of the Vtii Reinforcements (dismounted) are reported to be going forward early, in order that they may assist in the 1 management of the horses wl''-!e cow ploting their own training in Egvnt. The men are keen to get to the front, but it is a sore blow to them to be separated from their horses, many of them being favorite mounts brought from the home stables or presented by friend l . An impression prevails "in some quarters tirnt the dominion will not'require to send any more horses to the front now that the troops on Gallipoli "are engaged in trench fighting. The military authorities are inclined to believe that ,-is thi; v.';u- —"'-Tf'isc;', and tile enemy is worn down, the, need for horses is going to be very great. If the German cavalry had been as efficient as the German infantry, the British army, probably, never would 'have survived t?hs retreat from Alans. As it was, the I'.ritisli cavalry made that retreat possible by flinging itself time and time against the advancing German columns. The New Zealandcrs will not spend the whole period of the war on Gallipoli Peninsula, In the meantlane, the dominion has plenty of horses in hand, and in sight, for all the purposes of the next twelve months. Horses and men cau_ be found. The shortage that is imposing a limit upon New Zealand's contributions to the fighting forces of the Empire is in another direction. Work is proceeding apace at Trentliam Cawp, and any visitor witlr " half an eye " can gather for himself that the authorities contemplate the return of the troops at no very distant date. The new camps are no permanent abodes. Trentham, cleansed of the conditions that made for sickness and discomfort, Is the place where the greatest number of men can be trained most effectively. The contract for the erection of the hutments is neuring completion, ami it may be assumed that the report of the Trentham Commission will suggest improvements that will make the buildings suitable for the use of the men. The roads and paths are being metalled, the drainage system i.s being perfected, as far as the nature of the country will permit, and the camp equipment is being overhauled. The condition of the cam? ground lia.s improved wonderfully since the weather became dryer and the incessant tramping cf thousands of fe<>t ceased to chum up the mud.