THE SIXTEENTHS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1916, Page 6

THE SIXTEENTHS.

/ WON GOOD OPINIONS. The Sixteenth have won good opinions from Colonel Gibbon, Chief of the General Staff, who is a keen critic, and is responsible for the conduct of the whole training scheme. In firing their trained soldier's course at Trentham the Sixteenth's Infantry succeded in establishing an easy record for the whole Reinforcement drafts, putting up the remarkable figure of 1141 The Sixteenths having done really well in firing their recruits' course something extra good was expected from them when they fired their trained soldiers' course, but in what they did they exceeded even the highest expectations. This is Evidenced when it is stated that the previous record, established by the Twelfths, was the high figure of 107.2. The Sixteenths in their shooting are thus easily out on their own, and must be pronounced the best shooting draft yet scut forward by New Zealand to reinforce.-the Main Body. The C Company put up a wonderful performance with an average of 122.3 to their credit, while the A Company came next with 118.5, followed by the J Company with 117. The remarkable record of the Sixteenths is accounted for in their constant application and taking advantage of the wet weather to practise with the rifle in their lmtmets. v When addressing the Sixteenths at Trentham last week, Colonel Gibbon referred to this fine shooting performance. The training of the infantry,'he said, bad been affected by wet weather, especially their advanced'training. The physique of the draft and the spirit of the men were as good as that of any previous draft. The. machine-gun section was better trained than any sent before, and this was due to there being more equipment and more time. Colonel Gibbon expressed a hope than wdien the draft got to its destination it would have the best reputation of any that had been sent. In camp the Sixteenth had had the least number of men absent without leave of any draft.