EASTER MILITARY MANOEUVRES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9058, 6 April 1908, Page 5

EASTER MILITARY MANOEUVRES.

DISTRICT ORDERS FOR WELLINGTON FORCES. COMPREHENSIVE MOBILISATION SCHEME. Acting-Captain H. Brighting, of the Masterton Rifles, has just received a copy of the district orders issued by Lieut-Colonel Bauchop, C. M.G., in connection with the Easter manoeuvres. The arrangements this year are on an unusually complete scale, and will take the form of an attack on Wellington by a supposed hostile force, to be composed of various volunteer companies, which mobilise at Paremata (Porirua harbour). This force, which will be under the command of Lieut-Colonel Watt, V.D., will be known as the Blue Force. The defending force will be composed of the volunteer units not included in the Blue Force, and will mobilise at Johnsonville. They will be under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Duthie, and will be known as the Red Force. The mobilisation will take place on the night of Thursday, April 16tb, and in the Orders are set the time of departure by train from their districts of every unit taking part in the manoeuvres. The following times have been set down for the respective companies mentioned: —Masterton Mounted Rifles (Red Force)', horses 5.30 p.m., men 10.15 p.m., passages to be booked to Wellington; Pahiatua Mounted Rifles (Red Force), horses 4 p.m., men 7.35 p.m., to Wellington also; Eketahuna Mounted Rifles (Red Force), horses 4.5 p.m., men 8.45 p.m., to Wellington; Dannevirke Rifles (Red Force), 5.35 p.m., passages to be booked to Ngahauranga; Woodville Rifles (Red Force), 6.55 p.m., to Ngahauranga; Pahiatua Rifles (Red Force), 7.35 p.m., to Ngahauranga; Masterton Rifles (Red Force), 10.15 p.m., to Ngahauranga; Carterton Rifles (Red Force), 10.35 p.m., to Ngahauranga; Greytown Rifles (Red Force), 10.45 p.m., to Ngahauranga. The arrangements for transport of troops on the return journey will be made later. The instructions issued are not to supersede battalion or regimental orders. The officer commanding each unit will hand in a marching-in state as scon as he arrives in camp.

Forty-four companies and various military bands will participate in the manoeuvres, which will be in every detail possible as near active service conditions as can'be attained. Even the rates of pay are to be on an active service scale, as follow: — Officers: Captains, 15s per day; Lieutenants, lis. Rank and file: Sergeants, 8s per day: Corporals, 6s; Privates and Buglers, 4s. In view of the great importance of the manoeuvres, it is requested that all parades of the various companies, between now and the day of the encampment, should be fully attended, so that every volunteer shall be possessed of the fullest information respecting his company's movements.