LORD KITCHENER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 979, 24 February 1910, Page 5

LORD KITCHENER.

THE CHRISTCHURCH MANOEUVRES.

SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association, CHRISTCHURCH, February 23. To-day, in sultry weather, the Volunteer manoeuvres, designed to give Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener an opportunity of forming an estimate of the capabilities of the adult defence forces ot Canterbury, took place. The scene of operations of the attacking and defending forces being the village of Hallswell and the Port Hills, in the vicinity of Hallswell Quarry. The troops were early on the fhove, the attackers leaving camp first shortly before five o'lock, and j the defenders leaving by train for i rbout half an ho:r later. | cWorel Co i mander of the District/ fixed his headquarters at the junction of the Tai Tapu and Quarry Roads at 8.15 a.m.

Lord Kitchener, accompanied by the Right Hon. the Prime Minister (Sir J. G. Ward) passed this point m a motor car, and a few minutes later another motor car passed, in which were Colonel Robin and Colonel Collins. Motor cars were als-j utilised ■ by Colonel Hawkins and his staff, and by the umpires. About 8.30 some shots, evidently an affair of outposts, indicated that the attackers and defenders had come into contact, and thereafter the fight proceeded with varying phases for three hours. At 11.35 a.m. Lord Kitchener arrived in a motor car at Colonel Hawkins" headquarters, and after a few words with him returned to town. The troops that had taken part in the operations followed soon after, most of the mounted men putting in an appearance first. It was not till 12.25 that the main body of the infantry reached headouarters. About five o'clock this morning Colonel Tuson's skeleton force, consisting of forty members of the Can-1 terbury Yeomanry Corps, under Captain G. E. Rhodes and one of the E Battery's guns under Captain Trelevan, moved out of camp in order to take up a position on the Cashmere Hills above thf> Hallswell quarries, and hold it against Colonel Hawkins' force. The Canterbury Yeomanry Corps ware supposed to represent a body of one thousand men, and the gun was estimated to have a strength of a complete battery. Colonel Tuson arrived at the quarries about seven o'clock, and he immediately ordered the battery to a position ori the hill, about a mile east of the quarries which gave a commanding view of the plain below the camp. Captain ; Khodea, acting under the Colonel's instructions, despatched Lieutenants Dixon, Masefield, and Adams, with j small detachments, to occupy the ridges to the left of the battery, the remainder of the corps, which represented the main body, he himself took in charge and followed the E" battery, leaving the smaller sections en route to protect the guri against an advance of the enemy. The main b)dy were later distributed on the ridges in the immediate vicinity of Colonel Tuson's base (the hill guarded by guns). Shortly after 8 30 three guns with Colonel Hawkins' column opened fire, and awav to-the right of Colonel Tuson's position columns of mounted rifles could be seen galloping to outflank him. The hill on whnh Colonel Tuson was stationed was rather steep for the hattery horses, and the gun had to open fire in rather an exposed position. However, with some difficulty Captain Trevalen managed to shilt it to its appointed place, and the change did not come too early, ' ior on every side the attackers could be seen approaching in an extended line. The first outpost was forced back, and were then placed about two hundred yards in front of the gun. Colonel Tuson's right flank met with a similar fate after an hour's hard work, and soon the question was to protect the base. However, it was of no avail, for Colonel Hawkins' force, after some three hours' work, succeeded in getting to the gun. The City Rifles, scouts, Highland Rifles, and Chist's College Rifles were among the first to reach Colonel Tuson's headquarters. Lord Kitchener arrived at Colonel Tuson's position about ten o'clock, and remained till the manoeuvres ceased.