THE SHAM FIGHT AT AUCKLAND. [BY OUR OWN SPECIAL WAR CORRESPONDENT.] AUCKLAND, Monday Night.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2083, 12 November 1885, Page 2

THE SHAM FIGHT AT AUCKLAND. [BY OUR OWN SPECIAL WAR CORRESPONDENT.] AUCKLAND, Monday Night.

Thk sham fight, for which preparations* li;ivo been made fora longtime, came off tod»y (Monday), but was not as miccessful a« was expected, the landing of the Attacking party not hay ing been effected in force till tho afternoon. The Te Awamutu Cavalry, under Captain Rutherford and Lieutenants Bruce and Wilkinson, and the W.uuku Cavalry, under Captain Hamlin .md Lieutenants H. Bamball ,»nd C. Barnball, fell in at 7 a.m., and inarched to one of tho domain paddocks whero Major Jackson took command of all the cavalry. Sergt.Major C.trlcy put the T« AtvAmutu troop through the pin suing practice, m Inch they executed peifectly. Tho various evolutions of this troop tind the W.nuku troop were carried out with a precision which would have done credit to tho Impoiial C.i\alrv. Some of tho Auckland Cavalry were told off .is escorts for the field officers, thn remainder joining the country troops in the domain juddock. The cavalry were then marched off to St. John's College, where Nos. 1 and 2 batallions of infantry, under command of Captains Dignan and Mahon, respectively, had already aimed, having been conveyed by rail as far as Remuer.v, whence they tnarched to St. John's. The attacking force, or Russians, numbering nearly 500, under Captain Commandant Le Roy, embarked m the morning, their object being to effect « landintr, and if possible to advance on Auckland. It was expected th.it they would land in the neighbourhood of the Tamaki. An attempt was made early in the forenoon, but failed, owing to the low state of the tide ; a second attempt at tho Trig Hill was, however, more successful as regards getting on shore, but the enemy were driven bock by the To Awamntu and Auckland Cavalry, who opened a heavy fire on them. Another party had in the meantime gone up tho Tamaki River in the direction of Pun mure, but on attempting to land wero repulsed by the W.uuku Civ airy, under Captain H.imlin. Pa it of the Hr-t batallion which had marched in the direction of F.uumire, were suddenly recalled to meet the Russians who effected a landing at the Tamaki. The latter wore driven back by the red-coats and W.uuku Cavalry, who dismounted and threw out skirmisher^, the second batallion being engaged in the meantime at St Holier'-* Hay. about 120 navals hnded at the Tamaki, and 200 at St. Holier-, ho that it will bo seen that all tho attacking force was not engaged. About 8") or 40 Russians, who had effected a landing unperceived somewhere, canio into Auckland and stuck up the Bunk of New Zealand, and demanded the keys of the strong room. In the nioining the Hinemoa, which lepresented a Rus si.in cruiser, w.n fired on by the guns at the North Hc.ul, and so \igouro'is was tho hre that was maintained, tli.it no vessel could possibly have kept aHn.it undei it. Thn seven-inch guns would have imde short work of her. A raft, which also served to rrpri»(,ent a Russian cruiser, was blown up by a torpedo in mid channel. Tho experiment was completely successful, tho raft being blown into atoms by the gun cotton with which the mines were ch.iiged. The rain winch fell heavily aftor midday made everybody and eierj thing miserable in the last degree. And to add to the discomforts of the weather, the sham fight, which everyone expected to have been finished by three p.m., did not begin till that time. The cavalry seemed to bo übiquitous ; they wero every where. The Auckland Artillery, of cour-e, with two -ivpounder Armstrongs-, opened fire on the ! enemy directly they came ashore. The last shot was fired at the enemy on Mr Taylors place at the Tamaki, wheie they retreated to their boat-.. (The above I intended to send by telegraph, but fi>und the Hamilton office was not open.) The following are the companies which composed the defenco foice. Te Avvaniutu, 4!t, Captain Rutherford, Lieutenants Bruce and Wilkinson; Waiuku Cavahy, IJO, C.ipt. Hamlin, Lieuts. S. ]},«rrib<ill and C. I BarnbaH; Auckland Cavalry, 34, Capt. Seccm be, Lieut. Johnson; Mounted Infantry, (Pukekohe), JO, Major Harris, Lieuts. Webster and Uilkie ; Auckland Lancers, Instructor Ha/.ell and 12 men. These men wore principally employed us scouts. This is the nucleus of a regiment which I hope to see .in important branch of the service. Infmtry, Engineers 4S, Liuuts, McCulJogh and Klines ; Hobson company, 50, Lieut. Clifton ; City (Jiurds, SO, Capt. Isaacs, Lieut. Shennlb ; Onehunga Rifles 4(>, Capt. Lundoii, Lieut. Webb ; Thames Rifle Ranger-, 43, Capt. Lucas, Lieut*. Mayo and Scott ; Veteran RiHes, <»3, Capt. Anderson, Lieut*. Hitchins mid Chapman ; W.unu Rifles, 34, | Capt. Ciawfoid, and Lieut. Creighton. ' The senior heut., J. Creighton w.is absent owing to illness. Victoria Rifles, 54, j Lieuts. Skinner and Selfo ; l'oiisonby Rifles, 5:1, Capt. McDonald, Lieuts. Taylor and Martelh ; College Rifles, .V», Capt. Slonian, Lients. Tonks and Houghton ; Nowton Rifles, r>3, Capt. Biriuo, Lients. Robinson and (tladding; (Queen's Own, 17, Capt. Keep, Lients. Collier and Finlayson ; Whaugarei Rifles, U!>, Lieuts. t Rust and Mclven/ie ; (Jordon Rifles, 4!t, C.ipt. White, Lieut*. Leigh and Fairs. Tho ambulance corps was also present. In an interview which I had with one of naval officers, he related with groat glee the fact that mhiio of the narals had landed early in the morning and lay quiet until ! tho defenco force got to the rendezvous when they inarched into tho city, so that no ci edit attaches to them for having effected an entrance into tho city. I thought it veiy strange tli.it they could I land without being seen by tho 'ie Avvaj iiiutu and Waiuku Cavalry. It was most uufau to land before the time appointed, for theio was no 0110 to watch the coast. Only one accident occuned during the day which fortunately did not result in any damage to human life 01 limb. The ciowds of vehicles which thionged the roads impeded tho movements of the oiderlie*. f looper H. Johnson of the To Awamutu Cavahy while galloping along a u.uiow road on ordeily duty collided with a trap, tho shaft of which \\a> driven into his hoise's body and the poor animal had to be shot. The horse in the trap swerved just as the trooper was passing, which caused the collision, and m> thinly was tho shaft fixed in the hoise's body that it lequired the strength of several men to pull it out. The Defence Force was under the command of Colonel Lyoii, while Colonel Sir (Jeorge Whitmoie acted as umpire. Of course he gate it against the attacking party, for if they weie real enemies thuy would have been .simply annihilated. I saw the chaplain of the Navals mounted and wearing . 1 sw'oid, and on cnf|uiungif theic was a cojps of Horse Mamies the leverend and gallant chaplain told me his men had by .1 strategic hhA ement effected the capture of the hoiho upon whose saddle the .swoid was fastened, and they mounted him on it, tho owner doubtless thinking the bvvoul rather an oncunibiance in chasing the enemy. A veiy amu-iug incident occuired during the fight. Ymii Own, vvitliiriepu'ssible daring, lode ahead of the defence foice and mixed with tho Russians in order to nttike terror into them by his martial appearance, for lie was armed with ix dangerous looking pencil and a petket book. While there he heaid the naval surgeon (u ho was also ahorse marine) imploring Ins men to rally while he made a prisoner of his brothei— a redcoat suigeon. He dashed off gallantly to effect the capture, but was himself takon prisoner, and catried off victoriously by two redcoat medicos. To the Te Awamutu and Auckland Cavalry belong tho honour and glory of being tho first to engage the enemy. The latter suddenly sprangj out of an ambuscado and attempted to make a piisouer of Captain Rutherford, but the gallant c.ipruiu was not to be easily taken, for ho dashed through them, and riding through a deep swamp got off clear. Major Jackson handled Ins men 111 a way that elicited gi eat praise ; he took advantage of the natuie of the giound in a manner that showed the vetcian. On one occasion, but foi the vigilance of Sergt. -Major Bond the Te Awamutu troop would have been Himounded and made piisoneis; previous expeueuce, however, piomptcd him to keep II sharp 1 Hik-out, Captain Hamlin, with hi* ttoop (a ftno body of iiion), was equally vigilant, Indeed, tho whole foice is deserving of tho highest pvaiso, When wo take into consideration thu f.iot that tho men weio not legnlar troops, accustomed to daily dull, one must admiie their precision and celerity in effecting tho vaiioun movements during tho day. Tho tais, with charaitei istic br.neiy, foiight gallantly, and the manner of their skirmishing and taking advantage of every bit of cover in advancing was gieatly admired. The hottest hie of the day was kept up among some trees* at St. Heliers, wheru the veterans and other companies made a desperate stand against the advancing foe. It waft hero fhe artillei y did good soivice. \ *J. I |)e jncos^ant 101 l of musketry and tho J booming of the big guns sounded gi.mdly, \ p,nd i)i;u|a one thankful that it was not in real e.irnoat, but the eagerness with which tho gallant follows advanced to tho Attack

and defence wan an earnest of what they would do if ever called upon to meet .in enemy. In the exciting the navals retired to their boat", and the defence force matched back to town in a (lining r.iui, but in high good humour, for tlio depressing effect of the wet weather vanished on tiieir coming under fire. With «uch splendid men as wo have, it is a pity the Government do not giTe uioie encoutagement to volunteering, but tho em[)loyers mint aNo assist by not refusing an occasional holiday to their men if required for -such a jmi}>o>.o as a tndit.uy demonstration. If an enemy e\ei doe* attempt to attack us, '.ho value of a disciplined body of men will lie thoroughly appreciated. The visit of the country corps was attended with consideiablc perHinal expense to the men. Thn cavalry were allowed 2s fid a d.iy for each jn.ui, and Is fid for each hoi no, a miserably small amount. It must be borne in mind th.it all this expense and trouble aio borne for the public, who should contribute accordingly, and not leave the greater part of the burden to be boine by the volunteer*. It is often said that if men .ire volunteers they whould not receive pay, otherwise they .ire not really volunteers. But it is absurd to expect men to lone vviges and give their tune for the benefit of the public gratuitously. Tho men do Hot expect a high rate of pay, but it is only fair to expect they should receive sufficient .it lea-t to cover expenses. The time in.iy perhaps come sooner than we expect when they will be called upon to repel .i foreign invasion, find every effort nhould be made to encourage men to learn drill and discipline, and the us« of the rifle. The pluck is there, but it wants exercising m a proper direction. For the amount of practice the inrn have had, they do infinite credit to themselves and officers and nith more drill would compare favouiablv with any other troops. In conclusion, t must express my acknowledgements to the various officers for their conrte»y in giving information, and to the Herald reporter for his valuable hints to an inexperienced war correspondent. The men were exceedingly hospitable, for whenever the reporters appeared they were invited to make an advance on the connmsariat waggons.