H.—l9

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I will review the work done and progress made by each arm and branch of the service shortly and generally under their various headings. Further details as regards their training will be found in a " Memorandum on the Training and Administration of the Forces " issued on the 14th October, 1912. (Appendix C of this report.) The improvement in the knowledge and professional efficiency of the Territorial officers throughout the year has been marked, and is an encouraging feature of the training. (a.) Mounted Rifles. The training has been very satisfactory on the whole, especially in those districts where open ground is available for the work of this arm. At the same time, I do not think that in all cases the best use has been made of the ground available, and there has sometimes been an inclination to devote too much time to drill in close proximity to camp instead of making the most of the day in more extended practice of the services of protection, reconnaissance, and the operations farther afield for which the mobility of our Mounted Rifles so eminently fits them. The practice, during the short period of annual camp, of returning to camp for midday stables and the midday meal is to be deprecated, as it involves a loss for training of many valuable hours of the day. In almost all cases I had to find fault at my inspections with the large proportion of men left in camp on fatigue and other duties. This must be reduced. The time at our disposal for training is all too short, and must be used for that purpose, and no other; fatigue duties must be reduced to a minimum, and carried out at hours which do not interfere with attendance at parade. Guards are unnecessary as a rule, and should be replaced by a minimum number of regimental police. The stamp of horse brought to camp was a distinct improvement on last year, and I notice with satisfaction that the men are beginning to take more pride and interest in the care of their horses, and that there is a general improvement in horsemastership. / I have again to call attention to the lack of cyclists for purposes of communication and saving of horse-flesh. The training of scouts, and of troop and section leaders in the control of fire, are matters which require special attention during the forthcoming winter. (b.) Artillery. There has been a remarkable improvement in the field batteries during the past year, and now that they are all armed with the new guns I look forward to a still higher standard of efficiency this year. Their weakest point is manoeuvre, and they have not yet had the advantage of co-operation with the other arms. This will be arranged for at the next annual camps, and in the meantime all Field Artillery officers should carefully study the principles of co-operation with, and support of, the other arms. As at present arranged, the Field Artillery, who are drawn from the towns, only come to camp for seven days. It is impossible to attain the necessary efficiency in the manipulation of modern field guns in this time, and the period of their compulsory training in camp should be increased to at least the same as that of the Mounted Rifles and the country companies of Infantry —namely, eleven days. The practice carried out by the Garrison Artillery during the year has been most satisfactory, and in one instance has already reached the same standard that was attained in the best companies of the old Volunteers by trained men who had been serving for many years. (c.) Engineers. The Engineers were, as a rule, in camp this year with the Infantry, and did much useful work in co-operation with the latter. They also were of great assistance, and saved a considerable amount of money as regards water-supply, bridging, making of ramps, improving of approaches, watering-places, &c, for the Forces. Next year, however, more tactical employment will be demanded from the field companies. The Signal troops and companies trained this year with their brigades, but were in many cases handicapped for want of equipment, which I trust will be forthcoming before next year. I do not think the Brigade Commanders made as much use of these Signal units as they should. The training of the Railway corps is still backward. I am endeavouring to make arrangements to have it taken in hand during the forthcoming winter. (d.) Infantry. The improvement in the training has been most marked, and has enabled field training to be carried out on an advanced scale. The difficulties which attended these operations and the many mistakes which were made at them will, I hope, have had the effect of making all ranks realize how much they have to learn, and the necessity for most careful and thorough field training by companies and smaller units in order to enable them satisfactorily to take their places in the higher organizations. The use of covering fire, mutual support between companies, &c, and fire control, require particular attention. I was glad to see that in some cases the supply of ammunition was practised. The marching was, generally speaking, very good, and in some cases marches were made which would have done credit to Regular troops. Cyclists for intercommunication are required.