THE GISBORNE RIFLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2402, 18 January 1909, Page 6

THE GISBORNE RIFLES.

A WEEK-END CAMP. INTERESTING MANOEUVRES. “Information having been received that a hostile cruiser, “lying off Tuahine Point, has landed a party oil Tuamotu, the company will mobilise and take steps to oppose the party, and, if possible, drive them off.” The foregoing was-the order issued to the officer commanding the- Gisborne Riles last week, and in order to carry out the instructions contained in the order a week-end camp was arranged. A “Times” representative took the opportuity of being present at the camp, and as the conditions, in many instances, were as nearly akin to actual warfare as possible, some interesting information was gleaned. The corps paraded under Captain Beere at the Garrison Hall, some 25 strong, at 2.30 p.m. fin Saturday afternoon, and marched via Waiinu Road to the Site chosen for the camp, which was on the Papawliaraki block, adjacent to the Tuamotu Island, and •some 2£ miles from the Post Office. It is an ideal spot for a camp, being surrounded by bills on three sides, which, except in one direction, offer no cover for an approaching enemy. There is an abundant supply of excellent fresh water, and the beach is ' onlv a couple of hundred yards distant. AT THE CAMP. On arrival at tlio camp at 3.45 p.m., tents were pitched, and, 'this work completed, blank ammunition was served out to the men. Extended order work was carried out over the scene where it was proposed to hold the field firing at niglit. In advancing in extended order the usual distance between the men is three feet, but this of course varies considerably according to the surrounding circumstances and the nature and quality of the ground available lor the operations. It is invariably carried out when the men are in a position where thev would probably be under fire, ,nnci, as will be readily seen, in this ✓ formation,, the;/ are not so easily picked up as a target by the enemy. When in this formation, the control of the men rests with the half-com-pany and section commanders, and the officer commanding ' the corps, having launched an attacking movement in ‘expended order, can only watch results, the success of the operations depending entirely on the subcommanders. . FIELD FIRING BY NIGHT. After tea two men were sent to the smaller of the two islands, with a number of perforated tins containing candles. These were placed in a row above the water line, and in the darkness, with the waves breaking in between the lights and there was a most striking resemblance to a shin riding at anchor. By the time the lights had been placed in position Surgeon-Captain Schumacher arrived. According t-o the regulations any fieldfiring away from the range cannot take place unless the medical officer is present. The company were served out with ball' ammunition, and proceeded to open fire at the improvised ship of war at an opening range of 750 yards, which was decreased as the men deployed along the sea frontage. The practice was most interesting, but owing to the rising tide it was found impossible to ascertain the effect of the fire, though the instruction obtained will doubtless be of great value to those who took part, if only as illustrating the difficulty of working by night. An interesting point was learned when the men. acting under Captain Beere’s advice, used the ordinary phosphorus from match heads on their rifle sights, and by its luminous glow wore assisted materially in picking up the target. The wouk of field firing by niglit is entirely new to the local corps, and, in fact, Gisborne is one of the first places in which it has been carried out in the Dominion. The men were remarkably steady, and shewed considerable aptitude for the work. The order to “cease fire” was given about 9.30 p.m., and the men returned to camp, where Captain Beero addressed them briefly on the work done and reviewed the programme for the following day. He also outlined the difficulties under which they were working, and pointed out the best means of overcoming them. At the conclusion of the captain’s remarks all the men turned in, with the. exception of a sentry and the signallers (who put in some excellent lamp practice). AN ALARM. Just on midnight an alarm was Bounded by the commanding officer, with the object of testing the speed with which the men could don their arms and take up their positions at an alarm post,, previously marked off. There is no waiting to dress when an alarm sounds, the only things a man is supposed t-o get hold of being his weapons and ammunition. During the camp three alarms were sounded at most unexpected times, and in half a minute the men had tumbled out of their tents, and in various stages of deshabille were lying at their allotted places,' present- - ing a formidable row of fixed bayonets to the imaginary foe. LATE ARRIVALS. A few of the members of the corps, who had been unable to get away from town in the afternoon, arrived at the camp during the night. A couple of others were not so fortunate. Missing their way in the darkness, they got lost, and finding an old buggy they decided _to pass the remainder of the night in what little shelter it afforded, thus getting an unexpected taste of soldiering. The cruel irony of the situation was further borne in upon them when daylight came and thev discovered the camp (and their warm blankets) only a very short distance away from their uncomfortable situation. SUNDAY’S DOINGS. Tlnf orders for yesterday were issued as follows: Reveille 6 a.m., parade 6.30 a.mi, breakfast 8 a.m., parade 9.30 a.m., dinner 12 noon, parade 1.30 p.m., tea 4.40 p.m. THE MORNING’S WORK. The camp was e:q;iy astir, and after coffee had been served out at 6 a.m. the men were iput through some useful company and skirmishing drill by Captain Beere, knocking off at 7.30 a.m. Lieut. Coleman, who had come out with the corps, left at this stage, as he had to he in Tologa Bay to-day. After breakfast the men .paraded again and were served out with hall ammunition, in order to ipiuctiso {field-firing by day. For this work targets wer.e improvised, consisting

;’of brown paper-bags on sticks .along the beach. These measured loin by lOin, and were supposed to represent the heads of the enemy, and the firing was conducted at ranges extending from 650 yards. The'operations. wore concluded by a charge with fixed bayonets, which utis evidently keenly • relished by, at least sonic of the members of the corps- There were six targets,' and two of them were allot- ,: ted to each‘of the threo sections. On the conclusion of the jpractice an examination of the targets disclosed the following results: No. 1 secton (Sergt.. Bait), 9 hits; No. 2 section (Sergt. Breiiigan), 8 hits; No. 3 section, one man extra (Sergt. Taylor), 13 hits. I OUTPOSIT DUTY, j One of the most interesting .pliasesol the .imaginary warfare was carried on 'after dinner, in the shape of outpost work. For this purpose it was i assumed that the corps was on picket duty, mnd four groups or “cossaek posts,’* as they ere called, were sent | out to take up positions on the surI rounding hills at different points ol j vantage, each in charge of a .non- : commissioned officer. An “examining | post” wlis also sent out to take up ; a station on the road leading into the 1 camp, their duties being to stop any j' persons entering towards the camp, land to ascertain their identity and their business. Each of the outposts topk up a position where they would bo concealed and yet could [ cate by signalling with the camp. I where signallers and a strong guard had been kept. j THE GAMP ATTACKED. I. Some time after the outposts had taken up their allotted positions, Captain Beere started on a round of inspection. Having visited two of the posts, unusual activity was observed from tlie outpost at the extreme eastern end, and the significant message was flushed by the flags' to camp, “Armed men approaching through the scrub.” . This message was conveyed to Captain Beere, who gave instructions for the re-inforcement of , the outpost, and almost immediately I the stillness was broken by a sueees- ; sion of rifle shots. A little later on ; firing was heard at end of ! the line, and it soon became apparent ; that the first outbreak was a flank- ! ing movement to cover the advance of the main body of the enemy, who ! consisted of a detachment of the De- ! fence Cadets under Lieut. Somervetl. i A < T ood many shots were exchanged, j and eventually just after a prisoner I kid been captured and sent into I camp by No. 3 outpost, a number of I the attacking force burst tlirouglidhe ! scrub and reached the camp. Tliev : had however, been sighted, and fired ! upon by a couple of the outposts, and , had the defending force been at aiiyI thing like full strength, there is no I doubt the invaders would have been ! either “killed” or taken prisoners ■j before tliev could have got through | the fines, as the position is pructicI allv impregnable. The attack 'g as I -well devised, and was carried out as 1 vvell as could be expected under the • circumstances, the cadets having to crawl on hands and knees for long stretches in order to escape the vigilant eves of the defenders. Opinions were naturally divided as to which ; side had really been successful, each force claiming a “victory.' G° + : finite conclusion was arrived at, bui whatever the result, it is certain ! that both sides deserve credit for the i manner in which they performed their at times difficult undertakings, j “STRIKE TENTS.” i The outposts having been re-called to crimp, tea was partaken of, and the baggage" got ready to shift camp. Everything was carried out with precision and dispatch, and by the time the whistle sounded for “strike tents ” the snowy temporary homes of the men fell flat as if bv magic, and m a yew short space of time tbov were neatly rolled and' with the restof the gear stowed in hugs ready for i. the baggage waggon. Just prior to the start for home, Captain Beere addressed the men, expressing his entire satisfaction at the manner in which the work had been clone in the camn, at the same time regretting that the time at their disposal ' hlul i beeli so short, -an cl that j ust as tu c v j were getting into the routine cn the ■: work they were compe.led to stop, j The homeward journey was then commenced, and the men were tbs- ■ missed at the Garrison Hall shortly after 6.30 p.m.. and if full advantage is taken by them of the excellent instruction of Capthin Beere, there is little doubt that the week-end camp will prove of much value, not only to the individuals but to the corps.