THE VOLUNTEERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2619, 29 September 1909, Page 5

THE VOLUNTEERS.

GISBORNE VOLUNTEERS AT WORK

The value of practical work in connection with the volunteer movement has never been more generally recognised than at the present time, and it was gratifying to see a good turn-out at the Garrison Hall last night, when a number of the Gisborne Rifles and Cadets took part in a mobilisation scheme, which took into the landing of a possible force at Matawhero. The muster consisted of 38 members of the Rifle s and 36 Cadets, Captain Beere having charge of the proceedings. Other officers present were Captain Zaehariah and Lieutenant Somervell, who had charge of tb Cadets, and Lieutenants Mitchell and Coleman, of the Rifles. The troops were lined up in the Garrison Hall and inspected by Captain Beere, who had some pertinent remarks to make after he had looked over the ranks. The men had been ordered to bring out 24 hours’ rations, but a good many of them compromised the matter by putting.only a sandwich or two in their wallets, or even nouedible substitutes. Captain Beere pointed out to them that for all they knew they might have been required to w--rk for 24 hours, in which case a slice of bread and butter would have been rather inadequate sustenance. ,He told the men they must be prepared to do the thing properly, and not t-o play at it. The scheme was based on the supposition that 200 men with one small gun had landed at Matawhero, and were advancing down the main Ormond road to Roebuck road bridge, to seize it, and establish themselves behind the town. No. I section of the Rifles was sent out to entrench both ends of the bridge before the enemy reached it, Section 2 going a§ supports, with Section 3 as a flank guard advancing by Palmerston Road. The flank guard were supported by Section 4. and the company of Cadets formed the main fighting body. Lieutenant Mitchell, in charge of the advance party, moved up and occupied the bridge, while the flankiug party and the scouts got in touch with the imaginary enemy. Working on the assumption that the enemy had retreated, the Gisborne forces followed them up to Gladstone Road, and afterwards returned to the Garrison Hall.. The night’s work occupied some two and a-half hours.

Surgeon-Captain Schumacher wa s> on duty at the base of operations, to deal with casualties, imaginary or otherwise.

THIRD INFANTRY BATTALION - PARADE. |Pek Phess Association.] NAPIER, Sept. 2§. A mobilisation parade of the companies of the Third (East Coast) Infantry Battalion was held to-night under the orders of Hislop, officer commanding. In Napier there were 134 officers and men on parade out of a possible 200, which is considered satisfactory when allowance is made for those temporarily absent or who have left the town. There were 44 members of the Hastings Rifles in that town and at. Gisborne 3S members of the Gisborne Rifles and 36 of the Cadets paraded.

SATISFACTORY NUMERICAL CONDITIONS.

WELLINGTON, Sept, 23,

In August the volunteer returns showed an increase over the totals of any previous year in the history of New Zealand. That being the case, it is satisfactory to record that the September returns exhibit- numerical su-** porioritv over those for August, and reason for congratulation is more pronounced because the increase is apparent in the adult volunteer ranks, as distinguished from those of rifle clubs and cadets. The increase would have been oven more pronounced, had the strength of the four training corps for officers, formed recently in Otago and Canterbury, been included in the September figures. These, however, were not received in time, and they will be added to the totals for October, which are. likely to establish a new record, i ‘ -,'