GISBORNE RIFLES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2683, 13 December 1909, Page 2

GISBORNE RIFLES.

WEEK-END CAMP

The customary placidity of the vicinity of Tuamotu Island was more or less disturbed on Saturday night and yesterday by the operations carried on by the Gisborne Riiies Corps who were holding one of their periodical weekend cam,ps. Tl;e spot is an ideal one for camping purposes, being surrounded by a chain of hills on the one hand •and the sea on tfie other, with an intervening flat .space. There is an abundant supply of good water, and for field operations the surrounding •country is excellent, affording an abundance of cover. The camp was one of the best yet held by the corps, in point of numbers, and some useful work was done. The officers, attending the camp were Lieut.-Colonel Hislop, officer commanding the battalion, Staff Sergt.-Major McNair, Captain Beere, Surgeon-Captain Schumacher, Lieut. Mitchell, and acting-Lieut. Penlmgton. Those of the men who were able to leave work started for camp early on Saturday afternoon, and noon arrival pitched tents and made things readv for the late arrivals. On the way <.nt up the- valley interesting skirmishing •work was indulged in, the men advancing in extended order. At the start the men, in whose ranks were a number of recruits, did not appaa" to realise what was required of them, bid improved greatly later on. Hie 'root was occu.oied by a force on top of the ridges, and it was the duty ot r he advancing men to silence it. So m* ch did the attacking party '•mprove m •their work' that when the pre-arra iged .signal was given they were found to l"

in’;the scrub; undetected; only ‘.omit ] - J s6;yal i dkaway'from,thc:deffcnders,‘wl:o,| '.had been • seurdhmgi’for : them by the aid of field glasses; Night firing had | been arranged for, but owing to the late arrival of the second contingent from town, it was 'hot carried out. Early yesterday morning, before break, fast, the recruits were taken in’ squad drill bv Sergeant-Major McNair, and the other men were engaged in fixing up the targets for the shooting later in the day. After breakfast the scheme of operations was what is known as a “holding •attack,” and consisted of the force being divided into two bodies. One of these opened fire upon an imaginary landing enemy, and attracted his fire, while the other force, advancing under cover, at , almost right angles, were in a position to get k Hank fire at the enemy, or if the latter were entrenched, to enfilade them. The manoeuvre was .successfully carried out as regards firing and command, but again the men did not appear to make the most of their opportunities for cover. •

Dinner was partaken of at the conclusion of this movement, and afterwards the men paraded, tents were struck, and all baggage stowed in a cart for the return to town. On the return journey outpost work was carried out, \the men leaving in camp guard formation, with advance guard and reconnoitring party ahead. Prior to leaving camp, Lieut.-Col-onel Tlislop addressed the men, stating his pleasure at being able to be with them and see them at their work. He noticed that there were a good many recruits in camp, arid greatly regretted that there was not a larger percentage of trained men present. Proceeding, Colonel Hislop referred to the work that had been done at the camp, and while commenting rather favorably upon it, emphasised the absolute necessity for officers, non-commissioned officers, and men to make the fullest use of cover in nil operations. He trusted to see still further improvement in the corps on the occasion of liis next visit, and also a better attendance of the older members of the corps. i, ■' The corps marched back to town, paraded at the Garrison Hail, and were dismissed at 4.30 p.m., after a pleasant and, no doubt, profitable weekend camp. •