TERRITORIALS’ TRAINING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3415, 5 January 1912, Page 3

TERRITORIALS’ TRAINING.

ACTIVE STEPS PROCEEDING.

ANNUAL CAMP IN MARCH AT ETAKAPAU.

NO EVASIONS ALLOWED

Although comparatively little has of late been heard) of the machinery 'which is to regulate the working of the Defence Act it must not bo supposed that the activities; of the officers entrusted with the duties have r in any way decreased. This is far from being the case, and many of the officers luive been orbing at high pressure in order that the ranks on ranks of soldiers in embryo who. ao .awaiting the cmnmenicem'OTt of the serious business of training may he put into harness at the earliest possible •moment Captain Bkelley, who by this time if? well-known as the officer commanding the Wellington-East Coast military district, arrived in Gisborne yesterday t and n conversation with a “Times reporter stated that General God I'v wished the date of tho commencement of training to bo left to officers commanding districts, as local conditions must be considered. At the same time the General Officer commanding directed that the commencement of the training shold not be delayed later than Monday, 15th January, 1912. Since the commencement of the training had been .so much longer delayed than was originally intended, it was impossible that the amount of training at first laid down could be carried out before May, 31st, when the year’.: training season ends. As an amendment to the original number of drills, etc,, laid down, tho following had now been substituted for the remainder of the current military year POD TERRITORIAL OFFICERS AND MEN. (?, 12 drills, It hours each; (2) Four half-day or two whole day parades. These should not be held until a certain number of drills bad been performed by every member of the company, and should always be under an officer. (3) Seven days’ training in camp as laid down in the Defence Act. (4) The prescribed course in musketry as laid down originally. In this connection the explanation was given that the evening drills (It hours) would be divided into sections. The first forty minutes would be devoted to squad drill, the next half hour to elementary musketry, such as the description of the rifle, and the care of arms generally, and the remaining twenty minutes to physical exercises. * The prescribed musketry course provides far the development of every faculty required to be brought into practice in rifle shooting under all or any conditions. Tho following progressive course of training for recruits is to be carried out: i. Improvement of eyes’gf.t. (2) J'ldghm distanoe. (3) Aiming, allowing f« r vind etc. (4) Trigger-pres-su.g '• avions firing Grouping and application, with miniature and ball, (71 Classification pract’ceo on range. (8) Individual field practices and collective field practices. The following instruction can be carlied out on a well-equipped miniaturecartridge range : -(1) Grouping and application. (2) Snapshooting at moving and vanishing targets. (3) Practical • instruction in the use of the extremerange sights. v.t) The sighting of rifles for longer distances, (o) The training of a fire-unit commander in controlling, 'directing, and observing the fire of In's men, in distribution of lire, in indicating difficult features of the ground, the training of men in recognising difficult features, the use of field-glasses, and in the principles of mutual support —all by means of picture-targets. FOR SENIOR CADETS. (1 ) Seventeen drills. (2) Two lialf-day parades. (3) Musketry for trained cadets, as originally laid down. The instruction during the annual camp this training season will consist of $ continuation of the elementary training according to the syllabus. Anent the annual encampment of the 9th Regiment, Wellington East Coast Rifles a circular has been issued stating that provisional arrangements have been made to hold the aa-mp of the regiment at Marakeke, Takapau, Hawke’s Ray. All troops will require to he in camp by noon of Saturday, 16th March. The circular also points out tliat dt is compulsory for every man to attend this camp, and goes on to state that if arrangements will permit an examination for acting non-com-missioned officers will bo held during the camp. Captain Skelly admitted some diffidence in discussing the matter, when questioned as to what had 'been done to meet tho quite rational contention ot some parents that their boys would bo more harmed than improved in camp if they were to line with men' or youths wh.o were socially their extreme opposites. This lie said had been a matter taken into consideration at the time of posting, and in addition to the physical and other considerations; police reports had been obtained and if there was anything against a young roan he was at once precluded from entering the territorials. H° did not, however, wish it to lie thought that many of those thrown out had been so treated because of anything against their characters, as there were many other considerations. The object of Captain Skelly’s visit to Gisborne is to place in full operation the system of training. Up to the I nrcsent those who have been posted l to tho various units have been receiving instruction of a very elementary nature, but will from tbe commencement of next week be advanced slowly in accordance with the progressive scheme of training. It had been impressed on all who wiere to serve wliat Was expected of them, and if any . tried to evade their obligations they were to bo dealt with by law. In Gisborne j there liad already been one or two dn-i stances of .failure "to comply with in-l fttructions, and, while there was no wishl to be harsh, it might be necessary to I take some steps in the near future to I meet such cases. _ \ It will be interesting to residents here to know that the military district of which Gisborne forms a part is to be divided into two sub-areas, having a battalion each. This is the first regiment in the Dominion, to be divided into two parts. The first battalion will comprise the troops •located between Gisborne and Dannovirke, and the second those located between Dannevirke and - ’ Feathbrston.