8

H.—l9

Militia Officers. —There are also 189 Militia officers on the Army List. By Gazette No. 24, dated the 2nd April, 1908, the military districts have been subdivided into subdistricts, under section 4of " The Defence Act Amendment Act, 1900." For convenience and saving in cost, these subdivisions were made the same as the electoral districts. The enrolment officers for these subdivisions should now be appointed under section 4 of " The Defence Act Amendment Act, 1900," and should be required to complete lists showing all between the ages of seventeen and twenty-one. Military Operations. Manoeuvres were carried out at each defended port, and at Nelson and Westport, for four days, continuous, at Easter, the musters being generally an improvement on past few years —viz., Auckland, 793; Wellington, 2,273; Canterbury, 1,153; Otago, 1,165; Nelson, 551: being a total of 5,935. There is no doubt the attendance at Easter manoeuvres is much reduced by the Saturday not being' a general holiday. The manoeuvres were continuous, and adapted to a General Idea prepared at Headquarters, calling for a defence of the important centres of the Dominion against a raid. On this, special Local Ideas were framed for subcentres. The raiding Force was represented by the northern or southern portion of the district operating against each other. The stages gone through to carry out this Idea meant, — (a.) Mobilisation of the District Forces from their homes, on to what became, for this exercise, their war stations; reconnaissance; observation and selection of line of resistance to meet the attack. (&.) The taking-up of this line of resistance by the Mobile Field Force; manning of forts works; searchlights, &c.; and watching the various bays and landing-places, (c.) Occupation of camps and bivouacs; harassing the enemy; and counter-attack. H.M.S. " Pegasus " co-operated in an attack on the forts at Wellington, and the " Amokura " at Auckland, at which place much reality was introduced. At Lyttelton and Otago local launches acted as the enemy. For the first time an examination service at the defended ports was put in practice. This, with the searchlights working from dark to dawn, and night and day battle practice, proved of the greatest value to the Fixed or Coast Defence Forces, and many useful lessons were learned. With the Field Forces much was learned in reconnaissance, outpost, attack and defence, and the handling of troops by day and night. The difficulties incidental to transport and supply were brought home to all; the want of equipment entailed considerable hardship in many ways. A supply of waterproof sheets, mess-tins, &c, now arriving, will meet this want next manoeuvres. The necessity of a real regimental and battalion organization, and the shortage of officers, was evident. Very complete reports on each of the manoeuvres are being made use of to follow up the experience actually gained. During these manoeuvres, Volunteer officers were in command, the District and Permanent Stan's acting as directors and umpires. For next Easter the manoeuvres will probably be under the personal command of each O.C. District and his Staff, as in war, affording opportunity for Volunteer officers to command the troops they lead in peace, giving to the Volunteer officers the chance of further instruction under the leaders who would command them in case of the Dominion being attacked. It is obvious that the Permanent Staff at Headquarters and districts also require practice in the field. The four days at Easter seem to be the only time any Force can be got together. Stall rides, as tactical exercises, and minor field operations with available troops, have been carried out during the year by District Commanders during daylight drills. Staff and Instructional Duties. Since last report two officers from the Imperial Service have been added to the Instructional Staff. Endeavour was made to procure the services of a Royal Engineer sergeant for the Field Engineers, but without avail. An officer of the late Royal N.Z. Engineers, now undergoing instruction" in England, was instructed to turn his attention to field engineering, and on his arrival will be available as an Engineer Instructor. The Instructional Staff for the G>rrison and Field Artillery is very satisfactory : the results are shown in respective reports. The following shows the available Instructional Staff for the Dominion: — Artillery Services. —One Chief Instructor, assisted by the officers and non-commissioned officers of the R.N.Z.A. Engineer Services. —One officer, lately arrived from undergoing instruction in England. General Service. —One officer, Chief Instructor for Mobile Field Force —on the General Staff. Mounted Bifles.— North Island: One officer (7) Sergeants-major Instructors. South Island : One officer (5) Sergeants-major Instructors. Infantry. —North Island : One officer (8) Sergeants-major Instructors. South Island : One officer (8) Sergeants-major Instructors. An officer for Infantry instruction is urgently required for the South Island. The Section of Military Instruction is much indebted to the Lands and Survey Department, and Government Printing Office, for necessary mapping and printing. Training and Education. The system of district local instruction, followed by continuous courses by the General Instructional Staff, has given very good results. Officers who attended these courses are easily