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THE CHESHIRE YEOMANRY. 0

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THE CHESHIRE YEOMANRY. 0 DISCOMFITURE UNDER CANVAS. [FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.] The Earl of Chester's Imperial Yeomanry Cavalry Regiment went under canvas at Oakmere on Tuesday afternoon, for their annual fourteen days' training. It has been their lot to experience some trying weather. The first night they were in camp two degrees of frost were registered, and if some of the yeomen thought longingly of the com- fort of their feather beds at home who could blame them? The following night—Wednesday—the clerk of the weather, to vary the monotony, caused rain to fall heavily, and the downpour continued intermittently throughout Thursday. Neverthe- less, the men are making the best of matters, and are entering on their duties with a cheerfulness which aoes them infinite credit. The regiment has increased considerably in strength, the parade slate shewing that there were I 25 officers and 450 men in camp. The patriotic spirit called forth by the war probably accounts in I a large measure for this growth in the regiment, and it is highly gratifying to find civilians so willingly coming forward, often at inconvenience to themselves, to make themselves efficient for the defence of their country. It may be said that there is an obligation on the part of some farmers to do service, but there are many others who are volun- teers. Colonel the Earl of Harrington is in com- mand, with Lieutenant-Colonel Tomkinson, who was absent on leave owing to his Parliamentary duties until Thursday. The particulars with regard to the various squadrons are as follow :—A Squadron (Tatton): A bout 85 strong, officers, Major the Hon. Alan de Tatton Egerton, M.P., Major Birley, Lieutenant Phillips, Lieutenant Egerton, Second Lieutenant A. Holland; B Squadron (Eaton) About 95 strong, officers, Major Lord Arthur Grosvenor, Captain the Duke of Westminster, Lieutenants Swetenham, Barnston and Barbour; Major George Wyndham is absent on leave through Parliamentary duties; C Squadron (Arley) About 120 strong, officers, Captain H M. Wilson, Lieutenants Verdin, Glazebrook and Massey; D Squadron About 130 strong, officers, Major Brocklehurst, Captain Sir Philip Grey- Egerton, Lieuts. Legh, Lees-Milne, and Tomkin- son. Captain Neil Haig is the adjutant, and burgeon-Captain J. E. Phillips has charge of the hospital arrangements, while the hon. chaplain is the Rev. C. H. Prodgers, and the veterinary surgeon is Lieut. R. C. Edwards. Mention should also be made of Buller. the bull-terrier who accom- panied Lord Arthur Grosvenor's Company of Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa, and who I struts about the camp with all the dignity of an old campaigner. Major the Hon. Alan de Tatton I Egerton is president of the Officers' Mess Com- mittee, and the members are Capt. Wilson and Lieut. Swetenham Major Birley- is president of the Canteen Committee, with 2nd Lieut. Lees- Milne and 2nd Lieut. Holland as members; Lieut. Verdin is president of the Sports and Entertain- ments Committee, and the members are Lieuts. Tomkinson and Phillips and Sergt.-Major Dye is president of the Sergeants' Mess Committee, the members b-ifcs; Sergt.-Major Hopper and Sergt. Allwood. t The men 1&xe being supplied by degrees with khaki uniforms which it must be admitted are not very becoming, and slouch hats. They are armed with the i ee-Enfield, and as one of the lessons of the Boer war they do not carry swords, but it is a moot point whether this is a step in the right direction, as in a charge they would be practically helpless without either swords or lances. To all intents and purposes the Yeomanry are now mounted infantry. The men receive Ga. 8d a day, and from this 4s. (id. is deducted for food, which is supplied by Mr. Baker, Tattenhall. An allowance of kt) is made for each horse, and each animal receives 121b. of hay and 121b. of corn each day. Reveillee is sounded at 5.30, and by 6 o'clock the yeomen are expected to be attending to their horses. The latter remain outdoors all the time. In front of each line of tents is secured a stout rope, and to this the horses are tethered, while a short "hobble" attached to the near hind leg and a peg .serves to prevent the animals from bocoming restive. Though some of the animals naturally objected to this treat- ment, it is surprising how soon they become accustomed to the restraint.. The regi- ment paraded on Wednesday morning in drill order, and on Thursday, when the drill was a little later owing to the rain, they paraded for dismounted service. Unfortunately, on Wednesday one horse broke its leg and had to be destroyed, and on Thursday two troopers met with accidents. The drill that has been arranged for the training is decidedly of a useful character, and a good feature is that in the afternoon lectures will be given on squadron arrangements, mining work, advance and rear guards, reconnaissance, &c. On Thurs- day evening an enjoyable smoking concert, promoted by Lieut. Harry Barnston, was given in the canteen, and this example will be followed by Major Brocklehurst and Captain Wilson. The officers' dinner hits been fixed for next Friday, and on the following Sunday there will lie a display of the American biograph. It will be seen from this that life in camp has its enjoyable, as well as its business side, and all that is needed to ensure success in both respects is fine weather. SPORTS AT THE CAMP. INTERESTING COMPETITIONS. The change in the weather on Saturday proved all too brief, but those who spent the afternoon at the Yeomanry camp at Oakmere rejoiced in the spell of brilliant and warm sunshine. The after- noon was set apart for deciding the preliminary events of the annual tournament, which has always been associated with the annual training, and never fails to excito the keenest interest among the Yeomanry and their friends. The various competitions took place within a roped en. losure, prepared under the direction of Quartermaster Lewis, on the Chester side of the camp. The spectators lined the ropes or took up a position on a conveniently situated "kopje." A number of distinguished visitors, including the Duchess of Westminster, Lord and Lady -De!aaiic-,re,, Mrs. and Miss Tomkinson, etc., were accommodated with seats on a lurry. The officers present included Colonel the Earl of Harrington, Liout.-Colonel Tomkinson, Major Lord Arthur Grosvenor, Capt. Sir Philip Grey-Egerton, Captain the Duke of Westminster, Captain IT. M. Wilson, M.F.H., Captain Neil Haig (adjutant), Lieut. Harry Barnston. Lieut. Phillips, Lieut. R. N. H. Verdin. Lieut. Legh, Lieut. Lees-Milne, Lieut. Barbour, etc. In addition there were Colonel. Courtenay, of Chester, Mr. J. L. Birkett., Mr. Burder, Mr. Earle, the Hon. Leicester Warren, Mr. H. Hewitt, the Rev. Dr. Payne and many others. Colonel the Earl of Harrington judged all the events except the officers'. "Heads and posts" was the first competition, and was carried out under the new regulations. The troopers who took part gave a good exhibition, and finally Sergeant Jones, Arley Squadron, with 16 points, Trumpet-Major Yar- wood, Arley Squadron, with 15 points, and Corp!. Astall, with 12 points, were selected as the three best. A tent-pegging contest ensued. Trumpet- Major Yarwood was first with 18 points; Trooper J. C. Salmon, Eaton Squadron, second wiih 16 points; and Sergt.-Major Jones third with 15 points. A feature of the afternoon's tournament, was the officers' tent-pegging competition. After a tria.1 round, Colonel Earl Harrington led off, took the first peg and carried it. Returning, he lifted the second peg, but did not carry it. This splendid exhibition of skill by the veteran Colonel-Com- mandant of the regiment evoked great enthusi- asm. He touched the first peg and carried the second. Major Lord Arthur Grosvenor struck short of the first peg, and a few inches beyond the second. Captain the Duke of Westminster, going at a fast pace, did not strike the first pea:, and narrowly missed the second. Lieut. Phillips missed the first and carried the second. Lieut. Verdin, riding at a slow and cautious pace, missed the first and struck the second, but did not lift it. Lieut, Legh just pulled up the second peg, while Lieut. Lees-Milne and Lieut. Tomkinson struck unsuccessfully at both. Captain Neil Haig missed the first and carried the second peg. In this competition Co'onel Courtenay, chief staff officer at Chester, headquarters of the North- western Division, acted as judge, and made the following awards:—Colonel the Earl of Harring- ton. 10 points; Lieut.-Colouel Tomkinson, 8 points; Lieut. Phillips and Capt. Neil Haig, 6 points each. Lieut.-Colouel Tomkinson. remarked that it was twenty yeo,rs since he had taken part in a tent-pegging competition. A "Victoria Cross" contest was next held. The troopers were required to gallop down the arena, pick up dummies on to their saddle-bows whilo under fire, and gallop with them out of danger. Troopers Morton and A. Beckett, both of the Forest Troop, were first and second respectively, while Trooper Amaler, of Arley Squadron, was third. A new and distinctly pleasing feature of the afternoon's programme was a. musical drill, which had been successfully per- formed at the Agricultural Hall, and which had been introduced to the Cheshire troopers for the first time this year. Accompanied by the band, the selected Yeomc-n took up their positions and, under the direction of Sergt.-Major Hopper, gave an excellent display on horseback. In cutting various figures they controlled their steeds with splendid skill, and wound up with a charge down the arena. A word of commendation is due to the band, who were under the conductorship of Mr. Jos. Clement. They played during tho sports, and now and asrain would break into song while performing some piece of coon-like character. One of the items on their programme was "The Cheshire Yeo- men's Call" (Clement), dedicated to Colonel Piers Egerton Warburton, who for many years com- manded the Arley regiment. SUNDAY'S SERVICE. Another of those heavy showers to which the Yeomanry are becoming inured prevented the holding in the camp of the customary church parade, which is generally joined in by many cycling visitors. There was, however, celebra- tion of the Holv Communion in the hospital tent, the chaplain of the regiment, the Rev. Charles Prodgers, vicar of E'vaston, officiating. There was a voluntary service in the evenmg in the t troopsrs' diniag-roora. Nearly all tiie regiment attended, and the chaplain again officiated at what proved to be a most hearty service. Mr. 1 Prodgers preached an appropriate sermon, which was followed with deep interest by his military auditors. The discourse was based on the "send- ing of a embassage for peace" mentioned in tho Gospel of St. Luke, who records how one king at. war with another, sits down and decides to enter into negotiations and send an embassage. The preacher alluded to the negotiations now in pro- gress in South Africa, and touched upon tho terrors of war and the strong desire of those who had experienced such terrors to obtain peace. Stiil more terrible, he said, was the war now in progress—the war in progress even in that camp. As chaplain of the regiment, it was his duty to point out the terrors of the war of sin against which it was necessary to fight. It was neces- sary to desire peace, and having desired it, an ambassador must be sent. Our ambassador was the Mediator, Jesus Christ. While men had their health and intellect was the right time to sue for peace. On Monday afternoon the camp was practically deserted, the regiment riding to Oulton Park, the seat of Captain Sir Philip Grey-Egerton, where the military tournament proper was held in con- junction with the annual Primrose League Fete. A record of the various competitions will be found reported in another column of this issue. While most of the horses have got quite used to the picketing arrangements, it is evident that a tew or them stm ooject, ior one or two nave stampeded and wended their homeward way. One of these animals which have exhibited a decided preference for their own comfortable stables, be- longs to Captain Sir Philip B. Grey-Egerton, Bart., while a pc-regrinating- companion, hailing from Chester, made a bolt for the city. The latter may not have followed the turnpike road in its anxiety to reach its domicile, but it arrived, and that to the astonishment of its rider's family. Yesterday (Tuesday) the regiment was to be exercised in the protection of troops on the march. A sing-song camp fire has been arranged for Wednesday. On Sunday, weather permitting, there will be a morning church parade, and on Monday and Tuesday Colonel Courtenay will in- spect the regiment.

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