The 8. V. C. took part in their first field operations this year on Saturday afternoon, Yangtezepoo had been selected as the war zone, and for nearly tro hoare the Blue and Red fores fought for the possession of Yangtazepoo Cresk. The general idea. of the operations was that a mobile force (Blue) of mounted men and infantry was advancing on the Settlement from the Point, and that " portion of the Defence forces (Red), was detached to oppose ite progress. Captain Koaze 2 of the Japanese Company, commanded the invading force, which consisted of the Light Horse, Mounted Rifle, Engineers, Japanese and Chinese Companies. The Mounted Rides were' employed as infantry, and mastered without their ponies which were in waiting at Yangtazepod. The whole of the Bloc Force assembled at the Shan; hai Clab, whence the infantry, in special trams, and the Light Horse, on their ponies, proceeded to the Point. The "special idea " communicated to captain Koaze, read as follows Having arrived at 3 p.m. at " point on the Yangtezepoo Road about half mile east of the village of Ying Hsinngkong, you learn that the main road bridge over the Yangtszepoo Creek has eon destroyed. You determine, therefore, to posh forward your mounted troops to secure the ground on the Wont of that creek, to facilitate crossing at some other poi Each man of the Blue force was to count as three men, and none of the invaders were to be West of a li ranning North and South through the Yangtezopoo Tram terminus before 3.15 p.m.
Captain Pilcher was in command of the Blue force, and he had at his disposal the Artil Maxit "B," Customs, German, Amer can, and Portuguese Companies. His instractions we On reaching the junction of Baikal and Daloy Roads at 3 p.m. you learn that the Police st Yangtazepoo Police Station have destroyed the main road bridge over the Creek at the corner of Lay and Yangtezepoo Roads. You determine, therefore, to hold the Yangtezepoo Creek, and to nomy from crossing it."" Red force was to be East of the line of Thorburo lad before 3.15 p.m., and the defense force was to observe the Settlement Boundary as its Northern boundary. Yangtezepoo Rosd was out of bounds for both forces from 3.15 p.m., onwards. The Red force mustered opposite the Aquarius factory. The Commandant, Major Trueman, Captsins Dowdell, Collyer, and Heat. Carlsen acted as umpires.
As soon s the time limit of 3.15 was passed both forces advanced rapidly upon the Creek. Captain Pilcher had the advantage of being " shorter distance away from his objective, with several good roads leading to it. On the Eastern side of the Crock there
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.