VOLUNTEER & DEFENCE NOTES

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 202, 24 August 1904, Page 6

VOLUNTEER & DEFENCE NOTES

9 (BY RIFLEMAN.) I have to congratulate Snrjjeon-Captaiu Carolun. i>f IMrkenhcnJ. on his promotion to the rank of Surgeon-Major. The Auckland College Rifle?" at-home takes place in the Federal Hall to-morrow evculnir. The A Squadron of Auckland Mounted Ivities will receive their bandolier equipment to-rnorrrrw week. Next Sntnrflay they will be inspected by Colonel Duvies, C.BGunner Chas. Reed, "f the No. 1 Co. or Karrison Artillerj-. is to rectslve the colonial 'usllinry forces" Innc-service mednl. havintr •served over 20 years. Last week 1 stnted that in the absence of the offifcrs" hnll. the Imll of the non■•nn. nffler-rcs, which is fixed fur next month in the rhornl Hall, w.mld be ifc" rhi:-*" social event of the year. I notice now thiit the ofhVers themselves are thinking " r 'mldinsr a ball, probably motitb, iv the ~un shert. The Nns. 1 anil !S Cos. of Garrison tnai!^ nnd mnst<*rs at Mn.lor Patterson's lusper "i""n pnrnde and mr.rrh-m:t last Wcrln"---'.iy, hnt the No. !i Co. vrov >ss uumerotrely represented. r^ie-nt.-Colonel White's battalion wer.' o'--;iiade Isst Thursday eveninr , . and wcr> in rifle exercises. The Colonel? 'ecislon plared tlir Victoria Ritles lir=t ''th 43 marks per cent. A moonliclit nrade Is conteinplnted for Wednosdity ■ejitember 141 h. for the of prsr-''s-inp in the handling of men by ni<"htIvraTs a difficult ta«k. Tbis idea will po 'nnl>t be commended. It will he renjfniI " - cd that one nf Colonel Davies , rvasoiv I T ahandoninjt the nipht attack at the ln=* '•tpter ramp wns tbo difficulty which w.n '•ely to attend the mfinnjrpmerjf of men l,r l"ht, and the complicntlons which mi"!i' •ise if the men £ot out of bund in fie ct •tement of the attack. Colonel Whiter 'lea will, under easier clrcnmstances. «•■- ---nFtom the men to nii?ht ninnarement. n"f' ill familiarise the officers with the riifH 'iltles that, are inseparable from -nnoenvrinsr of troops durine the darkness t ovijrht to he a roost valuable parade, and here is no doubt it will be enjoyable. In the Fritish navy, pvpn rtnrinc the annnl manrenTres. there is one torpedo boa , '••der thnt Is nil but nnknown to the re' , 'ral public, and this order is. "AM h.ind?= '-Inch fncee!" When that order Is giveTi Fonl on board the torpedo boat, from fhi , chief r»flsr«T to ttie lowest in rank o< , •he men, Marks his face after tho msnne , *f the fiYryTTttrp "niirsrer" minstrpl: indeorl. 'he stork of pl-im-nts usnally kept for thfIs obtained from some purveyor o r tnfo requiKites. And the resnlt '■> vastly Tectlve, for even on the blackest nijrht n "•hite lure enn be almost sopn at oner*. "tandinsr ont from the surrounding trlomn. •V eyes that are pretty well ncrustomed to "he darkness. As far back as the days of Nelson. the boarding parties that used tn i 1o snch of desperntf valour in cnttintrint expeditions all had their faces blacked vhen a nlr-ht attack was planned, and. however unbToio it may seem, every mat' J •o-w-acSa.rs jroinp to whnt may be an awfnl ' 'leath on a torpedo boat attack is as blnck 'H any eweep. even hands, arms, anr] neck ■'■eing inclntled in the blackening process.