VOLUNTEER & DEFENCE NOTES

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 252, 21 October 1908, Page 3

VOLUNTEER & DEFENCE NOTES

— v.*. ..-•- • y CBYBIFLEMAN-Ly H Secretaries ot aU volunteer eorp» through- (. out the- Auckland district are invited to ' contribute to this- column. "Bffleman" will be glad to receive any item of spe- I rial or general interest- for publication, not . merely concerning town companies, but ' equally concerning the country- corps. It . ifi desired in these notes to keep volunteers throughout the province well informed In ' news of volunteer interest, and it is only by the co-operation of country corps with the editor that this can be accomplished satisfactorily. News intended for pubiica- ; tion in the current week's Notes should be ' in this office by Tuesday at the latest. ' They should be signed by a responsible of- , SciaL not for publication, but only- as a ' guarantee of good faith. Major Gardner's name at last appears in General Orders as being transferred to the A.U.L. The Victoria Rifles will shoot for Yeo and Preston's trophy ou Saturday, the ! ranges being 2QO yards and 500 yards. The New Zealand volunteer service medal has been granted to Sergeant P. R. Hubbard, No. I Company OJtineiauri Kifles. There is another of the quarterly nightmares coming along—an examination for acting-officers; it takes place on December 2nd. The No. 2 Native Rifles fire a match next Saturday .for a cup presented by Major A. Bartlett, and also for cash prizes in the A B, and C classes. The Minister for Defence has ruled that the Increments to officers on whose efficiency a favourable report has been made will take effect as from April Ist, 1908. The Defence Council, in a late General Order, regrets to announce the death of Lieutenant Francis Battson, No. 1 Company. Thames Rifle Volunteers, which occurred in May last. The following appointments have been approved:—William Henderson "Gibb, act-ing-lieutenant. No. 2 New Zealand Native Biflfjs; and Arthur Devlin, acting-lieu tenant, Whangarei Kifles. CoL Wolfe, O.C.D, returned to duty today. He is to lecture to the N.C.O. Club on Friday. On November 9th the Colonel will act as judge at the military sports at the Hamilton show. There is to be a lecture given by the P.v.O, Major Young, on the 22nd at the Drill Hall to members of the A Battery and other mounted corps who wish to attend. His subject is "The Horse in Health." The Auckland M.R. will probably hear about their camp next week. They have put In an application for a trek camp of a week's duration. It is said that the proposal wfll be agreed to in a modified form. Lieutenants A. H. Skelton and W. H. Gibb, of the No. 2 Co. Native Rffles, whose acting appointments appear in. General Orders, are.both to sit for thsir examination for commissions at the nexi; quarterly examination. There seems a prospect of the G.A Division's getting their barracks. I believe estimates of the cost of erecting these necessary permanent shelters have been asked for, and they possibly may he up before | the summer camps come oc. There is to be a fuU this evening for the Garrison Artillery—the first j Col. Patterson has held since his return. . A launch is being sent dowti the channel to act as ahostile "cruiser. and the lights win i have a busy time -searching her out. Next Friday Dr. Peter Buck delivers a I lecture to the Garrison Officers' Ciul> on i j "Maori Warfare"' in reference to forti-. :) ficatious, methods, etc. This- should be one >! of the most Interesting of the lectures of [ I the year. Dr. Buck is particularly. weU ;I up in the subject. : * I The non-coms, at the No. 3 A.G-A.-went .[ cp to Maior Hazard's hooseyon Monday night to carry home the big shield which they have presented him.; with,, and to "be I entertained by him. A pleasant: evening [ I was spent by the non-coms, the company i officers also being presenL - , I understand that mechanical dials, to . I work in conjunction with the- unreliable I: electric dials" of" the G-A7--(need I say"-I ; I refer to the dials connected with the guns r j and not the gunners!) are to be instaUed :I in Auckland- They win probably be put I\ in use before the aTinTiai competitions. s i i Col. Reed has obtained sanction for the ", proposed Battalion trek camp he purposes * i holding from November 7th to the Sth. ' I There is a provision for 1/6 a day for -; rations. It is not settled yet where the * camp win be held, but it will be announced J : shortly. Nor is it settled yet whether any "• of the other arms wiU co-operate with the J! Battalion daring the camp. It wni be a | pleasant jaunt if the weather is fine. On Saturday the Gordons will fire the second competition for A and B Class trophies, presented by Corp. Johns. The Shooting Committee will meet on Friday night to arrange handicaps. The following are the leading scores for the first competition:—A Class; CoL-Sergt. Parker. 4 points; Sergt. Martin, 3 points; Corp. Wright, 2. B Class: Corp. Ashton, 4 points; Pte. Hard, 3; Pte. Thompson, 2. Captain H. E. Pflkington. N.Z.B-4, hai been appointed as adjutant of the Auckland Division of Garrison Artillery. A recent i- General Order confirms the anticipatior ■r made in these columns, that the services ol the officers commanding Permanent Force d detachments in the four centres are to be s attached where desired as adjutants to tht c divisions. This win make one volunteeei f officer less on the Divisional Staff, but It seems better that the adjutant's wort it should he in thoroughly experienced hands Perhaps the O-.C.'s of "the Permaheni Detachments won't think sol The following table win show th< result of the Volunteer Rugby Union's com petition for season 190S:— Pts. Pts. " Pld. Woe. Lost. E\ir. Agat i CoUege Biftes ... 3 3 0 69 3 o- No. 3 G-A.V 3 2 1 14 Tl s: No. 2 G_AV. 3 1 2 10 3T j. Combined Natives 2 0 2 0 52 No. 3 Natives.... 1 0 1,0 0 The No. 3 Natives forfeited' their firs |» match, and then withdrew from the competition. *tition. The College Kifles have been de "*■ clared winners of the championship, whicl carries with it the Hazard Cup and tin championship caps. This is the first timi that an infantry company has won thi volunteer championship. For the three for mer years it was won by the artiUery. Capt. Noyes, of the Legion of "Frontiers men—he lives in Auckland in a civil posi -) tion—gave an absolutely interesting lecturt to the Garrison Officers' Club on Frida.' last on the objects and the work of th. Legion. The subject was debated ver; freely afterwards. Captain Noyes naturalli v holds that it will not interfere with th< * local volnuteiirs at all. not a man of then being necessarily withdrawn from the vol nnteers. Opinions were freely expresset on the other hand that it would have tha ■_-. effect, since the volunteer had enough t< keep his interest going already. Capt. Noye: i 3 indicated that there were occasional fore _ T gatherings, and it was reasonably enougl It contended that if the f rontiersmaj could concentrate for training he couli do it, and should do it as i volunteer. The frontiersman move nient sees its most use in foreign cove tries, or perhaps one should say in conn tries where Englishmen are not numerous 3, They are invaluable as inteUigence men. ii cs such places as China. Japan, India, and th i; like. The manifest advantage of the Legio is the freemasonry it establishes througi out the world. There are numbers —mor than fifty—of its members scattere through the Dominion, and scarce an em grant ship comes But" brings in more. N attempt has yet been made to organis them into a local command, nor is it intent ed to make them compete with the volui id teer commands. The Council of Defenc iU has decided that there is no need for thei re as a definite branch ot the service, but th m work they do is being provided for in th id InteUigence Department, and its associate o, scouring corps, which, are now in embryt n- Canada, South Africa, and other plact 01 have welcomed them either as official c s. unoflhaal aids to the defence forces. Tier in .really mi in no reason why a similar reeo, pj-fta srieht not be extended here.

Tbesoms of mbcej-granted" by Parliament aio^tng—£4so tac pj_4rc compe6S«_ *™~ £250 foe volnnteers alone—has now been made avauaWSTTUse associations mar so ahead -vria -their anansraKmts^ttfeiy-^ SL»«I?n a rtccd d place in military points at qmctatep competitions.-"T_ey have competea on eight different occasions and have be«i second in military points, six times, and only once unplaced. At Hamilton tbe JS?.J ra *,?^ ll '£'a Vim behin<rih"mlSilSr. - points, which is very hard.- luck, when ?o^?hf£. ta the gold medal tor highest military points. The No. 1 Native_Ri_es fire the first at Oiree competitions for a valuable trophy Pres ? Q 2 d , by &* Kaiapo*: Woollen Company on Saturday next. The "trophy will be a -handicap onerand competed: fbron alternate Saturdays. Handicaps win be arranged on the scheme,, and points will fee allowed, o for first, 4-for second. _-tor third, 2 for fourth, and 1 for fifth, Vxu member securing the highest number of points to be the winner. The marching competition, at the Hamilton Band Contest proved to be a very close ; finish between the No. 2-Battalion-and-the No. 1 Rattaiion; Bands. The result was in doubt tiU aR-the points were tallied as the military judges gave both bands equal points for marching, and tJiepacing being ti PosaWe_for_both, _th e cadence was *h e only point oh could.-" Be placed. The timekeeper's card gave the cadence of the' No. "2 Battalion 59 seconds and the No. 1 Battalion. 58 4-5 seconds. The former thus won", by half a point, the closest contest in. which'the No. i. Battalion has been, place! "second. ~" ARRANGEMENTS FOR EASTER, 1909. SKETCH OF THB SCHEME. I understand that the Chief ot the General Staff (COL Robin, OR.) is sending a circular to the* oElcers ' commanding ■ districts about the Easter manoeuvres of next year. Xt is the. outcome of the Council's consideration of the reports, on the last Easter encampment, and an "attempt is to be made to overcome many of the defects made visible : at that-time.- It is. intended that the-Easter training will be mote pf an. instructional character-thah-tfcis year's- One notable feature attempt to minimise at future manoeuvres the-unnecessary hardships', undergone by so many troops through want of practice itt"sssue- of supplies, use of transport, etc, so* evident during the last manoeuvres, and. the cause of much heartburning and" hunger! Another matter to receive attention is outpost _dTrty.- It was noticeable this jear-that the tactics of outposts, attack and defence were very crude. and reconnaissance, was almost. neglected, advances and marches- being made with, little regard to the security of the movement. No real attempt seems to have been made anywhere to bring* about attacki or counter attacfc -Tl»e whole aim seemed to be to evade the opposing force in order to enter a town (as in-Wellington), or to bring about- some result without fighting. This criticism hardly seems- to- -apply to Auckland, where .fighting was unlimitedThere was far too: much dispersion on both sides, according to the authorities, and it is pointed, out that*-this r Can Be avoided by proper reconnaissance, and use of the mounted troops.; Such."worE is the proper function of locating the enemy, delaying tint, and fixJng-him-to-siich a position- as will enable their -own ftoce. to attack and beat him. Camp management, sanitation, and ambulance service" are said: to require-more - -'--'■- -■-->• ... It is considered advisable -this .coming to carry- out-training- in otrtpoKt. j reconnaissance, ..attack and and marches, with special attention-to-tiKe cooperatiott of all arms. Supply and issue of rations to detached troops, and oetposts, camp sanitation, mobflisation, rait transport,.' wHT~be under direct command or direction of O.C. districts and their permanent staff. 7 It is considered that the instructi'm and experience gained of the.lSo6 camp", "being followed!- by'exercises: -daring -the yyear, should enable the~forces _to again- attempt continuous— manoeuvres -of a- .-red- and -bb*e • force against--eachtfther, "under- ova' ; officers;-in-Easter, -1910. — With- this idea. •'• the officers commanding'districts: are to-Bia asked toi submit airearli": as possible to-the chief of the general staff .forVappriwaL-Ja. . rough scheme of work they propose carryL ing out..'. "This - snperrialoia r -and conduct qfy mohitisatftnryTof - defence: 1 "forces-iA. district," from their. tQCTJI centres \ to a. place" selected for camp;! - A general ; idea of instructional wtwk-proposed to be carried; out- lar'to'lie' prepared."and _re- . ports to be presented- as -to- whe*e safe grounds can be obtained. Anattadtoa sur- ' prise targets, representing:: enemy-m-a-posf- ! rion. is to he- hi traduced, the fleld'arHn'ery I using shelly and the--rifles haR--ammanii--5 tion. This-applies to-the^ffeld...force, and ' the Garrison Artillery volunteers wiU-have t four days' Instructional practice in,~t__r I forts- "."..;7 ~'~\Z~~~- 177T - At last -the Defence- Cadets are t» be t»- . eluded—with due preputtipnsr.^_lt.is_cont I sidered advisable--to afford-opportuaity- tor . I the Defence Cadets, to camp at-Easter_and : they will be placed in a separate camp. > Even_ more important is. a jresbJatJpn to I I include rifle clubs. The conditions wiR be r1 ou the foliowmg'-lihesz Taking - advantage i of the 100-mile railway pass, they win meet t one another at selected' for say, twe days, to carry out field firing, necessitating; . extended order-drilL -Officers of-the^TTa^ c attached List, and .N.C-O.'s of the Reserve, s will probably be derailed to superintend c and Instruct these.riflemen. .Free.ammßnty tion and a billeting allowance foe oae night g- will Be ----- _ -. '.-.-- -- The scheme Is'sufficiently comprehensive, ;; and; the only thing- which, can- spoil, its _ effectiveness will be apathy of .'the 1, volunteers themselves.. The additionat-inter-est of field firing with Eve ammunition, and the increased number of forces through the _ inclusion of Defence Cadets and shsrpg shooters, should do mnch to make the . manoeuvres a success. '...__ . — -"— '~— U m^mmmimmUummwiSmmmmmmmmmm ><■ -