HYTHE MUSKETRY.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7731, 10 December 1890, Page 5

HYTHE MUSKETRY.

[pan PRKSS ASSOCIATION.] Received December 9th, 10.30 a.m, London, December 8.: Major Hood, the Victorian candidate, headed the list of 78 British and Canadian officers, who competed for the Hythe musketry certificate, pc was granted an extra special diploma and also a special certificate as instructor in machine guns. When the introduction of the Mlnle rifle in the French service, and the subsequent arming of the British troops with tbe still more delicate Enfield rule, in 1831; brought the accuracy of a. soldier's fire to be an important consideration in estimating his value (which with the old niusket was - not the case, as it was proverbial tbat the bullet never hit the point aimed at, however carefully), the English Government at once saw the necessity of providing instruction in the manipulation of the rifle. Accordingly instructors of musketry were attached to the troops, one to each regiment ; and to give further encouragement, a school was established at Hythe in 1854 under General Hay, where lessons on the theory of the arm and practice fn its actual employment were the sole occupation of the day. Officers and promising men were sent there as fast as the accommodation permitted, and after a course of a few weeks were able to return to their corps and become instructors to their comrades, so that in a comparatively short time the [Shooting of the whole army rose in surprising degree. The school Is superintended by an Inspector-General, and under,, him are the District Inspectors, Regimental Instructors, . and* < Sergeant Instructors.]