MILITARY COMPETTTIONS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12663, 29 November 1906, Page 8

MILITARY COMPETTTIONS.

VICTORIAN TEAM TO COMPETE. Some months ago Colonel "W. H. Hall, the officer commanding the Garrison Artillery (says the Melbourne "Argus") determinexl to send a contingent from the Australian Garrison Artillery to compete in the military competitions in connection with tho NesVv Zealand International Exhibition. The scheme having been (Sanctioned by the Victorian commandant (Colonel Ricardo), some 50 men of tho metropolitan •companies were detailed for preliniLnury training, and these men have been having four drills & week for some timo. The cost of the undertaking was, of cnur°e, heavy, but the regiment enthusiastically subscribed the greater part of it, nnd a number of friends, including many former officers, aha assisted. The Premier (Mr Bent) is taking an enthusiast io interest in tho scheme, and matters are now sn far advanced t!,«t the team is practically selected. It will com-iist of Lieutenant Bloomfield, A.U.A., 'tSergcant-Instructor Holling-wcM-th, 1.5., Company-Sergeant- Major Sailery, anel 20 N.C.O.'s and mra. These* have just finislied a three-clays' camp, flndflt an. held by tho officer commanding tho regiment, when Mr Bent and a number of vifdtors were present, 'vome idea oould bo got of the advance that had nlreaily been made. The 'w'nolfl programme of the competitions was gone through, and ••omo of the. work was done in marve'lou-dy quick time. Teams will rompe>te in the fi.liowing competitions:—Mounting thi) caniiige and 6-pounder quick-firing gun. iiKS'-nthling tbe parts nnd getting retidy for action. After drill and lay in eg, thi* gun will bo di>smantled; gun drill Anel dismantling ordnance, setting sights and laying, manual, firinjj. and physical drill with «rnw will lie carriexl out". Tiie. contiuge-nt, who form a fine body of men. will n!w probably enter for *om<> noiwervice te-ts. such «s tug-of-war. etc.. and with another month's hard work may be oxpeote'd te do creelit to their regiment. The teom v.ill sail for New Zcil«nd al>out the mideile of December.