DEFENCE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 134, 29 February 1908, Page 13

DEFENCE NOTES.

(By Echelon.)

. : Secretaries of. Volunteer Corps and Riflo Clubs arc invited to contribute items of interest fqr' insertion in this column.

COMING EVENTS. Wairarapa Riflo Association Meeting, .at : V Papawai; Greytown, March: 2 and .3. N.Z. -Defenco Forces R.A.. Mooting conir mences at .Trent-ham,' -March-5. . Napier Military Tournament/March 251 : ■ - ' QUARTERLY EXAMINATION OF OF- ■ FICERF. Tho Cliiof-of the General Staff, Colonel A. ■W: Robin, ; C.8.) sialics, tho follb'ving' re- . - marks, on- tlie results of the 1 first quarterly : ■ examination'of oflicers for 1908 Genoral.—Candidates as a rule do not sufficiontly study the question,before answering, otherwise there would not ; be so- much' ir-' -'relevant matter :introduced. There is • cossity to write the question biforo answering; numbering the answer with the ques- ' tion-number • is, sufficient. -Many candidates; / ... : are/ not: 'definite;.in : . their answers, using, evasive language. For-instance... a question ■ !•■ calling for a description, of an "iiitificial Bold i defence'.', .is not answered -mciely by v stating," "I would strongly \ entrench" ; or, furthermore, tho question of "What effect, ' • havo ccrtbinl influences, on'the shooting,'-' ..can-.' not be 'considered answered' bv .stating /'Makes tho; shooting wbrso.'' ./ . ; The [first i. ■ ... answer, .obviously,', is., a; description tof tho; . artificial protection;-in tho . second;, case,',, a ' definite'''statement as to ; b'ow': it: would -effect the shooting is required. ', A ■ j.- ■; KMusketry'.^-Musketry,. generally;- requires, i more'attention; .'.candidates, .should study Training Manual Appendix, 1D05., - , i ; Field Engineering. —Light' Artificial • sliel- • ter : aiid trenches. Much improvement ' noticeable. 1 iThis important branch of ■au of- ■ ficer's tfainmg-should be followed up. ■ - : . r ■Outpost.—Reconnaissance, patrols, scouts, and sentries.. Somewhat disappointing,, only about 10-per .cent, seemed to have a. practical grasp of the subject. : — ' ,Camps, camp sanitation.—Generally only fairly understood ,m fivo cases. ■No atten- ■ tion seems to have been- given this important subject. ; , < Topography(sketches).—Great improvement is noticeable. ;• • . j.Taotical.—There ia great' improvement! m »•*,• theso answers., Except in a few cases, • tho-:iidea.-'of the. question kept - in view. , Tho appreciation of the situation, and.:the operation s,orders thereon-, by-i the. • field officers, show a;distinct advance, ■ Practical ■ Exannnation.-rrThese 'cxaniina- : tions should ' bo'carried out not later , than the weok following: tlio theorcticali'oxanuna- • tion.- Officers commanding districts aro. to: -,- sec that this i direction is adhered -to.' Tho , , practical examination -mayrbo',conducted be-: : - fore, the written. It is unfair: to officers, to. ■ delay these examinations. , -■ V I BIG GUN SnOOTING. . The' .following:..is. ,a_- table | of: . the tresults of the 6-mch B.L. gun servico ■ class firing by the Wellington Nav'als (No. l Co.)„ and tho Fetonc Navals (No. 2, Co.), Wellington Division,; G.N.A.V.; — , r WELLINGTON NAZALS. Perc'tage. Hits per . i;;; -iv-- gun.per Figureof' Figuraof - j;. t Hits.'- i'Minute.. - Effect..-. .Merit. :• Class.-i ,%i \V: -91.G- ~. 1.05 1.08 1.01 . Ist. • PETONE NAVALS. ' , 100 121 j 128 '138 Ist.

THE SHORT MAGAZINE RIFLE { • > Tho new Mark-111. short magazine rifle, i . .whicb issued to the ,-irmy and.navy> • : is .a decided improvement , upon ;its, .pre-; //decessors; and, with: the. new long bayonet, .; : it will: bo .found- -to ,bo a very superior,l i '' I' am i;!p indobtc(] ? to !a ri ser,vjco„9oUt,eiHpo i ra l i;y forsomo ■'interesting details concerning,,the'umprovo- ' inoiits . effected. , The- wings /which protect' have;.jbeqii straightened'and .- .j lowered .in\Qvder.to- prcvqnt. light- being shut. . ■ out, - while, their tpps havo 'been bevelled so • ast to obviate, any .mistake being made bctween them and the foresight. ~ The inner i ■f band and-screw.attaching tho stock to tho • ' barrel lias been shifted an inch nearer tho i - breech, whereby: it; becomes unnecessary to.i ■ ' V ';cut;away so mucli of■•.the stock .underneath* | • the outer, hand. .For',the .ii sights .a, system: •v..'.! of :tho U, -with reotilinoar ~ foresight,, has . been adopted, i . Tho. backsight has been entirely remodelled. . Tho: wings are highor, ...: and afford satisfactory.- ' protection ' to. the • : j. wind-gauge serew'. this arrangement- •- - :tfy>-possibility: to.which the.latter was for-. :.. merly liable of being moved while dropping ' ...•.;/|tho,'lrifle : !;inio.J,or ?,removing/',■ it from the : cavalry has. been, dono . away with. ■ Formerly, in: making . allowances;,;,'for..; tho "'. ' wiiid,.!./tho ''scale .moved, and t,he 'indicator '"remained''stationary;';,,'. This : movement had '/i..tho..effect/ ofj confusing,.tho .meii,: and 'often: led'to right dofloction being put-on: for. loft, and left for right.:.,. Tho method for, moving an indicator along a stationary • scale lias now beon - adopted. The sightcap; formerly made to-• slant away-from the ..flrer, :to prevent reflection of. the sun,: but. . which -consequently ,greatly;; added to tho difficulty •of dear /(lclinitioii:;of. the.' sights, .'i lis made vortical and roughened/ to .-'.'the ,reflection: of .the light. Tho adjust-' ment screw has, been removed ;from its .awkward ' under 'tbe/siglit,' wjierb ,it; '.was' liable .'to' stick :'or;-' .workloose';'and /-, is :■ placed,'.oil the right' of the sight leaf, .where "-.-it '-its obiect . f by. menus of -a .wonn-ivheftl'working-in a. toothed 1 rack. . Adiust/.ments 'of 25, yards ./. made,/without ' using the fine .adjustiMent,/and.by' meahs'.of. the latter greatbr:?.pr/.less':adjustments',can' ■' ~ 7bo . effected. A; nptable alteration is that . /. tho ''cut-off" has been re-introduced, and a ' : bridge", cliargerl guide' attached.; to the body,' 7. /'the,disadvantage of tho former pattern ■btan.found to be that-thp head of tlle oharger -: guide keeper-scroV was -.liable to fracture owing to > the continued jar. Tho magazine . ihas also "been slightly deepened to more - ; • readily, admit its ten cartridges..: - Tho im-' ~ . provements . are of a practical; nature;, and ■' will . lncreaso- . the value of tha weapon. -Tliero are two opinions, it, is , . • trup, as to the wisdom of re-introducing the • cut-off. As loading wijl in tho future: always bo from tho l magazine, the "cut-off's" duty as a. precaution against danger may be ; ' ; | thought/by some-superfluous V'ajid likely to /'causo-complications.' ■, : t- .

NAPIER MILITARY, TOURNAMENT. '•..Tho following is l a 'brief -. summary of, tlid programnio'for thb military 'tournament' to be. held' aC*Napi^;during: ( cariiival .week., ' Tho. date of tho. toiirnamuiit. is fixed for Marijli 25:— Signalling Gompotition.—Four men. Prizes' (1; JJ4, (2; VI. ',; .Wrestling ou Horseback.—Teams of four men; : Prizes (1) ,£2 ; .(2) £1. : Ambulanco .Competition.— I Teams,//of. four; moii.« Prizesi (I) £&■, ,(%) £2. ■ ■: / .-Bugle Competmon.—Prizes (1) £2; (2) £1.. ' Tug-of-war.—Teams of ,eight, men. Prizes (1) £8, (2) £!., . - .Physical Drill.—N.C.O. and:, eight men. Prizes (1) £12; (2) £b.-. ; : . Tent . of fivo men. 'Prizes'.;.(l)'is.j ; (2)t:£2 10s. //._.,,/,. ■~ .; ■ Lloyd-Lindsay. ; Competition. Team?: of four men. - i Prizes (1) £25; (2) £10; (3) £5. 1 Physical .Drill (Defence Cadets).—N.G.O. and eight.cadots.. Prizes (1) £2; (2) £I.' Physical Drill (School Cadets).—N.C.O and eight cadets./ Prizes (1) £2; (2) £I.' .".Bayonet Fighting—N.C.O. and eight men. Prize's 11) £12'; (2) £G. Biqycio Competition (one mile handicap).— Prizes (I) £2; (2) £1. .' . ". Despatch-Carrying X'ompotition (mounttxl). —Prizes (1) £5; (2) £2 10s. -.Routo.- Marching (ono ■ mile). —N.C.O. and eight men." .'Prizes (1) £8 ; (2) £4. " .-Tent-pegging, (by sections -of four men each):—Prizes.(l) £4; (2).'£2.. ' '. . '■Signalling Competition (semaphore).— Four men.'"Prizes.(l) £4; (2) £2./ yards foot-race.—Prizes/(1) £2; (2)

.Rillo. 1 and Tiring Exercises.—N.C.O. and eight, men; Prizes. (!) £10; (2) £4. I'ug of-war (mounted. bareback). —Eight mon. l'rizes (1) £8; (2) £1. . Company Drill (Defence Cadets).—Prizes (1)£3; (2) £4. . V Com]);uiy Drill (School , Cadets' I .—Prizes (1) £8; (2) £1.

icmi OEiflOfijl No. ft fil/j