DEFENCE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 294, 5 September 1908, Page 13

DEFENCE NOTES.

(Bt Echelon.)

Tho following is an amusing sidolight on the international riflo shooting contest hold under, the auspices of the Olympic Games: — The Conditions were that each member of teams of six men had to fire 40 shots standing, 40 > shots kneeling, and 40 shots in tho prono position.'. ' No fewer than 10 sighting shots were allowed. Rifles of any kind were eligible, and tho targets wero divided into 10 zones, counting from 1 point up to 10 points, the maximum being for a bull's-cyo. All hits, including ricochets, counted. In tho matter of rifle appurtenances, the regulations stipulated that foresight must be open, but any lcind of backsight w*4s allowed. One man, a Greek, had something liko a jniniaturo motor-car turned upside down on the back of his rifle, and all sorts of fancy effects were brought into use, including palm rests, hair .triggers, and weira forms of butts, some shaped lilio a "partan's" claw. The Swedish team used their service rifle, as did also , the British representatives. Among other arms used wero the Krag, Jorgensen, Winchester, Mauser, Lebel, and Mannlichor. There'was no restriction as to ammunition Erovided.it was not dangerous. About an our was lost before shooting started. There seemed to be' a deal of confusion as to the conditions and tho method of signalling shots, etc.' - Expert linguists acted as interpreters, •and their services were in great demand, as after the competition got under way there were frequent discussions at tho firing point. Indeed, one foreign contingent entered into excitea argument after almost every Bhot. The register-keepers, who as usual wero British "Tommies," had a difficult task. One of them, a Gloucester corporal,, had to try to listen sympathetically to requests for information regarding the fate-of' a shot addressed to him volubly in "'modern Greek. The corporal smiled and called for the range officer, who in turn summoned an interpreter, and after considerable wrangling in many tongues it was found that the Grecian marksman wanted to know what value attaohod to a shot-which had hit the wrong Some of the marksmen fired very For instance, a young Dutchman stood witlu. b' v trifle pointed at the butt for fully seven ...mutes on one occasion before pulling the trigger. Watching closely, one saw tho .muzzle of the rifle describing circles and wobbling over a series of targets, and when at last tha Dutchman fired ho promptly turned to the register-keeper and informed him that it was a miss, fie was right. It was afterwards explained that the Holland team had travelled overnight, and that they are unaccustomed to shooting over a big range like Bisley. —

■ : An interesting' announcement lias been made in- relation to the recent all over the world: for tho officially recognised Empire Day Challenge Cup, states, tho Lon--1 , don " Standard." After all tho scores have •' been verified by cable or mail, the winners are the Seventh Australian Infantry, "who ■ have'made a world's'record of 3897 points , - for a team of This is an averago ■ of over 97 points por -taan for half a company 1 Such wonaerful' shooting eclipses in the way 'of musketry. The conditions on tho day of shooting were ideal, being a dead calm and grand light, such as is seldom obtained even in Australia. The highdst score was 104 out of 105, at 200, 600, and 600 yards, by Private Sandberg; 103 by Lieutenant Breer and Captain Williams; 102 „ . by Lieutenant Morton, Quartermaster-Sergt. !' Dnb'oelin, Regimental Sergeattt-Major Gates, ..V, 'Taylor,. Private.Todd, and Private . : There were threo scores .of 101, and (cv: of 100. ; The second placed team is tho 1 ' YViiwatersrand Rifles, Johannesburg, whose commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel R. W. . , Schumacher, presented this cup for competition; They scored 3774, and the third team,'H.M.S. Excellent, made 3689. Tho entries 'comprised nine warships,, 108 Homo Regular units, five from the Royal Marines, ( , ■ t ( wjpnty from ;India',' 'thirty^,'from;(other..Do-"".-J 'tninions o^r^ei^'arid'^?'' 1 Teriitdriai units.

General Sir lan Hamilton,. Coinmanding-in-CEief the Southern Command,,, .recently issued a special order on the subject of the training of the South Midland and Wessex Divisions. : Tlio general expressed the desire " that commanders in tho South Midland and Wessex Divisions, whenever they intend to inspect the troops under their, command, should.regard themselves more as instructors and less as inspectors than heretofore. If the idea of instruction were put foremost and that of mere inspection relegated to the background, the'benefit to the troops would be enhanced, and the inspection reports to be filled up later would contain more valumatter." To assist his commanders in carrying his views into effect, Sir lan Hamilton; proposes, during the present training season Mid next winter, to organise a series of .lectures and exercises on . the ground, which- will be carriod out under his own immediate supervision. The subject of tho exercises and lectures will be confined for the present to instruction in company, battery, and squadron leading. The general will himself fix the subject for. each lecture or exercise, and indicate the line to be taken, and \fill sum up .the discussions at the end of the meeting. .

Earl Roberts, in a preface to "A Territorial Army in Being," points out with characteristic ■ clearness the attitude that is adopted by the National Service League to the Territorial scheme. The league is favourable to the scheme, chiefly because it considers that it-is a step towards some form or national conscription. Tho Territorial Army, Lord Roberts says, cannot carry-out the functions laid down for it by Mr. Haldane unless 'three conditions' are fulfilled. These are that the training must be made .adequate, that it niust be made compulsory for all able-bodied youths of. the military age, and that the training must take place before and not after the outbreak of war. The last recommendation seems so obvious: that it would bo hard to bolieve that it was soriously meant if Mr. Haldane had not admitted that the essence of the proposals was that' the six months' training which was to render the Territorial Army fit lor war was not to begin until after war had broken out.' If we were to rely on the Tentorial -Forces to deal with a surprise Stt \ F' HaWano has frankly added, 'Wejhould rely on very little." Lord Koberts, on tho other hand, supports tho Ideal that tho Territorial Forccs should be ready for all emergencies, and should be prepared, to take tho fiold in full efficiency at a moment's notico. . They would thus, on the outbreak of war, set tho Regular Army free for purposes of offenco, allow the Navy greater freeedom, ajid compel any hostilo l'ower that might attempt invasion of this country to send so largo a forco that its transports could not evade our own fleets and flotillas.

This triplo object could be achieved, Lord Roberts contends, by adopting the proposals of. tho league. Every man of sound physique, without distinction of class, should be legally liable for military service in the United Kingdom durmu certain vfi»rs of liis life in case of emergency. Sufficient training could bo given oy all being compelled to undorgo a certain amoujit of preliminary training between the ages of 18 and 21, with short annual camp trainings to follow during the next three or four years. The book contains an elaborate study of tho Swiss and Nonveirian militia hv Lieut., Colonel 0. Delme-Radcliffc, and by !lr. J. V. Lewis, late of the 19th Hussars. ' If Kfiiiip sucJi system can bo introduced into Grout Britain (says an English paper), as Lord Koberts is convinced it can, when onco "superficial objections and prejudices" have been overcome, "wo shall soon have" ho says, in Great Britain, that "Nation in Arum" wvii Mr. Haldano has often told ui< is the 'i -ial ri.t which ho aims, and which tv.Mil/l give os not only peaco with honour but an improvement in our national phyi siqup. a strengthening of the moral fibro of the people, and a great addition to our'industrial efficiency, and so to our wealth and prosperity.

' The present law, so far from being insufficient to deal with any unaccepted feature of motoring development, can be, and is used to tyranniso the motorist. Wo are being over-legislated.—"Motoring Illustrated."