DEFENCE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 330, 17 October 1908, Page 13

DEFENCE NOTES.

> ' ; 6 (By Echelon.) TTie ranges and targets for to-day's shooting at Trentham are as follow:—Collin's Range, 200 and 500 yards—City Rifles, 7—9; Guards, 10—12; Post and Telegraph Rifles, 13—17:. Highland Rifles, 20—22;. Karori Riflo Club, I—4; Permanent Fotco Rifle Club, 5—6; Spare targets, 23 —24. Sonimervillo Range, 200 and 600 yards:—Engineers, 14—15; Heretaunga Mounted Rifles, 16—17; Civil Service Rifles, 23—25; College Rifles, 21—22; Zealandia Rifles, 12—13; Hutt Valloy Rifles, 18—20; Spare target, The following letter has been addressed to the editor of The Dominion by Mr. Thos. R; Roydhouse, "Sunday Times," Castlereagh Street, Sydney, N.S.W.:— • Sir, —As you are no doubt aware, there has recently been formed in England a body entitled the Boy Scouts. The object is to train boys in patrols of eight to become the resourceful and self-dependent eyes of an 'array. •'■, Thoy learn how to track without being themselves observed; how to camp with or without equipment; how to cross rivers without boats; how •to observe all details of a country; in short, how to become scouts of the highest order of excellence. Recognising that this work must necessarily be very valuable both to the individual and to the nation, I wrote to lieutenant-Genoral Baden-Powell, suggesting that the League of Boy Scouts should bo • made an Imperial one. It seemed to me that members of patrols established throughout the Empire could be brought into close touch by correspondence, and that later on exchange of visits might be arranged. Moreover, a boy scout from any part of the Empire would find a. friend in any other part, oven when "grown up." The effect of this more intimate union of interests will, of course, be obvious. Without waiting for a reply, the idea was developed in the journal in this, State with which I' am connected, and within a few ■ weeks over a hundred patrols have been formed in and around Sydney, and in the country districts. Before tho year closes ther® will probably be a thousand patrols. • The uniform is a simple one: Swiss guide pants (cut just above the knee), golf stockings,,! a sweater, and Baden-Powell hat. The boys also carry a staff, iron shod, called a . tracking iron. The boys enter _ most enthusiastically into the work,' seizing opportunities to go into camp , (oven though it be but from Saturday to Monday), where, betweon engaging in scouting work and war games (invented by England's premier scout), they-swat up for school, exams. The object of my letter is to ask your co-operation. Already I have had somo inquiries from your territory as to. how to go to work to form patrols, and I am certain that it only needs local newspapers to takej the-matter in hand in order, to interest the local school teachcrs. Active work by a few progressive teachers is all that is needed to ensure complete success. Is it worth while? I am. strongly of opinion that'it is, and tho belief that other newspaper men will:be in accord prompts ii.e to take this unusual course. I have ill the information how to go to work- to form patrols, and am also in touch with the English authorities. . I shall be pleased to answer inquiries, and put schoolmasters and others in. touch with-captains of patrols already formed in New South Wales; also to forward literature bearing on the subject, , ' The. latest thing • in riflo sights, the M'Calley wind gauge sliding .bar and traversing' ladder, has had an improvement effected,to it which makes the contrivance capable of being used at 200 yards without the necessity of the leaf being laid flat, as has . always been : necessary m the-jpast. It is probable thatVthe" will ' entirely Abolish veiitometers, and will be universally used by marksmen. ■ : The King's Prize at'Bisloy. this year,was t won,.by a twenty-year-old lad,- who is reputed to have fired his first shot two years ago, .when he joined the First Lanark Rifles. Last year he bought a rifle at a sale, and his success "with it was so marked that ho decided to go to Bisley. He had a new barrol put on the old stock, and with this hs fired so successfully that ha eventually proved champion shot of 1908 amongst the thousands of competitors at the annual contest, by virtuo of a clear lead of four points from his closest rival. The lad's name is George Grey, and he lives at Helensburgh, Scotland, where he ! works with his father as an oilskin manufacturer. t /His nearest competitor was Sergt. Norbury, of the Fifth South Lancashire, while third place was filled by the veteran Sergt. Ormundsen, well known,in Australia, who finished at 1000 yards w'ltn the good "shoot" of 43 out of a possible 50. _ The money prizes for the first five places in the aggregates wero £60, £40, £30, £20, and £15 respectively.

"Pot-hunters" are not in favour in Palmerston North. Major Dunk and Mr. A. Turner, representing the , Manawatu Rifle Association, waited on the Palmerston Bor.ough 1 . Council recently, with a request for assistance by way of subsidy or otherwise.. They had much expense'to meet and only ■ subscriptions to rely- on. . One councillor favoured the application, and assisting the cadet movement. Another favoured a small sum if it was to assist the'cadets, but riflo shooting was to a great extent pot-hunting,' as tha crack shots won most' of tho prizes. A vote of £5 as a prize for the cadets was passed. .

; In connection with tho recent inspection of ■ the Fifth Wellington Rifle Battalion by Colonel R. H. Davies, C.8., Inspector-General of the Forces, the officer commanding tho battalion writes as follows to Captain liavidson. commanding tho Daunevirke Rifles:— " The Inspcctor-General inspected the Woodr ville, Paniatua, and Dannevirke Riflos at Woodville on September 23. The officer commanding the battalion desires to express his appreciation of the attendance of all ranks, many of whom, he believes, attended at great personal inconvenionce, and ho wishes to express his commendation of the muster of the )annevirke Rifles, whose whole enrolled strength, except three, attended the parade."

: - The annual military tournament at Palmerston North will extend over two days— Saturday, November 7, and Monday (King's Birthday, November 9.

The possibilities in the adaptation of tho motor to military purposes are so patent that it is somewhat surprising that things' have not been moro. developed' in this direction. A young French engineer, .M. R'estier, has, however, lately ■' been turning his attention to these matters, and the outcome is a "motor plough," as the ,inventor' not very happily tornis it. Tho machine docs, it is true, plough, but in a Gargantuan fashion, digging a tn-n<h not a furrow. It is intended to bo used for throwing, up earthworks rapidly and effectually. The machine, which is horse-drawn on the road, consists of an ordinary gun carriage, to which is coupled the motor plough proper. When tho plough is put in use on ground in 'which a trench is to be dug, a lever lowers a sharo and starts the motor, which then propels the vehicle, tho horses being required only to guide it. The engine at the samo time actuates a fly-wheel weighing 400 kilograms, armed n'ith four steel blades and turning at tho rate of 10U0 revi'u t ion> a minute. Tho motor,' whose four cylinders develop 100 h.p., spends only 10 nev cent, of its energy on propelling tho plough, the remainder being used for tho excavating apparatus. Tho ploughshare having drawn tho furrow, the revolving blade digs the trench and tho spades and a harrow, also moved by the machinery, throw up tho earth. Tho fly-wheel, by its weight and velocity, is, it is stated, powerful enough to turn up tho hardest soil. The machine is said to bo capable, whilo travelling'at the rate of six miles an hour, of digging a trench 2}ft. deep ana nearly 6ft. wide, and of throwing up corresponding earthworks somQ 3ft. high. If what _is claimed for it is not exaggerated, this maehino should be an invaluable adjunct in military operations.