DEFENCE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 420, 1 February 1909, Page 9

DEFENCE NOTES.

(By Echelon.)

At a'meeting , 'of tho Royal United-. Service, 1 Institution recently, a discussion-took place on cycles in. warfare. Four.;., directions-:" inv which cyclists coiild bo strategically profitably employed wero suggested. .■They might be used in garrisoning. an area temporarily deprived of military forces, but liable, to-in-cursion by tho onemy; they might be us.ed-in conjunction with strategical- cavalry, they might make excursions into the areas held. ,by the enemy; and they . might c operate against an enemy's lines, of /communication. The long distances which cyclists could .cover, in a d.ay could not but. have_a;serious : .offect ■on tho moral' of an enemy's unit's;-... In tactical employment the cyclist .'would : bp■best r.em-v .'ployed , in' preventing an' attejnpt.-.tp, ; turn ; the: ilank, .yet owing ;to his,"mpbilityi'lie./could be brought back to join/thV/jmain-: defence if circumstances rendered" this 'advisable, ; and there would be no , ' being cut off owing to'his speed. ; Motor cycles were absc-. lutely .indispensable, for the carrying of dis-; .patches from■ one body ■;of cyclists to. cho 'other. ■.- . • '■■.'■"-'.- .'■.'■'.'■'?,■'. V "-■.'' -I.■■■'.

The experiments made witli. highWclocity .ammunition have, hot .yek-succeeded.un fdeveloping a cartridge': suitable ~\ oriothe;: Leer Enfield rifle."■'; It is-stated;<byksomp;bf .thciex- 1 ports that" the .rifle breeeb'j as;.itestandsn.is: .too weak for tho strongerv'ebarge, • and"tljatr a high-velocity, ammunition cannot from -it unless the brecchns strengthehed'..:'.'.

' In a recent: letter to 'tHe'specib!"' <mter : bf tho "Military. Mail," M.P.," has , some interesting reniarks -to-'make; on .' 'pointed bullets;" '• I;h'e -last; few; years,. he says, &perim;onts ; have :.. ponclu^ ' sively. proved "that. ,the. of _.a bullet for ;a' smalifbpT^7rip ;:;i: pointed ogival.form.! Amogival bullet:i.s c cap-;' able of showing a tration, greater , stopping^'.pbwerj'-'and "_. s'upe'T.! rior.immunity;.'-to wind-deflection ■,than ; i our: ■present bullet.::,; To, secure the. ,bost; rteultsj ; however, -it is.. necessary to. "use'- a' ;'• heavy.-. chargp/pf .powder,' preferably''of a. , .fast; burni' .ing variety; and i not to 're;dnce';oyerrtsch - the: .weight , , of the , bullet.' ;The| r e-';c.onditions;.re-'.' cjuire -'breech? res.istance"on J *lKe'f part of --thp.-.rifle.;?' ie soweak that" to use an 'with 'safety, either the. powdqr.charge* ; or.".the bullet.must! be too light to speure effective:results. Other; countries have recognised ': the ~ advantage pf the'new .bullet,, and prempilyrEebiired them for themselves.. ■.' The German :Spitzer cartridge was, tho' Pf.th& tyjie t6" be _ adop : ted .by a;great; military; Power. ;;Thp U.S.A., in ■ spite of the. fact that :they" : ha& : pnl)v iised' their Kragrifle for quite-a"short time, adopted the Springfield and. r rnpd6'rn;-a'mmiinit ! ion, probably. tho ; best,in the world, r^ ; .-: ::.„ .Mr. : Kaldane'.' states; that into .'.'^terajtiqnj'pf, , tlie.Leo breec^ actioii will;b'e vconsidereS-untit •.we • ad6pt: an automatic. ,r.ifl"ej~"th6ugK,':he. , ad< mits.ithat no automatic, x for service.conditipns has invented, irid: that -no consideration has"bein. given. 'kTihe ■ question w.hether. it' wjlV)bfe v ppss.lblp; ; iioASup T ' ply the;': enormously.;..in'Rrease'd.;;.]ie'mand for (vmmunitipn ..'..ofci the' ; , .■of. i ,.t(ati)9 , .;;,3 i: ,;ojir,troops• arri armed with' are -condemned..to; : which gives ■ a -point blink- ,;pf •.-, seyerat; hundred; yarde' less.thah^those" : eigii \ countries J V and has ■ less and .far. less"stopping. Dpwer\"-~Mr:'.fialdane;h.as even declined-, to; his; own .small, arms committee^.experts) , . pr£to;..a;ny. committepyof exports.' , -;J;v"..;.i.r-'.vv',7-iy'f:. : 4;.'

; The Secretary:' of■th'eV ; Natibnsi-:'-'Servii# ! League,.. Mr.-. G. ■:-3\ ' ,Sli^< statement .madp/ by':; Mrr : Haldan6 at': 7; JtdcH--dale recently !that Vwhatisverdiffifcultiev'thor^ ■might be in-giving lwvo', : t6'nieh:of--tlie;'Jerri-' torial force, to ..'go- to:;campv : difficulties;were far le'ss?'than';wouldjbe'b.cca- n " sioued-by. a:system.of Mr. !3hee' says'; that .the 'hiihiber^f-o'inplpyees :absontrin:'any' one"year'|%ndeJv'n > ;B}'6t6m"j'of' universal training "\v6ulil ,, be l ?w|ll i Wjide"r A .'.per ,-cent;, all probably, urider tll^Sf^of employer, of labour al)plvs'"Hi's.Hands'to* ■ join the Territorial: Force *ilj ; of ten ;fincl tke' ; : p.ercentago ; absentr'on ; training) to'.be'.Biuoh ;larger.'thah; : this,ywHileV.'t}ie-VatMptccs'' : often, be the , ' most,' valuable' , .mfen-r-mature'. workmen ";iit; responsible;' positions,':",': vWdiild, anybody, seriously' maintain; ."asks VMr;',;Shep',-' that the haphazard.'and juneqiial—-arid'rthcre-' otic employer, in. ~war as* weU.avin peace/. ;lnder the;voluntary.system.is.;lightor:;than would] be .the case if all aliko, were .undor /the -kind compulsion of an equal law?— London' "Standard." ■'■ > L;'. il l^

: Anow.treatise.': on' metiital work'in/the: field (all- armies) .is "being "by'the. General.'Staff-at•:the''AVarrOffice,; arid;;that : portion 'dealing ■ with Germany justf : bcun ■ issued. 'lir;loo2.a , .''ha])dboolf i of--tho.;med_fcal; ..organisations '■ , of ; .'-for(Bi^>r'aruii6s,iJ?- : .-,by-"~ylile&i' [tenantColondFrank' : !Howard;waß;pi}blish.ed''It 'contained a ; short "of* !'the field medical-units' and isonie /oth'er.'c'e-." tails-of tho,army;>'medical>iservice 'of -20 "Hif-" 'ferent ■ States).. and' has ; bepiy; used v"a s Vpne' ; of; -the text books for ,tKe'examinatiori -of '.officers'. of the-Royal;. Army'; Medical 'Corps'qualifying; for...promotion to soqueneo of :;ther'Gencya:.Gonyention-'of; : July 6,. 1906j a knowledge of.- these-TservjceV lias', become, of ■ great er importance': thaii■; previously to officers-:of; tho'. Ariny; -iirtirb r -especially ■ 'to. ! officers of: the Royal ; Army : -;Med]cal^Sorps ; and to ill who':'may bo'associate'd^'witht-'th'at , corps - in'-tim'p' of .war..; It': hits '■ beeii- r f6und- : icl-' visable, therefore; to alter.'- tlieycliiracter''>of |ho handbook tpV'pre'-'. eejit a'-'.wider.Varid more -general.view "-of; t.liamilitary medical; services 'of ; otheif countries:The plan has,now.' been; adoptcd.-of'- preparing'; accounfe ;of- the more' important .of v these' Services.'.and '.''piiblishinc' them "inj-.-Teejarato only faoilitate- .'teyin.on as changes . occur.: :irt tho future, but .will' placecthe-'.parts •HnisHibl , hands of with'" lesss delay ::thnni if -ihoplan .were followed of, issuing.-?-; a:: compldta. revision .of -'.Colonel; Howard's .handbook in one;-yolumei'.vThp boiiig. ' compiled■ : - by..' LieutonantrColonDl-..-.■ W.'"■_.-6,, Macpherson, ;C..M.G. : .','',' •,-;.' " : :;;-. : ';■;".

•; Tho War Office'"scheme for a military railway service'is .being pusHedfonvardy.'reports .the London'-^'Standard," : .,and; ; ty/js^hoped,-to make, a • "section,: ii| it .'available for", fofeign .service. ..Th?.proposals' set^out'.m;the special order are .to-.the effect th'at'ih'the' : eveii't' 'of; an expeditionary force.heirijj; 1 sent;out''of L the' United 'Kingdom:.the: working;of.'.-s; railway; system in the theatre of ;^v'ar_willi_.: if : 'neces-; eary, be undertaken" by -Special' Reservists/ drawn from the Territorial 7 Force a'n'd organised as:an Array.Railway-Gorps: .-'W}S''i>TO-: posed that , this corps should plete units,', composed that the'.personnel, should-consist'*of-officials" and employees from one. ,oi iT mqre..'bf tho.ex-, isting civil railway, conrpaiiifis in:the United Kingdom. -The railway-'^rps'-will-.consist v of three units,:—/' ■~,:'•.;.! yc -"; ,; ' '.""■:"'."" :. ■ Central establishment,- (office,' agers, and heads of' departments on tue-rail-" ways). . '■'■-, ■..■■'"•":■'•■ ■•'-''■'■• ■'■:': ' ;£V - : ' ; -ft ; - ;^ ; y ■: ..".'■.' Two railway .distriots." ; (tlie - heoessa"ryi.per- ; sonnol for th'o: complete -Wiining bf-' : a. line):'*--', Tho corps'will'be driwtf>'frbin ,illHhb:ex-> pert branches of' railway;"'6ervice—mariage-; ■ ment, 1 traffic control,' maintenance?-'locomb"-; tive', .telegraph,"'accounts';, and: stores.: ; To the Oontral Establislimeni nrill':.b'o-allotted--tlio; commanding' and;fiv;e=rnaiors;:ilrid-th'e'; full strcngtlrof all ranke) ; Vill;'be 594.--: The strongtli"of-each of the■■.two' : raihvay.■.districts" will.be 302 (including l thrco'-captaijis;and tenlioutonants),:and:this;'will now'-uhit a total strength "of £i6B^-ft;' very .'Scrvices.blb 1 drm'in time\,of : necessity<i:. ■;,-,,>j',-:s^-a.> ; i_ '-"lwsr.-r.-

. With .the/ annual musketry -course .foVtlie British Territorial Force./ havo-'.beon-issued' sbmo. '.' gerioral-Vinsfructions''' a'pplic'-. able to all courses .tor;'theuse{3i.!ar "iorces , ; special -'reserve, arid_ terriwrial' force) (observes, tho..'.'Military tremoly interesting, attention .is - being paid littlo things which have Hitherto>hardly,:bee v n ronsidered in the schenwrof ihstruption. . Par-' ticularly was it said of'the,.'yoliinteers;th'at they were given a certain number of-rounds which had to be. blazed awey-somehow on tho ranges, and the average-instructor was sometimes spoken of. as.''a' I man -who'cared for little else beyond as jiuickly as possible. 'Vltdjvy- However-fit: is. notified that if the 'rccruii*aoe4;not attain 1 to. the standarda. laid: down,'; and-^beigins .■ praci

tice on the open ranges with no confidence in himself .and; no ability to hit the target it will be.'proof, that his preliminary training Has .failed. Aid in. a way.it will convict his instructors of not having properly done their work.' Faults are;iiot , to be overlooked in .the future during early training, nor put off >itlith&. remark-thai, they will right thenW. .selves.later on; .The Army Council realises ;that habits onco formed are- exceedingly difficult to break', and they hint pretty plainly in.these instructions' that a man who has. formed bad habits in regard to his shooting,! is physically and mentally unfit to take his: place in tho ranks, and should be discharged. Rub this is not to happen until everyfornv of. persuasion has failed. -From suttarget and miniature-range practice, and;firing at the 30.yards range, the'recruit is to be led to.the.lOO yards range, aud.there, ho is to be ; watched with the greatest care, in order ■that faults may be'traced:eitber .to thoman's 'eyesight; or. the rifle, and quickly, remedied. If the rifle, says the instructions,' is proved accurate,-:the'sojdier's aim should'next .be tested:and the let-off examined. ":. His, eye-; sight; andneryous .condition should be gone .into,' and if anything is due to nervousness he- should- be persuaded to develop-his will power by gymnastics or otherwise. There ii a human touch about all this 'which should mako musketry instruction all the more iateresting..;.-./ ;j :.-' :: ■. / . •■■' ; ■■■..-''.' ':'■'■

:.-.■ Should Mr; Haldahe fail or falter it can be .; :' taken;for-granted , that the ago of; .'. 'militarj'* servico in this; country has passed, \' : ■'(■'; '.commerits ttip'"Military Mail".in; a recent .;,':" :issup. .If he 'cannot; save the," country, from •.•'■" .■ -■ •compulsory '■■ service n'd ■ one'.can.. This is the-.■~-.';.-, meaningof some, of.: his pregnant remarks' of ~ .;' 'late--.to which we.have called^attention. His .. ..■".- opinions, are not chanKing,;.but:circumstances j ;.'■ aro gradua]ly>f breing ;.;lim. to plainly state' an; ■,; -.'.. .'ugly..truth" which , ho has; been considerately. ■'■■.'.. in the background. : The nation,The:| "says";'must' co-operate in the;:commbn'.task. : i''■;■:■' l "more;than; : 3l2,ooo :Territorials ior .-.■ -the defence of-the. country, he said; at BocbV ■''..'■.'. : dale, and added, .'.'if-we can ■ out resorting; to corapulsory , service iso ■ muca< " : jy .the-better." -There,is a : .veiled ! threat.here ,, :;' : :'-. which every man. and woman .should appre-v' ■; : :' "ciate. 'And/surely.,nobody could blame/the"! ,- Minister for War.if he should ;give ; up the '■■:■■ ■'worrying'struggle.and go. the,.way.of: experi-:, , ; •.'.(, 'enced- military-;leadcrs;.and.;critics sucli' as ■ ' -' Earl:Boborts,-sCpl.; Lbnsdale Hale, Dn T.■':! : Miller';Maguirdi;- and. a host of others. , '; We';]'.' -. • have followed.the'trend :'of. his-thoughts very V, blosely. for'some months, and can affirm that.-| * : 'only at.theJdirbstiertreinity will-Mr.;" Hal- i; dane -give in' and' admit himself .beaten. How-: !■.;;" ; -' ever; ;if ".beaten/the". War Office'have anal-.! "■'. ternative ; scheme'^eady—a .compulsory schema f.- : V >rhjch : 'canVbe'-'easily.fitted.-.-to', the machinery/-.";.'■ which-he c h'asVsp-well put 'together.. ;,..;■; '.. ;: ';.'.■•'.:'•.'

";''Artillery j" (writes^an: excited"cbrrespon-:V.:/ : debt)*,-."I" want" you" to. understand .that I: j v ;~.'. dote '.on.: artillery;/■'. Whenever•' l 'see ; a. 'man>|•;■•■.'• lite, pine for .artillery^. , '; ■.■;" f And",** as there.iare'largerquaiititjes] of '; whose" Ibis"r. : iirt)uld :.estc,em' a'; distinct" gain-'..;/;".: ,tp;society, atilargeV'you,.'Echelon', , "will. per-', f ." : . ■;■■'. , that I 'could \find profitable*, , ■.': employment, for nearly all the batteries vrhich j'. " : ir.pcently; blewi'the Manchurian millet .crops' into] the;middl<s., of. the next: county,;.'-And,'. , :.■';.; r/|?chelon,'.''ioelihg'this.;overmastering craving (.''.; ;for : 'artill^ry,;:ybu' ; *ill - '.easily .I';j''.'V.naturaUy:'grow'excited, whenever.:, -the .-'local-j ;:. ; .bpysi'go -but , -with UHeirV lean ■■ starved)j : .battenes:^tb":'Pigibn"'.Bußh-.'or';anywhere;, else.:;.-. , ,1; al'STay.s"think:that a.: New, :;Zealand';-:neldi- ;i> :battery,''• beirigj'a>creation;of the;. pdliticians, J , ; ■.-■" is simply;an-invitation' to foreigners to c P. m ?"] : . here, and''• get- thp'agony -of :the ; conquering i ;, /.'i^j^ivAs'Jor.^iie.' forts;.-1 have.beenthfoughvi: :V imostT-of ; th6inV ;: antl 1 :brice'.had'.'an;idea of j;.'• ■■' .meeiing : ;my':-Jtringent; money; circumstances j..;\' by selling, the plaujof .theiwjiole lot to; the'i ,-.'•■ Kaiser.'. , : I : was ..only -"deterred; ;by ; . reflecting thatWihelmT.is:a;go^'-judge^f : .value,';'bf'.military,, plans," :■ and" ■;.ho:. prbbamy;!•■••>. .; ..TTould.'ript give.me lnpre than lOJdi for the"'"'.'■: ■; lot.*? ;Ybu'.can : eeej .'dear - .'Echelon,' : that: such j ■.-. :: -&niamount would not pay postage to Berlin;: p. ,bql uride>'.the :: circumstances,::l'have."decided:;:. x Jto'rsmajri true to my country.-Butit is ai'v .^orld/pf'■'compensations, and there is:nb; ill •,. . Ai|hout. ■ itj /corresponding ; Despvto"alr^' '.the'disbeurageinents.to.a student of artillery-"'? .outliiied'.aboy©,' Palways feel-Uiat;l gain a ' 'grea't.deal'of ■' valuable knowledge whenever.-"-..■■ the Inspector-GeneTal XColbnel Davies) begina;; ■ . to hold forth •■•oh the/subject..: It was/sowhen,;,.. , ■he') spbkb";tb'-tho battery, at. Pigeon■' Bush. : ; .- ■ iiffer.:;bhe:;bf:.:thQ: /.-• cou'rses.on' guns:!'.always begin., to. feel that; IrhaTe.'-been..'-misled-'"farr-1x»-.16ng T by;.ignor--,;- ;: -:; ■amuses Kkp. Napoleon or Moltko. I begin.to : .see' tHat ; even'Nogi:and Oyama 'did t : ■ ' know: the ganie: .THese ill-informed people.icd .;,. - nib to" believe' that ifiro; effect was 'everything -:■, .... and;tlie : rest nothing, but I see; now.that tne";j:/. ... ina'iri business' ofVartillery is.:to hide from the;, . .. ■enemy rather^than to slay him.; So tie_bat-;j,;. tery last": Saturday should have, been behind^. ;.. i.'a .ti-tree-clump and' not in :an open stubble. . ■field'. '-I gathered, that'the Japanese artillery . .:. carefully, kept away from landmarks .(inclucl- - •ing"'-trees),'; but, : since;■'..Colonel Dayiesi has', ;.' ishown. that this is all -wrong, my opinion of, ■■. 'yelibw. : iperir peoplehassunklower.thanever^V : ' ; ; l.llso Ithink'we have to thank the'lnspector-; •■;■ ' General for -.abolishing indirect firing as'; not $ ; ].-;. being, suited to New/Zealand requirements. -| ~ .-YesV'-we Have to be thankful, for that. ;.It-!9 l- v ■true'that indirect'.firing was introduced here ; ...y by" Major Johnston: .wha.had been framed' ; ■ on tho Indian'frontier,(where they ;keep .the ;,-■ ; best artillery inthe world), but then Major: ' ■ .; ■Johnston-did: not know New. Zealand-require- y-'-.,; ■imenW' Indirect, firing :is: for shooting overj .■=; .::: : :hills : ; with;" andj as. everybody can see; nm.fi ~ .; Zealaiid is : .everywhere'perfectly flat..?, Yes, 1,.■■:.• ;. ■likeffie-Ihspector-General. < He is a practical; r>, ; aoldiort and he was a■• dramatic column com-. ;•; iander in : Africa.' And,there.is-somethmg-j. ■; -very, fine about practical, men.of .the epura-:' .-,; ) eeous Now and tbeuyou find ; . .-,.• .feels' equal.' to- walking rough-shod over the .. accumulated -wisdom'.-■ of tio ~. . ■;■■ I . a mV:ete:,-Vv .';,r '^v::- : '-- v,', ', .LANYAED.j : ; .'■ '' ; V , always heard that; ti-irtey: bush, .:;■' i 'chiirchvsteeples, :cowß,.'and things like tha"> ..-,. were the -very, things -calculated, to draw tb>|, enemy's fire.- -What do you .think?—L. : ■.: -.■; -..;•;