DEFENCE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 514, 22 May 1909, Page 10

DEFENCE NOTES.

(Br Echelon.) "I am far from believing," remarked Ibv Haldaae, British War Minister recently, "that the encouragement given to riflo clubs muet" bo at the expense of tho Territorial Force. At the same time, it must bo remembered that | skill with thd rifle is not all that is necessary | to fit a man to take part in the defence of his country. It is the shooting of • a disciplined and organised force that wins battles, and it' is easy to understand the attitude towards tho rifle clubs of many who fear tho eerioos preparation for war maybe neglected for what is m .itself subsidiary, and may bo only a pastime. There is a danger to be avoided, but methods can undoubtedly be found of associating rifle clubs with the best interests of the Territorial Force, and the Army Council are now considering what guidance can bo given in the matter. Since the introduction of the Officers' Training Corps into the new Army organisation in England, and tho consequent transfer of many Public School Cadet Corps thereto, tho question has been raised as. to the future of the Cadet Battalions ■ that do not come- within. the category of the Officers' Training Corps-: The whole question is still under consideration of a War Office Committee. Until the' report of this Committee has been laid before' tho Army Counoil for final approval, the Cadet Battalions remain under their old conditions of service. It is certain, however, that the new conditions will be a great improvement < the present, both ob regards training and muskotry, and tho whole status of Cadet Corps will bo improved.—"Military Mail." Discussing the aspect of the omploymont question on military training, a writer in the "Aldershot Military .Mail" says:— ' "On tho ono hand wo have largo business concern? liko Whiteley's, etc., insurance offices, and banks, municipal bodies, and other large .employers of labour all granting concessions .to their men who join the Territorial Foroo; while on the other hand wo have thousands of suitable men who are employed by small tradesmen and other business men, debarred from joining becauso they cannot afford to go away to camp, and in many cases they would lose their situations if they did. Instanoes can bo quoted of men who, when the Field Army Brigade Caftips existed, either paid a substitute to do their work for them whilo they went to camp for -.fifteen days, or els© threw up their employment so as to attond.- Tho same condition of things applies.'to the present Territorial movement. The small trader profits by the patriotism of his larger and more powerful competitor. He does not'actually prevent his employee from joining the Forco, but tho conditions of employment aro snch as to deter a would-be recruit , from enlisting, becauso. ic : may happen that tho employer will no longer require Ins services when ho roturns from camp, and in these days of unemployment there are thousands of men waiting to fill his place. These are hard words, but thay are none the less true. ; This stato of affairs would not -lost long under universal service. Tho small shopkeeper, the builder, the many other .employers I of labour who ,do .not figuro on Lord lishor's list at present would have to grant certain facilities to their employees in order that thoy could fulfil their military obligations. ' A NEW MINIATURE RIFLE. ' The new B.S.A. ininiaturo rifle, officially known as the "No. 2" model, is an example of the best class of- British rifle manufacture. England is tho home,of the gun trado, and tho finest specimens of sporting weapons aro still turned out thoro, and are exported even to suoh larjje rifle-manufacturing , countries as the United States of America and Continent!* countries. The new miniature rifle will sell rotail at the very low rate of 3fls. In,the now model, the weight 'of the striker has been kept downto the very lowest point. Sureness and rapidity of detonation' has been secured in tho best possiblo way, i.e., by means of n light sharp blow of tho .striker, driven forward undor the influence of a lively main spring. The trigger mechanism has been arranged so that the pull-off is- very sweet, and. more noticeable still is tho patent bolt head which contains tho strong spring hook cartridge extractor, and is recessed at the face to take the base of the .22 rim firo cartridge, which the, rifle is designed principally to fire. . This' type of cartridge, as is well known, is apt- to burst at the-base. The B.S.A. Company given very careful attention to .this ammunition fault, and havo designed the cartridjjo, base chamber in the ,bolt head of their new rifle to support tho-metal of the base and to prevent these freaueht bursts. Further, the' recessed bolt heaa acts as an aid to the extractor, since- tho base .blows out and forms a binding fit with tho' walls of the chamber in whioh it sits. Tho empty cartridge case is thrown out of the rifle bv an efficient ejector, which also acts as a bolt stop/ By simply holding back the trigger tho bolt may be removed from the riflo. ' The stock,, which is formed from one piece of wood, is 27 inches long, and' attached to the barrel by means of tho thumb screw behind the'trigger guard and the swivel sorew in the fore. end. Tho barrel and action (28. inches in length,' over all) - can, therefore,* easily be dismounted-for convenience in carrying the rifle. The length of the bolt from the face to the end.of: the striker when cocked is just under 5 inohes,' ; and tho bolt handle is of sufficiently largo dimensions'to enable a man with a'lull-sized hand to be ablo to grasp it and manipulate the bolt yasily. The backsight has, a vertical 6crew,adjustment, and may be elevated to allow of shooting up to 200 yards. The foresight is of the bead' varioty, but the manufacturers will supply either barleycorn or blade foresights, without extra charge. The rifle is adapted for tho fitting of aperture sights, which are so popular in these days. If necessary, the riflo can bo supplied for tho .267/230 central fire cartridge, an ammunition ,' about as accurate as tho .22, but more expensive. Tho rifle is fitted , with swivels, so that a sling can be used as a "stoadier" in target shooting. Tho length of the barrel iB 24 inches, and tho length of the riflo over all is 41 inches.-