DEFENCE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 14

DEFENCE NOTES.

: (Br Echkm&J There aro signs (etevtoe tho "Military Mail'Ontfoat tho WaT/Offiee nro casting off tho fetters of tho Franco-Gorman War of 1870 as a subject for examination in military history! The forthcoming examinations itt May and December this year comprise questions on Granfe operations in Virginia in i 186-1, and tho Ruaso-Japaneso War, including ' Liao-Yang and battles up to August 24, 1904. The examinations i for admission to tho Staff College* in August, 1909 and 1910, include papers on tho Indian MuCiny up to the-Relief of Luoknow,' with remarks on ttio probnblo rosult which tho present railway system would have had on its course. In May and December, 1910, the Russo-Japaueso War and tho operatjons in tho eastern theatre of tho American Oivil War to May 5, 1863; tho Shenandoah .y alloy campaign from April, 1861, to Juno, 1862, are to bo studied. The Russo-Japanese and American campaigns arc Bubjccts that haro been selected for tho first ( tdme in examinations for promotion. Some, smart coast defence work, according 1 to the ."Daily Mail," was accomplished recently ai Hunstanton (England) by a detachment of Territorials under Lieutenant S. \A. Coxpn. Tho idea was that an onemy was endeavouring to land and capture the wireless telegraphy'station at Hunstanton. A rocket was sent up from Hunstanton Water Toivor, i , ' and was promptly answered by rockets discharged at (seven outlying places over a radius_ 'of eight miles, ono of theso being Sandringham. Tho members of the local detachment immediately proceeded by cyclo and motor-car to their armoury 'at Heacham, whore equipment was sorved out, and they were taken by motor-car to Hunstanton, two miles distant. Within forty minutes of tho first rotkot two sections Were posted on tho coast-lmo near Hunstanton' Lighthouso, and had opened firo on their imaginary enemy. - Tho lance sinco the campaign in Africa was ended has not been regarded by British , cavalry regiments as an cflectivo weapon of warfare. An order has now been issued by tho. War Office that- lancer regiments are i again to bo armed for active service with tho lanco, in addition to tho sword. Two great Continental Powers <are still at varinnco in regard to its efficacy in shock »c----tion. Every Gorman cavalryman - wields a lance, and an ugly weapon it looks in hie hands. Austria, in times of peace is in war, possesses 60,000 cavalry—Unceri, dragoons, and hussars—perhaps the finest regiments ,in Europe,; yet not ono carries a lance. , Austria pins her faith in a long heavy sabre. Wo have ourselves as a great military power noTeason to despise tho lanco. At TJlundi when tho 17th Lancers chased the Zulus for three red miles; at Omdurman; and at Elandslaagte, where the'Oth Lancers with then long assegais gave the Boers tho worst time of that protracted campaign, tho lanco has proved itself a terrible weapon. , Even on foot its efficacy is exemplified by Germany and France. Their infantrymen , annod withv.a long rifle and a long bayonet fixed thereto, facts'our military authorities so far overlook.—"Military Mail." A New Army Kit.

:' Mr.. Charles.;Loomes,.';pf. the. New' Zealand , Defence: Stores - Department,. haq invented 'a' Eew type of iarniy service kit, ;which:embodies/ ■:in. its construction;.;some, ■commendable, ■;features:v'-:^V > Im'penal-|irmy;servioe.;kit'-imr' poses • upoa the' soldier, vrhen on ;the'march, :■ a; burden? of ; Vabput',.;jsOlb,j : /and .'ammunition/, In ithis?kit,r;the-; weight; is balanced ■that : ofiLthe'amMnition,:but the, r .weakness ■of : this -system' , ;of^: distribution-;becbniesVapr' parent when the' ammunition is espehded,' and: the*-: equilibrium of 'the whole .is: disor- ' ganised.; 'ii.the./'.'Lopmes". kit,; the' inventor .;■/-.■'V-- 7 -:.-'.': : :-i''.V:: v . r '.-'■,}-':■ -.a;'?-'- '.'' '/1.-Eq^al,: adjustment of 5 weight, which,; ..whilebeing .supgortedifroin^the.shoulders;is, v" also; ■ disCnbnted .^pver : the ■ entire .body, with .absence of anyvconcentratiori of ( pressure" on .any. particnlar part, 'thus leaving' the;arms and chest comparatively free; : ■.;-•'. ■■■'.■.,; ;•■.. '.■.■ .2. Ab'sence:of any-doubt opposition-of cart:,':'Tidges^'or^bfv.ilM't';VpducKvVemptiedi:';,;,Thiß ; is most essential, , ae. it 'makes', the ;withdrawal ". of ■; ammunition , ; ■ automatic^- , 'and , '■'■. the faction i-calm ,f:'and r : < certain^?preventing .■■ fumbling, 'shifting>pf.,rifle.from hand to hand, , doubt,. ;.and consequentvdelay:in";nlling ; map;azine. ; '■"' -S ~(.3. .Perfect easel and'reto'ntion of cover'arid- '; position'iwhen .-fiririK; iand,; :: reloading;;'lying ■ down,'' as the; slide;.holdin'g'the. ball, bass is i'easily : -. ; pulled.anfo''po'sitiQ.ri;,;by.' the .hand;'not-. flat fand extended,; ;;!''■■>( ;^\\!V-vA4;

;; !in any >.'. .way,-prevent^the/ attaplunent ,'of/ :bajbnet, :./: 'water-bottle,., mess-tin, \oi, Haversack;'and; for :; : . weight 'and "cheapness of .construction; com- ■ J,o : /l»reslfaTptirßbly;.mth , 'imyf.bxistine/'pattoTn, : '■.''•:■'..;Tfbile,Cthe: maximum. ;pf ; -quantity of 'ball .laid /down ■ manrmay :,be.'carried.'.'::'; The bell A'Av-:m!.whioli:'dide"s' : a^b'and'of , -tlii&Tm«talj> : \- ;.;ted by -leather.-' .-The'ii'seVof ■ the;metal • s'ide leatHer'ber i;V come danrp/J'TKe'vpouches containing'tho" ball :V^^^ ri ?SM.'''Bre'- y flxed^'; ; th'o':motal.'slide .;'•.; glide into position forextraction when l drawn -'..from the front,,the'*empty -pouches'■ being , around to •"the", back' -by ■■the -.'same ■:... ■; v; ':';'■ j : ,-:':.'f' '."?'."..V,v ■/;.', -v'-' '._'. ■.'.7/''.■.;::■ V :".,,; .-.'illlt .is obvions;". states' the inventor, "tbat ..:; , ; vtaany..variations in the;details of .this •inveh;y :: : tion may, be ,mado.y:; For.;instanc6: ■ the quite-' V;: 'tity.of. ammunition to-be-carried:determines ;: ,'the' size .of.'the.ballVbags,- : the s'two clip' size ;■:;;.. earring; thirteen' .bags, • or I'3o rounds of am- ;■ .:■; munition -permits /oi; the - adjustment -of ■ the ■'■(■• '-mL .^,, tl 'e. n i a ximuin.;-or the minimum waist.' 1 *.■■:'.; may-be'made" detachable,from - ' I'tho slide belt, and when;only 'a small quaii- ■ • '"'"tyy .of. is;required for ;range : pr'ric--:^K''-'^ic6/may-:bb>;attachißa:to:the'-.bbdy:belti:and :;:.;niay also, be. used; alone.with'.•'side arms. '-^.TheV ::;., material used : :ih: J construction : of/both' 1 belts ;.;: • IB" PPen .to -' change 'both; : from • economic" and : -"- : - ; '. : '-sHs a j lO ' : ' r^°nß - : ''' ; ''''^ a P^ K r''^derole;- :: 'or :;;•■■ [°'a«4.;Oyorcoat,.:.may:/De.:attached'; i tooths :.vy ;toaces:;carrymg ,the';belt, special adjustments ;.;.,:.being made for Wis;purpose; ,;Dees hawbeen :,:,. fixed. ..in. body, belt - to;, carry, -water 'bottle, ■■ -~;,- hayersack.retc./but-the straps as now 'used ' -;'• K?^ : T?7 f e re'with/theVorking.of; the r . : c■.•-,' :^;.vv,.;V;•( rV (^ , ;.. v^ ■•■>•.. =.;:,'. ,(-• ' '■•-;■;> V T h6':iriye^ion;is>S;present -uh<3er : the. ih;-and-consideration '.of--the .-, -.land. Council; of '; ,Y ; :,'.;:. ; . .v. .