DEFENCE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 966, 5 November 1910, Page 12

DEFENCE NOTES.

[Edited Bt Echelon.] TRAINING AND MANOEUVRES. MUSKETRY AND "PEEP-SIGHTS." A course of instruction in mountain scout training - the first of its kind—was inangurated by the British Army Council during the first fortnight of October last. Tho officers selected were chiefly these of infantry battalions who had had some scout training, a limited number of infantry brigade-majors also attending. Under the instruction of two Ghurka officers who are experts in mountain warfaro, tho training included signalling: of various kinds and inter-communication, examination of positions, rapid retirements, path-finding, and ground scouting; rapid sketching, examination ,of approaches and obstacles, scaling slopes, and forest work; the study of routes ior leading over them at nigiitj practice for attacks and seizing points at night; sniper* stalking; and final manoeuvres of two bodies of scouts working against each other. 1 Prompted by the visit of tho Queen's Own Canadian Rifles to England, tho suggestion has been made that it would bo in every way valuable if some regular system of interchange with the Dominions in military visits and training could be organised. A correspondent who ulrew the attention of the Secretary of the British Army Council to tho suggestion, anu inquired whether there was any likelihood of tho matter being taken up officially, received tho following reply:—

"The principles of interchangeability between the various parts of tho military forces of the Empire has for some time been recognised by tho Army Council, lo this principle effect has been given in the case of individuals, a list of whom will be found on page 57 of the current Army List. The attention of the Council, moreover, has already been directed to tho question of extending this principle so as to comprehend the interchangeability of whole ■units."

Major-General J. Spens, C.8., commanding the Lowland (Scotland) Territorial Division, when presenting the prizes at tho closo of the Scottish Army Rifle meeting, said what had struck him about the meeting was the thoroughly practical naturo of tho competitions. They had not seen, lie said, the old and familiar bull's-eye, and from a soldier's point of view that was quite right. They wanted to train tho soldiers first with the bull'seye and then, in the light of what had happened in tho past few years, to try and carry them on to a more practical position, that of shooting at figures, quick firing, and shooting at moving objects. There was no doubt that, was what a , good shot ought to bo able to do, as well as hanging on to the bull'seye, as they did in the old times. People talked about "peep-sights," but until tney could get a really practical' peepsight, which could be put on the rifle, and used in the service, they did not want to see anything but the open sights that they used now. He thought it a good thing to have a sight which everyone could use and which was not expensive. Tho peep-sight was an expensive thing, and not a,very practical thing for field service. A' point which ought to be thought of very seriously was that there should be capacity to judge distance along with 'good shooting. The more good judges of distance there were in a battalion, the better for it on. .. active service. ,

Among the points brought to noticfe during the last musketry year in Great Britain are the following:— ; Field practices require closer attention; the value •of landscape targets for the purposes of instruction in collective firing is not yet fully appreciated; standard tests are not sufficiently employed in the caso .of trained men; inclement, weather for rbhgo"pr'actices should bo avoided by recruits. In revolver practice officers do not always use their own revolvers. Revolvers differ in a greater degree than any, other weapon, and it is very desirable that • every officer should _ fire with his own. The machine-gun training still leaves ground for improvement. In the Territorial Force, out of a strength of 203,119, moro than 172,400 were tested, but only 106,125 qualified. The small number who qualified was due to the severity of the, recruits' standard tost. No fewer than 80,979 were not tested through lack of range accommodation and other reasons. Ranges were in some cases monopolised for private practice to tho exclusion of the training of the more indifferent shots. Bad shots are in future to receive first consideration. Tho machine-gnn training is most inadequate, and the Council hope that interest will bo taken in the guns, commensurate with their great firing power and tactical importance.

A communication from the British ' ' ar Office, issued just prior to the recent grand manoeuvres, succinctly reviews the objects of training and manoeuvres for troops. It states that "the annual training of troops of all arms is conducted with the, object. of _ duly preparing all ranks, by progressive stages, for ivav. In order to attain this objcct, tho training, of the soldier is carried out on systematic and progressive lines, and commences, apart from the theoretical training of officers and non-commissioned officers, with the instruction of the smallor units such as tha squadron, battery, and company. This instruction is, followed by regimental, brigade (artillery), and battalion training, which, in turn, lead up to brigade and divisional .training. Then come tactical operations between divisions, and, in. due course, the Army manoeuvres,' which form the culminating point of the progressive trainnig of the year, and include the combined operations, of all arms. In addition to giving .an opportunity to commanders of /applying the general principles and rules which govern tho leading' in war of the Army, and of practically testing the previous training of the troops, the main object of the Army manoeuvres is to afford an opportunity of practising the larger units in working in combination, of practising the combined, work of the staff, and of the Administrative Services and Dopartments in connection _ with the maintenance, and the .working of the lines of communication, of an army in ..no field. Apart from its actual fighting qualities, tho capabilities of an army /or offensive or defensivo action depend directly on the efficiency of the organisa.oll by which its daily requirements arc supplied. This organisation must provide not only for the replacement of wastage in personnel, transport, food, ammunition, and stores of all kinds, but for tue prompt removal of everything that is no longer required at the front, such as sick, wounded, and prisoners. An opportunity will thus be given not only of studying tho various problems connected .with tho supply and maintenance under field sorvico conditions of a division at war strength, but also .of forming an estimate of the powers of marching and of the endurance of regular .reservists, special reservists, and territorials. The men will come straight from their ordinary occupation, as they would if suddenly called out on mobilisation, and after a short period of preliminary training, will be. tested during the manoeuvres much as, they would be in actual operations against an enemy.

It has boon intimated that when noncommissioned officers of the British Territorial Army - are brought forward for higher rank, the responsibility for the promotion will rest with the commanding officers of tho units to which they belong, and commanding officers must realise their responsibility in this respect. T n order to carry., this policy into effect in future, when territorial non-commissioned officers are attached to ieginar uu.w courses of instruction, the regular commanding officer, \on completion of the course, will only,bo required to fill in and sign a certificate of training... It will then rest with the territorial commanding officer concerned to decide whether the non-co'pimissioned officer is fit for promotion or\not.