MILITARY NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 15

MILITARY NOTES.

[Edited Br EcitslosJ THE NEW BRITISH SERVICE RIFLE, A nevr high pressure ammunition will shortly bo introduood by tho Commonwealth Defence Department. Tho Minister has been communicating with tho War Office, and ho announced last week that when tho now ammunition was about to bo distributed tho .303 service rifles would bo withdrawn from tho troops in batches, to allow of alterations being made to tho sighting arrangements at tho. Australian Small Arms Factory. Another sign that the compulsory military training system in Australia is becoming imbued with tho spirit necessary for its success is the formation of bands in oonnection with several battalions (reports the "Ago"), Tho Minister of Defence announced the other day that requests had been received for permission to form bands among the rndot?. It had boen decided that battalions should bo at lilwriy to esiablim Litmus, provided that the Defence Department was not put under any financial obligations. "Tho Australian naval station should bo Australasian, with Now Zealand contributing to tho fleet and represented on the Naval Board," was Admiral William Henderson s suggestion to tho Melbourne press. It is cordially supported by Fed-: eral Ministers, but New Zealand's decision to play a lone hand in naval defence at present, at least as far as being in the China fleet station is concerned. prevents any froo expression of opinion" (states tho ' Ago ). LAn Australasian navy is inevitable from a utilitarian point of. view,' was tho Prime Minister's com-* ment recently. "But, of course, wo don'tintend to press any views wo hold on to New Zealand. Any advanco must be of their free will. If they como to soe it ui our way, then well and good." The' Government holds the view that before' long New Zealand and Australia will bo linkod together in control of, and responsible for, a joint navy. Tho reason for poor attendanoe at tho senior cadet parades under tho Australian deteneo schemo has boen that many cadets havo discovered that tho Defence Department cannot punish for non-attend-anco until the oadet has readied the ago This is to bo altered by a new Hill. Where temporary exemption is granted during residence outside a training area lor less than sis months, tho trainer is to bo classed as efficient, provided that he has attended a proportionate number of statutory drills during his residence in the area, and attained a sufficient standard of efficiency. Where tho period of residence outside the area is more than six months tho trainee will lie marked in his scrvice book as exempt for that year.' . - Army Orders for November state that the following officers of tho. Permanent 1' oi cos of Oversea Dominions have been nominated for admission to tho Staff. College, Cnmberley, in January next:--Lieutenant-Colonel E. de B. Pauot, Royal Canadian Horso Artillery; Major C. H. ioott. Royal Australian Engineers; Captain <j. S. Richardson, New Zealand Staff Corps; Captain M. 11. Gardner, Royal New Zealand Artillery. In tho "Convention conoerning thft Laws and Customs of War on Land," drawn up at Tho Hague in 1007, and signed by tho principal nations of tho civilised world, including both Italy and 97 <' is (writes "Mars" in the Military Mail') an ajticlo in tho "Regulations" of this convention, which saysi "The inhabitants of a territory not' under occupation, who, on tho approach of tho enemy spontaneously take up arms to resist the invading troops without. having had time to organise themselves in accordance with Articlo. 1, shall be regarded as belligerents if, they openly, carry arms." JVhen the Italian"troops were' suddenly; attacked in the rear of their, positiun by Arabs; who wero supposed to havo surrendered arms, and. wcro permitted to rev main within tho lines of occupation, thess Arabs forfeited all claim to belligerent rights under the Convention by their treachery. They waited until the Italians had occupied their territory; they carefully concealed arms, nnd ammunition, and at tho first opportunity they attacked tlio troops. They did hot resist theItalians, or "spontaneously take up therefore tho Italians justified in taking sunimarv methods In punish such treachery. The German Army regulations specially provide for.' Birch instances; in fact, they ore most' severe. The war of 1870 is full; of, examples in this connection,.

m nny months the Oflico Committee appointed to inquire in-; i to tho question of automatic nfles has arrived at the conclusion that automatic rifles aro unsuitable and expensive luxuries, and therefore were' unable to recommend tho adoption of such a weapon for tho British Army at present. Meanwhile, tho authorities have not been idle, and an. improved pattern of magazine riflo will, it is_stated, probably be issued to selected unite for trial next spring. Major-Goneral Sir C. F- Halxlen, in his speech at tho recent dinner of tho lioyal Arsenal Association of Foremen. Woolwich, stated that careful consideration ond experimenting had been going on for somo timo past, and that before long «. new magazine riflo would be manufactured. The now weapon, it is stated on roliablo authority, will bo provided with: a much stronger breech, somewhat on tho, linos of a Mausc-r breech.' It is common knowledge that the Lee-Enfield, breech is the weakest: among first-class weapons, and will not stand tho explosion ot thn latest pattern high velocity cartridge. Export rifle shots have drawn the attention of tho authorities (o this weakness, lip to the pre.sent wcalcor ammunition, of less velocity, higher trajectory, and .consequently of lessor' valuo in warfare, has had to bo used. Although something w.-w done Inst year to meet this drawback iby manufacturing a slightiv improved type of ammunition, the results were not fav-, ourable, but a fresh supply now in courso of manufacture has n semi-pointed bullet,' ami possesses an explosivo of tho maximum strength suitable for tho present short rifle. This new typo of ammunition will increase the shooting valuo of the| ].eo-En field short riflo to its utmost limit, but it is still inferior to tho German cnrlridec. This weighs 150 grains, and thn bullet lias a trajectory of only 7 feet at 800 yards; our new cartridge weighs l"i grains, and the traicctory at 800 yards • is 8 feet G inches. Tho new cartridge Hill , contain cordite, technically known as "tubular." Tho strands have a hole through tho centre, and it will be harder than tho present type now in use, as it contains less nitro-glycerino. Tho semipointed bullet will be tipped with aluminium to make it lighter, and will have ft jacket of cupro-nickel, . A slight conces- - sion to the supporters of Uio aperture sHit hns also been made in tho' newrifle. Tho American plan of ntilisinir..a. small hole or "peep" in tho sliding bur of the backsight has been adopted, and tho present "U" shaped open sight .will. ; Iw dnno away with. Miniature riflemen would have preferred to *oe the.anertiirc ' sight used by them adopted by. the on- . thorities, but even the "peon" hole sightly n sign that tho War Office and the. tlvtho experts are at lti«t com-'noo<i (thinks "Mars" of the "Militarv Mail") v that, nnert.nre sights are better than the open sight. With Turkish ladies moles oil the face are considered a RiT.it. beauty, the pretty • theory being that lovo has kissed and left a spot, or that spirits whispering in the ear have left their light touch on the chock. N"o Turkish unman is confidered perfectly beautiful, in fact, without a niolo or two. An enterprising newspaper which has just been started in Switzerland informs the public that, in order to please everybody, it will carry mi a double policy. ■ The first portion of the journal is strictly Conservative, nnd in ably-expounded articles shows tho folly of tho other policy. Tho latter part is devoted to Socialistic literature. Captain E. R. Loroine, of tho Ormdier Guards, secured his flying certificate in record circumstances on November 7, \|s- - tho latest military typo of Vnllivrie 50-h.p. Gnomo-ongined monoplane, having a speed of a mile a minute. Tho practice up to tho present has been for pupils to obtain their certificates on machines, hnilfc'.for Rlrvw snfwL n . . .. _