OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3044, 29 April 1867, Page 6

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

To the Editor of the Daily Southern Cross. Sir,— 'l hope our Volunteers will take the hint from the story of Bruce and the spider. If they have any defects, *nd I presume they will not consider themselves perfect, the best way is to look the evil boldly in the face, and then the true remedy may be found. Discipline, drill, and the use of arms, may be said to be the three great ends for which the Volunteers exist. Strict attention to each and all of these is essential to constitute an efficient corps ; if any one of these is neglected the purpose for which the corps was formed is not carried out. The first requisite then for attaining these objects is properly qualified officers, men who have the time, the ability, and above all the will, to discharge the duties they undertake. The officers jshould not only have a practical knowledge of the ?drill gone through by the private members, and be able at once to detect any irregularity which takes place, but they ought to be thoroughly conversant with their own special duties, such as the positions they should occupy in all movements,the commands they should give, and the general design of every change of situation. Corps commanded by men having these qualifications could not fail to became pre-eminent for their steadiness, quickness of action, regard to discipline, and general proficiency. Next in importance to having suitably qualified officers, is a systematic course of drill at stated periods of the the year. In the regular army a complete course of preliminary and setting up drill has to be submitted to every spring. No man, whatever be the length or merits of his services, is exempt from the goose step once a year. The results are conspicuous in the smartuess of the men and the precision with which every order is obeyed. I do not say it is possible for the Volunteers to acquire anything like the same proficiency, but if they stick at it they will find themselves improve, and acquire a degree of confidence, and satisfaction that they could not otherwise experience in connection with the subject of drill. The officers ought to take that duty, so as to enable them to have as much experience as possible in directing the movements of their companies, and that they may be thus qualified to command them properly when brought together at general inspections or reviews. VVith regard to the equally important matter of rifle practice, there doe 3 not appear to me to be adequate encouragement giv6n to the Volunteers to acquire eminence in this branch of their duties. As a general rule it will be found that the men who make the greatest effort to become good marksmen are also the most regular attenders at drill, and exhibit the greatest interest in all that pertains to the progress pf the movement. I have no doubt many of the members can ill afford to be put to much expense in trying to make ihpmselves proficient in the use of the rifle. If jbhey give their time and devote their attention to acquire a knowledge df the duties they have voluntarily imposed upon themselves for th 6' benefit of the colony, the least that' should be done is 'to '■■ relieve them of" jbhe necessity of making pecuniary sacrifices for the cause, wh^i cannot' ber reasonably expected of them. I would suggest therefore that some means be devised for not only affording to our Volunteers every facility for enabling them to excel in rifle-shooting, but for defraying the whole expenses incurred in procuring ammunition, paying markers, and other things incidental to the carrying out of an extended rifle practice. I hope the hints I have ventured to throw out may be as kindly taken as I meant and have tried to convey them. — I am, fonts. &0., v^' James Doull, GraftonKoad, April, 1867.