VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 6505, 23 January 1884, Page 2

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

The Hussars fired their monthly competition for Mr Kohn's cup at the Pelichet Bay butts yesterday morning. The following were the scores:—

A friendly match, ten men a-side, between members of the Port Navala and H.M.S. Espiegle, was fired at Goat Island on Monday afternoon. The shore men were victorious by thirty-four points, as will be seen by the subjoined scores :

A smart little skirmish has been going on between Lieutenant-colonel Sargood, who is organising the Victorian militia as " War Minister,"' and a cavalry major who objects to some of the reforms proposed. The Colonel, as anjartillery officer, holds a very high opinion of his branch of the force, and considers cavalry as an almost useless encumbrance in an army whose motto is defence, not aggression. Consequently, says a correspondent, while he has increased the artillery strength to three batteries, he has reduced the cavalry down to a sorry complement of 102 men. Maipr Caleb Anderson, the officer in command of the cavalry, haß entered the lists on behalf of hh branch of the service, and he pließ the Minister of War with authority and precedent in support of his contention that the services of the mounted men are greatly underrated by him. Major Sargood, however, is firm, some say obstinate, in his conviction that "in the operations in which the Victorian Militia are likely to be required to take part cavalry will not be needed." He sots up his military judgment against Lord Wolseley, and points out that there is to be a Nordenfeldt battery in connection with the cavalry, which will bo as good as 300 men. Major Anderson retorts that however valuable such a battery may be, it cannot perform the duties of cavalry in charging the enemy for the purpose of gaining time, or of completing a rout and taking prisoners; nor can it undertake the work of keeping up communication or of doing scouting. Finally, Major Anderson records his opinion "that the Minister of Defence does not in the least degree understand the value of cavalry, and their duties and capabilities in the field."

4X1 hi nviv vla\j ovwavm • 200 400 600 yds. yds. yds. Tl. Captain Stronach .. 24 23 23 - ~ 70 Sergeant-major Jordan .. 24 22 19 - - 65 Sergeant Robin .. .. 22 19 22 - - OS Trooper Stronach .. 22 18 17 - - 57 Corporal Park .. .. 15 14 16 - - 45 Trooper Jones .. 21 13 9 - - 48

Espikqlp. Corps. 200 400 COO yds. yda. yda. Tl. Lieutenant Oxlcy ~ 13 13 3 • — 'J9 Seaman Thome .. 22 22 27 • - 71 Seaman Steel .. 24 24 15 — 63 Seaman Nicholls .. „ 21 20 20 • — 61 Seaman Jeffers .. 19 24 25 • — 68 Seaman Wett30tt .. 16 4 11 — 1 Seaman Wolion .. 17 21 21 — 59 Seaman Kelly .. 10 9 12 ~ 81 Seaman Hoggett .. .. 25 19 30 ■ — 74 - 21 Seaman Mitchell .. 16 - 3 Grand total .. 60S NAVAti Briqadk. Captain Goldio ~ .. 23 28 10 — 61 — 64 Lieutenant Thomson ,. 25 24 15 Lieutenant M'Donald .. 16 22 13 — 56 Petty-officer Colthorpe .. 21 23 22 — 66 Petty-officer Frazer .. .. 17 19 6 — 42 Gunner Main .. 14 2 18 — 84 Gunner Wilson .. 23 14 15 — 62 Gunner Gibbs «. .. 80 29 15 — 74 Gunner Harrhy .. 13 22 12 — 47 Gunner Moar .. 15 22 9 — 46 Grand total .. .. • • •• 542