VOLUNTEER NOTES

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12421, 9 February 1901, Page 3

VOLUNTEER NOTES

Gantebbtot Times.”) The Canterbury troop of Rough Riders, drawn' from the various mounted corps in the province, to fill vacancies in the Third Contingent, has put in a lot of useful work during the last few days, Staff-Sergeant-major Coleman acting" as instructor. The men are a well set-up lot, and do credit to the province. As Mr Stringer-mentioned at the smoke concert last week, they are as fine a body as has yet been sent away. Judging by the remarks of the Hon J. y • Ward,'Acting-Defence Minister, a huge mistake has been made in connection with the despatch of the Canterbury mejnbers of the Sixth . Contingent to Wellington without having-first passed the riding tests. Those from other parts of the colony were all put through the tests in their'own districts, the general instructions issued providing for this being done. The Minister, expressed the hope°that it would not be found necessary to reject any of the men on account of their inability to pass the tests. That there were good grounds for his remarks has; since been proved, as it is-no\y stated that no fewer -than twenty of them have been _ rejected. Among the unfortunate ones is .a trooper who has returned from the war, while another returned trooper is expected .to go- ■ out for the same reason. It .seems unaccountable that two men who. have already been through part of the campaign should be unable to get through the riding tests. Though the men are New Zealanders, they did not go with any of the contingents sent from this colony, but enrolled in corps formed in South Africa. The incident gives colour to the statement which has been • previously made, that the riding test to qualify for inclusion in a New Zealand contingent is’unusually severe. The Geraldine Rifles have just concluded a most successful camp. During the week they have pub in a lob -of good drill, .outpost duty and guard mounting being gone into very thoroughly. During the recent damp of the Studholme Mounted Rifles ? some excellent skirmishing practice was gone through at Waihao Downs. ' ~ , . The Defence Department has issued a circular to the; various Volunteer corps throughout the'colony, asking to be . furnished with the names of intending reservists. By the terms of the amending Defence Act passed last session, members are not to. be compelled to serve outside New Zealand, save within limits to be fixed and approved by both Houses of Parliament; the terms of enlistment, shall not exceed three years; a sum. nob exceeding £5 is to be. paid to those who pass the prescribed standard .of efficiency; reservists to be subject to special regulations with respect to discipline, drill, equipment, training, etc. The district medal firing is announced to take place on the Bromley rang© on Saturday. • Last year’s marksmen’s badge winners are eligible to compete. The “ Franco Milit.aire ” devotes an article to the situation in South. Africa, and says that notwithstanding the favourable view thereof which has been taken by the British Press and the return of the City Imperial Volunteers and other forces, the con dition of affairs is by no means favourable. De Wet, Delarey, Lemmer, Botha, and some others pursue with activity their guerilla warfare, and our contemporary believes that we, shall not find it enough to maintain the fpree w© have, but must continue to send) reinforcements in order to crush opposition.

Ono of tlio greatest difficulties experienced bv our artillery in South Africa; lias been found to be that of locating the enemy s guns: The use of smokeless powder and.tlie methods adopted by the enemy frequently baffled a ll attempts at discovery on our part. With a view to practising this all-important branch of artillery work am experiment was recently carried out at Hi 1 sea by the Royal Artillery (says “Broad Arrow”). A gun was taken to a concealed position on the Ports down .Hills, and observing parties were placed in the drill field near the barracks to see if they could locate it. The gun on the hill was, however, so completely concealed, though on the forward slope and only 4000 yards away, that the party in'the drill field failed to locate it, even when it fired “ smoky ” 'blank. The drill field, party were, however, distinctly seen from the hill. The necessity and the advantage of these experiments is obvious; the difficulty of carrying them out is, however, great when no blank charges composed of smokeless powder, are available for use. If a gun cannot be located when its position is roughly marked by a small [puff of smoke, what will happen when smokeless powder is employed, and is it any wonder that pur armies sometimes fail when they take’the'fieldi? Following the example set by France, it is reported that the military authorities in Belgium are about to inaugurate experiments -with motor-oars specially ; adapted for the transport of provisions for the soldiers. The vehicles at present used are very cumbersome, and require six horses to, haul them. Even in Italy the military motor-car is receiving attention. In a recent number an Italian paper publishes a long article from the pen of Colonel Mirandoli, in which, he. deals with the subject of heavy motor vehicles, such as the Thornycroft steam, and discusses favourably the question of their suitability for military transport purposes. A letter in a recent issue of the London “ Daily Mail,” over the signature of “Twenty-five Years a Non-com,” pleads, energetically for a radical change in the soldier’s accoutrements. He would “ totally abolish every vestige of pipe-clay, and pleads for all leather being brown. Metal is as obnoxious to him as pipe-clay, and he would suffer none, save in the rifle and bayonet. All buttons should he either of bone or composition, and buckles should be covered. The soldier, be asserts, should not carry a single superfluous ounce. He maintains that the abolition of pipeday alone' would most favourably affect ■recruiting.”. We doubt any appreciable increase to the popularity of the army being the result of such a measure, but for other reasons the reforms suggested seem sensible enough. In ante-Orimean days the great object of the authorities was .to find employment for the soldier, on the principle of setting sailors to scrape the anchor-chain when a man-of-war’ was becalmed. Hence, much fancy drill, and a considerable amount of “spit and polish.” There is now, however, no reason fevr making work. The day is hardly long enough, for all the useful practical instruction which is or plight with advantage he given to th 6 soldier. For instance, more occupation might be given in the shape of lectures on musketry, rough fortification, regimental history, etc. Simplification of accoutrements would leave more leisure for ir.struction,' and would also render, the soldiers more, efficient for the field. A smart, soldier-like appearance is not incompatible with comfort and lightness, and every effort should be made to diminish the load at pre-. sent carried 1 . ;