THE EASTER VOLUNTEER REVIEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6065, 26 April 1881, Page 3

THE EASTER VOLUNTEER REVIEW.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Colonel Lyon, the inspecting officer, when addressing the troops, said, amongst other things, " Your skirmishing falls short of efficiency. You do not seem to understand the bugle calls, owing, no doubt, to your being continually drilled in a drill-sited, instead of in a field. All you hr.ve to do is 'skirmish,' 'skirmish, , 'skirmish,' when you learn that, I shall be glad to see you." There was one thing the worthy colonel omitted, viz., "Do not fail to acquire a theoretical and practical knowledge in the use of your rifle, without which even efficiency in skirmishing would be useless." If the above is taken as a whole, it'echoes the advice given to the English volunteers many years since by Sir Charles Napier, and it is well worth considering how best to give effect to it. We will take the above seriatim. And first, with the knowledge that it is impossible for volunteers to muster often, otherwise than in a drill - sked at night. "Hoii shall we learn the bugle calls?" Thus — let_ all the ordinary movements of a squad, or company, be done at the bvjgle calls, ~in place 'of -the words of command. For the command "Quick march," let the bugle sound the adVauee • for the command "Right about turn," let the bugle sound the retire ; for the command "Right turn," let the bugle sound the double incline, <&c, &c. When the bugle calls ; are understood by all, then, as the Colonel says, learn to skirmish, skirmish, skirmish. And in the meantime on every opportunity endeavour to acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge in the use of your rifle, without which all the rest is but leather and prunella. I pen these few suggestions, hoping other volunteers will endeavour to follow suit in the same direction, as doubtless our bark at the Waikato was all very well. But there is as little doubt our bite would be comparatively harmless if we cannot use our teeth with effect.—l am, &c, a volunteek op sixteen years , Service. April 20, 1881. I