SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10560, 29 September 1897, Page 3

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

ODR VOLUNTEERS. HOW THEY SHOULD BE ARMED AND CLOTHED. Thi recent record reign celebrations, (he riait of the military contingent Home, and tbe excellent work done by New Zealand ihootisti at BiaUy, has caused a renewal of attention to bt pud to oar volunteer defences. Not io very long ago the man who, for pare love of it, made himself acquainted with the use of firearms and became proficient at drill was, if not actually derided, left pretty much to himself, and scant courtesy from official quarters met his efforts. Now, it is evident, a change bae eet in. To gain some idea of what that change may possibly effect, a Hkrald representative saw one of the oldest and most active volunteer officers in tbe colony. " I cannot say that there has been, as yet," said he, "any definite effect from recent events. But, from the way volunteers, and those interested in volunteering speak, all feel proud of the way our fellows acquitted themselves. With reference to the rifle team, it is admitted on ail hands id was simply a wonderful achievement for tb« men to come in second for the Kolapore Cup. That And the firing of individual members showed we had just as good shots here as in any other part of the British dominioni. It muit be borne in mind, too, that they had to take up a weapon (the Lee-Metford rifle) which was quite new to all of them, and fire against men who hid had a lob of practice with it." " The Lee-Metford it now the weapon in use in our warships, I understand. What about bringing it out for our New Zealand volunteers ?'

" Personally I should not approve of it. I believe the Martini is the best weapon for New Zealand for some time at least. The reason I say that is this : if ever our volunteers go into active service here, that is to repel an enemy, they would be called upon to engage at ranges of not more than 600 yards. The Martini is a splendid weapon, and you can do as (rood shooting as you want to with it up to the range I have mentioned."

" What are the comparative ranges ?" "A Lee-Metford will carry a bullet five miles, while the extreme range of a MartiniHenri is 3300 yards. Bub the latter bits harder; once a bullet iron) tbe latter strikes a man be is either killed or put out of action. On the other hand, a Lee-Metford bullet is so much smaller, nnd travels with such greater velocity, that unless it hits in a vital part it will go through a man like a needle and won't stop him. And this brings out a rather singular point—the moral effect upon the user of the weapon, lb is claimed that if a soldier is using a rifle that he knows m.ty possibly not stop a man no matter how good the aim may be, he loses confidence, and with that courage. With the Martini he knows there is little doubt that once he hits a mnn there is no chance of his doing any further mischief. In view of the drawbacke mentioned the Lee-Metford bullet is being altered bo ae to make it more dangerous. It is said thut it is intended that the head of the bullet shall expand and separate so as to make it more effective." " Would that not be in contravention of the Geneva Convention?"

" I don't know that it would. You eee it would be an expansive bullet, and not an explosive one. There i- no copper iu the bullet; in fact, they are used now in dew shooting. And then the Snider was an expansive bullot. No; I think the weapon for New Zealand u the Martini. It is a rifle good enough for any purpose wo are likely to want them for ; the Government have but lately brought them out; we have a Martini-Henri cartridge factory in the colony, and the experience of our men at Bisley has proved that if ever it waa necessary for any detachment to use the LeeMetford the uee could speedily be picked up. It is doubtful if we should ever be called upon to leavo our own district, to that the carriage of ammunition for two or three days, such as occurs with Imperial troops, would hardly enter into the matter at all. Of course, for the lmperihl troopa to be able to carry two Lne-Motford cartridges for one Martini is a very important) consideration. But I do not think that would affect us." " You think our men would never be called upon to leave tiieir district? Yet only to-day news arrives that one Australasian Government is considering the udvisability of offering 100 men for notive service in India. Suppose the New Zealand Government did the same ?" " Then our men would Imvo to use the same weapon as that served out to the Imperial troops. But as I say Bisley shows they would soon learn to handle them as well as the beet. It is conteiidod, and it stands to reason, that the effectiveness of the bullet must be taken into consideration ae well as the range and in the Martini we have the mean. For effectiveness pure and simple the Snider expansive bullet was as much ahead of the Martini as the Martini is ahead of the LeeMetford, as we know it, for military purposes at present). I'll give you an instance. I have been out deer shooting with a Snider and every deer hit was knocked down clean. One day I wag out with it Martini and managed to shoot three. Only one was knocked down, the other two got away. We found ithem dead the next day with the bullets in them all right. They had been as well shot an with the Snider but were able to get away. " News has come from Wellington that a new uniform for the Auckland district is under consideration. Do you think the adoption of a neiv uniform for our riflemen would have a beneficial effect upon volunteering ?" "Yes, moat certainly. The class of uniform is of great moment. The majority of volunteered young men, who take a pride in their uniform; and though, if it comes to fighting, it hardly matters what uniform is worn, he doesn't like to be laughed at. The present regulation uniform is cortainly serviceable, but is not an elegant one by any means, The karkhee which it is suggested should be worn is one of the most serviceable and meets all requirements, I think. And if the Gorernment can see their way clear to grant that for the Auckland district the effect would be very good. I bold all volunteer corps should be allowed to uniform themselves as they think fit, subject, of course; to the approval of the Government, or in other words, I think a considerable amount of latitude should be allowed."