VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11162, 7 September 1899, Page 3

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

[by SENTINEL.] The return route-marching competition between the No. 1 Native and Auckland Rifle teams will be fixed for an early date.

To-day Lieutenant-Colonel Banks and Captain McKenzie, R.A., visit and examine the officers of the Ohinemuri No. 3 Rifles.

Lord Roberts, V.C., is of opinion that too many young men in the ranks is likely to bo the cause of military failure, of indifferent strategy, or of want- of discipline.

The College Rifles hold their annual "smoker" at the Grammar School Hall on Tuesday evening next. A capital musical programme is in course of preparation.

More than one local baud might profitably take a lesson from the Thames Naval Brass Band, the music discoursed by the visitors being one of the features of Sunday's naval parade.

Two members from the various volunteer companies were told off last evening for ambulance instruction. The class was largely attended, and Brigade-Surgeon LieutenantColonel Dawson w»s present.

The monthly inspection parades for the forthcoming week have been called as under: Ponsonby Navals, Engineers, and Auckland Bearer Corps, Monday, lltli; Coromandel Rifles, Wednesday 13th; "A" Battery Artillery and Garrison Band, Thursday, 14th.

The Engineers will appoint an officer to tlio command on Monday evening next, after parade, to fill tho vacancy caused by the resignation of Captain McGee. Should the selection be made from the present officers, thero will then be a vacancy for a junior subaltern.

In the absence of Captain Oakes, Lieutenant Ratjen will assume acting command of the No. 2 Native Rifles, and if business engagements permit it is more than probable that on tho expiration of the leave granted, Mr. Ratjen will be elected to the permanent command of the corps.

Mr. W. S. Richards, V.D., who was & member of 31 years' standing in the South Middlesex V.R.C., recently fired 11 rounds on the Staines range at 600 yds, making an inner for a sighting shot, and 10 consecutive bull'seyes with the remaining cartridges. Mr. Richards is 63 years of age.

From the June official returns it appears that during the last trooping season 16,911 men of the British army, 648 wives, and 802 children arrived in India from Homo and the colonies; while 14,566 men, 648 wives, and 1237 children returned to England or proceeded to colonial stations.

There was some talk of the Auckland Mounted Rifles sending a team to compete at the military tournament at Wellington on November 9, but I understand that the idea has now been abandoned, it being considered that the programme arranged does not cater sufficiently for outside competitors.

Tho annual social in connection with the Devonport Torpedo Corps takes place at St. Benedict's Hall, to-morrow (Friday) evening. District Orders for the month of September announce ail inspection parade for the same evening; but this must surely be an error, as the dato of tho social was given out a couple of months ago,

Colonel Maitland, 8.G.C., says:—"No strength in numbers, individual bravery, nor excellence of individual units will really make an army formidable in the field, unless its organisation lias been brought to a high pitch of perfection, which required standard cannot bo attained nor approached if the field army is not organised and maintained in the time of peace."

The No. 1 and No, 3 Native and Auckland Rifle Companies paraded for monthly inspection last evening. There were large musters of all three corps, and after the inspection, conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Banks, officer commanding the district, the companies were put through a course of drill on the reserve at the rear of the ha 1 ).

The long-looked forward to teams match bet wen officers of the Auckland Garrison has at last been fixed for next Saturday week, at the Mount Eden Rifle Range. The competing teams will be under Lieut .-Colonel Banks and Murray, and as originally intended the sides will be picked on the ground. No doubt the range will be then thrown open to shooting under certain necessary restrictions.

Colonel Adye, R.A., has the following very sensible remark on the necessity of colonial dofencc:—" European wars may involve us once in a century or generation, smaller campaigns may frequently arise, but the duty of maintaining our foreign (colonial) armies and garrisons in a state of efficiency continues from day to day, and knows no intermittance. For this reason it constitutes our most pressing obligations."

Lieut.-Colonel Murray, officer commanding the No. 1 Battalion, Auckland Infantry (Countess of Ranfurly's Own), returned from a visit to Wellington early in the week. During his brief stay in the Empire city, the Colonel had little time at his disposal to inspect the local forces, but one evening saw a team of the Wellington College Rifles training for the forthcoming military tournament, and states that the men were shaping very well.

Captain Oakes, officer commanding the No. 2 Native Rifles, who has been appointed to a more lucrative position in the South, has been granted tlireo months' leave of absence, the object being, I understand, to enable him to take office in a Southern corps if a vacancy is to be found. Captain Oakes, who has seen over 14 years' continuous service, will, if an opening is found, be able to continue on, and thus gain his long service medal.

The officer commanding the district (Lieut.Colonel Banks) has presented the gunlayers' badges to Corporal Grinlinton, Bombardiers Goldswoithy, Whyte, McLeod, and Gunner Fendall, of the Devonport Coastguards Artillery Volunteers, the successful candidates in the recent examination. Three more candidates lime since won badges, and a class has been instituted for instruction in range finding, under Captain McKenzie, of the Permanent Militia.

A suggestion re the raising of funds for the purchase of the outfit of the proposed drum and fife band for the battalion, which commends itself to consideration, was made to mo by one of the commanding officers a day or two back. He proposes that the several companies should hand ever the amount received for one daylight parade towards the funds, which would result in a sum close on £40. This, together with the contributions of the officers, who, I understand, are subscribing liberally, would prove sufficient, and I should then soon be able to chronicle the fact that the band had been brought into existence.

In last week's notes I referred to the steps being taken to open Morris tube ranges for shooting practice for recruits, and asked if •those who had the matter in hand had made inquiries as to the quantity of ammunition available. My reason for so doing was because I believe there is little or no Morris tube ammunition in the Defence stores at Wellington, and I now have it on good authority that the surmiso is only too true; but it is pleasing to hear that the Colonial Ammunition Company are expecting a shipment in the, near future, and are prepared to obtain the necessary machinery for its manufacture, if there is a sufficient demand to warrant the company so doing.

The quarterly examination of officers was commenced yesterday morning, the candidates presenting themselves being Lieutenants Cox (for captaincy), Victoria Rifles; Lieutenant Hume, No. 1 Waikatos; Lieutenant McCarthy, Coromandel Rifles; Lieutenant O'Sullivan, Newton Rifles; Lieutenant Ward, Onehunga Rifles; Lieutenant Shaw, No. 2 Victoria Rifles. Lieutenants Walker and D'Arcy, Engineers, and Lieutenant Taylor, Auckland Mounted Rifles, did not present themselves. The theoretical portion was carried out during the day, and the practical portion in the evening, the Board of Examiners consisting of Lieutenant-Colonel Banks, Major Pirie, and Captain McKenzie, R.A.

An inventor has discovered an artful means by which an approaching torpedo boat may avoid detection from a warship's searchlight. His innovation consists of a huge light mirror, to be set up in a frame at the bow of the torpedo boat when an enemy is to be attacked under cover of darkness The rjirror is tilted forward as its upper extremity. What is the result? When the rays of the inquiring searchlight flash across the mirror they are not reflected, and the look-out man on board the vessel threatened sees but the waves in front of the torpedo boat pictured in the inclined looking-glass. By this means, it is anticipated (says the Cassell's Saturday Journal) the torpedo boat will be able to get near

enough to use its tubes before it. is discovered. Only when very close would the outline of the mirror bo revealed.

Arrangements are (says the Army and Navy Gazette! being made for extending the use of the new Lyddite shell, which has hitherto been confined to the Sin Howitzer, to guns of higher calibre, and it is now to bo supplied to tho 9.2 in guns mounted in tho forts ofthe English sea fronts. The new projectile is made of forged steel, with a solid base, and fitted at the nose with a gun-metal socket, tapped with a G.S. gunge. The Sin Howitzer is to be permanently supplied with Lyddite shell, and orders have been issued that 110 more shrapnel shell is to be made for this gun. It has also been officially notified that the quick-firing armour-piercing shell for the 12pr 12cwt gun is withdrawn from land service, and the present stock in the navalyards will bo used for practice.

Ail inspection parade of the No. 1 division of the Auckland .Mounted Rifles took plate on Saturday l.vt. at ilamirewn, Captain Hoigate. officer commanding the company, conducting the inspection. There was a splendid muster, not u single member being absent. and the work was gone through in a manner •hat did infinite credit to the men, showing, as it did a marked advancement. For the improvement shown a large measure of praise is due to the senior sergeant of the division iSergeaut Harrowell), who has worked indefatigably in advancing the efficiency of the division. A detachment of the No. 1 division paraded on the same day, under Lieutenant C. Banks, and proceeded to Fort Takapuna. for Maxim gun drill. Tho same detachment parade again on Saturday next, catching the half-past two p.m. boat for the fort.

In the British army the four-legged recruits (says Pearson's Magazine) are drawn up in a ring round an instructor who fires a pistol. Some take the flash and report very quietly and these are very soon passed on to severer trials, whilst the others have lesson after lesson until they are quite convinced that there is no danger to them, and before long you might fire a seven-pounder within a yard of iliem. and they would hardly look around, After this they are taught to face tire— is to say, to gallop,fearlessly up to ft line or square of infantry, blazing away with their rifles, and to charge batteries of quick-firing guns. Of course, only blank cartridges are used, and so to a trained horso going into battle for the first time there is no difference between the harmless thunder of the manceuvres and death-dealing storm which sweeps over tho battlefield. The poor brute only learns what the difference really is by bitter experience.

A message to the San Francisco Chronicle from Now York, under date July 8, says: — "A new rapid-fire gun designed for the protection of the mine fields and a novel semi* automatic six-pounder for the navy have been successfully tested on the proving grounds of the Briggs-Seabury Gun and Ammunition Company, at Derby. These guns were built for the army and navy, respectively, under contracts awarded at the beginning of the war with Spain, and will probably play an import, part in the plan and scope of national defence. Tlie army gun is a sixpounder of the Briggs type, and is mounted upon a parapet carriage, which admits of the piece being fired with the same rapidity as upon a naval mount. While it- can be easily transported from place to place—in fact, the new weapon is a combination of field and coast defence gun—its use will be principally to protect the torpedoes in the harbours by throwing such an overwhelming shower of shot and shell that no small boat could live within its zone of fire. The gun and carriage rest upon the parapet of the fort, and are held rigidly in position by means of a Vshaped steel anchorage, which is worked under the centre of the axle. Should it be desired to concentrate the fire upon any particular point, the anchorage is unhooked and the carnage rolled away to any point of the beach. A small spade at the rear of the trail piece can be released, and taking against the ground, holds the gun in position. The semiautomatic gun is also a six-opunder, and is the first completed of 51 for the navy. It is expected to work a revolution in rapidfire guns, for with it a speed of 60 shots per minute was attained, which is twice the record by the six-pounder when worked bv hand. Another important feature is that it leduces a crew of .1 six-pounder from four to two men, one of whom throws in fixed ammunition as a person throws coal into a furnace, while the other fires as the breech block closes automatically."

DRILLING COMPETITION AT PAEROA. [BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] , Parma, Wednesday. The Ohinemuri Rifles No. 1 held a drilling competition last night for a chasto silver medal presented by Sergeant-Major Bradford. There were 12 competitors, and after the men had all gone through the course, the judge (Adjutant Porritt, of Battalion No. 2), awarded the medal to Corporal Andrews on the number of points gained. The competition was an exceedingly interesting ono, and was much enjoyed by all concerned. Mr. Hugh Poland has accepted the position of captain of tho corps, and lias now been elected.