VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11239, 7 December 1899, Page 3

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

[by sextixel.]

The Auckland Navals are in camp i\t Fort Cautley, and the Auckland Mounted Rifles are- .under canvas at the Domain.

Tlio London Grapliic very wisely advocates the formation of a regiment from those men who have failed to pass tho necessary examination for entrance to tho army, and points out that there can be no valid reason why a large quantity of good material should be wasted merely because an ideal standard of book knowledge had not been obtained.

I wonder that more of our officers do not go in for a thorough course of instruction in swordsmanship, under somo efficient master of the weapon. As I have often remarked, not more than one in a dozen could defend himself with the sword if occasion arose; nor do they seem to think it worth while making themselves proficient in its use.

With tho Auckland Weekly News now on issue is a capital picture of tho No. 3 Native Rifles, now under the command of Lieutenant'Tlinmeon, Captain Baume having bnen granted three mouths' leave of absence. Although spveral of the rank and file have recently resigned, it is pleasing to note that this energetic young officer is rapidly winning tho corps back to its full strength by the enrolment of a number of suitable recruits.

"A Volunteer" writes: "Dear Sir,— Tliero is one thing that I would like to know Mil that is why the battalion colours are. kept in Smith and Cauglioy's premises? A belter place for them to l>o would bo tho defence stores, or, say, the Art Gallery, where they could bo seen by tho public, and could always bo got when wanted. Thoro are lots of peoplo who have not seen tho colours, and for that reason I think tho Art Gallery would be a first-class place for thorn to be kept. Hoping the head of the volunteers will think over the matter."

A cablo message was recently received, stating that Messrs. H. S. Williams, A. 0. Noavo, and C. N'. 1!. Williams, who studied at Canterbury College, all New Zoalanders, have gained commissions in the Imperial army. Of these, Sir. Neave is a well-known Canterbury athloto, and an ex-lieutenant of tho Canterbury Mounted Rifles. Ho is at present serving in South Africa with the New Zealand contingent. There is evidently something in the telegram which requires explanation, as only two Imperial commissions are annually offered to New Zealanders; but it is a fair assumption that one of the Messrs. Williams has gained an entrance to Sandhurst.

The Boers have no fear of the bullet, but will not stand up to the bayonet; at least, so say tho reports from South Africa. And small wonder, as it needs a much higher standard of courage to stand up to a glistening row of bayonets in the hands of a charging, cheering British line than to tako the chance, of being shot at a distance of some hundreds or perhaps thousands of yards. Seeing the wholesome dread in which tho bayonet charge is held, it would seem that our volunteers might ho made more intimate with its use than is at present tho case. The instruction of the Imperial troops in the use of the bayonet goes far beyond the rudimentary course taught our volunteers.

There has been a capital muster of the two divisions of the Auckland Mounted Rifles in romp of instruction at tho Domain Ground during tho week under Captain Holgato am] ■Lieutenant Banks. There was a large, attendance of visitors to afternoon tea on Sunday, when the band was in attendance, and tho public spoke highlv of the mounts of tho troopers. On Monday evening the members were marched to tho City Hall by invitation of Captain Holgate, tho artillery band being also in attendance, where they enjoyed the entertainment provided by tho Gaiety Ccinpany. Throughout tho camp excellent work has been done, and Colonel Banks, who inspected the corps on Wednesday evening, complimented tho men on their appearance, etc. This (Thursday) evening will bo guests' night, and a concert will bo provided by the members for tho benefit of visitors.

An accident that might easily have been attended with fatal results, occurred at tho Eden rango on Saturday afternoon, when young Buckley was shnt through the groin by a brother volunteer, while tho latter, who, having forgotten that he had left a cartridge in his riflf, whilo in tho act nf adjusting hia pioee, accidentally touched the trigger, and thus discharged the bullet with the result mentioned. Happily no fatal part was touched in the passage of the bullet through poor Buckley's "body, and he is, I am ploased to hear, on the right road to recovery; but at the same time I cannot allow the accident to pass without drawing attention to the fact that too great csre cannot bo exercised in tho handling of firearms. In order to prevent any such mishap as that under notice occurring, it is distinctly laid down in the regulations that before retiring from a firing point tho rifles must bo examined by the officor-in-charge, and had the regulations been strictly adhered to on Saturday the cartridge would not have been allowed to remain in the weapon, and tho accident would not havo occurred. Let us hope that the lesson will be taken to heart.

Tho prospect of war in South Africa, and of. further fighting in the Soudan (says tho Illustrated Sporting , and Dramatic News), makes especially appropriate the introduction of the new field glass, which wo have under notice. The necessity for judging accurately tho distances at which tho troops have to fire k obvious, so that the Telemeter field glass, now being placed before the publio by Messrs. Aitehison and Co., of 428, Strand, has a genuine raison d'etre, combining, as it does, tho telemeter and field glass in ono movement. The principle is that the field glass has inserted in the left tube a plane glass, with a micrometer scale engraved upon it. When tho glass is used in the ordinary way, this scale'ie not seen, but on pushing aside a small shutter in tho left eyepiece a magnifying glass is brought to bear upon the scale, which hae the effect of throwing the lines across the field of view without in any way interfering with the object viewed. This eealo being brought to bear upon tho enemy, the distance is ganged to a nicety, and the rifles can be sighted accordingly. Messrs. Aitchison have done a great deal in bringing optical instruments to perfection, but their latest- field glass will probably be tho most useful and successful they have ever attempted.

Public Opinion reprints from the United Service Gazette the followiii!* eminently sensible remarks on tho uses of the volunteers: —" No one who knows tho volunteers can fail to note the very considerable percentage of officers and men who can find time and money to perfect themselves in all kinds of military science. These members aro the very class to enrol in tho first line with a liability to serve abroad with, or attaohod to, tho regular forces on occasions of a severe drain on our resources. Obviously, wo do not propose to cry " wolf" on every occasion of a petty skirmish, and if once in 10 or 20 years a fine and picked force of volunteers found occasion for putting in service abroad, wo can have no doubt that tho reality of their service and tho value of those forces would bo unquestionably proved. Wo have consistently avoided undue flattery of the volunteer force in this journal, but unquestionably it is both a broach of good taste and a fatal error to attempt by Earcasm, collective or otherwise, to disperse a forco which it would require a fresh scare- of invasion to again place on a war footing. Wo have done a, great deal for tha volunteers in tho past, and it is now the turn of tho forco to evolve a raison d'etro adapted to the needs of the age and more in keeping with the offensive role involvod in tho defence of this Empire."

The non-commissioned officers of the First Battalion, Auckland Infantry, are very an>iiou3 for an opportunity to peruse the report of Acting-Adjutant 'Major as to their efficiency, as recently furnished to the officer commanding, and subsequently issued to the officers commanding companies, marked "confidential." Although not available, owing to its being " confidential," I understand that on the whole the report speaks favourably of the "backbone of our volunteer force," though the adjutant recognises that in the cases of soino individuals there is room for improvement, and that the staff, as a whole, might be made more efficient if afforded an opportunity of going into a special cam]) of instruction for non-coms, only. Colonel Murray has, I believe, accordingly submitted a proposal to the officer commanding the district, suggesting an extra camp of instruction for the non-coms, of the battalion, and entering fully into the constitution of the camp and the duties to be performed, and if tha Government agree to the proposal the camp should be the means of making the non-commissioned staff what it ought to be in the matter of drill and discipline. The ordinary Easter camp and week's camp of instruction do not go quito far enough in tho drilling of non-coms., whose duties are then too heavy and time too limited to give them a fair chance to settle down to work, but 'if detailed oS to a special camp of instrue-

tion under an officer like Acting-Adjutanl Major, with Staff-Sergeant-Major Carpenter to assist, they would soon mako the- necessary headway.

THE USES OF A FLAG OF TRUOE. A deal has been heard of the flag of truce during tho present war, principally from the fact that tho Boars havo again and again used it treacherously. The following instructions for the uw of the Hag of truce are copied from those issued from the British War Office to tho navy and army, »nd are those fixed by international lnw: — A flag of truce is used when a belligerent wishes to enter into negotiations with his enemy. A flag of truen displayed from a conspicuous position will indicate that it is proposed to send communications. That it will bo received is indicated by tho display of a flag of truco in response, then with confidence a boat or an officer may bfl seait in advance with bearers of a flag of truce. It must be understood that a condition of truco does not exist till the flag of truce hoisted by one party has been replied to. A belligerent has a right to decline to enter into negotiations and to refuse to receivo a flag of truce: tho bearers cannot insist on being received. Blank guns fired while a flag of truce is displayed will indicate that tho bearers must stop or halt, and are not to approach nc.irer. A flag of truce must be turned back by firing on it. Anyone killing or wounding the bearers is guilty of a serious fracture of the laws of nations. Persons hearing a flag of truce- are inviolable, provided they do not act improperly. They must not, without permission, approach sufficiently near to bo ablo to acquiro useful information. They should not without permission pass the outer line of sentries, or approach within rango of the guns of tho ship or fort of the enemy. They should stop ami wait when required to, and are bound to obey tho directions and signals of those- who havo offered to receive tho flag of truce. If they arc contrary to their orders or to what is considered proper they must retire. It is quite usual to blindfold tho bearers, and they must submit to it. When a. vessel bears a flag of truco flag she should stop at the proper distance or when signalled to by blank guns or otherwise, send n boat in also bearing a flag of truce, and tho boat will act in a similar manner, and will stop or go when or where the receiver directs, and probably will be met by another boat, but no absolute rules can be laid down in this latter respect. The preciso method to be adopted for the receipt of communications sent under a flag of truce rests with the receiver and not with the sender. If the flag of trueo is displayed during an engagement, it is not necessary to entirely cease firing, though it may be decided to receive it. Firo should cease to the extent necessary to secure the safety of the benrers. When" belligeronts have been face to face for some time, it is quite usual to arrange where, when, and how to receive communications under a flag of truce. It is held that a flag of truco can only be used legitimately for tho purpose of entering into somo arrangpineiit with the enemy. If adopted to obtain information as to m enemy's force or position, or to obtain other such advantage, the flag of truce loses its character, and exposes its bearers to punishment as spies. The most conclusive evidence, however, is necessary, and great caution must he exorcised, beforo bearers can lw punished as spies. When the proper nso of a flag nt trueo 13 greatly to the interest of humanity, efforts to gain time or to obtain any other such advantage must be guarded against.