VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11368, 10 May 1900, Page 3

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

[BY sentinel.] , ; 'y Z The Government has accepted the services of a Highland company in Wellington.

Tho heavy rains of tho past few evenings have interfered with tho attendance at the Drill Hall.

Tho Devonport Torpedo Company intend arranging a match for members of the corps on the 26th hist.

Recruiting has been opened in London and tho Home district for tho Army Service Corps, which has been greatly drawn upon for war service.

Tho Victorian Government has arranged with tho War Office for tho exchange of 5000 Martini-Enfields, ordered for the troops of that colony, for magazino rifles.

Tho British Mediterranean fleet is to be increased (says the Central News) by tho addition of the destroyers, Coquette, Cygnet, Conflict, Hardy, Orwell, Sunfish, and Skate.

A correspondent writes suggesting that the volunteers of tho Auckland district should endeavour to arrange for a big military ball during the forthcoming winter months.

In consequenco of the great demand for army surgeons in South Africa, tho War Office has sanctioned the employment of four civil doctors with the troops in London and two at Windsor.

It is gratifying to note that the Canterbury Mcunted Rifles havo adopted "no facings" for their now khaki uniforms. Again and again I havo urged upon companies to do away with distinctive facings.

Owing to great pressure in the Army Clothing Department, it will not bo possiWo for somo months to meet tho demand for new great coats and cloaks to replace thoso in possession of time-expired troops.

The Auckland Mounted Rifles are now carrying on tent-pegging practice in a paddock at tho Pah Road, Epsom, kindly placed at the disposal of tho company by Mr. H. T. Gorric, ono of tho honorary members.

The Premier has onco more promised to put tho volunteer forces of Now Zealand on a moro satisfactory footing, provide suitable and convenient ranges in the various centres, and arm the men with tho latest and most approved rifles available.

Tho War Offico has notified commanding officers that men of tho Royal Reserve must not ho detained at depots arid kept from joining their regiments owing to tho non-supply of haversacks, mess tins, jack-spurs, and kit bags, as theso articles are not at present available.

If companies of tho Auckland Garrison would follow in the footsteps of some Southern corps, and hold an occasional "smoker," or social evening, during tho winter months, a better feeling might bo brought about between officers and men, and interest in tho volunteer movement moro easily sustained.

Lieutenant-Colonel Luard three years before tho Crimean war, sketched out something very much liko tho khaki uniform which has now displaced tho "red" as tho fighting dress of the British soldier. Tho work in which tho subject is dealt with is entitled, the "History of tho Dress cf tho British Soldier." '! f

A Hereford man nut with tllo "D" Company of tho K.5.L.1., writing, from tho Orange River, says:—"Wo have got some of tho ' Rimington Tigers' as scouts. These fellows know every inch of tho ground, all over Africa, and tho Boers are very frightened of them. They offer £100 a head to any who can capluro or kill them."

Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. L. Macdonald, C.8., Royal Engineers, has been instructed to attend the International Congress at Paris (in connection with tho Exhibition) on ballooning, automobilism, and railways, and Major C. A. Oarr, Royal Engineers, instructor in electricity at tho School of Military Engineering, is to attend tho Congress on electricity.

It would appear that there is likely to bo a good deal of difficulty in getting the class firing through down South this year. Tlio Martinis, with which Southern men are at present armed, are not allowed to bo used for this purpose, and no other rifles aro available. Under ordinary circumstances the rush which always takes placo towards the end of the season is likely to bo greatly intensified this year.

In a letter from Frero, a corporal in the Scots Fusiliers, writing to his brother in Coventry, says:—"Just beforo tho battle, the Irish Brigade with the Boers sent a notn to our Dublin Fusiliers, saying they would be glad to get the opportunity to wipe them off the faco of the earth. Tho note was returned by the Dnblins, to say that (hey would walk through tho Irish Brigade as the devil did through Athlono."

The Auckland Weekly News, now on issue devotes the greater part of this week's illustration pages to the volunteer forces of the Auckland district, the columns containing pictures of some 20 companies, in addition to separate groups of officers and "noncoms.," and photos, of tho officer commanding the district, and members of the staff at the recent Easter encampment. With tho exception of the Auckland Navals, the whole of the companies in the Auckland Garrison are included, and this unique souvenir should find a ready demand among our citizen soldiers.

About this time last year there was somo talk of tho formation of an officers' club, with the object of holding regular discussions on military matters-papers to bo contributed weekly by mombors-and otherwise improving their knowledge of the service, with an occasional social evening, but nothing came of it. That such a club would have been found valuable, particularly to our voung officers, there ran bo no doubt, and it is to be trusted that an effort will bo made to bring it into existence this winter. A similar club might bo formed by out " non-coms.'"

Dr. Conan Doyle, who has gone as registrar to tho Langman Field Hospital, offered his services for nothing, but Mr. Robert O'Callaghan, the senior surgeon of the expedition, gets paid at tho rate of £3000 a year. Mr. Gibbs, of Charing Cross Hospital, who goes as second surgeon, receives £1500 a year, and Mr. H. Sehnrlieb, of University College Hospital, the third surgeon, gets civilian's pay of a guinea a day, and a gratuity at. tho end. University Hospital is also sending out four of the hospital dressers as nurses, as tho War Office have refused to allow women on the line of communication.

The Defence Department is to bo congratulated upon having, allowed all tho engineer corps of the colony to recruit up to 84. Tho alteration will mean one additional lientenant and two sergeants. Apart altogether from tho military part of the question, the work taught in an engineer corps is useful to anyone who has to knock about tho colonies, and there should be no troublo in obtaining tho necessary number of recruits of the class required. In order to onsure shooting and signalling practice, men who aro engaged at some trade, and who, consequently, have _ Saturday afternoons to themselves, will receive preference.

Tho First Battalion Auckland Infantry, not having been able to carry through their volley-firing for tho year recently closed, owing to tho want of a safe range, aro excluded from participation in last year's Government vote for prize money. The pressure of work in connection with the equipment of contingents for South Africa interfered with the issue of the necessary authority for the distribution of the allocation (£1000) in question, but authority has now been given, and the several amounts set out in the schedule may bo contributed to those corps which completed their volleyfiring within the volunteer year ended February 28, 1900.

Sergeant-Major Burbery, gunnery instructor at Lyttelton, received recently official intimation that ho had bcea promoted to tho Imperial warrant rank. He is, it is believed, tho first New Zcslander to obtain this promotion, which does not in any way affect his., local appointment. ScrgoantMajor. Burbery went from Canterbury to join the Imperial service nearly 20 years ago. He was attested gunner on January 15, 1881 appointed .acting-bombardier, August 8, 1881; appointed paid acting-bombar-dier, August 6,1882: promoted a bombardier, September 13, 1882; corporal, October 20, 1882; sergeant, Julv 16. 1383;_ battery ser-geant-major, April 3, 1887: regimental quar-termaster-sergeant, November 1, 1893; militia sergeant-major, January 11, 1897; reverted to roginientol quartormastw-sergoantt in or«

" ■ ■ .■■ ■ ■..■■■.■■ < ■ ■:.'■' ■■■-"■ ' ; der to take up colonial appointment, January 11,■ 1897 ; promoted regimental sergeant- . major, January 16,1900. .; ■ Several of out soldiers ; (says - Pearson's) . have- been guilty of very .smart tricks upon the guileless Boer. ' A squadron of Lancers in one of the patrols took with them one day a Lancer of straw. : This figure was left near a Boer position, and, viewed' from a dis- - •'.■;.'•:.;■ tance, looked a veritable :cavalryman. Tho *,' figure was left on a rock, and it was not ■.: i& Ion? before tho Boers were having shots - '. ' at tho soldier who so daringly exposed himself. " Mauser bullets had no effect, ami it - ;• '.'A is alleged that, netting exasperated," they _ ~, turned one of their biff guns on the dummy. ' %l Tho Liverpool ono day set up a row of '■' "f effigies, and tho Beers were driven nearly ".ij crazy by the indifference these men showed (• to their fire. Then there was the bogus artillery somo of our people constructed. ;i~; ono night on the town land? in front of TJmbulwana. They were' figures of men. > f r and something which looked like 15>pcmnders. Tho Boors blazed away at this battery, only to find out that they were being fooled. -

"Do the dofonco authorities contemplate increasing tho infantry forco of the colony?"is a question which is beine asked just at present (soys " Bullseye"). The people have recognised that the increase in the mounted arm is to be a genuine one, and are applauding tho action of tho authorities in accepting the numerous corps which have offered. In nearly all the centres, as well as in the country districts, infantry corps havo ken offered, but up to tho present few have been accepted. I fancy one proviso should lx) placed upon all corps accepted, viz., that they should adopt what is evidently to be tho regulation uniform of • tho colony, khakis They may call themselves what they choose, but for goodness .sake lot us have a regulation working' uniform. ".■ It J is quite timo tho question of uniform was taken up by the authorities. Whenever wo have a large muster of volunteers, as lias been the case in tho recent Easter camps, the diversity cf uniforms is absolutely painful. It is timo that the Defence Department undertook tho supply of uniforms, and had them all made to a regulation pattern and colour. This is a matter which must como, and tho sooner it is brought about the better.

It is remarkable how very few of our volun« teora know anything of musketry, and perhaps this may account for the. Email number who tako an interest in shooting (says "Bullseyo"). It is hardly to be oxpcotw that tho present small instructional staff can perform all tho duties of a. musketry school, for that is what is needed. _ What I would suggest is that a --lass of instruction for non-coms, bo opened in each centre, in which a thorough eourso of musketry can ho taken, no non-com. being allowed to assume his position in his corps unless ho possesses a certificate from the class certifying that ho is well grounded in and has passed tho necessary tests in musketry. In a force- such as ours shooting should lx] tho principal duty, or at least should hold an equal position with outpost work. Tho possession of certificates such as I have named would entitle the holder to instruct a certain number of men in musketry, and his corps or himself should receive a small sum for caoh of tho men who passed tho tests and obtained certificates of proficiency. With tho officers attending and receiving instruction at a tactical school, and tho non-coms.' at a musketry class, our force should soon bo worth a, deal as a factor in defence

MOUNTED INFANTRY CORPS, Our Pukekoho West correspondent writes —A mooting was convened by Colonel Rank's and held in tho Pukekoho Hotel, on Monday evening, for tho purpose of re-forming a mounted infantry corps. Although the night was vory wet and dirty, a good many were' present, and groat interest was evinced in the matter. _ It was decided to form a corps, and to obtain the names of those present and others who wore willing to join. Mr. Wildblood, of Maukii, was approached as to tho captaincy, and, I think, would make a good officer. Tho other officers aro not as yot named, but will he appointed as soon as possible.

BULLET-PROOF SHIELDS. If British soldiers in South Africa were to bo armed with tho newly-invented bulletproof shield which is fully described and profusely illustrated in the March number of Pearson's Magazino, half tho difficulties ami dangers of storming tho Boers' fortified positions would disappear. This shield, invented by Major Boynton, weighs but 61b, is less than Jin in thickness, and is bullet-proof at 300 yds against both Lec-Metford and Mauser bullets. Although designed principally for the protection of a soldier in a prono position, in this way also serving as a rifle rest, the shields aro 60 constructed that when desirable they can bo interlocked, any ono shield filling any other shield. Tho mechanism employed for this purpose is of the simplest description. Major Boynton, knowing that anything intricate would soon como to grief in the rough work of campaigning, spent many months in devising clips which permitted of two tiers of shields being raised to afford quick and efficient protection for a section of men. But the anxiety of Major Boynton to provido a soldier with a good method of putting tho shields together was not only because of the rapidity with which mounted Boer frontal attacks could ho mot, but to ensure protection against a firo resulting from sudden flank movements. In fact, were a force of our men carrying theso shields surrounded, they could form a square, and, if no artillery wore used, could mako th'.igs tolerably warm for their assailants.

Against artillery Ihoso shields would offer no resistance, save tho protection afforded from flying fragments of shells. In this respect they would bo inferior'to Boer trenches, but, on the other hand, trendies are fixed, whereas the shield has the same mobility as its posossor. Indeed, it is this very mobility which constitutes one of the shield's principal claims to adoption. In South Africa our working parties are liable to be swooped down on by mounted Boers and sliot to a man. Shields properly arranged and fixed will render this impossible. But of all tho uses to which (ho shield can bo put, that in skirmishing will perhaps bo the most valuable. On (the average-it take. the skirmisher at least ten minutes to prepare a riflo pit, which, even on completion, may be found a very poor protection against rifle fire. During this ten minutes he is exposed to the enemy's fire, whereas riflemen using this shield have instantaneous cover, provided they throw themselves on ' tho ground the moment they sight the enemy. Moreover, it is frequently dangerous for a rifleman in a pit to change his position. Tho shield has no such disadvantages. A rifleman in a pit is fixed; a rifleman behind a Boynton shield goes where ho likes, for ho carries his protection with him.