VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11690, 27 June 1901, Page 3

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS

[et sentinel.] [UPOKTAXT changes are being made in the methods ol the British Field Artillery with a view to diminishing exposure to fire while in action. Volunteering in Auckland is at a standstill just at present, owing to the absent" of a large proportion of the local corps and, their officers at the Christ-church review. It is slated that the new scheme of army reform, in England will provide that at least 50 horses shall be attached to all infantry regiments, for the purpose of training the men to act as mounted infantry when so required. Since the publication of the intimation b.yy our Paeroa correspondent of the intention of Major l'oiiiit to resign, 1 have heard nothing further of the matter, and am hopeful that the popular commanding oflieer of the No. 2 Battalion has decided not to hand in his resignation. General Sir Samuel Browne, V.C., who passed away recently, was the inventor of the .Sam Browne equipment now universally adopted for the officers of the British, army. He spent most of his time in India, and by his death Lord Roberts has lost an eld and trusted friend. The strain among the British troops serving in India is new so great that the Indian Government is offering a 75 rupees bounty to men who will re-engage for one year. 150 rupees for two years, and 225 rupees for three years. The offer is confined to the regiments whose strength is not up to tne standard required. Tho proposed match between the Gordon Rifles and the Victoria Rifles will in all probability take place on Saturday week. The conditions provide for teams of 15 men aside, and the Gordons, who issued the challenge, are to be complimented on their pluck in throwing down the gauntlet to tho ciack shooting team in the district.

Not only is the South African medal in silver to be granted to all officers and men of the British, Indian, and colonial forces who have served in the present campaign, but it is also to be awarded to all nurses and nursing sisters who actually served in South Africa between October 11, 1893, ai d a date to be hereafter fixed. Of course, the claims of each nurse will have to be approved by the Commander-in-Chief, in whose judgment there will be absolute confidence.

Some months ago I urged upon the local authorities the desirability of arranging for the annual corn-petition for Clark's cup, aad other of our district trophies, but nothing was done, ami we may now take it for granted that the cup will not bo fired for for another year. The unnecessary shelving of these competition* is not likely to encourage our citizens to donate trophies for shooting, and it would bo well for the range committee to make some definite arrangements for the future by fixing upon a c'.tte on which such competitions shall be held from year to year.

The " Queen's Prize" at Bisley, which will be in the future known as the " King's Prize," is to be shot for under different, conditions this year. The first stage will be at the usual distances, and will be fired on the 90 range, but the second stage is to bo altered. This will he removed to the Stickledown range, and in place, of firing at 500 yds and oOOvds, the distances will be increased to 600 yds ;.nd 800 yds. This change of distance will moke a considerable alteration in the scores of the 300 competitors, but. it is a decided step in advance, and will lead to increased attention being given to long-range shooting.

The South African war will result in an overhauling of the British system of cavalry training. Already there is a talk of reequipping the forcr« »nd bringing the cavalry more under the conditions of mounted infantry. In this connection the fact must not be overlooked that the veldt is an idea' training-ground for mounted infantry, and there is such a thing as going to the other extreme. It must not be forgotten that the cavalry may one of these days be called upon to face troops trained on tile European model, and that if neglected meanwhile it may go rather hard with them when it comes to a question of shock tactics. By all means the men should be belter trained in outpost and scouting duties.

According to the Maritzburg correspondent of the London Daily Mai!. Captain Choles, commanding the Natal Volunteer Ordnance Department, has invented a backsight by which the most inaccurate rifle can be made tp shoot true. It also supplies a perfect wind gauge without the aid of detachable sighting appurtenances and does not interfere with the principle of any rifle sighting. The invention is most simple and inexpensive, and suits any pattern of ri*!e. Captain Choles is applying for a patent, and proceeds to England shortly to bring the invention to the notion of the War Office. Experienced rifle shots in South Africa are confident that it will be adopted. and also fitted to all machine guns of rifle calibre.

The Wellington camp scandal lias been quite the topic of the week- in local volunteer circles, and the general opinion is that while those concerned acted unwisely in creating such an unfortunate position while the Royal visitors were in the town, nothing that wis done warranted the language used by the Commandant of the Forces in iddressing the men. However great the provocation, it can hardly be said that Colonel Pole-Ponton was justified in referring to the offenders as "cowardly curs." "infernal curs," etc, and, if J mistake not. such unparliamentary language is contrary to the volunteer regulations, even though used by the head of the forces. Provision is made in the regulations for dealing with misbehaviour while under military control, but nothing contained therein entitles an officer to hurl such epithets at the heads of the men under him.

A meeting of persons interested in the formation of a rifle club was held at the Thames on Tuesday evening. There was an excellent attendance, Mr. James Thomas presiding. After some discussion, it was decided to form a club, to be known as the .Thames Rifle Club, and t'le names of 20 gentlemen were handed in as willing (o become members. The Hon. James MeGowan, Minister for .Alines, was elected president, and Mr. W. Climo secretary, the appointment of other officers being deferred until the Defence Department replied to the club's application for recognition as a Government club. Tee secretary was instructed to forward the club's application to the officer commanding the district, at ones, with the request that it "oe forwarded to the Defence Minister, .fudging horn the enthusiasm with which the idea has been taken up, there appears to be every probability of the new .dub being a great success.—{Ova Correspondent]

According to tne organ of the German Ueneril Staff, a mode! mounted infaatry corps has lieen formed in Germany's fcouthv. est African colony. This colony tyossosseH similar eiiHracleri-lii < to tie* Transvaal, and the men li.ivc been trained with a view to adapting themselves to turning to account the difikult nature of the country. The forty is lightly equipped, and its chief care is to husband the strength of horses, walking end leading them when traversing difficult ground, Tin' rale of marching is something under !:■..• miles an bom. The training of the hi)r:t-.i appears to take up most time for Hindi .iMe i- taken in teat bins them to remain stationary as long as the rein-, are dropped o\ev their heads. The soldier is thus a! '■« to leave his hordes -with th-.« rcr- ~ tamry A quickly finding them xgsin when occ.;.-.'!.': requires. He n.a-t be. a. thorough horseni n. and possess the ability to get from point t) point in the shortest povsibla tune. I nforiiiuiiteiy, the witter who jt'.vrs this information does not afford any idea as to tie number of companies of this description Germany possesses or lev they are raided: but there must he very lew.

At Marlborough House during April the German deputation from the Emperor William's Court, who visited England to submii tor King Edward's inspection specimens ol the Held service output supplied to German soldiers, was received by His Majesty. land Robert: was present. A German sergeant wore the outfit, which tho Kin* inspected, mid the olhcers present with the former were General von Moitke, the Emperor's aidede cam;), and Lieutenant, von Csedoai. of tho 4tb Foot, Guards, [lis Majesty inspected with ere; t interest the field service kit, mid saw various items of equipment, and the method of packing them into the valise. After the inspection Lord Roberta remained in consultation with the King. The Press Association learns that the King was very pleased by his inspection, end expressed approval of the outfit. It was arranged that the. German deputation should visit the AVar Office- for an official inspection mf tho kit. His Majesty bestowed upon General von Moltke a Knight Oorumandersaip of the Victorian Order, and made Lieutenant von I sedom a member of the same order.

Now (hat Clio Duke of York and Cornwall has gone, and the la-: of our contingents have been si'nt to South Africa, we may expect to find the volunteer movement return once more to its normal condition ; hut I cannot allow tin; opportunity to pass without a word of praise to those who have so ably homo iho brunt of the work for some months past. The local authorities have been raked fore and aft by those who have had (heir little personal grievances to air. but alter all, the mem bora of the Auckland staff, from Colonel White down, have worked with a. will right through the piece, and, considering the, many obstacles that beset them on all sides, have come through the ordeal with credit. The best of us are liable to make mistakes at times, and in the rush and bustle of despatching contingents at short notice, and preparing fur the reception of Royalty, fomo little matter of detail is almost sure to bo overlooked when working with an inadequate staff, yet on the whole .[ feci fully justified in expressing tho opinion that in no part of the colony have fiio arrangements throughout been mora satisfactorily carried out than in Auckland. Those calling for special mention in this connection ;-ro Lieutenant-Colonel White, officer commanding the district; Captain lieid, district adjutant; and our caps.ble staff instructors, iSprgen.nt-Major.3 Carpenter, Hoare, and Chealor.

" Let 'cm all come." was the tenour of Mr. Seddon's wire to the local volunteer authorities when ho found that trouble had arisen in Auckland in consequence of the conditions imposed on one company anxious Jo attend the Royal Review at Christehurch, and alter that they all wont, or at. least as many of them as could obtain the necessary leave. Evidently King Richard wanted to make amends for Hie " Auckland Maori display" trouble, and win his way back into popularity in the Northern capital. The action of the Defence Minister may appeal to a certain section, but all level headed citizens of Auckland will, on calm consideration, recognise that there has been a wanton and unwarranted waste of public money, for the public will have to foot the bill when it is all over, aid noG the Minister for Defence. Auckland's quota of volunteers to the Christchurch review must have numbered 500 all told, and, setting the cost down at £6 a heada low enough estimate, surely—we find that no less than £3000 has been thrown away, money that might have been turned to some good purpose in forwarding; the volunteer movement. For months past we have been wailing patiently for sonic stops to be taken in the direction of the building of a new and up-to-date Drill Hall for Auckland, but so far absolutely nothing has been done, while we have almost despaired of getting a, suitable and properly-equipped rifle rango for the district, so loag lias this matter been hung up. .Would it not have been better to have spent the £3000 in one or othet of the directions mentioned, that;. to have squandered it on vi pageant fchwi really benefits nobody?

"Enthusiast" writes me as under:—"To ' Sentinel': Hear Sir.— recent encampments at rotter's Paddock and the Domain tend to forcibly remind us of the desirability of having a suitable camping-ground where the mounted companies might find shelter for their liorscs -and convenience for themselves. In the first place, shelter-sheds are. urgently required for the horses, as the men cannot do justice to their mounts and turn then out in a proper manner if the horses are left out in the mud and rain; then, again, if a man gets his horse well groomed and saddled up preparatory to a parade, and a shower of rain happens to fall, his work, is undone, whereas with sheds the horse is kept dry and warm, and his appearance is thereby improved. A riding school is also a necessity. No doubt most of the men In our mounted companies are excellent horsemen, bit their seat in the saddle is most ungainly, and the majority of them want the " old man" off their back. This state of affairs could easily he improved by securing a riding master to attend the camps, and would certainly bring about a better style of riding. We can never hope for the statue-like rigidity which characterises the Imperial horse-soldier; it is not consistent with our colonial ways; but if wo desire to appear soldier-like we must assume a less slovenly manner of riding. Another reason for the urgent establishment of a good campingground is so that proper facilities may be arranged for the convenience of cooking and messing. It is unfair to ask men to cook in all .-oris of weather without any shelter whatever from the elements, besides which the food is wasted by not having a suitable storeroom and spoiled by the weather, '-hereby emailing considerable unnecessary expense. A messroom should also be provided, as it. is manifestly unfair that men should be forced to have their meals in their sleeping apartments, gravy, fat, vegetables, etc., becoming mixed with the straw on which they sleep. On active service there is every excuse for roughing it and making the most of every inch of available accommodation, and men do not mind the inconvenience, but when there is absolutely no necessity for inconvenience let its make the training of our citizen soldiers as pleasant and profitable to them as we can. In furtherance of this object, my suggestion is that a suitable p;cco of ground be obtained close to the r'itv perhaps a portion of Cornwall Park might be devoted to the purpose, say. about 25 acres. If this is not obtainable, surely then* is someone public-spirited enough to hand over a suitable site to the authorities—it is not necessary for the land to be of good quality, but it must be easy of access. The site having been secured, it might be slanted with suitable trees, shelter-sheds erected, storerooms and kitehers of galvanised iron fitted up, and suitable permanent mtf.-rooms, with rooms for a caretaker provided for. The ground would require draining and parts metalled. If the position happened to be sheltered and dry the men could sleep in tents at any time of the year. If a suitable man could be obtained as riding master, he could also undertake the duties of caretaker, a, his services in the former capacity would only be required occasionally. No doubt the Government would subsidise such an establishment, and it could be further supported by all mounted companies in the Auckland district having the right to use for company purposes and Easter camps. A place like this, with elubrooms, gymnasium, etc., under proper management, would go far towards popularising the mounted branch of the volunteer movement, and doing away with a lot of the grumbling that the country volunteers indulge in when they visit the city. It would also be more convenient to the drill instructors, and, being near headquarters the men would receive more minute attention than if they held their various camps at such inaccessible places as at present, necessitating a great amount of trouble and expense in forwarding and returning camp equipment, with its consequent losses and '■barges."