MILITARY AND NAVAL NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15096, 12 September 1912, Page 10

MILITARY AND NAVAL NOTES

BY SENTINEL. . . . ■ Rifle clubs aro to "bo established fit Devonport, Whangarei, Mangonui, and •Warkworth. Somo alteration in the wording of chaplains' commissions is to bo effected. Ofhcers concerned have been instructed to call in as many commissions as possible to have this done. . The provisions of tho Defence Act with regard to taking the oath of allegiance are to bo immediately complied with in the case of officers v.'ho have not yet done so. Forms are being issued for this purpose. Officers commanding companies, etc., are J also being supplied with printed slips 111 a counterfoil boo!: on which they are to notify their adjutants of the names of all absentees without leave for prosecution. , The following are appointed for service J with the senior cadets : —Second-Lieu- ; tenants J. Hanna, R. E. Andrew, R_. J. ; Clarke, 0. W. Crutch, J. A. Duffy, V. lx. ; S. Scott, and F. T. • Hayman; Seconu- , Lieutenant W. E. Rhodes is promoted to , lieutenant. . j The Defence miniature range, Drill ; Hall. Auckland, is now in daily use between tho hours of 12 noon and six p.m. (Sundays excepted). Senior cadets ana compulsory members of rifle clubs > only may obtain practice thereon by applying to the" sergeant-major on .range duty. Kil.es 'are available on tho range,_ and a free issuo of 10 rounds of ammunition will bo provided at each visit, but tho number will not bo exceeded on any ono day. Owing to the varied conditions existing in the country districts, ofacers commandin squadrons and companies will make the best arrangements they can to put. t-heir men through the prescribed musketry ' course. Squadron, troop, companj, or even section week-end camps are suggested. No pay, allowances, or rations can hs given, but camp equipment is always available.

The Solicitor-General having ruled that senior cadets are civilly liable for misbe- . haviour on or at parades, under section 57 of the Defence Act, 1809, this paragraph is to be liberally interpreted, and such offences as the following can be dealt , •with thereunder : (a) Refusing to " Fall in"; (b) falling out without permission; (c) laughing, "talking, playing oni . parade; (d)"insolcnce or disobedience when given an order. Officers commanding regiments are cmpowered to authorise' company commanders to grant leave of absence from compulsory , drills and parades under very exceptional circumstances. This is to be_ done ,by issuing a leave certificate to the individual concerned. The above certificate, as also • a. medical certificate, is to be considered the equivalent of an attendance at such : drill or parade. ' All the above offences must be on, or in connection with, a parade.' Boys in possession of uniform who • parade in plain clothes, are to bo given from half to one -hour's extra drill,'. during which they can. be dealt with under the above-quoted ac- ' tion. .... Boys are to be warned that if they fail to attend the required number of drills • this year their names will be handed to the police on May 31, 1913. This order is ;to bo read and" carefully explained ,or. . every parade, and cadets are to be warned ■ that the provisions of this order will be ' strictly carried out. ;- - Saturdays will bo reserved for those who cannot attend on other days. An attendance roll book will be kept by the "/.sergeant-major on duty, showing the per- •. formance of each firer. 4;. In very remote outlying districts, where .-it would be impossible to bring the men "into a central range, the course must be fired on a 25 yards : ; range and tljo ser- •;> geant-major concerned Jls'f responsible that • ; all such men . carry out ; their course on 0 these ranges. The ranges can be erected , ."it a minimum cost in all the remote outflying districts. ~' „ - : A, standing musketry camp of a fortnight's duration will be formed at- Penroso from Friday, November 1, to Satur;;;day, November 16. both days inclusive.This camp is formed for the purpose of . giving an opportunity ;to all ' territorials 1 r- ajfd senior cadets residing within a radius V:v of 10 miles of Penrose of. carrying out their ' classification practises at times to suit their ' own convenience. ■ ; • Although squadron and company com- , manders may take advantage of. this camp', for the purpose of exercising .'their comj:mands, or part- of their commands collec- . tively, -it is really intended more for the . purpose of giving an opportunity to terri- . torials and senior cadets who, being unable to carry out their practises Under com- . pany arrangements, nevertheless can visit •' the range independently at odd times. ■ Tents v.-ill be pitched. Those who intend sleeping in camp • must bring their ..own bedding. No rations, pay, or allowances will be given, but a. railway pass will be issued .to all: within a iO-mile i radius. The dress is optional. Ammunition will be provided on the v. range. . Shooting will continue from daylight till dark, except on Sundays. Territorials and senior cadets can attend at any hour and as'.often as they choose during -the period. , .".;V " . . ° "Address, unknown " is one of the problems of the present territorial system. Men arc drafted to certain units and when adjutants or area officers- post their orders to parade, these are invariably returned with the stereotyped intimation. In one of the New Zealand regiments 200 men cannot be found. If such is tho case.' x in one, corps this must: necessarily exist , : in other units. : It is raid that even the police have been baffled in the attemnt to discover'many of these absentees. Apparently, they dodga from house to. house or ; town to town- go that it is impossible to' keep them tinder observation. Such a condition points to a deficiency in registration and an inadequate system of control. The problem is certainly* difficult, but a solution must be found, otherwise this evil will grow, and the Defcnco Act become, ridiculed. Perhaps the continental system of civil registration, with a photograph, description, and address enclosed" in a pocket-book arrangement, would meet the situation : the carrying of the same to be made compulsory by Act of Parliament. In the meantime a. temporary measure of efficient registration and detection must be found. ... •