THE POWER OF THE RIFLE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1511, 14 February 1901, Page 15

THE POWER OF THE RIFLE.

LORD DL NDONALD ON THE LE-3-

50.,0 OF THE WAR.

Lord Bundoriald, who led the irregular cavalry and mounted infantry in the Natal campaign and was first to enter beleagured Ladysmith, was the guest of the New Vagabonds’ Club on Saturday .evening, and made some interesting observations concerning the lessens of the war.. The first lesson, he said, was the immense power of the modern rifle—how a few determined men could hold a position against superior numbers almost for an indefinite time. This power of a few men to hold positions where they .could obtain cover made one reflect how very bold a foe w ould have to be to. invade England.

He believed such a foe might invade our country, but if any' 'percentage of the people lined the hedgerows and .the enclosures he did not think that many of those men would ever return to their native land. -C-,.:

The mounted infantryman of, the future should be a first-class shot and a first-class walker, and, a man who could stick moderately well upon his horse. His lordship looked.upon the liars© ase> meann onlv of prolonging the mobility, of the Hfllenian. ! ■ ' "- '.... ; •* 'V

On the question of reform, Lord Bundonald, said there were large numbers of men in this country who disliked the restraint of barracks, who. held, objection to military service in time f peace,. but who would be perfectly ready for a lump sum a year to give their service to the Empire in case of need, and who would qualify themselves by marksmanship and by efficiency in. marching, and by learning the rudiments of drill, for a splendid reserve to fill the ranks of our regular army when war broke out. .