SAILORS AND SOLDIERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6861, 3 July 1909, Page 4

SAILORS AND SOLDIERS

(By 149). [The writer would be glad to receivg from anyone interested in sea or land .defence, Imperial or colonial, general or local news or idets usable in this column.] 1 believe so implicitly in the protection of England by Almighty God that I would never take a weapon to defend my native land—Judge Willis.

Apparently the "wooden walls of England," which have long been built of iron or steel, will soon bo made from cement. The Italian Government is taking the lead in constructing ships with "armoured concrete," and its example is being followed by America. It is claimed that wars-hips built of "reinforced" concrete will possess greater ability to resist violent shocks, and never require cleaning, painting, or repair, while any damage done by projectiles will be merely local! Moreover, tho cost of construction, as compared with-steel, is less than one-half.

District classes of instruction for officers and non-commissioned officers are to be held in Wellington—for officers, from 12th to 17th July—for non-coms., from 19th to 21th. The main object of the, class is to give instruction in and to lead up to the work to be carried out at the continuous course (under general instructional class) to' be held some time between October and end of February. The course will be carried out (as per syllabus) during the week evenings and on Saturday and Wednesday afternoon. If possible, one Sunday will also be included in course, when the officers may be required to work out a small scheme. Service uniform, note book, etc., sketching material for those attending Saturday or Wednesday afternoon" for topography. The class will be conducted under the supervision of the officeT commanding district. Officers (and N.C.O.'s) rill be allowed to count any parades for capitation which their companys hold during the time class is being' held. Officers commanding corps are requested to i'or- . ward to the District Office, as early as possible, a list showing the numbers of N.C.O.'s . that' will attend. The class for N.C.O.'s will be held the week following—i.e., 19th to 24th July. A syllabus for N.C.O.'s course is attached hereto, which syllabus officers commanding companys are requested to place in the company orderly room for the information of their N.C.O.'s. Following is the syllabus for officers :—• ' First day, 7.45 p.m.—Musketry generally, instruction in aimfng, ;etc, followed by lecture, if time permite. Second day, Tuesday, 7.45/p.m.—Lecture, skirmishing, company in. attack and defence, battalion in attack and defence. ' •Third day, Wednesday, 2.30 p.m.—Topography. 8 p.m.—Mobilisation regulations, supply of ammunition and food in . • field, transport, M. engineering (hasty entrenchments). - Fourth day, Thursday, 7.45 p.m.—Protection service of reconnaissance' -and writing of report's. Fifth day, Friday, 7.45 p.m.—lssue of orders (specimen forms), marches, general commands governing A. and D. Sixth day, Saturday, 2.30 p.m.—Topography. - N .- ■ Seventh day, Sunday.—Scheme, if sufficient officers will attend. This syllabus is liable .to alteration if found necessary. . ■ '."'. Following 1 •is the syllabus for NonComs. s— . .' -■ i • _First day, 7.45 p.m.—Musketry generally, instruction in aiming, etc., and lecture. Second day, 7.45 p.m.—Discipline and Duties (marches). \ . - . Third day, 2.30 p.m.—Topography. $. and'writing of reports, the ' company in attack and defence. . V " Fourth day, 8 p.m.—Service of protection.' -•■»:■ Fifth day, 8; p.m.—Military engineer-, ing, mobilisation regulations, supply ofi ammunition and food.in field. : Sixth day, 2.30 p.m.—Topography. N.B. —This syllabus,is liable to alteration to suit any unforseen circumstances which may arise.- . Germany has one,homogeneous fleet »of battleships. Grouped round it are tho necessary, subsidiary armoured cniiserß, small cruisers, destroyers, mining ships, and auxiliaries. The Whole are trained Under'one admiral all the year round in full commission, and: there is devolution of, authority for all merely administfative work to 'subordinate, admirals., We in this country have to assume, the worst—namely, that this fleet will s£rikewhen none of its,units is away for refit or repairs. Consequently, we have to provide a single fleet, in similar, conditions, which will have such a nominal superiority as will allow; of a'normal number of vessels being away ,-for*; refit or repairs, and-;yes enable it to- have an actual superiority on the day of battle ■ as. will insure : its: ability to bring i the enemy to; action if at sea, and; its subsequent success- in the battle. Instead of concentrating in'one fleet, underone iXknnmander-in-Chief, we have, un- 1 der the latest of our many distribution, schemes, three fleets based on three ports -under the divided control of two. Commanders-in-Chief.— Curlyon Bellairs, in the "Fall Mall Gazette."

The British Army airship is well over 100 ft in length, and the circumference round the oiggest, part is about, tho same, the capacity is 36,000 cubic ,feet of gas, and the lifting power 10001 b. This allows for two men (not twentyfour, as in the latest: German dirigible.), besides the engines, car, and apparatus.

Parliament must not be content to vote ships. It must also turn, its mind to the organisation of those ships, for, war, which means" specifically that, it must satisfy itself that the fleet is. organised and' disposed in such a way as to ensure victory, as far as human organisation can ensure, victory, over any antagonist at sea.—London "Spectator."

''Apropos of the keen interest which is being taken in tht present naval controversy in Britain we learn from a well-Wormed source that it is not afc all unlikely that there will shortly be a, complete reversion to the old Admiralty system of administration, which formerly worked so well, but which has betn; gradually superseded, with not altogether satisfactory results. It is not conducive to naval efficiency that such, a responsible-and extensive department should be controlled by one man, but it is an open secret that durins the last few years, this is practically what has been happening, and no one has seemingly haa the courage to ■lnteriere. It is asserted that several of the reforms—euch as those appertaining to the. new 6vstem of training officers, the redistribution of the fleet, and other important matters—have been rusned through without due consideration, and that moreover, members of the Board of Admiralty have not only been ignored, but also experienced the greatest difficultv in-obtaining information respecting the changes until it was too late to make any alteration or amendment. Now that it is too late, it is realised that the policy of "scrapping ships has been carried to-altogether unjustifiable lengths.

It is reported that as the result of a series of exhaustive experiments by tha chemical research department of the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich (Eng.), a new explosive of the cordite class, much more powerful than that hitherto produced has been discovered and- has given general satisfaction in the tests. It ia understood that the new explosive will be used in the manufacture of future

issues of shells and cortridaes. Its advantage is said to lie in the largely increased propelling power which it devnlops and which is held to have been fully provod in the tests at the butts.

Whiskers seem to have something to -lo with fighting fitter all. As this: "One of the most dashing leaders of irregular cavalry i„ Major-tjencrul air Frederick Oarringtou. Uis groat personal bravery often inspired his tough followers to many a gallant deed and Jho story of how ho led a charge of two hundred yards ahead of his troops and ■irrned with a cane is characteristic ot the man. During the same bsht his horse was shot in the jaw and the intrepid soldier dismounted and picked out the bullet with his penkuno. I' n " bullots were living round his head but hi} acted quite, calmly and relieved his favourite charger. Though a strict disciplinarian, ho. is a genial companion, and it is said that he has the finest moustache in the army."

•This Tear's great novelty at the Paris culinarv exhibition is the competition of ninety soldier cooks with the best diets of Paris. These regimental culinary artists have been selected from dliferent military kitchens in Pans and the French provinces by M. Cheron, the active Under-Secretary for War, who has done so much for the improvement ot the conditions among soldiers. This Minister for Agriculture, M. Kuan, vLsite<l the exhibition which is held in the gardens of the Tuilenes, and was jrocoiveil by he chairman of tho comnuUee, 31. .Varguery, the. well-known 'restaurateur, 'the soldier cooks scored by answering questions which, by their simplicity, may have staggered many u chci. "now many litres 01 water are required, and how much, salt, to make a good soup tor IUU -men?" they were assed; or, ugair, "How many onions and how much sp.ouig are required to supply I'M mess tins.'" 'ineso questions were promptly and correctly nai»'ei<l by toe soldiers.