THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13983, 16 August 1907, Page 3

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Notes bt Ben-tut.

[Itms of interest conccrmng corps (town

and country), shooting, and defence natters generally will bo accepted. Copy, addressed to " Sentry," should b0 in hand by noon on Thursday.] Tho weekly column which has for a number of years appeared under the heading of "A 7 oluntcer Notes" will in futuro be designated as above. This is not intended as prophetic of the passing of the A'olunteer, but is merely the adoption of a more appropriate and comprehensive heading to notes which are uot confined to the Volunteer portion of tho forces. Colonel Smyth, O.C. District, returned from Wellington on AVedncsday. His visit was tho outcome of a summons to attend as a member of a court of inquiry. Tho circumstances of the inquiry and tho name of the officer concerncd havo not transpired.

Sorgeant-major Burgess has been appointed to the vacancy caused by the retirement of Staff Sergeant-major Cardale. Tho mounds on tho Collins and Seddon Ranges at Trontham havo been sodded and sown wth grass.

Tho quarterly examination for non-com-missioned officers of No. 1 Battalion will bo held in tho Garrison Hall on September

Tho Garrison Artillory companies are to ho renumbered. Hitch .company will have a - divisional' number,, instead of being named according to the position it holds in tho regiment. Thus the Otago companies will be numbered "1 and 2, Otago," and so on throughout tho colony. This is on the linos of the M.Il. regiments and infantry liattalions.

Tho district class of instruction for officers was concluded at the Garrison Hall on AVcdnesday evening. The instruction was, as intended, mainly elementary in character, and while for some it me-int really a revisal of work previously familiar, yet the manner of the refreshing made it valuable, whilst some of the questions disclosed a need in somo cases for even elementary instruction. When tho officers were put through some of tho practical exercises which aro tho regular bill of faro for tho rank and file it is whispered that there were furtive glances around to see that no supercilious privato was about. Tho avorago attendance at the Dunedin class cannot be considered satisfactory. It works out at only a trifle ahead of Oainaru. And whilst it was pleasing to note a proportion of young officers anxious and willing to take advantage of that which might assist them to attain proficicncy, it was apparent tlvat a great, many of the officers who stood in most need of tho instruction were absentees. Tho class was conducted by Lieutenant Hiokey, A.A.G., with conspicuous ability. Lioutenant Rogers, Instructor of Mounted Infantry, lectured on tho last evening, besides conducting classes during tho week in the various country districts whore a number of mounted men could be got together: Major Logan, who happened to be in town on private business, was present at the Garrison Hall on one of tho evenings. The next district class for officers will bo held at Balclutlia from August 16 to 22, to bo followed by a similar class at Invorcargill from August 26 to 31. As tho courses at theso classes will be tho same as just concluded at Dunedin, I append a rough syllabus for the information of officers of other districts:—/

First Night.—Skirmishing; advanco and retirement, company and battalion in attack and defence (illustrated)i; cover, mutual support; fire tactics and discipline; supply of ammunition.

Second Night.—Saluting, with and without swords; riflo exercises, extensions, signals, squad drill (all practical).

Third Night.—Scouting, advance, flank and rear guards and outposts (illustrated).

Fourth Night.—Musketry (theoretical); firing exercises (practical); canted backsight, result shown (practical); aiming, method of testing and triangle ot error; judging distance, shooting (causes of bad, and remedies); reasons for firing exercises and positions assumed.

Fifth ivi^ht. —Honours (guards and salutes); discipline—prevention of crime, manner of dealing with crime, duties and responsibilities of officers commanding units and companies; iegimenta.l—duties* and precedence; transport of troops by mil. , Sixth Night—Cauip3—duties from reveille to lights out; sanitation. The district class of instruction (evenings only) for non-coms, will ljo held in Dunedin from the 19th to the 24th inst. inclusivo. Non-coms, will bo. considering their best interests by attending this class, as in future it is intended to enforce the regulation which provides that an acting appointment will_ lapse if the candidate neglects to pass his examination in tlio prescribed time—six months. Tlio examinations are not made difficult, but are just sufficiently testing to ensure that each non-com. ehail be capable for the duties required of him. At the class held in Invercargill tho attendance averaged 14. Tho team of marksmen to represent Now Zealand at tho National Rifle Association of Now South Wales prize- meeting in October will probably be selected very soon. Colonel K. J. Collins, executive officer of the New Zealand Riflo Association, has been instructed to pick the men, and a team of 10 or 12 marksmen, selected from tho best in New Zealand, whether Volunteers or members of private rifle chilis, will I>6 sent over to compete in tho Empire Shooting Match, which is open to teams from the United Kingdom and all parts of the British Empire. With referents to the now regulation by which a portion of the capitation money of each corps shall be dealt- with by the battalion, regimental, or divisional staff, the procedure will bo that at the oral of each Volunteer year 25s per head of I he capitation will be sent direct to the O.C. Ivittalion, regiment, or division, as the case may bo, instead of to the corps. Tho O.C. will inspect and decide upon the condition of the field service uniform of each squadron or company in his command. If a corjß is clothed in the uniform to his satisfaction hp will pass on the 25? |>er head to (hat corps. If, however, the corps is not fully equipped with the service dress, lie will retain the 25s until ho sees tho men needing tho uniform properly equipped. Overcoats are-ccrtainlj iucludccS in-tho for-

vico uniform. In connootion with this regulation tlic 0.0. _ No. 1 Battalion lias' called for a return giving tho equipment of each company. In connection with the general class of instruction covering 10 complete daye, from September 11 to 20, the 0.0. district is endeavouring to arrange to have tho officers attending accommodated at Onslow House, Musselburgh, in proference to going under canvas at this time of tho year. Ono advantage of Onslow House is that ifc is close to the Central Battery.

The Port Chalmers Navals' ball, held last Friday, was in keeping with tho best traditions of the corps and the district. Tho local people supported the function royally, and a, number of Dunedin officers attendod, their verdict being that it was a first-rate dance.

Tho Dunedin Engineers have provided for them a varied scheme of work which should keep tho keen members thoroughly interested; and which is calculated to preserve members against death from ennui. 11l addition to tho Wednesday parades thcro arc ambulance classes, Morris tube shooting, class firing and prize firing, loetures, etc. Tho members are especially encouraged to make themselves proficient with tho rifle. Lieutenant Kobinson, whoso temporary appointment to the oorps has already been announced, will be attached to No. 4 (signalling) section, under Lieutenant Lacey. A parade for recruits of No. 1 Battalion i 6 still held in the Garrison Hall every Friday evening at 7.45. Two sergeants from tho Dunedin Highland Rifles are detailed for duty in this connection during August. Recruits aro reminded that they cannot bo taken into the ranks of trainee! men until they havo been passed by the battalion adjutant.

At tho latest annual meeting of, the Society \of Miniature Riflo Clubs, Lord Roberts presiding, the report showed that tho increaso in tho number of clubs affiliated to the society during the year psst had been very large. Tho precise etiquette which should obtain amongst, officers when at mess is not generally understood, a common impression boing that the procedure obtaining on parade should bo observed. Such is not the case, however. At moss tho officers aro just a body of men gathered socially. An officer of tho rank of major or higher must by addressed as "Sir" by his subordinate, but below the rank of major it is plain Jones, Thompson, or Smith, as tho caso may or may not be. Tho Dunedin Highland Rifles play a Rugby football match against the Dunedin City Guards at Forbury Park to-morrow. It is intimated for general information that conspicuous notices must be posted un in the vicinity of ranges, cautioning tho public of.tho extreme danger of handling or removing unexploded projectiles found on the ranges either through ricochet or other causes. In futuro the company sergeant-major of tho R.N.Z.A. detachment in each district will act as divisional sorgeant-major of tho local garrison artillery division. He wili, in addition to his other duties in connection with the R.N.Z.A. detachment, be responsible to tho O.C. division for the divisional books and records being accurately kept. Ho will also make out all Volunteer returns in connection with the division, and attend tho divisional commander on all inspection parades, a 6 \yell as instruct tho various companies in discipline and infantry duties. He will also bo responsible for tho training of reoruits in each company. Tho samo will apply to Field batteries also. i Tho officer commanding tho district has received an intimation from Mr Alexander, manager of tho corporation tramways, that in futuro all Volunteers in uniform going on or off duty will bo oarried any distance for ono penny cash fare.