THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14245, 20 June 1908, Page 13

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

By Sentry. [Ikr,:s i.-[ interest concerning corps (town and country), tliopting, and defence matters generally will ba tcceptod. Copy, addressed to" Son try," should be in hand by noon oil Thursday.] General Orders, dated May 30, announce that Major' Hislop's resignation as intelligence ottieo, Otago district, has been accepted, his nauio to bo placod on the activo list (unattached), with wink of major; that Acting Staft'-sergeant Burgess is appointed stalf sergeant-major instructor (mounted duties), Ofcaga military district, with eil'ect horn July 22, 1907; that Lieutenant Cqlumb has been appointed lading captain, Hibernian liiflo Cadet Volunteers. Field-marshal Karl Roberts has presented a trophy for competition in rifle shooting. bctiveen teams of eight school Cadets of 16 yearo of ago and under, th<; competition to take place, before the 31st of August, 1908. The team to represent New Zealand will be selected by the Council of Defence from defence Cadet corps at colleges and high schools throughout the Dominion. On selection of the team a time will be fixed for match to be fired, probably during last week in. August, and arrangements made for match to bo fired at Trentliam. The trophy is to be competed for annually by representative teams of British (Imperial) schoolboys who are not over 16 years of age on the Ist of July in the year of the match. A bronze medal will be given to each member of the winning team, and a silver medal (the C. B. Fry medal) to the captain of the team. The conditions are. seven shots and a. (sightcr at 200 and 500 yards. The North Dunedin Rifles' incident has reached a rather dramatic situation. Whether the Volunteer concerned is or is not a fit person to fulfil the responsibilities of lieutenant in the North Dunedin Rifles 13 not for me to pronounce upon. The North Dunedin Rifles say he is, and the O.C. Battalion says lie is not. Legally, or according to the regulations, the O.C. Battalion had a right to do what he has done. Likewise, according to the regulations, the company has a right to decide lo disband. The carrying of such resolutions as apparently obtained the unanimous support of the members of the company on Wednesday will, however, create a fresh situation, and there is scarcely any doubt that more will he heard upon the subject. Approached upon the matter, both the O.C. District and the O.C. Battalion declined to say anything to the press at the present juncture. Meantime I noto that bv the newspaper report of the 'North Dunedin Rifles mooting that the prompt intimation by "Santry" of the Defence Council's decision' to do nothing further in the matter has been accounted to someone for unrighteousness. The' news was obtained thiswise:— Repeated (periodical inquiry at the District Ollico as to whether a reply had been -received from Wellington was at length rewarded by the information that a reply was to,,hand, and had been passed on to the O.C. Battalion in the orthodox way for transmission to the O.U North Dunedin Rifles. My application to know the purport was at first demurred to by tlio O.C. District, but upon my reminding him that the whole of the circumstances had already been published in my column, and it was thus a matter of public interest, he informed mo of the decision. This was on Thursday. Upon inquiry from the O.C. Battalion I learned that the letter conveying the Defence Council's decision had been posted in time to catch that afternoon's delivery to the O.C. I therefore published the information the following morning (Friday), and" have now to thank my friend, the O.C, North Dunedin Rifles, for his implied compliment upon the up-to-date character of Defence Notes;

The weekly meeting of the Non-com-missioned Officers' Club was held in the band room at the Garrison Hall' on Friday, the 12th, tlie club room proving far too small for the large number of members present. There were 50 N.0.0.'s in tho room. The subject for the evening, " Karly Experiences in South Africa," with limelight views ; was handled by Chaplainmajor Button in a masterly manner. He was thoroughly familiar with his subject, having spent.a number of years iu different parts of the country. Upwards of 40 different views were shown, including a beautiful view' of the interior of Parliament House, Capetown, and also some splendid views of tho diamond mines. That the members thoroughly enjoyed tho lecture was shown by the hearty applause which accompanied a vote of thanks to the chap-lain-major at tho conclusion of his address. It was stated last week in these notes that the ox-Mayor had addressed a few words to tho Dunedin Highland Rifles at the conclusion of their march out. The particular item of news reached mo through the medium of the telephone, which cannot retaliate if I blajne it for confusing "exmember" with "ox-Mayor." It was Mr J. M'Donakl, the present Mayor, who, us an ex-member, visited his old corjß. I do not know whether Mr Loudon wa6 ever a member of the Highland Rifles. If he was not, he is that much the poorer. It is a well-known fact that the service matches in connection with the Trentham moeting create very little interest amongst tho competitors, and <ire entered into in a very indifferent spirit. This is far from satisfactory, for it is the development of skill in shooting on service conditions that is necessary to make a man an effective fighting, un.it. Tile importance of shooting on service conditions was emphasised recently when Iho National Rifle Association received an ofiioial hint to give more prominence to thai branch of the art in its programmes. But if service shooting matches -a.ro to he popularised, the authorities will need to improve the conditions. .It is a common complaint amongst competitors ut Tr.*ntham that the service matches are practically valueless, because at the conclusion a man has scarcely any notion of where his .shots have -landed, and thus is unable lo correct any faults and profit by his mistakes. Knowing that Lieutenantcolonel Smith, who was a competitor at Trent-ham Ibis year, was interested in th« matter, I approached him upon the subject. He voices a general opinion w-lwn he states that the service matches fail to produce the full benefit in the-way of instruction intended. He instances die Running Man Matoh, which is fired at tho figure of a man painted on a target 4ft by W. When a competitor has fired his seven shots he is informed hy a very crude signal that he has hit the man, say, three, four, or five times us the case may he. That, is the full extent- of the information' he receives and he leaves the mound

entirely ignorant us to whether he was estimating too much or too little for sklo sllowanco or elevation, 'illie target boinif Ift, by Aft, the chances arc that almost every competitor keeps all his shots on, and Lieuteuflnt-colonc! Smith considers it would bo- aa easj mafiar for the anarker

to be provided with a supply of paper diagram targets, upon one of which.ho coul-.l mark the hits, at onco transmitting tho paper (argot, by lube or other means to this firing poini. Each competitor could tl.cn have prompt mid cany ocular demonstration -,us (o the. results he had achioved, and would be enabled to correct his faults at tho next competition or on active ?t?rvice. This suggestion could bo <>xlcndc:l to the snapshooting and cover matches by painting t.hu head and shoulders on a <Mt by 4ft target. Lieutenant-colonel Smith is 'bringing tlicss suggestions before the N.7i.R.A. Old associations oling- most desporatoly, even long past the time when l-hoy are appropriate and desirnblo. Dnnedin, for example, was once a. purely Scotch city, and oven although now t'lus essentially Scotch element is only in fair proportion, visitors prepare themselves for a purely Hecteli se!Moment, and bring out their copies of "Comin' thro' tho rye." In like maimer there, was a time when Volunteers acquired, not undeservedly, on their own confession, an unenviable reputation for intemperance. Such a distinction dies hard, so that, although tho us© to excess of stimulants has been steadily decreasing, there srill remains in the minds of some a connection between Volunteering and inkir.peranrc, as witness the recent statement to that effect in the daily papers. It is not correct to say that to attach a lad to a Volunteer company is to put him in the certain way to acquire drinking habits. The .0.0. District, points out, for instance, that although there wero over 1000 men in camp at Faster, with fairly easy access to hotels, not a single case of intoxication was reported to him. But there is no doubt that there are still parents who, as the outcome of the bad old days, consider that in placing their boys in tho Volunteers they are expeaing them to the temptation to become intemperate.' Prejudice dies hard. Volunteers in the past brought this stigma upon themselves, ,and none but the Volunteers can remove It. It is to be remembered that a higher standard of personal conduct is required of tho man who wears a uniform, and that in addition an over-indulged man in uniform is much mote conspicuous than hia comrade in mufti. There was, for example, a certain amount of intoxication apparent in connection with the train journey to tiro Eaetet encampment, and the publio is quick to make tho most of it. Then, again, in connection with their various social functions Volunteers 'follow tho more or less, necessary custom of the day and provide supplies of spirituous beverages. The outeomo is that some stray members over indulge, and, being in uniform, catch tho publio eye and the reputation of Volunteers generally again suffers. Again, I say that only the Volunteers themselves can removo the stigma, and there is no doubt tihat by reducing to a minimum the quantity of liquor provided for social functions—one corps proved recently that a highly successful social can bo run with liquor eliminated altogether,-and by avoiding even the very appearance of excess in publio places this undesirablo heritage can be altogether got rid of. In future an Officer Commanding corps, when writing to tho Officer Commanding district on matters that require reference to headquarters, must duplicate his'letter. Tho purposo of this is that one copy of tho letter may be kept in the district office, and the other forwarded on to headquarters. Tho principle of keeping complete files of correspondence at hofh the district and tho head offices is no doubt a'very good one, but what about tho poqr Officer Commanding corps, already in many eases hard put to it to accomplish his military duties without nogleoting his bread and butter supply? I fancy ho will take refuge in tho clause providing that where tiio Officer Commanding corps fails to supply a duplicate copy the district office staff must make a copy, and tho swearing will then have to bo dono (in private) by the district staff.

The scouting and marching competition arranged by tho Duncdin Cycle and Signalline; Corps was hold on Saturday last, and proved a valuable experiment. It will bo remembered that the conditions wero that patrols of two, commencing at tho lower end of Mechanic street, North-East Valley, were to approach a supposed enemy's outpost on the summit of Signal Hill, and then deliver a message at tho residence of Lieutenant Thorns, Burkes. The purpose of the competition was to test tho men' 6 Skill in approaching an enemy' 6 outpost, and give thorn practice in finding their way by night—branches of work which would bo thoir's on active service The distance was about five miles, and tho best time was 50 minutes, which, considering the marching was accomplished in tho darkness over rough country, and that tho outpost on Signal Hill had to he surprised, must be regarded as remarkably good. Six teams entered, but tho partner in the sixth, coupdid not turn up to time, his colleague performing the task alono. The next beat times were 55min, 60min, and comin, Tho success of tho men in this competition is undoubtedly tho result of the company's policy of doing as much work a3 possible under service conditions, another contributing cause being the excellent practice made at the camp. Some idea of the competition is gained from tho following extract-from the report, of the umpire:—"Time was very good. These two men were extremely keen, hut they failed-to grasp the fact that the man at the Trig Station was probably armed. They made very little pretence of taking cover, although they certainly came through the bushy covered ground. But two men trying to tako a sentry by surprise would bo far mote likoly to do so if they made some plan to ontrap him, and,.

whilst kcoping in touch with each other, extended apart and took him from different points. Two men would never try to catoh a horse following on each other's heels, so why should thoy try to entrap a man this way'" Tho winning pair were Corporal Dawc and Private Smith, who scored 95 per cent. Privatos Tiley and Ellis were second with 85 por cent. Another competition, this time in cooking, will be hold shortly in connection with the corps. On active service a soldier sometimes gets a ration handed' out to him to bo cooked and propared 'as he can best contrive. The competition will assume something like this. A ration and a certain allowance of firewood will bo handed to each competitor, and marks w jH be awarded in • accordance with tho merit of preparation.

At a special committco meeting o£ the Non-commissioned Officers' Club it was decided to carry out the proposal to bold an inter-company football tournament at tlio close of the Rugby football season. Circulars are to be sent to the variousi companies io ascertain how many entries are likely to be received. There should bo no difficulty in getting at least 10 teams to take part in euch a tournament. The medical service in connection with th-D Now Zealand Defence Forces lias been reorganised and consolidated, under the title "New Zealand Medical Corps." Under the new regime the local field hospital and boarer corps will be known as No. 2 Company field Ambulance, N.'Z. Medical Corps. A fresh set of regulations is provided. Tho Officer Comm&ndiii" will be called the Director-general of Medical Services, _ and in future medical officers shall be appointed to corps only upon his recommendation, and in the following proportions:—Field batteries 1, divisions of garrison artillery 2, ongineor companies 1, regiments 2, battalions 2. A squadron or company having, at tho time these regulations come into force, a medical officer attached may retain such officer on existing conditions, but; no appointments will in future be made permanently to squadrons or companies. Tho establishment of a field ambulance will be 52, tho minimum being 27, and an innovation is the introduction of a lieutenant (quartermaster). In this connection it is provided that for distinguished service non-commissioned officers may, on the recommendation of tho Director-general, be promoted to be quartermaster with the rank of lieutenant, ami shall be either attached to a field ambulance or bo posted lo the Reservo of Officers as such. Not more than one such officer shall be appointed to each field ambulance. That tho status of an ambulance corps is to be kept high is evidenced by tho provision that no private shall be promoted to bo a non-commissioned officer in tho corps unless he has passed the senior proficiency examination in such military and professional subjocts as may ho laid down from time to time in general orders, and no man shull continue to be a meinher of tho corps if he has not passed the junior examination for proficiettoy within two years from date of enrolment, and thosenior examination within four years "ro®.