THE BRITISH ARMY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15396, 7 March 1912, Page 7

THE BRITISH ARMY.

ESTIMATES DISCUSSED. PRESENT RIFLE DEFENDED. THE AERIAL SCHOOL Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright LONDON, March 5. In the House of Commons Cblonel Scely (Under-sccrctary for War), in intrch ducing tlio Army Intimates, unhesitat. •ugly denied that thero was a particle of truth in tho Opposition charges of tho inferiority of tho army rifle, which was an extraordinarily reliable weapon, as had been proved in the South African war. Tho heavy guns of tho horse field artillery and their machine guns wero tho best in Europe. Part of tlio present air battalion woiild .be absorbed by tho new flying corps,.'embracing soldiers, sailors, awl civilians. It was proposed to train 180 officers yearly and to purchase 131 aeroplanes. Mr Bonar Law repeated the statement tluit tho army rifle was inferior, in its trajectory, and complained that the culpable delay in improving it was inexcusable. Ixird Haldane,,, replying to a question, said that if thero had been war last summer the present army rifle, if of inferior trajectory, had 1 many advantages over tho Germais. polonel Scely said that training in . tho Aviation School on Salisbury Plain during the last four months had not been used for learning to fly, which \m loamt in private aerodromes. PROMOTION EXAMINATIONS. i LONDON, March 5. The following have passed thoir promotion examinations on the Australian staff: —Majors: Bruclio, Dowse, Carroll, Mailer; captains: Murray, Dodds, Ralph, Ibper; lieutenants: Jess, E. S. Brown, Williams, Coylo, Foster, Iload, Conway, /> Goucher, Wynter, Blake, Pollard, Haynes, ■ Buttner, Somerville, Taclcabeny, Moran. Garrison artillery: Captains Griffiths, Macartney. M'Donald,, Watts j Liootcnajits Manchester, Bundock, Tokinaon, Anderson, Weavers, Firman. Held artillery: Major Christian. Engineers: Lientenants Robeon, Murdoch. On tlio New ' Zealand staff:—Captains: Browne, Potter, Duigan; lieutenants: Melville, Andrews, Powles, Morrison, Bos worth, Lampen, Burgess, Morton, King, Blair, Hume, Skelly. Artillery;—Captaina: Scoon, Hythe, Lieutenant Standish, DEFENCE SCHEME CRITICISED. LONDON, March 6. (Received March 6, at 11.15 p.m.) During the debato on tho Aimy Esti- ■ mates Mr Wyndham expressed dissatisfaction with Lord Ifaldano's scheme to securo the national safety. Ho said the expeditionary force was below otrength, niid ho urged an increase in tlio home establishments of tho lino regiments. General Pole-Carew declared that' tho whole of the military needed reorganiealion. The existing scheme courted ilisiwter. Two-tliirds of tho monoy devoted for tho Territorials should bo spent Dii the Regulars.