ULSTER'S GENERAL STAFF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15892, 11 October 1913, Page 10

ULSTER'S GENERAL STAFF.

MILITARY ORGANISATION PROCEEDING. , ' BLOW AT RIFLE CLUBS. (KrOH Uim u\VS UOItHEStONDJiiiI.I LONDON, August 28. The military organisation of the Unionist forccs in Ulster is steadier proceeding, and largo numoers of Unionists are jomingg tlie Ulster Volunteer Force. A genera) staff, or advisory board, has now been appointed for the Volunteer Force, with Headquarters at the old Town Hall, Belfast. Tills s'caif wiU bo in c.oso and constant touch with tho various units of the Volunteer Forco in the province, and all communications can be, if necessary, conveyed tlirough tho Ulster Despatch Riding and Signalling Corps, so that -the agency of tho Post Oftice can be dispensed with for dissemination of important and private messages between tlie general staff and tho various units of the force. Tho organisation of tho Ulster Volunteers is practically completed, though rccruiting is still proceeding. '

The General Staff, or Advisory Board, the names of some members of which have not yet been announced, is constituted as follows:—The general officer commanding Ulster Volunteer Force, tho chief staff officer, the assistant quartermaster-generai, Colonel R. G. Sharman Crawford, Colonel I{. H. Wallace, C.8., D.D.. Captain Jamca Craig, M.P., Captain A. Kicardo, D.5.0., Colonel T. V. P. M'Cammon; officer in charge of administration, Captain F. Hall; military secretaries—Messrs R. W. D. Montgomery, Lloyd Campbell, and Edward Sclater, J.P., who acted its chairmen of the board in conveying the information to tho various units of the force that an advisory board had been appointed.

The Belfast correspondent of tho Daily Telegraph writes: " Riflo clubs formed in many parts of Ulster at considerable cost for ranges and other equipment have in the present month applied for the annual renewal of their affiliation with the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs, but tho forms were returned with a regretful Intimation that, acting upon instructions from the Irish Government, the affiliation could not be renewed. A respectful protest was then addressed to tho Lorddieutenant, with a re< Suosfc for reconsideration ot the matter. To lis Lord Aberdeen has now replied thai "it is regretted that in tho existing oircumstanceß the Irish Government is unable to approve of tho application for.a renewal of tho affiliation.''

This information lias been conveyed to the Aughadrumsee Club, the Corporation Club, North Belfast Club, and a good many others. Tho Corporation Club at tho start of this season expended £200 in improvements of the range, and have now been practically ordered to disband. These, clubs have no intention of doing anything of the sort. _ A number of members win take out ordinary gun licenses, which will entitle them to carry rifles to and from tha ranges, whero the others oan use them. I was present a few days ago (tho correspondent adds) at tho weekly shoot of a country club in whioh nearly 200 members took part The worst card in tho whole series showed 80 out of a possiblo 100, and the best was 93. These mon all shot with plain lights, not orthoptics.