NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21647, 18 May 1932, Page 6

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

FROM MESS DECK, PARADE GROUND, AND RIFLE RANGE By Bulls’-ete. SERVICE GAZETTINGS. More Appointments to the Navy The arrangements applicable to officers loaned for service in the New Zealand Naval Forces are printed in current Fleet Orders (writes our London correspondent, writing on April 7). The revised rates of pay now in force in the New Zealand Division show that these are higher than the corresponding rates in the Royal Navy. The rate for cadets (seagoing) is 4s 6d a day, compared with 4s; midshipmen receive 5s 5d a day instead of ss; lieutenants on promotion get 16s 8d a day as compared with 13s 4d, The differences are not so great in the ranks above lieutenant. Lieutenant-com-manders on promotion receive £1 7s a day instead of £1 6s 8d; commanders, £1 16s instead of £1 15s 8d; and captains, £2 14s instead of £2 13s 4d. Attention is drawn to the exchange position of New Zealand currency in regard to sterling at present prevailing. At present £IOO sterling equals £lO9 10a in New Zealand. The cruiser Dunedin is to be ready for service by May 31. During the past few days three additional appointments have been made to H.M.S. Dunedin. These are: Lieutenantcommander C. D. Arbuthnot (who, it is understood, is a relative of one of the officers who went down in the submarine M2), Lieutenant R. H. Courage, and Lieutenant (N.) K. S. Backhouse. These three officers will probably be serving the three years with the New Zealand Division, but the Admiralty has not yet made an announcement to that effect. Warrant-engineer A. J. Lee, R.N., has been lent to the New Zealand Division (Dunedin), April 5. Sub-lieutenant N. R. Quill, R.N. (Christchurch), has been promoted lieutenant. It is officially notified that Captain (local captain) R. C. C. Steele, N.Z. Staff Corps, relinquishes the local rank of captain on ceasing to be employed on military duty in the United Kingdom (March 10). R.A.F. Pilot Officers F. Crump (Auckland) and G. E. B. Nixon (Christchurch) have been promoted flying officers (March 12). OTAGO DIVISION, R.N.V.R. (N.Z.D.). Visit of Chief Staff Officer Captain C. Sinclair Thomson, second naval member and chief staff officer, will arrive in Dunedin on May 24 on his first visit to the Otago divisional head quarters. Parade Both sub-divisions will muster at the divisional headquarters on Tuesday, May 24, at 7.30 p.m. It is to be understood that a full attendance is imperative of both officers and ratings in order that the chief staff officer can see the whole of the division at its usual class instruction. Miniature Rifle Club On Monday the members of the club met at the divisional headquarters. A very good attendance was evident, as the practice is for interdivisional competition from. the other centres, i.e., Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Each divisional centre is using the same type of targets, and in all respects firing under the same conditions. The final match will take place on Saturday at 2 p.m. “ Come to Dunedin ” Week The two teams have now been selected for the tug-of-war competition, which is being managed by Captain Satterthwaite, N. the entrants being as follow, V *No. I Sub-division. —Petty Officer A. Burt (coach), Able Seamen H. S. Anderson, J. L. Berryman, J. A. India, J. L. Lament. K. G. Butler, G. C. Elliott; emergencies, Able Seamen G. A. Leslie and L. Ogg. . No 2 Sub-division. —Petty Officer A. Beal (coach), Able Seamen J. N. Allan, J H Henry, Ordinary Seamen J. A. M'Donald, C. W. Blair, K. Nisbet, A. Anderson; emergencies, Ordinary seamen B. Paterson and C. M'Farlane. THE OTAGO REGIMENT. Battalion Parade There was a good muster of the battalion at the Kensington Drill Hall last evening, when the evening was spent in preparation for the King’s _ Birthday parade. Although it was a practice parade all the movements were carried out with creditable precision. With another preparation parade to be held the battalion should give a good account of itself on June 3. At the close of the parade teams were chosen from the various companies to take part in the tug-of-war during “ Come to Dunedin ” Week. King’s Birthday Parade All officers on the supernumerary and reserve lists of the Otago Regiment have been invited to parade with their unit on June 3. In preparation, therefore, they paraded with the battalion last evening and Will do so at a further parade on May 24. OTAGO OFFICERS’ CLUB. Lecture by Captain C. H. Chapmtin There was a good attendance of members at the Otago Officers’ Club rooms on Wednesday evening last, when Captain C. H. Chapman, R.F.A., delivered an address on “Present-day Social Problems. The speaker showed that he possessed a wide knowledge of world affairs, and gave his listeners much to think about. He was accorded a hearty vote of thanks at the close of his talk. SECONDARY SCHOOL CADETS. O. Machine Gun Course

The fourth periodical advanced Vickers gun course for members of the Machine Gun Platoon of the 0.8.H.5. waa held during the past week, and was attended by 17 members of the platoon. The work carried out was for the first three days more or less of an elementary nature. On Thursday the platoon paraded at Pelichet Bay and various characteristics of the Vickers gun were demonstrated with ball ammunition. Ranging was also carried out. In the afternoon preparations were made for the carrying out of a night shoot. Six by six targets were used, and after the guns had been sighted on these the clinometer reading was taken, i.e., the elevation, and registered for the evening’s performance. Gun and aiming lamp pegs were laid out and the platoon was dismissed at 3.15 p.m.

At 0.45 p.m. all members were present, and the job of mounting guns and placing of aiming lamps was carried out. At 1930 hours a green and a yellow Verey light were sent up. This was the prearranged signal for the opening of fire of the four guns; 1934 hours a yellow Verey light signalled “ Cease firing 1935 hours a further green light was the signal for No. 1 gun to open slow fire (70 rounds per minute). This gun fired for two minutes, when No. 2 opened, then No. 3 and No. 4 At 1945 hours all four guns reopened fire and carried on until ammunition was expended. In all 2000 rounds were fired for 245 hits, being 12.2 per cent, of direct hits to rounds fired, which is considered very satisfactory, although a slight reduction on the last shoot. A spectacular effect was given by a liberal use of tracer ammunition and Verey lights, the former giving the direction of the targets, and the latter, to the onlookers, a peculiar thrill of what a battlefield may appear to be when lit up with bursting shells, star shells, Verey lights, etc. The four subsection commanders were as follow:—No. f gun. Gunner R. Clarkson (94 hits); No. 2 gun, Gunner R. Nichols (25 hits), No. 3 gun, Gunner R. Cassey (125 hits); No. 4 gun, Gunner J. B. Wallace (1 hit). Of those attending, six ivere completing their fourth course, which says a lot for their keenness, inasmuch as it has meant their giving up a week of their term holidays on these occasions. This keenness is also a tribute to their instructor, S.S.M. Johnson, N.Z.P.S. Among those present at the night shoot were Lieutenant A. P. M'Cormack, N.Z.S.C., area officer, Area 11A; Lieutenant W. Lang, officer commanding Machine Gun Platoon, 0.8.H.5.; Lieutenant _ R. M'Kinlay, let Battalion, Otago Regiment. From an instructional point of view the course was a success, and those present are looking forward to a further course tQ be held next vacation.

C.Q.M.S. C. C, Byar C.Q.M.S. C, C. Biyar, who left the 0.8.H.5. last year, will leave Dunedin on May 19 for England, where he will embark on a short-term commission with the Royal Air Force. Since flying in Otago became popular, Biyar has been one of the keenest members of the Otago Club, and having gained his pilot’s certificate, his one ambition has been to get to England to take up the game seriously. After a personal interview last week with the Director of Air Services for New Zealand, Biyar obtained his entry papers. He is young, keen, and level-headed, and should show up well at Home. Christian Brothers’ High School The Christian Brothers’ High School is making great headway this year from a training point of view, all members putting their best foot foremost. The last three days of the first term were given up to the annual barracks. During the past week 20 members attended a Lewis gun course under Instructor M'Kenzie M'Currie. This week a further 20 are undergoing a similar course. The cadets of this school are fortunate in having two masters in the Rev. Bro. O’Connor and Bro. Gore who are very keen in matters military and who take a great interest in the cadet work of those under them. It is also pleasing to note in connection with this company that they have now a company officer in Second-lieutenant W. Meade. This is also desirable from a disciplinary point of view. IMPERIAL CHALLENGE SHIELD COMPETITION, 1932. Shooting Well Under Way Shooting in the Imperial Challenge Shield competition is now well under way, and with the commencement of the various secondary schools next week should be concluded in the near future. This year all members of secondary schools have to fire, and with the large numbers attending the staff has no easy job to get completed. The shooting so far is far from satisfactory, and it is not expected that anything brilliant in the way of scores will be handed in. DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB. Classification Course As mentioned in last week’s notes, a large proportion of members of the Kiwi Defence Rifle Club qualified as marksmen this year. Perhaps the most pleasing aspect so far as the club is concerned is that the attendance of members at the musketry course was a big improvement on previous years. This fact will materially augment the annual grant of ammunition, with the result that members may be able to purchase it at a reduced rate. At the present time the prevailing depression _ calls for economy on the part of individuals, and, if club members can purchase their Weekly supply of cartridges more cheaply than formerly, their attendance at the classification practice will have been well worth while.

Reference was made in this column a week ago to Rifleman Webster’s 98. While this was a good score, considering the compiler’s age, yet it was not the highest recorded. Rifleman R. J. Gillick occupied premier position with 114 ex 120—a really fine performance. ' Twenty.one Year* Old

This year celebrates the corning of age of the Kiwi Defence -Rifle Club, an event that the members are desirous of celebrating in a fitting manner. The visit of the late Lord Kitchener to Dunedin in 1910 was really responsible for its inauguration. At that time the defence force of the Dominion was on a volunteer basis, and, following suggestions from that eminent soldier, the volunteers were replaced by the territorial forces. Shortly after his visit the volunteer force disbanded, the final function being a large social gathering in the Garrison Hall (now the Post Office) to mark the valedictory. Quite a large proportion of those in the volunteers were not eligible for the new defence force on account of age, and consequently found themselves at a loose end so far as their " hobby ” was concerned. As rifle shooting formed one of the main aspects of their training as an efficient force, several of the keener members resolved to form another defence rifle club, in this city (the Dunedin Defence Rifle Club had been in existence many years previous to 1911). With this object in view a meeting was called in the year above-mentioned and the Kiwi Defence Rifle Club came into being. The writer is not in possession of any data relative to the club’s early history, and therefore is unable to chronicle at present the doings of those days. If any of the original members, therefore, have any particulars pertaining to past records of the club, the writer_ would appreciate such information for insertion in this column. Weighing Cartridges Some cartridges contain no charge, while others contain a second bullet in addition to the one fixed in the mouth of the case. This second bullet may be found in a case in which there is no charge or in one in which there is a considerable portion of/ a charge. “No charge ” and " double-bulleted ” cartridges only occur very rarely, but they may both be extremely dangerous. If a cartridge containing no charge at all is fired /in a rifle, the cap is not usually powerful enough to put the bullet into the bore, but only a very small portion of a charge need be present to drive the bullet well into the bore, and, unless the amount of the charge is sufficient to eject it, it lodges as an obstruction. If this is not noticed, a very high pressure is generated when the next round is fired, and generally the gun is wrecked. A double-bulleted cartridge containing no charge, or only a email portion of a charge, behaves in a very similar manner, but a double-bulleted cartridge containing a considerable charge produces an abnormally heavy pressure, which may damage the weapon. There is also the further danger with such a double-bulleted cartridge that one or both of the bullets may be left in the barrel and cause disaster when the next round is fired. Every round of each consignment is weighed in an automatic _ weighing machine, with the object of eliminating cartridges containing no charge, which are too light, or double-bulleted rounds, which are too heavy. The type of weighing machine which is used for the purpose is mechanically operated, and forms part of a combined weighing and gauging machine. The cartridge# are fed into it down a guide, and are weighed in turn, those that are too heavy or too light being diverted into a " reject bag," and those within the limit to which the machine is set being conducted down to the mechanically-operated gauging machine. South Africa There is every likelihood of a South African team going to Bisley in 1932. The South Africans are always dangerous opponents, and their presence there will be well known by the time the shooting ceases. Good Shooting On May 2, 1931, in Transvaal, South Africa, a remarkable shooting feat was performed by Lieut. D. B. Jacobs (Witbank) and Lieut. J. B. Cronje (Middleburg). Shooting shoulder to shoulder at standard N.R.A. targets (1929), they each made a range possible of 105 points. Sucb a performance is, to say the least, unique. Wire Cleaning Brushes Remarking on the hints on cleaning the .303 rifle in A. G. Parker’s excellent score book, Mr A. T. Hale (England) said that he recommended a wire brush on the authority of the American Government. British authorities are strongly against wire brushes, and anyone who has seen the mischief, in the way of scratches, caused by a steel wire brush will certainly dissuade anyone from using so barbarous an instrument. A brass brush is not so bad, but even with the softer metal scratches do occur. If one must use a brush, use a bristle one. With regard to Mr Hale’s mixture of one pint of Young’s .303 oil to three parts of water, this may be a convenience for preliminary cleaning on the range, but oil and water is not nearly so good a solvent of cap fouling as plain tan water. It is just as easy to carry a small bottle of water as it is to carry oil and water.