NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21774, 13 October 1932, Page 12

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

FROM MESS DECK, PARADE GROUND, AND RIFLE RANGE

By Buli/s-eve, . OTAGO DIVISION, R.N.V.R. (N.Z.D.) Miniature Rifle Club

The flagship trophy will be fired for on Friday, October 21, at 7.30 p.m., at headquarters ra'uge. The team to fire will be selected from the following:—Chief . Petty-ofiicer W. Carr, Leading-seaman G. ;Robb, Leading-seaman A. L. Peterson, Able-seaman L. Ogg, Able-seaman D. H. Reilly, Able-sedman B. R. Hill, Able-sea-man D. S. Briggs, Able-seaman G. B.' , Harper, Ordinary-seaman J. Paterson, Ordinary-seaman R. Paterson, Ordinaryseaman A. Anderson. As all these ratings have made high averages recently, it is : anticipated that there will be some good shooting witnessed on the night of the shoot. All members, of the team are re-, quested to be as punctual as possible, to enable the’match to be finished early. ; OTAGO AIOUNTED RIFLES. - Signal Troop In preparation for the classification jtests to be held in November, the Signal Troop is holding an extra’weekly parade each week. Machine Gun Troop The Machine Gun Troop ‘paraded on ■four evenings last month. The members jure continuing to show a keen interest in ■their work, and good progress is being .made. Ranfurly Troop i Lieutenant Inder commanded a wholeday parade at Ranfurly on September 28. ’There was a good attendance of members, |who were given - instruction in the new, ■ cavalry drill. Heriot Troop The Heriot Troop, with Lieutenant Nicholson in command, held a whole-day parade at Heriot on September 30. Lieutenant A. H. L. Sugden (adjutant), accompanied . by Staff-sergeant-major W, 'Whyte, attended this parade. Gore Troop ! The Gore Troop is reported to be doing (good work, and 10 evening parades have been held since the commencement of the :new training year. ARTILLERY NOTES. 12th Field Battery \ At the parade held on Wednesday last, the sth inst., the first half was devoted to standing gun drill, sub-sections being drilled individually. The remainder of ■the time was spent in, intensive fire discipline, with, very satisfactory results, a general increase in speed and efficiency being noticeable. The parade next Wednesday will take the same form of training, and on October 19 there will be a compulsory parade of the unit at which all ranks are urged to be present, as the battery will then be inspected by Colonel Nichols, the O.C. of the Southern .Command. At the conclusion of the last parade the second number of the 12th Battery Gazette was on issue, ■ and commanded a ready sale. 14lh Medium Battery The weekly parade of the 14th Buttery was held at Central Battery on Monday evening. Up to this stage of the year’s training the various sections of the buttery—gunners, battery staff, and drivers—have been working individually under their own instructors, but' as the time left before the battery proceeds to its annual camp and live shell practice at Matarae is comparatively short from now on each section will be merged into one and the battery will continue its training as a complete unit. Fire discipline, embodying miss-fire drill and casualties to equipment, was continued throughout the evening, particular attention being paid lo the adoption of some slight alterations (o (he gun drill which have just come into force. With regard to the drivers, driving-drill, and harnessing wore continued throughout the evening, a most noticeable feature being the rapidity with which the horses were turned out clear of the line’ and ready to move off. This factor of speed • is oiie of the most important points of

the drivers’ training, because when a battery is ordered to move it must, do so in the shortest possible time. The battery staff carried out its first practice signalling test as laid down in the Manual of Signal Training, All Arms, 1928. This classification test was conducted on the vibratory telephone, an instrument , on issue to, medium artillery• only. The results obtained in the sending portion of the test were well up to standard, .while the reading portion was considered quite good in so far that this Is the first time that the batteries on this station have trained in this particular section of signalling. The rolls of the battery have recently been revised, and due to the fact that some men who have left the district have been posted to the reserve there arc a ; number 'of vacancies available on the battery’s strength. Any recruits who wish to join the unit should communicate with the adjutant at Central Battery, St. Kil3a. All ranks are reminded that on next Alonday’s parade the battery will be inspected by Colonel S. C. P. Nichols, 0.G., southern command. A. full muster therefore is imperative on this occasion. N.C.O.’s and gun-layers are reminded that the gun-layers’ class will ,be held as usual on Thursday evening next. THE OTAGO REGIMENT. A Company i A special parade of A Company will be held at the Drill Hall to-night' at 7.30, in 4 further preparation -for the forthcoming half-day parade, and recruits are particularly urged to attend, as the work will consist of loading, aiming, and trigger pressing. T v The recruits and n.e.o.’s class, which was to be held at the Drill Hall - on Mon-day-evening next, has been cancelled.The dance which was held in the n.c.o.’s club room- on .Monday evening of last week, under the_ direction of A and C. Companies’ Social Committee, . though somewhat poorly attended, was a decidedly successful function. Monday’s Parade Monday evening’s parade was more or less a combined one held- in preparation for the firing of the annual musketry ■course on Saturday afternoon at Pelichet Bay range. . . I - A and C Companies, together with Ihe signal, intelligence, and pioneer sections, paraded at the Drill Hal! at 7.30 p.m. Full-sized targets were erected,” and all ranks were exercised in the various practices of a range course, dummy ammunition being used. The system of marking was also carried out and explained. Transport Section The members of the transport section will not carry out their musketry course lor sonie time,, but,, in preparation for the route march through the city on October : 21, the parades will be held at Central Battery, St. Kilda. The parade ort Saturday will be at 1.15 p.m., and the remainder at 7.30 p.m. D Company Captain J. J. Keruohan, 0.C., D (M.G.) Company, lectured the members of his company at the parade last week on the part played by the machine gun in the Battle,of I’asscheiidaele. He related some of his own experiences and explained the work of a machine gun officer on active service. At the conclusion of the address Captain S. M. Satterthwaite, N.Z.S.C. (adjutant), thanked Captain Keruohan on behalf of battalion headquarters, and referred to the benefits to bo derived from such’ addresses. , ..OTAGO,UNIVERSITY MEDICAL COMPANY. Annual Camp Matarae has again been chosen as the site on which the O.U.M.C. Will hold its annual camp, and February 26 to March 3, 1933, are the dates arranged for; The dates exclude the days of arrival and departure, pay of rank being given for six days. ' RIFLE SHOOTING. Kiwi Notes The final competition of the Service Match was completed last Saturday afternoon. , The weather conditions were all - that could be desired, with the result that some very good scores were registered. Tile outstanding score in the two series was made by Rifleman R. Johnston, who compiled 120 out of 140 (possible), including 44 at 200 yards (10 shots in 45 seconds). Rifleman J. Judson, however, made (op score in this practice in the first competition with an excellent 45. The idea of making the annual classification a match is a new idea. and. judging from the enthusism displayed by members,

it seems as though it will become auannual fixture. :Tqp. : score I between; ~: DepUty-president, F. . Claytoii. (110 . and 116). and Rifleman W. ■ Mill*. (116 and' 110), the former ultimately being declared the -winner, b ext batuiday' the second, competition-of the ire- ! Bident’s Match will be fired. presumably on the . bill ranged the- conditions being.10 ' shots and two optional' sighters. ah either 300 yards and 600 yards or -500 yards and 600 yards. ■ > The result of the scoring in this match; has proved' that the person who- has bin rifle zeroed has a- big factor in nia favour. As stated before in these notes,-, a few minutes spent in this manner win. repay amply in actual practice. r*-: Dunedin Notes -u. The, members-of the Dunedin Club also finished their annual musketry course last, Saturday afternoon. This club made tins practice a match of three, competitions, the two highest to .count, and this constituted the Service Championship. A. handsome silver cup is to be-held by the winner. During Saturday’s shoot some very good scores were made, notably, by Riflemen W. Graham C.. M. Moss (123), R. Graham (118), B. MLeunan (113), G. Smith (110), F. Ombler (108), and J. M‘Knight (107). The final aggregate of. the two highest scores resulted in a'tie between Riflemen W. Graham and G. Smith with totals 0f;239 each. A shoot-off was therefore necessary at 300 yards, and Rifleman W. Graham was declared the winner and the service champion of the club'by one point. At the conclusion of the shoot President W. Bannennan presented the winner with the challenge cup amid cheers from his club members. New Zealand Riflemen for Sydney A paragraph which appeared in a recent issue‘of the'.press anent the 1 visit of New Zealand riflemen to Sydney thismonth might be misleading in its application to many readers. As it was stated, it would seem that a team, representative of the Dominion’s best shots was making, the trip. This is not to infer that, the members are not first-class-exponents with the rifle, nor is it . intended tq decry a'venture of-this nature. : The idea ofsending a team to . Sydney Originated, amongst the members of rtlie Petone. Dafence Rifle Club, Wellington, the members of' which wou the Champion Teams'’ Match at the last New Zealand championship rifle meeting at Trentham. They' launched, a scheme to raise the necessary funds, and evidently the required number wanted was not available from amongst the members of this club, and two outsiders were invited in the persons of H. Koppert (Oamaru).and H. Cromie (Ashburton). We congratulate the, Messrs Koppert and Cromie on their inclusion and wish-them the best of luck while in Sydney. -The point to be emphasised is that the personnel of the team should be'termed more as a visit of New. Zealand riflemen and not a New Zealand rifle team. Before such a venture could be spoken of in the latter sense it would, have been necessary to have gained; ; some - Government recognition;.- and, again,: the Dominion would have to be combed Tor the best exponents of rifle shooting before the team could be spoken of as-truly representative. It is. really a ; private enterprise on the part of the Petone De-

fence Rifle Club, whose members cojnprise, ‘the tdaiu'^ithLf ; ioutsiders mentioned.,: f; 1 '. 1 .:, v .' ! -In' these "days dfclepfesSion 'it" is rOrfreshing to read of ventures of. this nature, as for some years past the yisits ,of New .Zealand riflemen rdtou-oilier . parte;, of the. Empire havc-iieeff few and ffar between.’ It might- not be superfluous -to; predict !that this' example AvilPhe-’tlie forerfinfacrJ! of'many more such visits; the ■ significance '■ of which is too obvious to mention. ’ MbYg. can be accomplished by a _visit; tofdiffer£ [ent'.comifrieai ,'of ~a of .athletes; orsports men; than by a-whole -. army. ofppKy ticiaiw. ; ;. . '.-‘r/'f.:- I-'..' l - . -.' . The Petone riflemen are to- be congratu-:; dated- on their initiative, and -thlflr ::peri - formances in Sydney will he keenly followed by their Iffjllb'w.yeifiemen in the Dominion... We wish-them good luck.. Road at Logan Park ' : , . . ■ m I . I. - The City'. Council;..has; decidedivaccdrdi ing to recent reports';:tp (cdnstruet; abroad: from . Logan Park, past the. Fever. Hos--, pital, to .the bridge which spans the cub’; vert at the entrance of the irifie range, , presumably this proposed road’is for bye-' way -.traffic from the park v/hen. sporting events are in progress at that recreatiofi-.. area. This latest news seems to be ih; conflict rvith the original intention ofthe., council when an exchange of- laud .lookplace betAveen it and the Defence yl)'e»; partment some years ago. The agreement entered into then, the writer understands, Avas for the-council to construct,.a ro:ul t branching off from about tie 600 yards! '• firing point in a line with the Fever Hos-. ■ pital and to .construct a small bridge, overthe culvert. This road has been formed as far-: as v.tbe .channel, and tall: that is necessary is to bridge it. Ai; Easter time there will he tournaments at Logan Park, and- the- Otago- Rifle .. Association’s prize, firing will also he ip V progress .A; It "willt prove very .disconcerting therefore, for both riflemen .and .visitors to the park alike, if’ the shooting-ior the: trafficu;is- v going to be held up.- Perhapb-thiS-reminder , will ..Impress. juppn,,Jh.e. XSfi'i. Fathers the necessity of using the road" pow partly i'orrped,- together with . the, ponstructidn of a small bridge aid Thug'please, both Iljarties. Aocidgnts.-.are . nate-.antici-y pated’, "hup. one ’ never "knows .what vina fj. happen if a rifleman’s attention; aß(iHid=3: denly distracted by a motor -car unexpectedly appearing on the- horizon.'' have I ill rend the “Safety First ’’notices'' that have-been- displayed from time- tw - time, so it is up to. the City "Council to. get busy and carry; that slogatf into piac- <; tiee. : »'. 'v- :A: .vAA.