DEFENCE NOTES.

Southland Times, Issue 14506, 26 August 1910, Page 3

DEFENCE NOTES.

(By "Vernier.") Examination. The examination of candidates who are seeking appointments under the new Defence Act will commence on Tuesday, next, the 30th inst., at Central Battery, Dunedin. The subjects for this examination are : Rifle and Firing Exercises. Drill : Squad, Company and Battalion. Skirmishing. The Attack. Guard Mounting. Protection. Equitation. Duties in Camp. Musketry. Battalion Parade. A Battalion parade of headquarter corps was called for Tuesday evening. About 4.30 in the afternoon O.C. Companies received orders to mobilise their commands at their headquarters. The perfecting of the respective schemes of mobilising had been going on for some time previous, and no doubt Tuesday's call-out was the outsome of such preparations. As is usual local companies paraded strongly and imposingly. The mobilization parade states were not available for the Press. These parade states comprise the list of those men who come fully equipped to take the field ; recruits and incompletely equipped men were not included in the list. The musters in the hall from a count over just on "The Advance" gave totals as follows, all ranks included : "A" Coy. City Guards, Capt. McKenzie, Lieut. Kelly and 48 men . . 50 "B" Coy., Oreti Rifles, Capt. Lennie,

Lieuts. Lennie and Lyall and 46 men C" Coy., Awarua Rifles, Captain

O'Toole and 37 men 2nd Battalion Band, Bandmaster

Lithgod, W.O. and 26 men 27 The Staff were : Lieut.-Col. Boyne, V.D., Commanding, Battalion Major Murphy, Lieut. Q.M. Ferguson, Staff-S.M. Bishop, Batt. Sergt.-Major Robinson, Q.M.S. Cowan, and Bugler Sergt. Thomson—total 7. Total of all ranks —171.

Judging from the musters the arrangements made with regard to the various schemes for mobilising by O's.C. Companies gave indication of efficient organisation and attention to detail. The connecting links, an important consideration in most military operations, were set in motion, and subsequent investigation recorded the fact that the outlying members ot the chain of communication had done their work well in the remarkably short space of. time at their disposal. Nothing in the way of practical work for the parade was attempted. The O.C. Battalion, in his remarks previous to the instruction which constituted the evening's work, stated what was required of all ranks. Certain officers had been detailed to lecture their commands on special work, and it was necessary that all ranks should note the instruction thus inculcated, and on some future occasion they would be called upon to put into practice* the theories, taught during the evening. "It was useless," he said, "to at present indulge in battalion operations." The disorganised state of the forces due to the change in drill and the general uncertainty permeating ranks made effective battalion drill impossible. Next battalion parade the work of instruction would be continued further ; in the meantime he advised that O's.C. companies take tire opportunity of allowing their senior N.C.O.'s. to repeat the lectures given under the personal supervision of their officers that nothing of the good done during the night should be lost through want of repetition. The Band, which body drew special complimentary remarks from the O.C, were told off for stretcher drill, in which department, as far as their field services are concerned, they aae supposed to be efficient.

The O.C. the Battalion clapped the "mailed fist" on to the buglers on Tuesday evening. It was his desire that a greater degree of efficiency be attained by them. They were lacking in some departments of their work and for the future more attention and criticism would be applied to their efforts. The hope was experessed that the standard of excellency attending the rest of the battalion work would not suffer because of the buglers.

Rifle-shooting-. - A very fine score made in the King Edward barracks, Christchurch, is featured below b> diagram. The target is the work of ex-Guardsman Vclvin, who Ik now a member of the Imperial Rifles, Christchurch, and was responsible for the prize for the competition. The shoot was made on the miniature rifle range, "Roberts" target. These targets are used at ranges of 25 yards or less. The circular target, outer, has a five inches diameter, with a bullseye one inch in diameter, counting 9 points for eacli hit, and an inner circle on the bull half-an-inch in diameter, counting 10 points per hit. The competition comprised 7 shots and Velvin blew the centre clean out of his target. His score was 7 bullseyes, each counting 10—70, or National Kifle Association rules counting 35. The targets are circled by nine lines, each circle contracting hall-an-ineh in diameter from its outer edge. Every space so formed counts certain points, the lesser the circle the more points being allowed, graduating from 1, outer edge, to 10, bullseye.

Corp. Smithies, one time of the Oreti Rifles, and late of Wanganui, has removed once more to Invercargill, and .will probably transfer back to his old corps. Smithies was well-known as a crack exponent of rifle-shooting, winning several handsome trophies and also the gold medal tor the best shot in the battalion. He will be a welcome addition to the fraternity locally. Oreti Rifles.

"Vernier" begs to acknowledge receipt of an invitation from the Oreti Hides to their annual ball to be held on Wednesday, September 7, ItHO. The following circular accompanying each invitation, by the 0.(,\ Company, reads as follows : "in view of the important and perhaps .somewhat peculiar circumstances through which tiie military forces of the Dominion are now passing, it lias been thought advisable to hrielly address you in me interests of Hie above well-known company. The enclosed ticket, will intorm you of our Social Committee's intention to hoid the annual ball in the Victoria Hall on Wednesday, September 7th, an.l knowing the interest you take in the corps generally, we venture to ask your co-opeiation and support, and your attendance at. tiie gathering. It will certainly be the last union of the Oreti Kiiles as Volunteers, and for that reason, apart Irom ottiers, i would bespeak your patronage towards making the i unction a notable one in every way. Next year, under the new "Territorial" regulations, conditions will probably he entirely difierent, ami members 'will join wim me in desiring a titling termination to our Volunteer existence."

General. Later hows concerning (he recent mobilisation show that the musters of the country units of the 2nd Battalion were quite up to the standard attained by headquarter companies. Bluff Coastgiiarus report a muster of 3< all ranks ; Winton Kiiles (J' 1 Coy.) mustered 45, which is extremely creditable ; colac Bay i.l. Coy.) had a very line turn-out of 40. Gore and Orepuki have so far not made their returns public ; Gore, however, are quite capable of any number over 40, while Orepuki should furnish 35 or 40. Adding these musters which, of course, arc unorricial, no parade states being available for the Press, to the town returns, the total reaches a number considerably over 360, a performance creditable and in keeping witli events of the past attained by the 2nd Battalion O.K.

Master Gunner Parker, Royal NewZealand Artillery, arrived in town on Tuesday afternoon for the purpose of inspecting and reporting upon the condition of the Maxim guns attached to the 2nd Regiment and 2nd Battalion O.li. He left again for headquarters on Wednesday.

At the X.0.0. Club last week Sergt..Major Bishop engaged in a lecture on •'The Attack." There was a fine attendance of members and the lecture provided some considerable subject for thought as well as instruction. The item supplied a fell want, as under the new drill several changes have to he noted in field work. The section movement so familiar to old soldiers as one of the prettiest of battalion operations, has been relegated to realms of the past. In attack practice it is not largely used, for other purposes it is useless, bonce its settingaside.