OUR DEFENDERS

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 47, 10 August 1907, Page 14

OUR DEFENDERS

By Lee-Enfield

THOSE officers whom fortune has been kind enough to place upon the staff of our military aggregations are discovering that the Defence Council has thrust upon them a vast amount of work in making them responsible for the uniforms and equipment of their regiments. At present, the local staffs are negotiating with the companies with a viewto taking over the uniforms in their possession, and though some of the companies seem to be making considerable sacrifices, the necessary purchase is likely to absorb the full proportion of capitation allowance available for some time to come. The authorities have, apparently, made no allowance for this aspect of the situation, and certainly no mention has bt-en made in the regulations as to how the men are to be clothed for the first year or so on 25s capitation, when it is necessary, at the same time, to buy out the interests of the companies in the uniforms in use.

In consequence of the remarkable total of one man which a certain local company paraded the other day, there have been whispers of fines and other tokens of severe official displeasure of import in the military world, and an interesting situation has been generally predicted. But will anything of the kind happen ? The company concerned seems to enjoy considerable immunity for its occasional delinqnincies.

Inspector-General Davies has been , reviewing the martial bosoms and sturdy limbs of the defenders of Taranaki, and in his pilgrimage unearthed a colonial who wjll yet make his mark in Parliament. " What sight would you use for ranges up to 1600 yards ?"■ asked the Colom>l. " Leaf-sight, sir," answered Tommy. "And what up to 2800 yards?" "Dial sight, sir." " And over that distance ?" "A cannon, sir I" Reminds one of the Auckland volunteer who went up for examination a year or two ago. " What forces act upon the bullet," he was asked. "The wind and the target, sir," he responded. Captain Hazard takes range duty at Penrose on Saturday, the distanoes being 200 and 500 yards. On the 17th the range is in the charge of Lieut. Sherson (500 and 700), on the 24th, Captain Dawson (200 and 600), and on the 21st, Lieut. Pullen (200 and 500). By the adoption of the new method of numbering, the Auckland Navals lose much of the distinction given by their official appellation, the No. 1 Company Garrison Artillery, which has hitherto been their sole and undisputed possession. Now Wellington is to have their No. 1 Company and Lyttelton and other places in the Dominion that can boast a sufficient number of pop-guns for classification as " forts." Under the new system, the three Auckland Companies Nos. 1, 8 and 9 become Nos. 1, 2 and 3, and the Wellington Companies Nos. 1 and 2, and so on through the colony. The non-comissioned officers are making great preparations for their annual ball, which is to be held on the 13th September, in the Royal Albert Hall. The secretarial duties* are in the able hands of Sergt.' Woods

£.nd the function promises to be one of the most successful in the history of the club. The garrison football tournament commenced on Saturday, when the College Rifles defeated the "A" Battery, and the Ninth Artillery Company (disqualified for late arrival) forfeited to the No. 8. In the latter matter a protest has been lodged, and the explanations of the Coastguards will be heard during theweek. The Drill Hall will not be available for drill purposes on Thursday and Friday, owing to the preparations that are being made for the Officers' ball. The class of instruction, which is to run continuously for ten days, commences at the Drill Hall on August 10th. Despite the great demand of time made upon the officers, it is anticipated that forty will be in regular attendance.