MILITARY AND NAVAL NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9675, 18 October 1909, Page 3

MILITARY AND NAVAL NOTES

♦ r 1 The new carbine has now been served out tp the' German cavalry. It is fifteen centimetres longer than its pro- 1 decessor, and can carry, a, bayonet; it weighs 50Q grammes more • than the former carbine, but the cartridges aro rpther lighter than the cartridges- used bit':erto, for they weigh thirty grammes lighter for every five cartridges. The firing is sighted from 340 yards to 2200 yards, while the former carbine carried, only 1320 yards. The sabre-bayohet will replace thp cavalry eabre in fighting on foot, and the lance will remain as the only piece of " cold-steel " car-ried-by the German cavalry in fighting on horseback. . Mr . Lee, M.P., speaking at Portsmouth on June 12, at the annual meeting of the South Hants Conservative Association, said that if England's naval strength was not kept up and we had at some future time t» disaster at sea, there would be nothing left, oi at least nothing wor.th saving, in the British Empire. They bad had a significantly impressive warning from Sir Edward Grey in his recent speech, and. it was impossible to overestimate the gravity of tho.3e words. But they should be followed up by adequate action. What was wanted and whrit this country had a right to demand were fewer words and more deeds. That very afternoon there, was being witnessed a great Tevtew at ; Spithead of the ships we possessed, ana they made a most impressive show to those who. were not experts. But that kind of review was mere evewash t and after all there were only three ships present at Spithead which were ordered by the present Government. We wanted to know how w,e should stand two or three years hence, .jyhen the real stress would come, and orders gircn now for four extra ships would be worth all the Government could devise, and would have a far greater effect upon foreign Powers which might be our rivals m the future. Mr M'Kenna was asked recently i|i the Home Parliament theatrical displays and reviews that the many battleships, armoured cruisfers, other cruisers, scouts and destroyers were present at the review of the Fleet at' Spithead on June 14 ; were all these ships in lull commission ; and how many of each class were , laid down since April 1. 1906. In reply Mr, M'Kenna said: Twenty-four battleships, sixteen armoured cruisers, Beven other cruisers, four scouts ano} forty-six destroyers. All were in. commission wjth full crews. Three of the battleships, the Bellero-, phon, Temerairo and Superb, one armoured cruiser, .thevlnvincible. and one destroyer, the Mohawk, were laid down since April 1, 1906. Another question was asked . whether steps were, being taken to fit with any guns capable of firing at such an elevation that they might be. used conveniently against airships'. In reply Mr M'Kenna said: The design of mountings suitable for this purpose has been commenced, tvith a view to supplying them to ships should future experience show; this to be desirable. The new Brigadier of the Royal Company of Archers, the King's Bodyguard for Scotland, is well fitted to nphold the* picturesque and loyal traditions of that most honourable corps (cays a writer in the "Pall Mall Gazette "). The Earl of Mar and Kellie is the guardian of some most interesting Stuart relics inherited from the first Earl (of the creation of 1565), who was Regent of Scotland a*nd guardian of the young King James the Sixth. King Jametfs cradle and baby chair are amongst the treasures of Ailoa House. The new Brigadier, .was at one time an officer in the scots Guards, and has also served his country as honorary colonel of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, V.B. The struggle between two rival claimants for the title, which was only decided towards the end of the last century, is still interesting to students of family history. The Erskines have a long and splendid past, but we cannot help thinking that , one of the most interesting of ;the collateral ancestors of the Earl must have been the distinguished musician, the sixth Earl of Kellie, whose countenance was so genial that Foote declared it would have ripened a cucumber. .