MILITARY AND NAVAL TOPICS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9933, 23 August 1910, Page 3

MILITARY AND NAVAL TOPICS

The Emperor William, says the " Times" Berlin correspondent, has opened the now quarters of the Emperor William Academy, a training college for the medical service of the Geriftsii ifti iv. iJie Academy, which is iiv\v situated ,in Invalidenstrasse, in the north of Berlin, is an imposing building,- and contains, in addition to laboratories, a library and other neces«ary educational adjuncts,- 300 roonis for students. In the- course of a speech the Emperor said tliat the Academy had succeeded in the work of training .1 medical corps which was always thoroughly efficient, and he hoped that the spirit which had never failed them in the difficult tasks of war and peace might continue to exert itself in the Academy's new homo.

It is stated that, additional Royal Artillery barracks are to he built at Dover Castle and some existing quarters modernised at a cost of £16.000. The 1910 amendments to the German machine gun regulations have now appeared. It is laid down that little effect is to be expected from frontal fire against shielded artillery, and that machine! gun sections are to use every effort to bring oblique fire to bear upon the guns. In order to prevent the machine guns from being located by the steam arising from the water-jackets, steam pipes have been introduced. The end of the pipe is led to the rear and inserted into the water bucket, or else buried in loose earth.

The "Temps," which is a paper not moving much in advance of opinion, recently expressed the view of most French soldiers that tho time has arrived for thinking of providing the Army with a modern rifle to take the place of the old LebeL To procrastinate, it said, would subject the country to the risk of mischance or disaster in case of a sudden conflict. When the French rifle was adopted it was acknowledged to he an arm of first-rate excellence, but it is* known that the rifles\aro now so worn that range and: accuracy have been much impaired. The Lebel is at present- the oldest model of all rifles employed by -European armies. The military authorities have certainly t'aken account of the problem that presents itself, and that is presenting itself to all European armies. The cost, of rearmament will involve,a large charge on the Army Budget, and, the French do not wish to adopt any rifle that will not be at least. the equal of tho new arms of other Powers. An automatic repeating rifle is contemplated,, and various models have been under trial, but no decision has reached. The matter is recognised to be one ,of vital importance, and the French are not likely to be outstripped by their rivals.