Volunteer Notes.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 18, 3 November 1909, Page 11

Volunteer Notes.

By

RIFLEMAN.

The No. 1 Natives are sending a smart signalling team, apart from the Battalion team, to Palmerston North. ‘The team (Sergt. Neely, Privates Thomas, Hatrick, and Vickery) are practising twice da-ily. and are showing splendid form, under the direction of Sergt.-Maj or Meikle and Corp. Thomson (Permanent Force).

THE range time-table and officers for duty during November is as follows: — 6th November, 500 . and 600 yards, Lieut. Skelton; 13th, November, 200 and 500 yards, Lieut. Cairn; 20th November, 600 and 700 yards. Captain Stevenson; 27th November, 200, 500, and 600 yards, Capt. Cox.

Two new troops of the 2nd Regiment A.M.R. are in course of formation, one at Piro-ngia, the other at Kawhia. When the formation of these is completed the regiment will be almost up to full strength. The Pirongia troop will be attached to the C Squadron and the Kawhia troop to the E Squadron.

met I,ifl deat” «t a tra & lc manner, was an old and valued servant of the North Canterbury Education Board, and was one of the first members of the Civil Service S™ es „’, *Jv Vlng * >ined ™ 1801 at the IncepK f th . e C ? rps - He entered as a private, stea<3 y application to duty worked himself up through all the non-eommls-eioned grades, until he attained eomtaissioned rank some six years ago. On the resignation of Capt. F. M. B. Fisher, who is now one of the Wellington city members of Parliament), the late Mr. Pavitt was chosen captain of the corps. He was held in the most affectionate regard by his men, and was probably one of the most popular military officers in Canterbury. The deceased gentleman was about 40 years of age, and unmarried.

The new Battery Commanders’ Ranging Book, issued by Captain Richardson, has now made its appearance, and the work shows what an invaluable officer the Dominion has in the captain. As far as is known, this range book is the first of its kind in the Empire. The shooting of garr^.°1 . 1 artillery should have its standard of emciency raised to a high point, and any personal errors should easily be located under the new system. The Gordon Rifles fired the second stage of the competition for Messrs Hallenstein .trophy last week, the conditions ■pei ng seven shots, and one sigh ter (optional) at ranges 500. and 600 yards. The weather was very unfavourable, heavy rain Talling in the earlier parts of the afternoon. The following' are the principal scores:— Col.-Sergt? Martin, 31 at 500yds, 31 at COOyds (h and ica p seratch) —total.. 62 Corpl. Johns, 28, 26 (scratch) 54 Private Wright. 30. 21 (3) 54 Lance-Corporal Read. 27, 15 (11) 53 Sergt. Graham, 16, 29 (scratch) 45 Col. Collins, executive officer of the Dominion Rifle Association, has received a letter from Messrs. W. Gregg and Co., of Dunedin, stating that they are presenting for competition at the next championship meeting a solid sterling silver cup. valued at about 50gns. The cup will be almost a replica of her late Majesty’s artillery prize, called at Home the “Queen’s Cup.” The trophy will be called the “Club Coffee Cup,” and will be competed for yearly, and 'become the absolute property of the competitor winning it three times at intervals. No. 1 Company Auckland G.A.V. left on Friday night for a trip to Wellington, as the guests of the Petone Navals at Fort Ballance. This visit is unique in the history of garrison artillery volunteering in the Dominion, as it is the first time that a company has been large-hearted enough and sportsmanlike enough to entertain at its own expense another corps from a different part of the Dominion, and allow them to fire in competition, the guests using the material of the hosts. It is probable that the No. 1 company will have the Petone Navals as their guests at the annual camp I 1?. ~ u<? klapd some time in February next. Visits such as these will do a great deal grease the enthusiasm in volunteering, and make for higher efficiency.

The New Zealand 'team comes away from Sydney with the Gordon Highlander trophy. This prize will be competed for ait Trenthara next March, and if Australia wishes to regain it a team or teams must come across to wrest it from New Zealand If possible. The scores put up in the competition were very poor. The match Is fired under service conditions. The ranges fired nt are unknown to the marksmen, but no better argument is needed for the practice of firing under service conditions than the wretched scores put up In the match. The teams consist of eight men, and each man is allowed to fire 40 rounds of ammunition. If this right was exercised by each member of the New Zealand team no fewer than 320 rounds would have been fired, only five hitting the targets. Of the five teams entered the total score was only equal to that made at Adelaide by the Victorian team last year, viz., 14 hits. Five teams fired this year. Therelore, if advantage was taken of all the founds allowed, 1600 iffiots would have been fired -the total score being 14. The scoring was so poor 'that it ia ■ useless to comment further on the m-a>btei*.

The St. John’s College Cadets were inspected by Lieut.-Col. Wolfe at “The Pah” hast week. After the company had been put through several movements by Capt. Levien, the inspecting officer examined Lieut.-Col. S. Hanna in his practical tests for lieutenant's commission. Before the parade dismissed Lieut.-Col. Wolfe addressed the cadets in very complimentary terms, characterising their company movements and marching as better than anything he had seen Ln the district. The sergeants, also, were commended for their efficiency. Lieut. Hanna gained about 90 per cent in his examination, and has the further distinction of being the first secondary school cadet in the district to pass this section for his lieutenant’s commission. The results of his written examination is not yet to hand. Lieut.-Col. Wolfe lunched ait the school, and a halfholiday was granted at his request by the headmaster, Chaplain-Major P. S. Smallfield. Cpl. Bent, shooting at Penrose on Monday, made 35 and 32 at 500yds.

The problem of the best method of training our infantry has been dealt with by many of our present-day military writers; and in looking on the results of a battalion parade held last Wednesday week, one can hardly help but notice the small muster. There is something missing in the training of our infantry—something that seems to leave the men in a state of inactivity, attended with a lack of enthusiasm. During the first stages of the Franco-Prussian war, the difficulties the Germans found (both officers and men) in adapting themselves to local conditions as regards the nature of the ground, etc., led to a great deal of undue carnage. Undoubtedly the training of the infantry was perfect in so far as conducting an attack in manoeuvres over glacis-like slopes; but when they encountered the French skirmishers in the thickets of Spicheren and Woerth they were bewildered, and had It not been for the correct habits of command instilled in the regimental officers and the training of their judgment, a different tale might be told. What is wanted is field work, and this conducted on proper lines. Company and half-company commanders should be left more to themselves on field days, so that they can have an opportunity of developing that skill and resolution in doing the right thing at the right moment. Careful instruction of the individual skirmisher is another important factor, and if more attention were paid to the methods of the men’s advance, the importance of cover, and the correct way of firing from behind cover, than the maintaining of a straight line in dn advance, better results would be obtained.

The officers of the A squadron Ist Regt. A.M.R. visited the West Coast on Sunday week, for the purpose of making arrangements for the annual camp, which takes place in November. If the weather is favourable, a very enjoyable time will be spent at the Coast.

From the ‘‘Sydney Morning Herald” the following interesting account of the findsh for the King’s Prize at the Randwick rifle range, Sydney, is reproduced for the edification of local shooting men:—

On lining up for the final struggle, Sergt. James, of New Zealand,-had a lead of one point from S. A. Kefford, of Bathurst, who, in turn, was a point ahead of Geo. Howitt, of South Australia. Close in attendance were O. E, Boyd, of Murwillumbah, Private Hill, of the 3rd Regiment, and W. Warne, of Victoria. A couple of Queenslanders and Tasmanians were close up. The cracks of six States were thus fighting for supremacy. The Bathurst representative was first down, and he set a total of 299 for those who followed. This was nothing out of the ordinary, and it looked as if Kefford had shot bis bolt. Sergt. James got to work, but fell away badly, scoring only 36 at the long distance, and bringing his aggregate to 295. It then looked as if nothing would prevent George Howitt from romping in a winner, but he also collapsed, his ten shots yielding only 24. It seemed as if Bathurst was to claim another King’s prizeman. Private Hill, of the 3rd Regiment, made a great effort to head the leader, but on-ly reached 298. W. Warne, the crack Victorian shot, was fancied by many, and his effort was watched with great interest, but he met the fate of the others, and finished up at 295. The match then resulted in successive attempts to better the 299 put up by Kefford. “Young Roberts, of Blythe, S.A., wanted a possible, and considering the distance and wind, this was quite out of the range of practical marksmanship. Meanwhile, he was firing all unattended away in Siberia. H.is first shot was an inner, after failing to locate his target in his two sighters. As he needed a possible to win Iris mound was deserted. But the youth kept going, and notched nine consecutive bullies. This splendid achievement put him level with Kefford. So while the crowd was estimating how remote was the chance of anyone dis-placing the westerner, Roberts coolly walked up and handed his card to the range officer. Arrangements were immediately made for the shoot-off. In n few minutes hundreds congregated in a great semi-circle, while the rest of the range was deserted. Excitement was now intense. For the first time during the meeting there was a complete silence on the range. Then two shots rang out. There was a wait, followed by laughter. Both had failed to locate the target with the sighiter. Roberts laughed, and took a shade more windage. The first shot brought up five red, while Kefford failed to make good. Thon two more inners went to South Australia, while Kefford challenged. ▲

“wash-out” showed no score to the latter. Tbeu rhe cheers broke forth, and the Adelaide contingent rushed forward to congmtulate the winner. He was ho its ted Bhoufder high by his club mates, a procession was formed. headed by the R.A.A. Baud, and the King's Prise winner was bornjc in triumph from the mound. The wind played ‘‘See the Conquering Hero <3omes.” Roberts was congratulated on his win by Lord Dudley, mid cheered by a great crowd at the musketry school. DOMINION BOY SCOUTS. (By SCOUTMASTER.) [Notes for this column should be forwarded to the “Star” Office, addressed to “Scoutmaster,” not later than Monday in each week.] ‘‘Scouts must obey orders.” This - is, perhaps, the most important of the scout laws. Without discipline, no organisation of the kind can succeed, and it goes without saying that everybody in the scout movement wants it to succeed to the utmost limit.

A scout may think that because everything does not go exactly in accord with his Likes and dislikes overwhelming disaster is at hand.

Well, it is not. Next morning he finds that the sun is still shining, and the world is going on as before.

Learn to obey, in order 'that you may learn to control.

lhe boy who serves as scout, and then becomes corporal, patrol leader, quartermaster, scoutmaster, and senior or chief scoutmaster, in turn, will at each successive step Realise more thoroughly how necessary is unquestioning submission to discipline, and bow foolish is boastful babble and discontented murmuring.

Work hard in an earnest and always goodtempered way for the success of your patrol and of your troop. At the same time, never forget that the gross of the movement as a whole is of the first importance, and if i't is necessary to make little sacrifices to secure that progress, well, make them smilingly. “Think of the good you can do for others,” and remember tha* clouds? quickly pass away.

A general parade of boy scouts in Auckland is to be held shortly, hence, a hint on saluting should be read with interest by both scouts and scoutmasters. Saluting with the hand to the head is done only when a scout is not carrying his staff. When a scout is carrying his staff, he salutes with it by grasping it in the centre with both hands and holding ft at arm’s length, in an upright position in front of him. When marching past a reviewing officer, he carries it in this way for about twelve paces, just while he is in front of the officer. The scoutmaster or patrol-leader in command gives tihe word “Present staves!” when about six paces from the reviewing officer, and “shoulder,” “slope,” or “trail” staves again six paces after passing him. The scoutmaster salutes with his hand, as he is Dot carrying a weapon. Scoutmasters should remember that boys cannot remain at the “alert” for more than a few’ minu’tes at a time, and unless ordered to stand at ease, they gradually slack off into that condition. This is bad discipline. To be able to command real “alertness” when it is wanted, give your scouts plenty of “at ease,” whether you are on the march or on parade. For good discipline they must be either “at ease” or "alert,” one thing or the other, by order, and not some half-and-half slack attitude which they may have lapsed into on their own account from want of instructions. On a long march always pu't the smallest boys in front, so that they can set the pace best adapted to their shorter legs. AMONG THE PATROLS. Chief-Scoutmaster Simpson reports:—’irfe Nos. 1 and 2 Devonport troops assembled at the Mission Hall, Stanley Bay, on Friday week last, when Reg.-Sergt.-Major Jameson (A.M.R.) read a most interesting paper on “Discipline.” The lecturer dealt with the subject matter of his paper in a very thorough manner, and the scouts present received some good advice concerning this all important item in their work. At the conclusion of his remarks, the sergt.-major, on the motion of Scoutmaster Buddle, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for hits interesting paper and address. The two troops again assembled on Saturday week. After a march along the Lake-road, they were exercised in quarterstaff drill by Quartermaster Lord.