DEFENCE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 437, 20 February 1909, Page 12

DEFENCE NOTES.

(Bt Eoiielon.)

For the English Bisley of 1909 the following condition's hfc .'to .rifle sigh"t&„ hafe" be& laid down by the National Rifle Association:—

Insufficiently strong and 'suitable for military purposes. ! ; 2. Th'ei'e should; bV lio' iSflticib'sS&tJr ... - j&tions. - . ■ ..' ■3/ The' fepcrture, if used', sh'ojild be tap- . able of adjustment fbf e-levatibiij/ So bliit 'th' 6 tele'vatidn, fo'r-infetaWtfe, :for ■ '800 ; lairds. shoiild bb abbiit-the same; . ; frith tho V (or TJ) as for. the hiietture. '4. The aperture sh'ould Wot .be too sihall. .5. There should be .who fixed. V /(or "0)— i.e., 'a V'battle/sight' give 'elevation-, say-, for 5(50 .yards. .... 6. The wind gauge should be worked by a . screw, unless a device can be invented •. ..to prevent accidental. displacement. / '7. The- slide should not .be blevated. by a screw, but .there, is ho bbjectioh to a screw, for: fine adjustme'ijt.' . ... . 8. The whole %te..Bttbnfd.. De,".,as ; .;Etlfe' clumsy as 'possible ; if, at all n'eavy', It is quite necessary to have a. clamping ". .. screw. . • i ■. .. . ' • ■ 9. There, ft;, ho 'objection to. -Sib 'bStehsibh ■ bf the 'sight to Wlter . ifS. p6Si't'i'6li 'oh: the barrel. . . . . _ 10. Th'erfe is no 'objectibh: to /adap'tirig the , -ibngYange, 'sight. ;. ' it. The Sight to b'e' Attachable 'tbithVJi'fle as issued,'-.by the 'ftfthdr'awal,'<ST twe. . 'Mn'ge-Jiitr ot -SbreW. bf the/existing -Mgfitb 'a'n'd. iti .rfe-iftseftiito.. 'olily. / 12. The cost must bi>. fabdefa'te. ■/

: Mth tlie; eild M th' 6 Hfi'fr'shbotih^:'sfeWdh in sight, riflemen 'will do well to/coteldeV \ifh'at they art gbm'£ 'theif te'r Saturdays-. Tftjj SeVer 'S®t met. a rifietoah ,/ha% laid "dowil hiS ttfle with alacrity at the. close bi tlio I'ett'd'a, aWd ; t\i'riifed with' to. the fobtba'll :or h'tfokey field's. Ititesh'Spting riink iii the blobd %f /tbb . Vi'orshipJ'eJs 'of: this iattbhai -theirA n'Ot 'grey-b'eaVdfcd Veterans tb b6 Vee'a. ,6h the ■: Tfebthaili hio'unds SatuMay after.Sathrdfty?. Thi : trftb riflemai liVes foV n'p.:'other SJto'rt thte/shabt; ilVg 'at : a matk-. To th6:-riffeiU'en. 'Of the Gfarrisbh the Avr'itei' b'6g6 suggest /tha't -they forth, a 'toiniatiiW EiflS Association for "the coining winter; that .th'ey. .arrange competitions, chaifipibhshijs, 4hal-; lbhges', /attdi .so ..fQrth-, and, so keep tbeir shooting ,CTes,/'',itt for : next season. . The Gratrison Eifie: .AWociatiim ;b'tts 'some ...such ; scheme under .In' the ipciuitiihe, penisal of the -fbtowtiig may nb'doubt be Or iiilt'ercH:— .- . The Welsh Miniature Rise. A'ssbcia'tibi afl'd. thfe Socfety /'of iliAiature Rifle Chibß/have : now laid dowii 'dcfinite rftld'S'to go'Wrri. the, ih'oo.tihg -in inte'riationil matchcis, .writes -Mr. Hv Ma'rliSj..the. .the Society ;o'f : JXiniatpre Rifle Glubs-.. ; .35ndeayours afe/tb bfi. mifde at 'an feat-lS'"/date-.to .forih as'sooiatiohs in BColland. ihd Ireland . which will Select r6presonta.tivb3;.:tO;:an..totemational board, which is -to be forra'ed for. : the ; purposo of notches -in ; future..:; The. teariis -for intbrjiational -fiatehfis /will cohaist of ten a side, jvith 'ten rßfeerves-. Tho qualifications for inclusion in /the- interna'tioilal , teaih.' will be residence/ •bf:'. at least t'wblve. tiionth's v i'ri /a cbjmtfy,/ afid: membership of ah affiliated club. Ifi addition,': any. individual can be_ has been declared a4id accepted in 'the roll' of his, country by the:"opposing associations.' The: names of the members of the team for any 'ttteriiati'ohal'hidtch /M'st. b4 -sub-, liter .thUii thb 'd'iy beroß toiat 'on which "the m.ateli is to take plac'6. . / / v lh' &'ddit'ib'n. td th'e, ; hieflbbrS of the .team,.. ■a captain -&nd-sebtetafy shall bb, ili'cluded, bllt bffi'c'eltS. snail n'dt - shbot.; :: Two sightm'g Jhbt's frjll bb ,all6'#ed.iti6acli Hil'ge, the!,S.M.R.Ciifiiles-'will:'gdyefn :th'e .'shooting, aM <" -i „i sffe'ciftl.; baag6. .'..fofe/Inteffiatebna! .in'atehes. is; .to ; bsjjiepifcgiU.silyier M'dge's. oeiAg atvatdei tb tea&,.f. Sid : Bibnze bftdgeS tb. the losbts. . Tho Ihtef&'atibnal shobt in 190,9.-is tb t'akb Jlac'b as the.. Welsh Ke.etillg at.Jfaesteg. .;: ~ -./ ,1 / :...' Thb. 'c'b'nditibfrs .for -the .h'atioSial roll ;of ttark'sifibH IH5K4'' SSSiC'tKlnt]^''. "w-' tbWd. the roll/will be,"closm'..on tile last 'day in.'ebch yeAr, .attfl thb test,for iA'ilbsKin fii the, rbU is as .follb'ws"

20.shots deliberate at the Roberts stan...dard target; and ■ , ■ 20 shots four. inihWes- it'. g -grefin target. , .. , testt may foe ac'(»mplislied''ih fbuV Series, bf teii Shots . pfer the. feeries, howb'ter,. must ;: be; cfdiiseeil'tivbj" . and • bile s%hter will lip illowe'd .on a repK'ate-target for fetoli. sefi'es.':-The diH'iabe. Wy be .Sity range, fJbm fift&eii- yards Upwards,: piftvi'dea that the, size of - the is in' pfobortiiSi. ft the St&ndaW. 14id 'ddwß : by the' S.M-.K:O. The • i's iOO- with any.riflfe, &iio any, £%hts : as pel- S;M.li,'G-. 'dSfifiitiois. -Th'rSe per cent...will- be allowed to . those : ilK&g military.' sights ■ 'at;,'di&t'a&cS"s not; exceeding 25 yards. Beyond 25 -yardS).s per cent, will be allowed. .... ■ Certificates will be awarded as follow.— . .. .^. Minimum.: .... '. \. - Ijßhimum 'in tho '. ... "Totiali-. rabid seribs; Class A . 370 190 tlass fl 350 170 pla'ss 0..-. ... 330 , 160 ; ... tlass D . (for ' boys under 16 .. <j. v • .year's ... . ..i 300 ■ '; 180 L .Gertificates wiil : b6 .supplied at a 66H oho shilling each. . . Classes A, B, and 0 'cetorey th% fight to .purchase gold, silver, or bronze badgM respectively. to, successful toarkfemial". , : .: The price of the badgtes will be as follows:— -. r. For Class A— . .. ~' ' Gbld 255. Oct. Silver gilt ... ,7s. ed. . Metal gilt :.. v.. v.. 25.. Bd. tor 'Class — v , •, "'' Silver . -,v. ss. 6d. "White metal 2s. 6d-. ■ .. For Class C — Bronzo ... .... 2s. 6d. v Challenge .'cups wilh.be..awarded:. by the: S.M.R.C. to ;those affiliated, clubs which .told the .gWatbst percentage Af '&rtificate's r .bf each eliss in to.thfeir iftembersbip. In cosn{ietin'g fOr the ch'allehge cup of "any 'class.'cfeftifiiiWs of MjghSr/giS'di, rbiy 'diiffit. Challenge, titftts will be held for oto .year, ,b\it "no chlb 6halV be allow&d to hbld ffibretliaii 'ofte.iiip at ii timfe. ■ . : Thte. of,'tte clfib as tih.tbS pre.vious NoVfeihber 30 shall be "t&keSl Sh 'c'alclrlati&'g the 'pei^fttage,. biit the: naJn'bs. ttf ihimfc'rs \vhb hiave 'ddfiiig th% c4r-' tfen.t Jrear m'ajp be deleted .Frqnv.th&i'bllvi : Clubs with a ihSmbehhij) <Jf leks.thah 30 shall liot be eligible tb SbhYpefce fbf bliallehgb cu\)'s, jbut thfeir ifiembers tvill bo. all&wed to cohlpote ffcr fieftificafo; :

The new pattern army .aeroplane,; built' from the wreckage, .of -the machine' which came to grief at Alder'shbt in- October last, •was . re'deStly gIVSn its firsV frpen-ait trial (says,the "Military Mail : 'Nothihg great was. accomplished), or. even: attempted. the tna'l .beinl made: sitoplv ..with a..'vi6w or feeing the several, parts .while running along the ground. Mr. S. ,F. Gcdy, the mechanical engineer attached to the. War jßalloon.-Factory, \Vas in'charge,. Colonel-J. E. Dapper, lt,E- ( tho.suj&nnteh'deht, being also .present.':. The macliiiie'liAs radically alfei'cd . in shape, tlie steering apparatus and the. iiiting 'planes being on quite a .new principle. Jfig. aeroplane is about 4'Oft.. .loftfi • and . 4ft; broad, With a space of : about 7ft. be)i#oe& the lower and 'tijpper, .Wanes.'- ''Jhe' ftirtaie of each is 'cbneAve, with a pftnounttd slope from front to. rear. The engines a re fixed .-in the oehisre,.with the probellors,Almost, fhish with the front of the planes.; The/radiators have b«6en moved to the , back, of the ' operator's seat,-. and.; the. petrol, tank above, so 'giving a clear field of vision., The steering, Apparatus is. ffl; two, parts, dn& sqilare of cabvafc shaped liko, a smalj sail, buiiig liked Wmned.iately in; front of tho, engines, ,and the othfc.r at the dud.of a iuffc.'. frame running o.iit behind the radiators.' Tire lifting pjaiie>i three i.u liumbci-j project 12ft, wr■ I.4ft'. iii Ffoiit of alid mid\vay bstwcijh the upper and lower planes, alid , ate fixed end tb end betweeft. a. bainbob. .fiifiiework, Vrhich allows .tham w teWeed tt efevate'd .at an..aiiglo w the atifoßlace ft'self. T&csfc 'three liftiiic

planes are worked independent of each : other, the,oentral one being some 20ft. long,. iWd'tnogl oh 'either side about 6ft. long. A. strong but. light ,'ch'assis, mounted on four . bicycle wheels, supported the aeroplalne on the gwxind, a small wheel being fixed at each - ;The trials were- very brief, aha ffoW ' what wis 'sard a^ttertvards,. gave -.The engines,: once /started, gained a terrifio speed in a very few mo« ments, the: propellers setting, up" .a .strong current, of/ /ivliich tAnie'd fefi the .capa" of the engineers. 'who were/holding the machine steady behind./..A dozen or more long • ribb'ons w.ere:: fixed to tbfc upper : and i lower planes bohind to test the strength of the air currents, and these, as soon as . the engines wero starte'd ah'd the inachiwe began to ' ffiiVfe-, 'blit 'sttiaight behind. -A run :of wtri'&n 4 rjilSrter aM Mlf k mile was made, the: machine "ninniiig very easily up the. slopes, and ta'cKng. V<J the-right and left in response to. the. steering gear.* No'-more, than.® mihjte /was occupied in eaen im; in ,tfle. dusk of y-e evehinfc.artd titft ma'chiWe was •t-aken back to fclie balloon shed pendihe further trials. - ... , • •

approval o£ M'fc Moe/iiM under the auspices of. the - National . Rifle Association, the hfle toffipfetition for the . C»i> Mil. be h'old - It-j I ?V^WS? 6^ 'BaiMMaj-.'' :; the «%?- BcbttSteSaafer,-•'wSWaJfc-"" .frarattd.&fe-:'for. ; a^iais n te'ams of. -? 11 /"Mts of- the.lC-ihg's' naval .'afl!d militery, services .it eluding -colonial militia ahd volunte ; or t tix3o^s, .'ihere: 'is cohafeable '•. iite'r'fe^t' /(says & "London. StaivdaS-d"-) bfeiig taken in: New'castlq in. the .develbpnKmt. of, the -Admftalty • flail's for a vy6rtn:E4'st' Gcrast l'ase.' 1 Many Mid Uhbfficjal- ; -ha.v6 fafefea place i& the Subject, -Mid -thb.MtoS&ittiy- SttW'tb'b .wish td/sefe' tfre- T#ne ffired&?d, so as to admit IhA 'dWpeiifea 'dr battered condition.'- Hi I ..Arthur A. Fownes on the subject, in which lie . - oJa'iras tli'o following points in favour of thb'Tyiio being selected as tire : ne«- b;v£b:=— . -./;: /// . * ■/.- *.; . TO6 m'otith df t-h'o Tjiie is the North Se» strategic 'centrS. ~ .. • ■'■ ■;. , The lies'niidway, lfetfrfeen ISteJtli and Sheer'hess-. ;; -U t : '■ - - It is hear 'poaffieliss.. ~ :/ ■/ " It possesses unrivalled. Coaling facilities.' V It las efficient .repairing,.-yards hear the sea, and a. Dreadnought ~ dcy dock. : \,... -. ..Farther: up the.riverTs 'the |reat ArseVialv . \ .../i'-.-./..'; r \~-' /i.^/ ISbSfir-ABfl. all iiice&aty eqii'miA'ent and '. JrTA'fit 'eSist ih MWoi'd .'ftKn ' betwfeei-. NJwt'astte' -and Wo. to'9\it-h '6f t-h'b rivSr. . ■'.'. ' '.;./■ . , Vjffth tllVes iiavil v baSes %ii "the Bist Kscra"&b ojf, GMt.'.BritSiSivv piiso .'attafck W%k MiMfed 'fti a mimmuih. - / .. ; /h:.: : ■ V ! - :' v ; :