DEFENCE-NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 556, 10 July 1909, Page 14

DEFENCE-NOTES.

(Bx-EcmuuL) |

Examinations of candidates for COTtificato A—for tho junior and public schools division of tie Officers' Training Corps in England— wore held simultaneously throughout the bcSwolb on Empire Day. The list of subjects for examination, taking \3ue consideration of thoingo and experience of the public Bchool candidates as compared. with that of tho older men of the senior or university sion, range from sfcinnishing, scouting/ the company m attack and defence, - to' advance arid rear guards, picquefcs, and outposts. "Infantry Training, 1905," and "Combined Training, 1905," were ; the two text, books ordered to" bo used by'the authorities. The examination was divided into two parte— 'written and oral, Tho former lasted two hours; the latter consisted of a practical test, by handling a section of 25 men in tho. open in tho presence of a regular officer detailed to, act as examiner. A successful candidate wlib eventually -takes up a commission in the Special Reserve or the Territorial Force, on production of his certificate A, earns for lus lato corps in the junior division. a' grant of £10.- j . . . • . An'-.important; instruction issued by the Army Council in tho new Field Service Regulationa concerning military government] touches on the status of. aeronauts in war time. It is-laid down (under the heading of""spies')s s ') that:— ' j." : Individuals sent in balloons, airships, and aeroplanes to deliver dispatches, >nd generally to iniuntain communications between the various parts of the'foroes in tho field or a territory, are not to . be considered as spies The Army' Council having given attention to> the training- in equitation, of the Infantry signallere with Territorial Divisional lias (reports the "Military, :Mail") decided to mount these officers and men on bicycles, and not on horses, on mob-, ilisation.. This decision will also apply 'to infantry brigade and battalion signalling offi-j cers. During annual'training ! in cainp the signalling officers with divisional, and Infantry brigade headquarters will be.Tuountedon bicycles/ to-, be lobtained from County, Associations ' concerned. _ t Battalion signalling officers and non-commissioned officers and men who train ;as signaUers 'will, hot be mounted at annual training. •'

A : resmarkable instruction concerning, tho use'of the white flag in future <»mpaigns appears in the new, fold service regulations, of the British. Army Council , just published.

' It~ is stated that the recognition/of a white flag , in : an' enemy's position or lines is not obligatory on' a'commander.' It should be disregarded in. .cases ! where- movements of troops or-materials ;are carried out under its projection. .'- V,.'..- 1 -■/ ''

,It is' Understood that a conference was held at the War Office at which it was decided that the King's .Colonials shall be administered .by a committee composed of gen'tlemen resident; in this ;country and represontativo' of, Dominions across the ecas. His' committee will act in conjunction with tho County of London Association, to. which the regiment' as a Territorial unit belongs. In one respect, at any rate, * the . British Army is ahead; of all other armies. •' In the of the: Royal United Service Institution," Captain Trapmann,; speaking on the cycle in .warfare,,'.declares that at tbo present moment cyclists comprise the only arm of the Service in which the British Forces are better supplied than the armies 'of other nations. He makes a strong plea

for the study 'of the tactical and strategical, potency .of, the cycle. . / .'• '■' •'■!- Tbo Tuatara Boy.. Scout., patrols at l\liramar were out on the .hills .on Saturday .last, engaged in. various operations, incidental. to their craft. : - Acting in conjunction'with the "Otters" and other, members of city patrols, the scouts got' to "w.ork about 11.30 a.m., and spent the time npjtill;,the,"hnchoon parade" in tracking operations.! >After^unch,.the scouts burrowed about the hills near Rongotai Terrace searching amongst the remains of the ancient "umus" (Maori ovens)- on the site of the Hineapari tribal fort for con-, crete evidences of. Native in tho shape of axes and other- characteristic 'weapons. Thoreafterjan: adjournment was made to Dr. Makgill's grounds, where detachments of the : party were detailed for various duties —tree-cutting, wigwam and whaTe: building, etc.—while Dr. Makgill" interested- himself in the boys by showing them how to obtain fire by the use pf :flint and'steel,-,'tuid-entertain-ing them toflight 1 refreshments. After.cheers .had been given for their host,. the scouts •dispersed. It is expected that the closo .of the football season will seo'.numerous additions to.the ranks of the various patrols now in existence. On Saturday next, tho: patrols will again take -to -'Jkho; bills;".'when {further operations of an. interesting" nature' will ;be carried out. r - '.

A match fori the.. Morris-tube . Challenge Shield was fired;;on Friday,' July 2, between teams representing. \V. Staples; and'.'Co. and: the Wellington Gas Co., and, resulted' in a win for team by. '52"-,, points'.' Messrs. BridgeJ Riddington, and Rogers shot best for the_ losing team,: and Messrs. Butler,, Aston;-TJrwin, 'arid Evenson' for the'winners.

The British • Ajtilfery at \Gibraltar have lately, been practising' at a' framework: structure in the fonn of ai, aeroplane. ' The gunners have not, however, according' to a French journal, '/been able to , inflict' much damage, upon'this novel target..