DEFENCE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 9

DEFENCE NOTES.

<13v Echelon.)

"The British Army Council (statej an exchange) has directed tho Territorial County Associations to uso tho strictest care in tho disposal of worn-, out uniforms. Cases have been brought to notice of such uniforms being improperly used for civilian purposes, and in particular, civilians have been recently observed wearing military greatcoats ivitli buttons, badges, and chevrons intact." If one keops one's eyes open while walking along the Quay, one may, see, on rainy days, quite a lew military, greatcoats keeping the not off civilian,' clothes.

"Mars," of the "Military Mail,"; states that the military training branch: ot the General Stair at the War Ofl:c* is hard at work drawing up schemes for the combined naval and military! manoeuvres to bo held in August next in thb neighbourhood of Chatham'and Sbecrness. The Department at the Admiralty responsible for arranging hava] manoeuvres is co-operating with tha General Staif at tlie War Office, and tiiere is every prospect of some highly instructive, and novel tactics being carried out by a portion of the Home Fleet against a defending force composed of regulars and a division of territorials. Unfortunately some of the landowners and farmers in the Isle of Sheppy, not so patriotic as those of Hampshire, Wilts, and.other counties, are placing obstacles in the way, of the authorities, and much difficulty, is being experienced in getting a few of these farmers to grant the neces-i sary permission for uso of their land. U is understood that it is proposed td carry out a surprise invasion somewhere along tho coast from Chatham to Portsmouth, by means of regular troops brought over from the Irish; Command, and a division of territorials will probably be hurried to the coast to assist in repelling tho invaders. At present tho whole of. tho arrangements for the annual manoeuvres are in the skeleton stage, everything depending upon the funds available, and also upon the goodwill and patriotism of the landowners, as a large portion of the operations will be hold on, new ground this year. The manoeuvres of 1910 promise to bo tho most interesting and exciting that have been heid for the past eight years. .

Tho converted riflo fitted with partly, protected foresight and a windgaugo, which has been issued to the Territorial Force, is not the new short weapon of tho Regular Service, but is an improvement on the pattern which it has displaced. It is shorter, lighter, and better balanced for carrying, and for using in a hurry than tho old LeeEnfield. Tho loading from a clip is mosfr expeditious when' it is once mastered. Tho common error committed by men who have, gone to the range without previous practice with dummy cartridges is to attempt to force the clip and contents down into the magazine, instead of pressing the cartridge through the bottom of the clip after it has been placed in tho breech. Although the recoil on discharge is greater than in the old weapon, the rifle, with its flat trajectory, is decidedly tho best. for. work in a tight corner yet placed in the hands' of tho auxiliary force. To the average Territorial tho windgauge is likely to prove a stumbling-block unless he is thoroughly drilled in its use and made to understand its value in enabling tho aim to bo taken on the target. .5 card upon which a windgauge tablo is .printed along with cleaning should be issued to every man. ",

: - j There is less risk lof-jthis rifle >.fallmgj to the ground when hurriedly placed! against a wall, as tho balance brings) the flat line of the foresight protect, tor edge nest to tho wall. If, bow-J ever, a fall dos= take place the back* sight is very liable to sustain, injury. In many corps a number have thus; been damaged already, and notices have been issued that the damage will lie made good i-.t fcliu cost of the individual concerned. Cleaning is, inH porfcant, and if this is to be properlyi accomplished as regards tho prevention) of rust in the barrel, it must be treat* *>d with the oiled pull-through fon threti days after firing, besides imme-i diately afterwards, and once a week' :it the close of the first week.

In view of the adoption by the New Zealand Government of the general scheme and character of the. British: Territorial Army as the basis of organisation of the Now Zealand Territorial Force, the following provisional regulations, recently promulgated by tho British Army Council for the Territorial Army Reserve, should be read with interest. These begin by defining the function of the Reserve as "to ml up vacancies in the establishment of Territorial Force units on mobilisation and to replace casualties among officers,; /.on-commissioned officers, and men subsequent to mobilisation." The following are those who are eligible to join, the Reserve: —

(a) Officers.—Captains and subalterns ■ who have completed four years' service as such in any of the military, forces of the Crown, and do not belong to the General Reserve of Officers or to the Special Reserve. Only service given within the ten years immediately preceding the application to join will be reckoned as qualifying service. Officers joining the Territorial Force Reserve will be granted: a ijjmmission in the Territorial Foroa if not already holding one. (b) Non-commissioned Officers and Men.—Serving soldiers who have completed four years' colour service in. the Territorial Force, or four years' combine-? service in the Imperial Yeomanry vfi Volunteers and the Territorial Force. Service in the Imperial Yeomanry orVolunteers must, to count, have been, rendered within the five years immediately preceding tho application to join the Reserve. The establishment of tho Reserve is fixed at 33 per cent, of the Territorial establishment. This would give an establishment of 104,163 men. The obligations on members are the same as those of Territorials; the period of engagement will be for' one, two, three, or four years, as may be decided by the county association; tho age for compulsory retirement is the same as in the Territorial Force; attendance at drill, musketry, or annual camp is voluntary, and Reservists attending vamp will receive pay and allowances at the samo rates as Territorials; in fact, substantially they will be in tho position of Territorials', cave that nil obligations aro voluntarv unless , mobilisation takes place. The following is the engagement into which tho Reservist enters:— <

I agree (a) To come out for service whoa all or any part of the Territoria! Force is embodied, and then to servo under the rules and. regulations applicable to tho Territorial Force whilst embodied in any unit of the same arm of the service belonging to tho county. (b) To prolong my service for a further period not exceeding twolvt months ;f required when all or any part of die Territorial Force is cm* bodied.