MILITARY NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1108, 22 April 1911, Page 9

MILITARY NOTES.

[Edited Br Echelon.] , INCREASING THE GERMAN ARMY. . .None, of tho automatic rifles so far examined by the British War Ollico committee of exports havo proved salis- ■ factory. Trials of various patterns aro still proceeding. Nothing is known of tho adoption of an automatic riflo by any foreign Power, except Mexico, which is reported to havo done so. Tho National Hide Association of tho United States of America, in its annual report for 1010, expresses tho bono that the Palma Trophy will bo shot for iu 1913 at the Perry's Victory Centennial Exposition. In a recent order tho British Army Council drew attention to tho instructions already issued concerning, tho enlistment of foreigners in ' tho British Territorial Force. If au applicant, lor enlistment was horn outside his Majesty's dominions, or if, either on account ot his parentage or any other grounds, there is reason to suppose that lie may \k ■ a foreigner, he is not to bo enlisted until ho has.produced entirely .satisfactory proof that ho is a British subject. < iT h Parliamentary correspondent of the 'Daily Chronicle" says: ".Mr. Ilaldano's name is freely mentioned ns a possible peer. Ho would bo a powerful addition to the strength of tho Liberals in the House of Lords. If the Secretary for War became a peer ho would not retain' his present office. Tho head of a great spending Department in a Liberal Government ought always to be a member'• of tho House of Commons. Assuming Mr. Haldano went to the House of Lords, his natural successor at the War Ollico wouldbe Colonel Scely, whoso promotion would liberate tho Undcr-Secretaryship of the Colonies. Civilian employees of tho War Department not belonging to tho clerical or administrativc branches, may bo recommended, ou retirement alter not less than. 23 years' meritorious service, for tho award of the Imperial. Service Medal,' subject to the following conditions (states a recent order):— ■ (a) The services of the employee must havo been of so valuable a nature as to justify, in tho opinion of the head of his or her department, the award of tho medal. (b) The employee recommended, if hot"." holding an established, appointment' ' at the time of retirement, must novo rendered 25 years' pensionable service.. (c) If he or she is on the establishment at, the time of retirement, but not • otherwise, the qualifying period of 25 years' service may include uoupeusiouablo service. In accordance with the report of a bpccial War Oltice Committee orders have just been given (states ".Mars.," of Iho "Military Mail") lor the issue to selected lancer regiments on the home establishinont of experimental Janecs of German, irencli, and Spanish- patterns lor trial and comparison with tho. present British lance. Tho German Army lanee or "Stahlrohrlauze" is of steel, with a fouredged point of best forged steel forming ono piece with tho shaft, which is of cast steel and hollow. The weight of the lance is nearly -lib., its length is 10ft. Gin., and its centre of gravity about oft. :-. ■from Iho tip. The Erench a'nd, Spanish..lances aro of two patterns—bamboo shaft tipped with steel, and all steel with a similar point to that of the German lanee. There is very little difference in length and weight as compared with the lances of tho German Army. .During tho coming-.training season, for-.'' brigades and divisions at Kalisbtirv and Aldnrshot further experiments will 1m made with various types of field kitchens, .clitrcnchiug tools, a new pattern- army boot, ammunition carts, and a field telephone, li'eporls on these articles are to be rendered to the War Office at tho conclusion of the Army manoeuvres. It is said (slates "Mars" iu the "Military Mail") that another pattern of web equipment has been brought to the notice of the authorities in Whitehall that is simpler in design' and even stronger than the present equipment used by the iniantry. The section of the Director of Artillery's Department dealing with in- ' ventions at the War Office resembles a museum of arms and equipment, so many samples have accumulated for inspection. The consideration of a suitable autonialio. rifle is'a tougher problem than was anticipated, and the meetings' of experts from Hythc, Woolwich; Enfield, and oilier centres of gun-making, hove been long and prosy, with Iho discussion of so. much technical detail. • The effective strength of the peace establishment of tho German Army is to be raised from April next by 11,000 men. and in 1315 the total establishment will bo 515,321 men, exclusive of officers and non-commissioned officers. Tho necessary Bills came before the llcichstag not long ago. Tho Centre party supported the proposals, which were, however, as usual, opposed by the Socialist element, who - argued in favour of universal disarmament. ! . Supporting tho proposal, Here Basscrmann, tho National Liberal leader, said German love of peace ' could not bo doubted, but the ideal peace problem was not to bo solved in the near., future. France was still arming, and in England there was a tendency iu favour of increasing the army and introducing universal' r.crvice. During the Balkan complications, peace would not have been preserved if the sword Germany threw .into the balance had had a dull edge. Peace depended on German bayonets. . ' • „ General V. Heeriugcn, Minister of War, said (he German army was sound, nuu ex-. pressed his appreciation of the fact that the parties, like tho Government, were convinced that an army in a state of readiness was necessary for Germany's position as a Great Power. What' was wanted was not a sudden arming when danger of war arose, but a gradual and systematic arming; The army and navy must bo so equipped that they could beat off the enemy at tho frontier. The Minister of War, continuing, stated that in Germany the expenditure on tho army and navy amounted to 15J per cent-.-of the total expenditure, so that Sli per ' ■cent, was left for social purposes. Vl'ho 'first-mentioned figure, he thought, was small when compared with the resources of tho country. They should not forget, ■ moreover,' what the army did for;. tho people physically. He also alluded to 'statements reported to have been . made by English workmen,- who had been on investigation tours in Germany, regarding tho great impression the effect of universal service had made upon them.