MILITARY NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1216, 26 August 1911, Page 9

MILITARY NOTES.

[Edited By EcnELON.] RIFLES, TARGETS, AND SIGHTS. AUSTRALIAN SCJIOOL OF MUSKETR? An automatic rifl,o is being issued experimentally to one or two infantry regiments of the Italian army. Tho Italian War Oflico authorities havo been trying various patterns of ritlcs of Into years, with little or no success, and this new design; of-which great things a-ro expected, is tho invention of au Italian officer. Experiments in wireless telegraphy hava recently l>ecn mado in England by tho Royal Engineers with _ tho apparatus known as \Var Office Secret Patent No. 5. Tho test has proved highly satisfactory. All kinds of messages havo been picked up, many unintelligible because in eodo, hud. Greenwich limo has been received from Norddertch, in Germany, where it is daily circulated by wireless for all who care- to pick it up. A Scottish regiment Without kilts would bo a hideous anomaly,, according to the convictions of tho Scottish Union of Aitstralin (observes the Melbourno ■ "Age!').. Tho conviction was so forcibly expressed at a recentmeeting of the union that tho Acting-Minister for Defence, as a loyal Scot himself, felt bound to announce in reply that Gregor M'Gregnr would never abolish tho kilt from Australian Scottish, regiments. "Hut," continued tho Senator, with, characteristic zeal for th-3_ prevention of public expenditure, "tho duly uniform to be provided free bv the Common; wealth to her ttildiors will be the khaki clothing, and should the Scottish regiment or any other want a distinctive dress they must pay for it themselves." The. difficulty, admittedly great, of shooting at the figure target in bright sunshine is, it is claimed, greatly reduced by ll)o tiso of Chlorophyllo glasses, (ho invention of Dr. I/con Fargier. The glasses are tinted with the greenish yellow colour of chlorophyll, which-is l,ho basis of the colour of green foliage, and the chief advantages claimed for them arc' An agreeable sensation of restftilnoss to tho -eyes when exposed to bright lights; abundant luminosity, and remarkable clearness of vision. The green factor of thofignre target intensifies the shadows some-' what, ami the yellow or khaki .colour gives a particular relief to tho brightly . illuminated parts of (ho object. "Clilorophyilo" glasses are supplied in three degrees of colour. The agitation regarding aperture sights and their usefulness on active service crops up regularly at Bisley meetings. Tho War Office have so far refused to adopt this sight for the army, and (ha musketry experts at Whitehall and Hytho are content, to watch its effects upon shooting during the N.li.A. meeting, "t am told" (writes "Mars." in the "Military Mail"), bv a friend in the Department of the. M.G.0., at (ho War Oflico, that-nothing will be done to settle tho question of these sights for some timo to come. Tho authcriii-ES consider them of little value iu actual warfare, as tho range of vision is restricted, and other' technical objections have been raised. They nvo looked upon us mere aids to target'shooting and not of any great military value. ' This is (he present opinion of iiianv officers who control the business of arming our troops with the. best rill*. .They are quite satisfied'■with tho present wiudgauge sight, and leave, the question, of aperture sights to individuals who compete at Bisley."

It is nearly two years since the War Office decided to invite guumakors and. inventors to submit patterns und designs for an automatic service, rifle, and up to ihe'present very littW J has 'heoii"t plished in the way of 'experiments beyond'' ' a few trials at Woolwich, Hythe, and Bislev (comments "Mars," of tho "Jlih-tw-j- "Mail"). Tho authorities aro wailing; to see what Germany and other military Powers intend to do in the matter, before committing themselves to considerable, cut-lay in re-arming tho Regular forces with' an approved rifle. It would seem that the War Office aro content-to let things slacken a bit since n new pointed, bullet has been issued to the troops. Thin bullet has giveu visa to quite a storm of complaints throughout the service, for it is notorious for tho fouling of (lie rifleboro through -tho breaking up of , thu cupro-iiickel casing, when. ■ firing.; taken , 'place. This fact reduces the valuo of tho new bullet to that of "former patterns, so far as, trajectory and muzzle velocity aro concerned, and renders it, of little vahitt in quick-tiring tests. Many soldiers uro beginning to disliko tho now bullet, for it certainly spoils accurato shooting.

Tho immediate formation of a pcrmain ent musketry school for tho Commonwealth military forces has been approved, by the Acting-Minister for Defence. Such an institution was recommended.by Lord Kitchener, and in his last annual report tho Ispcctor-Genoral drew, pointed attention to tho need for it. Tho school will bo located temporarily at Randwick, N.S.AV., but a largo institution such as thoso in Great Britain and India is tho ultimate aim. In th» ordoi directing its establishment, tho Military Board affirms that tho objects of the Commonwealth musketry school frill bo: (1) To train officers, swarrant and non-commissioned officers, to act us instructors in muskclry and tho machine gun, to teach tho principles of firo tactics, and afford practical demonstrations of tho power of firo; (2) to carry out such trials of small arms and aninvuniUon as may bo required! (3) to study all questions connected with small arms, and oxamino'musketry inventions; (4) to study arms and methods of, foreign armies; and (a) to study and improvo ranges. Tho'duration of tho courses will bo six weeks for permanent forces' qualifying, four weeks for citizen forces' qualifying, two weeks for permanent forces' refrcshor, one week for field officers' course, and two weeks for machine gun course. Certificates will bo issued by the board ta successful students.

Tho first number of "Tho Army Review" has mado its appearance, and contains many items of interest to servico men. As General Nicholson points out in api introductory note, the object of the. "Review" is not only to disseminate tho latest information on military subjects, and to inculcate tho lessons in higher leading which history teaches, but to encourago the study of tho military art, and also to evoke the formulation and expression of individual ideas on matters which are open to discussion. Licut.Colonel C. F. Close, R.E., contributes an article on "Tho Maps of (ho Empire." illustrated by some really fino maps; tlio problem of recruiting for our army 'is dealt with by Colonel F. R. C. Carleton. the A.A.G. for recruiting, who, in a very rcadablo article, explains tho working of tlio present short service system. The altitude of Iho Universities towards thn study of military affairs is dealt with by Major M. Earlo, D.5.0., Grenadier Guards, who argues that tho chargo laid at the door of our Universities that they havo done nothing for (he service is not tnio of to-day. Mr. Spencer Wilkinson, the well-known authority on military history, contributes an article entitled "The Soul of an Army," in which tho duties of tho General Staff are dealt with. Tho ever-present problem of road traiisnort and Hie supply of an army in the field is discussed in an article by that well-known Annv Servico Corps officer. Colonel G. R. C. Paul, who, afler touching on tho existing systems. (Mints out tho value of mechanical transport. Tho future of aerial warfare is discussed in nn article entitled "Some Problems of Aviation in War," by Major Sir A. Bannermari, commandant of the Air Battalion, who makes an appeal -In British officers to regard uiilitnrv aviation ni.ii-e from a military point of view, and less from that of the mere spectator of daring fonts. Route marchintr is nlxvavs an imnorlant topic, and Captain R. J. Kentish. Royal Irish Fusiliers, lias an excellent paper on tho subject. He urs-es the adoplion of a new system of training, and forces home his points very well.