MILITARY NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1307, 9 December 1911, Page 12

MILITARY NOTES.

Edited Br Ecbelos.] Under a new defence statutory order it is provided by the Australian Minister for Defence that in each State or military district thero shall bo established district rifle club unions, with tho object rf encouraging ride shooting amongst their members. Tho rules governing these unions must be approved by (he Military Hoard. Tho new organisation is expected to assist in tho improvement of the rifle clubs' strength ami shooting,

Extensive purchases of horses have re« ccntly been mado by tho Australian Defenco Department, and this necessitates tho early formation of a permanent army veterinary coTps (reports tho "Ago"). The corps will bo controlled by principal veterinary officers of the district, and its officers will be appointed staff officers for veterinary services. Tho district commandants are now seeking applications for appointment. Candidates must be between 21 and 40 years of age, and possessed of training at a' university or other approved institution. No right of private practice will be allowed. Successful candidates will bo appointed to the rank of captain for twelve months on probation.

As a mark of interest in the new Australian defence scheme, tho King dab approved of tho Commonwealth Naval Collego being termed tho Royal Australian Naval College. Tho sito at Jorvis Bay has not yet been marked out (statoa tho "Age"), and it will bo several years before the college can be permanently established. Tho Minister for Defenco, however, is preparing for tho appointment of a staff, in view of tho work to bo carried out at a temporary institution. It was announced recently that tho position of director of studies had been created, with n ealary of .£7OO a year and quarters. The succoarful applicant will bo subordinate to tho captain of tho collego. Applicants must communicate with, tho Naval Secretary by January 81 and mnst be of Australian birth or permanently domiciled in Australia, between th« ages of 35 and 50, and prepared to engage for a five years' agreement.

Commenting on the appointment of Lieutenant J. A. Wallingford as musketry instructor to tho New Zealand forces, tho "■Morning Post" says the Dominion authorities have obtained tho services of one of the leading rifle experts in the Regular Army, and one who has a knowledge of small arms which can be possessed by very few. Lieutenant Wallingford; tho 'Post remark?, has for years been tha best all-round and most constant rifle shot in the Army and, although comparisons are difficult to make, he is regarded as probably tho best Bhot in the regular armies of the world. For some vears ho has been the mainstay of tha Arrilv Eight in competitive shooting, and was the first man to score tho full possible points, namely, 105, at 200, 500, and 600 yards, in an important competition. He is an international marksman and had represented Groat Britain against Canada, Australian, New Zealand, South Africa, India, tho United States, France, Belgium, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and Greece in the Olympiad. Invariably he makes one of the "highest scores, many times being the best man in tho whole field, as was the case in thi Empire match.