AN ENGLISH REVIEW.

Evening Star, Issue 3635, 16 October 1874, Page 2

AN ENGLISH REVIEW.

The following letter is by a gentleman now in England, who at one time held a rtspou* sib’e command in connection with the Otago ■Volunteers :

i have been.Jifi several inspections of of volunteers here, and cannot say I was much impressed. The movements were hot better executed than we do them in Otago, and there was a good deal ioossnesa in the manual and platoon. However, I will see more of them presently. Fwent to Aldershott with a party to see the "review btfore the Emperor of Russia. I armed'myself with a letter to Col. Gamble, the D.Q. M.G, who obligingly gave me a pass to get within the ropes, where we got an excellent place about seventy yards to the left of the sa'uting flag The troops were drawn up in the long valley separated from ns by the end of a spur, about half of the line being visible from where we were. After the line had been inspected, the Emperor, .Royal party, and staffs came towards the saluting flag ;Le latter removing opposite to. and to the left of the bands. The whole valley was now filled with moving columns, and by the time the Royal party had taken up their position, tho massed bands-Df the cavalry were in their places opposite. These bands looked like a regiment themselves. Turning the eye to the left, a magnificent scene burst uponua From the base flag, about haftimue off, came a. massive column of horse, artillery, and cavalry, which, a»it advanced, was continuously filled by fresh squadrons at the hasp point. .A sharp trump ;t c4IL followed by the crash of the f*\x bands, and tlie march commences.- First the Duke of Canibridge %nd staff (commanding), then the Aldershott Headmaster’s staff, followed by the Heavy Cavalry Division staff. The chiefs ‘ only^salute; the rest haye their swords Sheathed. Now we have the Horse Artillery in dense batteries, both riders and gunners in admirable hue ; their horses and harness of the very best, but the latter plain and service looking. These are foUowed by the massive squadrons of the First Life Guards—grand in appearance and a ccnrate in formation. Then come the Scots Greys—bulkier men on stronger looking horses—the riding not near so close; but there was a fiery look m both men and horses, that pave earnest of hidden power—u t ly customers to meet-nr a charge. The Secqnd Dragoon Guards (Queens Bays) bringmp’the rear’d! Uia heavies—handsome men on bandehwvft horses; the riding perfect, and a neat s-nglish regiment. Ap Irish air by the bands ushers up the l«)th and ,20th. Hussars—y looking regiments, with lots of activity and work in them. Rut what is this regiment ip the rear, on powerful black bat active horses—the men in plain blue with white cuffs and collars, silver helmets, and white plumes ; their riding superb ; the squadroa i cut clean aud sharp against the grey sky, a line would take every horses head and every plume as they pass by ? Ob ! these are the Carabineers (L6th Dragoon Guards), Sir Roger. Tichborne’s old regiment, a finer body of drilled men I have not seen at Home, bix batteries of field artillery follow with their 40-pounders, strong in men, horses, and waggons; the compaot masses of such batteries gives a notion of immense power, how comes a nOw sight td many, the Royal Engineers in their pontoons, and their endless array of stores, tools, telegraph and, photographic apparatus in waggons. While still wondering at the multifanous articles now passing, we are called to attention by two vigorous rolls on the drums followed by the “The British Grenadiers,” and looking to the left the space is biack with the bearskins of the Guards ; on they come m double bompanies at wheeling distance, solid as moving walls, their massed bands ahead of, bu}: to the left of the column, wheeuug at the salutitfg'flag. ofid taking up the position vacated by this (SvSS band-four strong battalions go by. otw Grenadier, one Coldstream, and two Soots Fusiliers, when the massed bands of another brigade are heard to the left. What J bearL M again? Another brigade-of Gnardsaf , ® and deer with'the bands make known, wlmt-the eye'it firat does pot, that this Fdhilier Brigade." One battalion ZLst (North British), Jst and 2nd '2Brd Royal Welsh, and 104 th (late Bengals) Fusisplepdid brigade. The Royal Welsh get a hearty cheer for their African scrv ca* The usual two rolls is followed this tine fy the scream of many bagpipes, and then comes one of the most impressive lights of the day, the Highland Brigade, The bands of the four regiments were a sight in themselves, with their nodding mumes kilts, pnd white garters. The Km’- k peror leanpd apd plosely watched thiagrtm and warlike column, go by, Tha marclwg was as • tk> could reach; ev*ry oomp»is tu.bcS} with a free springing step, aid doing a .rent' pace Conspicuous in the column Ws ihe big drumsw ®^ r 42ad,.a,.mai l 6m., and the gtafe handpome oqlo• .*-J the rdgiment, Sir ‘ John M‘Leod. The m-'' * of -fit l^assS are toßowed By tye“7B^, the Royal Welsh, on a ueighbottrinjtoartwge. favoritism (bat (he 42nd were sent to iJpj l

ront at. Doeroassie* .-instead >of .-,th s 23rd, ■whose right it was as bring the senior regiment ; that only, those who wore i:iUs hai now any chance of getting, on in the service, .Notwithstanding this -invective, we cast a lingering look at the last company of those stalwart warriors, and--Sir Alfred ! owfm-d and staff pf tbe. 2nd Division are in front of ua before we notice them. Ihe ba> di f!lowing struck np “ The Garb of Old Gaol,” for thei Royals (Ist foment ), that’head th» 4th : Brigade,'' f> llowtd ! by the : Ist, 4tIV. 19ch, 2nd, and ‘24 ; b Regiments, fine specimens of the; British Hoe. Their neatness- and precision were remarkable, and the marching first class. 'The Bth ■ Brigade of the 2nd 14tb, 2nd 16th, and 38th and 77th, also show well, but nothing equal to the 4th. A.cnriouaroß of'drums and ta---tara of bugles; followed by the tune of ’9B, precedes the 6th Brigade (all rifles),-Ist; 60th, and three battalions of rifle regiments. There seems no end of the dark mass of quick-stepping, wiry, active men, and the pace is wonderful; the feeling expressed is how such little men step so long and so precisely. It is different from all the other marching ; and, then the way they double info quarter columns at the end of the base, and wheel and vanish at the doable, is a sight worth seeing.- The rear is ! brought up by the A rmy Service Corps, with i their numerous waggons and ambulances, all \ in beautiful order—horses good, and well | ridden. You feel, on- looking at the Royal Engineers and this corps, how helpless weuld i all this .grand array be but for the science, i the skilled and picks and shovels of.thp former, and the continuous and untiring labor of both. In tba meantime the plain, is alive with troops in close formation.

Some, like the rifles, disappear over the spur, hut the mass are making towards the left. The cavalry bands take up their places in front, bub at a greater distance than before, | and, headed by the staff as formerly, artil-! lery and cavalry, go past at the trot, the i former by batteries (in line), the latter in I wings (half regiments). It was a beautiful i sight; The horses dancing by, all life and enjoyment, and the accurate iine kept by all. ; The infantry went by in quarter column, by ■ brigades, four regiments abreast; the bands, in front of the second battalion from the i yight, moving on with them. The whole 1 Went by very quickly,.and the brigades were gathered together at the end of the base, and marched off in various - directions. ■ The cavalry and horse artillery disappeared over the ridge, and the Highland Brigade halted and piled arms closa to the wood in front of ua. Imagining all was over, we adjourned inside to lunch. After a time we heard guns firing, which we took for the salute on the departure of the Emperor. Suddenly it struck me that two guns at close intervals were not fired in salute. I was soon on the top of the ridge, and found a great change. All the troops had gone in eur front, but at the end of* the spar, and across the long valley, there was a line of battle. I had hardly got the party from the inside in their places again, when the Heavy Brigade topped the ridge and swept down towards us in close columns of squadrons, passing about fifty yards in front of when they echeloned to their right, and made for the end of the spur, where they halted on the, right of the infantry'line I wish you could have seen this grand mass of horsemen, who we afterwards heard had just returned from a charge up the valley. Horses and men were excited, and again 1 could not help noticing the fire and vigor of the Greys, and the neat riding of the handsome and highlydisciplined Qneen’s Bays. My party insisted on finishing lunch ; hut knowing that could be done at any other time during the year, I bolted across the open space in front, and got on the top of the ridge, from ! vyhebce I had a view of the long Valley, ' up which, towards Aldershot, the troops were advancing. First, the Rifle Brigade skirmishing, supported by the Fusilier Brigade in line; about 600 yards in rear the Guards and Highlanders in line reaching right across the valley, supported by the sth and 6ih Highlanders in line of Columns'at deploying distance, with the cavalry in rear of flank, and every point pf vantage bristling with field artillery "With the exception of the latter, the whole were on the move—the Horse Artillery in the far front acting as the enemy. Presently the skirmishers . open fire—one eon tinuous withering r011... It requires to be heard to he conceived. • The skirmishers are driven hack, and the Fusiliers come into action with a perfect roar of musketry. Nothing can live in front of such a fire. Suddenly all is hush'd, the advance ceases, and while you are wondering what next, music bursts out all over the valley, the whole parade had broken up, and every regiment is making for its quarters by the fiearefo route } the only exception being the Field Artillery, which in a dark mass is doming up from the lower end of the valley. Everything mounted goes off at the trot, and in five minutes a cloud of dust hangs like a pall over the valley, <nd heyfcnd your immediate neighborhood all is obscure. So ends the review, The next day! went to Woolwich to see the Artillery review. I secured a good place on a stand, well to the right of the saluting flag-just vVhere the batteries wheeled off the base. It was amusing to see the twinkle of the eye of the off wheeler as he approached the spot, and see him go off at the gallop when the order was given, and before the d river’s whip touched his shoulder. There were eight batteries of horse and ten of field artillery. The Bloat impressive sight was seeing them standing in review order for upwards of half-an-hpur, motionless, as though they were carviMout'of stone. 1 I thought of the rolling heads, half turning to folk to the rear rank man, and nose-Wiping of our volunteers. Just before the arrival of the Royal party, a guard of honor Of 100 men (garrison artillery) marched up the centre Of the' ground. ‘ I never saw snob a Company of men or'such marching—all of the same size, and the distance and line so perfectly kept, that when they were halted and fronted (they marched in four-) every man was in his place without further motions than the facing. The march past was what you might expect from such a corps! At the walk, trot, and' gallop, it left you nothing to wish for. It Was the perfection of military' training. Them movements afterwards Of advance andretreat, changing front, facing, &c., were rapid in the extreme, especially remembering the weights they were taking over the ground’/ It erided'by the whole -moving to the front in one dense mass. You could have covered them with a table-cloth. Their commandant,-Sir-David Wood, was at thtir hiiad—conspicuous on a white horse. la* they halted, the Etoperbr 'rode forward, and shook Sir David 1 by the hand very hekrtily.' 1 We afterwards heard' that he declared that the nSovemcnta were “superb,” '“magnificent”—not bad praise coming from stick a quarter. ■ *-* ,,: -*- -•