DEFENCE TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 22449, 21 September 1936, Page 13

DEFENCE TOPICS

QUARTERDECK AND PARADE GROUND [By Sam Browne.] NAVAL RESERVES Wireless and visual signalling in connection with minesweeping operations were continued by the visual signalling and junior wireless ratings of the Otago Division, R.N V.R., on Tuesday, while the senior wireless ratings carried out wireless communication exercises with ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy and H.M.S. Philomel on Wednesday. On Wednesday Lieutenant-commander P. G. Connelly* delivered an address to all ratings on gas warfare, in which particular attention was dawn to the origin and history of gas as used in war, the various gases in use, and the application and defence against it. The second half of the evening was devoted to the explanation of the various types of gas masks and a demonstration of fitting and drill. The visual signalling and wireless ratings will assemble on Tuesday next when all phases of naval wireless and visual signalling will be carried out. On Wednesday all seamen ratings will attend a lecture on musketry, which will include aiming, method of marking targets, and range discipline in preparation for the annual musketry course. NAVAL BALL. The seventh annual ball of the Otago Division, R.N.V.R., will be held in the Town Hall on Friday. List 11. ratings and their friends should not miss this opportunity of meeting “ old ships ” at this event. SMALL BORE SHOOTING. The ladder competitions and the firing for the various cups and trophies were continued on Monday last, and there was a good attendance. _ The new ratings, who had not previously received instruction in aiming, were taken on that subject in preparation for the annual musketry course, which will he fired at Pelichet Bay during October. The range at headquarters will be available for practices as usual on Monday next. THE OTAGO REGIMENT. Good progress is being maintained with the syllabus in the training centre, and a good deal of instruction is being given in this way. Elementary mounted drill was continued by the transport section at Central Battery last Tuesday. To-morrow night instruction will be given in harnessing and driving with two-hotse teams. ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENCE. An inspection of the work being done by officers and men of the Royal New Zealand Artillery stationed at Auckland and Wellington, who were undergoing a three weeks’ course of anti-air-craft training at Narrow Neck, was made recently by officers of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy and certain civilians at the invitation of Colonel JV E. Duigan, officer commanding the Northern Command. Those present included Rear-Admiral the Hon. E. Rj Drummond, commodore of the New Zealand Squadron; Captain I. G. Glennie, captain of H.M.S. Achilles; and Commander C. B. Tinley, officer in charge of the Devonport naval base. Colonel Duigan was accompanied by Major T. H. W. H. Donaldson. Among the civilians were Mr H. P. W. Meikle, Mayor of Devonport. and Mr C. At. Croft, Canadian Trade Commissioner. A demonstration of anti-aircraft defence against a daylight aerial attack was given by the gunners, who had as the target for their two guns an aeroplane from the Hobsonville air base. The inspecting party showed much interest in the equipment, and particularly in the height and range finder and the predictor, which calculates the elevation at which the gun is to be fired and the traverse angle. The camp was under the command of Alajor G. B. Parkinson, while Captain C. J. Duff, of Wellington, who has recently returned from a period of training abroad, acted as instructor. There were seven officers and about 65 men in camp. The party also inspected the newlybuilt barracks at Narrow Neck, which are for unmarried men. There are two dormitories and a large receation and mess room.