VALUABLE MILITARY SUGGESTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 326, 29 January 1902, Page 3

VALUABLE MILITARY SUGGESTIONS.

11,i. following is the concluding portion of the interesting letter addressed to Colonel Newall by Capt, King DRILLSHEDS. Except 'in very wet weather no drill or parade should be allowed in the drillsheds. Indoor soldiers are not required. The men should always fall-in outside. If the night is dark and it is necessary to inspect the arms, etc., a half-company at a time can he marched in. Non-coms, and recruits should only be drilled inside. Even as regards the latter, it is a good plan to drill them frequently outside, as was oone in the Belgian army in the early sixties. Physical drill during the winter months should be performed for the most part inside the drillsheds BATTALION DRILL. As one half battalion will, as a rule, act as the advance line and support, and the other half as the reserve. The front of a battalion will be the space taken up by a half battalion when in line. When the two half battali uts are in line, one must be some distance behind the other. In line of columns the distance from the right of one to the left of the other is not to exceed the proper front. In savage warfare and in cavalry charges by troops armed with lances when the half battalions form squares they should be in echelon This will enable fire to be maintained from all sides of the two squares without injury to one another.

ORDERS. On an order from the commanding officer, the commanders of half battalions to repeat the order (and in cases where all the half companies except the one of formation move off together) give the necessary words of command'. and at once ga'llop off to mark tiie line of formation. If necessary the captains will repeat the orders. The captains are responsible that the orders are carried mil properly. If only one lieutenant of uiy company is present. the captain (especially if lie is short of non-coms.)may himself give the orders to the right half company. But lie need not leave his proper place. Markers arc never to be used. Guides can -easily learn to lead their men. the eves gilt being the best guide. Companies never to be sized. It is a ‘good plan when recruits are able to take their place in a company for them to first ioin the left half company and the oldest men in groups of fours transferred to the right-half company. It the tall groups are placed in No. 1 section and the shorter groups in No. 2 th»re will always be an amicable rivalry between the two sections, each trying to hold out the longest on a long day’s march, etc. And for the lovers of ceremonial parades the sections will look more uniform.

QI'AKTKK COLUMN. When within range of the enemies’ guns tin., deadly formation never to be used. Mven in times of peace it should never, or only in exceptional eas.es, be employed. It is astonishing to me the number of olficers that still maintain the old saying of the early ( fifties, that quarter column is the best formation oi a battalion. An officer who holds lhit! view should he compelled to retire. The lessons taught in the Franco-Prussian war of IK7'I have been sadly thrown away on these officers. In one instance (out of many) two-thirds of a battalion were killed or wounded in less than five or ten minutes, and every officer, except a bov officer taken a month or so from his school to fill the terrible gaps of officers. Think, too, of the present Hoer war, the hundreds and possibly thousands of our men that have been wounded or slaughtered owing to the close formations laid down in the present. drill hook. If a commander wishes to address his men, let him do so through the captains. BAYONMT KXKRCLSK.

This should he performed in column. The half companies being extended two paces as explained herein under company drill. FIRING KXKRCLSK. Can he performed in line or else in column. If the latter, No. 1 should he exercised first, then lie down, or kneel if the ground is wet, the knee, though, not to touch the ground. The ride perpendicular (stock on ground), grasped in one or both hands makes a good rest. Kach half company will drop down as soon as its turn is over. RMSMRYM COMPANIMS. Men should he encouraged to remain in the Reserve until they are fifty years of age. Nor should they he debarred from active service through any slight infirmity, say, for instance, short-sightedness, varicose veins, etc. Glasses rectify the first, and elastic stockings the second. Resides, men between 10 and 50 make far and away the best soldiers for garrison duties, as enteric fever chiefly attacks the younger men, the older men being almost free. Let the younger men he employed constantly on the move ; they are not then so liable to disease. To enable this being done, in times of war A. B. U. F. companies can form the fighting half battalion, leaving the two reserve and cadet companies to form the reserve and garrison force. If file men at Bloemfontein had all been between 00 and 50 years what few eases of enteric fever would have been, comparatively speaking, recorded, and enteric lias carried off more men than the Boers’ bullets have. AMBULANCK.

All officers and non-coms, should he

compelled lo attend ambulance lectures until they obtain their first aid certiiicates, and then at least one lecture each quarter to prevent them forgetting. Whenever a battalion or a half-battalion parades, a corporal (or, if advisable, a lance corporal) and two men bearing a stretcher, must accompany each half battalion, and if a single company is likely to he all day in a scorching sun, or out camping, a hearer company should be present. A stretcher costs’ very little, and in cases of sunstroke, etc., comes in very handy. BANDSMKN. To attend the ambulance lectures until they obtain their lost aid certificates. In times of war to carry their instruments and accompany their battalions. But will he employed only as hospital orderlies. The doctors and nurses will then always have a good supply of orderlies. These men will not only relieve the nurses considerably, but no men will he required from the lighting men. CAMPS. Mess camps should never lie allowed. Company officers should mess in one of their tents, sergeants in their tent, and the other non-coms, and privates in theirs. An orderly tent should only be allowed for each half battalion. The Sergeant-Major in charge of one, senior Color-Sergeant of the other half battalion in charge of the other. Should the commander of a half battalion desire at any time to mess with all his officers, the orderly tent can he used.

Officers’ baggage, etc., etc., rightly called by the old Romans “ Impedimenta.” Reds only lo be allowed i'or the s-ek and musing stall and (crimps for adjutant and ollicers above that rank. Company ollicers should sleep on the ground like their men, and if straw, hay, or Fern are not obtainable let them sleep on their waterproof sheets as the Constabulary officers did during the Maori wars’. But each officer and sergeant may be allowed a small folding chair, not to exceed .1C inches in height, with a carpet seat. An empty cartridge case, or commissariat box will do for a table and wash-stand, a tin (or enamel) dish ewer and cup, one plate, fork knife, and spoon, also a six inch looking glass are all that are necessary for iiie use of any officer. Some years ago when I was appointed to command an artillery company at an Easter encampment, my kit could easily be carried in one hand. I gathered myself a little hay from the nearest stack to sleep on, and I had nothing else whatever in my tent. When men go into camp they go for serious duties and not for picnicking. GENERAL. Officers and sergeants who hold their certificates are quite capable of drilling their men ; therefore staff sergeants are not required to any battalion. An officer or sergeant of a half battalion or even of any outlying company should attend the admirable schools of musketry at Wellington or elsewhere. They can then instruct the other officers and sergeants. Then for camp duties, the Government should publish a small and concise pamphlet (paper cover 6d, doth Is), and every officer, sergeant, and corporal throughout New Zealand to provide himself with one. The contents could easily be mastered after a few hours’ study. This will cost the Government nothing, and save them the expense of sending up an instructor. Company officers in time of war to carry carbines. When not in action and off duty “crops.” Swords should only he worn when in full dress, never in khaki. Swords when drawn should always be at the slope, except when the company is in line for the purpose of a general salute, and on the base line at the March Past. Officers in khaki can salute with their “ crops.” The present carry for infantry officers not only looks absurd, but is irksome.

Everyinfantry officer should he able to ride fairly well, and do when necessary 50 miles in a day. The service of that excellent arm of the Service—the Mounted Infantry—might not always be available ; therefore a mounted officer or sergeant accompanied by a few men on horseback (and tin per cent of the infantry stationed outside the four large centres of New Zealand are able to ride) should act as scouts, and also carry despatches. Officers and sergeants should therefore carry crops, and not swagger sticks in future. Swagger sticks can lie used by the other non-coms, and privates. Spurs never to be worn by company officers and sergeants except when on mounted duly. A few 7 spurs for the use of the men when on mounted duty should be in the possession of every half battalion.