THE DEFENGE FORCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 29 January 1908, Page 14

THE DEFENGE FORCES.

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Lieutenant-colonel Allen, Otago Division New Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers, has been granted leave 'of absence from January 12 to March 3L _,^ Sergeant-major Murray, who made fourth highest score for the Adelaide Rifle Club. firing against the British Rifle team at ' Adelaide, was for years a prominent member of the Dunedin Navals.

In the New Zealand Gazette, .dated January 16, appears notification of the acceptance by the Government of the services of the First Railway Pioneer Volun ; teers, " with headquarters at Dunedin, to he attached to the Ist Battalion O.R.V. eg ' I '- Company, and with effect from 30th October/ 1907."

The same" issue 1 of the Gazette intimates J;hat four -members of the Defence Forces Save been dismissed — Quartermaster-sergeant IW. H. Madeley (Wellington Engineers), * for using insulting language to his superior officer," and Sergeant-major W. Talbut (Herefaunga Mounted Rifles), Private A. L. Slyger (Heretaunga Mounted Rifles), and Sergeant F. A. Murnoy (Tapanui Rifle iVolunteer Reserve) "for insubordination to superior officers.' >

The next quarterly examination of officers will be > held on the first Wednesday m March. Those officers who may desire to Bit for ( examination before the expiration of tiie twelve months laid down in regulations Will require" to send, in their names to the r ~'A-A.G. before February 1, as application for' examination papers has to be sent on to Wellington by that date. For the bene--fit of those officers sitting in March copies of the questions set for__ the preceding examination have been forwarded to the various unit commanders for distribution. This practice was adopted for the first time in connection with the December, 1907, examination-. The advantages' to the prospective candidate - are obvious?. ' For the purposes of the Easter manceuvres hostilities will be considered to begin jat 5 p.m. on April 17, and will only be suspended between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the Sunday. The Dunedin troops, representing the landing force (Blue) will encamp in the vicinity of the Shag River, •nd the defending Southland troops (Red), will be positioned somewhere near" Merfcon. Maps of- the district to be operated over are beingr prepared, and it is intended, if possible, to arrange a preliminary reconnaisance of the area by officers. Briefly, the idea is -that the raiding force is capable of landing 400 to 600 men and two field gunß and maxims in the vicinity of the Shag !River, with the apparent object of pushing south to Dunedin. At 5 p.m. on. Friday the position is that Blue has landed a force now encamped by the Shag River. His ships have put out to sea. Despite the unexpected landing of Blue, and the 'advance to his present position, a Red force Bms been mobilised, and. i* encamped i

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the -vicinity of Morton, between Blue and his probable objective. ' The class- for -non-coms., conducted by Staff-sergeant-major Bishop, was resumed on the 20th, the attendance being 24-. Rifle exercises and - the new firing instruction formed the work of the evening. The mem-^ bers of ihe class are shaping very well indeed: j their progress exceeding the instructor's j expectations. It is noticeable that^it is still for the, most part -the -.faithful few who attend. There is Toom for many others of -the 90 odd non-coms, of the battalion, many of whom could not acceptably advance as a reason for non-attendance that their state of efficiency renders ij; superfluous It is gratifying to note that* two non-coms, from the Dunedin -Engineers and three from the Ist Railway Pioneers I take advantage of the instruction to be i obtained at this class. " There are three essentials (amongst others) that go to make a camp a success— viz., l considerate officers, fine weather, and good and well-cooked food. The Port Chalmers Nav*la were fortuno-to in having all of the above. The work done with the guns at the (Heads is the"' best- effort this company has put forward, and I understand the ' theoretical examination, in, tfunngry, signal- i ling, D.R.F., -and gun-laying are exception-ally-good, although the percentage of u-arks is not known yet.. The ambulance eoction, under Staff-surgeon Captain Borrie, has been, hard .at it, night and morning 1 . The attendance and behaviour of the men during the 16 days' encampment has been exemplary — in fact, the company has just ■been what you might- call a happy family, the best of humour, prevailing righ% through the camp. ■ The company was inspected on the 21st inst. _by Lieutenant-colonel Sniyth, O.C District, accompanied by Major Strongand Captain Gardner. After the company had been put through some infantry drill and musketry By the officers of the com- i pany, the O.C. - District, in a few words., \ stated that after what he had seen tbat , evening and at he Heads on Saurday he .was pleased to say that they were a •«ell- j disciplined company and knew thejr york i well. Before striking camp, Sergeant-major Montgomery, on behalf of the non-coms, and men, presented the cooks with a SJT.all sum of money, stating that they; wanted to show in c. practical manner their appreciation of the way the cooks had provided a good, clean, and wholesome meal. Hearty cheers were then given for the cooks, who, in returning thanks; said they had dc-n© J their best, and were pleased to know that ■ they had given satisfaction. The principle adopted at the B Battery's , annual 'training is to take all the branches . of the "work separately during the first week/ and in the second week to w6rk the battery g£ a whole. The attendance co far . has bee* almost tewarkoble — 61 out of 64, with t-g-o of the absentees accounted for J at Inve/cargill. It is hoped to have tlese , two i^ camp before the training is finished;- Captain Ritchie is to be con- ' gratulated upon such a^spontaneoue ;ndioation of AQthusiaKin. Parades are held morn-

le camp.

ing and evening. The layers have been practising with the telescope and tangent sights, under the direction of Sergeant I Wainhouse. The drivers have been h?rd at field movements, harnessing, etc., -under Bombardier Jones. The fuse-setters, the signallers, '■bhe' raiige-finders, the trumpeteio,,, I and the' : r'eoriiite'"'Eave -been training sepaj- lately, under supervision, at their various branches. This week the whole battery is working together, and 1 practising fire disciplined The "men'^ will' a\{ be" examined next week for badges ' and personal " payments, and also in connection with the Shield competition. The battery is straining every effort with a viejw to making a good shoot on the following Saturday. The terrific winde of Monday, the 20£h, played havoc with the tents, four-being blo"v?n down, and ' a fresh supply had" to be obtained from the department. The sisjnalling class in connection with the Otago Hussars is making gpod progress. ' Staff Sergeant-major Burgess 3iaa , had to divide the'ol&ss into two, those joining recently being kept together at elementary work, whilst the others pursue more advanced studies. Useful work was carried out during last week by the Field Hospital end Bearer Corps, . .undergoing its annual course lof training. Drill* have been held 1 twice daily, and several lectures given after evening parades. On Monday, 20th. ; the officer commanding- (Surgeon-major ' Evans) addressed a few remarks on the ' objects of field training. On Tuesday Surgeon-captain Newlands, of the G.A.V., lectured on "Surgical Cleanliness," and inoidentally imparted valuable instruction, in i relation to 4ne treatment of wounds, and ' accidents likely to arise in the field. Surgeon-captain O'Neill, of B Battery N.Z.F.A., on Wednesday evening delivered a lecture on " Personal and Camp Hygiene," showing the value of such knowledge to be \ indispensable to a field hospital corps. Ihe J lectures were closely followed by the men, , who readily recognised the worth of the instruction given. Lieutenant-colonel do Lautour, P.M.0., lectured on Thursday, and Lieutenant-colonel Will on JTriday. < Competitions for squad prizes have been held. . £ , No. 1 Battalion had an interesting field day on the 18th, the occasion being the taking of the entrenchment and judging- | distance sections of the Battalion Shield j ! Competition. Only three corps— City j Guards, Wakari Rifles, and Green Island Rifles — are competing for the shield. The < [^reasons for the small 'number of companies entering 1 are various. Two companies are , j "below the minimum establishment, and therefore"" " debarred from competiting. There is a feeling amongst some that the test^ are too exacting. Piok-and-shovel , ; work at high pressure is certainly trying, especially to wen who rarely ©ver handle either implement. A lengthy inarch weighted with lead, etc., and against time, is not exactly comfortable perhaps, but inasmuch as these g_o towards making efficiency, they constitute, within reasonable limits, legitimate tests for the Volunteer company in the contest for the honour of

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winning the shield. Five companies took part in the judginff distance test, for which. Lieutenant Mickey, A.A.G., awarded the points. The entrenching test was, through the courtesy of the Dunedan , ,t)rainage Board, conducted upon ,-the board's reserve alongside Chilling Park, Lieutenant Digby Smith, of the Dunedin Engineers, judging. The ground is sandy, and as a consequence the digging of a trench 3ft deep by 2ft wide .by 30ft long was accomplished by the 18 , men working in successive relays of six in less than the hour and one-quarter allowed. After 2ft 6in had been reached the ground was very wet. The marching and .shooting tests will be conducted on February jB, probably over different ground to that wsed laat year. The following promotions have been approved as from October 1, 1907: — Sergeant-major Parker, to be Master Gunner ; Sergeant-major Meade, to be. Regimental Sergeant-major; Q.M.S. Artificer Carrol, to be Sergeant-major Artificer; Sergeant-artificer Rowe, to be Q.M.S.-urti-ficer. The R.N.Z.A. is at present closed for recruits. The Dunedin City Guards are in the enviable position of being in excess of full strength, the number on the roll being 66. It is worthy of note that in No. 1 Battalion Ist Auckland Infantry (Countess of Kanfurly's Own) three oorps — Victoria Rifles, No. 1 Native Rifles, and Gordon Bifies — are up to full strength. In "connection with this battalion the O.C. is endeavouring to arrange a staff ride, extending from Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening. The Garrison Band had a good muster at the funeral of the late veteran Hood. The members of the band deserve credit for the excellent manner in which they carry out the various duties that fall to their lot. The work is done faithfully and unostentatiously, and is always valued. Lieutenant George greatly I appreciates the kindness of those employers ■who co generously allow their men the necessary leave from their employment when occasions require it. i The Ist Railway Pioneers took advantage of the rifle battalion parade on the 18th inst., and eecured some targets for rifle practice at "Pelichet" Bay range. Most of the members have now been supplied with rifles, and were anxious to test them. The ranges were 500 and 600 yards, seven shots and a aighter at each. Some very fair scores were made, the highest being Lieutenant Searle's, with two 33's (66) out of a possible of 70 points. Great interest was taken in the shooting, and the members are anxious to know when the next practice will take place. This just depends upon when targets are available, and It is to be hoped efforts will be made io get the range accommodation increased, so that there may be room for all, as is the case at the Chrietchurch and Wellington and Invercargill ranges. At the places named there are more than enough targets, while here double the number is required. With the new corps talked of, and the strong corps of Railway Pioneers, an effort will have to he made to pyovida tb«m. with-

targets so that they may learn to ahoofti otherwise 'their workT is of little, value. Apart from the consideration o! the latter corps,' the matter requires urgent consideration. Another mattes k the system of allocating targets. While some companies have two targets, some have*- one, others again failing to Ret any target. Several targets may bo looked up and not available, and those firing on two "target* /or- r one target may have to finish their shooting' in the dark. It is hard to find" otit" what targetsr are not in use until' yott are 'on 'the range on Saturday; and then ifc i& -100 laW "to find the marker or get th« key. It is to be hoped a better system will be initiated^'

Colonel Hopton, who was in obargs'of" the British rifle team recently on "tour, was in Dunedin at the end of last" "-we)ek. He was accompanied by Colonel Cbwari, a shooting member of the team, and the two were on their way to Queenstown. ' They have been travelling" through New Zealand, and express themselves as delighted with the Dominion. Colonel Hopton" was sS tine. time in command o£ one of. the battalions of the Highland Light Infantry. By the bye, I hear that "one 1 member of that British, rifle team has decided" to settle-in. Victoria. "

In reference to a. paragraph "in "our" columns ' drawing attention td th© faulty condition of tents in vac- at* the Port Chalmers Navals' encampment, ft -'nas^ been" ascertained that just prior to the publication of the par. Captain Dcdds had received instructions to mark such tents as were in an unsatisfactory condition, so that at the close of the camp they might be letutne'd to Wellington to" be exchanged for better ones. Ba»t year 50 tente were sent to. Wellington from the Otago office', better ones beingvreturned in their stead.

The omission, of the word "not" rarely improves the sense of an intimation. It certainly did not do so in last week's notes, where, 'in consequence of such an omission, it appeared in one of a paragraph that the use of the new sliding V at the; 200 yards range in the Ladies' Chalteake. Shield competition war to be allowed; In. the' conditions which followed it was cor- ! reotly stated that *' competitors must ahoot ; with the stationary V as issued with' the rifle, with the leaf down, at the 200 yards range." .. Harvest operations have occasioned: ihe postponement of the. camping of B Squadron, North Otago Mounted Rifles. On the day fixed for. the opening' _of the. camp (January 18) all /the officers were present, ,bufc very few troopers, . . , Dear " Sentryj."— Re rifle-siootinß in Dunedin, I am & new arrival, and I am also an enthusiastic- rifle shot. I was considerably surprised to find how; baokwand and behind the. lames (as regards the, »ufes and conditions relating to shooting) fcbe different companies of Volunteers are' in Dunedin. It seems that, there axe no xecog* nised rules in general use, bat each company shoots under its own conditions, and co we see each Monday morning's ' (or evening's) ' report of Private So-and-so making sueb> and-suoh a score',, and Gunner So-and-so, making a possible, and' so' on^'and'otte' of these men was using two winters, . and another man tisijiß^ one^- sighter? »nother was using his slin'sf -on- J >tbe "ijilinsr swivel, and another using- a sliding sirfffc;-" some counting 1 their sighters, add * others not being allowed to do so j in' fact, i& makes 'one feel as if "'c dunno where- "c are. 4 ' Now; air, do you. -not -think that .itwould be ' more in keeping -i£ r all " were to shoot under the same rules. Trentham, for instance, would" be nearer the mark as something more uniform than » 4he - state- of things that is in existence at pFesen*. In moat other places in New Zealand -Tren^tham rules are taken as a guide, 1 and v -in. consequence it i» more interesting to compare scores with other places, knowing that all. are shooting under the same rules-. It is like a case of false pretences to put a bio- score in the paper and not state the rules it was made under. What would football and cricket be like if the -same state of affairs were rampant as prevail in the case of shooting matters here. I 'believe that it is the usual thing just before a shoot for a shield or oup or* maybe, at the annual meeting for a few - gentlemen, to meet together and to solemnly- discuss the r conditions, etc., and it ia generally" something different from. ekewJbere that is ' adopted and set up as rules and regulaItions.' Now to save mil this trouble why I not shoot under? Trentham rules and co ■ i simpify the whole thing, for I am sure it i would be more interesting to all concerned.* t —I am, etc, Unifobmitt. „ I In order that any reply he might desiro to make should be published simultaneously, a copy of the foregoin« letter, was shown to the secretary of the Otago Rifle Association, who replies in -the following terms : — Dear "Sentry." — I ha-we read the- subetanoe of. the .letter written. .by "Uniformity," and in reply would state that I do not know under what rule the differentDunedin corps ehoofc. I wish, -however. ,to deal with the last paragraph. of "UnifoTmity.'s" letter — viz., that he.." believes.4heusual thing^ust before a shoot," etc Thus is absurd. If your correspondent will read the rules and, regulations, of the Otago Rifle Association he will find tbat they are. witjb. the exception of the sighting ©hots, the use of the sliding wind gauge, and the manner of determining the winner of the ohantpionship, almost an -"exact copy of the Trentham rules, and the O.R.A. ruka srovern the competition for the Ladies Challenge Shield, again with the two formerexceptions. The reason for not allowing the use of the sliding V was fully explained in your notes some two months ago, and the other alterations were mad* fo? the simple purpose of saving time. With the above exceptions, ihe recan* meetinpr of the Otago Rifle Association wea as up, to date in every detail as any rifle association meetfng held in the Dominion, and "Uniformity's" remarks are altogether uncalled for.— l am. etc., W. B. M«Lean, Lieutenant, Hon. Secretary Ot*go Rifle Association.

A curious state of affairs exists in. an evening -continuation school fn a North' Devon village. The caretaker of the school is the local correspondent for it, and also a student, and the class also boasts of having among its pupils a parish councillor, who is also one of the school managers.

Alderman J. Sohofield, for three years Mayor of Eccles, Lancashire, received » gift in the shape of a large, well-cooked potato pie. The accompanying inscription, read :— " In grateful appreciation of your three year*' mayoralty."

A bad taste in the mouth always arises from a disordered stomaoh, and may -be corrected by taking a dose of Gbamlierlain's Tablets. They cleanse and invigorate the stomach, improve the digestion, ana give one a relish for food. Fot sate Wltf where. - ...