THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 14

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

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The Kelso Mounted Rifles hold their an nual ball on August' 13. "Sentry" ac knowledges the compliment of a card The Colonial Forces Auxiliary 'Force Long-service Medal has been awarded* n Private E. F. Dray and Private T. Jones of the Dunedin City 'Guards. The movement in the direction of send ing an Otago rifle team J to the New Sout] Wales meeting has progressed a stage. Th Dunedin Amateur Dramatic Club will givi performances in aid of the project oi August 26, 27, and 28. Circulars solicitinj financial support are being issued to th< various business corporations in "Dunedin and the smaller towns in the district ar< to be asked to co-operate. Replies- to i circular asking for the names of the bee shots able to make the trip show that thi following may be selected from: — Oamaru Rifles. — Lieut. Manley, Sergt Dewar, Sergt. Bennett, Private Mahoney. North Dunedin Rifles. — Any member Yvho may be picked. Oreti Rifles. — Sergt. Cowan and Sergt Xiee. Murihiku Rifles.— <2orp. Munro. Queen's Rifle. — Lieut. A. Mackenzie. Dunedin Rifles. — Col. -sergt. Hay, Pvte Morrison. Dunedin City Guards. — Sergt. Mills, Pri yates R. Johnston, Butcher, and T. Jones Green Island Rifles.— Pvte. W.J. Crump Wakari Rifles.— Sergt. Clyde. Caversham Rifles. — Sergt. ".Wilson. Corp Porteous. Certain companies have not re plied,. As the team will be picked earl: this neglfect may prove serious. A copy of the programme for the Vie torian Rifle Association's forty-ninth pri* meeting at N. Williamstown Range fron October 25 to 30 is to hand just as thesi notes are going to press. Approached by ''Sentry" for some re marks upon the mobilisation test, Lieut, colonel Smyth said that the success of thf trial had been marred by the ineffective ness of the alarm. The most -grati fying feature of the turnout was the fact that in spite of the haste, dark ness, and the crowds of civilians there had been no confusion amongst the troops, anc there had been no difficulty about getting orders transmitted and put into effect. The men were very quiet and orderly — the infantry in particular, — at a time when there ■was temptation to be otherwise. Centra! Battery had been promptly manned by i detachment of No. 1 Company G.A.V. which had drawn stores and cleared foi action. Both Port Chalmers and Dunedin Navals were in communication with theii O.C. Division (Lieutenant-colonel Allen) and all preparation was made for th< Dunedin detachment not engaged at Cen tral Battery to entrain and join the Porl Chalmers company in readiness to proceed per the Lady Roberts to man the forts ai the Heads. The Taieri troop of the Otagc Hussars had orders to mobilise at tht Mosgiel Railway Station on this occasion, and the Green Island Rifles were to take up a position at Abbotsford, the Dunedin Cycle Corps effecting communication with the latter by road, establishing signalling stations en route.- Owing to arrangements being as yet incomplete, Lieutenant-colonel Smyth concluded, simultaneous mobilisa tion at Oamaru and Invercargill had not taken place. Very fast time was put up by Corporal Smith and four gunners of B Battery, who, within 20 minutes after the alarm was sounded, had run out all the guns and waggons, and had six horses harnessed ready _to hook in, the horses belonging to Mr Hill, who had to come all the way from the stables next to the Central Battery, Other horses arrived a few minutes later, the total gun-horses on parade being 17, whilst 16 more would have been available but for the fact that their owners had not heard the alarm. The men on parade as' a whole did not enjoy the rather lengthy spell of inaction necessitated by the mobilisation. Mr M'lntyre, FAiperintendent of works for the Union Steam Ship Company, and Mr MitcheiJ, head of the electrical department in the same company, have been elected hon. captain and lieutenant respectively in the Port Chalmers Navals. A committee has been elected to carry out the arrangements for the annual ball. During- the month of June the military etrergth of the Dominion increased by 347. The fitrures are as follows: — Headquarters Staff ... .* . .-.* 1+ District Staff ,~ -. «. 55 Permanent Force «* ..» ..-. „. 267 Garrison Artillery ... . „< >v . 1051 Field Artillery .-a «. .. t £r 424 - Engineers ~ ... +« w /t./ t . %. t 279 Railway Pioneers . ; ><-.; %n zr. 53 Mounted Rifles - -r.i „.< *»< 3615 Infantry . . .„, g^ 5621 Active List .. w < r*« 195 Medical Officers .... Ju M 102 Field Ambulances .. „* w 201 veterinary Officers ...• ,. t m? 20 Reserve Volunteer Corps ,« Z* 253 Defence Catdeta '... ... ... w 3854 Defence Rifle Clubs «-g .. w : -r- 3753 Garrison Bands X m «r 149 Batta-Hon Bands . .-«, ""'' «n 374 Total ... 20,340 The increase is satisfactory, and a total strength of 20.340 sounds bravely in these days. But a brief analysis shows a position the reverse of inspiriting-. Deducting the non-combatant branches. inclfd.in<j 3854 Oadecs and the 3753 rifle club men, whose value as an effective organisation was not

demonstrated in connection with the Easter manoeuvres, and you have a total fighting force of something like 11,000 for the defeiKje of the Dominion! ■ The programme of work to be carried out by the Engineers at the presentation 1 of shooting prizes will include the usual raft building competition, an exhibition of bayonet fighting, drill, signalling, and flare light explosion by. the senior corps, while the Cadets will give an exhibition of physical drill, with arms semaphore signalling and bridge building. The Garrison Band will play musical selections throughout the ever ing. As bayonet fighting drill should be a subject />f interest to all Volunteers, Captain Ross has arranged that members of other companies attending in uniform will be admitted without ticket. B Battery's negotiations with the New Zealand Express Co. for the use of a dozen horses for parades have reached a satisfactory stage. The Express Co. management has shown a willingness to assist the Volunteer movement thus fer by contracting for the supply of 12 horses for the use of the batfcerv for & trial period of three months. The horses will be used for the daylight parades, and there is little doubt that the experiment will convince the New Zealand Express Co. that they may extend the contract without detriment to their horseflesh. Auckland, as well as Dunedin, runs a Volunteer football tournament. A Volunteer Rugby Union exercises control, and eight teams are in the competition this year. On Friday, July 30, at the Non-commiis-sioned Officers' Clubroom. Caotain Fordham^ dealt graphically with "The Experiences of a Volunteer Officer in ' South Africa." The speaker related numerous incidents, both humorous and tragic, which came under his own personal observation. In a chatty style he described the remarkable mobility of the Boei-s. piving some interesting examples of Botha's ingenuity in avoiding ' his enemies. Anecdotes of camp experiences — pleasant and otherwise (more often otherwise), — the different people met with, etc., told in a pleasant way, filled in a most enjoyable evening. The members, of -vbom there was a fair number present, passed on unanimous vote of thanks to the captain, also expressing a wish that they would have the pleasure of hearing him again. Before the meeting terminated a Tournament Committee was formed to control the football tournament, which is expected will commence as soon as grounds ere available. It was also decided to keep in view the possibility of sending a representative team on tour. With this object in view, an independent Selection Committee is to be appointed. The O.R.F.U. is giving an important benefit match on behalf of the Otago Cricket Association at the close of the season, and it is likely the Volunteer final will be played in conjunction with this fixture. In Stockholm a flying torpedo, specially designed for the destruction of airships, has just been invented. Through the aprency of Lieutenant-colonel Unge, Messrs Krupp, of Essen, have secured the sole license to manufacture the same. The inventor in 1902 and 1903 constructed the cylindrical balloons known as " Svenska I " and "S\enska II." This flying torpedo ranges a distance of 5000 yards. It is 3ft in diameter, weighs 801b, and has a burst- . ing charge of 31b of gun-cotton.