THE TERRITORIALS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 40, 27 May 1910, Page 2

THE TERRITORIALS.

A COURSE OF LECTURES. A course of six lectures on "Military Tactics" is to be delivered by Major Malone to officers and non-commission-ed officers of his battalion of infantry and of Major Sandford's battalion of Cadets and others, at the Technical School, New Plymouth, commencing to-morrow (Friday) night at 7.30 p.m. and continuing on every alternate Friday night thereafter. Captain Bellringer will lecture on "Discipline and Drill," Quartermaster Lister on "Supplies and Transport," and Staff-Sergeant-Major Sanderson on "Musketry," on the between nights.

We are authorised to state that an\ civilians who take an interest in military matters and care to attend the lectures will be welcomed. In order that those proposing to attend these lectures may go primed witli a little foreknowledge of what they will hear we shall publish prior to each one a brief .synopsis. Following is a synopsis of to-morrow's lecture:—

Introduction. —Object of Lectures. War, dire necessity for. Peace and vice. War and virtue. Science of war. Study as difficult as in any other sciencp. Theory and practice. Strategy. Tactics. Organisation. Military aptitude. Born soldiers rare. Hannibal. Alexander the Great. Julius Caesar, Frederick the Great. Gustavus Adolphus. Napoleon. Wellington. Stonewall Jackson. Von Moltke. Roberts. No royal road to learning. Education of officers must be more thorough than that of lawyer or doctor. Duty to acquire and to perfect knowledge. Formation of skilled leaders, strategists, tacticians. Mental and bodily powers. Penalty for neglect or ignorance in other sciences. Financial. In science of war, mortal and sanguinary. "The best brains to be at the service of the war lord and the State." "The State has every right to demand that to make preparation for war complete and to ensure skilful leading, close co-operation and resolute action, neither statesman nor soldier should spare thought, labour or expense." Lecturer, self-taught and still a student. Hearers: Necessity to read and study for themselves and acquire the habit of accurate and prompt action. Co-operation with lecturer in joint object. Result: Mutual benefit.

Definitions.—Army. Army troops. Independent or strategical' cavalry. Protective cavalry. Divisional cavalry. Reconnaissance. Strategical reconnaissance. Tactical reconnaissance. Protective reconnaissance. Strategical advance guard. Tactical advanced guard. Object and objective. Refilling points. Fighting troops. Administrative troops. Subordinate commanders. First line of protection. Local Protection. Signal or signalling. Division. Brigade. Battalion. Company. Regiment. Squadron, Battery R.F. and F. Battery R.H.A. Field Company R.E. Field Ambulance. First line transport. Second line transport.

Tactical Principles.—Base. " The desire to retaliate and avenge an injury." Extended formations. Strengthening of firing Jine. Initiative for assault from firing line. Distribution of attacking infantry in depth within its unit. Troops must do utmost before being replaced. No withdrawal engaged troops except at night. In defence no undefended gaps. Movement of troops to flank impossible under fire of enemy. Troops at advanced posts and in local counter attacks not to be stronger than necessary to effect object. Characteristics of Various Arms.—Artillery. Cavalry. M.I. Infantry, Cyclists. Engineers. Appreciation of the Situation.—Process of making up one's mind. Decision on course of action after consideration of all factors affecting the situation. Importance of practice. Do not jump to conclusions. Logical reasoning. Marshalling of facts and arrangement of argument. Short and Clear. Statement of relevant points:— 1. Object (own). 2. Position of own forces.

3. Position of enemy's forces. I 4. Factors affecting the situations: I Politics. Finance. Relative | numbers. Armament. Topography. Roads and communications. Railways. Weather. Amity or hostility of inhabitants. Morale. Initiative. Character of commander of enemy's forces. 5. Courses open to the enemy'. 6. Course open to selves. 7. Definite proposal of action. "What have I got to do ?" "Object" not to be confused with "objective." Enemy to be credited "with knowledge of his business, and selecting best course. "What will I do?" Plan to be based on sound appreciation, and not appreciation made to tit plan. Plan to be practical, and not merely plausible. No stuffing with general military maxims. Practical details _to be worked out. Form logical sequence. Alfernate plans. "An appreciation, not an essay, but in nature of a proposition in Euclid."