The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-08-16 00:00:00

the gotourhribge Ohsetter.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 1878.

THE NATIONAL ARTILLERY

ASSOCIATION.

There can be no question that the last few
years have witnessed a remarkable develop-
ment in the martial spirit of the English people.
We have now regularly our fortnight's annual
encampment at Wimbledon, where rifle volun-
teers assemble from all parts of the three
kingdoms, and test their skill as marksmen.
At this very season, autumn manceuvres, the
object of which is to bring both regulars and
volunteers acquainted with movements of war-
like strategy, are reported from Dartmoor, from
Cannock Chase, and from the Curragh Camp.
But perhaps the most important of these gather-
ings is the volunteer attillery competition which
has just been brought to a close at Shoebury-
nese. Our riflemen would be required only on
the supposition that a foreign enethy had
actually effected a landing upon our shores—a
supposition which, in the face of our iron-clad
fleet, is rather a far-fetched one. A similar
observation would apply to the autumn
mamouvres, for it would be useless to move
about masses of Mops in the interior et the
country if there were no foes with whom to
contend. It has been said of the late war upon
the Continent that the undisputed superiority
the

of the German artillery won die victory in thit
gigantic encounter, and it is obvious that any
attempt at an invasion of this country, the
brunt of the battle must fall upon that arm of
the service. Once let our big guns, whether of
ships or of fortifications, be silenced, and it may
be feared that neither riflemen nor stragetical
movements if troops would long be effectual.
Therefore it is that this annual contest at Shoe-
buryness comes to be regarded with increasing
interest by the English people. It lasts only
half as long as the Wimbledon meeting, but it
may well be extended, and there is little doubt
of the hard earnest work which is done during
its continuance. It is satisfactory to know that
the gathering which has just been brought to a
close was the most successful which the National
Artillery Association has ever had. The atten-
dance wag larger, the shooting better, and the
discipline of the men in camp excellent. The
prizes offered have boon of higher value, and
therefore more worth an effort to secure. The
volunteers have not only willingly accepted the
rigid duties imposed upon them by camp life,
but they have not flinched from the hard work
and personal exertion which are inseparable
from mastering the art of manning heavy guns.
Looking at the extent of the coast presented
by the shores of Great Britain, and remember-
ing the number of ports and harbours which
have to be defended, it is obvious, as General
Adye has pointed out, that our artillery cannot
be either too numerous or too efficient. M the
present time there are in the United Kingdom,
8,350 gunners of the Royal Artillery, 13,650 of
the Militia Artillery, and 34,000 Volunteers.
Here then is a total of 56,000 men, by far the
larger proportion of whom are prepared to
sacrifice time and money for the sole purpose
of assisting in the work of national defence.
The War Office has not been behind in en-
couraging the Volunteer Artillery—a body
which would be called upon to play a very pro-
minent part in case of a combination of other
nations against us. The theme is a favourite
one amongst sonie continental politicians, who
are jealous of the influence and power of this
country, and would be glad of any pretext to
endeavour t 3 effeat its reduction