The Express.
London, England, 1862-02-26 00:00:00

WOOLWICH, FIB. 25.
The competitive trial of rifles for the purpose
of deciding as to the most efficient weapon to be used at
the next prim contest of the National Ride Association at
Wimbledon will commence at ten o'clock to-morrow morn-
ing at the government practice range, Plumstead-marshes,
in the presence of Major-General Hay, commandant of the
Hythe School of Musketry, aml other officers.
THE ADDITIONAL REGIMENTS OF THE LLNE.
The annexed general order has been promul-
gated : _ _ _ - • -

"How GUARDS, S.W., Faa. 19.—With regard to the
addition of twelve non-purchase regiments of the line to the
British army his Royal Highest, the General Command-
ing-in-Chief is pleased, with the concurrence of the Right
Hoe. the Secretaries of State for War and for India, to
establish the following regulations :
" 1. In Imo-purchase corps of the line, no officers can sell
their commissions. Those who enter from the Indian service
retain their claim to Indian pension, and all others are
entitled, with her Majesty's approval, to retire on full
or half pay, according to the terms of her Majesty's
warrants of the 14th October, 1888, and 28th March, 1861.
2. An officer joining a purchase regiment from the Indian
service will be placed on the same footing in all respects
with the rest of the officers of that regiment. Having for-
feited all claim to Indian pension, he will become entitled
to retire on full pay or half-pay, under the warrants above
specified.
" Non-purchase officers of such regiments have the privi-
lege of receiving, subject to the consent in each awl of the
General Commanding-in-Chief and of the Secretary of State
for War (which is liable to be withheld if the retirement
restate from misconduct) an allowance, on retirement, of
1001. for each year's service, whether in the British or
Indian army, provided the total amount does not exceed
the pries of the commission resigned.
" By order of his Royal Highness the General Command •
ing-in-Chief, Jamits Yet= SCARLET", Adjutaut-General.'

THH VICTORIA CIIO3B.—WAR-orrioz, FFJ3. 25.
The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her inten-
tion to confer the decoration of the Victoria Crose on the
under-mentioned aims and non-commiesioned officer,
whose claims to the same hays been submitted for her Ma.
lesty'a approval, on account of acts of bravery performed by
them in India, viz. :—Major Richard If arta Beatange, Bom-
bay Artillery (now of the Staff Corps) ; Captain James
Blair, 2nd Bombay Light Cavalry ; Lieutenant Charles
George Baker, Bengal Police Battalion ; Lieutenant William
Francis Frederick Waller, 25th Bombay Light Infaqtry
Lieutenant John Charles Campbell Daunt, 11th (late 70th$
Bengal Native Infantry ; No. 2,166, Sergeant Denis Dynan,
53rd Regiment ; Conductor James Miller, Ordnance Depart-
ment, Bengal ; Midshipmen Arthur Mayo, Indian Navy.
Tins COIIHT-MARTIAL ON CAPTAIN ROBICRTSON.—
This now somewhat protracted inquiry was resumed in
Dublin on Monday. Major Jones, of the 4th Dragoon
Guards, was recalled ; after which Colonel Bentinck, of the
alms regiment, was examined at some length. The pro-
osedinip ware again adjourned.
Captain E. P. Halsted, R.N., has replied in a
pamphlet, published by Nichols and Son, of Parliament-
street, to Sir Wiliam Armstrong's long letter in the Times
of Nov. 27. , The pliant officer subjects Sir William's his-
tory of the experimente with his gun to a rigid scrutiny,
and declares that he has undertaken the duty of attempting
to open unwilling eyes, confident that it is better to make
such au attempt now than wait until a catastrophe en-
lighten us all.