The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-28 00:00:00

71IE Al 11.1

A very important
artillery review or experiment
On a scale of unusual
magnitude, took place on
Thursday last in th© presence of his H.R.H. the
Duke of Cambridge and a
large number of general
and other officers. The oven_
J t was to ascertain the
probable effect of ordinary field
batteries of 12-
pounder Armrtrong guns in resisting the landing
of an invading force. For thispurvuect __
a large num-
ber of floating targets, representing boats, were
at
towed out to sea by a steamer,
and fired upon
various distances from 3,003 to 1,000 yards.
Five
field batteries of Armstrong guns opened fire with
shell from the beach, and presented a magnificent
spectacle. The accuracy with which the shells burst
and their shattering effects on the targets Nverere-
garded with general astonishment and admiration.
Hardly a vestige of any of the targets was left. It
was agreed on all hands that not a man could have
reached the shore alive, and that the protection af-
forded by our present field artillery is of the most
satisfactory nature. The guns fired 50 rounds apiece
and not the smallest accident occurred.

His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief, ac-
companied by Major-Gen. W. F. Forster, K.H.,
military secretary, Col. C. Bingham, deputy-adju-
tant-general, Royal Artillery; Lieut.-Col. T. H.
Clifton, aide-de-camp, and other officers, proceeded

to Chatham, on Saturday, for the purpose of review-
ing the forces at that garrison. The announcement
of the intended review of the troops was or ly pro-
mulgated a few hours before. Immediately on re-
ceipt of the intelligence the various corps were
under arms, each man being furn .ched with
10 rounds of blank cartridge. Sher y after one
o'clock the officers and troops who were to take part
in the afternoon's proceedings had taken up their
position on Chatham great lines, under their respec-
tive commanding officers, to await the arrival of the
Commander-in-Chief. The force assembled on the
ground consisted of the mounted D battery, 13th
brigade, Royal Artillery, the companies of Royal
and Royal and Indian Engineers at head-quarters,
including the 17th, 22d, 26th, 35th, 36th, 37th, and
38th companies; three battalions of infantry; and
the division of Royal Marines Light Infantry,which
on this occasion was formed into two battalions;
the whole numbering little short of 3,000 men of
all ranks, with neatly 200 officers. The Duke, at-
tended by a numerous retinue of officers composing
the staff, rode on to the lines, which he reached
about 3 o'clock. The troops, who were all in heavy
marching order, were formed in line, the field bat-
tery of Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers
forming the right, and the two battalions of Royal
Marines the extreme left, with the infantry in the
centre. The Duke passed along the front and rear
lines, and minutely inspected the battalions, making
frequent remarks on the appearance of the men. At
the termination of this part of the day's proceedings
he took up his position at the flagstaff in the centre
of the lines, when the entire body was formed in
quarter-distance columns in rear of right divisions,
and wheeling to the right marched past in quick
time. In accordance with the new arrangements
recently introduced at reviews the troops marched
past in grand divisions, two companies together,
thus making this part of the ceremony one of greater
display. First in order trotted past the battery of
Royal Artillery, under the command of Major N.
M. Mackay, with their six 12-pounder Armstrong
guns, which from the excellent condition in which
they are kept glistonNi in tho oun as if new yester-
day ; they were accompanied by their ammunition
waggons. Next followed the Royal Engineers,
under Lieut.-Col. J. F. M. Browne, C.B. The
manner in which the several companies of this corps
came to the saluting-flag and marched past elicited
well-deserved praise. The Royal Engineers were
followed by the Ist battalion of infantry, com-
manded by Col. H. Jervis, consisting of the depots of
the Ist and 2d battalions of the 4th King's Own,
35th, 43d Light Infantry, 77th, 94th, and the St.
Helena Regiments; the 2d battalion, under the
command of Col. R. N. Phillips, including the de-
pot companies of the Ist and 2d battalions of the
12th Regiment, Ist and 2d battalions of the 20th
Regiment, 31st, 53d Light Infantry, and 83d Regi-
Ments : and the 3d battalion, which was commanded
by Col. C. E. Fairtlough, and consisted of the Ist
and 2d battalions of the 19th Regiment, 51st King's
Own Light Infantry, 75th, 81st, and 91st depots.
The two battalions of Royal Marines, numbering
nearly 1,000 bayonets, followed last. The Ist bat-
talion was under the command of Lieut.-Col. W. F.
Foote, and the 2d battalion commanded by Lieut.-
Col. W. R. Searle. Nothing could exceed their
steadiness and precision. The force then faced to
the right and again marched past in quick time, on
this occasion in single companies. After the march-
ing past the troops moved off at quarter-distance
column to form line at full distance, and a highly
interesting series of manoeuvres followed. After
some volley firing the troops gave a general
salute, which terminated the proceedings. His
Royal Highness then said that he could not allow
that opportunity to pass without expressing his
great satisfaction at the result of his visit of inspec-
tion. The Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers had
acquitted themselves remarkably well, and the same
remark applied to the Royal Marines, who had
fully sustained their high reputation. He was much
gratified to observe the excellent manner in which
the depot battalions had acquitted themselves, espe-
cially when it was considered that many of the men
were very young soldiers. After a few further re-
marks his Royal Highness proceeded direct to the
building, recently erected at the rear of Chatham-
barracks for the purposes of a soldiers' institute or
home. Here the Duke, accompanied by a number of
officers, spent about half an hour, during which he
was shown over nearly every part of the interior of
the edifice, which is now being fitted up and fur-
nished.

The men whose time had expired and invalid
troops from the cavalry and infantry regiments serv-
ing in the Bombay Presidency, brought home in the
chartered troop ship Windsor Castle, the arrival of
which vessel at Gravesend has already been reported
in The Sun, were medically inspected at Fort Pitt
Hospital, Chatham, on Saturday. The number of
troops who embarked at Canamore in the Windsor
Castle was 254 of all ranks, belonging to the 3d
(Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards (Carabineers),
Royal Artillery, Bombay Artillery, 4th (King's
Own), 55th, 66th, and 72d (Highlanders) Regi-
ments, with 30 women and children. The following
officers arrived with the troops :—Capt. J. V. Ellis,
Lieut. W. F. Anderson, Lieut. R. K. Gibb, and En-
sign F. A. Wright, Major-Gen. J. M. Madden, of
the Madras Infantry ; Major Gen. J. Mascall, of
the Indian army ; ()gat. H. Williams, 56th Regt.,
and Quartermaster 0. Vialls, 3d Dragoon Guards,
also arrived home in the same vessel. The troops
who, after medical inspection on Saturday, were
found unfit for further service, will be inspected by
a Chelsea Board,after which they will be discharged.
By a general regimental order of the Roy al Artil-
lery, signed by Col. Chls. Bingham, Deputy-Adjt.-
General, the following removals have been sanc-
tioned, •eiz. :—Alfijor Irvine, from Alderney to
; Capt. -V,Talrond, from Canada to Gibraltar ;
and Lieut, Robertson, from. 'Woolwich to Canada;
Lieut. H. A. Barker, let Brigade, vice Maule, pro-
moted, end Lieut. if. W. L. Hirne, 11th Brigade,
vice Walrond, promoted, have been raised to in-
creased pay; Lieut. H. AL Robertson is transferred
from No. 5 Battery, 12th Brigade, to F Battery, 4th
Brigade ; an exchange of batteries has been sanc-
tioned between Lieut. Barrington, of F Battery,
9th Brigade, and Lieut. Campbell, of No. 1 Battery,
13th Brigade.
Major-General Bloomfield has been making an
inspection of the coast defences at Yarmouth, Lowes-
toft, Harwich, and one or two other points on the
eastern side of the county. On Saturday he visited
Harwich. Various alterations are to be made in the
batteries at Yarmouth, for instance, rooms for
cupolas to melt iron required for liquid shells aro
to be provided.

BURGLARY AND ATTE UPTED NUR-

DER OF A POLICE CONSTABLE.

On Saturday morning considerable excitement
was created in the parish of Bow, owing to the fol-
lowing desperate attempt to commit a burglary, at
the Bow Railway station :—From the particulars
obtained it appears that some man, at present un-
known, broke open the window of the station, and
after entering the building had tried the drawers,
expecting to find a valuable booty, in the shape of
money therein ; but, as is always the case, the cash
taken for the passenger traffic had been removed the
overnight. As he left the premises Joseph Nichols,
450 of the K division, espied him standing at the
side of the line, and judging from his appearance
that all was net right, he approached him for the
purpose of taking him into custody. Upon reach-
ing the fellow the latter gave him a violent blow
over the head with a crowbar, or some other heavy
weapon, which felled him to the ground. Having
to some extent recovered his senses, he ran after
the fellow, and as he proceeded continued springing
his rattle. The nun made a turn down Hadford-
street, Mary-street, and by getting into some gar-
dens he stood at the edge and again committed a
fearful onslaught on the police constable, causing
the blood to flew from wounds in his head and face,
from the
etrect3 of which the poor constable was
rendered insensible, and being unable to pursue the
illain any farther, he managed to get clear off.
v
The wounded
tlt
al
i)
os
man was attended by Dr. Cannon,
hut he remains in a state of
great sufferFng, and if
erysipelas
supervene in consequence of the
ir
• ' •
ittesi,sshoulds
e to tell what may be the re-
sult. No accurate account
is ibl
can at present be given
of the offender,