The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-21 00:00:00

TEE ARMY.

Major-Gen, Eyre, in command of the forces at
Chatham, has issued an order to the officers under
his command, stating his intention of carrying out a
system of strategical operations with the forces at
his disposal, in order to instruct the officers and
men in the nature of the duties they will be called
upon to perform when suddenly required to en-
counter an attacking force in the field. With this
view he has issued instructions for the officers and
men to obtain a correct knowledge of the country
around this garrison, extending as far as Maid-
stone; the officers being especially required to study
the best mode of disposing of troops to attack an
enemy at Maidstone, supposing them to have ad-
manced so far as that town, and at the same time the
rod effective way of retreating on the metropolis.
In connection with these movements the entire force
of the garrison, numbering about 6,000 men of all
ranks) are to be held in readiness ,or a sudden
movement from the garrison, proceeding nearly as
far as Maidstone, the force being distributed, and
the columns
marching towards that point by dif.
ferent routes. The Royal Engineers, accompanied
by the transport
waggons of the Royal Engineer
Train, are to be concentrated in
neentrated the neighbourhood
of Aylesfordovbere
ey will be waiting with their
pontoons in order to form
a bridge across the river.
Each of the troops will be
supplied with a certain
number of rounds of blank cartridge, and a line of
communicatiou will be
keptupbetween. the garrison
and the operating forces by means of plekets Simi-
lar operations have occasionally been undertaken undertaken by
the troops at Chatham during the Past
. - year but
those now decided upon by Major-General'
Eyre
will be on a much more extended scale.

Colonel Ladonni, an officer of the Sardinian
cavalry, intrusted with a special mission to this
country, for the purpose of entering into negotia-
tions for the manufacture of English ordnance for
the Sardinian Government, yesterday visited Wool-
wich Arsenal; accompanied by Mr. Pegg, one of
the contractors, with a view of making arrange-'
meats for proving at the Government butt a num-
ber of guns and mortars already completed. A few
of each description were received at the Arsenal
some days ago, but, in consequence of the pressure
at the present moment on the proof department, it

was stated that a delay of some 10 or 14 days must
necessarily'ensue before the request could be com-
plied with, due notice of which would be forwarded
to the Sardinian Embassy in London. One of the
heaviest Armstrong siege guns manufactured in
Woolwich Arsenal, under the superintendence of
Mr. John Anderson, was yesterday tested at the
Proof butt. The gun was fired two rounds, each
time with a charge of 251 b. of powder and a 1001 b.
shot. The trial was perfectly satisfactory, and the

gun was forthwith stored with others of that class
proved during the preceding days of the week, to be
issued for service. A couple of the -Whitworth
cannon were afterwards subjected to the ordinary
test. The first was a 12-pounder, which stood the
trial exceedingly well, and was very much admired.
The power of the gun was of such an extraordinary
nature that the shot penetrated completely through
the mound of earth against which it was fired. The
second, an 84-pounder, was then fired—two rounds
with a charge of 241 b. of powder and a service shot.
After the second ronnd it was observed that the
joints had started, showing a crevice at that part of
the gun where the junction of the segments is
effected. The crevice, although exceedingly slight,
was clearly perceptible when pointed out by those
accustomed to that duty. Several 40-pounder guns
have been subjected to the most severe proofs at
the Royal Arsenal butt with the utmost success.
The manufacture of 80 and 100 pounders is now
being carried on extensively, relays of workmen
being employed at the factories night and day.
The experiments with two 68 and two 32
pounder smooth-bore guns against the Martell°
tower at Bexhill were brought to a close on Thurs-
day last, and the result proves incontestably that,
at the same range (1,030 yards), these weapons are
perfectly harmless as compared to the Armstrong
guns. Although a much larger amount of ammu-
nition was used than at Eastbourne, the damage
done to the Bexhill tower was unimportant, and it
has now been resolved to renew the experiments at
a range of 400 yards.
The Himalaya, screw steamship, Captain J. Sec-
combe, having embarked the Dublin City Militia
Artillery at Portsmouth yesterday, in addition to
the troops previously enumerated, sailed from that
port yesterday for Kingstown, where the troops
will disembark and proceed to Dublin, the City
Militia Artillery taking up quarters in the Linen-
' hall Barracks until their disembodiment.

Capt. Poore, of the artillery division of Royal
Marines, two sergeants, and two corporals, belong-
ing to the Woolwich division, will proceed to St.
Albans to-day on recruiting service for the divi-
sion. Lieut. Brand, one sergeant, one corporal, one
drummer, and 45 privates are also under orders to
embark at Portsmouth, for service. The remainder
of the Marines will be draughted from the artillery
division.

The staff officers of the new battery, to be com-
manded by Major G. Davis, have been appointed,
and, with the exception of a few gunners, the bat-
tery which is attached to the depot brigade is now
complete. _ _

Workmen are now employed in sinking wells on
the site of the new barracks at Gravesend, and the
contractors are about to commence the foundations
of the building.