The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-29 00:00:00

PRICY 4d.
STAMPED sd.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

Orders were yesterday received at the head-gnu.-
ters of the Royal Engineers, Chatham, by Col. J.
L. A. Simmons, C. 13., director of the establishment
for the detachment of the mounted A troop, together
with the 10th company of Royal Engineers and the
parties of photographers, well-borers, signalmen,
and telegraphists, to embark for Abyssinia on Mon-
day next at Woolwich, on board the chartered
screw steamer Alendoza, which has been taken by
the Government for their conveyance to their desti-
nation. The mounted portion of the detaclim3nt
heave had their kits, valises, &c., taken away and
knapsacks substituted, so as to render the whole
of the party alike as to their equipment. The
officers and sappers employed on this service will
receive additional pay, some portion of which will
be paid in advance. During the interval which
elapses before their taking their departure from
Chatham they will be practised from time to time
in the particular duties they will be called on to dis-
charge in connection with the expedition. As pre-
viously stated in The Sun, the Government has
authorised the expenditure of the sum of £B,OOO for
the purchase of the most approved scientific instru-
ments for the use of the Royal Engineers employed
in Abyssinia, including a complete set of telegraph
instruments and wires, which will be laid down as
the force advances, thus enabling constant commu-
nication to be kept up with the reserve force at the
base of operations.
In consequence of the prevalence of marsh fever
at the Isle of Grain, the 7th company of Royal En-
gineers, employed on the defences at the entrance to
the Medway, has received orders to rejoin head-
quarters, Chatham, and may be expected to arrive
at the Royal Engineer establishment early in the
ensuing month.
Lieut. T. Fraser has been appointed assist.-in-
structor in field works at the Royal Engineer esta-
blishment, Chatham, succeeding Lieut. J. J.
Robertson, who was recently accidentally drowned
in Chatham harbour.

An order was yesterday received at Chatham
directing Lieut. Vibart and a detachment of non-
commissioned officers and gunners of the Ist divi-
sion Depot Brigale Royal Artillery to be held in
readiness for immediate embarkation for service in
India.

Col. Sir A. Alison's period of service as Assist.-
Adjt.-General of the South West Military District
having expired, he has been succeeded in the duties
of his late office by Lieut.-Col. J. Peel, Rifle Brigade.
The unarmoured screw sloop Rosario, 7, 673 tons,
150 horse power, Commander, Palmer, sailed from
Spithead yesterday morning on a term of foreign
service on the Australian station.

The Supply, screw iron storeship, Staff Com-
mander C. Bawden, sailed from Spithead yesterday
with stores, &c., for Gibraltar and Malta.

The Plover, double screw gunvessel, 3, 663 tons,
160 horse power, Commander Poland, completing
her outfit at Portsmouth for a term of service on the
West Coast of Africa, is ordered to make a short
cruise experimentally in the Channel previous to
sailing for her destination. The Plover is the pioneer
of her class in her Majesty's navy, and it has there-
fore been determined to make a few experiments
with her • under steam before sending her on her
station.

Iler Majesty's paddle yacht Osborne, Commander
John I)'Arcy, received orders yesterday at Ports-
mouth to fill up with fuel, and prepare for further
special service at an hour's notice.
Her Majesty's screw yacht Fairy has been brought
down Portsmouth harbour and temporarily berthed
alongside the dockyard, preparatory, it is under-
stood, to her being broken up. The little craft cer-
tainly seems to deserve a better fate, especially as
there is no other vessel in the Royal squrdron that
can perform the duties for which the Fairy is emi-
, neatly adapted on the Rhine, &c. The Admiralty
have, however, such a wholesome horror of repairing
estimates made out in the royal dockyards that it is
not improbable the Controller may have advised
their lordships that it would be more economical to
build a new Fairy whenever her Majesty in-iy require
one than to repair a craft designed so many years
since at an unknown and possibly fabulous cost.
It may be observed here that nothing in all our
system of dockyard management, or mismanage-
ment, of the present day in the shape of reports or
figures, is more unreliable than " estimates" sent
up from the yards to the Admiralty of the cost of
repairs required by the hull of a ship, or even the
" valuation" of such work in many instances after
it has been done. This is due to the mildew cling-
ing to the general system of dockyard management
rather than to the negligence or want of discretion
and professional capacity on the part of officials.
An English naval officer, writing from Yokohama
on the 29th of August last, says :—" The Admiral
has been away from here for nearly six weeks,
taking the British Minister on a cruise round the
islands of Japan. They are expected back every
day. The Pelorus is up here, and on the Admiral's
arrival will probably sail for England, being just
four years in commission. We have heard no news
yet of the Rodney or the Ocean. The former must
be very close to Hong Kong by this time. There is
a report out here that Capt. Stanhope will reign
the command of the Ocean as soon as she arrives at
Ilong Kong, and that Capt. Hewett, V.C., of the
Basilisk, will succeed to the command of the iron-
clad. If this 'change takes place Commander
Suttie, of the Salamis, will take command of the
Basilisk, and the Salamis fall to a lieutenant's com-
mand. So rumour declares."

The following appointment has been made in the
7,,val Naval Reserve :—Thomas Jamieson, to be

hon.
The followingappointments have been made at
the Admiralty :—Uent:". Henry N. Alleyne to the
Myrmidon ; Navigating Liet;!'• James G. Liddell to
the Myrmidon ; Navigating Lieut. N. G. Arguim-
ban to the Euphrates; W. 11. llooper, chief engi-
neer, to the Rattler ; John Bremner, paymasi,cr, to
the Myrmidon ; R. S. S. Rosa Lewin, clerk, to the
Myrmidon ; Lieut. F. Durrant, to the Victoria and
Albert, complement incomplete ; G. r. Martin,
paymaster, to the Victoria and Albert, vice Suther-
land, deceased; Edward M. Ommanney, assist.-
paymaster, to the Lion ; F. R. G. Wright, assist.-
paymaster, to the Royal Adelaide, as supernume-
rary ; 11. Wilson, engineer, to the Jumna ; and R.
S. Kiem an, first class assist. engineer, to the Jumna.
Rear-Admiral G. Buckle, C. 8., was yesterday
appointed senior officer at Cork, vice Rear-Admiral
C. Frederick, promoted to Vice-Admiral.