The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-18 00:00:00

MARKSMEN IN THE ARMY;

7 _ ,
follociing GI neral Order inAituting a,,sys.
te..l of e, priz- f r goof shootipg" amonz'thisC in-
fantry and emi,odied has justl?leakiro-
rauig•Aed • -

" GuardS, Mlr..h 10, 1$:68.
" The Geuera.i Counnanding in Chia; with a
view to stimulate individual exertion, and to re-
ward the proficiency of soldiers in the'nee
management of the rifle musket, has .beeii..llleased
to institute a system of prizes' . far good`‘iihnot-
ing ; and the .accompanying rergulationi far the
award of the same having received- -the -concur-
rence of the Secretary of State for War, his' Royal
Highness desires that they may be strictly observed
throughout the infantry and embodied militia.
" By command,
"G. A. WEIIuiSALL, Adjutant-Gatti:mai."'

"REGULATIONS TO GOVERN THEISSUN
OF PRIZES FOR GOOD SHOOTING.

"1. The regimental prizes fur good shooting will
.
be three, viz.:— •
" Ist Prize. To the best shot of the battalion, sa
badge of cross muskets and crown, worked in...gold,
and entitling the wearer to extra pay, at the rate
of 2J. per day.
"2d Prize. To the best shot of each company, a
badge of crass muskets and crown, worked in gold,
and carrying with it extra ply at the rate of Id.
per clay.
. -
"3d Prize. To certain of the first-class shots, to
be styled marksmen,' and not to exceed 100 per
battalion, a badge of cross muskets, worked in
worsted, with ld. per day additional pay-to each
wearer.
"2.' The badges are to be worked on cloth the
colour of the facings of the regiment, and to be
worn on the left arm, immediately above the slashed
flap of the sleeve.
"3. In order to insure, on the one hand, a high,
standard of efficiency, and on the other to guard
against the public being called upon to pay for a
lower standard of merit than is necessary, as well
as to secure the utmost impartiality in the distri-
bution of the rewards, it is intended that the regis-
ters and annual practice returns shall be the data
upon, which the proficiency of the -men' shall be
estimated. -
"4. Accordingly, the best shot of the:battalion
will be that soldier who, in the practice of the first
class, firing between GOO and 900 yards, obtains
the greatest number of points over seven.
"5. The best shot of the comp y
an will be
who, in the practice of the first class of the nom-
pany, firing between 600 and 900 yards, obtains
the greatest number of points over seven. •
"6. To qualify a soldier for the position of a
marksman,' and the rewards attaching thereto, he
must in the yearly course of practice have obtained
at least seven points in the first class, firing be-
tween GOO and 900 yards, and possess competent
knowledge of the laws affecting the flight of the
bullet, and the rules to be attended to in maintain-
ing the efficiency of the rifle under all circum-
stances and conditions, and display the requisite
skill in judging distances, being at least in the first
class at the final classification of the judging dis-
tance practice.
"7. Should it happen that more than 100 men
in the battalion (including the best battalion'shot,
and the best shot of company) come under the
conditions specified in the foregoing paragraph,
then those men who have obtained the greatest
number of points, are to be first selected for the
reward and distinction. Should two or more men
have obtained the same number of points, (not less
than seven) in the first class, and be otherwise
eligible for the reward, reference is to be made to
their respective performances in the first and
second periods of individual shooting, and those
are to be - selected who have obtained the greatest
number of points therein. Should there still be a
tie, reference is thou to be made to their perform-
ances in the judging distance practice, and the
preference given to those who are the best judges
of distance.

"8. Should the number of paid marksmea' in
a battalion bereduced by casualties during the year,
the number may bs completed from those inen
eligible for the reward (if there are any) under the
condi:ions prescribed in paragraph G.
" 9. As a further inducement to all ranks to vie
with each other in this essential part of the soldier's
instruction, and in order that erery man may, feel
that though he may not himself succeed in obtain-
ing a prize he can assist in obtaining one for his
company, his Royal Highness the General Com-
manding in Chief has further approved of a supple-
mentary prize of cross muskets and crown worked
in g.ld, but unaccompanied by the pecuniary al-
lowance, being worn on the right arm by the
sergeants of the best shooting company.
"10. Should a sergeant of the best sheeting
company be either the best shot of the battalion,
the best shot of his company, or a marksman, he
will wear the distinguishing badge of that position,
in addition to the badge sanctioned in the foregoing
paragraph. _

" 11. With a view to ensure strict. impartiality
it is essential that the eeveral companies of a bat-
talion should be kept as much intact as possible ;
they should therefore be equalised before the annual
course of drill and practice commences, and no
transfers be made, except such as are indispensable,
until the period for commencing the practice in the
following year.

be
e‘
slt2a.b-AlislbtehdouwghhetrheNe.erbaestrasnliod shooting
mog3cooamyypbaearndi
issued
uc canaend
be obtained, and the company
accordingly, it is to be clearly understood that no
rewards will be granted to battalions unless they
have been pra-Aised in the three periods of indi-
vidual firing, as detailed in paragraphs 70, 77,
and 85 of the book of instruction, that under no
circumstances will the limit of one best shot for
battalion, one for each company, and 100 marks-
men, including the two former, ever be allowed to
be exceeded ; that, as an invariable rule, both the
badge and its attendant allowance will have to be
surrendered by all who cease, iu the next annual
course to fulfil the conditions and maintain the
superiority by which these rewards were earned ;
and that should the shooting of any battalion fall
below the avenge, the prizes . will be wholly with-
drawn, and issue of the additional pay suspended.
" 13. Should it be ascertained, either through
the reports received from the district inspector of
musketry, or through any o her source, that ally
undue advantage has been taken by a battalion in
the several exercises in target and judging distance
practices, such, for instance, as counting ricochets ;
placing marks to aim at, to denote the allowance
to be made for wind, &c., whereby the practical
skill of the soldier in the use of his rifle would be
defeated ; tiling at distances shorter than those
enjoined by the regulations, and at a greater
number of targets thin are prescribed for the several
distances departing in any way from the
rules defined for conducting the different
practices, or otherwise deviating from the
sprit cf. the musketry legulations, published to en-
sure a unif trinity of procedure throughout the
army, such battalion will not be eligible for the re-
wards granted by these regulations.
" 14. The best shot of the battalion and the best
shot of the company will be allowed, in addition to
the reward as such, the extra pay as marksmen ;'
but no soldier will be eligible for a reward for
shooting who is not in the first class in the final
Classification of the judging distance practice.
" 15. The 100 prize-holding marksmen are to bo
distributed between service and depot companies in
the following manner, viz.:—
" 10 service companies
100.
10
" 16. The extra pay is to be drawn and the dis-
tinguishing badges to be worn for one year, com-
mencing on the first day of the quarter succeeding
nnitalinrequeisi
that in which the
uadn)sntotirrna leatrieeopsnooovinti
will
lafbi iet)rhaseuc tin)i cpeeie
supplied
necessary
aroreyn-
the
application in the usual a
th
provisions itrprair quarter-
master's uotal :hth‘ eel: :17;2, gi:tt,Bseabtipasoneoardtg received.'eesareo fof
for
r bs companiesseu retainedissue
under
theseregulations.
"By command
of his Royal Highness the Duke
of Cambridge, General Commanding-in-Chief.
" G. A. WETHERALL, Adjutant-General."

SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAT.—The gross traffic receipts
for passengers, parcels, nails, goods, &c., amounted, for
the 27th of February, to 55,351/., from which is de-
ducted 1,9881., the cost of collecting and delivering the
goods, &c., leaving 52,362/. To this is added 1,7391.
for rent and sundries, and 2,350/. received for steam-
packet service, making together 57,451/. From this is
deducted 34,9091., being the expenditure, including
rates, taxes, tolls, Government duty, and expenses of
ateampacket service, leaving a net sum for the 27 days
working of 22,542/,
RocuEsTER CATHEDRA.L.—We are in a position to
announce that the Dean and Chapter have unanimously
agreed to the Mayor's proposal for the opening of the
Cathe iral on Sunday evenings, although no official in-
timation of the fact has as yet been given. The meaner
in which the Dean and Chapter received the Applica
will raise them very high in the estimation of Of pubic,
beano
for we are assured that their expressionrse:ctiness to
sympathy with the object in view, and of
a clergy
for its
cooperate in any way with the parochial
folrth
feelings of
attainment, have been such as to
scearvices. We believe
gratitude from the promotors of
that it is the services
that the former
ththeservices will be in the
choir,we ar arejustified
i n
thei in adding
nave,
and
11 to accommodate the congregation,invited that
i 3 too sma
be to preach
'clergymen of eminence will .
various . .
It is said that they will commence early
the sermons.
in May, but probably we shall be able to communicate
farther particulars to our readers next Week,.—Rochater
llntil
and Chatham Journed.