The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-14 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence•

At Aldershot% during the past week, military
movements have been for the most part suspended,
owing to the state of the weather, and the camp has
exhibited a dulness little in keeping with its ordi-
nary life and activity. On Tuesday Lieut.-Gen.
the Hon. Sir James Yorke Scarlett, K.C.8., re-
turned from leave of absence, and reassumed the
command of the division. Thursday being the first
favourable day which presented itself, the Ist In-
fantry Brigade, consisting of the 66th (Berkshire)
Regiment, and 81st Loyal Lincoln Volunteers, were
exercised on the General's parade, South Camp.
Shortly after 10 o'clock they were inspected by
Brigadier-Gen. Renny,
and marched past in slow,
quick, and double time. They were then put
through several field movements, which, like the
marching past, were executed in a highly satis-
factory manner. On the same day A and B
Batteries, C Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery, were
exercised in route marching, proceeding to Farn-
ham by way of Hungry-hill, and returning to
quarters by the turnpike road. On Friday the fol-
lowing was published in the Camp " Divisional
Orders :"--" Extract from Circular Memorandum
to Barrackmasters.—t War-office, Pall-mall, Jan. 5,
1867.—The Secretary of State for War, in concur-
rence with his
Royal Highness the Field Marshal
Commanding-in-
Chief, having decided that during
the present severe weather the troops at home sta-
tions may obtain from barrackmasters anyquantity
of fuel in excess of that issued by regulation, on the
requisition in each case of the officer commanding
the regiment or corps, and on immediate payment
by the troops, through the commanding officer, of
the value at half the contract price of the fuel issued
on each requisition, barrackmasters are directed to
make issues accordingly. In giving publicity to
the above very great boon to the service, the
Lieut.-Gen. commanding is pleased hereby to notify
to the Generals and commanding officers of the divi-
sion that the expression severe weather' may be
adopted when the thermometer descends to 35 deg.
Fah., or when there is a very long continuance of
wet weather."
On Saturday a detachment, consisting of 101 non-
commissioned officers and gunners of the Ist Divi-
sion Depot Brigade Royal Artillery, left head quar-
ters and proceeded to Shoeburyness, for the purpose
of going through an extensive course of instruction
at the School of Gunnery, previously to embarking
for foreign service. The detachment under instruc-
tion at Shoeburyness for some time past rejoined
head quarters ou the same day.
An order was yesterday received at Chatham,
directing Capt. E. L. Robertson, 106th Bombay
Light Infantry, to join the depot of that corps at the
garrison; Lieut. A. C. Mauriee has also received
orders to join the same depot at Chatham.
The detachment of non-commissioned officers and
sappers of the Royal Engineers placed under orders
for service in Bermuda received orders yesterday
to be in readiness to leave Chatham garrison for
embarkation on Saturday next. Lieut. H. W. R.
Coetlogon, Ist battalion 15th Regiment, will em-
bark in command, and Assist.-Surg. J. V. Seddall,
M.D., Royal Engineers, in medical charge of the
detachment, which will number 32 men of all ranks.
The chartered troopship New Era arrived in the
Thames, at Gravesend, on Saturday, from Madras,
having on board a large number of time-expired and
invalid troops, both cavalry and infantry, on board, '
from the several corps serving in the Madras Presi-
dency, the whole of,whom disembarked to-day, and
were forwarded to their respective depots, the inva-
lids being sent to the military hospital, Chatham.
Her Majesty's screw corvette Barrosa, 21, 1,700
tons, 400-horse power, Capt. Boys, arrived at the
Nore yesterday from China, and saluted the flag of
Vice-Admiral Sir B. Walker, K.C.8., naval Com-
mander-in-Chief. She afterwards steamed into the
Medway for the purpose of being inspected, previ-
vious to being put out of commission, after carrying
the penant four years and three months.
The crew steam corvette Racoon, 32, Captain R.
Purvis, was placed on Thursday in No. I dock at
Devonport to be overhauled and cleaned,
The iron and wood armour-plated dog* screw

MUSKETRY INSTRUCTION IN THE

ARMY.

-~-

The annual report of the progress of musketry
instruction in the army, prepared by Major-Gen.
Hay, the Inspector-General of Musketry, for the
information of his Royal Highness theField-Marshal
Commanding-in-Chief, has just been issued. From
the report it appears that the total number of men
exercised in the yearly, course of 1865-6 were—
cavalry,. 7,079 (exclusive of recruits, and not in-
cluding the Household cavalry), infantry, 88,550 (in-
cluding the Royal Engineers and Commissariat Staff
Corps). A synopsis is given of the percentage of
men in the several classes in shooting and judging
distance ; also the percentage of marksmen to the
number exercised, and to the number that practised
in the first class, &c. With regard to the details
therein contained we cannot do better than quote
General Hay's OWR words :
The cavalry soldiers who fired in the first class
belonged to the Bth and 14th Hussars. The former
are armed with the Westley Richards' breech-load-
ing carbine, sighted to 900 yards, hence executed
the second and third periods of individual firing.
The men of the latter practised at the School of
Musketry. In the cavalry there is a considerable.
decrease in the number of non-exercised men, while
in the infantry the number has slightly increased.
Of the 17,467 third class shots at the final classifi-
cation—i. e., after firing 60 rounds individually, to
300 yards, 1,995 fired 20 rounds more to 300 yards,
after further instruction, of which number 642
passed into the second class, thus reducing the per-
centage of third class from 20 to 19. The per-
centage of first class shots has increased, being now
equal to one-fourth of the number trained, one-
seventh of whom actually fired in the first class,
from 650 to 800 and 900 yards, at which distance
the shooting has much improved, the average points
per man being 16.39, as compared with 14.27 last
year. The marksmen in the infantry have increased
more than 10 per cent. on the number who fired
in the first class, and nearly 2 per cent. on the
number exercised. The rapid file-firing is bad,
although the mean average time taken in executing
this practice is less than last year, and the skirmish-
ing practice is only moderate. The results in both
these firings have fallen off, evidencing deficiency
somewhere. The shooting of the army, as a whole,
has improved—in the cavalry by nearly three
points, and in, the infantry by seven and a half
points. A. much greater improvement may be
looked for when more pains are taken with this
branch of efficiency, and when the preliminary drills
are executed in earnest by all concerned, and not in
the mechanical and meaningless way which is too
frequently the case at present. Let the company
officers Make themselves thoroughly acquainted
with the subject, and show themselves interested
in the matter—let them see that The non-commis-
sioned officers understand their work as drills,' and
let the minds of the men be appealed to ; then the
efficiency in shooting will be increased and be-
come equal to other branches of the regimental
economy. The performances in judging distance
are very satisfactory, there being 81 per cent. in the
first class, and only 1 per cent. in the third class."
Respecting the cavalry at home the instruction has
been conducted regularly, and the shooting in each
case has improved, although it is far from being good.
The percentage of third class shots is very high. Rea-
sons are assigned for the omission or non• completion
of the musketry training of the 4th, sth, and 6th
Dragoon Guards, Ist Dragoons, 4th, 10th, 11th,
13th, and 15th Hussars, which principally arose
from there being no range available where they were
stationed.

Of the Royal Engineers, it is stated that " the
shooting of the corps has fillen off this year princi-
pally in individual firing. Only 20 out of 40 com-
panies have been trained this year."
Regarding the division of Guards, Major-General
Hay remarks :—" The instruction in the several
battalions of Guards has been conducted regularly.
The shooting has fallen off, except in the 2d batta-
lion Coldstream Guards and Ist battalion Scots
Fusilier Guards, in which it has improved. The
third class shots are excessive in the first battalion
Scots Fusilier Guards, Ist battalion Coldstream
Guards, and in the 3d battalion Grenadier Guards.
The non-exercised men, although on the whole much
less than last year, are still numerous in the Ist bat-
talion Scots Fusilier Guards, Ist battation Cold-
stream Guards, and Ist battalion Grenadier Guards.
The best shooting battalion in the division this year
is the 2d battalion Coldstream Guards."
A less number of recruits have been trained in the
cavalry, Royal Engineers, battalions of Guards, in-
fantry of the Line, and depot battalions than last
year. The results of the shooting are not good. The
third class shots, after making every allowance for
the omission of the third period, which recruits do
not execute, are numerous, and the volley firing—a
true criticism of good platoon drill—is bad. Major-
General Hay remarks, " This deficiency is quite
within the power of commanding officers to remedy,
without occupying, as a rule, more time for the
training of the recruit than is at present authorised."
The weapons with which the annual training was
executed by the different branches of the service
are as follows :—The cavalry—Westley Richards's,
Sharp's, Terry's breech-loading carbines, and the
East India pattern, Enfield and interchangeable
muzzle-loading carbines. The Royal Engineers—
Lancaster's elliptical rifle. Rifle Battalions—Whit-
worth, short Enfield, pattern 1856, and naval pat-
tern, 1858, rifles. Battalions of Guards and Line
—long Enfield rifle, pattern 1853.
The best shot in the army for 1865-6 is Private
Wm. Fruit, 47th Foot, who scored 102 points with
the Enfield rifle at distances from 400 to 800 yards.
The best judge of distances is Colour-Sergeant R.
Blackinore, 2d Battalion 20th Foot, who scored 26
points in the first class ; Corporal Dempsey, 98th
Foot, obtained a higher score by judging more fre-
quently within the distance prescribed for the thirl
class than the regulation allows, for by no other
means could he obtain the score recorded against
his name. The best shooting, company in the army
is D company, Ist battalion 13th Light Infantry,
its " figure of merit" being 146 points.
The Ist Dragoon Guards is the best shooting
cavalry regiment, a position which it has held four
consecutive 3 ears ; which, obser7es Major-General
Hay, " speaks much for the interest the command-
ing and troop officers must have taken to maintain
that post of honour ;" its " figure of merit" is 32.97.
The 7th Hussars, nest oh the list, was eighth
last year, the 7th Dragoon Guards, second last year,
is now placed third. The 2d Dragoon Guards, third
last year, is now fourth on the list. Of course there
are losses and gains in the infantry regiments.
The 4th battalion 60th Rifles is the best shooting
battalion of the infantry, its " figure of merit" be-
ing 126.38. Last year the battalion stoqd No. 2 in
order of merit. The Coldstream 2cl bat-

talion, ninth on the list last year, is now second in
the " order of merit," and the Scots Fusilier Guards,
2d battalion, now eighth in the " order of merit,"
wok. first last year. The Grenadier Guards, 14
battalion, not• ninth, was third last year, which
number this year is occupied by the 101st
Fusiliers, v►hich jumped 153 last year. The
2d battalion Grenadier Guards stands in the
same "order [of merit" as last year—namely, 12,
and the Scots Fusilier Guards, Ist battalion, now
25, was last year 51. The Coldstream Guards, Ist
battalion, now 26, was last year 19 ; and the 3d bat-
talion Grenadier Guards, last year 24, is now 39.
Twenty-one battalions of infantry did not execute
the prescribed course of training. Although the num-
ber of men of the infantry trained this year is less
by 8,000 than in the previous one, the number of
marksmen is 1,310 more, the percentage being 5.22
of the number exercised in all parts of the empire.
Sixteen battalions and corps have over 10 per cent.
of paid marksmen, showing also an increase in this
particular.

The following regiments, having been prevented
executing or completing the annual course of 1865-6
from the causes specified, have been recommended
to continue receipt of the rewards granted for the
year in which the men practised :-6th Dragoon
Guards, 11th Hussars, and 13th Hussars—Not ex-
ercised, being at a station where there was no range.
No. 1 Company, Royal Engineers—Not exercised,
being employed on the public works.. 9th Foot, Ist
Battalion—Not exercised, being employed on board
ship en route to the Cape of Good Hope, where the
battalion arrived too late to commence the practice
for the year. 11th Foot, 2d Battalion—Not exer-
cised, in consequence of the sickly state of the bat-
talion ; specially recommended. 12th Foot, Ist
Battalion—Not exercised, being on field service in
New Zealand. 14th Foot, 2d Battalion —Not exer-
cised, being on field service in New Zealand ; a
second continuance. 22d Foot, 2d Battalion—Not
exercised, being on board ship en route to the Mau-
ritius, where the battalion arrived too late to com-
mence the practice for the year. 40th Foot—Not
exercised, being on field service in New Zealand ; a
second continuance. 50th Foot—Not exercised, be-
ing on field service in New Zealand. 57th Foot—
Not exercised, being on field service in New Zealand;
a second continuance. 58th Foot—Four companies
not exercised, being where there was no range.
60th Rifles, 3d Battalion—Nine companies nbt
exercised, the arms having been damaged by a cy-
clone during the passage of the battalion from Ran-
goon to Madras. 65th Foot—Not exercised, being
on field service in New Zealand ; a second continu-
ance. 80th Foot—Not exercised, being at a station
where there was no range. Rifle Brigade, 4th Bat-
talion—Not exercised, being employed on public
works. 2d West India Regiment (Right Wino_
Not exercised, being detached in small parties
throughout Jamaica, in consequence of the disturbed
state of the island.