The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-24 00:00:00

Naval au!

teil.i~ence

Field-Marshal his Royal Highness the Duke of
Cambridge, K.H., the General Commanding-in-
Chief of her Majesty's Land Forces, is expected to
arrive at Portsmouth on his annual autumnal tour
of inspection of the troops and the various works of
defence atPortsmouth and in the south-west military
district on the Ist proximo. -
The celebration of the prize shooting of the Wool-
wich division Royal Marine Light Infantry took
place on Thursday at the extended ranges of the
Plumstead marshes, below the Royal Arsenal at
Woolwich. The proceedings, which commenced at
8 a.rn., and continued, with an interval for refresh-
ments, until sunset, included a variety of amusements
for the men, for which the spot, luxuriously covered
with green sward, aided by the sunshiny and magni-
ficent weather of Thursday, is eminently adapted.
Lieut.-Gen. Stranshais, Inspecto-General of the
Corps, Col. Maxwell, Commandant of the Division,
and the available officers, together with their wives
and families noW in garrison, were present, and par-
took of an elegant luncheon, served up by Mr. Bar-
rett in a spacious marquee, while the regimental
band, conducted by Mr. Winterbottom, performed
a selection of operatic airs. The firing was carried
out both before and after luncheon at various ranges,
the registers of which were checked by Sergt. Lock-
yer, second instructor, assisted by the shooting com-
mittee. The performances were under the command
of Capt. Julius Bunce, Brigade Major of the Divi-
sion, to whom all reference was made on the field,
and whose decision was final. The firing was accord-
ing to the Hythe regulations. The competition was
as follows:—First stage, 300 yards, 3 shots. Two
bits obtained qualified the competitor for the second
stage, 500 yards, 3 shots. A total of 10 points in the
two stages qualified the competitor for the third stage,
600 yards, 3 shots. The total number of points of the
three stages were added to decide the best shot. The
Ist prize of £2los. was gained byColour-Sergt. Elton,
25 points; 2d prize of £2 2s. 6d., 23 points, by Sergt.
Smith; 3d, £1 17s. 6d., 22 points, Private T. Adams;
Private G. Cannon, 22 points, 15s. ; sth
J. Doyle, 22 points, £1 12s. Gd.; 6th, Sergt. J.
Jehu, 21 points, £1 10s.; 7th, Corporal C. Meakins,
20 points, £1 7s. 6d. ; Bth, Private W. Coleman,
20 points, £1 ss. ; 9th, S. Bloomfield, 20 points,
2s. 6d. ; 10th, C. Cheshire, 20 points, £1; 11th,
Sergt. H. Lock, 18 points, 17s. 6d. ; 12th, Private
William Rowley, 18 points, 15s. 6d. ; 13th, J. Hill,
18 points, 12s. 6d. ; 14th, Corporal J. Revell, 18
points, 108. ; 15th, Private Peter Hughes, 18 points,
7s. 6d. ; 16th, Corporal Cuthbertson, 17 points,
ss. ; and 17th, Private J. White, 17 points, 2s. Gd.
The General's prize, at ,the close, of 205., was won
by Private Isaac Allen, 10 points. Before taking
their departure a number of the officers engaged in
an impromptu match, in which the Commandant,
Col. Maxwell, and his Adjutant took part, the
Adjt. Lieut. Straghan, firing on horseback and
making two remarkable shots, one a good outer on
the corner of the target over the 300 yards' range.
The men then mustered to return to quarters, and
it having become known that in all probability this
would be the last occasion of the kind at which the
Lieut.-Gen. and also Capt. Bunce, their musketry
instructor, would be present, as they are about to
retire in rotation, after five years' service, the corps
gage them a parting salutation of three rounds of
cheers each.
During the absence of Col. Tidy, Col. Pattle,
C. 8., commanding Ist Dragoon Guards, will assume
the command of the troops in the eastern district.
The division at Aldershot under the command of
Lieut.-Gen. Sir J. Y. Scarlett, K.C.8., has been
exercised on different days during the past week.
On Monday the cavalrybrigade, under the command
of Major-Gen. Hodge, C. 8., and consisting of the
3d and 15 Hussars and 17th Lancers, with the Royal
Horse Artillery, was formed up on Eelmoor, and,
after marching past, was put through a series of
field-day movements, all of which were executed in
a most satisfactory manner. On Tuesday the Ist in-
fantry brigade, under the command of Brigadier-
Gen. Renny, formed up on the common at 10 a.m.,
when the 66th and 81st Regiments, with the Grey
battery, Royal Artillery, were exercised for about
two hcurs. On Wednesday afternoon the whole
division turned out for field manoeuvres, and at half
past two o'clock formed up on Eelmoor-hill in line
of contiguous columns. Shortly afterwards Lieut.-
Gen. Scarlett arrived upon the ground and inspected
the ranks, after which the division marched past.,
the artillery and cavalry iu open column of batteries
and squadrons at a walk, and the infantry in open
column of grand divisions in quick time. Prepara

tions were then made to check the progress of an
enemy supposed to have advanced from Farnham
via Crondall, past the west of Beacon-hill, and to be
in position in Bickley-copse and Cocked-hat-wood,
. _ _

with his left resting upon Miles's-hill. A number o

skilfully-executed manoeuvres followed, in the course
of which the Ist infantry brigade, under Brigadier-
Gen. Renny, took Miles's-hill by storm, while the
cavalry, under Major-Gen. Hodge, drove the enemy
from Bickley-bottom, and the artillery made havoc
in his centre. Eventually, with the co-operation of
the 2d and 3d infantry brigades, under Col. Peel and
Brigadier-Gen. Horsford, the enemy was driven
from, his positions, and retired upon Bickley-copse,
whence, however, apparently reinforced, be subse-
quently rallied and made a fierce attack upon the
division, which necessitated a retrograde movement.
The whole fell back, well protected by skirmishers
and by the fire of the artillery. As the foe came on
the artillery retired, and the three infantry brigades
in line poured in a deadly fire, which caused him to
retire in disorder. The artillery then came to front
again, and the cavalry, dashing past, made a splendid
charge in line across the valley, effectually putting

to rout the already discomfited and shattered forces
of the enemy. This concluded the manceuvres of
the day, and the troops returned to quarters shortly
before six o'clock.
The 52d Regiment at Aldershott has vacated its
quarters in A, B, and E lines, South Camp, and re-
moved to quarters in the East Block, '
permanent
barracks, lately occupied by the 63dRear'naent. The
15th Hussars have left the North Camp and now
occupy quarters in the East cavalry barracks.
A new bayonet drill, introduced, it is :id, by
Lieut. Hutton, of the Ist Royal Dragoon Guards
is under consideration at Aldershott. Lieut.-Gen.
Scarlett has ins' ectecl the drill, of which he has pro-
nounced favourably, with the exception of two
guards. Twelve non-commissioned officers are to
be taught the drill and dismissed. The instructors
ut the Military Gymnasium are likewise to be made
proficient in it, and a report made to Major Ham-
mersley, Director of Military Gymnastics at Alder-
shott.

The gardens around the huts at Aldershott Camp
belonging to the men connected with the Staff have

...._ .. -
just been examined by Col Elgee, R.A., and a prize,
consisting of a set of gardening tools, given by Capt.
W. S. M. Wolfe, R.A., Deputy-Assist.-Quarter-
master-General, has,,been awarded to the mounted
orderlies of No. 22 hut for the best kept garden.
A 9-inch 12l ton gun, on Major Palliser's system,
has arrived at Woolwich from the Elswick Ordnance
Works at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and has been suc-
provedp
cessfully
previous to being rifled. It has
with
fired 18 rounds
charges of 431 b. of powder and
and
2501 b. shot each,
too rounds with charges of
551 b. of powder and 2501 b shot each. The firstcharges are the same as tl,l
,'e
ton Woolwich gun, Which lately
in the 12i-
ccution when firing Major 1'32 did so much ex_
ser's chilled shell at
the 8-inch plated target. The
ignunner tube of coiled
returned is made of cast
r
iron, which is cast round
an
wrought iron. The gun is to be
to the Elswick works to be rifled
and ned at once
finished off.
It is an object of considerable interest and admira-
tion, and does the manufacturers much cred;t. Five
hundred rounds of 2501 b. shot and shell have been
prepared for its trial, which, it is believed, from the
practical judgment and well-matured experience dis-
played by Major Palliser in his various productions,
cannot fail to render a satisfactory result.

The War Department have directed that the pro-
visions of the 27ch and 28th Vic., c. 85, whichpassed

in July, 1861, shall be brought into force in the gar-
rison of Woolwich on the Ist of October next. It

places all women of disreputable character under the
medical superintendence of the authorities at the
Military Hospital, and gives compulsory powers to
the Police over contumacious persons, Woolwich,