The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-11 00:00:00

THE PROPOSED SHAM FIGHT NEAR

BRIGHTON.

Rumours are afloat that the proposed sham fight
by the volunteer forces of the metropolis is to be
marred by opposition on the part of certain com-
manding officers, and that an antagonistic demon-
stration is to be got up on Easter Monday, in much
closer proximity to the metropolis than Brighton.
The one in this respect is said to be taken from the
refusal of the authorities of the War Department to
the request of the dockyard battalions to be per-
mitted to participate in the movements to be exe-
cuted upon that occasion.
Lord Ranelagh, it appears, has given mortal
offence in having taken credit to himself for the
general success (the victualling department out of
the question) which attended the sham fight at
Chiselhurst last year ; and it is apprehended that as
he has been the originator of the sham fight which
is proposed to take place at or near Palmer, between
Brighton and Lewes, on the Ist of next month,
should it prove successful, he will have another
laurel added to his military renown, whilst other
metropolitan commanders of metropolitan rifle
corps will be in the position of " second fiddles."
Hence the opposition which is springing up in
various quarters. It is stated that in conse-
quence of influence brought to bear upon Colonel
Hicks, the City of London Rifle Brigade have
deserted the Brighton sham fight standard,
and that the North Middlesex and several
other large metropolitan corps have, through
their commanding officers, been invited also
to abandon that proposal, and join the Queen's
(Westminster), the Civil Service, the London
Scottish, the London Irish, the Inns of Court,
and other regiments, in a brigade and field day on
Easter Monday, or in a demonstration in or near
the metropolis. The great object of Lord Ranelagh
in selecting the vicinity of Brighton for the sham
fight is to show, as far as possible, the facilities
with which 20,000 or 30.000 men could be concen •
trated at any given point upon the coast, and be
got ready for action in case of a sudden descent
upon our shores. There is, however, an argument
opposed to the demonstration of the Ist of April
being any test in that respect at all, namely, the
great length of notice which will have been given
for the assembly and conveyance of the various
contingents. It is rightly argued that in order
effectually and properly to test those facilities, and
the powers of concentration which the Volunteer
force may possess for such a purpose, it should be
as a few hours' notice, when the value or inefficiency
of the volunteer organisation would be at once seen
and be duly appreciated. The preceding are some
of the points in dispute, but it is to be hoped that
whatever differences may arise, there will be none
permitted in any way to deteriorate this great na-
tional and patriotic movement.
Amongst the various arrangements being made
with respect to the proposed sham fight near
Brighton, on Easter Monday, are the following :
On the London and Brighton the charge is not
to exceed ls. 6d. to and from Brighton for pri-
vates, and officers at ss. first class; but in cases
where the ordinary third class fare wou:d not
amount to the sum mentioned for privates the
ls. 6d. will not be charged. Trains are to leave
London-bridge and Victoria stations at these
fares on Saturday, the 30th, at half past five,
p.m., and nine a.m., on Sunday, March 31st. The
South-Eastern Railway Company will provide spe-
cial trains to carry volunteers from Margate, Rams
gate, Dover, Folkestone, Canterbury, and Ashford;
from Strood, Chatham, Rochester, Maidstone, and
Tunbridge Wells; from Reading, Guildford, Dork-
ing, and Reigate. Volunteers in uniform with arms
are to be charged less than the ordinary low excur-
sion fares. Commanding officers of corps intend.
ing to take part in the sham fight ere to be fur-
nished with full particulars of the arrangements
for trains on Easter Monday, but they are to be
such that all volunteers will reach London between
eight and eleven p.m. Officers' horses Ns ill be sent
by the ordinary trains on Saturday and Sunday, at
£1 return fare. A special train for horses at five
o'clock on Sunday morning. Railway tickets will
in a few days be forwarded to the commanding
officers of the corps to be engaged for distribution
among their men, from whom they will receive pay-
ment. No such tickets to be issued after Saturday,
the 23d inst.

On Saturday afternoon last about 700 officers and
men of the City of London Ititic Brigade, arrived
at Greenwich, on board the steam vessels Widgeon
and Fairy, and marched from the pier through the
park to Blackheath for drill and rifle practice.
Several companies of the Woolwich Arsenal Rifles
were also present.

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