The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-18 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

The National Military Rifle contest at Aldershott
was resumed yesterday morning shortly after nine
o'clock. The weather was fine, but the wind blew
very strongly, and interfered in it serious manner
with the shooting. A large number of spectators
visited the ground during the day, and the Lieut.-
Gen. commanding at the camp, Sir J. L. Penne-
father, 1i.C.8., rode on the ground during the con-
test for the Challenge Prize Cup. The proceedings
appeared to excite much interest, both among
officers and men. The arrangements are excellent.
Captain M'Crea, Inspector of Musketry at the
camp, superintends everything in connexion with
the contest in a most business-like manner. The
Marksman's Prize was first contested. It was for
non-commissioned officers and men, qualified as
marksmen during the present annual course. The
ranges were at 700 and 800 yards, there being five
rounds to each distance, and 10 prizes were
given at each distance, amounting to a
total of £55, and a silver watch to the
best shot throughout. 250 men entered.
The highest ccmpetitor at the range of 700
yards was Private Small, of the Ist battalion of the
10th Regiment. The highest competitor at thts
range of 800 yards was Private Harry, Ist battalion
10th Regiment. The silver watch was awarded to
Private Small, who made seven points at 700 yardit
and three at 800. The Veteran Stakes were open to
non-commissioned officers and men of 15 years' ser-
vice. Five rounds were allowed in this case at 400,
and five at 500 yards. At the former range the
highest distinction was obtained by Colour- Sergeant
Wagstaff (45th), who made eight points. At the
latter range the winner was Sergeant Mowatt(7Bth)
who madesix points. The silver watch was secured
by Colour-Sergeant Wagstaff, who scored eight at
400 yards and four at 500. The Challenge Prize
Cup, value £2O, presented by the South Western
Railway Company, was next contested. It was for
officers and men, 10s. entrance, 700 and 800 yards,
five rounds at each ; 51 men entered, but 49 only
shot. The best shot took the cup and half the en-
trance money, the next three-fifths of the remain-
ing entrance money, and the third the other two•
fifths. This was the great prize of the day. Ensign
Poole, of the Ist battalion of the 10th Regi-
ment, carried away the cup by marking nine points
at both ranges. These points consisted of four out-
siders and a centre at 700 yards, and one out-
sider and a centre at 800 yards. The successful
competitors were Ensign Poole, 10th Regiment, 9 ;
Capt. Meares, 2d battalion 20th, 8 ; Capt. Harvey,
2d battalion 25th, 8. Sergt. Walker, of the Scots
Fusileer Guards, also made eight points, and he,
with Capt. Meares and Capt. Harvey, shot off ties,
the result being that Capt. Meares made 2, Capt.
Harvey 1, and Sergt. Walker, 0.
Orders have been forwarded to Col. H. D. Har-
ness, C.B , director of the Royal Engineer establish-
ment at Chatham, directing 50 men of the Indian
Engineers, who have completed their course of
fieldwork instruction and sapping and mining, to
embark at Gravesend for Bombay and Cannanore,
in the chartered troopship Windsor Castle, 1,250
tons, belonging to the Messrs. Green, of Blackwell.
The following circular has been promulgated from
the War Department by order of Lord Herbert :
"The Secretary of State for War, having had under
consideration the subject of assessing damages to arms
re-
turned into store by regiments abroad, has decided that in
future whenever any arms are so returned, a board shall
assemble and carefully examine all the arms with a viesy to
assess the damages iu accordance with the scale of prices
laid down in the Queen's regulations. The sums to be
levied against the regiment should only be for work which
ought to have been executed upon the arms by the armour-
er-sergeant of the regiment, and not such sums as may be
required to make the arms fit for re-issue for service. The
board shall consist of the senior military store officer (as-
sisted by the civil armourer where there is one), the inspec-
tor of warlike stores, and the instructor of musketry of the
regiment or corps.

"J. CRAWFORD CAFFIN."
A division of the depot brigade of Royal Artillery
to be stationed at Warley Barracks, near Brent.
wood, arrived there on Tuesday.
No. 3 battery of the depot brigade of Royal Ar-
tillery left Southtown Arsenal, Great Yarmouth,
on Monday for Sheerness, whence the men are to
be embarked for India. The battery, about 190
strong, is under the command of Captain Dirom.

THE FATAL AFFRAY ON LOCH FYNE.—The
boatswain and marine of her Majesty's ship Jackal, who
caused the death of the fisherman on Loch Fyne, were tried
on Monday at the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh.
The Solicitor-General relinquished the charge of wilful
murder, but insisted on that of culpable homicide. In
reply to the crown argument that, to prevent illegal fishing,
the prisoners had no right to resort to means which civil
officels would not have boon justified in using when at-
tempting to apprehend men guilty of a far greater crime,
Mr. Young, as counsel for the prisoners, pointed out that,
being men-of-war's-men, they were fully justified in follow-•
ing the rules of their own service, which direct that when
a summoned boat will not surrender, first blank and then
ball cartridge shall be fired over her, and that in this case,
without any homicidal intentions on the part of the firers,
the ball cartridge
most unfortunately took effect. The
jury unanimously
d acquitted the prisoners.