Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1890-12-06 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE SERVICES.  It is four months now eines the 2nd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards left for Bermuda, and • variety of conflicting rumours have reached this country as to their conduct since arriving at their destination. It is, therefore, exceedingly interesting to find, from • letter received by a service contemporary, that all rumours., to bad conduct are entirely unfounded. The letter in question states that—. The 2nd Grenadiers are fully maintaining their character, and their uniform good conduct has made for them friends everywhere. It would be impossible to speak too highly of their efficers ; their devotion to duty is beyond all praise, and under Colonel Eaton's able command the cad Battalion Grenadiers ii just now about as happy and comfortable a military home as it svuuld ho possible to imagine. It shows what a good and painstaking officer can do to promote the welfare of a regiment. I speak from experience of British regiments, and I say unhesitatingly that the 2nd Battalion lirenadier Guards, whatever their faults may have be-e, have been a credit to the British Army since they settled down here." General Sir Frederick Roberts has been promoted to the rank of full General, he having hitherto only held the rank of Lieutenant-General in the British Army, though holding the local rank of General while serving as Commander-in-Chief in India. This promotion is not given in the usual course in an ordinary vacancy ; but for "distinguished service," which is presumably intended as • recognition of the many useful reforms in the military administration of India which have been inaugurated by the Commander-in. Chief. Mr. Stanhope has disclaimed any personal responsibility for the magazine ride, and the Adjutant-General hag declared it as his opinion that the defects which have been discovered in the new arm are no greater than those which had to be remedied in the case of the Martini-Henry rifle in the early stages of its manufacture. Nevertheless, it is now stated that, pending the fullest investigation of all the adverse reports which have been received at headquarters on the new weapon, no further issue of rides will take place at present. It appears that the order made in India in 1837 that ball ammunition was no longer to remain in charge of the individual men in the army, but in charge of the regiment, has had a most salutary effect in reducing the number of suicides and murders. In 1880-87 there were 110 cases of suicide or murder or attempts to commit those crimes. In 1887-88 the total fell to 63, in 1888.89 to 38, while for 1889.90 the number was 44, of which 25 were suicides, eight murders, and eight attempts at murder. Of the suicides 10 were in the British and 15 lathe native army, while of the murders one only was in the British Army and seven in the native. The increase in this particular year is due to the fact that 10 entries were due to only three men, one of whom was an insane Sepoy, who committed three murder, and afterwards committed suicide. New regulations respecting naval cadets have lately been issued, but there is very little alteration from those that have been in force since December, 1988. The chief alteration is the relaxation of the severity of the rules as regards the withdrawal of cadets from the Britannia. Formerly it was the rule that a cadet who failed to obtain at the finsl examination half marks in the technical subjects combined with physics and French /Mould be ordered to withdraw. In future, however, a cadet who obtains 40 per cent. of the marks in the technical subjects, kn., will be allowed to pass. On the other hand, cadets reported as having failed to obtain half marks in seamanship will be "warned," and should they be again reported they will he discharged. At the official trial of the engines of the newly-constructed United States gunboat Concord, a speed was averaged of over 17 knots an hour during a period of four hours. It has been decided that in future, when non.commiesioned officera of marines are sent to Hythe for instruction in musketry they are to take with them a certificate slgned by their commanding officer that they have a thorough knowledge of the firing exercise, and are competent to drill a squad with confidence. From the statement of ht, lierville-Resche in the French Chamber it appears that in 1895 France will have 299 vessels fit for service, the Triple Alliance  556, and England 402. But M. Barbery, the Minister of Marine, supplemented this statement by pointing out that whereas England is spending millions more than the Triple Alliance, and has now within 35 of the total number of vessel. possessed by those three Powers. she will in 1094 have 150 vessels less. If this be true, it Is a matter tor the most urgent and immediate consideration of the British Admiralty. The committee ol the Naval Exhibition are at lad fairly under weigh. The guarantee fund amounts to i upwards of £lO,OOO, and more is expected yet It has been decided to have a piece of water in the , grounds, the dimensions of which will be 250 ft. by I 150 ft., with a depth of from Ift. to Mt , and it Is to ! be hoped that in the place of the " jungle " of the , Military ENhibition a theatre or concert hall will be erected for the purposes of the Naval Exhibition. It is above all things necessary to attract the public to a show such as that in omtemplation, and these two additions will prove of infinite value in that direction.