638
The above detail under command of Captain A. CHAPMAN, Hongkong Volunteer Corps, marched off at 10.45 p.m. to Pedder's Wharf. They were here joined by Company Royal Welch Fusiliers.
At 11.30 p.m. the whole force under Colonel MAINWARING, C.M.G., embarked on board 2 launches and proceeded to Tsim Tsa Tsui which was reached about midnight.
On arrival the guns and escort were immediately disembarked and marched to the North end of Yaumati where the following dispositions were made by Colonel MAINWARING :-
1 gun under Lieut. F. MAITLAND and Lieut. M. W. SLADE, Hongkong Volunteer Corps, and provided with an escort from Royal Welch Fusiliers and Field Battery, Hongkong Volunteer Corps was placed off the new Road (Station Street) between Ma-ti and Mong-kok-tsui, com:nauding all approaches from the North and East.
1 gun under Captain A. CHAPMAN, Hongkong Volunteer Corps, and accompanied by Lieut. G. C. FULLERTON, Hongkong Volunteer Corps, with an escort from the Field Battery Hongkong Volun- teer Corps, was placed on the road to the North of the Pumping Station commanding approaches from Kowloon City.
1 gun under "A" Coy. Sergeant-Major F. SMYTH, and escort Royal Welch Fusiliers were placed in the vicinity of the Yaumati Police Station to command approaches from the direction of the Rifle Ranges.
These approaches were further held by Detachments of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. The Yau- mati Police Station was told off as the temporary Head Quarters of the Force, and Hospital arrange- ments were here made by Surgeon-Captain J. A. Lowson, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.
Picquets were placed to hold important points, not under fire of the Machine Guns, and Patrols from both the Royal Welch Fusiliers and Field Battery, Hongkong Volunteer Corps were sent out to patrol the approaches some mile to the front.
Nothing occurred during the night, and at 6 a,m. next morning the force re-embarked at Yau- mati Police Pier for Hongkong.
The members of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps present on parade were as follows:-
Staff. Field Battery. “A” Machine-Gun Company.
Officers,......................................... Non-Commissioned Officers and Men,
Total,
3
2
2
2
59
26
....
5
61
28
813
Grand Total all Ranks 94.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
WM. St. C. BLAND, Captain, R.A.,
Adjutant,
HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.
HONGKONG. No. 248.
SIB,
(Secretary of State to Governor.)
DOWNING STREET,
26th October, 1899.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 265 of the 15th ultimo relative to the services rendered by the Hongkong Volunteers in connection with the occupation of the New Territory.
2. I have read this despatch with interest and satisfaction, and I highly appreciate the readiness with which the Volunteers responded to the call to duty.
3. I have caused a copy of this correspondence to be forwarded to the Secretary of State for War.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
Governor
Sir. HENRY A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,
&C.,
&C.,
&c.
J. CHAMBERLAIN.