384
37. Under the head of Drills the figures are as follows:-
Have become efficient with more than 30 drills, Have become efficient with less than 30 drills, Are non-efficient,
Total,
Have become efficient with more than 30 drills, Have become efficient with less than 30 drills,. Are non-efficient,...
Total,
FIELD BATTERY.
"A
+5
"B"
"C" M.G.Cos.
.61
43
26
36
.17
11
2
5
.13
14
11
.91
68
39
49
"D" INFY. Co. "E" ENG. Co. BAND.
.....38
17
......10
2
6
10
.54
29.
7
9
38. Of the 63 non-efficients, 6 are absent from the Colony on leave, 7 are absent from the Colony without leave, 9 have not had time to complete the necessary drills, and 41 have not completed the requisite number of drills, and will be called upon to show cause why they failed to become efficient. Many of these are out of the Colony, but have failed to notify their departure to Headquarters and will now be struck off the strength accordingly.
CAMP OF INSTRUCTION.
39. From the 22nd to the 29th October, 1900, a Camp of Instruction was held under canvas at Kowloon.
40. The Corps was much indebted to the Honourable C. P. CHATER, C.M.G., and Mr. J. H. Cox, for their generous kindness in allowing the Corps to have the use of the site.
41. The use of the Rifle Association Range was kindly placed at the disposal of the Corps during the holding of the Camp.
42. The Camp was fairly well attended and much practical work was performed, including batta- lion, company, carbine, and rifle drill, extended order practice, outpost duties, musketry instruction, fire discipline, gun drill, belt filling, and lectures and instruction in gun-laying and fuze-boring. Gun practice took place over sea and land ranges.
43. The General Officer Commanding inspected the Corps on parade on the 28th October, 1900. On that occasion there were present 224 of all ranks.
44. While there can be no doubt that the holding of the Camp conduced materially to the effi- ciency of the Corps, I am yet of opinion that in several respects Kowloon did not prove so good a site for it as Stonecutters' Island.
SERVICES.
45. Captain C. G. PRITCHARD, Royal Artillery, before assuming his duties as Adjutant had acted as Special Instructor in Gunnery while the Corps was in Camp. In both capacities he has shown the greatest interest in and devotion to his work, has proved himself a most zealous and efficient instructor, and has succeeded in winning in a very high degree the confidence, respect, and liking of all ranks of the Corps.
46. During the absence of Major A. CHAPMAN, Captain E. D. SANDERS, Honorary Aide-de-Camp, Officer Commanding "A" Machine Gun Company, has readily afforded me much valuable assistance as the next Senior Officer of the Corps.
47. I am glad to be able to speak in very high terms of Lieutenant A. H. STEWART's services as Acting Adjutant. He devoted much time and attention to his duties and performed them in a very satisfactory manner.
48. The other Officers of the Corps have, with perhaps one or two exceptions, maintained the high standard of interest and efficiency to which I have referred in previous reports. They have set an excellent example in every way to the Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the Corps, and their good feeling for one another and for those under their command and their esprit de corps are alike worthy of most favourable remark.
49. I have already on more than one occasion expressed my deep sense of the faithful and effi- cient service which Sergeant Major G. W. WATLING, during a period of several years, rendered to the Corps. It may be added that the regret felt in the Corps at his untimely death was both general and
sincere.