August 19, 1896.]*
HONGKONG VOLUNTEERS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS,' 11 SIRI note with much pleasure the very sensible remarks made by HE. Major-General Black on the occasion of the distribution of prizes to the Volunteers on Friday last. The General evidently is much interested in Vol.. unteers and knows exactly the essential qualities such men should possess to meet emergen cies. I have always been of the General's opinion "that unless a soldier, can shoot he is not much use." We have on more than one occasion | suffered severe losses through the bad shooting of our men when they were opposed to men who knew how to shoot, but who were not trained soldiers by any means, At the present time, when foreign powers possess immense armies armed with long range and accurate weapons capable of rapid delivery, it behoves every Britisher to know how to shoot with a rifle in case he is required to assist in the defence of his country and the maintenance of England's supremacy. Military literature has taught us that in actual warfare fortune favours the biggest battalions and the straightest shooters. I sincerely trust that the standard of our soldiers' shooting has immensely improved with the use of the new rifle. It is no use supplying men with arms of precision unless the mode of training has improved their shooting qualities. To make a good shot for the field plenty of practice is necessary; and I think more car- tridges than the number allowed at present ought to be expended by each individual soldier. Shooting competitions should be encouraged as much as possible. If the Volunteers as a body are better shots than the regulars, then it is entirely owing to the fact that the Volunteers have more practice. I cannot understand why Britishers do not give more attention to shooting than they do. If they took as / much interest in rifle shooting as they do in cricket, football, tennis, billiards, and cycling, and were as proficient in the use of the rifle as they are in the above mentioned amuse- ments, I do not think there would be any cunse to fear a military campaign with the strongest foreign power. It is a great pity and very discouraging to the Commanding Office, of the Volunteers in Hongkong that more men do not joins there are plenty of British civilians here,
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is not the slightest doubt that, should we ever be so unfortunate as to be pushed for men, plenty will be forthcoming. When England calls to arms there will be an abumdance of men awaiting her orders. In Hongkong there are sufficient civilians to form a strong Volunteer Corps; some have gained a little experience in active service, others are good rifle shots at all round shooting. All my friends would volunteer in case of em- ergency; but as the old adage says, "a bird in hand is worth two in the bush, and no doubt that is what the General was aiming at. If sufficient men were brought together a whole- some enthusiasm in volunteer work would quickly follow, and men would soon discover the benefits accruing from such exercise and training, and very probably they would eventu ally join the regular Corps. An effective body of Volunteers with some good marksmen amongst them, accompanied by a handling ten Maxim guns, would be very destructive to an enemy; the marksmen would do the picking off and the Maxims the volley firing. Ten Maxims at 500 shots per minute will deliver 5,000 a minute. Such a body of men would be a& formidable foe to encounter when located in the nooks. and corners of Hongkong. I trust I shall not be attacked by any one who does not agree with my opinions, as I am only a civilian and belong to the masses. Perhaps I have no right to speak on military matters, but I always take a keen interest in the defence of my country; and I think that every Britisher ought to interest himself in the same cause. I am unaccustomed to writing to the press, so I am at a loss to adequately express and emphasize my perhaps somewhat vague ideas. Before I close this letter I may add that limited time has pre- vented me from being a volunteer, but I am quite willing to put my name down as the good General suggested, although at the present time illness confines me at home; but as soon as I hear that steps are taken to organize this use- ful body (and I may here venture a suggestion that a note in the daily papers would be a good plan) I shall subscribe my name at once. I am, sir, yours faithfully,
Hongkong 13th August, 1896.
DOUGALL.
BER OF COMMERCE,
At the meeting of the Committee of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, held at the offices, No. 1, Kinkiung Road, on Monday, the 10th August, 1896, at 4 p.m.
Present:-Messrs. C. J. Dudgeon (Vice-Chair- man), E. F. Alford, D. Brand, A. Korff, J. H. McMichael, D. M. Moses, E. B. Skottowe, and the Acting Secretary.
The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.
Chairmanship. Mr. C. J.Dudgeon suggested that the present was a good opportunity for electing a Chairman vice Mr. A. P. McEwen, and proposed that Mr. E. F. Alford fill the position. This was seconded by Mr. J. H. McMichael; and, on being put to the meeting, was carried unanimously.
a good many of whom find ample time to attend THE SHANGHAI GENERAL CHAM various amusements, but take no interest in the Volunteers. Any one who has visited Shanghai and has seen a full muster of the Volunteers there will be astonished at their number; but then there is always a better spirit shown in anything they undertake in that Model Settle ment. A Rifle Association we have, but not every one has time and the means to belong to it; besides, in my humble opinion, the system of shooting adopted by the Rifie Association is not conducive to the making of effective marksmen. A person so trained is not the likely man to "shoot the dog," especially if the animal made his appearance unexpectedly at an unascertained distance, and was trotting along quietly across an open space, say 50 yards wide, or down hill below the shooter. Of course, it would be expected that the dog would be a full sized-one, about 24 inches bigh at the shoulder. I can safely say, and I am sure experienced shots will agree with me, that heavy odds would be on the dog. I am surprised that those who have the management of the Rifle Association, a society to all intents and purposes intended to promote the art of rifle shooting, do not get up competitions at moveable objects, etc., verniers, wind-gauges, and paints disallowed.. I am sure this would be a more practical and
Sir,-By your letter of the 4th of June last, interesting form of shooting than potting away the attention of the Consular Body was again at large stationary targets with the aid of the
called to the dangers connected with the naviga- most approved appliances, etc. The best shots tion of the Woosung Bar and the Whangpoo I ever saw were men who had practised at all River, to remedy which it was, in the opinion kinds of objects, stationary and moveable, and of the Chamber of Commerce, absolutely re- had to judge their own distances and windage.quisite that the existing rules should be observed Some of them knew little or nothing about by vessels of all nationalities visiting the Port verniers, etc., but they could make a "dog feel of Shanghai. The Chamber suggested that, to very sick" if he happened to cross their paths. consider the question at issue, a Commission of The second remark of our much respected Enquiry should be appointed, the constitution General is a step in the right direction, i.e. "to of which might be determined by the Consular get men to put down their names who would Body. join the Corps in case of emergency."
I hope the Commandant and his officers will try this scheme and that their enterprising efforts will be rewarded by a long list of availables. There
Mr. Alford then took the Chair. After the consideration of general business the following correspondence was ordered for publication
S. No. 54.
RIVER CONSERVANCY.
Shanghai, 7th July, 1896.
The matter was fully considered by the Consular Body in their meeting of the 25th of June last, but though sympathising with the endeavours of the Chamber of Commerce to
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render the navigation of the Whang safer than it is at present, my colleagues were gain unable to admit that this most desirable and could be realised by any local action on the part of either the representatives of the Foreign Trade of the Port or the Con sular Body, but that there was no other way leading to it but to embody the necessary stipulations in a special clause when a new Convention was made between the Chinese Government and the Treaty Powers. I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
0. STUEBEL, -- Consul-General for Germany,
and Senior Consül. To C. J. Dudgeon, Esq., Vice-Chairman of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce.
Shanghai, 22nd July, 1896.
Sir, The Committee of this Chamber, at this meeting on Monday last, fully discussed your letter of the 7th of July referring to the navigation of the Whangpoo. The Committee' are satisfied that they are right in urging the principal of the establishment of a Conservancy Board, and if that principle is accepted the detailed scheme could be easily formulated, and they therefore beg that you will kindly lay their proposition before the Foreign Representatives at Peking, explaining the great necessity that exists for international recognition of special and stringent regulations for the navigation of the Woosung Bar and the Whangpoo. I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant. C. J. DUDGEON,
Vice-Chairman.
Consul-General for Germany and Senior
Consul.
To Dr. O. Stuebel,
INCREASED TELEGRAPH CHARGES.
General Chamber of Commerce,
Shanghai, 4th August, 1896. Dear Sir,-Your advertisement of an in- oreased scale of charges for telegrams has not unnaturally excited considerable comment, and the Committee of this Chamber are urged to make representation in opposition thereto. Before doing so, however, it is deemed reason- able to enquire if you will favour them with any explanation as to the grounds for what appears to be an exaction from the public, and I should be much obliged if you would afford an early reply, as other Chambers are pressing for united action.-I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
C. J. DUDGEON,
Vice-Chairman. To J. Henningsen, Esq.,
On behalf of the Great Northern Telegraph Co. Eastern Extension A. & C. Telegraph Co.
The Great Northern The Eastern Exten-
Telegraph Company of Copenhagen.
sion Australasia and China Telegraph Company, Limited. Shanghai Station,
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4th August, 1896, Sir.-I have duly received your to-day's letter referring to my advertisements of an increased collection of charges for certain telegrams and requesting me to furnish you with an expla- nation of what you are pleased to say appears to be an exaction from the public."
In reply I beg to refer you to the terms of the advertisement in question, which plainly set forth the grounds compelling the Telegraph Companies to augment the silver amounts, which they have hitherto collected in China as... insufficient equivalents for their authorised official gold rates, which are made up of their other Administrations, exactly in the same own proportion and of that payable in gold to manner as has been done by other public com panies and corporations, whose tariffs are based on a gold standard and collected here in silver. - ; the Companies with the approval of the dif
I may add that this step has been taken by ferent Governments concerned, and on the understanding that the present rate for tele grams from Europe to China, viz., 8 francs 50 centimes (equal to about $3) per word, shall be reduced to 7 franes from the 1st July, 1897 when the rates decided upon by the Interna tional Telegraph Conference held in Buda Pesth last month will come into operation,
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