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afternoon the attacking force retired and took up a defensive position, which was in turn attacked by the former defending force; this was a good opportunity for the Troop and the other units to work in conjunction, and some good scouting work was done.
11. Early in February 1996, a general mobilization of 3 sections of the defence took place in which the Navy formed the attacking force. The artillery units of the corps were allotted 4-15-pr. B. L. guns and the engineer company assisted in working the searchlights at Stonecutters on the 6th and 7th February.
12. As already mentioned in the attached camp report,* the engineer company completely fitted up the Camp at Stonecutters with electric light and worked it, during the whole period during which the corps were under cauvas, from the searchlight engines.
The engineer company has done excellent work throughout the year and the attendance at the night runs in the forts has been very good.
Gun Practice, Musketry, &c.
13. 15-pr. B. L. gun practice was carried out on the 23rd and 28th October, 1905. On both occasions it was thought advisable to fire by sections instead of firing as a battery, this being a better training for the officers for the actual duties they would be required to carry out on mobilization. The targets were smaller and more difficult than usual and the rapid service of the guns was very satisfactory. Taking into consideration that in firing by sections practically every round was a ranging round for range or fuze, the results were very good indeed and show a general improvement in all ranks.
14. 303 Maxim practice was carried out on the 19th, 20th, 23rd, and 28th October, 1905, and on the 24th February, 1906.
15. Musketry was carried out during camp with better results than in previous years. Musketry returns for the Volunteer Troop and Engineer Company are attached.†
16. Rifle shooting has been taken up with greater keenness than usual and the range at Tai Hang has been in use regularly on at least two days a week and there have been numerous company competitions besides the general practice in the rifle club.
A successful rifle meeting under the auspices of the rifle club has just been brought to a close (the 13th, 14th, and 16th April, 1906), and I mention it in this report as it was really a 1905 meeting, but it was thought convenient to postpone it until Easter. A number of the members of the corps also fired in the China United Services Rifle Association Meeting which I refer to under the head of miscellaneous.
31,039 rounds of s. a. ammunition were fired by the corps during the year and 34,074 were supplied to the Reserve Association; it was therefore found necessary to order a larger supply than usual for 1906 and to reduce the gun ammunition, but I would recommend an increased allowance for ammunition in the next Estimates to allow for this, as both gun practice and rifle shooting are of the utmost importance.
17. The officers and staff-sergeants carried out revolver practice, and Table VIII† shows the high average obtained.
Camp of Instruction.
18. The annual camp was held at Stonecutters' Island from the 14th October to the 30th October, 1905-a period of sixteen days instead of ten days as recommended in my report last
year, and I attach a complete copy of my report* on the camp.
Competitions.
19. The following inter-unit competitions took place during the year:---
(1.) His Excellency the Governor's Efficiency Cup.-The marks were allotted as in 1905, except that two marks were given for each efficient.
This was again won by Right Half No. 2 Company, H. K. V. A., mainly owing to the good marks obtained under the head musketry.
The following is the order of efficiency :-
1. Right Half No. 2 Company, H. K. V. A., O. C., Captain Armstrong.
2. Left Half No. 2 Company, H. K. V. A., O. C., Captain Skinner.
3. Left Half No. 1 Company, H. K. V. A., O. C., Captain Lammert.
4. Right Half No. 1 Company, H. K. V. A., O. C., Captain Macdonald.
5. H. K. Vol. Engineer Company, O. C., Captain Crake.
(2.) The Blake Musketry Shield, for teams of eight from each unit, took place on the 29th April, 1905, and was won for the fourth time in succession by Left Half No. 1 Company, H. K. V. A.
(3.) The Sanders Cup, presented by Captain Sanders, a former Officer of the H. K. V. A., was competed for by the artillery units at 15-pr. B. L. gun drill on the 13th January, 1906, and was won by the Left Half No. 1 Company, H. K. V. A. (Acting O. C., Lieutenant Gubbay).
(4.) The Gascoigne Shield for Maxim gun practice was fired for on the 24th February, 1906, and was won after a close competition by Left Half No. 2 Company, H. K. V. A. (O. C. Captain
*Sub-Enclosure.
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