503
Enclosure 1.
Memorandum by the Commanding Royal Engineer.
6166.
26 MAY 301
:
With reference to the War Office letter of the 9th January 1890, No. ENGHA 27 1750 conveying instructions to enlist a company of Chinese Submarine Miners, I have the honour to forward herewith a copy of the conditions of Service (marked A), of the form of attestation (marked B), and of the notice to intending recruits (marked C).
It is necessary that these documents should be translated into Chinese, and that I should be supplied with 100 copies of each for distribution to such men as it may be intended to enlist.
2.
I have to request that application may be made to the Government to supply the above copies, and also that I may be furnished, when necessary, with the services of a qualified interpreter to answer any questions asked by the recruits and to give such explanations to them as may be necessary.
The Interpreter would only be occasionally required at present and (pending authority for the employment of a permanent interpreter) I have to request that the Government may be asked to allow us the services of a qualified interpreter from time to time when required. Arrangements could be made for this being so done as not to conflict with his other duties, and I presume that any fees which may be thought reasonable, as well as the cost of translating and printing, would be defrayed by the War Department in connection