Confidential.
-7
0.8.0..
South China.
Boxiosure 2.
338
Re
Kowloon, 11th November, 1904.
I have the honour to report as follows:-
This morning at 9.30 A.M. the N.C.O. of the Guard over the Russian encampment reported to me that he had refused admittance to a Chinaman as he had no pass. That Sub-Lieutenant Fini came and asked him to allow the man to pass within the encampment. The Sergeant replied that he could only take orders from the officer commanding encampment Major Sexton. That Sub-Lieutenant Fini answered that he was commanding the camp and not Major Sexton. I then went into the enclosure and asked Sub-Lieutenant Fini if I could do anything for his man. He said not, but that he wished to speak with me, he then asked that he might be given the correspondence relating to his request for leave and its refusal, as he intended sending the documents to St. Petersburg. I told him that I would ask the Chief Staff Officer. He then told me that the Sergeant had refused to let in a Chinaman, although he himself had ordered him to allow the man to enter the encampment. I answered that I regretted the occurrence, but that the Sergeant was carrying out his orders. Sub-Lieutenant Fini then said that he alone could issue orders inside the encampment, as he, and not I, was Commanding. I told him he was wrong as I had been appointed Commanding Officer of the Camp and the persons therein by His Excellency the Governor. Sub-Lieutenant Fini then replied "I do not recognise this". I again pointed out to him he was wrong, but he again replied "I do not recognise this". Thereupon I announced to him that it would be my painful duty to report his reply to the Chief Staff Officer for the information of the General Officer Commanding. He replied that I might do so.
(sd.) J. J. O'B. Sexton,
Major, 110th M.L.I., Officer Commanding Russian Camp.
A