D
Confidential.
C. O.
28845
REC?
R 12 AUG 05'
Extract from Report by Major-General F. Slade, C.B., Inspector of Royal Garrison Artillery, on Hong Kong, South China, 3rd to 11th February, 1905.
Kong teer
dlery
HONG KONG VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY.
123
The practice from the 15-prs. of the movable armament and field Maxims, manned by the Volunteers, and which are allotted to them on mobilisation, was very satisfactory. The 15-pr. bat- tery took up a position on a plateau below Sywan Hill and fired across the valleys at targets placed on the slopes of the hills, changing targets when ordered.
The observation of fire was rather faulty at times, but there was considerable mist on the hill sides, which made it
difficult.
I noticed also, a neglect to bracket fuzes, and also the tendency to open fire with too short a fuze.
The Maxim practice (four guns) was excellent, and there were no "jams."
I ordered the Maxims in one series, to be brought into action alongside the 15-prs., and both to fire on different tar- gets simultaneously. The difficulty of passing orders was very apparent, and a practical lesson was learnt.
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These appear a very useful body of men, all Europeans, and
of good education. They are well set up and smart at their drill.
Major