Appendix O.
REPORT ON THE HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS,
by Major General R. G. BROADWOOD, C.B., Commanding the Troops, South China Command, for the Year 1908-09.
MOUNTED TROOP.
A great deal of good work has been done in gaining knowledge of the surrounding country and in general exercise in the duties of the mounted soldier.
All the training has been carried out in a practical and soldier-like way.
The O.C. Troop proposes to do away with a standing camp during the Christmas exercises in future. I consider this sound both on the score of economy and efficiency.
ARTILLERY.
(1.) Good results were obtained by the adoption of the suggestion of Commanding Royal Artillery that:-
(i.) All practices should be carried out under tactical schemes.
(ii.) That instruction in the field, of Battery Commanders and their Staffs, should be given by the use of gun sight tripods.
(2.) The following remarks apply to the training generally
(a.) Fire discipline and fire tactics require more attention. In former years marks were only awarded for fire discipline and fire effect. This year, marks were allotted for fire tactics also. Such points as appreciation of situations, selection of positions, etc., being duly allotted marks. B.C.s were new to these conditions, and a marked improvement was noticeable during the latter practices.
(b.) The Battery Staffs require more training and are also in some cases not complete. It is almost impossible to lay too great stress on the importance of a well-trained staff, failing which a battery is a "ship without a rudder".
(c.) The gun drill was good, layers and fuze setters accurate, and the actual service of the guns showed careful training.
ENGINEERS.
The technical inspection of the Engineer Company was satisfactory, all but one or two being qualified for their duties.
The attendance at the R.E. searchlight mannings and at the weekly practices at the drill emplacement at Kowloon has been poor.
It is regretted that the Engineer Company find themselves unable to adopt the suggestion to organise a telephone section which would include operators and linemen.
INFANTRY.
A satisfactory start has at last been made with the infantry company and it is hoped that it may eventually reach its full establishment.
The musketry training has been conducted on sound lines but would benefit by increased range facilities. The Tai Hang range is inconveniently situated and unpopular in the hot weather. I recommend that the King's Park Range become the volunteer range and that the Volunteer Reserve Association be allowed the occasional use of it.
At present this range is in the hands of the association, which is of small value from a military point of view, while the Volunteers are only allowed to use it occasionally.
GENERAL.
Although a great deal of useful work is done at the annual camp at Stonecutters and though every credit is due to the men who do this work in their leisure time, often at the end or beginning of a hard day's civil work, it cannot be said that the military value of the camp is equal to the expenditure involved. Most men are only present at irregular intervals for an hour's work in the morning and afternoon so that units seldom work at full strength, a system which is most unsatisfactory both for the instructors and instructee.