PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
سائسن ساتيليسا
28082.
(No. 285.) SIB,
358
No. 258.
GOVE:NOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received October 16, 1899.)
[Copy to War Office, October 26, 1899, L.F.]
[Answered by No. 265.]
Government House, Hong Kong, September 15, 1899. In my despatch, No. 107, of 28th April,* I regret to find that in the account of the events connected with the occupation of the New Territory I omitted to mention the services of the Hong Kong Volunteers.
Having received information on the 16th April that there was a project on foot for attacking the Yaumati suburb and Kowloon from the Castle Peak direction, and finding that large numbers of Chinese had been observed at Castle Peak with banners, &c., I requested the Naval authorities to send a vessel of war to the Yaumati side of Kowloon peninsula, there to keep her searchlight on the northern shore, and another to Kowloon Bay, to search the Chinese city with her light, while the officer in com- mand of the troops was requested to send a strong patrol to the Kowloon peninsula.
2. A considerable portion of the garrison was away at Taipo-hui with Major- General Gascoigne, and, after consultation, I agreed with Colonel Elsdale, Royal Engineers, that having regard to the peculiar condition of Hong Kong, it would not be prudent to further reduce the regular garrison. I therefore ordered that the duty should be entrusted to the Hong Kong Volunteers, and having regard to the fact that the order was issued only at 10 p.m., I think the Hong Kong Volunteers deserve credit for the large muster that was able to march off at 10.45 p.m. How the duty was per- formed the attached report will show. The result of the practical demonstration of the utility of the force has been shown by the increase in numbers of the corps from 120 to 350 men. At their present strength, and constituted as they are, I agree with the Major-General Commanding that the Hong Kong Volunteers form a valuable addition to the strength of the garrison.
359
On arrival the guns and escort were immediately disembarked and marched to the north end of Yaumati, where the following dispositions were made by Colonel Main- waring.
One gun under Lieutenant F. Maitland and Lieutenant M. W. Slade, Hong Kong Volunteer Corps, and provided with an escort from Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Field Battery Hong Kong Volunteer Corps, was placed off the new road (Station Street) between Ma Te and Mong-Kok-Tsui, commanding all approaches from the north and east. One gun, under Captain A. Chapman, Hong Kong Volunteer Corps, and ac- companied by Lieutenant G. C. Fullerton, Hong Kong Volunteer Corps, with an escort from the Field Battery Hong Kong Volunteer Corps, was placed on the road to the north of the camping station, commanding approaches from Kowloon City.
One gun under "A Company Sergeant-Major F. Smyth, and escort Royal Welsh Fusiliers, were placed in the vicinity of the Yaumati Police Station to command ap- proaches from the direction of the rifle ranges. These approaches were further held by detachments of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The Yaumati Police Station was told off as the temporary headquarters of the Force, and hospital arrangements were here made by Surgeon-Captain J. A. Lowson, Hong Kong Volunteer Corps.
Picquets were placed to hold important points, not under fire of the machine guns, and patrols, from both the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Field Battery Hong Kong Volunteer Corps, were sent out to patrol the approaches some half mile to the front.
Nothing occurred during the night, and at 6 a.m. next morning the force re-em- barked at Yaumati Police Pier for Hong Kong.
The numbers of the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps present on parade were as follows:-
"A" Machine Gun
Staff. Field Battery. Co.
Officers
Non-commissioned officers and men
Total
2
59
26
5
61
28
Grand total all ranks, 94.
I have, &c.,
Reference :--
C.O. 882
5PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
I have, &c.,
HENRY A. BLAKE,
Governor, &c.
D.A.A.G. and C.S.O,
FORWARDED.
Enclosure in No. 258.
Volunteers.-Report on Disturbances in Kowloon Territory.
From Captain W. St. C. BLAND, Royal Artillery, Adjutant Hong Kong Volunteer Corps, to Major M. M. MORRIS, Royal Artillery, Acting Commandant Hong Kong Volunteer Corps.
Hong Kong, September 11, 1899.
SIR,
In accordance with instructions received from the Chief Staff Officer, and 'n the absence of Colonel R. B. Mainwaring, C.M.G., late Acting Commandant Hong Kong Volunteer Corps, I have the honour to submit the following report on the calling out of the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps on the evening of 16th April, 1899.
At 10 p.m. on the above date, orders were received from Colonel Mainwaring for three Maxim guns, manned by the "A" Machine Gun Company, with an escort from the Field Battery, to parade at Volunteer Headquarters at 10.30 p.m. ready to march
off
Four thousand rounds ammunition per machine gun, and 30 rounds per carbine were taken.
The above detail, under command of Captain A. Chapman, Hong Kong Volun teer Corps, marched off at 10.45 p.m. to Pedder's Wharf. They were here joined by half company Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
At 11.30 p.m., the whole force, under Colonel Mainwaring, C.M.G., embarked on board two launches, and proceeded to Tsim-Tea-Tsui, which was reached about midnight.
• No. 171.
M. M. MORRIS,
WM. BLAND,
Captain, Royal Artillery,
Adjutant Hong Kong Volunteer Cords.
Major Royal Artillery,
Acting Commandant, Hong Kong Volunteer Corps.
Hong Kong, September 11, 1899.
THE HONOURABLE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,
September 12, 1899.
You expressed a desire to have this report, so I have obtained a statement of the operations from the Adjutant of the Corps, Colonel Mainwaring having left without furnishing a report.
N. V. O'G.,
28428
(Confidential.)
SIR,
No. 259.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received October 18, 1899.) [Answered by No. 261.]
C.S.O.
Foreign Office, October 17, 1899.
I LAID before the Marquess of Salisbury your letter of the 9th instant, relative to the retrocession to China of Sham Chun, and inviting attention to a communication† addressed to your Department by the War Office on the subject.
• No. 255,
↑ 25950; not printed.
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