CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4] — Page 348

2.15.

2.16.

344

on

out of the ranks of disaffected subjects expecially the Stakkas soldiers might & be obtained who have no relatives. within the reach of such barbaritice. I doubt not that the archives of the Government offices here contain correspondence and documents which would throw light

this

question from the occurrence, during the know War, also in reference to the wholesale attempt to prison Sir John. Bowring the

the Governor and the fornicipal European inhabitants the same archives and the record of the Police and Eupreme Courts would shew that grave suspicions existed that the Baker had acted under orders from Canton that he dared not disobey. On the other hand during all Peking Chinese were largely employed (as Soldiers indeed) but in all the services without which our army could not have carried on the war. There is noone in China who could

give

better

the war ar

&

information on this point than Mr Pozario the Interpreter of the Supreme Court who acted as an Interpuncter to our forces during the whole period of the Expedition.

I think that subject only to the one quiction to which have just referred chinese Froops could be trusted in charge. of munitions of war,

much

Indran Groops but on the like conditions. Do

ors in India.

offriero

ao

ag our

OBJ

#

I think that this question is so "not attenutit & form purely a military question that I do

opinion as tip.

au

2.

217+18.

2.19.

9.20.

under

any

cireumistâncts

If

to me that it is desirable to keep up the prestige of the present Volunteer corps by making it a sost of honor socially to belong to it. I would

further and intimate trevery official that actively taking part and distinction in the corps would be one of the essentials in

counting for promotion. Also that in case of any such prospect of liability to attack as be reasonable

every

inhabitant whether subject or alien friend should be

should be compulsarily drilled to as Island.

to be efficient defenders of the

Beyond utilising the resident Puropeans as soldiers for times of ordinary state or of special danger it depends I think on what the dangers to be guarded against are what materials any Auscitiary force shoult

of be composed.

Case

As

I think that in time of war

and in

,

of need that the Police force here could be utilised for general purposes of local defence with safety convenience and advantage, The force'ist believe at present well disciplined a Police force. Many of the men have been soldiers engaged with good characters. Upon my emergencies out of the non-combatant in- habitants a sufficient number of persons could

be selected for the watch and ward" Al

of such colony for

might be necessary. I think that there is danger that the Chinese Government might view with grave

the

formation of any suspicion

tary force to consist of chinece each of the enchiment were carefully confined within this colony.

a time as

mili

2