CO129-422 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [5-6] — Page 322

sir,

Enclosure 1.

Head Quarters, China Command,

Hongkong, 1st May, 1915.

315

I have the honour to forward for Your Excellency's

information:-

(1). A Report by Lieut.-Colonel A. Chapman on the Hongkong

Volunteer Corps.

(2).

A Report by Major G, H, Wakeman on the Hongkong Volunteer Reserve.

It is a great pleasure to me to have as part of the

garrison of this Fortress such a very useful body of men.

Had it not been for their patriotism in coming forward

it would have been impossible for me te release the British

Infantry Regiment and so many Artillery and Engineers.

The Engineers have had particularly hard work with the

Lights. The special section of Artillery which has been trained

to work with the 6" guns has also done very good work. The idea

of enlisting in a separate Company men who are physically

incapable of much exertion on the field but are quite fitto

fire a rifle and defend a post is an excellent one.

Much hard work has been done by all ranks but in comm-

on with the rest of us every one still has plenty to learn. I

am quite sure that as the war goes on their efficiency will

increase.

It is a pity that fear of alarming the Chinese pre-

vents them being trained in street fighting, in which it is

quite conceivable they would be wanted. It would seam possible

to begin with a few men at a time and work up so as to gradually

accustom the Chinese to it.

More appliances for training in bayonet fighting are

very necessary.

Much useful work at Stonecutters was done from the

31st October to November 9th by the Hongkong Volunteer Reserve.

His Excellency

Sir . H. May, K.C.M.G.,

Governor of Hongkong.