Sessional_Paper_1905 — Page 597

519

Enclosure No. 7.

The following extract from a report on the Inspection by Major-Genera! G. F. SLADE, C.B., R.A., on February 4th, 1905, having been forwarded by His Excellency the Governor, is now published for the information of all concerned :-

"The practice, considering the foggy state of the weather, was decidedly "good, both from the Field and Machine Guns.

ff

"Faulty observation, neglect to bracket fuzes, and going to Shrapnel with "too short a fuze, led to irregular shooting in some cases. I ordered a change of "objective for the 15-Pr. which brought them into line with the Maxims and at a very small interval from them, and fire was opened from both natures on two separate targets. Ranging on the new objective by the 15-Pr. Battery was well "and rapidly carried out, in spite of the rattle of the Maxims above which it .66 was difficult to hear.

+(

"This experience, was, I believe, new to the Corps, and I think they "appreciated the difficulties of maintaining fire discipline in action, when in close

proximity to Machine Guns.

The general turn out and appearance of all ranks on parade was good, and "they seemed to take an intelligent interest in their duties."

"The Corps is much under establishment and I trust that the 2 Captains, 15 "N.C.O.'s and 93 Gunners, now wanting to complete, may soon be forthcoming, as "I feel sure that if this Corps is kept up to its full strength and maintains its present efficiency, it will prove a valuable force in time of war in the defence of "this Colony."

看着

(Signed.) F. G. SLADE.

Major-General SLADE also gave me permission to inform the members of the Corps that he was specially pleased at the way in which 3,000 rounds were fired from the Maxim Guns without a jam.

It is to be hoped that, after this favourable report from the Inspector General, Royal Garrison Artillery, the members of the Corps will make every endeavour to obtain a sufficient number of recruits to bring the present strength of 270 up to the total establishment of 400.

Hongkong, 14th February, 1905.

C. G. PRITCHARD, Major, Commundant and Adjutant,

Hongkong Volunteer Corps.

ENGINEERS.

STAFF.

Enclosure No. 9.

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Inspection State, 15th April, 1905.

Nos. 1 & 2 ARTILLERY COMPANIES.

DISTRIBUTION.

BAND.

-

C