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Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Artillery.
IT is most strongly recommended that one of the companies of the Hong Kong-Singapore Battalion, R.A., be turned into a mule battery. There would be no difficulty in obtaining any quantity of excellent mules in Northern China, which could be landed in this Colony at a cost of from 157. to 201. a-piece.
Since the acquisition of the new territory there is unlimited excellent ground for the training and practice of a mule battery.
The cost of turning one of the present Asiatic Companies Royal Artillery into a mule battery would not be very great, and the immense gain to the mobility of His Majesty's troops in the Far East should far outweigh the consideration as to expense.
As regards upkeep, the feeding of a mule would not exceed some 9 dollars or 10 dollars per month, and it may be accepted that within a few months after organizing such a battery the cost of feeding could be considerably reduced, as the hillsides produce any quantity of coarse grass
which could be obtained at simply the cost of cutting.
Had I had such a battery under my command during the late operations the mobility of the forces employed would have been enormously increased, as I could then have employed one- half of the battery for their legitimate work, and detailed the other half to perform transport duties, and thereby have saved the troops a large amount of harassing work.
The actual details as to the organization, extra cost, &c., of a mule battery as above recommended are not submitted, pending decision as to whether the provision of such a battery will be favourably considered.
W. J. G.
20
Ase
approved formation
324 of a mile
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Transport.
AS pointed out, the utmost difficulty arose in obtaining transport, owing to the absolute refusal of the Hong Kong coolies to set foot in the new territory.
It was particularly noticeable that at this very time the natives of the Hong Kong Submarine Mining Company, Royal Engineers, many of whom had relatives actually in arms against us, worked in a manner which has called forth my warmest praise, as it was very largely due to these men that the telephone lines were so rapidly and well laid.
In a lesser degree the permanent establishment of Army Service Corps boatmen did good work, and no great difficulty was experienced in sending them into the new district.
It would undoubtedly add considerably to the general efficiency of the garrison if there was a small establishment of Army Service Corps permanent coolies to form the nucleus of a coolie corps should the necessity for such ever arise.
Kansport co months of coolies headmast. coolies
Feb. 1904
It is strongly recommended that authority be granted for making the experiment for a few
would be employed in the general transport work of the garrison, and it is estimated that the cost would be paid for by a corresponding reduction in the amount now spent in hiring casual labour through the contractor. Thirty coolies could be obtained at a wage of 7 dollars per month each, and one headman at 10 dollars. A clothing allowance of 50 cents per month for each man would bring their total cost up to 235 dollars per month, which would be the cost of a like number of coolies by the large mercantile houses in the Colony.
This experiment, if successful, would certainly be the means of very greatly improving the transport of the command, and might then be gradually extended as far as possible without incurring extra expense.
Should this recommendation be favourably considered, full details will be submitted for final decision.
W. J. G.
No. 2.
Letter of General Officer Commanding.
(No. 1970/1 b.) Sir,
Hong Kong, February 14, 1900. WITH reference to my letter* of the 18th July, 1899, No. 1970/1, and to War Office letter of the 12th September, 1899, No. 083/3588, Confidential, I have the honour now to submit a detailed statement of my proposals for organization containing also the estimated expenditure involved by the scheme. I anticipate a saving in the case of the formation of a coolie corps, but experience alone can show what the amount will be.
2. Coolie Corps.-My proposal is to form a small coolie corps as the nucleus of a transport establishment for permanent employment in the Army Service Corps branch of this command. The corps will be used for the routine station labour, providing transport for the R.A.M.C. ordinary station requirements; and a proportion of trained coolies on active service.
* No. 1 above.
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