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10. Since the above was written I have received letter No. 083/3829, dated the 8th March last, from the D.A.G., War Office.* When the question of the formation of a mountain battery. is again taken up, and I trust that will be very shortly, I beg that it may be considered from the aspect detailed in this letter and that my proposals and recommendations previously given may be considered as cancelled. I will in the interim prepare and dispatch by the next mail a detailed statement of the cost which my present recommendation will entail, as asked for in D.A.G.'s Confidential letter No. 083/3588, dated the 9th February, 1900.

I have, &c.

(Signed) W. J. GASCOIGNE, Major-General,

Commanding in China and Hong Kong.

No. 6.

Letter of Officer Commanding.

(No. 1462/201 E.) Sir,

Hong Kong, September 14, 1901. WITH reference to the suggestion contained in War Office letter 57/Hong Kong/540†, dated the 15th April, 1901, that carrying equipment similar to that used in West Africa should be adopted for the transport of the 2-95-inch Q.F. mountain guns allotted to Hong Kong, I have the honour to point out that such as laid down in the handbook for the gun is not feasible in this country, firstly, because coolies will not carry loads on their heads, and secondly, because the ground to be traversed consists either of steep and rugged hills or of paddy fields, these latter being separated by narrow banks, which necessitates the loads being carried by men in single file.

A carrying equipment suitable to local circumstances could be designed, but is not recom- mended for the chief reason that coolie transport is not to be counted on in case of war, though plentiful in peace time.

In the operations in the new territory in 1899, the usual number of coolies were applied for to transport the mountain guns when used; they refused to go, the result being that the gunners had to get the guns on by themselves. Their pace was under 2 miles per hour, thereby delaying the column, and had their guns been required the men would have come into action far from fresh.

In the operations in and around Tien-tsin in June and July of 1900, no coolies were obtain- able, the 2.5-inch R.M.L. battery could only be moved with difficulty in the broken and swampy country. Frequently the infantry escort had to sling their rifles and come to the gunners assistance; a questionable practice in the face of a more enterprising enemy.

Under the circumstances I beg to recommend most strongly that the proposals in this Office letter, No. 1462/193, dated the 4th January, 1901, for a cadre of mules with the necessary establishment of drivers, &c., may be reconsidered.

The ultimate role for the 2·95-inch Q.F. mountain battery is to assist in the defences of the land front on the mainland, but without efficient and reliable means of transport their sphere of action will be largely limited.

Under-Secretary of State for War.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

L. F. BROWN, Colonel, R.E,,

Commanding in China and Hong Kong.

*Not printed. Informed G.O.C. that his application in No. 4 for a small cadre of mules and drivers could not be entertained at present.

† Not printed.

No. 4.

PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY J. W. HARRISON.--

---20/1/1902,

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