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All the squads were changed on to the Maxim guns and fired at barrel targets, with good results.
One Maxim gun jammed frequently. This fault had been found with this gun at preli- minary instructional practice on the range, and the gun had been thoroughly overhauled by the armourer-sergeant, who replaced the old barrel with a new one. The fault was due to the connecting rod; new ones had been ordered for some time for all the guns, but have not yet arrived in the Colony.
Colonel Kent, C.R.A., inspected the men at this practice, and His Excellency the Governor and His Excellency the G.O.C. were present. The C.R.A. reported favourably on the practice.
Musketry.-Class firing was carried out more thoroughly than in previous years, and 168 officers and men fired the course; a good average was obtained.
The officers and staff sergeants carried out revolver practice, showing a marked improvement on last year.
Inspection. His Excellency the Governor inspected the camp on the 23rd October and saw the corps on parade; he stated that the arrangements were very satisfactory.
His Excellency the G.O.C. inspected the camp and the corps on the 29th October. He informed the officers and men on parade that he saw a distinct improvement; the gun drill was well carried out, and with far greater rapidity than in previous years; the field day showed that the corps had made a distinct advance, and he was glad to see that points which he had noticed on former occasions at drill and in the state of the camp had been corrected.
The O.C.R.A. inspected the artillery units at gun practice and reported favourably. The O.C.S.M., R.E., carried out an examination of the members of the engineer company in their duties as electricians and engine-drivers and, except in the case of one man, reported very favourably on the results of the examination and the progress that had been made during the camp.
Medical Officer's Report.-Lieutenant C. Forsyth, the corps medical officer, was present every night during the camp and was of great assistance to me in keeping the camp in a good sanitary condition. The hospital tent was fitted with greater comfort than in former years; five beds with mosquito curtains were put up, but were not occupied.
Lieutenant Forsyth reported as follows:---
"I have practically no comments to make, as with a little supervising everything went splendidly, the food and drink were good, the latrines were kept in good order, and beyond a few cases of mild diarrhoea, and some very minor surgical accidents, nothing of a medical nature happened."
Discipline. The discipline of all ranks was excellent.
Remarks. The work done during the camp was extremely good, and the extension of the period from ten to sixteen days proved a great success, as I hoped, the extra knowledge gained by all ranks resulting in a far higher state of efficiency thau has been attained in former years.
Numerous improvements were introduced into the camp, the most important being the thorough lighting of the camp with electric light by the engineer company, the greater comfort of the hospital tent, and an improved ablution place for the men.
The officers attended the camp even better than in previous years, every officer present in the Colony attended nearly the whole time, the average attendance of officers being twelve out of thirteen each day.
Captain Armstrong's company, Right Half No. 2 Company H.K.V.A., showed attendance, every man attending camp except those on leave.
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The corps sergeant-major gave me the greatest assistance as usual, and the corps armourer-sergeant and the instructors all carried out their duties to the satisfaction of all
ranks.
The naval range and the revolver range were very kindly placed at the disposal of the corps by Commodore Williams, and the arrangements made by the petty officer and his assistants to enable the members of the corps to complete their musketry course were very satisfactory.
I have, &c. (Signed)
C. G. PRITCHARD, Major, Commandant, Hong Kong Volunteer Corps.
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His Excellency the General Officer Commanding made the following comments on the above camp report:—
"This is a satisfactory report, for it shows progress all round and the attainment of greater proficiency. The good attendance is the outward and visible sign of the determination of all ranks to improve themselves."
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