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Colony, they would be justified in advising a large outlay on it at the present time, and, in view of the above circumstances, they do not recommend the purchase of new guns either from the Government factories at home or from a private firm.

083

At the same time, the Committee are fully alive to the importance of maintaining the interest of the members of the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps in their military duties, and they realize the value of a thoroughly serviceable armament as an aid to this. The Committee have followed for some years the progress of the corps in efficiency, and in numerical strength, and they would regret any falling-off in either 5/3606. respect. They, therefore, recommend that part of the movable armament of the

Soc 17/10/99 informed station, viz., the six 2·5-inch R.M.L. guns which are, according to the Defence Scheme, revised to December, 1898, to be manned by the Hong Kong-Singapore Battalion, that b-25-* Royal Artillery, should, as a temporary measure, be issued on loan to the Hong Kong Rmh. Should Volunteer Corps for practice in peace and for use in war, the 7-pr. R.M.L. guns now as a tirih measureR on charge being withdrawn in exchange. A similar step taken on the recom- & ued to the mendation of the Committee at Singapore, where the Singapore Volunteer Artillery vol in exchange for took charge of guns of the same type, has met with marked success,

7 pr. Roh

5. The Colonial Office have also referred to the Colonial Defence Committee a further despatch from the Governor, dated the 1st June, 1899, recommending the conversion of the twelve Maxim guns in possession of the corps from 45-inch to

303-inch calibre.

The Committee strongly endorse this recommendation, as they attach great importance to uniformity of calibre in the small-arms and machine-guns used by the Imperial and Colonial forces in a Colony.

(Signed) J. E. CLAUSON, Acting Secretary,

September 8, 1899.

Note & despatch 16/6/99 Cornmor

acks that Sup! Gor: should present these gens. This request however fallo to the f

ground.

114/9/99

Sir,

Colonial Defence Committee.

approved by Loft for Mar 24/9/99

STK

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APPENDIX.

Despatch of Governor.

Government House, Hong Kong, May 31, 1899.

I HAVE the honour to forward, for your information and favourable consideration, the enclosed copy of a letter from the Commandant of the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps to the Chief Staff Officer in this command, on the subject of the rearmament of the field battery of the Corps, together with a copy of a Minute by his Excellency the General Officer Commanding, Major-General Gascoigne.

2. I concur in General Gascoigne's opinion that the battery should be equipped with a more modern field piece than that at present in use, which is obsolete and worn out, and that the question of what kind of modern armament should be provided instead should be referred to the Ordnance Committee in England.

3. Six guns would be the proper establishment, and the rough estimate, furnished by the Chief Ordnance Officer for providing more modern guns, amounts to about 3,0001. sterling; on this point, however, you will doubtless consult the War Department.

4. I may add that during the recent events in the new territory, the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps has proved to be a very useful force in the Colony, and the General Officer Commanding has urged that the corps should be increased to 300 men.

5. I shall address you on this latter subject in a separate despatch. In the meanwhile I shall be glad to receive an early reply to this despatch (by telegraph, if possible) in order that due provision may be made in the Estimates for next year.

I have, &c.

The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain, M.P.,

&c.

&c.

&c.

(Signed)

HENRY A. BLAKE, Governor, de.

Sir,

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Enclosure 1.

Letter of Commandant.

Hong Kong, April 5, 1899. I HAVE the honour to request that you will be good enough to lay before his Excellency the Major-General the following proposal for the rearmament of the field battery of the corps under my command.

The field battery is at present armed with the 7-pr. R.M.I.. gun of 200 lb., and it is felt to be prejudicial to the efficiency of the corps to be armed with so obsolete a gun.

Of service guns there are none at present which would seem to be suitable for the require- ments of a volunteer battery in this Colony. The island being so hilly and the paths off the main roads being usually very narrow, some sort of mountain-gun is absolutely necessary. It would be also most desirable to have a breech-loading gun, and, if possible, also “fixed ammu- tion," as the simpler the service of the gun is made for the volunteers, the more effective will be their fire.

If it is decided to rearm the battery I would venture to suggest that the following points may be considered in choosing the gun :-

1. That the gun should be light in draught, and mounted on a carriage suitable for man draught, perhaps a minimum of 800 lb., and a maximum of 1,000 lb., including ammunition, carried on the gun or limber (if any).

2. That the gun be a B.L. gun, as affording greater protection to the detachments on the hillside.

3. That the ammunition be as simple as possible-fixed ammunition, if possible.

4. That the gun be somewhat of the nature of a QF. gun. On this island an enemy coming under fire from a battery would very quickly obtain cover, and it is therefore essential to be able to pour in a heavy fire when an opportunity occurs.

The hillsides are very steep, and the

5. That the gun shall not have a violent recoil. ground is usually very hard and rocky. The gun detachments would, therefore, have very hard work with a violently recoiling gun.

6. That the gun should throw a shell of from 10 to 124 lb. in weight. This would ensure good shrapnel fire, provided the remaining velocity proves sufficient.

7. That the muzzle velocity be as great as can be expected from the foregoing conditions, and that the gun be capable of good shrapnel fire effect up to 2,500 yards.

8. That the track of the wheels be as small as possible, 3 feet if possible. The height of the axis of the gun need not be more than 2 feet, I think, but that, of course, would depend on the shape of the carriage.

9. That the gun be constructed with a view to man draught, and also for carriage by coolies. No weight, when the gun is dismounted, should therefore exceed 200 lb.

10. That the ammunition be carried either by coolies in boxes, or on a limber, if condition (1) be not exceeded.

The 75 mm. Maxim Nordenfeldt 124-pr. Q.F, mountain-gun would appear to fulfil most of these conditions, but it might be improved by a higher velocity. It has an effective shrapnel range of over 3,500 yards, which would hardly be necessary in a mountain-gun for this Colony.

"I would venture to suggest that the Ordnance Committee may be approached on the subject with a view to the guns being selected and supplied from a private firm in the event of the Government factories not being in a position to do so.

I have, &c.

J. W. CARRINGTON, Major, (Signed)

Commandant, H.K.V.C.

The Chief Staff Officer,

Hong Kong and China.

His Excellency the Governor.

Enclosure 2.

Minule of General Officer Commanding.

FORWARDED. I am strongly of opinion that every endeavour should be made to equip the Hong Kong Volunteers with a more modern field-piece. Those at present in use are quite obsolete and worn out. At the same time, I consider that any modern armament to be issued to them should be the same as that which may be issued to the Royal Artillery, in order that we should have in the command as far as possible the much-to-be-desired uniformity.

The question of a suitable field-piece for the movable armament, Royal Artillery, is at present under consideration of the War Office. It would be advisable to refer the question to the Ordnance Committee in England.

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

Commanding Troops, Hong Kong and China.

Page 94

Hong Kong, May 4, 1899.

PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY J. W. HARRISON.-- 11/9,99.

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