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CHAPTER I
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14
COLONIAL FORCES.
Hong Kong Volunteer Corps.
Establishment.
Officers.
N.C.OS. and Men.
Remarks.
Staff
4
1
Field Battery
106
3 Machine Gun Companies
114
Engineer Company
29
Infantry Company
3
54
Band
24
Join Field Battery on mobilization.
Total
21
328
The present strength of the field battery is 16 N.C.Os. and men under the establishment. The machine-gun companies are 1 officer and 24 men over their establishment. The engineer company is 9 men, the infantry company is 1 officer and 26 men, and the band is 12 men under establishment. From the above it will be seen that the corps is 39 officers and men under the establishment; but it is known- although dispositions have not been based thereon--that in the event of war many of the British would enrol themselves in the corps. Both the gunnery and small-arm practice of the corps are good.
The present machine-guns are being converted from 45 to 303, and half of them (six) are now in England for that purpose. The field battery and the machine-
-gun companies are armed with the M.M. carbine; the engineer and the infantry companies with the Lee-Enfield rifle.
Arrangements have been made to relieve the garrison artillery of the heavy work of hoisting ammunition, &c., by the enrolment of coolies, who come into pay on the preparation for defence. Some selected Chinese will also be at once enrolled as scouts and messengers.
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