CAB7-1 — Page 159

Page 159

174

touched on the facility with which Chinese soldiers could be recruited and trained in Hong Kong. With respect to the Chinese police, I am happy to say both Mr. Deane and Mr. Creagh, the Superintendent and Deputy-Superintendent, tell me the experiment I requested them to make has so far succeeded to their complete satisfaction; and as regards the larger question of recruiting native soldiers, all that I have recently ascertained tends to confirm the views I presumed to lay before you.

4. The suggestion of Sir Alexander Milne's Committee that a battalion of Chinese may be raised in Hong Kong to supplement the present European garrison is therefore one that I should be heartily prepared to co-operate with the military authorities in carrying into effect whenever you give me instructions to do so. I will only say at this preliminary stage of the project that the European officers who may be selected by His Royal Highness the Commander-in-chief for Commissions in such a regiment, should, as far as possible, have some knowledge of Chinese disposition and habits. Of course some acquaintance with the language would also be most valuable.

5. I find that military officers (like all other Europeans, indeed, one meets with in the East), may be divided into two classes: those who seem to take an interest in studying Chinese character, and gain in that way an intelligent_sympathy with the natives, and those who are more or less prejudiced against them. In my few years experience of a Chinese Settlement on the coast of Borneo, and my brief administration of this Colony, I have seen the every day work of Government so much embarrassed by this want of sympathy between officials and natives, that I believe this personal question ought not to be overlooked.

6. I venture to add that my experience entirely confirms the strongly expressed opinion of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge as to the impolicy of increasing this garrision by the addition of troops from the United Kingdom. In my despatch No. 1 of the 3rd of January, 1878, 1 referred to the unhealthy condition into which the men of the 28th Regiment were brought by their service in this Colony. I regret to say that the frequent returns the military authorities are good enough to send me, show that the 74th Highlanders are undergoing a similar process of being weakened and rendered. sickly by this climate and by the temptations to drink and vice which abound here. civilian, I am very reluctant to express an opinion on the question, but I must not conceal from Her Majesty's Government that year after year I have witnessed in the tropics the gradual deterioration of fine regiments. It is not a question merely of deaths or invaliding, but of permanent injury to the constitution and character which even subsequent change to Europe may not remedy.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

J. POPE HENNESSY.

No. 310.

Colonial Defence Committee to Colonial Office.

War Office, August 26, 1878.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

I AM requested by the Colonial Defence Committee to acknowledge the receipt o your letters, dated 19th and 21st August* respectively, having reference to the defence of Esquimalt and Victoria in Vancouver's Island.

The Committee find some difficulty, owing to the somewhat fragmentary nature of the Reports before them, and in the absence of plans, in arriving at any definite conclusion as to the efficiency of the works of defence now under construction.

It would, in their opinion, be very desirable that a request should be addressed to the Government of the Dominion to furnish, without loss of time, a detailed statement, accompanied by plans of the works which have so far been completed or commenced.

Upon the receipt of such a statement, the Committee would be in a better position

to give an opinion on the questions referred to them.

They would also submit, that pending the arrival of a detailed report, it would be advisable the question of defence not being so urgent-that no further works should be commenced, or fresh expenditure incurred.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

HENRY BARKLY, Acting President.

* Nos. 298 and 302.

Page 159

Page 159

Page 159

Page 159