The annual inspection of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps took place on Saturday and was favoured with perfect weather, as a consequence of which there was not only a large muster of spectators at the Race Course but a good muster of the corps. Excludingthe commanding oticer, adjutant, and medical staff, the following figures as nearly as possible represent the numbers on parade:—Light Horse, 18; Artillery, 51; Infantry, 126; Band, 24; total, 219. The Artillery made an exceptionally good turn out, which must have been some return to Capt. Clarke for the time and trouble he has bestowed upon the drill of this branch of the force. The regiment, after proceeding to the Race Course in the usual way, was formed up to await the arrival of the inspecting officer, Major-General Edwards (in command of the treey at Hongkong), who shortly after wa: arrived on the ground accompanied by his Secretary at Hongkong), Dr. Macleod and aide de camp, Major Brownrigg (military
Miss Rogerson. After being received with a general salute the General rode along the Tine and then took up his post at the suluting point, where he witnessed the march past, which was performed both at the march and the double. Both Light Horse and Artillery showed to great advantage, but though the Infantry marched past very sundry movementahad been exsvuted bythe well their doubling was not so ook After three branches independently, a sham fight on a small scale took place, mainly for the purpose, it appeared, of exhibiting the process of conveying the field guns across creek: Lieut. Sassoon and eight Artillerymen, Capt. Lanning and twenty men of ©' Com: pay, and the Light Horse were despatched to take up a position under cover near the Widow's Monument, while the rest of the Infantry, supported by the fire from the other three guns of the Artillery, advanced to attack them across a creek, The bridge was quickly laid by the Artillery, but the usual difficulty was experienced in getting the ponies across, and in the end the ponies had to be left on the wrong side of the creek and the guns dragged over by hand. The attackers were more or less exposed to the enemy's fire, and in actual warfare would probably have had the worst of the encounter in spite of their superior numerical strength.
At the conclusion of the operations, the men were formed up in square and addressed by Major-Gen, Edwards, who said Shanghai Volunteers—When, some two months since, Mr. Macgregor wrote to me, as oticer commanding in China, asking me to nominate an officer to inspect the Shanghai Volunteers after their training this ear, I cannot tell you what pleasure it gave me to be able to reply that I would myself wake that inspection, Doubtless some of you will remember that I had the honour of ing her Majesty at this centre of civilisation more than twenty four years ago: therefore it is with great pleasure that I come amongst you on this occasion. I aim pleased to find that the efficiency which the volunteer corps had in those days is fully maintained. As far as Ican remember, the numbers are considerably increased. I know of no place in the world where a corps of volunteers can render more important service for the preservation of the lives of their wives and families and their homes than they may be able to do at this important port. At any moment circumstances may arise which may render you liable to be called out for this purpose. I need hardly say that, should such a thing happen, it would be of the utmost importance for the ranks to be filled only with those men who are thoroughly efficient. I understand it is a rule of the corps that on such an occasion no man shall be in the ranks unless he is efficient. I am quite sure you all understand the reason of that. It would never do, onan occasion when it may be a question of life and death and the greatest steadiness is required, to have in the ranks an admixture of men who could not be relied upon. Such being the case, I hope and trust that those members who are now non-efficient—in all probability owing to the difficulty they have in finding time to drill—will do their dest to become efficient; and that they will bear in mind that their commanding officer has devoted much time to bringing: the corps to its present condition, Tunderstand that there are a great number of excellent shots among you, others good shots, and a certain proportion who require much more practice before they can be considered efficient in this department. These last should remember that efficiency can only be obtained by constant and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.