On Saturday afternoon the entire Volunteer Corps took part in manceuvres in the country between the Rifle Range and the Waterworks. The weather was ideal, and the ground was in perfect condition, being neither too dusty nor too soft to render marching difficult. It was agreed on all sides, when the operations terminated, that they had been the most successful and instructive in which the S. V. C. had taken part for many years. One touch of realism was lacking; no blank ammunition has as yet been sent from Hongkong for the Artillery's new guns, and thus, while they were constantly in action, the attacking force had no means of knowing where they were or what they were doing.
The defending force was under the command of Major Traeman, and consisted of one troop of the Light Horse, two Maxims, the M.I., the Customs, "A", American and Portuguese Companies, and the Artillery. Captain Stewart. who was responsible for the attack, bad two troops of Light Horse, two Maxims, and "B," the Chinese, German and Japanese Companies. The forces were thus fairly even, with the exception of the Artillery, which gave
the operations were intended to take Trueman a slight advantage. the form of an "instructional drill" in the open country rather than to be manoeuvres with a definite tactical scheme.
The attacking force was to cross Hongkew Creek st the Mortuary Bridge, then move gradually in a 8. E, -C. herald and S. C. & C. Gazette.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.