For some years past there has been great difficulty in securing suitable men for the native branch of the police force, and for this reason daring 1907, the number of men enlisted was re duced to the minimum. This year, however, has seen the appointment of Captain Hilton-Johneon, of the Weihaiwei Regiment, as Assistant Superintendent for the Chinese police. Axa consequence, recruiting has once more been going on on more liberal ecole, and by the end of the first quarter of 1903 it is hoped to bring the native force to its fall strength. Thanks to cared selection by a competent officer, snd a thorough course of training at the new Police Depot in Gordon Rood more suitable type of native is wow being drafted into the force. Each afternoon a batch of candidates lor enlistment assembles in the Courtyard of the Central Police Station, and when word is passed round that the Assistant Superintendent is coming down to spect them, the would-be "bob! get into as perfect " line as possible, and strive with might and main to a" sume an imposing military bearing. The Officer passes up and down the line, scanning the faces of the spplicants, occasionally pulling down an eyelid where an opiam habitue is suspected, and addressing question now and then to a likely candidate, The pick of the batch are then ordered to stand oat, while mainder file away, perhaps to waiting line on another occasion, Next the favoured candidates are examined in reading and writing their own tongue, and should they satisfy the examiner, they are sent to the Health Department for s medical examination. If he survives all these tests the recruit is draft-into the Training Depot, where be given a four months' coarse of drill and instruction preparatory to taking his place in the regaler ranks of the force. Thither we will follow him, and watch his training for a portion of an afternoon.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.