Tt is just a year since the Chinese Company, $.V.C., was insugarated and in that period keen attention to daty has converted the unit into a serviceable body of smart Volunteers. Considerable interest attaches to the conduct of this unit, because it is drawn from a class not hitherto tried as a source of jiliar with the old-time Chinese of the coolie class, or education, whose intelligence was of " very low standard. That such a man conkd be trained into " soldier of moderate efficiency was proved by General Gordon and is demonstrated now in the foreign-drilled ranks of Chibli troops; but the local (chinese Volunteers are men of modern thought and education. Young, eager and rio tie, the only question to be proved their case was whether their enthusiasm would bear the strain of patient stady and physical discomforts necessarily associated with the training of Volunteers. The result has been b: completely satisfactory; for we find the unit to-day, when all the most irksome details have been overcome, showing an esprit de corps and enthus-irisin as great as ever.
In marching across country and on
jai to the other new unit, if ante to discipline, and no complaints are ever heard when bad weather or stiff marching makes duty s matter of personal £08! endurance.
Mach credit for this must be given to the Chinese community which always shown a keen interest in the unit and spots it freely, both Gnanilly and laily. aiterinla: in cela la asa matter in which the unit is to be congratulated: friction or _unpleasantness is never aroused from questions of social rank. Promotion been made purely on grounds of efficiency and those whom zeal or natural talent has taken to the front fare accorded every respect from others who occupy lower grades. The possession of a Club room, in which regular practices are held, is, however, a factor in the success which has been made by the Chinese Company but with all these advantages the very creditable results obtained after hard and patient work by the permanent staff would have been impossible if the recruits had not been compowsd of] satinable material,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.