Annual Inspection.—The Report of Major-General Sir J. S. Fowler, K.O.M.G., ©.B., D.8.0., Commanding M. Forces in China, upon his recent Inspection of Corps, is appended.
Report of 1922, 1.—This inspection was made at the invitation of the Chairman of the Municipal Council which is the International' executive body of Shanghai. The Chairman of the Council is also Civil] Commandant of the Corps.
2.—The object of the Corps is to aid the Civil Power, Shanghai, to safeguard the lives and property of all nationalities against internal disturbance, 3.—The Municipal Council has consistently supported the Corps, and provided the funds necessary for its maintenance and equipment.
4.—It is a rule of the Corps that only men who will be available on mobilization for an emergency can be enrolled, _6.—The units composing the Corps and the dates of their inspection are as given in the attach-table.
In the units there are many officers and men who have been on active service, or who have served in regular army, units, and their experience is of great value both for training and on mobilization.
From the table it will be seen that the total number of enrolled members of the Corps at the time of my inspection was 1,362; of this total number a proportion is always absent from Shanghai on business or leave.
6.—It was wet weather on several of my inspection days but the numbers on the various parades were quite satisfactory, and particularly so on the inspection of the whole Corps.
7.—I inspected the stores and equipment and found that for the purposes for which the Corps is raised it is well equipped, and that the very considerable sums an-unally expended have been well laid out.
8—In addition, through the courtesy of the Civil Commandant, H. G. Simms, Esq., and the Military Commandant, Colonel Marr Johnson, oM.c., D.S.0.; I was given opportunities of meeting members of the Municipal Council, of the Watch Committee, Commanding Officers and others both past and present members of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps.
9.—Ceremonial Inspection Parade.—The turn out and general appearance of units was smart and soldierlike. They were steady on parade, handled their arms well, and the march past was remarkably good.
The Light Horse and the Field Artillery trotted past, and the Light Horse also galloped past, the alignment and control of their mounts was good, The full fleet of 6 Armoured cars marched past for the first time on an inspection parade. The cars were well handled, and made a fine display of a unit which will be most valuable for patrol work in conjunction with the other Arms.
Much interest attached to the parade of a Corps of units of so many different nationalities, which as far as I know could not be seen anywhere except at Shanghai. The parade attracted many spectators from all sections of the community.
10. Inspection of Units at T'raining—4_ inspected each unit separately with the object of ascertaining the efficiency of the train ing of the units for the duties they might be called on to, perform at Shanghai.
The training of Volunteers who have only a limited time at their disposal for Military training is particularly difficult at Shanghai as there is no open ground which is readily accessible except the Race Course area and the Range. At the same time it must always be borne in mind that the nature of the country in which the units may have to act will be as it actually exists and though it may not be practicable to carry out training exercises in these congested areas, still there are many problems and_ difficulties to be considered and the training as far as possible adapted to overcome them.
Too much stress. cannot be laid on the desirability of sections and platoons training with the men who would compose them on mobile ization so that the officers, N.C.O.'s and men may have confidence in each other and work in co-opera tion.
It has been wisely laid down by the Commandant that a certain number of parades must be devoted to tactical exercises and I am of opinion that the consideration of quite simple short tactical exercises should receive still more attention. li. The Light Horse.—Composed of men who ride paper chases, and play polo, mounted on their own ponies. This unit has recently largely increased in numbers and efficiency. Their mobility and knowledge of the country should be most valuable.
The officers and men are keen on the unit, the saddlery' was well fitted, and the riding good. There are a large number of ponies the racing stables of Shanghai.
I saw the unit at night on their mobilization posts, patrolling and reconnoitring a district.
12, Field Artillery Battery.—The Council maintains a permanent establishment of 40 ponies for this unit. The Battery officers, W.0.'s, N.C.O.'s and men have devoted much time and attention to their training.
Battery positions and ranges to important points have been worke: out, and a useful Signal Section formed for communication with observing stations.
In a change of position on heavy ground, the four-pony teams were generally unable to start the car-. nages without considerable assistance from the detachments, but I understand that the normal team consists of six ponies. The. individual riding of the drivers was geod but they and the teams veguide more training in the elimination of jibbing on starting.
As there is no possible artillery range on land, practice has to be carried out at targets in the river, permission for which is a!- ways kindly given by the Chinese Military Governor of Shanghai.
13. Engineers.—The Engineer Company, though smal]!, is a most useful unit, which had done valuable work during the past season in the construction of portable "knife-rests' for wire entanglements, and of a Bayonet Fighting Course at the Rifle Range. I saw them at work on the preparation of a section of wire entanglement with the excellent materials they have constructed.
Units armed with Machine Guns.—The Machine Gun Company with their six armoured cars were seen in movement and fung at unexpected or disappearing targets. The firing has to be carried cub against the stop butt of the range, and much trouble has been taken to make various tracks on which the cars can move.
The handling of the cars and"the firing was good, and I consider this a unit with a high standard of efficiency.
The armoured cars were designed by Captain Poate, u.c., who had much experience of such vehicles in the War. The armour plate was obtained from England, and fitted by the New Engineering and Shipbuilding Works of Shanghai. The design and equipment are practical. Running boards are provided which have an auxiliary use as levers to raise the car out of soft ground, and a demonstration of this was given.
Each car is at present arnied with a Maxim gun, but a consignment of Vickers guns is shortly expected from England
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.