1.—It had been my intention to have reviewed the Shanghai Volunteer Corps on " Ceremonial Parade, and in addition I hoped to have had opportunities of observing the various Units composing the Corps at work on the exercises of their particular arms.
Unfortunately persistent wet weather rendered the review ground unfit for the movement of troops so that the ceremonial parade had! to be abandoned, but I was able to see every Unit of the Corps separately on parade or at their mobilization posts.
Units thus seen was 704 out of 832 sidering the bad weather and con-} sequent uncertainty as to parades, these figures indicate a satisfactory} given in Appendix I., from which' it will be seen that the Field Artillery Battery and Portuguese Company paraded at the full strength of the members present in Shanghai, but I quite understand that in some Units, such as the Customs Company, the Civil occupation of the members prohibited the attendance of the whole at any one time.
2—The appearance throughout was satisfactory. The Units were well turned out, and the dress was generally suitable for their duties. Boots are of various patterns, and qualities, but, as distances are short the supply of a good marching boot for Dismounted Units is not at present a real need.
3.—The knowledge of drill was on the whole quite sufficient, and in many cases good, as is only to be expected from a Corps with so many experienced soldiers in its ranks.
The Units seen at their mobilization posts knew their duties.
4.—The accommodation provided for the Corps, their Headquarters and Stores should be sufficient when the move is made to the New Municipal Buildings. The present Town Hall does not provide suitable or adequate store rooms and offices.
But, in the new buildings the Drill Hall is, very good, the offices well arranged, and the store rooms ample for present requirements.
I understand that a garage and a shell store are also to be provided there. These are necessary, and with the ordinary precautions there should be no undue risk attached to the storage of the 4.5-in. ammunition.
The Artillery ponies seemed well cared for in their stables, and 1 should hardly think that a move from their present position to the except that the Engineer Unit is too weak for the many calls which would be made upon it.
In the Reserves the Corps pos: sesses a valuable example of a store of experience. I saw the British Infantry Reserves at drill and was favourably impressed by their keen spirit and their desire to be of rea] assistance.
Organization. 7.—Military efticiency depends upon thorough organization from the section up wards, The men forming a section should be accustomed always to work together and so to know and have confidence in their leader and their comrades, This is particularly necessary in a Volunteer Corps where opportunities for practice in their duties are limited by the tims which the members of the Corps can spare from their civil avoca tions. I found the Shanghai Yo lunteer Corps organization is for lowing this principle. The com position, of sections, troops and platoons aims at the retention of the same personnel, working unde: the same leaders.
Equipment. 8.—In the Far East, distance from sources of supply requires the long view in equipment. It is not only necessary that the equipment itself should be vf good quality, but also that reserves should be on the spot available to replace any unexpected loss or damage and to fit out the additional members who would new buildings would offer sufficient wish to join in the event of any advantages to compensate for the emergency arising. For these rea-distance they would then be from sons I support the recommenda-their exercise ground, and to tions of your Commandant and justify the expense involved. consider that the equipment of the 5.—In July, 1990 the Shanghai Corps should comprise Municipal Council ruled that "the 1,500 rifles, primary function of the Corps is 26 Lewis Guns, that of a Defence force and that 14 Vickers Machine Guns, under ordinary circumstances no all of modern type, and best operations outside the Settlement quality. should be contemplated."
As regards small arm ammuni-In the light of this I shall now tion the aim should be to build up examine the composition, organiza-a stock of 1,000,000 (one million) tion, equipment, training and mo-rounds in addition to the annual bilization scheme of the Corps. expenditure for all purposes which Composition. 6.—All arms of the is estimated "in 1921 to be some land service are represented in the 250,000 rounds. In this way, there composition of the Corps with the would normally be about 600 exception of Signals and Tanks. rounds available for each of 1,500 regards the latter, armoured rifles, as well as. 10,000 per Lewis The aggregate strength of the' cars are especially suitable for] Gun and 12,000 per Vickers street fighting and I am glad to Machine Gun. The new supplies members present in Shanghai; con-hear that the Municipal Council will all be Mark VII so that in has recognized this need and pro-time the Mark VI of which some pose to add to the Corps an 393,000 is now in stock will dis-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.