MWMMMiMMM^M^^^^^: (QortteU Intwerattg Slibtarg CHARLES WILLIAM WASON COLLECTION CHINA AND THE CHINESE THE GIFT OF CHARLES WILLIAM WASON CLASS OF 1876 1918 Cornell University Library UH 257.G78 Return to an address of the Honourable T 3 1924 023 927 977 The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924023927977 BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS MOR.TALITY OF TROOPS IN CHINA 18 6 6 /A ^^ CLEVELAND 19 15 CONTENTS Shanghai: Return to am Address of the Honouralsle the House of Coimnone^ 1863 Mortality in Troops (China and Japan) ^ 1866 Report: Mortality of Troops (China), 1866 Index to the Report from the Select Committee on Mortality of Troops (China), 1866 SHANGHAI. RETURN to an Address of the Honourable The House of Commons, dated 25 June 1 863 'i—for, '* COPY of the Correspondence between the Military Authorities at Shanghai and the "War Office respecting the Insalubrity of Shanghai as a Station for European Troops :" " And, Numerical Return of Sickness and Mortality of the Troops of all Arms at Shanghai, hora the Year 1860 to the latest date, showing the Per-centage upon the Total Strength." 7^JuW863.} HARTINGTON. (No. 59.) Head Quarters, Shanghai, Sir, 17 September 1862. I have the honour to forward, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, the general Sanitary Beport of the troops stationed at Shanghai during the month of July last, together with a letter from Surgeon Rennie, 31st Regiment, principal medical officer at Shanghai, which shows clearly the prevalence of a severe epidemic (cholera), to which the troops, in common with the population, have been unavoidably exposed throughout the summer. I have, &c. (signed) W. Stavely, Brigadier General, Commanding Her Britannic Majesty's The Under Secretary of State, Troops in China. War Office. Sir, Shanghai, 26 August 1862. In forwarding for the information of the Brigadier General commanding the troops in China, the annexed copy of a Sanitary Report prepared by me for the principal medical officer at Hong Hong, embracing a summary of the Sanitary Reports of the medical officers in charge of corps for the month of July, with my own remarks, I have thought it as well to prefix a copy of the observations 1 made on the health of the troops in the " General Monthly Return," dated 1st August 1862; allusion being made therein more fully to the severe epidemic influence (cholera) to which the troops have been exposed in common with the population of the whole of the north coast of China from Shanghai to Peking, and which by the latest accounts has diffused itself in an easterly direction, and is now committing fearful ravages in Manchuria and Japan. At the latter place, last week, in a hospital at Nagasaki, under the charge of a Dutch physician, out of 100 patients 67 having died in one day. At Peking I am informed by an eye witness the native population were dying on the streets at the rate of several hundred a day, and of the population of Tien-tsin, 20,000 are believed to have fallen victims to it. » 466. A At 2 CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE INSALUBRITY At the new treaty port of New Chewangra Manchuria, the last news we have is that the sudden appearance of the cholera and the heavy mortality caused by it has occasioned a complete suspension of trade. When the trying circumstances under which the troops have been placed are duly considered, I am of opinion that their present sanitary condition is more satisfactory than could reasonably have been expected, of which I can cite no more striking illustration than the events of this very day, when on Shanghai being threatened by the Taeping rebels, the whole force (2,532 men), European and native, was found effective, less 250 men in hospital (of whom 61 were cases of venereal and surgical disease), and after driving the rebels across the Soo Chow River, in the course of which a fatiguing march of 12 miles was performed, returned to Shanghai this evening wiithout a man having fallen out, with the exception of two cases of ague that occurred on the march. I have, &c. (signed) D. R. Rennie, m. d.. Surgeon, 31st Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. The Assistant Adjutant General, Shanghai. Extract from General Monthly Return of the troops serving in China, for the 1st August 1862. ChoLeka has been epidemic amongst the native population since the latter third of May last, and has beeu more or less prevalent amongst the European troops during the present month, however, occurring only in the form of isolated cases, and not almost daily as was the case during the period immediately preceding. I believe that every available means have been adopted for the preservation of the health of the soldiers in this district, and under ordinary circumstances, the same I feel assured would have been apparent in a \ery moderate sick list and casualty return, neither of which, however, under the epidemic influence that has prevailed can be viewed as large. On the contrary, they are moderate for a cholera season, particularly so in China. In respect specially to mortality, considering the fact, that during the month a cholera epidemic of great severitvhas hung over this place, inflicting a heavy loss on Her Majpsty's Mavy, aird the merchant services afloat ; and on the French troops and native population on shore, there is reason for congratulation that the deaths amongst Her Majesty's Euro- pean force at Shanghai have amounted only to 16, and which, by one of those mysterious vagaries so constantly observed during cholera epidemics, has fallen chiefly on the 31st Regiment; the mortality amongst the native troops has been very small, and they have sufieied but little from cholera. (signed) D. R. Rennie, m.d.. Surgeon, 31st Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. General Sanitary Report of the troops stationed at Shanghai, for the month of July 1862. 1. — State of Barracks or Tents and of Guard Rooms and Cells, particularly with reference to overcrowding, and tlie state of ventilation. Royal Artillery. —One portion of No. 3 Battery of the 13th Brigade has been quartered during the month in a two-storied house within the Consular grounds, which hardly being sufficient for the number of men detailed for it, arrangements have been made for inereaaing the accommodation. Another portion of the battery was quartered for the first half of the month m a range of two-storied Chinese houses in the rear of the settlement, near the for- tification wall. On the 15th of the month it was necessary to evacuate them owing; to sigps of their being unsafe. The men were placed in large Indian tents, in an open space in the neighbourhood. '^ '^ The medical officer in charge of the battery, objects, in his Sanitary Report to the tents on the ground, that they are too hot for men to live in at the present season of the year • but his objection is not supported by the statements of the men who, on each occasion of mv visiting them, have expressed themselves as much cooler and more comfortable than when living in houses. The medical officer also draws attention to the fact that the ground near them becomes muady durmg rain. This is simply irremediable, being a risult which ensues on all alluvial soils. I have been careful to observe this, and am satisfied no evil accrues from It. The ground, I may remark, dries up very quickly, and if the tents are properly trenched, the men sufl-er, according to their statements, no inconvenience from the ram. nf'^!!riT.h"«''°^/^ Royal Artillery in Shanghai consists of one half of the 8th Battery of the 14th Brigade, which is quartered in a large house in the centre of the English settlement. OF SHANGHAI AS A STATION FOR EUROPEAN TROOPS. 3 settlement, where the state of the barracks is represented as satisfactory, and the men comfortable. On making a sanitary inspection of these barracks towards the end of the mouth, while I saw nothing to complain of in the way the men of the battery were housed, I found a corps of Chinese that is attached to this battery, and quartered with it, very much over- crowded, so much so indeed, that a continuance of it must have developed serious disease. I represented the provision of increased space for these men to be an immediate necessity, and measures were at once adopted to procure the requisite accommodation. Royal Engineers. — The company of Royal Engineers was located, until the 16th of the month, in a portion of the Chinese i-ange of buildings occupied by the Royal Artillery. On evacuating them they also went under canvas, and the result of my inspection of their camp has been satisfactory, the men stating that sicknpss has decreased, and that they are cooler and more comfortable than when occupying the buildings referred to. 31s^ Regiment. — ^The Regiment occupies four large godowns or tea stores, two situated on the English, and two on the American side of ihe small river known as the Soo-Chow Creek. The head quarters are on the American side. These godowns form, on the whole, excellent barracks, and from their construction, admit of a degree of ventilation considerably in excess of that usually practicable in the dormitories of soldiers. Qltli Regiment. — This corps is quartered in the native or walled City of Shanghai, and occupies the Confucian and two smaller temples. The surgeon represents the accommodation as ample, and the ventilation sufficient throughout all the barrack rooms. A detachment of the regiment has been stationed at Na-jan, a town taken from the Taepings about two mouths ago, on the opposite side of the Wang-Jaoo river, on what is known as the Roo Kung Peninsula. The medical officer in charge states, the barracli rooms are not overcrowded, and that the ventilation is good. bth Bombay Native Infantry. — The barracks are in good order, not overcrowded, and sufficiently ventilated. 22nd Bengal Native Infantry. — The barrack accommodation is ample in every respect, and the ventilation excellent. A detachment of this corps is stationed at Na-jan with the 67th, and the sanitary condition is reported to be satisfactory. Fa-wha Detachments, 3Tst and 67th Regiments. — Detachments of the 31st and 67th Tegiments, and a party of 15 Artillerymen have been stationed during the month at Fa-wha, a villag'e five miles from Shanghai. Several paddy fields are in the immediate vicinity, and towards the end of the month a good deal of mild intermittent fever occurred, confined almost entirely in a detachment of the 31st regiment, that went out towards the latter third of the month; these men .apparently being more susceptible of the ague generating influence than the men who had been longer there. 2.— State of Latrines, Urinals, and Ashpits, and of Ablution and Bath Rooms, and Wash-houses. The latrines of the forces generally are in good order, and care is taken that they are regularily emptied. In reference to the means of ablution, they are, on the whole, satisfac- tory ; though, from the peculiar circumstances under which the force is located in one or two instances, they are hardly as good as might be desired. 3. State of Drainage, Sewerage, and general Sanitary condition of the vicinity of the Barracks and Station. Under the circumstances, one portion of the force, being situate in the midst of a dense Chinese population, and the other portion in the immediate vicinity of crowded suburbs, the state of drainage, sewerage, &c., is necessarily very defective; at the same time, every exertion is used, as much as practicable, to improve it in the neighbourhood of the barracks. 4.— Means of Cooking, and condition of Barrack Kitchens. The facilities for cooking are ample in every instance, and the condition generally of the barrack kitchens satisfactory. 5. — Ration of the Troops, with special reference to their quality, and any change in quantity during the Month. On assuming the duties of senior medical officer of the garrison of Shanghai, at the end of last monih, I devoted several days to inspecting the dietetic arrangements of the forces, and the result of personal observation and inquiry into the details connected with the com- position and distribution of the ration then in use impressed me with the belief that some aegreeof alteration was necessary to render it better suited for the extreme lieat of summer then commencing. According to the scale at the time in for^e, the men received .20 ounces of (fresh mieat (beef J three times ; 12 ounces preserved meat twice ; 16 ounces saltpork once; 466. A 2 a^d 4 CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE INSALUBRITY and 16 ounces salt beef once weekly. Five days a week 16 ounces of bread was given, and on two days a week (salt meat days) the same quantity of biscuit. There was a daily issue also of 8 ounces fresh vegetables. The liquor ration consisted of l-6th of a gallon of beer, five days, and l-64th of a gallon of rum two days weekly. On fresh meat days the men used the vegetables (consisting chiefly of radishes, leeks, or onions), for soup ; on other days they eat them raw to breakfast. The biscuit I found to be, for the most part, wasted, the men on the days on which it was issued generally purchasing bread. The salt meat, also, appeared to me to be but partially consumed. With the view of improving the character of the meals, I suggested the following scale of diet for the hot weather : — Fresh meat (beef and mutton alternate days) - - - 14 ounces. Bread ---------- 20 „ Vegetables, fresh - - - - - - - -12 „ In addition to which each man to be compelled to expend a halfpenny a day in the pur- chase of extra vegetables, according to a rule which was in force at Tien-tsin, but which had fallen into abeyance on the arrival of the troops at Shanghai, and the vegetables to be invariably used with the meat, either in the form of soup or stews. With the view of furnishing the men with some guide as to the quantity of bread they should consume at each meal, I suggested that in the event of the issue of 20 ounces of bread being approved of, that it should be baked in 10-ounce loaves, and the men recom- mended to apportion one of them for breakfast, one-fourth of the other for dinner, and the remaining tljree-fourths for supper. I was induced to make this suggestion, from observing that many of the men consumed their whole allowance of bread at breakfast, and, with the exception of drinking their tea, went supperless; constituting a class, that, as a general rule, I believe are more injuriously affected by alcoholic liquors than those who, more judiciously, sub-divide their meals. The issue of rum, during the very hot season, appearing to me objectionable, I recom- mended its being abolished, and porter given in lieu. Jn forwarding my remarks, for the information of the Brigadier General commanding the troops in China, I stated that the change in the diet suggested was the more necessary, owing to an increase which was apparent in the ailments indicating disordered digestion amongst the men, and I expressed the opinion that the proposed diet would not only prove beneficial to their health, but more grateful to their palates than the one they were receiving. Every endeavour was made by the military authorities to give full effect to my recom- mendations, but so many diflSculties were raised by the Commissariat Department, that it was found impracticable to carry them out to the letter. They were, however, in the main adopted, and the following new diet scale put in force on the 10th July : — Fresh meat, 16 ounces, four times a week. Preserved meat, 12 ounces, twice weekly. Salt pork, 16 ounces, once a week. Bread, 20 ounces, every day. On fresh meat days, the men to be provided, at their own expense, with sufficient vegetables and oatmeal, to give their soup a proper consistency ; and every morning three quarters of a pint of coffee to be supplied to tlie men previous to their assembling for early parades ; the coffee to be issued by the commissariat, on the requisition of the com- manding officers of corps, and the following charges made against the men ; — For vegetables and oatmeal, fourpence per week; for coffee the same — making a total charge of eightpence per week. This ration has given satisfaction to the men, and I have seen no reason to object to it. - 6. — Water supply; its source, quality, and sufficiency. The water supply for the troops is, on the whole, satisfactory: in some instances, particu- larly so. It is procured from various sources. The Royal Artillery get it from the river chiefly, and it requires filtering, previous to being used. The 31st is supplied from water- works in the neighbourhood of the barracks, and the quality is unexceptionable. The 67th procure it from wells lately sunk wilhin the barrack enclosures, in the Chinese city, and the quality is good. The 5th Bombay Native Infantry from a large well in the rear of their barracks, the quality good. The 22ad Bengal Native Infantry from wells and canals near their barracks, the quality of the water not being complained of. The troops on detachment have an ample water supply, of good quality. 7.— Quality of the Drinks, and other Canteen supplies. In every instance they are reported fav ourably of by the medical officers in charee of corps. ° 8.— Clothing of the Men ; whether it is suited to the Climate of the Station the Season of the Year, and state of the Weather. ' The whole of the troops, European and Native, at present are dressed in khakee. The former wear the wicker-work solar helmet, and the latter a modifi cation of their native head- dress. Cholera baits have been supplied to all the troops, and I consider that nothing is required in the way of improving their clothing. 9.— Duties OF SHANGHAI AS A STATION FOR EUROPEAN TROOPS. 5 9. — Duties of the Troops, Do they appear to have exercised an unfavourable influence on Health? Average Number of Nights in Bed. The duties consist of occasional parades and drills, with the regular guard duties of the garrison. I cannot say that any facts have come under my observation which would justify me in representing them as having proved in any way injurious to the troops. The number of nights in bed varies a good deal in different corps. In 3-13 battery, Royal Artillery, it is four; in 8-14 battery, five; in the SlstEegimenl, six and seven; in the 67th, four; in the 5th Bombay, three and a half; in the 22d, three. 10. — Hospital Accommodation. Special Notice to be taken of any Over-crowding of the Beds, with explanation of the Causes which. rendered the latter necessary. The Hospital accommodation I consider, on the whole, very satisfactory. The general hospital and regimental hospital of the 31st Regiment are established in large and admirably ventilated godowns, on the American settlement. No. 3 battery, Royal Artillery, has a small frame-work and matting hospital to itself, well suited for the present season. The sick from the other battery of Artillery are treated in the general hospitals. The accommodation for the sick in otlier corps Is also satisfactory, and the ventilation good. 11. — Character of the prevailing Diseases, and if apparently influenced by any of the preceding Conditions. The types of disease most prevalent during the month have been slight periodic fevers and bcwel complaints, and I am not of opinion that either in origin or progress have they been influenced in any perceptible manner by any of the preceding conditions, being more inclined to view them as originating in causes partly constitutional, partly climatic ; in other words, from the effects of a trying climate, on impaired habits of body. 12, — Special Prevalence of any Diseases among the Civil Population in the Vicinity of the Barracks. Cholera has been epidemic amongst the native population since the middle of May last, and has more or less been prevalent amongst the troops ; during the present month, liowever, occurring only in the form of isolated cases. Amongst the native population it was different, the disease continuing to maintain its epidemic character, so much so as at one period of the month to have caused all but a com- plete suspension of business in the Chinese city. Remittent fevers and ordinary bowel aff(2ctions are also stated to have been very common amongst the native population. 13. — Statement of any Recommendations bearing on the Health of the Troops which have been made to the Officer Commanding, with the Results. The following constitute the sanitary recommendations made by me during the month to the Brigadier General Commanding, who authorised their being carried out to the fullest extent ; — 1st. A reconstitution of the diet, so as to render it better adapted to a high temperature, the amount of animal food being diminished and the vegetable constituents increased, such being represented by me as acting indirectly as a preventative of diseases ; a diet containing a liberal allowance of vegetable ingredients being more likely to secure the regular action of the bowels, and thus avert visceral congestions, the first step in the development of febrile disease, and the conferring a predisposition to sun-stroke and heat apoplexy. 2d. The use of punkahs in the barrack rooms during both the day and night. 3d. Supplying the men with ice to cool their ration-porter and other beverages during the day. 4th. Individual segregation at night, several feet (three at least) to intervene between •each bed. 5th. Relieving the men from wearing, during the hot weather, the shoulder belt and cartouche b&x, containing 40 rounds of ball ammunition ; and suggesting that the small pouch worn in front of the waist belt should be (while the shoulder belt pouch was dispensed with) worn behind. The whole of these recommendations have been put in force, with the exception of that referring to punkahs and ice, which it has not yet been practicable to extend to more that one-half of the European forces. D. R. liennie, m.d.. Surgeon 31st Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. 466. A 3 CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE INSALUBRITY (No. 78.) Extract from Letter of Brigadier General Staveley to Secretary of State for War, dated 21 October 1862. Sir, I HAVE the honour to transmit for your information proceedings of a special Medical Board assembled by my order, composed of the Deputy Inspector General Marked ^A.) of Hospitals, Dr. Currie, c.b., as President, and the six next senior medical officers at Shanghai as members, to report upon the causes of mortality among the European troops during the recent hot season ; and, also on the barrack and hospital accommodation during the period refeired to. Certain articles having appeared in a local newspaper just started, reflecting upon the condition of the hospitals and quarters of the 31st and 67th Regiments, and the detachment at Fa-wah. , I called upon Dr. Rennie, m.d,, 31st Regiment, the senior medical officer Marked (B.) (Dr. Currie being then at Hong Kong), for a statement as to the state of the quarters in question, and to which I would call your special attention. I enclose his Report which, together with the proceedings of the Medical Board, completely refute the reflections cast by the articles above referred to. I transmit a Report from the Assistant Surgeon who has constantly been in medical charge of the detachment at Fa-wah, the only outpost occupied by British troops ; also a letter from the Assistant Commissary General reporting that no more houses or godowns suitable for officers or men's quarters can be procured at present. The junior ranks of the regimental officers have necessarily only one room between two, as notwithstanding the advertisements of the Assistant Commissary General, as shown in his Report attached, no more quarters have been procurable for the purpose. The officers' quarters of the 67th Regiment in the city are not so good as I could wish, but it is absolutely necessary for the protection of the city that troops be quartered in it ; and, it is equally necessary that their officers should be with the troops. The quarters are the best in the city, and consist of temples situated in an open space of gardens detached from Chinese locality. Her Majesty's 44th Regiment was quartered in the same temples during the summer of 1860, and I am informed was, comparatively, very healthy. I would particularly draw your attention to the Sanitary Report of Dr. Rennie for the month of August 1862. In consequence of the opinion of the Medical Board, that " the epidemic influ- ences which have caused the heavy mortality amongst the troops this summer were altogether beyond the control of sanitary science ;" and, further, that they desired to record their opinion, " that taking into consideration the physical character of the country in and around Shanghai, they are not sanguine of its ever proving a healthy station for European troops, an impression deserving con- siderable support from the fact that during the present summer, so trying to Europeans, the Indian troops have been comparatively healthy. In support of these opinions the Board have received strong corroborative evidence from the principal naval and civil surgeons now at Shanghai." iV:B.— A memorandum on the general accommodation of the troops is attached,, marked (G), OF SHANGHAI AS A STATION FOR EUROPEAN TROOPS. (A.) Proceedings of a Board of Medical Officers, assembled at Shanghai on the 16th October 186:2, by order of Brigadier General Staveley, cb., Commanding the Troops in China for the purpose of reporting on the cause of the Mortality which has prevailed amongst the European Troops stationed in Shanghai, and its vicinity, during the past Summer; and also on the Barrack and Hospital Accommodation of the Troops during the period referred to. President. Dr. Currie, cb.. Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, P. M. O., China. Membeis. Surgeon Rennie, m.d., 31st Regiment. Surgeon Lamprey, m.b., 67th Regiment, Staff Surgeon Ross, m.d. Assistant Surgeon Macartney, m.d. Staff Assistant Surgeon Fraser. Staff Assistant Surgeon Macar'thy, m.d. The Board having assembled, pursuant to order, proceeded to inspect the various barracks and hospitals of the European corps, commencing with the 31st Regiment. The Board having made a careful examination of the barracks of this regiment, is of opinion, that no more accurate description of them can be given than conveyed by the following extract from a Report by the Commanding Royal Engineer, dated 13th instant : — " The 31st Regiment is quartered in five godowns, two of which are situated on the right bank of the Soochow Creek (a tidal stream, 400 feet wide and upwards of 18 feet deep), and the remainder on the left bank. These godowns are of the following dimensions : — " No. 1. — 88 feet long by 63 feet broad, 18 feet high to the eaves, containing 16,314* cubic feet, giving to the 76 men who occupy it 1,950 cubic feet per man. " No. 2. — Is of the same size, and is occupied by the same number of men. Tliese godowns are on the right bank, and are flagged throughout, the floors being raised some 4J feet above the level of the ground outside, which is itself raised some 4 feet above the natural level of the country; the roofs are tiled, and are water-tight. " No. 3. — Is 119 feet long by 117 feet broad, and 16J feet high up to the eaves. " It contains 311,943 cubic feet. It consists of three compartments, thus : — Sic in original. Is floored throughout about 2 or 3 feet above the level of the surrounding ground, which is also raised above the country, and is a magnificent building for troops. It contains 240 men, giving 1,300 cubic feet per man. " No. 4, — Is 117 feet long by 38 feet broad, and 17 feet high up to the eaves ; contain- ing, including the roof, 86,975 feet, and being occupied by 68 men, gives 1,280 cubic feet per man. • c j " This building is three-parts floored, the flooring being laid on joints fixed over the brick tea firing arrangements, and thus being raised some three feet above the floor of the godown. " No. 5.— Is 50 feet long by 87^ feet broad, and 15 fe^t high to the eaves, containing 82,387 cubic feet, and thus affording to the 70 men who occupy it 1,177 cubic feet per man. The floor is flagged throughout, and raised some 2| feet above the level of the ground outside. " These buildings are well lighted by windows and skylights ; and if I was called upon to execute barracks for troops 1 should without hesitation recommend the construction of similar buildings. ■ • i. " The site of those more particularly on the left bank is far preferable to any site m the settlement, as they face the south, from which direction the monsoon blows during the hot months, and they have also the great advantage of being at a distance from any Chinese buildings. i. /• i j " 'i he hospital of the 31st Regiment consists of two godowns, each 94 feet long and 33 feet wide, and 18 feet to the eaves, each containing 71,846 cubic feet, and affording to each of the 40 patients a cubic space of 1,783 cubic feet. The floors are raised, and one of the godowns was boarded, the other has also been boarded lately. 466. A 4 "These 8 CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE INSALUBRITY " These rooms are well ventilated; their site is about 40 yards from the river bank, and the buildings are isolated for a distance of 20 yards all round." The Board is of opinion that the barracks, as described in the preceding extract, in regard to air, light and ventilation, are unexceptionable, and constitute the best accommodation that it was, at the time of arrival, or is now practicable to procure in Shanghai. In respect to locality it is open and remarkably well exposed to ihe prevailing winds. At the same time the Board considers it right to state that there is a supposed objection to residences on the banks of tidal streams, which at low water leave a considerable surface of mud exposed to the sun, but if this objection be founded in fact it applies to the most important part of the foreign settlement at Shanghai. It is also as well to state, that there is an objection in malarious countries to living on ground floors, but in this particular instance the floors are well raised and dry. In reference to the hospital of the 31st Regiment, which has already been described by the Commanding Royal Engineer, the Board considers the accommodation good, irrespec- tive of which it was the only building at all suited for a hospital which it has been practi- cable to procure during the summer months. The description of it given will, however, show that the same questions arise in reference to locality and ground floors as have been cited in the case of the barracks. Royal Arlillery. — This section of the Shanghai garrison consists of the whole of No. 3 Battery of the 13th Brigade, and the half of 8 Battery of the 14th Brigade. The greater portion of the men are located in a large two-storied house and a smaller one adjoining it in the centre of the English settlement. The accommodation is good, and there is no over- crowding; the remainder of the artillerymen are quartered in redoubts along the line of defence in the rear of the settlement. In summer these redoubts proved hot, especially in the afternoon, but every effort was made to counteract this by ample ventilation. As they are well raised from the ground, and boarded, there is no reason but to suppose that they will make comfortable quarters for the winter. The hospital of the Royal Artillery is a two-storied verandahed building belonging to the British Consulate, situated in an open space near the Consular residence. The accom- modation is good, and suflBcient for the sick of the Artillery force and detachment of Royal Engineers. Qllh Regiment. — This corps is quartered within the walled or native City of Shanghai, and occupies the Confucian and series of smaller temples ; some of the rooms contained in these buildings afford good accommodation ibr a number of men. There are also a number of small rooms, which had to be extensively opened out to render them habitable in summer, but which are now in course of alteration so as to make them better adapted for winter quarters ; a proportion of these rooms are upper storeys. The hospital consists of two large temple rooms, which are open and well ventilated, and having boarded floors. This hospital accommodates 52 sick, giving each patient 1,200 cubic feet. Though the Board has not considered it necessary to notice officers' quarters of other corps, which were previously private residences, and therefore very good, yet, in the case of the 67th, it is of opinion that the quarters of the officers of this regiment are very inferior. The site occupied by the building is low, like that of the city generally, and intersected by numerous tidal ditches of a filthy character ; nevertheless, notwithstanding these dis- advantages, the health of the 67th Regiment has not been worse than that of other corps. The Board having reached this point in its investigation, proceeded to a comparison of the rates of mortality in the British land force, from the period of arrival on the 23d April up to the 7th of October 1862, with those extending over the same period, furnished by the Royal Navy, the French military and naval forces, also iiiformation supplied by the principal civil practitioners in Shanghai, and the vital statistics of the Civil Hospital at that place. The strength of the British troops during the period under report was 2,064, and the deaths 178, giving a per-centage of deaths to strength of 8-67. The deaths on the China station generally in the Royal Navy during the same period, out of a strength of 1,411 men, been 91, or 6'44 per cent. In the French Navy, out of a force of 610 men, 53 deaths have occurred, beine a ner- centage of 8'68. ° *^ In the French military force stationed at Shanghai, 85 men have died out of 733 men or 11 "4 4 per cent. ' In the French Mission Establishment at Shanghai, eight out of 44 European priests have died, giving the very high per-centage of 18"1 8. In the two civil hospitals in Shanghai-the aggregate admissions have been 436 and the total deaths 130, or 40-28 per cent. In comparison with this high rate of morlalitv the admissions mto the English military hospitals have been 2,094, givino- a death rate to the number admitted of 8-75 per cent. With reference to the mortality in the Civil Hcsnital the Board thinks it right to add that the admissions into them are generally of a more serious nature than those into hospitals of the public service, but it is also as well to state that the mortality this year to the number admitted into the Civil Hospital has been double that or previous years. The foregoing statistics show that a severe epidemic influence has prevailed during the period OF SHANGHAI AS A STATION FOR EUROPEAN TROOPS. 9 period imder report, and that its effects have not been confined to any particular section of the community, whether ashore or afloat ; the special nature of the epidemic has been a very fatal form of cholera, which has ravaged the whole of the north of China, in the course of the summer, and which at Shanghai has been accompanied and succeeded by dysentery and other bowel affections of an exceedingly intractable nature. Fevers of the intermittent and remittent types have also been generally prevalent ; altogether, as will be seen from the causes stated, the season has been one unusually sickly and deadly, particularly as affecting the European population living on shipboard, the mortality from diseases originating in harbour exceeding considerably that on shore. The Board, in expressing its opinion that the epidemic influences which have caused the heavy mortality amongst the troops this summer were altogether beyond the control of sanitary science, would desire also to record its opinion that, taking into consideration the physical character of the country in and around Shanghai, the Board is not sanguine of its ever proving a healthy station for European troops, an impression deserving considerable support from the fact that during the present summer, so trying to Europeans, the Indian troops have been comparatively healthy. In support of these opinions, the Board has received strong corroborative evidence from the principal naval and civil surgeons now at Shanghai, (signed) L. Currie, Deputy Inspector General, President. (signed) D. JR. Rennie, m.d., Surgeon, 31st Regiment, J. Lamprey, m.b.. Surgeon, 67th Regiment, A, C. Ross, M.D., Staff Surgeon, A. Macartney, M.D.,As6ist. Surgeon,99th Regiment, Jas. J. Macarthy, m.d.. Staff Assistant Surgeon, C. A. Fraser, Staff Assistant Surgeon, ) Members. (B.) Senior Medical Officer's Office, Shanghai, Sir, 15 October 1862. In reply to your memorandum, requesting me to state for the information of the Brigadier General, whether in my opinion any foundation whatever exists for certain statements which have appeared in a local newspaper in reference to the barrack and hospital accommodation of the troops at this station, wherein with alleged defects therewith, it is endeavoured to connect the somewhat heavy mortality that has occurred during the past summer, I have the honour to state that having read over the remarks referred to, they admit of ready disproof, and further, that from a certain want of fairness and tone of exaggeration characterising them, their perusal leaves the impression on my mind that either the object aimed at is of a questionable nature, or the information of the writer singularly erroneous and defective, the more so as no allusion is made to the fact of the season as affecting all classes, having been an unusually sickly and deadly one ; on the contrary, the general tenour of the remarks tending to convey an opposite inference. Though cholera has prevailed epidemically the whole summer, afflicting alike with heavy loss the troops, French and English, the civil communities, native and European, as well as the Royal and French Navies, and Merchant Marine. As the mere general denial of the correctness of the statements in question may hardly meet the object the Brigadier General has in view in calling on me for tliis report, I will endeavour to show in detail that the assertions and conclusions they contain are not sup- ported by facts, 1st, The writer commences by a statement to the effect that the health and frequently life of the British soldier in this part of China is now being sacrificed from an over regard for the public money, in not providing him with proper accommodation, in proof of whicii he goes on to say, that " The immense mortality which has been exhibited in the 31st Regiment during the last five months bring sad and painful reflections to any thinking mind, and when we state that about 100 men have died out of a total strength of about 800, we think that some reformatory steps in the sanitary and social position of the soldier in China are loudly and imperatively called for. At the above per-centage, the entire regiment would •disappear in less than four brief years, without the contingencies of action or other accidental casualties." I will not here enter on a disproof of the asserted relations existing between mortality and barrack accommodation, reserving it until I come to dispose of more specific statements on the same subject, and will confine myself to showing that the statistics on which the introductory remarks are based, present an exaggerated per-centage of mortality. 466. B ' I" 10 CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE INSALUBRITY In place of the strength of the Slst Regiment landed in Shanghai since April last having been about 800^ it has exceeded 1,000 men, as the following figures will show : — Landed from " Vulcan" . - - Ditto "Centaur" - - - - Ditto "Urgent" - - - - Ditto " Marchioness of Londonderry ' Total 680 3 316 12 1,011 The total number of men who have died out of the above number up to the present date is 97 ; of these, two were drowned, one committed suicide, two died as invalids on board Her Majesty's ship " Vulcan," at Chefoo,^and four died in the Civil Hospital at Shanghai (while the regiment was in the field) from diseases they were suffering from on arrival there, making a total of 90 deaths, including those at Chefoo, that have occurred from causes attributable to climatic influences at Shanghai, giving a true per-centage of 8'90. The total per-centage being 9"60, and not upwards of 12 per cent, as the figures, quoted imply. 2d. In the next statement a reference is made to the manner in which the China force sent to India by Lord Elgin was accommodated as compared with the condition of detach- ments on out-post duty here, the writer stating, " We must confess that having seen much of the soldier in India, during the most trying time of its bitter need, when the Government was unprepared for the reception of so large a force as was poured in by the diversion of the China Expedition, by Lord Elgin, we were utterly surprised, during a late walk, to find the soldiers of two British regiments stationed at out-posts, so wretchedly provided witlx hospital and barrack accommodation. It was a wet and unhealthy day on which we went our rounds, and the sick in the so-called hospital quarters were lying exposed in an almost open shed to the drifting rain, which must effectually have saturated the bedding of at all events those men who were placed in the most weatherly position. We were not previously aware that such a course of hydropathic treatment was recommended by the faculty or adopted in Her Majesty's army abroad with anything bearing the semblance of military authority." An attempt to institute a comparison between the circumstances under which the Chinese force was landed at Calcutta, and the force from Tien-Tsin landed at Shanghai, is so palpably unfair, that I shall not occupy time by its discussion, beyond remarking that the removal from time to time of large bodies of troops whose services have been unexpectedly required, constitutes one of the most prominent facts in the modern history of India; whereas, at Shanghai, it has neither been anticipated nor diil ever occur (except to a very limiteJ extent in I860) until the present summer, when troops that were in harbour, on their way to England, had to be landed for the defence of British interests, and barrack and hospital accommodation extemporised almost at a moment's notice in a foreign country. The statements with reference to the out-posts, refer, of course, to the detachments, Royal Artillery and Slst, stationed at Fawha, five miles from Shanghai,, as that is the only out- post duty the troops have to perform, and the description given of the hospital and officers* quarters involves such a disregard for facts, thai I hardly feel inclined lo notice it. I think it is as well, however, to state that there is no hospital at Fawha, the medical officer there being provided with dhoolies, and furnished with written instructions from me ; that on no account are cases of sickness to be detained there, but at once sent to hospital at Shanghai, not because good hospital accommodation for the summer months does not exist at Fawha, but because it is an out-lying post, liable to attack, and from whicl), also, it may at any time be necessary, at very short notice, to move the men in any other direction (as occurred on the 26th of August last) rendering it inexpedient that a regular hospital establishraeot should exist there. Fawha being situated in the midst of rice fields, the men stationed there suffer a good deal from ague, and a casualty ward has all along existed there, where slight cases are retained for a day or two, and if not thtn fit for duty, they are sent to Shanghai. At no time I will venture to say was the rain seen beating in on the men who might be in at the time, and applying the term of an open shed to it, is a gross exaggeration, the place being a room in the centre of a large Chinese building previously used as a pawn- broker's establishment,, well known to be the best and dryest huuses in Chinese towns or villages, wherein, for the purposes of ventilation, partitions have been knocked down. The great difficulty in providitig men with barrack accommodation is securing them adequate ventilation, and to this point particular attention has been paid during the extreme lieat which has prevailed for the last five months, and which now, is hardly over. The care which has been taken in respect to this, by removing all obstructions to ventilation, con- stitutes the complaint made by the writer against the quarters at Fawha, where it was always supposed the men were remarkably well put up, and on every occasion of my visltini^ the quarters, I saw nothing to object to, and was always i:iipressgd with the belief that the officer commanding there (Captain Mitchell, Slst regiment) seemed to take the greatest interest m the way his men were put up, and appeared to be quite satisfied witii the exertions he had made to further their comfort in this respect. Th- statement with refer- ence to the officers' quarters there, I believe to be equally incorrect j under any circum- stances. OF SHANGHAI AS A STATION FOR EUROI^AN TROOPS. 1 1 stances, I never heard them complain ; on the contrary, they seemed to like the station and the medical officer there, I know, has, on three different occasions, when he thought he was going to be removed back to Shanghai, applied in writing to be allowed to remain at Pawha. 3d. The next statement, while it has an utter contempt for facts, appears to have been penned as an advertisement for the Astor House Hotel : — " We had fondly hoped that the dire experience gained in the Crimea, would alone have produced better fiuils, and that in such a variable, and at times unhealthy climate as this every precaution demanded by humanity would have been eagerly adopted "by the authorities for the preservation of the life and health of England's chivalry. It is scarcely a fortnight past since all the officers but two at the head quarters of Her Majesty's 31st Regiment were sick and incapable of duty, while as a marked contrast, their brethren in arms and a large number of private gentlemen residing in the Astor House (in very close proximity to the barracks) have enjoyed excellent health, from the better accommodation and substantial comforts provided tor them in that establishment." The head-quarter house of the 31st Regiment referred to, is a fine two-storied building, with spacious rooms and verandahs. It contains a mess and orderly room, and accommo- dates 12 officers, 10 of them being two in a room of good size, one a field officer, with a large room to himself, and one a subaltern^ in a small room off one of the large ones. This house is hired at 100 /. per month, and up to the period of being occupied by the officers of the 31st Regiment, was the private residence of one of the wealthy merchants of the place. The statement that all the officers residing there, except two, were sick and in- capable of duty about a fortnight prior to the date of the publication of the statement, is ii fiction. At no period since the regiment has been in Shanghai has this been the case, and without going back further than the month of September, I will merely state that during the whole month, four officers only residing there, were attacked with sick- ness ; two being on the sick list with ague from the 1st to the 6th, and the 22d to the 29th September respectively ; one with cholera and one with venereal disease. Though the statement is incorrect with reference to the extent of sickness at the time referred to, the officers of the 31st have, in common with the officers of every other corps, native and European in garrison, suffered a good deal from sickness, but which is due solely to the same epidemic or climatic influences, which have caused an unusual amount of sickness and mortality amongst all classes of the community. The statement that either officers or others residing at the Astor House Hotel, have enjoyed immunity from diseases that the officers and soldiers of the 31st, residing in quarters close by have suffered, is not the case. Out of 17 military officers, for whom want of quarters has necessitated them living at the Astor House Hotel, the medical statistics show that nine of them were attacked with sickness while residing there, and three of the number invalided. While these officers were living there, a fatal case of cholera occurried in the house at the same time that it was prevailing amongst the men of the 31st, and the same diay (18th September) that the officers of the 31st regiment referred to as having suffered from cholera, were attacked in the head-quarter house, the wife of the pro- prietor of the hotel in question was seized with the same disease in a house close by, (Evans's,) where the accommodation is in every respect much superior ; about a fortnight previously, two officers of the 67th regiment suffered also from choleraic attacks, and in the two-storied house adjoining it, occupied by Royal Engineers, nearly all the inmates were at the time suffering from diarrhoea, affording incontrovertible proof that the head-quarter house of the 31st (which I may add is on the opposite side of the Soochow Greek that the Astor House stands on), was exposed to no influence that was not prevailing generally in the neighbourhood. I have thus disposed, I trust, satisfactorily, of the assertions contained in the first article that appeared in the paper referred to. I now proceed to a consideration of those that require notice in the second article, commencing — "We alluded in our former article more particularly to the outpost stations of the two regiments; we will now take a glimpse at the head quarters in Shanghai. These have ex- ternally rather an imposing appearance, but are in reality built in an exceedingly flimsy manner, mud being a large component part of their structure. They were occupied before properly dry or seasoned, to the great detriment of health, and loss of lite, which the i-eturns of that period will indisputably show.. In short they were in such a state that no merchant would have placed his boxes of tea or bales of silk in them, lest the damp should have affected their value, and made them only vendible as damaged goods." Badly informed as the writer is on the various points which have already been noticed, his information is even more glaringly defective here, because had he even properly seen the exterior of, or been inside the buildings in question, he never, except from motives other than a desire to state truth, could so refuse the testimony of his senses as to pen the extract quoted ; and I consider it the more charitable view to take, that he has either been hoaxed or maliciously furnished with false information, as will be seen from the following sketch of the circumstances connected with the arrival and primary location of the 31st Regiment in Shanghai. • . • cl Theheadquartersconsistingof seven companies, numbering 680 men, arrived in Shanghai in Her Majesty's troopship " Vulcan," on the -iSd April last, after a ^passage of seven days from the Peiho. Three days afterwards the regiment landed and marched direct to Naize- 466. B 2 seang, 12 CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE INSALUBRITY seang, 15 miles from Shanghai. On the 29th April it was engaged with the Taepings, and after the capture of their entrenched position at Naize-seaug, marched direct on Khadin^, a further distance of eight miles. There it remained until the capture of the place by esca- lade on the 1st May, and the next day returned to Naize-seang, where it remained for the night, and 6n the 3d marched back to Shanghai, re-embarking the same afternoon on board the "Vulcan." On the 7th of May the regiment again disembarked, leaving a small dep6t behind, and proceeded in gun-boats up the Weing-po river for 40 miles, and landed the same evening at Soon Keong, where it was located for the night in temples in the suburbs, and the next day was transferred to covered country boats, and taken by canal to Tsingpoo, distance from Soon Keong 17 miles; two days were occupied in reaching the place, and two more m making preparations for the attack, the men continuins to live in the boats. The city was stormed on the 12th May, on the 13th the flotilla returned to Soon Keong, where it re- mained until the 15th, when it crossed the Wang-po river to the Pootung Peninsula, and passing up a creek reached a point of debarkal ion about five miles from the fortified position of the Taepings at Najow. On the 16th May, the 31 st Regiment, in common with the rest of the field force, left the boats and took up a position in front of Najow. The following day the place was captured, and the 31st left for the night in possession. The next day it marched for Cholin, a large walled town six miles to the eastward, and that night bivou- acked in the open ; the next it went into farm houses, 1,200 yards from the town. On the 20th May, Cholin was taken by storm, and on the 21st the regiment marched direct to the river near Minghong, where it embarked in gun boats for Shanghai, and the same after- noon re-embarked in ihe " Vulcan." On the 22d I find the following entry in my note book: "Cholera has appeared amongst the troops. Martin Boyle, of the 31st, who has been acting as the general's orderly, was quite well to-day at 10 a.m., almost immediately afterwards he was seized with choleraic symptoms and died at half-past two, p.m. One of the general's grooms, also a soldier of the 99th, was seized about the same time and died equally suddenly. There is now a good deal of sickness, 120 of the force, including natives, being in hospital." On the 23d, my notes for the day commence : " Cholera continues to show itself. Private Clifford seized with it on board the * Vulcan,' at six a.m., died at two p.m. Also Private Nutt brought in to hospital yesterday afternoon, died at noon to-day." On the 24th May, the regiment again landed at Shanghai and marched to Naize-seang with the view of relieving Khading, invested by the Taepings. Private Roberts was at- tacked with cholera on the line of march and died in the afternoon. On the 25th the regiment was engaged the whole day repelling the various attempts the Taepings made to establish themselves in Naize-seang. During the day Wetherburn and Roscoe died from cholera after a few hours illness. On the 26th, two companies of the 31st formed a portion of the column of relief that proceeded to Khading, and brought out the garrison. The regiment returned to Shanghai the following day, and once more em- barked in the " Vulcan." On the afternoon of the 31st May three companies of the regiment were landed, and with two guns dispatched to Fawha in support of the French at Zi-Ka-we, where they were apprehensive of an attack. On the 1st June three more companies landed, in reference to which I find entered in my note book ; " This morning 250 more men landed from the ' Vulcan,' and took up quarters in * godowns ' on the Soochow Creek. The authorities now coming to the conclusion that during the extreme heat it will be impracticable to keep the men on board of ship with due regard to health and efficiency for field service when the cool season arrives, a decision the wisdom of which admits of no second opinion ; there being nothing more deteriorat- ing to troops than a prolonged residence in large numbers on ship board." At this time cholera was very prevalent. On the 2d June three men died from it in six hours on board the flag-ship ("Imperieuse"); and up to this date 15 deaths, being 3*23 per cent, to strength of 680, or nearly three times that of the whole mortality of the preceding six months at Tien- Tsin, and one-half that of the total mortality of the previous year at the same place. On the 6th of June the remainder of the 31st landed from the " Vulcan." From the 1st June (the date of going into quarters at Shanghai) mortality decreased, only four deaths occurring up to the 11th ot the month, in place of 12, as had occurred during the last 1 1 days of May. The godowns referred to are those represented as being in such a state that no merchant would place his goods in them, and occupied before they were properly dry, to the great detriment of health and life ; a statement, as this narrative of events will show, without foundation. The godowns are substantially built of brick, admirably ventilated (the great desideratum at the time), and with floors smoothly paved with broad flags of granite, between four and five inches thick. They were inspected by the Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals and myself, and we saw no reason to object to them as suitable barracks. On the contrary, as compared with the quarters the men had been accustoined to at Tien-Tsin individually, I was very favourably impressed with them, having a good exposure, absence of buildings in their immediate vicinity, and an absence also of the offensive odours that abound in all Chinese settlements. Up to this date (11th June) the mortality in barracks amounted only to 0"52 per cent. On the 12tli June the strength of the regiment was increased by the arrival of 316 men fromTaku in the " Urgent," which, with three men that came down in the "Centaur," made the strength now 976. The 316 men from Taku were from the 12th to the 15th in Indian tents, on an open space in the rear of spacious godowns, which liad been hired as barracks from Messrs. Dent & Co., at a rental moiithly of 500 taels, or 166 L, which, with 300 taels more OF SHANGHAI AS A STATION FOR EUROPEAN TROOPS. 13 more paid for the godown and the head-quarter house on the opposite side of the creek make a total of 400 I. per month paid for the barracks of the 31st Regiment. One of Messrs. Dent & Go's goclowns is a magnificent room well raised from the ground, carefully boarded, of good height, and perfect ventilation, which up to the period of occupa- tion had been used as a tea store (the best guarantee of its perfect dryness). This godown accommodated nearly 300 men, allowing each considerably over 1,000 cubic feet. From the 12th of June to the end of the month 16 deaths occurred, or 1'53 per cent., strength being 976, the total per-centage for the month being 2-5, Ou the 1st July the strength was 961, and during the month 14 deaths occurred, or 1-45 per cent. These figures, which show a decrease in mortality succeeding going into barracks, sufficiently disprove the statement referring to the returns of the mortality of the period of their occupation, showing their unfitness for the purpose to which they were applied. The writer then goes on to say, — "We would ask. could not godowns already built and seasoned have been secured, although at a high rent, whilst barracks were in preparation, or thatched bamboo huts, such as the Chinese throw up so quickly and so cheaply, be erected as a temporary measure, and raised some two feet from the surface of the ground ?" It is quite unnecessary for me to enter into any further details in disproof of the various statements made relating to the barracks, and I merely quote the above as an additional illustration of the total unacquaintance which the writer has with the subject he has attempted to handle, as in addition to finding out that all the godowns occupied by soldiers of the 31st are raised, on an average, from three to four feet from the ground, he evidently has also yet to learn that the position occupied by the regiment on the Soochow Creek constitutes one of the flank defences of Shanghai; and that the allotting of special localities to troops is not a matter of choice but of necessity ; and, such being the case, it has always seemed to me that the 31st Regiment has been singularly fortunate in being told-ofF to a position where such really excellent barrack accommodation already existed as that provided by the tea godowns referred to. From measurements made by the Commanding Hoyal Engineer, the cubic space afforded each' man occupying them varies from 1,177 to 1,980 cubic feet ; an amount exceeding that even considered necessary in an hospital. The last statement I have to notice is one to the effect that, — " AVe are informed that even the hospital was filled with its unfortunate patients, whilst the floor (composed of filthy river mud) was still reeking wet, and exhaling its noxious vapours under the influence of the summer sun. This, however, we shall be glad to have contradicted." In this instance, the writer evidently has misgivings of the strict attachment which his informant has for fidelity of narration ; and glaring as the untruth is which has been told him with reference to the hospital, it is not greater than that characterising the information generally with which, in my opinion, he has been furnished, with a malicious object in view. The hospital, which was occupied at the commencement of the epidemic, is a fine spacious godown, admirably ventilated, well raised from the ground, and having a good boarded floor. As sickness increased a similar godown adjoining it was converted into an hospital for the slighter class of ailments, the only difference between it and the other one being that it had a brick floor, but which has since been boarded over. These two buildings afford 80 patients 1,783 cubic feet each. As the statements under consideration refer chiefly to the 31st Regiment, I will remark, that no corps in the garrison of Shanghai has had the same advantages during the summer that it has had, everything being done for the regiment that experience could suggest, as most likely to modify the virulence of the epidemic influence which afiected it, in common with the population generally ; and I will only cite that it has been supplied with filtered and purified water, at a considerable cost, ever since it has been quartered in Shanghai, from a fear that the water from the Soochow Creek, or the wells near it, might prove injurious ; that during the extreme heat of summer, punkahs were kept going day and night in the barrack rooms, the funds for the payment of the punkah coplies being in the first instance furnished by myself j with the sanction of the Brigadier General, so as to obviate the difficulties and delays which would have arisen had the coolies been applied for through the Commissariat, it being supposed at the time that punkah coolie labour to the extent required could not be procured. Aided, however, by Her Majesty's Consul, I was enabled to secure the services of the requisite number. I also, during the same period, with the sanction of the Brigadier General, provided the regimental quartermaster with funds for the provision daily of a ration of ice to the men, to cool their porter and other beverages. These measures, I believe, tended in no small degree to the comfort of the men of the 31st regiment, as well as to materially modify the depressing effects of the extreme heat to which i;hey were then exposed. In conclusion I may state, that atTaku, hitherto so remarkable for its extreme salubrity, the per-centage of mortality amongst the garrison during the present summer exceeds, if anything, the death-rates at Shanghai, showing the epidemic influence as affecting European ^troops, not to have been confined to the latter place. I may also add, that the mortality in harbour here has, in proportion as well as in number, far exceeded that on shore, the choleraic influence, as affecting Europeans here, having been more active on the water, so much so as to necessitate the removal of the ship of war from Shanghai, in August last, to Chefoo, owing to the sickness and mortality prevailing amongst the crews. The loss of the French Navy has been equally severe, and the ratio of deaths to strength amongst the infantry force quar- tered on shore considerably exceeds that of the English troops. 466. B q Hereto 14 CORRESPaNDENCE RESPECTING THE INSALUBRITY Hereto I annex copies of the sanitary observations I have furnished for the " General Monthly Return ;" and also a copy of the Sanitary Report I have forwarded to the Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals for August last, my time not having enabled me to overtake that now due for September. Before taking leave of the subject, I think it as well to state, that the contrast between the statements under comment and my remarks is so great, that unprejudiced minds may naturally ask, what possible motive could the person who wrote them have had in view, and from what source could the information have been received, on which the assertions thus audaciously set forth are based, the whole grounds which exist ibr the statements being the heavy epidemic mortality of the regiment, and the fact, that the day after one of the com- panies that arrived in the "Urgent" from Taku went into a stone-floored godown of Messrs. Dents, two cases of cholera occurred, but which no grounds existed for specially identifying with the godown, the disease prevailing at the time all over the place, and particularly in Shanghai, The only foundation which exists for the allegations respecting the hospital is, that the ward in which the venereal and shght surgical cases have all along been treated, has had, until about a month ago, a brick in place of a boarded floor. Before finally closing, it may not be out of place to remark, that the statements under comment have appeared in the form of what now-a-days are known as " Sensation articles" in a newspaper that has been but a few days in existence, and as any subject, the object of which is to reflect on constituted authority, soon becomes an attriictive one, the articles in. question have tended materially to bring the new publication prominently under public notice. I have, &c. (signed) D. R. Rennie, m.d.. Surgeon 31st Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. The Deputy Assistant Adjutant General. (C.) Sir, Fahwa, 20 October 1862. In compliance with instructions received in your letter of .this day's date, I have the honour to lay before you, for the information of the Brigadier General Commanding, the followin<^ Report on the accommodation provided for the troops at this place. As I purport from your letter that no detailed description of the buildings occupied by the men is required, I shall merely state, that they consist of two large houses or blocks of buildings, containing a series of large and smaller rooms, on a ground and upper basement, which during the summer were well ventilated and made as comfortable as possible, and that they were the best that could be obtained in the village. Considering Fahwa as an outpost, where there are no barracks suitable for British soldiers, in a tropical climate, and where it is not intended that they should remain for any length of time together, I have every reason to believe that both officers and men stationed liere during the late summer, were as comfortable as it was possible to make them ; and I know of no case in which the men, either well or sick, were exposed to wet, except on duty. (signed) Thos. Giraud, Dr. Currie, Assistant Surgeon 31st Regiment, Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, In medical charge. Principal Medical Officer. (D.) Commissariat, Shanghai, Sir, 21 October 1862. I HAVE the honour to report for your information, that I cannot at present find any more houses or godowns suitable either for officers' quarters or for men's barracks. I have looked at several that are unfinished, some of which will probably be ready for occupation in six weeks from this date, but the rents demanded are even higher than the large sums we are now paying. The cost of the buildings occupied by the 31st Regiment is now over seven hundred, and fifty pounds per month (750 1.') of this 150 /. is paid for officers' quarters. The cost of the buildings occupied by the Royal Artillery is over 260 I. per month, and of this 90 I. is paid for officers' quarters. I have, &c. Brigadier General Staveley, c. b. (signed) J. H. Thompson, &c. &c. &c. A. C. General- Commanding. OF SHANGHAI AS A STATION FOR EUROPEAN TROOPS 15 (E.) Extract from General Monthly Return of the Troops in China for l September 1862. " When the trying circumstances under which the troops have been placed for the last 3^ months in the Shanghai command (an epidemic season unexampled for severity in the memory of the oldest inhabitant), the present sanitary condition of the troops is more satis- factory than could reasonably have been anticipated, of which I can cite no stronger proof than, that on the 26th August, when Shanghai was threatened with the Taipings, the whole force, European and Native, was found efficient, less 250 men in hospital, of whom 61 were cases of venereal and surgical diseases; and, after driving the rebels across the Soochow Ci-eek, in the course of which a fatiguing march of 12 miles was performed, returned to Shanghai in the evening, without a man having fallen out, with the exception of two cases of ague that occurred on the march. " The heaviest mortality has occurred in the 31st Regiment, and has been caused either by cholera or a form of diarrhoea assuir.ing the choleraic character, and which appears to be as much beyond the power of medical treatment as cholera itself; it seems to depend on a decomposition of tlie blood, wherein it becomes incapable of retaining fluids, a mal-assimi- lation, in fact, of liquid aliment. I believe it to originate from the same causes that produce cholera ; in fact to be in the first instance a species of latent or non-overt form of that disease, gradually passing into the chronic state, and terminating with the choleraic collapse. In every instance post-mortem examination has revealed an extraordinary decom- posed condition of the blood, and the impaction in the heart of solid amber-coloured coagu'a in advanced stages of organisation. (signed) D. R. Rennie, u. d., Surgeon 31st Regiment, Senior Medical Officer, Shanghai, '&" (F.) General Sanitary Report of the Troops stationed at Shanghai for the Month of August 1862. Barracks. Royal Artillery^ — During the month considerable alteration has taken place in the dis- tribution of No. 3 Battery, 13th Brigade. The house formerly used as barracks within the Consular grounds has been converted into an hospital for the Royal Artillery and Engineers, owing to increasing sickness rendering the former hospital accommodation insufficient. Thirty men of this battery still remain within the Consular grounds as guard for the guns and munitions of war, which are stored there, and they occupy the mat and framework hut formerly used as an hospital. The remainder of the battery are either located in the Head Quarter Barracks within the Settlement or are distributed in redoubts along the line of defence. The medical officer reports that the barracks generally afford the men ample space, but considers the redoubts not so comfortable as the Head Quarter Barracks, which -can readily be understood, the former being one of the palatial mercantile buildings of the English Settlement, and the latter, guard houses along the fortification wall. Though bearing comparison unfavourably with the Head Quarter Barracks, 1 have been unable to detect that they are characterised by any defect unsuiting them for soldiers' quarters, especially under circumstances of field service, such as those now pertaining to the force iu the Shanghai command. The medical officer in charge of the battery states, that the most unhealthy barracks are those at the Stone Bridge and Soochow Creek, respectively con- taining 13 and 10 men, and which he thinks " probably due to the stench in the neighbour- hood and from the ditches." On examining the hospital admission book I, find, that during the month, from the former of these barracks, eight admissions into hospital occurred, and froin the latter five (the distribution return showing erroneously six), and that the nature of the diseases were chiefly those such as the causes referred to might be supposed to generate, namely, intermittent fever and bowel affection. The cases, however, judging from the period under treatment, appeared to have been slight; and, as the occupation of these points in the line of defence is necessary, in a miUtary point of view, I do not think the circumstances sufficiently serious to call for interference, more especially, as 1 believe, that an amount of disease equally or more serious can be .«hown to have occurred amongst men located under circumstances comparatively free from the causes referred to. The men of the other battery of artillery (No. — of the 14th Brigade) continue located in the Head Quarter Barracks, where the accommodation is excellent and the space .ample. Royal Engineers.— Ihe men of this corps, 48 in number, forming the half of No. 8 -company, were, during the greater portion of the month, located in tents in the rear of the 4§§. B 4 Settlement, i6 CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE INSALUBRITY Settlement, as detailed in the Sanitary Report of last month. During the latter third of the month they were removed to redoubts on the fortification wall, similar to those occupied by the Royal Artillery. The Engineers were attached during the first portion of August to the staff and depart- ments for medical treatment, but this was found inconvenient, and about the middle of the month they were re-attached to No. 8 Battery of the 14th Brigade Royal Artillery. On the 30thj the medical oflBcer in charge reported to me strongly against the redoubts, attri- buting to the sanitary detects, he supposed to be connected therewith, a rather large per- centage of sickness at the time the Engineers showed. Within an hour of receiving this representation I received another from the officer com- manding the Royal Engineers, complaining of the medical oflBcer having made, what seemed to him, unfounded assertions in reference to the barrack accommodation, and begging that he might be removed from the charge of the company, owing to injudicious observations he had made to the men about the probable results lo them if they continued to be quartered in the redoubts. I at once made a careful examination of the hospital sick of the Engineers without being able to find a ny data in support of the representations made by the medical officer, the whole of the men, nine in number, with one exception, having contracted the ailments for which they were then under treatment, either prior to taking up their quarters in the redoubt or without ever having been in the redoubt at all. I also inspected the redoubts in question, and found nothing to complain of in reference to them as quarters, provided that during the hot weather then prevailing care was taken that they were not over crowded, and which had been guarded against by the officer commanding the company, who had only placed a very moderate number (lO) in each of them, the bulk of the men being again located in the upper rooms of the range of Chinese houses in the rear of the redoubt that had been previously occupied by them. The total number of the men in the redoubts was 20, and they had all been 17 days in them. I have entered thus into details, owing to a tendency which now-a-days exists on the part of young medical officers to attribute, in a somewhat reckless manner, to barrack accommo- dation whatever sanitary defects may be apparent in the corps under their charge, to the exclusion altogether of constitutional position and special climatic infiuences, thus frequently occasioning much unnecessary anxiety to the military authorities as well as entaiUng, not unfrequenily, inconvenience to the public service. Last month statements equally erroneous were introduced by the medical officer in charge of No. 3 Battery, 13th Brigade, Royal Artillery, into his Sanitary Report, the location of about 40 men of the battery in Indian tents being strongly condemned, and the sanitary defects attributed to them, that from the results of careful and repeated personal inspections during the month, I knew to be erroneous ; I accordingly drew attention to the statements, and pointed out that unless they were materially modified, I should be obliged to enter into a contradiction of them in detail. The report was accordingly withdrawn, and the state- ments so modified as to admit of being transmitted without special comment. I regret, also, to have to observe, that the Sanitary Reports of both of the assistant surgeons of artillery referred to contain further evidence this month of an acquaintance somewhat imperfect with the actual sanitary details in their respective charges, as in the important question of the soldiers' diet, they both return different scales of animal food, and neither of them correct — the one returning the ration as fresh meat, four times, and salt meat three times weekly,! while the other returned it as fresh meat, five times, preserved meat once, and salt meat once weekly; the actual ration being, fresh meat four times, preserved meat twice and salt meat once weekly. Slst Regiment. — No change has taken place in the mode of location of this corps since last Report, and the nature of the accommodation and measures employed to secure as good an atmosphere as practicable. Punkahs going day and night have, I believe, tended consi- derably to modify the amount of sickness in the corps during the month, one of the most unhealthy of the season. 67if/j Regiment. — This corps continues to occupy the Confucian temple in the Chinese city, and the surgeon of the regiment is quite satisfied with the barrack accommodation • and I have seen nothing to object to connected with it during the month. 6f/i Bombay Native Infantry. — No change in their quarters since last month. They con- tinue to give satisfaction to the medical officer, and the men seem to like them. 22. R. Rennie, m. d.. Surgeon, 31st Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. The Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, China. OF SHANGHAI AS A STATION FOR EUROPEAN TROOPS. 19 Extracts from Sanitary Report for the Month of October 1862. In reference to the prevalence of disease amongst the civil communities, I can only Prevalence of repeat what I have said in previous Eeports of this nature, that for sickness and mortality, as disease amongst affecting all classes of the community, the summer now nearly over has been, and continues the civil corn- to be, without example in the history of Shanghai, since it has been an European settlement munities. — now over 20 years ; and I may add, on the authority of one of the principal civil prac- titioners of the place, that up to the middle of the month over which this Report extends (October), it has been ascertained that out of 6,000 adults who have constituted the Euro- pean population of the foreign settlement during the present summer, upwards of 1,000, or one in every eight, have died. In previous Reports I have entered fully into the disease and mortality which has, during the same period, nearly doubly decimated the native popu- lation in Shanghai and the district around it. At the present moment cholera and choleraic diarrhoea are prevailing extensively on board Her Majesty's ship " Euryalus," now lying off the settlement, and inflicting a heavy loss on her crew. There has been no corresponding re-appearance of it in an epidemic form amongst the troops, and this fact taken in connexion with that of the " Euryalus" having just arrived from England, would seem to show that either acclimatization confers powers of resistance to the choleraic in- fluences, or what 1 believe to be more probable, that certain individuals only are predisposed to be affected by it in that peculiar manner, and with the train of symptoms to which it has become the custom to confine the term cholera. It has not been necessary to make any sanitary recommendations during the month, nor, Sanitary recom- 1 may add, any of consequence during the months immediately preceding ; everything mendation. having been done at the commencement of the epidemic that foresight and experience could suggest as likely to modify its influences, and all minor propositions since having in view the sanitary welfare of the soldier, have been carried out in the fullest manner by the military authorities. (signed; D. R. Rennie, m.d., Surgeon, 31st Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. Shanghai, 7 November 1862. Head Quarters, Shanghai, Sir, 24 January 1863. In transmitting the accompanying duplicate proceedings of a special Medical Board, assembled to inquire into the cause of the mortality among the troops at Shanghai, during the last summer months, and which proceedings are sup- posed to have been lost by the wreck of the mail steamer "Colombo," 1 have the honour to state that nothing could be more satisfactory than the present state of health of the troops at Shanghai, the rate of sick being only four and five per cent., and the cases of a very trifling nature. I have, &c. (signe d W. Staveky, Brig. General, Commanding Her Majesty's Troops, China. To the Secretary of State for War^ War Office. Extracts from Letter of Brigadier General Staveley to the Secretary of Stale for War, dated 25 March 1863. Sir, I HAVE the honour to report that in anticipation of the next hot season, and on the recommendation of the Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, Dr. Home, a copy of which 1 herewith enclose, I have decided on sending to Hong Kong the head-quarters of the 67th Regiment, strength as per margin,* replacing them j -pielA officer. here by the head-quarters of the 22d Bombay Native Infantry, and 150 rank 3 Captains. and file, with proportion of officers, &c. from Hong Kong. "^ Subalterns. ***** 4 StafF. 1 1 TT Tt/r • . /^ T 1 24 Sergeants. I would Strongly recommend Her Majesty s (jrovernment to relieve the 31sfc 14 Drummers. Regiment by a nadve regiment, 1,000 strong, armed with rifles, from India; and 350 Rank and file. 1 beg to refer you to the opinion expressed by the special Medical Board of which 16 Women. Dr. Currie was President, and which went home with my letter of the 21st of ^ October last, viz. : " that the epidemic influences which have caused the heavy 466. D mortality 20 CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE INSALUBRITY mortality amongst the troops this summer, were altogether beyond the control of sanitary science; and, further, ihat they desired to record their opinion that taking into consideration the physical character of the country in and around Shanghai, they are not sanguine ot its ever proving a healthy station for European troops, an impression deserving considerable support from ihe fact that during the present summer, so trying to Europeans^ the Indian troops have been compa- ratively healthy ; in support of these opiuions the Board have received strong corroborative evidence from the principal naval and civil surgeons now at Shanghai." I would also recommend the 67th Regiment being relieved at Hong Kong by a native regiment 750 strong. , Sir, Shanghai, 25 March 1863. After a careful inspection of the quarters occupied by the troops at this station, and after having satisfied myself, as far as possible, in regard to the coiri- parative health and condition of the troops themselves, I feel convinced that it is highly expedient that not only more space should be appropriated to the European soldiers in this garrison previous to the setting in of the hot weather, but also that this part of the force should be diminished by as many as possible being sent away from Shanghai, as a precautionary measure against the recurrence of an epidemic similar to that which decimated the European force last year. I beg, therefore, to suggest, should you consider it practicable, that of the 489 men, of which the 67th Regiment occupying quarters in the Chinese city now consists, 400 should be removed at once to Hong Kong, and that the remainder, consisting of the most delicate men, should be sent for change of air to Taku. The Confucian temple and other buildings in the city thus vacated, I would recommend to be occupied by four companies of the Slst Regiment, until the detachment of the 67th is withdrawn from Taku, when it, along with two com- panies, will be a sufficient appropriation for these quarters. By this means the Slst Regiment occupying the godowns in the European settlement will be beneficially opened up, while sufficient space will at the same time be secured for the troops in the Chinese city. The better to give effect to one part of the proposal here made, I further beg to recommend that the evacuation of the Taku forts should be delayed as long as possible, in order that this very healthy station may be used as a sanitarium during the hot season, and the Eurapean garrison at Shanghai thereby kept in numbers as low as possible during the season which proved so fatal to it last year. I have, &c. (signed) W. Home, m.d., Deputy Inspector of Hospitals, and P. M. O. Brigadier General Staveley, c.b., Commanding the Forces in China. Memorandum on the Health of the Troops at Shanghai. Annexed is a table showing the sickness and mortality of European and Asiatic troops respectively at Shanghai in 1861, and the first three quarters of 1862. The returns for the fourth quarter are not at present available. It will be seen that in 1861 the admissions into hospital were twice as numerous from the European as from the Asiatic force, but the proportion was reversed as regards the deaths. In the second quarter of 1862 the force was greatly in- creased at Shanghai, by the arrival of troops from Tien-tsin, who were detained at Shanghai in consequence of the attempts of the rebels to take it. It was subsequently to this that the high rate of sickness and mortality prevailed among the European troops. Cholera broke out among them, and caused one- half of the deaths. It appears necessary also to observe that in a Report by a Board of medical officers OF SHANGHAI AS A STATION FOR EUROPEAN TROOPS. 21 officers appointed to inquire into the causes of the mortality at Shanghai, it is stated that in 1862 the proportion of deaths to the number admitted into the civil hospital was doable that of previous years, and that a severe epidemic in- fluence prevailed during the period under review, the effects of which were not confined to any particular section of the community. It must not be forgotten that during the first quarter, which is usually the most healthy, the force employed was very small, and that the returns of the fourth quarter, in which the sickness and mortality are generally below the average, are not available. The ratio of sickness and mortality, therefore, for 1862, may be held to be nearly that of the two unhealthy quarters of the year, and to be considerably above the average of the whole year. TABLE showing the Strength, Admissions into Hospital, and Deaths among the European and Asiatic Troops at Shanghai in 1861, and the First Three Quarters of 1862. European Thoops. Asiatic Troops. Annual Ratio per 1,000 of Mean Strength. Strength. Admitted. Died. Strength. Admitted. Died. Edropian. AsiiTIC. Admitted. Died. Admitted. Died. 1861 Nine months of ) 862 - 78 871* 157 2,272 2 165 805 721 836 1,217 52 27 2,013 2,608 25-64 189-44 1,038 1,688 64-59 37-45 * As the period included is only nine months, the average strength has been reduced by one-fourth to give the average annual strength. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General. 466. gs ET '-^ 8 S & hj i^ 03 o ?< CD O &■ ig- o CO o 5 s 9 s w W pi 2. "-t^ ^ o t« s g5 J g^ CO 2 K a &.» 6 o B S g 3 ^. aS p- o" CD g y a' O S) . O' o — p g ( r o @ g oe: 13 p 5a O *^ M EC >■ o > MORTALITY IN TROOPS (CHINA AND JAPAN). RETURN to an Address of the Honourable The House of Commons, dated 8 February 1866 s—fof. " COPY of all Correspondence which has taken taken place relative to the Sickness and Mortality in the 2d Battalion of the 9th Regiment and 2d Battalion of the 11th Regiment in China and Japan." !^bru?5?866.} HARTINGTON. {Colonel North.) Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed^ 21 February 1866. % 58. [ 2 ] LIST OF PAPERS. Number. H Date. 12 Not. 1864 1 Deo. ^ » V »J » 7 „ 6 Jan. 1865 - 10 11 If Jf 11 If 23 26 Not. 1864 13 Jan. 1865 28 Jan. 1 16 »j jj 15 March „ 23 „ 6 April „ 24 Jan. „ 31 March „ 27 Jan. „ 8 April „ 29 March „ 10 April „ From Major General Guy 11 ft »j Foreign Office War Office ditto Military Secretary - War Office ditto ditto Medical Department Major General Guy Medical Board Dr. Kane Major General Guy Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong, STajor General Guy War Office Quartermaster General - Major General Guy Medical Department Deputy Inspector General Dick. Major General Guy Deputy Inspector General Dick. War Office ditto To War Office ditto Major General Guy Military Secretary Medical Department Military Secretary - Major General Guy ditto Military Secretary War Office Wat Office Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, Hong Kong. ,War Office •\ Major Genetatlituy War Office . Military Secretary - ditto Medical Department War Office - . . Assistant Military Secre- tary, Hong Kong. Major General Guy Quartermaster General . Subject. Proposing a distribution of his force, Tiz., to concentrate the 67th ,at Hong' Kong untiHlle96h arriTCS,, and then to send it to the Cape ; a wing of the 20th being aTailable from Yokohama to be distributed between Shanghae, Taku, and Japan ; there will' then be no room left, and what must be done with the lUh on its arriral ? Lord Bussell thinks the land force should be withdrawji from Shanghae ; but three battalions of European Infantry should be retained between Hong Kong, China, and Japan. To withdraw troops from Shanghae and Taku, and to send the two Bombay regiments back to India ; to distribute the remaining troops at his discretion. Troops to be withdrawn from Shanghae and Taku, and to send the two Bombay regiments back to India ; distribu- tion of the remaining force left to General Guy, Sending copy of No. 4 - - Withdrawal of troops^ &c. To send G Battery, 14th Brigade, Eoyal Artillery, back to India. Reply to No. 1 ; to make best arrangements possible for accommodating his troops ; Infantry battalions to be re- duced to 800 rank and file, including depdt, from 1st April 1865, Reply to No. 5 ; the reduction of force will allow of a Staff Surgeon (Moore) being reduced. Sends Report of Medical Boar,d on Kowloon ; sickness among the 99th Regiment quartered there. Report on the Sanitary state of Kowloon - . - Medical opinion on Kowloon - - . . Reply to No. 3 j lias applied for transport to India for the two Bombay regiments ; will send 99th Regiment and part of 67th Regiment to the Cape by the "Tamar" on her arrival with the 9th Regiment ; will keep remainder of 67th Regiment at Shanghae until the "Tamar" comes back from the Cape with the 11th Regiment. Reasons for not sending the 99th Regiment to Shanghae RcpDrtlng dtparttire of Bombay regiments and intended re- moval of G Battery, R. A. ; Reply to No. 10; the Marines are to be withdrawn from Japan; the 11th Regiment can therefore be sent there on arrivali As to distribution, &c. of force in China Sending Enclosures 1 and 2 of No. 9 Forwarding letter from Deputy Inspector General Dick and concurring therein. Protesting against a second European regiment beine sent to Hong Kong. Transmitting Principal Medical Officer's report on the effect of the climate of China on Europeans and Natives. On relative sanitary condition of European and Indian troops. Reply to No. 9 ; to remove to Ja-pan troops not provided for at Hong Kong. Reply to No. 13 ; slating steps taken as regards tht. troops in China. [ 3 ] Subject. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 24 August „ 24 „ 10 Sept. „ IB Sept. 31 Aug. 18 Sept. 19 Aug. 25 Sept. 26 Sept. 21 Aug. 31 „ 31 „ 27 Sept. 3 Oct. 3 „ 27 „ 4 Nov. 3 July 18 „ 28 „ 11 Aug. 12 „ 6 Nov. 19 Aug. 22 July 12 Aug. 8 Nov. 11 ft 14 » 20 >r 30 It Major General Guy Commanding Royal Engi- neer, China. Senior Medicd Officer, Hong Kong. Major General Guy Senior Medical officer, Hong Kong. Major General Guy Officer Commanding 2d Adjutant General Battalion, 11th Foot. Major General Guy War Office - Assistant Military Secre- tary, China. Medical Department War Office - Commandant, Hong Kong War Office - "} 6 Dec. Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong. ditto ditto Commandant, Hong Kong Major General Guy Major General Guy Principal Medical Officer ditto Medical Department Senior Medical Officer, \ Hong Kong. / ditto Commandant, Heng Kong Medical Department Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong, ditto ditto - - - Quartermaster General - Medical Department ditto . - - Major General Guy Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Medical Department ditto - - - Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. War Office - - - 58. Medical Department Commandant, Hong Kong ditto - . - Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong. War Office - - - - ditto Assistant Military Secre- tary, Hong Kong. ditto - - - ■Quartermaster General - 'C9mmatidiant, Hong Koug ditto - r " Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Quartermastler General - Commandant, Hong Kong ditto ditto Principal Medical Depart- ment. Adjutant General - Military Secretary War Office Medical Department Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. ditto Medical Department Military Secretary A 2 Replv to No. 12 ; can only spare 150 of the 11th Regiment for service in Japan. Reply to No. 14 ; cann'ot employ native troops Requesting immediate authority for additional hospital works Estimate for lidditiohal hospital accommodation. Demanding two Assistant-Surgeons for 11th Foot, and four Staff Assistant Surgeons. Reititai 'of 'distribution of Medical Officers in China Has taken transport for 100 invalids to England - - - Protesting against any delay in removal of invalids Has aiuthorisfd additional hospital accommodation being hired at Hiong Kong. Report of a Board on the hiring of houses . - . Reporting his regiment deficient of one Surgeon and two Assistant Surgeons. Reporting dispatch of invalids home ; two Medical Officers vtill go home. Recommending that 100 invalids be sent ihome . - - Protesting against any delay in removal of invalids Has taken immediate transport Return of Troops removed from Hong Kong to Japan Great sickness at Bong Koag in the 11th Foot - Return of deaths in 9th and 11th Regiments Mortality in 11th Foot ; recommending its removal from the cOliEimand. Sending correspondence as to additional hospital accommoda- tion at Hong Kong. Demanding radditional hospital room for 60 patients As to dangerous overcrowding at Murray Barracks As to iwcreased ho&pital accommodation Report of a IBoard on the overcrowding of the Garrison Hos- pital. As to sickness in Hong Kong - - - - Report of a Board on the hiring of houses - Men have only 4 f nights in bed ; they should have six Men of the 11th Regiment have only one to three nights in bed ; the 9th Foot about three one-third. 0n the condition of the barracks, &e. - - - Reply to No. 28 as to lightening the guards at Hong Kong - Recommending Dr. Purefoy for 11th Regiment, vice M'ln- tyre, deceased. Requesting passage for Assistant-Surgeon G. R. O'Toole, vice Adams, invalided. Recommendations for securing the health of the troops in China. Sickness still continues, but is on the decrease Reply to No. 20 as to completion of China Medical Esta- blishment. Why were the Deputy Inspector General and the Staff Surgeon both in Japan ? To explain his absence from Hong Kong at the sickly season It is necessary to invalid 100 men home The force in Hong Kong to be reduced by one battalion Page 19 20 20 20 21 21 21 22 22 22 23 23 24 24 24 24 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 28 29 29 29 29 30 30 31 31 31 33 33 33 34 34 [ 4 ] dumber. W 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 '47 48 49 50 51 53 53 54 55 Date. 14 Dec. 1865 15 „ 6 » „ 14 Oct. 13 „ 12 Dec. „ 15 » » 8 „ 18 „ 21 „ 26 „ It 26 „ tt 3 Jan. 14 Nov. 1866 1865 4 Jan. 23 Dec. 27 Oct. 1866 1865 5 Jan. 1866 5 „ >» 11 „ T» 16 „ )» 24 „ If IFeb. JJ 2 „ »J 5 „ 5» 10 „ 3» From Principal Medical Officer Hong Kong. Military Secretary - Medical Department Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Medical Department Military Secretary - Sir J. Hope Grant - Senior Medical Officer, Cape Town. War Office - ditto - - - Military Secretary - ditto Major General Guy Military Secretary - Medical Department Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Medical Department War Office - - - Military Secretary - War Office ditto - - - Military Secretary - War Office Principal Medical Officer, Portsmouth. Military Secretary To Medical Department War Office - Military Secretary - Medical Department Commandant, Hong Kong Military Secretary - War Office Medical Department Major General Guy Military Secretary - War Office - - - Medical Department Military Secretary - War Office Quartermaster General Assistant Military Secre- tary, Hong Kong. Military Secretary - ditto War Office - Military Secretary - ditto War Office Military Secretary Medical Department War Office - Subject Page. Slight diminution in sickness at Hong Kong - - 35 On the unsatisfactory sanitary state of Hong Kong garrison - 35 Regretting bad state of Hong Kong - - . - 35 As to invididing and unhealthiness of Hong Kong - -35 As to the mortality, &c. - . . . . gs As to the Medical Staff in the China command ... 37 Reply to No. 37 ; steps taken to carry out reduction ; 9th 37 Regiment to go to Japan. Memorandum on necessities of Hong Kong garrison 38 Reporting state of China invalids on reaching Simon's Bay - 33 Calling for report as to the absence from Hong Kong of the 39 principal Medical Officers. Reply to No. 40 ; approving steps for reducing Hong Kong 40 garrison. 11th Regiment, instead of 9th, to go to Japan j as to a local 40 corps for service in Hong Kong. Forwarding letter from Major General Guy - 40 Reporting seven vacancies among Medical Officers - 41 Urging the necessity of native troops at Hong Kong - 41 Forwarding Dr. Dick's suggestions as to sanitary measures - 41 As to sanitary measures, native troops, &c. - - - 42 Reply to No. 45 ; the vacancies have been filled up - - 44 Reply to No. 44 ; approving 11th Regiment going to Japan 1 44 11th Foot to Bengal ; 9th Foot to Japan .... 44 Reply to Ko. 49 ; approving steps - . . . 45 Reply to No. 46 ; suggesting thst a portion of the Ceylon 45 Rifles might go to Hong Kong. Proposing that European duty in Hong Kong shall be as 45 limited as possible. Native troops there indispensable; proposing that 11th Regiment should go to Cape; disap- proving Ceylon Regiment for service in China. Reply to No. 52, approving reduction of garrison duty in 4g Hong Kong, and the 11th Foot going to the Cape. Report on the hired transport " Gresham" ... 47 Urging immediate decision ; as to the Straits Settlement - 47 [ 5 J t^OPY of all Correspondence which has taken place relative to the Sickness and Mortality in the 2d Battalion of the 9th Regiment and 2d Batalion of the nth Regiment in China and Japan. — No. 1. — Major General Guy to the War Office.— (Received December 27.) -^ Head Quarters, Hong Kong, My Lord, 12 November 1864. With reference to instructions received from the Horse Guards relative to the rehei ot the 67th and 99th Regiments by the 2d Battalions of the 9tli and 11th Regiments, 1 have the honour to inform you that I propose making the following arrangements for carrying out this serviJe, and the distribution ol' the troops to remain in China, Her Majesty's shi[) " Adventure " has been placed at my disposal to concen- trate the 67th Regiment at Hong Kong for embarkation. This regiment, strength as per margin,* may be expected here early next month, and will be accommo- dated in Murray and North Barracks. On (he arrival of the 67th Regiment, I purpose forwarding to Shanghae, in "Adventure," head quarters of the 99th Regiment, 400 rnen, with a proportion of officers. These troops can be accommodated in thfe settlement at that station. Two officers and 61 men of this regiment are ali-eady on detachment at Taku. The remainder of the corps, 244 men, will be provided for at Knwloon. On the arrival, about February next, in Her Majesty's ship " Tamur," of the 2d Battahon 9th Rejziment, strength as per margin,! the 67th will be forwarded to the Cape, the 2d Battalion 9th Regiment taking its place in Murray and North Barracks, 18 officers and 500 men being quartered in the former, 221 men in the latter. 18 officers and 117 men will remain to be provided for. The men, with a proportion of the officers, will be accommodated at Kowloon, but additional accommodation for at least 12 officers will be required at Hong Kong; and, as Murray Barracks is only constructed for two held officers, two rooms each, and 16 other officers, one room each, it will be absolutely necessary to hire a building for this purpose. I would beg to draw attention to this fact,, and to request the favour of your Lordship's instructions thereon. With reference to the annexed extract of a letter from Her Britannic Majesty's Minister in Japan to the officer commanding the troops in that country, from which it appears that a wing of the 2d Battahon 20th Regiment can be spared from Yokohama within six months, 1 would beg to propose the following arrangement, viz., that this regiment be distributed between Yokohama, Shanghae, and Taku, There will then remain no available accommodation for troops in this command except the barracks and huts at Hong Kong and Kowloon, which will be absolutely required for the 2d Battalion 9th Regiment, their families, and those of the 8th Battery, 2d Brigade Royal Artillery. I would, therefore, request your Lordship's instructions as to the disposal of the 2d Battalion 11th Regiment, which, by Horse Guards letter of the 26th August last, it is proposed to send to China, as, under existing circumstances, it will be impossible to provide for it in this country. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Troops, China. [For reply, see No. 6, p. 7.] * 26 officers and 705 men. f About 36 officers and 838 men, 58. A3 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SICKNESS AND Enclosure in No. 1. Extract from a Letter from Sir Rutherford Alcock, Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Japan, to Lieutenant Colonel Browne, Commanding Troops in Japan, dated Yoko- hama, 27 October 1864. " I WOULD, however, call your attention to the fact, that so far as I can foresee there is no probability that the troops now here will be required to remain at furthest more than six months from this date. " I have indeed, at this moment, instructions from Lord Kussell, received by last mail, to the effect, that when all danger of an attack on Yokohama has entirely ceased, the wing of the 20th Regiment brought up from Hong Kong on my requisition may be sent back." (True extract.) B. Gammell, Major, Hong Kong, 12 November 1864. Deputy Assistant Adjutant General. — No. 2. — The Foreign Office to the War Office. Sir, Foreign Office, 1 December 1864. I AM directed by Earl Russell to request that you will acquaint the Secretary of Slate for V/ar that his Lordship is of opinion that the time is arrived whea Her Majesty's land forces may properly be withdrawn from Skanghae ; but that he is also of opiiiion tiiat no less than three battalions of European infantry should for the prestnt'be allotted for service in Hong Kong, China, and Japan. I am, &c. (signed) E. Hammond, — No. 3. — The War Office to Major General Gui/. Sir, War Office, 3 December 1864. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you that, looking' to the circumstance of the capture of Nankin, and that Shanghae is no longer threatened by the Taepings, Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that the- time has arrived when the troops may properly be withdrawn from Shanghae and Taku. This measure will enable a reduction to t)e made in the force serving undbr your command. It has been decided, therefore, to dispense with the services of the two regiments of Indian troDps, leaving, for the present, three, battalions of European infantry and the existing force of Royal Artdlery and Engineers to be allotted for service in Hong Kongi, China, and Japan. I am accordingly to instruct you to lose no time in making the necessary arrangements for the withdrawal of the troops from Shanghae and Taku, and for' sending back to India the two regiments of Bombay Native Infantry. The distribution of the troops which will remain at your disposal in the com- maud between Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Japan, is left to your discretion, subject, of course, in the case of Japan, to your consulting Her Majesty's Minister in that country on the subject. I am, &c. (signed) J. Crofton. [For reply, see No. 9, page 9.] MORTALITY IN TROOPS IN CHINA AND JAPAN. 7 — No. 4. — The War Office to the Military Secretary. Sir, War Office, 3 December 1864. I AM directed by Earl de Grey and Ripon to acquaint you, for the information ■of his Royal Highness the i:''ield Marshal Commanding in Chief, that Her Majesty's Government have come to tlie conclusion that — looking to the circumstance of the capture of Nankin, and that Shanghae is no longer threatened by the Taepings -^the time has arrived when the troops may properly be withdrawn from Shanghae and Taku. This measure will enable a reduction to be made in the China Command. It has therefore been decided to dispense with the services of the two regiments of Bombay Native Infantry, leaving, for the present, thiee battalions of European Infantry and the existing force of Royal Artillery and Engineers to be allotted for service in Hong Kong, China, and Japan. Major General Guy has been informed of this decision ; but the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief will doubtless furnish that officer with such instructions for giving effect to it as his Royal Highness may deem necessary. I have, &c. (signed) 7. Crofton. P.S. — General Guy has been in&tructed that the distribution of the troops which will remain at his disposal in the Command between Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Japan, is left to his discretion, subject, of course, in the case of Japan, to his consulting Her Majesty's Minister in that country on the subject. J.C. — No. 5. — The Military Secretary to the Director General, Army Medical Department. Sir, Horse Guards, 7 December 1864. I AM directed by his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief ~to transmit, for your information and guidance, the accompanying copy of a letter from the War Office, stating that Her Majesty's Government have decided that the force for service in China may be reduced by two regiments of Bombay Native Infantry, and that Major General Guy has been informed accord" ingly. I have, &c. (signed) W. F. Forster. [For reply, see No. 7, p. 8.] Enclosure 1 in No. 5. \_SBe No. 4.J — No. 6. — The War Office to Major General Guy. Sir, War Office, 6 January 1865. In General Crofton's letter* of the 3d ultimo, you were informed that it was • No. 3, p. 6. proposed to retain, for the present, the existing force of Royal Artillery serving under your command. 58. A 4 Im 8 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SICKNESS AND I am now to acquaint you that on further consideration Her Majesty's Govern- ment have come to the conclusion that the G Battery of the 14th Brigade, which belongs to the Indian establishment, and is now divided between Shanghae and Japan, can be spared without inconvenience. Earl de Grey desires, therefore, that you will make the necessary arrangements for sendin<^ this .battery back to India. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. [For reply, see No. 11, p. 15.] — No. 7. — The War Office to Major General Guy. Sir, War Office, 10 January 1865. * No. 1, p. o. I AM directed by Earl de Grey and Ripon to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch* dated the 1 2th November last, in which you call attention to the difficulty which you anticipate in providing barrack accommodation for the whole of the force serving under your command, t No. 3, p. 6; You have been informed by the lettersf which were addressed to you, by his No. 6, p. 7^ Lordship's directions, on the 3d December and 6th instant, that Her Majesty 's. Government have determined on the withdrawal of the troops from Shanghae and Taku, and on sending back to India the two battalions of Native Infantry, and. one battery of Royal Artillery. This will leave three battalions of European troops, one battery of Artillery, and one company of Engineers to be distributed between Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Japan ; and Earl de Grey can only rely on your making the best and most economical arrangements in your power for the proper accommodation of these troops until such time as one of the battalions can be brought away. I am to add that it is intended to reduce the establishment of regiments serving in China to 800 rank and tile, depot included, from the 1st April next. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard.. — No. 8. — The Medical Department to the Military Secretary. Sir, Army Medical Department, 11 January 1865. As the withdrawal of the troops from Shanghae and Taku, as notified to me J No, 5, p. 7. in your letter:]: of the 7th ultimo, and its Enclosure, has enabled me to recommend the reduction of a Staff Surgeon in the China Command, I have the hcmour to submit, for the approval of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that the military authorities in China may be instructed to order Staff Surgeon F. W. Moore, who will complete a tour of foreign service on 15th June next, to return to this country with as little delay as possible, either on duty or otherwise. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director GeneraL MORTALITY IN TROOPS IN CHINA AND. JAPAN. 9 — No. 9. — Major General Cruy to the War Office. — (Received 23d March.) My Lord, Head Quarters, Hong Kong, 23 January 1865. I HAVE the honour to transmit for your information the report of a Medical Board which assembled by my order to inquire into the sanitary condition of that part of the peninsula of Kowloon occupied by Her Majesty's troops. Soon after my arrival at Hong Kong, on the 26th October last, the unsatis- factory state of health of the 99th Regiment attracted my serious attention and inquiry. The removal of this corps from Victoria, Hong Kong, to the above station, by order of his Excellency the Governor, on the 15tli September last, unfortunately became necessarv', in consequence of the very serious riots which occurred in the town on the two previous evenings, when a portion of the 99th regiment came into eolHsion with the police force and some of the native inhabitants, resulting in the loss of two lives and a considerable amount of damage to persons and property. Under these unfortunate circumstances, it was deemed indispensable for the preservation of the peace that the 99th Regiment should not be permitted to return to Victoria. I found, on inquiry, that the sickness which prevailed among the troops was mainly attributable to the excavations then going on for building purposes in the close vicinity to tlie huts. I therefore directed that the 99th Regiment should be placed under canvas, which was accordingly done on the 18th of November last. The site selected for the encampment was extremely eligible in every re- spect, being on elevated ground, open to the breeze, and sufficiently removed from the excavations to be out of the reach of malarious influence. The sick- ness dimmished considerably almost immediately upon this change, although fever still prevailed to an extent difficult to account for, considering the apparent salubrity of the spot: the cases, however, were of a milf! type, the patients gene- rally being seldom more than from six to ten days in hospital. The mortality during the last quarter has been inconsiderable ; eight deaths only, or little over one per cent, of the total strength of the corps. I am inclined to coincide in the opinion expressed by the Medical Board as to the cause of the unhealthiness of Kowloon, and I fear that until good barracks are built, trees planted, the place thoroughly drained, and wholesome water obtained, sickness, to a certain extent, will continue to prevail among the troops stationed there ; it will therefore be desirable, under existing conditions, to reduce the number at that post to the lowest possible amount. I have enclosed, -with the proceedings of the Board, the opinion of a medical gentlemen in this colony of considerable experience in the climate of Southern China, which appears to be deserving of mature consideration. I have, &c. (signed) P- M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Troops, China. [For reply, see No. 15, p. 19.] Enclosure 1, in No. 9. The Medical Board convened under the authority of paragraph 1, Greneral Order, dated 3d November 1864, to inquire into such matters as may be brought before it, and with reference to instructions of the same date from the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General has the honour to report for the information of the Major General Commanding. President. Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, Dr. Dick. Members. Staff Surgeon, F. W.Mooee. Assistant Surgeon, E. A. Smith, k.a. The Board having assembled, and having considered their Instructions, it appeared to it convenient that the question proposed for its investigation should he arranged as foUows :— g g 1st. As 10 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SICKNESS AND Ist. As regards the general sanitary condition of the military station of Kowloon. 2d. As regards the recent outbreaks of disease which have occurred in the 99th Regi- ment since it has been stationed at Kowloon. 3d. As regards the deaths of Private Sullivan and others of the 99th Eegiment, and the circumstances attending them, as requested in the Commandant's letter of 29th October 1864. I. With regard to the first question considerable difficulties present themselves with respect to the earlier medical history of Kowloon. The statistical reports emanating from thf^t station may lead to a fallacious conclusion, inasmuch as they show only the stations at which diseases first manifest themselves without giving any clue to that at which they really originated. From the frequent interchange of detachments, for instance, many of the cases of fever which appeared in the Hong Kong returns may really have resulted from infection at Kowloon ; and, on the other hand, cases of this disease which appeared in the Kowloon returns may have originated at Hong Kong; and that until December 1863, when Kowloon was occupied by the 2d Battalion 20th Regiment, no jjositive conclusion can be drawn from these returns without tracing the history of each separate case of dis- ease occurring at either station from August 1860, when Kowloon was first occupied as a military post to the date just mentioned. The other documentary evidence is still less conclusive, for while on the one hand Kowloon has been represented as superior in a sanitary point of view to the island of Hong Kong, it has been, on the other hand, described as very far inferior to it. This apparent discrepancy might perhaps be reconciled if the circumstances under which each SBiparate report was written could be properly ascertained, for it is very possible that even Kowloon might have been comparatively healthy at one period, and quite the reverse at another, which indeed has been the case even during the present year. The general effect of the evidence taken in the course of this inquiry will be considered by the Board, and the evidence itself will be attached to this Report as an Appendix. But in the first place it is -necessary to the objects of this investigation that a broad distinction should be drawn between the present and former sanitary condition of Hong Kong, and the evidence of Mr. Fisher, one of the oldest and most respectable inhabitants of the colony, shows what that condition was once, and what it now is. And had one of the questions proposed for the consideration of the Board been whether the actual sanitary condition of Kowloon is superior to the former sanitary condition of Hong Kong, there would have been no hesitation in giving an affirmative reply. Or had the question submitted been whether, in the opinion of the Board, Kowloon (possessing, as it does, the undoubted sanitary advantage of being open to the influence of l£e south-west monsoon, which prevails during the hot season), might not be rendered even more salubrious than Hong Kong is at present, the answer would be that, with efficient drainage, the protection from solar influence afforded by trees, the erection of good su"b- stantial buildings, well ventilated, and a supply of wholesome water for drinking purposes, it would have every reason to anticipate the desirable and beneficial result indicated ; but it is the duty of the Board to deal with matters as they are, and not as they have been or may hereafter be. The 2d Battalion 20th Regiment occupied Kowloon from December 1863, and remained there until the end of June of the present year, about which time it embarked for Japan. During the first three months its sanitary condition was good ; but in April some cases of fever appeared, and they gradually increased until the 17th June, when the weekly per-centage of sick amounted to 14-165, and the number of fever cases to 73. After this date the regiment was encamped on the Kowloon peninsula for some short period, and within the next two months no fewer than 20 deaths occurred in it, of which 12 were from cholera, five from diarrhoea, one from fever, and two from apoplexy and there is only too much reason to fear that the germs of 18 of these fatal diseases were sown during the latter portion of the period the corps was quartered at the station iust named. "' The testimony of Surgeon Snell, 99th Regiment, and of Staff Assistant Surgeon Beath M.D., shows that durmg the year 1863 the garrison of Kowloon was principally furnished by the 99th Regiment, and that it was relieved several times by detachments of the same corps, aud that a considerable increase of the general regimental sick list in each instance followed the return of these detachments to Hong Kong, the men having contracted fever and other diseases when stationed at Kowbon ^taff Assistant Surgeon Beath also states that while Dr Home was prmcipal medical officer in China he was employed by him to draw up a table of the per-centage of sick at Kowloon and Hong Kong, respectively for a period of three years, and that, on the whole, those of the former exceeded the latter bv about 33 per cent. c^i-^i. uy The evidence of W. H. H. Scott, Esq., acting barrack master, shows that the huts occupied by he troops at Kowloon are most of them mat huts, which do not in his opinion, attord sufncient protection from ordinary vicissitudes of weather ' The evidence of Major Brine, e. e., shows that extensive marshes and 'abandoned paddy- fields exist on two sides of the military. station, the dimensions of which can be ascertained from the enclosed tracing. «-ai-ci ucuueu The evidence of Staff Assistant Surgeon Curtis shows that he was employed by the prmcipal medical officer to analyse the water used for drinking purposes by the troops a^ Kowloon, and that he found it of bad quality and unwholesome in its nativl conditLT Taking MORTALITY IN TROOPS IN CHINA ANr3 JAPAN. n Taking all these circumstances into its mature and anxious consideration, the Board is of opinion that the sanitary condition of Kowloon is and has been unsatisfactory, and that no proper means have been adopted to improve it. It is of importanceto this part of the investigation that the Board should here refer to some of the most obvious causes of fever, and to the periods of time which observation has shown generally elapsed between the reception of the infection and the invasion of febrile diseases ; these have been termed the periods of incubation. The ordinary existing causes of fever are cold, miasmatic influence from marshes, emana- tions from the ground, or from cesspools and other receptacles of filth, and from direct con- tagion, which, however, is believed to be confined chiefly to fevers of a putrid character, and to certain eriiptive fevers, while the fever arising from cold is usually ephemeral, and quickly disappears. The predisposing causes of fever may be described generally as those which lower the general health, and among them may be classed, undue exposure to solar influence and night duties. The period of incubation is very uncertain, and may vary from a few hours to forty-two days; but the ordinary period between the infection and the invasion may be stated at seven to twenty-one days. The principal facts, with reference to this part of the investigation, which appear in the evidence before the Board are as follows : — On the 6th September last. Her Majesty's troop-ship " Adventure " arrived at Hong Kong from England, having on board the 8th Battery 2d Brigade Koyal Artillery, and a draft of 60 men of the 67th regiment ; and the evidence of Assistant-Surgeon Smith, s.a., shows, that up to that period, these two bodies of men had been very healthy. The battery of Koyal Artillery disembarked at Hong Kong, where it is still quaitered, the draft of the 67th Regiment at Kowloon, where it remained for a period of 10 days. When the 8th Battery, 2d Brigade Eoyal Artillery, landed at Hong Kong, the 6th Battery, 12th Brigade Royal Artillery, proceeded to Kowloon. Many of the men had previously served in China for a period of eight years, and some of them had never before been affected with fever. The evidence of Lieutenant Cane, the commanding ofiBcer, shows that up to the arri>al of this battery at Kowloon, it had been very healthy. It remained there for eight days, when it returned to Hong Kong. The subsequent medical history of the draft of the 67th Regiment, appears in the evidence of Surgeon Snell, 99th Regiment ; that of the 6th Battery, 12th Brigade Royal Artillery, and 8th Battery, 2d Brigade Royal Artillery, in the evidence of Assistant- Surgeon Smith, of that corps : the general efi^ect of which is, that while the health of the two bodies of men stationed at Kowloon (the one having just arrived in the Colony, the, other having served in it for years) soon afterwards became very bad, and that much fever prevailed amongst both, while the health of the 8th Battery, 2d Brigade Royal Artillery, which had been disembarked at Hong Kong, has been and continues to be very good. The obvious inference therefore is, that the bad health of the first, viz., the 6th Battery, 12th Brigade Royal Artillery, and draft of the 67th Regiment, was caused by residence at Kowloon. The evidence of Assistant- Surgeon Wheatley, 22d Bombay Native Infantry, show? that a detachment of his regiment, 165 strong, was quartered at Kowloon from the 29th June to the 15th September last, and that the head-quarters, 465 men, were stationed at Hong Kong; that previous to the first date, the men of that detachment had been healthy ; that while there stationed, fever began to prevail among them ; and that after its return to Hong Kong, 162 cases of fever occurred in his corps, and of that number 117 cases were from the Kowloon detachment, being in the proportion to respective strengths of 78 per cent, of the Kowloon detachment, and rather under 10 per cent, of the head-quarters. The inference therefore is, that most of these 117 cases originate'd at Kowloon. On the 15th September, the 99th Regiment was ordered to Kowloon. For a consider- able period previously, it had enjoyed good health. For two weeks after its arrival there, the health of the corps does not appear to have been seriously affected, although the number of sick had increased. On the 7th October, there was a great increase in the number of sick, caused chiefly by fever. The number of fever cases continued to increase until the 1 4th of the month, when it amounted to 81. It afterwards decreased, and went on decreasing until the 25th of October ; but about the 29th of the same month, a fresh invasion of fever occurred, and went on extending until the 1 9th of November, when the number of fever cases in hospital amounted to 117. The obvious inference therefore again is, that the health of the 99th Regiment has been greatly deteriorated and its efficiency impaired, by influences existing at Kowloon. The evidence of Major Brine, r.e., and Lieutenant Williams of the same corps, shows that cuttings on an extensive scale were first commenced on 9th August 1864, at Kowloon, and continued until the 17th of September, and that these cuttings were in close proximity to a portion of the barrack buildings. At the above date, they were discontinued, but new cuttings at a greater distance from the buildings were commenced about the same time; and the newly-turned earth from these second cuttings was brought to a poi^t farther from the barracks than the first cuttings, but much nearer than the others, and used m the formation 58. B 2 oi 12 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SICKNESS AND of a Government road just under them. That the original cuttings were recommenced on the 20th October, and were being then continued, and that some portion of these are witlun a few yards of the huts. r n • +i. It appears further, from the evidence of Mr. Thwaytes, that on the day tollowmg me removal of the 99th Eegiment to Kowloon, and some time before any extraordinary sick- ness appeared among any portion of the troops, the attention of the commandant was specially directed to the danger likely to be caused to the health of that corps by tHe con- tinuance of the cuttings, and that the principal medical officer pointed out m his letter that fever was likely to result therefrom ; that other letters were addressed to mm, having reference to the same subject, on the 26th September and 6th October ; and it certainly is a coincidence that disease in the particular form indicated by the otbcial sani- tary adviser of ihe military authorities appeared within a very short periott .trorn tHe date of his first letter. But the Board does not regard this circumstance as ot itselt con- clusive testimony that the subsequent sickness of the 99th Eegiment was caused by the cuttings then going on, as other causes of fever might exist at Kowloon, but only as a connecting link in the chain of evidence. -rr i u a But there are other considerations: the amount of the sickness at Kowloon had never been before so great as it lately has been, while the cool and dry state of the weather ha& been unfavourable to the propagation of fever bv ordinary miasmatic influences. _ No cesspools or other receptacles of filth exist at the static q, with the exception, per- haps of a tank of foid water kept there for use in cases of fire ; and as regards the influence of cold, by far the greater number of the fever cases have not shown any of the character- istics of febrile affections arising from this cause alone. Notwithstanding the rather inconsistent testimony of Dr. Murray, the Colonial surgeon, who is not friendly to, though he does not ignore, the theory that the former prevalence of fever at Hong Kong resulted from exposure of fresh earth, a general opinion does exist and has existed for many years, that the turning over of virgin soil had much to do with its production in the early days of the Colony ; and the testimony of Mr. Fisher shows, as a matter of fact, that when what he calls the Hong Kong fever was_ at its worst, many years before Dr. Murray became a resident, much fresh earth was being turned up; and Major Brine, R.E., who has been some years in China, says in his evidence, thathis impression is, that turning up of earth and excavations for public works conduce to sick- ness among the Europeans ; and Deputy Inspector General, Dr. Mackay, R.N., states, as a matter of fact, that since the cuttings at Kowloon had commenced, fever had been more prevalent on board Her Majesty's Hospital Ship " Melville " than it ever was before. The evidence of Dr. Shetely, who has had six years' experience in the Colony, shows that he has met with many cases of fever which, in his opinion, resulted solely from the turning over of fresh earth, and the exposure thereby of disintegrated granite, and he is of opinion, that it is at all times a fertile source of fever ; and, as a matter of direct testimony, having a most important bearing on this question, the Board beg to refer to the very strong and decided statement of Mr. KawKngs, a man, perhaps, of as great practical experience in building operations as any person now in the colony (having superintended the building of over 300 houses), which clearly shows that the natives of China themselves are not exempt from the injurious influences arising from the turning over of fresh earth. It also results, from a comparison of dates, that extraordinary coincidences have existed between the progress and localities of the cuttings at Kowloon and some of the accessions of fever which have occurred lately at that station. The draft of the 67th Regiment and the 6th Battery 12th Brigade Eoyal Artillery arrived there when the cuttings were going on in the immediate vicinity of the barrack huts ; the results were similar in both cases, and need only again be referred to in- this- place. The 99th Eegiment arrived at Kowloon while the same cuttings were still in progress ; and though they were discontinued two days afterwards, much fresh earth was still exposed, and fever supervened, just about the period it might have been expected to appear, if it resulted from the injurious influence of these cuttings. The evidence further shows that the cuttings nearest the military post, and almost in contact with some of the barrack buUdino-s, were resumed on the 2Gth of October, at which date fever had greatly decreased in the 99th Eegiment, and then again, a new accession of fever occurred, just at the period that might have been anticipated, if it could be demonstrated with the accuracy of a' mathe- matical problem that the infection had been the result of the malarious influence of the newly turned up earth ; this second accession of fever went on increasing from day to day, until it predominated to an extent before unknown in the regiment. But if anything is still wanting to place the pernicious influence of these cuttings on the health of the 99th Eegiment beyond a doubt, the Board has only to refer to the testi- mony of Assistant Surgeon Kerans, and Lieutenant and Adjutant FfoUiott of that corps, by which it appears, that of 12 officers who lived in a range of quarters immediately overlooking the cuttings, nine had been more or less seriously affected with fever, and that of six officers quarteredin another range of buildings at some distance from them, only one has been affected with fever. Major Brine, in his evidence, has suggested that the large proportion of fevers among the officers living m the first range of buildings may have resulted from fermentation taking place m the bamboo leaves entering into the composition of the huts through moisture and heat, but it must be remembered that the construction of both ranges is similar, that- the weather has been comparatively dry and cool. Farther, it has been ascertained, by the personal MORTALITY IN TROOPS IN CHINA AND ^APAN. 13 personal inspection of the Board, that no apparent difference, exists between the condition of these two rangesof huts. Moreover, Major Brine has himself stated that he considers both ranges of huts in tolerable repair. The Board, on review of the whole evidence affecting this question, is of opinion, that though the ordinary causes of disease existing at Kowloon may have operated in its pro- duction in an inferior degree, yet that the recent outbreaks of sickness in the 99th Regi- ment were mainly produced by the malarious influences of the cuttings which have recently been going on there ; and the Board is further of opinion, that had these cuttings been effectually stopped in the first instance, miich of the sickness and mortality which has since ensued, would not have occurred. 3d. The Board having given its attention to the letter of the Commandant, dated the 29th October, and referring to the evidence of Lieutenant and Adjutant FfoUiott, Assistant Surgeon Kerans, and Serjeant Major Short, of the 99th Regiment, has not been able to discover any circumstance in the mode of life of Private Sullivan for some days previous to the accession of his fatal fever, which can warrant it in coming to the conclusion that his death was hastened or his fever induced by any excess or imprudence on his part. The same observations apply to two other fatal cases of fever which have since occurred in the 99th Regiment, viz., to those of Serjeant Carter and Private Pagan ; and the only opinion at which the Board can arrive, with reference to these cases, is, that death was the result of the malarious influences indicated in the previous conclusion. (signed) William. Dick, M.D., v Deputy Inspector General, President. Frederick Moore, T Staff Surgeon. I Mpmbers A. E. Smith, f members. Assistant Surgeon, r.a. I Hong Kong, 26 November 1864. (True copy.) Geo. W. Thompson, a.d.C, Officiating Assistant Military Secretary. Enclosure 2, in No. 9. Medical Opinion on Kowloon. From an experience of the climate of the south of China during a residence of upwards of nine years at Macao and Hong Kong, I have no hesitation in giving as my opinion that the illness which has occurred among Her Majesty's troops at Kowloon has been the consequence of the disturbing of the surface of the soU from the excavations going on there. I unhesitatingly aver that I am certain, while the present condition of things there obtains, any persons who may be obliged to reside there will be subject to the same diseases, fever (intermittent and remittent), and bowel complaints ; but I also believe that, when proper habitations are built, the ground allowed to settle, and the surface pro- tected by trees and herbage from the direct solar rays, proper drainage, and a supply of good water afforded, Kowloon will become, from its position and exposure to the south west monsoon, far more healthy as a station than Victoria, which has since my knowledge of it become as healthy a town as perhaps any within the tropics. (signed) William Kane, m.d. Hong Kong, 13 January 1865. P.S. — I ought to say that I have had the opportunity kindly afforded me of perusing the report of the medical board, and the evidence on which that report was founded. W.K. (True copy.) ' Geo. W. Thompson, A.D.c, Officiating Assistant Military Secretary. — No. 10. — Major General Guy to the War Office. — (Received March 15.) Head Quarters, Hong Kong, My Lord, 28 January 1865. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter,* dated 3d De- » No. 3, p. 6. cember 1864, informing me that Her Majesty's Government have decided that the time has arrived when the troops may properly be withdrawn from Slianghae and Taku ; also that the two regiments of Bombay Native Infantry, now serving 58. B 3 in ; 14 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SICKNESS AND in this command, are to be sent back to India, and that no time is to be lost in making the necessary arrangements for carrying these changes into effect. I beg to inform your Lordship in reply, that, in accordance with the above instructions, I have written to Admiral Sir A. Kuper, to obtain shipping for the transport of the two native regiments to Bombay as early as practicable. With respect to the 67th and 99th Regiments!, I propose to make the following arrangements :— On the arrival at Hong Kong of Her Majesty's Ship "Tamar," with the 2d Battalion 9th Regiment from Gibraltar, the 99th Regiment, now at Kowloon. will embark for the Cape of Good Hope, agreeably to the instructions on that head contained in a letter dated Horse Guards, 26th August 1864. Such portion of the 67th Regiment now at Hong Kong as can be accommodated in tlie "Tamar " will also embark with the 99th Regiment. The head quarters of the 67th Rej^iment now at Shanghae, will remain there until the return of the "Tamar" from the Cape of Good Hope, with the 11th Regiment, about the end of July next. By this arrangement there will be no additional expense incurred, as the buildings occupied by the 67th Regiment are engaged until the 14th November and October, and the withdrawal of the whole of the troops from Shanghae will have been effected ere this. If brought at once to Hong Kong, it would be impossible to accommodate them without entailing considerable expense upon the Government for the hire of buildings, as the 9th Regiment will take up all the accommodation available here. Thehalf battery of artilleryat presentat Shanghae will be broughtto Hong Kong. The 99th Regiment has been selected to embark first, on account of the great amount of sickness which has prevailed, and still continues in that corps. The health of the 67th Regiment, on the other hand, is now in a very satisfactory state. For these reasons I have considered it necessary to alter the former arrangement of embarking the 67th Regiment for the first trip to the Cape, and removing the 99th to Shanghae. The earnest representations of the medical officers as to the state of health of the latter corps, have induced me to comply with their recommendations, which will not, I presume, in any degree interfere with the convenience of the service. I beg to enclose copy of a letter received from the principa.1 medical officer on this subject. With respect to Japan, I can only repeat the opinion I have expressed in former correspondence, that it will not, on any account, be advisable, for the present, to remove any portion of the 20th Regiment, or the half battery of artillery now at Yokohama. Previous to the receipt of your Lordship's instructions, the following changes had taken place in the command, none of which will in any way interfere with the contemplated reductions. The detachments 67th Regiment* and 2d Belooch Battalion f left Yokohama on the 20th ultimo, and anived at Shanghae on the 31st December last. The detachment 2d Belooch Battalion was disembarked at Shanghae, and arrangements were made for the embarkation of the head quarters and the remainder of the 67th Regiment with a view to the entire corps proceeding to Hong I^ong for embarkation for tbe Cape, on the arrival of Her Majesty's Ship "Tamar." As the head quarters of the 67th Regiment were about to embark, two cases of small-pox were reported on board the " Adventure," and a medical board pro-; nounced it unadvisable to proceed with the embarkation. The " Adventure " accordingly sailed with the Yokohama detachment of the 67th Regiment onlv, and reached this on the 13th instant. I would beg to request your Lordship's consideration of my letter. No. 764, of the 12th November last, pointing out the impossibility, under existing circum- stances, of providing for the 2d Battalion 11th Regiment in China, at least until additional accommodation be prepared for a second regiment at Hong Kong, and request, therefore, further instructions on this head. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Troops, China. [For reply, see No. 12, p. 15.] * 8 Officers, 248 non-commissioned officers and men. t 2 Officers, 4 native officers, 151 non-commissioned officers and men. MORTALITY IN TROOPS IN CHINA AND JAPAN. 15 Enclosure 1, in No. 10. The Principal Medical OHicer to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 16 January 1865. The intended departure of a portion of the 99th Eegiment for Shanghae at this season of the year, has directed my special attention to the probable effects of great and sudden reduction of temperature, and more sudden and great variation of the same, on men already enfeebled by disease and exposure to malarious influences during a residence of nearly four months at Kowloon, and nearly five years in the south of China, and the conclusion I. have arrived at, after mature consideration and anxious inquiry, is that while the change in question may be beneficial to a few, it will be very injurious to the others, more especially to those who have lately suffered from fevers and from bowel complaints, and to those who have any tendency to affections of the liver or spleen ; and indeed I have been informed by a medical gentleman of great local experience that the very worst cases of inflammation of the liver he has known of have been induced entirely by sudden exposure to severe cold, in persons who have resided for a considerable time in the south of China, proceeding to the north during the winter season. I have the honour to request that you will be pleased to bring this communication under the notice of his Excellency the Major General Commanding. I have, &c. (signed) William Dick, M.D., Deputy Inspector General, Principal Medical Officer. (True copy.) Geo. W. Thompson, A.D.c, Officiating Assistant Military Secretary. — No. 11. — Major General Guy to the War Office. — (Received May 1.) Head Quarters, Hong Kong, My Lord, 15 March 1865. I HAVE the honour to report the departure of the 2d Belooch Battalion from Shanghae to Bombay, on the 10th and 14th instants, and the head quarters and 600 men of the 22d Bombay Native Infantry from Hong Kong to Bombay this dav. The remainder of the latter corps, one officer and 128 men, will embark in a few days for Bombay. Application has been made to the Navy for transport to India for the G Battery, 14th Brigade, Royal Artillery, as directed in your letter* of the 6th * No. 6, p. 7. January last. This battery, at present divided between Shanghae and Yokohama, will be concentrated at the former station, and forwarded from thence to India with the least possible delay. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Troops, China and Japan. — No. 12. — The War Office to Major General Guy. Sir, War Office, 23 March 1865. I AM directed by Earl de Grey and Ripon to acknowledge the receipt of your letter* of the 28th of January last, in which you report that, in compliance * No. 10, p. is. with the instructions you had received, you were about to send back to India the two battalions of native troops, and you explain the arrangements you pro- posed to make for carrying out the relief of the 67th and 99th Regiments. 58. B4 In i6 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SICKNESS AND In reply, I am to signify to you Earl de Grey's approval of these arrange- ments. With regard to the difficulty which you anticipate in providing sufficient accom- modation for a second regiment at Hong Kong and Kowloon, I am to acquaint you that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have decided on withdrawing the Royal Marines now serving in Japan. There will, therefore, be no ob- jection to your seriding the 2d Battalion 11th Foot on its arrival from the Cape, or such portion of it as you may be unable to accommodate at Hong Kong, to Yokohama, where the chraate is better suited than that of China to the European constitution. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lnigard. [For reply, see No. 17, p. 19.] — No. 13. -~ The Quartermaster General to the War Office. Sir, Horse Guards, 6 April 1865. Adverting to the War Office letter of the 10th January last, No, 0.91-626,, and to previous correspondence relative to the distribution and accommodation of the force serving in China, I am instructed by the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief to forward, fdr the information of the Secretary of State for W^ar, the accompanying letter from the Major General Commanding in China, with its en- closures, on the subject of the sanitary condition of that part of Kowloon occupied by Her Majesty's troops ; also a letter from the Director General of the Army Medical Department, enclosing a report from Deputy Inspector General Dr. Dick, on this question, and also in regard to insufficient barrack accommodation for a second European regiment at Hong Kong. I am to request that the enclosures may be returned to this office. I have, &c. (signed) H. H. Clifford, Colonel, Acting for Quartermaster General. [For reply, see No. 16, page 19.] Enclosure 1, in No. 13. Major General Guy to the Military Secretary. Hong Kong, 24 January 1865. [In the same words as No. 9 to the War Office, page 9.] Enclosure 2, in No. 13. The Medical Department to the Military Secretary. Sir, Army Medical Department, 31 March 1865. Having perused your letter of the 28th instant, with its enclosures, I have the honour herewith to return them, and in continuation of the subject therein contained, beg to for- ward, for the information of his Eoyal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, the accompanying letter, which I have just received from Deputy Inspector General Dr. Dick, principal medical officer of the China command, the purport of which, I presume, has already been brought to the notice of hig Eoyal Highness by the local military authorities. Dr. Dick further specially directs attention to the insufficiency of the barrack accommodation for a second European regiment at Hong Kong, and I would respectfully beg to observe that I cannot but concur in the views he has expressed. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Durector General. MORTALITY IN TROOPS IN CHINA AND. JAPAN. 17 Enclosure 3, in No. 13. * Deputy Inspector General Dick to the Medical Department. Adverting to the correspondence which has already takL^plafL^LlTetD^ciaUv to my letter of 25th October, and its enclosures, and to thit of the 30th November and ite enclosures, on the subject of the occupation of the peninsula of Kowloon by the 99th Eeoi ment, I have now the honour to inform you that the corps has continued to suffer from the causes before alluaed to; that its efficiency is not only greatly impaired, but that its general health IS so deteriorated by disease, and by exposure to the malarious influences of the station as to render it, m my opinion, perfectly unfit for general service ; and though the mortality has not been very considerable, I have no doubt it will be found necessary to invalid alarge portion of the regiment, within the next two or three years, solely on account ot organic disease of some description, and from the further effects of intermittent and other fevers, contracted within the last few months; but as it has been decided to dispatch this corps to theCape of Good Hope, on the arrival of Her Majesty's ship « Tamar "now daily expected, it is unnecessary for me to enlarge further on this subject. ' There is a matter, however, to which I would beg to direct your particular attention It has been decided by the Home Authorities to withdraw the 22d Bombay Native Infantry from this station, and to replace it by a European regiment ; but as there is scarcely- proper barrack accommodation for one corps, the other must either occupy Kowloon Stanley, or the mat huts, which will be vacated by the 22d Native Infantry. We have the recent experience of the 20th and 99th Regiments at Kowloon, and the former expe- rience of Stanley, to guide us with respect to them ; and the rude mat huts, thouo-h perhaps adapted for native soldiers, are in my opinion perfectly unfit, in a sanitary poini; of view for the occupation of European troops. ' Experience has shown that the health of European troops cannot be maintained in this Colony unless they are well housed in stone or brick buildings, and not even then without the aid of every practicable sanitary precaution. I very much fear, therefore that if a second European regiment is sent to Hong Kong before proper provision is made for its reception, that the measure will defeat its object, and that should a force be required for any emergency, after a residence of one hot season ia the Colony, one of the regiments wiH be totally inefficient as regards any active military service ; and that should Hong Kong be again visited by another unhealthy season, the risk of very serious mortality among the troops will be greatly aggravated by the impossibility of adopting any efficient sanitary measures. I need scarcely refer to the alternative of hiring buildings for the occupation of troops, because suitable ones could not, I believe, be obtained here at any cost. Under these circumstances, I would beg of you to exercise your influence with the military authorities to delay, if possible, the dispatch of a second Eno-lish reo-iment to Hong Kong until proper barrack accommodation be provided for it. Of course it is not within my province to discuss the military necessities of China. If one European regiment at Hong Kong will suffice, there is just barely sufficient proper barrack accommodation for it. If a second is to be stationed in the Colony, I venture to suggest that one of the native regiments ordered to India would be more efficient under existing circumstances, than it is at aU probable a second regiment of Europeans would be. I have, &c. (signed) William Dick, M.D., Deputy Inspector General, Principal Medical Officer. — No. 14. -~ Major General Guy' io the War Office. — (Received 1 June.) My Lord, Head Quarters, Hong Kong, 8 April 1865. f HAVE the honour to transmit a report from Dr. Dick, Principal Medical Officer at this station, showing the influence of climate in Chiua upon t!ie health and efficiency of European troops and native troops of India respectively- The details contained in the above report will be found both interesting and important, and being taken from the recorded facts of a daily register, they aftbrd matter for serious consideration both in a financial and a sanitary point of view, as to the expediency of substituting a regiment of native infantry from India for one of the two regiments of the line in the China command. I am of opinion that many of the duties which soldiers are called upon to perform in this 58. C ' climate i8 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SICKNESS AND climate phould be done by native troops, with a view to preserve, as far as possible, the iiealth and efficiency of British soldiers, and, at the same time, diminish the great expense attendant upon replacing the casualties in a regiment of the line in sueh a climate as China. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Troops, China. [For reply, see No. 18, p. 20.] Enclosure 1, in No. 14. Deputy Inspector General Dich to the Assistant Jffilitary Secretary, Hong Kong. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 29 March 1865. In the course of a somewhat laborious investigation into the sanitary statistics of the forces serving in China for the years 1862, 1863, and 1864, the following facts were established with reference to the comparative efficiency of white and black troops id. this command, and which I have the honour to request that you will bring un(kr the notice of his Excellency the Major General Commandiiig» 1st. That the average number of deaths per annum among white troops has amounted to 61"170 per 1,000 men employed. 2d. That the average annual mortality among the black troops has amounted to 23883 per 1,000 men employed. 3d. That the annual average invaliding among the white troops has amounted to 40-816 per 1,000. .4th. That the same average of invaliding among the black troops has amounted to 16-788 per 1,000 men employed. 5th. That the daily average of sick among the white troops has amounted to 72-011 per 1,000 men employed. 6th. That the daily average of sick among the black troops has amounted to 45-632 per 1,000 men employed. 7th. That the average annual decrease of strength among the white troops, caused by deaths and invaliding, has been 97'265 per 1,000 men employed. 8th. That the average annual decrease of strength among the black troops from the same cause has been 40-700 per 1,000 men employed. The facts indicated by the above figures (at the present time, when China is about to be garrisoned wholly by white troops) affi)rd matter for very serious reflection, both in a financial and sanitary point of view. It is not within my province to discuss the first, nor indeed am I in possession of sufficient data to enable me to do so with advantage ;• but there cannot be any doubt that the expense of replacing casualties at a station so distant from England as China is very great. But as regards the other point, there can be no question that little more than 10 years would be required to expend (if I may use the word) a force of white troops, and that 25 years would be required to expend a similar force of black troops by deaths and invaliding. Then as regards the difference between the daily averages of sick, among the white and black troops, it results, supposing the men to have six nights in bed (and no soldier in this Colony ought to have less), that there have been 26 more men available daily for garrison duty per 1,000 men among the black than among the white troops, or, in other words, that a force of 1,000 black troops has really represented a force of 1,156 white troops for all purposes of garrison duty, independent altogether of the protection they have afforded the white soldier, by rendering his exposure to solar influence during the hot season unnecessary, and the absence of which will no doubt contribute materially to the increase of disease. I have, &c. (signed) William Dick, m.d,, Deputy Inspector General, Principal Medical Officer. MORTALITY IN TROOPS IN CHINA AND JAPAN. 19 — No. 15. — The War Office to Major General Guy, c.b. Sir, War Office, 10 April 1865. I AM directed by Earl de Grey and Ripon to acknowledge the receipt of your • No. 9, p. 9. letter* dated the 23d January last, enclosing the report of a Medical Board on the sanitary condition of Kowloon. With regard to the opinion expressed in the concluding paraj^raph of your letter, that it will be desirable to reduce the number of troops at Kowloon 10 the lowest possible amount, I need only refer you to the letterf which I addressed ^ No, 12, p. 15. to you on the 23d ultimo, in which you were authorised to remove to Japan such troops as you are unable to provide for at Hong Kong. I have, &c. (signed) Edward, Lugard. — No. 16. — The War Office to the Quartermaster General. Sir, War Office, 11 April 1865. I HAVE received your letter * of the 6th instant, together with its enclosures, *No. 13, p. i6. from the officer commanding the troops in China, on the subject of the sanitary state of that part of Kowloon which is occupied by Her Majesty's troops. In reply, I am to request that you will acquaint the Field Marshal Com- manding in Chief that Earl de Grey has received similar reports f from the f No. 9^ p. 9. officer commanding, and has caused th'em to be referred tO' the Army Sanitary Commission. With regard to the opinion expressed in the concluding paragraph of General Guy's letter, that it will be desirable to reduce the number of troops at Kowloon to the lowest possible amount, I am to state that Major General Guy has been authorised ^Xo remove to Japan such, troops as he is unable to provide jNo. i9,p.i5;No. fin* at HoHg Kong. i5, P- ^9- The enclosures, of your letter are returned as requested, I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugwrd. — No. \7. — Major General Guy to the War Office. — (Received 11 July.) Head Quarters, Hong Kong, My Lord, 11 May i865. With reference to War Office letter,* No. 083^1479 of the 23d March *No.i2, p. 15. last, authorising me to forward the whole or a portion of the 2d Battalion, 11th Regiment, to Yokohaiwa, on the departure of the Royal Marine Battalion from that statioHy I have the honour to inform you that I shall only be able to detach, for service in Japan two companies, about 150 in all, the withdrawal of the 22d Regiment Bombay Native Infantry rendering it absolutely necessary to detain the remainder of ther corps at Hong Kong and Kowloon for the performance of the garrison duties. As the families of the 2d Battalion, 20th Regiment, 69 in number, have been separated from the regiment since June 1864, and are occupying accommoda- tion at Stanley, which will be required for part of the families of the 2d Battalion, 9th Regiment, and 2d Battalion, Ilth Regiitneitt, I purpose for,warding them to 58. c 2. Yokohama, 20 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SICKNESS AND Yokohama, if it is the intention of Htr Majesty's Government to detain the 2d Battalion, 20th Regiment, in Japan for any leiigiliened period, and on this point I request the favour of your Lordship's instructions by return mail. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Cummanding Troops, Chiua and Japan. — No 18. — The War Office to Major General Guy. ' Sir, ■ War Office, 30 June 1865. * No 14, p. 17. I HAVE laid before the Secretary of State for War your letter* of the 8th April last, enclosing a report from Dr. Dick, the princijjal medical officer in China, showing the influence of the climate upon the health and efficiency of European and native troops of India respectiv ely, serving in China. In reply, I am to acquaint you that Lord de Grey, while concurring veith you as regards the interest which attaches to the results exhibited in this report, is not prepared to sanction the substitution of native for European troops, as suggested. His Lordship relies with confidence on the efficacy of the measures which have been authorised for improving the sanitary condition of the British soldier in China; and there should be no relaxation of your effiDrts, as there will be none on the part of Her Majesty's Government, in this direction. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lug ard. — No. 19. — Major General Guy to the War Office. — (Received 6 November.) Head Quarters, Yokohama, My Lord, 24 August 1865. I HAVE the honour to inform you that, in consequence of the great amount of sickness prevalent amongst the troops at Hong Kong, the buildino-s appro- priated as hospitals are quite insufficient to accommodate the number of sick. I enclose herewith a copy of a letter from the Officer Commanding Royal Engineers, and have to request that you will be good enough to authorise the immediate commencement of these works, in order to prevent the delay which must otherwise accrue if I await the approval and return of the usual annual estimate of the Royal Engineer Department. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding the Forces, China and Japan. [Reply to this Letter was rendered unnecessary by the receipt of No. 22 p. 22.1 Enclosure 1, in No. 19. The Commanding Royal Engineer to the Assistant Military Secretary (China, &c) Royal Engineers' Office, Yokohama, ^"■' 24 August 1865. I HAVE the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency the Major General, that the approximate estimate for providing additional accommodation for about 80 patients, at Hong Kong, will be about 2,000 l, which I would expend in adding another story to the present hospital, as the cheapest plan of eflFecting the object. I have &c. (signed) J. W. Lovell, Lieutenant Colonel and Commandant, Royal Engineers. (True copy.) W. Hartman, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General. MORTALITY IN TROOPS IN CHINA AND JAPAN. 21 — No. 20. — Surgeon Saunders to the Medical Department.— (Received 28 October.) Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sifj 10 September 1865. I HAVE the honour to request that you will be pleased to sen.l to this station, with the least possible delay, two assistant-surgeons for the 2d Battalion, 11th Regiment, and, in addition, four staff assistant-surgeons, for the duties specified in the accompanying return. The duties of the medical officers at Hong Kong during the present sickly season continue to be most onerous, and it is most important that further medical aid be provided. I have, &c. (signed) Geo. Saunders, ^nrgcon, 2d Battalion, 9th Regiment, for Principal Medical Officer in Japan. [For reply, see No. 34, p. 33. J Enclosure 1, in No. 20. DisiaiBUTiON of Medical Officers Serving in China, 10th September 1865. Rank. Name. Station. Duties. Number of Sick Men. Medical Officers required in Addition Remarks. Regimental. Staff. Suigeon, 2a Batta- lion, 9th Kegiment Snigeon, 2d Batta- lion,llthRegiment Assistant - Surgeon, Royal Artillery. Assistant - Surgeon, 2d Battalion, 9th Regiment. Ditto StafiF Assistant-Sur- geon. Ditto Ditto George Saunders - W. T. Black* A. R. Smith - - C. C. Piper J. N. Stock G. F. Adams t J. L. Cnrtis ■W. H. B. Clapp, M.B. Victoria, Hong Kong. Ditto Ditto Ditto Stanley, Hong Kong Ditto - On Passage to Japan. Taku Forts Charge of 2d Battalion, 9th Regiment, and Senior Medi- cal Officer. Charge of 2d Battalion, 11th Regiment. .Charge of Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, and Staff Corps, Staff and Depts., and Sick of 2d Battalion, 11th Regiment, in quarters. "Women and Children, part of Staff and Depts., Prisoners, &c. Charge of Detachments - Sick Charge of Detachments pro- ceeding to Japan. Detachment, 3d Battalion, . 20th Regiment. 180 90 90 40 2 2 Assistant- Surgeons for 2d Bat- talion, 11th Regiment, it being deficient that number. # For Victoria, Hong Kong — 1 Assistant- Surgeon, for Staff and Depts. ; 1 As- sistant Surgeon, for ' Temporary Hospi- tal, Alexander's Buildings, one mile > from General Hos- ) pital; 1 Assistant;, Surgeon, for Gene- ral Duty. For Stanley— I As- sistant-Surgeon. Total— 4 Staff As- sistant-Surgeons. Also attending Sick in Hospital of 2d Battalion, 11th Regi- ment. * Now on Sick List, and not likely to be efficient. t To proceed to England in charge of Inyalids, if suffi- ciently well. • Assistant-Surgeon Macintyre, m.d., 2d Battalion, 11th Regiment, died at Victoria, Hong Kong, 6th September 1865. (signed) 'for pSncipaTMedicaT Officer in Japan. George Saunders, Surgeon, . „ ,. , rt«„„ 2d Battalion, 9th Regiment, Senior Medical Officer, — No. 21. — Major-General Guy to the War Office.— (Received 4 December.) Head Quarters, Yokohama, My Lord, 18 September 1865. I HAVE the honour to report that I have sanctioned transport having been taken up at Hong Kong for the conveyance of about 100 invalids of the garrison to England. I forward a copy herewith of a letter addressed by the Senior Medical Officer to the Commandant at Hong Kong, which will, I trust, show that this measure was imperatively called for. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General. Commanding Forces, China and Japan. [Approved in Letter dated 9 December 1866.] 58. c3 2S CORUBSPOJNDENCE RELATIYE TO THE SICKNESS AND Enclosure 1, i» No. 21. The Seaior Medical OflBcer to. the CommandaHt,,Hoog Kai^., Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 31 August 1865. Having been infowmed that my application for transport (24th inst.) to convey 100 in worst cases, and precautions taken, that thje remainder of the voyage will termi- Jf^iTnTand 28 nate favourably. The "Gresham" sailed. on the 16th Decexaber. children. Ihave, &c. (signed) W. Thornton, Staff Surgeon, Senior Medical Officer, West District: — No. 42. — The War Office to Majxjr General Guy. Sir^ War Office, 21 December 1865. I AM directed to acquaint you that Earl de Grey has learnt with great surprise and regret, that at a period when much sickness prevailed amongst the troops at Hong Kong, the principal medical officer, the staff" surgeon, and a staff assistant surgeon, were absent in Japan, Earl de Grev desires to be furnished, after a searching inquiry, with a lull explanation of the circumstances under which, at a time of such severe sickness, this extraordinary and unfortunate absence of the principal medical officers of the command, took place. _ • <- r n His Lordship will reserve his judgment until he is m possession ot a lull report from you on the whole case. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. '5ft E4 40 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SICKNESS AND — No. 43. — The War Office to the Military Secretary. Sir, War Office, 26 December 1865. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of * No 40, p. 37. your letter* of the 15th instant, in regard to the intended reduction of the torce in the China command. In reply, I am to acquaint you that Lord de Grey approves of the arrangements which his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Gommanding-in-Chief proposes to adopt for carrying out the orders for the removal of one battalion from China. I am to add, that the memorandum by Lieutenant General Sir Hope Grant, which your letter encloses, with his Royal Highness's recommendation of it, will receive Lord de Grey's early consideration. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard, \_See further, No. 44. J — No. 44. — The Military Secretary to the War Office. Sir, Horse Guards, 26 December 1865. t No. 40, p, 37. Refereing to previous correspondence, and to my letter f of the 15th instant, with its enclosure, from the Quartermaster General, on the subject of the troops in China, I am directed to request you will submit, for the consideration of the Secretary of State for War, whether, in order to meet the peculiar requirements of our position in that country, and to relieve the European garrison of some of the duties which it appears almost impossible for them to perform without serious injury to their health, it might not be expedient and desirable to raise a local corps for special duty at Hong Kong . The Field Marshal Comraanding-in-Chief is aware of the objections, financial and otherwise, to the employment of native troops from India ; but as it is evident from Major General Guy's recent reports on the state of health of the garrison, that some auxiliary aid to the European troops is an actual necessity, his Royal Highness believes the course now suggested would prove feasible and efficacious, as the Chinese are, as was ascertained from Lieutenant General Sir Hope Grant, admirably adapted for the sort of duty which would be required of them. Adverting to the concluding paragraph of my letter above quoted, I am desired to state, that as the 2d Battalion 11th Regiment, is in a worse state of health, and requires change of climate more than the 2d Battalion of the 9th, his Royal Highness proposes to send the former regiment to Japan, in relief of the 2d Battahon, 20th Regiment, instead of the latter, as originally intended. I have, &c. (signed) E. W. Johnson, Colonel, For MiUtary Secretary. [For reply, see No. 48, page 44. J — No. 45. — The Military Secretary to the Medical Department. ^^^» Horse Guards, 3 January 1866, With reference to your letters of the 6th and 12th ultimo, I am directed by his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief to transmit to you the enclosed MORTALITY TN TROOPS IN CHINA AND JAPAN. 41 enclosed copy of a letter from Major General Guy, reporting that there are vacancies for three regimental and four staff medical officers in the China command, and requesting that they may be sent to Hong Kong as early as possible. I have, &c. (signed) E. B. Johnson, Colonel, For Military Secretary. [For reply, see No. 47, page 44.] Enclosure 1, in No. 45. Major General Guy to the Military Secretary. (Received 3 January 1866.) Sir, Head Quarters, Hong Kong, 14 November 1865. I HAVE the honour to request you will bring to lie notice of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, the insufficient number of medical officers in this command, there being at present vacancies for three regimental and four staflF officers ; and I beg to recommend that they may he sent to Hong Kong as early as possible, not only with a view of lightening the arduous duties now performed by the medical officers at present at Hong Kong, hut also to provide for the numerous contingencies which so frequently occur in this very trying climate. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General Commanding Troops in China. — No. 46. — The Military Secretary to the War Office. Sir, Horse Guards, 4 January 1866. In continuation of former correspondence on the subject of the state of health of the troops in China, I am directed to transmit to you, for the early considera- tion of the Secretary of State for War, copy of a letter of the 23d ultimo, from the Director Greneral, Army Medical Department, and of its Enclosure,jdated 27th October last, from the principal medical officer at Hong Kong, again bring- ing to notice the great amount of sickness which has prevailed among the troops in China, and urging the necessity of the garrison being reinforced by native troops, a measure which the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief considers of the utmost importance, and on which His Royal Highness's views were expressed in my letters* of the 15th and 26th ultimo. * No. 40, p. 37; I have &c. ^o- 44, P- 40- (signed) W. F. Forster, [For reply, see No. 51, page 45.] Enclosure 1, in No. 46. The Medical Department to the Quartermaster General. Sir, Army Medical Department, 23 December 1865. I AM instructed by the Director General, Army Medical Department, to enclose, for the information of His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, the accompan3?ing copy of a letter addressed by Deputy Inspector General Dick, Principal Medical Officer in China, for the information of the Major General commanding at that station, in which is given a brief detail of the suggestions made by Dr. Dick in the sanitary interests of the command, and the amount of sickness which has prevailed in China during this year. I am desired by Sir James Gibson to express his extreme regret at the excess of the latt«r. The Director General will feel obliged by Dr. Dick's letter being returned to him at the earliest period His Royal Highness can dispense with it. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General; 58. 42 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SICKNESS AND Enclosure 2, in No. 46. The Principal Medical Officer to the Assistant Military Secretary, Hong Kong. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 27 October 1865. In reporting on the state of health of the garrison of Hong Kong for the information of his Excellency the Major General commanding, I may be allowed to refer to a com- munication dated 27th January 1865, and addressed by me to the Director General of the Army Medical Department (a copy of which was forwarded for the perusal of his Excellency) in which the following passage occurs : — . . . , " If a second European regiment is sent to Hong Kong before proper provision is made for its reception, the measure will defeat its object, and should a force be required for any emergency, after a residence of one hot season in the Colony, one of the regiments stationed here will be totally inefficient as regards any active military service." It is now my duty to show to what extent the fears I then ventured to express have ^ince been realized. In a letter addressed to you, dated 28th March 1865 (for the information of his Excellency), it was shown that the average annual decrease of strength among the white troops serving in China, caused by deaths and invaliding during the years 1862, 1863, and 1864, amounted to 97*265 per 1,000 men employed. By the calculations I have recently made, it appears that the decrease of strength in this garrison from the same causes, has amounted to 166-669 per 1,000 men employed, since the 1st of July last, and from what I know, and have observed, I have too much reason to fear that it wUl be necessary to add largely to that amoimt before the end of the present year, already so near its termination. The casualties among the women and children have also been very great, 8 of the former from a strength of 101, and 71 of the latter from a strength of 171 having died within almost the period stated above. The casualties among the officers have also been considerable, 4 having died and 7 having been invalided, being in the ratio of 130-952 per 1,000 since the beginning of last quarter. Having made this general statement it is desirable I should enter more into detail, as the different corps forming the garrison have not been all equally unhealthy. 2nd Battalion 9th Regiment. — During the quarter ending the 30th Septeaoaber last, 725 cases of malarious fevers, and 59 cases of bowel complaints, besides othea- diseaseSj have been treated, and the loss of strength from deaths and invaliding together, have amounted to 121 621 per 1,000 men. The general health of the men of this battalion is very much shaken. 2nd Battalion llth Regiment. — During the same quarter 706 cases of malarious fevers, and 64 cases of bowel complaints, besides other diseases, have been treated, and the loss Dt strength from deaths and invaliding has amounted to 228-898 per 1,000 men. The regiment has lost both its medical officers, one having . died and the other having been invalided, The general health of the men of tJiis corps is in a far worse condition than that of the 2nd Battalion 9th Regiment, and is in fact so deteriorated as to render its removal from this command inevitaible. 6th Brigade 2nd Batieri/ Royal Artillery. — Twenty ^nine cases of malarious fevers and nine cases of bowel complaints have been treated^ and the loss of strength from deaths and invar- liding has amounted to 142-857 per 1,000 men. The general health of the men does not seem to have suffered seriously, the proportion of fevers Jiaving been comparatively small. Royal Engineers. — Fifteen cases of fever and nine of bowel complaints have been treated. The loss of strength, from deaths and invaliding, has been 94 '34 per 1,000 men. The general health of the men has not suffered to any serious extent. Staff and Departmental Cqrps. — These consist of the Commissariat Staff and Army T^ospital Corps. There was no fatal case in either during the quarter, but four men have been invalided, being at the rate of 142-857 per 1,000 men. The general health not seriously affected. In a former report I attributed the sickly condition of the garrison of Hong Kong to malarious and solar influenceSj and to unsuitable barrack accommodation : to l^ese I beg now to add the excessive duties to which most of the soldiers of the gaxxJeon have been subjected. The influence of malaria is generally recognised in the south of China as the direct cause of various diseases. In the present case, however, liiere may still "be a question as to its source. Had the amount of sickness been the same, or nearly so, in the 9th and llth Regiments, it might have been fairly assumed, from the result of former experience, that Kowloon had much to answer for, as detachments of both corps were quartered there almost in equal numbers ; but as the difference between them, with respect to sickness, has been so well marked, causes must be looked for beyond the immediate or remote influences of Kowloon, and without doubt they are to be found in the unsuitable character of the godowns or stores, hired specially as barrack accommodation for the 2d battalion llth Regiment. As his Excellency is aware, there are two blocks of these buildings: the MORTALITY IN TROOPS IN CHINA AND JAPAN. 43 the one situated in a hollow at the bottom of a ravine, not far from the Murray Barracks ; the other is built on made soil, closely hemmed in on two sides by other buildings. The space between the different buildings of both blocks does not exceed 10 feet, so that free ventilation is thus impeded. Moreover, there is no protection in either case from solar influence without the buildings; and if a soldier, from any cause, has to leave his barrack- room,_ he is immediately^ exposed to the fierce rays of the sun; and there can be no question solar influence is of itself an effective predisposing cause of fever and other malarious diseases. Adverting to excessive duty, the returns in my office show that, during a considerable portion of the quarter ending the 30th of September, the men of the 9th and llth Regi- ments had only two nights in bed ; and there can be no doubt that want of due rest at night, but more especially in a hot climate, is also of itself an effective predisposing cause of disease, and one that would seriously affect the finest and most healthy body of men in a very short time. I have taken some pains to ascertain the number of nights in bed enjoyed by the men of the garrison of Hong Kong during the corresponding quarter of 1864, when it was composed of a mixed force of 683 white and &06 black troops, in all 1,189 men, and I find that the average was four nights in bed. The strength of the 9th and llth Regiments, on the 1st of July last, was 1,513 men; and if, therefore, the nights in bed had continued uniform at two throughout (and they scarcely ever exceeded two and a haJf), it would have required nearly 1,500 additional European troops to have given the men the same number of nights in bed as was enjoyed by the mixed force of white and black troops which formed the garrison last year. I need not remind his Excellency, that until the month of March last, the duties of the garrison at Hong Kong were performed by a mixed force of white and black troops. From a letter, dated Treasury- Chambers, 17th September 1862, a copy of which is before me, I think I may fairly infer that economy was the object in substituting a white for a native regiment. I have only to say that the hospital expenses for the last quarter amounted to 1,925 1., and that the value of the quinine alone expended, during nearly the same period, has amounted, at London wholesale prices, to the enormous sum of 381?. 105. It will be the duty of other departments to render accounts for hire of buildings, passages of invalids to England, &c., in connection with the presence of a second European regiment at this station ; but in justice to my own department, I have to say, as far as I am aware, every principal medical officer who has served in China has been in favour of a mixed force of white and black troops, and that while such was its composition the sanitary state of the garrison was comparatively satisfactory ; and I trust I do not travel beyond the strict limits of my duty when I further state, that in my opinion it would have been more humane, wise, and economical, to have left well alone, and to have retained the black troops in the command. From what has been already written, it appears unnecessary for me to offer any suggestion with regard to the Artillery, Engineers, and Staff Corps; but as respects the 2d Battalion 9th Regiment, it appears to me that it is desirable, in every point of view, to remove it from Hong Kong. If a military force is to be retained in Japan, I think much advantage would be gained by sending it there. As regards the 2d Battalion 1 1th Regiment, I consider its general health so deteriorated that it is indis- pensable for the preservation of the corps to remove it to a still more genial climate ; and from personal experience, I can strongly recommend any of the Australian Colonies, where good barracks are vacant. In conclusion, I have only earnestly to urge the pressing sanitary necessity of applying, with as little delay as possible, for another Indian regiment, as a substitute for one of the European regiments now in the command. I consider that a Belochee corps is best adapted for this service. And, perhaps, I cannot do better than add a paragraph from an official letter of Dr. Currie, deputy inspector general of hospitals, with reference to a similar apphcation made just three years ago, under precisely similar circumstances to the present :— " I consider it my duty to suggest to the General Officer Commanding, the reduction, as far as may be safely practicable, of the European element of the force, and the sub- stitution of Indian troops. *' In conclusion, I have only to add that the brigadier general at once acted upon my suggestion, and has applied to the Viceroy of India for a native corps to relieve the 31st Regiment." I have, &c. (signed) W. Dick, M.D., Deputy Inspector General, Principal Medical Officer. (True copy.) (signed) William Dick, m.d.. Deputy Inspector General and Principal Medical Officer. 58. G 44 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SICKNESS AND — No. 47. — The Medical Department to the Military Secretary. Sir, Army Medical Department, 5 January 1866. *No. 45, p. 40. -In acknowledging the receipt of your letter* of the 3d instant, and its enclosure, from the officer commanding the troops in China, on the subject of the paucity of medical officers in that command, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of his Royal Highness tlie Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that the vacancies alluded to by Major General Gruy have already been filled up. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General. — No. 48. — The War Office to the Military Seeretarv. Sir, War Office', 5 January 1866. + No. 44, p. 40, With reference to the concluding paragraph of your letter t of 26th ultimo, in which you state that as the 2d Battalion 11th Foot, at Hong Kong, is in a worse state of health, and requires change of climate more than the 2d Battalion 9th Foot, Field Marshal Commanding in Chief proposes that tlie former regiment should be sent to Japan instead of the latter, as before arranged. I am desired to request that you will signify to his Royal Highness Earl de Grey's concurrence in this proposal. I am to add, that the question of the future garrison of Hong Kong will receive his Lordship's early consideration. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. (.Seefurtker, No. 49.) — No. 49. — The Military Secretary to the War Office. Sir, Horse Guards, 11 January 1866. t No. 37, p. 34; With reference to your letters J of the 6th and 26th ultimo and 5th instant. No. 43, p. 40; I am directed by the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief to request that you. °' ^ ' will acquaint the Secretary of State for War, that in consequence of the represen- tation of the sickly state of the 2d Battalion 9th Foot at Hong Kong, his Royal Highness proposes, with Earl de Grey's concurrence, that the following movemeats should take place in lieu of those previously decided upon, viz. : — 2d Battalion 11th Foot, from Hong Kong to Bengal. 2d Battalion 9tb Foot „ Hong Kong „ Japan. 2d Battalion 20th Foot „ Japan „ Hong Kong. . By the above arrangement, the 2d Battalion 11th Foot will form one of the five relieving regiments for India this year, instead of the 2d Battalion 20th Foot. I have, &c. (signed) fV. F. Forster. (For reply, see Ko. 50, p. 45.) MORTALITY IN TROOPS IN CHINA AND JAPAN. 45 — No. 60, ~ The War Office to the Military Secretary. Sir, War Office, 16 January 1866. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter* of the 11 th * No. 49, p, 44. instant, stating that in consequence of the sickly state of the 2d Battalion 9th Foot at Hong Kong, the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief recommends the following movements instead of those previously decided upon : 2d Battalion 11th Foot, from Hong Kong to Bengal. 2d Battalion 9th Foot, „ ,, „ Japan. 2d Battalion 20th Foot, ,, Japan „ Hong Kong. In reply, I am to acquaint you that Lord de Grey approves of the arrangement proposed by His Royal Highness, by which the 2d Battalion llth Foot will form one of the five relieving regiments for India this year, instead of the 2d Battalion 20th Foot. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. [iSee further. No. 52.] — No. 51. — The War Office to the Military Secretary. Sir, War Office, 24 January 1866. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letterf of the 4th instant, ^ No. 46, p, 41. together with its enclosures, from the Director General of the Army, Medical Department, on the subject of the great amount of sickness which prevails amongst the troops serving in China, and urging the expediency of the garrison being reinforced by native troops. In reply, I am to request that you will acquaint the Field Marshal Com- manding in Chief that regard being had to the objections which exist to stationing Indian troops in China, Earl de Grey is disposed to think that the readiest mode of supplying troops capable of withstanding tlie climate of Hong Kong would be to send thither a portion of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment. His Lordship under- stands that the Committee recently assembled to inquire into the military expen- diture of that Colony has recommended that a considerable reduction, both in men and officers, should be made in this corps, and it occurs to his Lordship that in the event of this proposal being adopted, the portion so to be reduced might be Tendered available for duty in Hong Kong, leaving the question, of the kind of men to be hereafter recruited for the portion of the regiment thus transferred to Hong Kong, for future consideration. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. — No. 52. — The Military Secretary to the War Office. Sir, Horse Guards, 1 February 1866. Adverting to your letterj of the 6th December last, intimating that Her Ma- j No. 37, p. 34. jesty's Government Iiave determined on reducing the force in the China command Ijy one Battalion of Infantry, I am directed by the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief to request you -will inform the Secretary of State for War that it has been most Wrongly lepresented to his Royal Hignness by the Director General, Army Medical Department, that if the men of the 2d Battalion llth Regiment, which has suffered so severely from sickness, should be called uppn to perform duty which will g^ve them less than seven, or at the Tery least, six nights in bed,' 58. G 2 the 46 CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE SICKNESS AND the most serious consequences may follow, and as his Royal Highness most fully concurs in Sir James Gibson's opinion on this subject, not only as regards this regiment, but also any British force employed at Hong Koni^, he proposes, with the concurrence of Earl de Grey, to send out immediate orders to Major General Guy, directing him to abstain from employing the troops at that station on any duty which will not permit of their having this amount of rest. In bringing this to the Secretary of State's notice, I am to, request you will at the same time point out that the ordinary duties of the station cannot possibly be carried out without the aid of native troops of some description, and his Royal Highness trusts his Lordship will see the necessity for an early decision on this subject, with a view to instructions being sent to China by the first mail, and that Major General Guy may be empowered meanwhile to make such arrange- ments for the duties of the place as he may deem advisable and necessary under the circumstances. I am further directed to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, that having been in communication with the Director General, Army Medical Department, on the subject of the relief of the 2d Battalion 11th Regiment, it appears to his Royal Highness that the proposal submitted in my •No. 49, p. 44. letter* of the 11th ultimo, would insufficiently meet the extreme case of this battalion, and that it would be preferable that it should be sent back to the healthy and bracing climate of the Cape rather than to India, where it would arrive at a season of the year unfavourable to the health of the men, and where they might suffer also from heat on their journey to the upper provinces ; nor does it seem expedient or desirable to bring this regiment direct to Englarid; and I am to request, therefore, you will submit, for Earl de Grey's approval, the following arrangement which his Royal Highness believes to be the best under the circumstances: — From. To. 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment - China - Cape of Good Hope. „ 9th ,, - Hong Kong Japan, „ 20th ,. - Japan - Hong Kong. 67th Regiment - - - - Cape - England. A regiment direct from home to India. With reference to the mode proposed by Earl de Grey for supplying troops capable of withstanding the climate of Hong Kong as communicated in your t No. 51, p. 45. letter t of the 24th ultimo, I am desired to acquaint you, for his Lordship's in- formation, that in bis Royal Highness's opinion the employment of a portion of the Ceylon Rifles in China is not desirable, for from inquiry his Royal Highness has reason to believe that the employment of a portion of this corps in China on a former occasion was very distasteful to the men, and that it had a very preju- dicial and baneful effect on the recruiting of the regiment. His Royal Highness would not be disposed, therefore, to recommend the measure. If, however, it shall be decided on reducing the number of officers of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment, his Royal Highness suggests that those who may come under the operation of the reduction might be made available for appointment to any native force which it may be determined on raising for service in China. I have, &c. (signed) W. F. Forster. (For reply, see No. 53.) — No. 53. — The War Office to the Military Secretary. Sir, War Office, 2 February 1866. J No. 52, p. 45. . I HAVE laid before the Secretary of State for War your letter t of the 1st instant, on the subject of the reduction of the military force in the China com- mand, by one battalion of infantry, and I am to acquaint you, in reply, for the information pf the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that Earl de Grey concurs in the orders which his Royal Highness proposes to give to Major General Guy, directing him to abstain from employing the troops at Hong Kong on any duty which MORTALITY IN TROOPS IN CHINA AND. JAPAN. 47 which will prevent their having the amount of rest considered necessary by the medical authorities. Nor has his Lordship any objection to the 2d Battalion 11th Regiment being sent to the Cape of Good Hope instead of to India, or to the other movements of regiments recommended by his Royal Highness. With regard to the employment of a native force at Hong Kong, I am to state that this question is under the serious consideration of the Secretary of State, and that a further communication will be made to his Royal Highness on the subject. I have, &c. (signed) , Edward Lugard. — No. 54. — The Principal Medical Officer, Portsmouth, to the Medical Department. Sir, Portsmouth, 5 February 1866. I HAVE the honour to report that a Board of officers (on which I attended) was ordered by his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, to ascertain whether the mortality on board the hired transport " Gresham," on her late voyage from Hong Kong to Spithead, is to be traced to any of the arrangements on board that ship. The result of a careful and minute inquiry into all the circumstances was a unanimous finding in the negative. The accommodation for the troops was spacious, thoroughly ventilated ; the supplies and medical comforts good and abundant ; the excreta from the sick were promptly thrown overboard, and disinfectants freely used. The ship was easy at sea, carrying her ports always open. The soldiers and their families on board expressed the fullest satisfaction with the treatment and accommodation they had received. The Board ventured to express a high opinion of the atten- tion and care displayed by Captain Burland, the officer commanding, and Staff Assistant Surgeon Adams, in medical charge. The detailed proceedings of the Board were forwarded to the military authorities. I have, &c. (signed) F. W. Innes, m. d.. Deputy Inspector General. — No. 55. — The Military Secretary to the War Office. Sir, Horse Guards, 10 February 1866. Referring to the last paragraph of your letter* of the 2d instant, and to • No. 53, p. 46. previous correspondence on the question of the employment of a native force at Hong Kong, I am directed to state that, in the opinion of the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, it is essential that this question should be disposed of at the earliest possible date, an opinion in which his Royal Highness is aware that the Secretary of State for War entirely concurs. Concurrently with this question, it so happens that that of the force to be maintained at Ceylon is now under consideration, and further it is also under- stood that the Straits Settlement is about to be taken over by the Imperial Government. Without coming to any premature solution of the Ceylon question or com- mitting himself to the recommendation contained in the Report of the Ceylon Commissioners, the Duke of Cambridge conceives it is not impossible that some reduction of the native force in that Colony may be ultimately agreed to, and it appears to his Royal Highness desirable that advantage should be taken of this circumstance to decide upon the force to be employed in the Straits Settlement. ' 58. G 3 The 48 CORRESPONDENCE :— MORTALITY IN TROOPS, &c. The proposak originally made by his Eoyal ilghness with reference to the garrison of these settlements were as follows : To he stationed at Singapore — Two hatteries Royal Artillery. Head-quarlers Wing of British Regiment from China. Two companies Ceylon Rifles. At Penang — Two -thirds of a battery Royal Artillery. Three companies Ceylon Rifles. Malacca — One-third of a battery Royal Artillery. One company Ceylon Rifles. In addition to the above, it would be necessary, if it be the intention of Govern- ment to take over Labuan in Borneo, to provide two more companies of the Ceylon Rifles to take the place of the native garrison now furnished from the Madras Army. His Royal Highness, I am to state, adheres generally to the views previously submitted on this subject, but is prepared to modify them, if it should be con- sidered desirable to constitute the garrisons of Ceylon and the Straits Settlement as one command ; or if on any account it should appear expedient to the Seereta-ry of State to change the constitution of the force by the substitution of British for native troops altogether. His Royal Highness suggests that a second battalion may be added to the Ceylon Rifles, to be stationed in the Straits, and to be employed not only as the native garrison, for that Colony, but also as the depot for recruiting the whole regiment, including the battalion in Ceylon. It appears to his Royal Highness very desirable that the wing of the European Regiment for the Straits should be taken as originally proposed from a second regiment in China, an arrangement which would have the advantage of giving the troops in the China command a comparatively salubrious climate to recruit their health in, of form a second regiment in Ceylon, the addition of which, according to the remarks of Major General Hodgson on the report of the Ceylon Commissioners, a copy of whose letter to his Royal Highness on this subject is herewith forwarded for Earl de Grey's consideration, would appear to be a very desirable arrangement, additional British troops being so much needed for Imperial interests. If a third battalion of the Ceylon Rifles could be raised for service in China, his Royal Highness would greatly prefer it to a purely local corps, having serious objections to the local system, if it cari possibly he avoided, but if it should be thought that the Malays would be unwilling to recruit for service in China, then a local corps composed either of Chinese or Indians should at once be formed for service at Hong Kong, and his Royal Highness would again urge the necessity for this being carried out with the least possible delay, I have, &c. (signed) W. F. Forster. MORTALITY IN TROOPS (CHINA AND JAPAN), ^ COPY of Correspondence relative to the Sickness and Mortality in the 2d Battalion of the flth Regiment, and 2d Battalion of the 11th Regiment, in China and Japan. (^Colonel North.') Ordered, by The House of Commons, to ie Printed, 21 February/ 1866. [Price 6 d.] 58. Under 8 oz. REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE 1 ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA): TOGETHER WITH THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE, MINUTES OF EVIDENCE, AND APPENDIX. Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 24 July 1 866. [ ii ] Tuesday, 20th, March 1866. Ordered, That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the Mortality in the Troops in China, the Causes which led to it, and into the conduct of those Departments of the Government whose duty it has been to administer to the wants of those Troops. Tuesday, ^Oih April 1866. Select Committee nominated, — Colonel North. Marquis of Hartington. Lord Hotham. Mr. Baxter. Mr. Adderley. Lord Frederick Cavendish. Mr. Roebuck. Colonel Percy Herbert. Mr. Dalglish. Lord Henry Percy. Mr. Calthorpe. Major Anson. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Reilly. Ordered, That the Committee have power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records Ordered, That Five be the Quorum of the Committee. Thursday, \2th April 1866. Ordered, THAi'the Select Committee do consist of 17 Members. Ordered, That Sir Harry Verney and General Dunne be added to the Committee. Monday, 1th May 1866. Ordered, That Mr. Roebuck be discharged from further attendance on the Select Committee, and that Mr. Frederick Stanley be added thereto. Tuesday, 24th July 1866. Ordered, That the Committee have power to report their Observations, together with the Minutes of Evidence taken before them, to The House. KEPOET - _ . p. iii PKOCEEDINGS OP THE COMMITTEE p. xiii MINUTES OF EVIDENCE - p, i APPENDIX p. 179 r iii ] REPORT. THE SELECT COMMITTEE appointed to inquire into the Mortality In the Troops in China, the Causes which led to it, and into the conduct of those Departmeats of the Government whose duty it has been to adtoiftister to the wants of those Troops; — Have considered the matters to thetii referred^ and have agreed to the following REPORT : — The period to which the attention of your Committee has been e&pedally ^awn is from 1st March 1865 to 1st March 1866. During that period the 2nd Battalion 9th Regiment, out of a strength of 838 men, lost 200 men by death and invaliding home ; the total deaths were 85, or one-tenth of the strength. The 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment, out of a sti'ength of 716 men, between the 1st of June 1865 and 1st March 1866, a period of nine monthgj lost 258 by deaths and invaliding, or more than one- third of their strength ; the total deaths were 94, or more than one-eighth. Besides these two remarkable cases, the attention of your Committee has been called to that of the 99th Regiment, which, as it comes first in chrono- logical order, is now detailed. Case of the 99th Regiment. It appears by the evidence that, on the 15th September 1864, this regi- ment, then stationed at Hong Kong, was ordered, at the suggestion of the civil governor, at three hours' notice, to quit the permanent barracks,, in consequence of a, very serious riot which had taken place between men of that regiment and some Malays and colonial police, and to proceed to Kowloon to Occupy the huts there. At that time the regiment was singularly healthy, having but 31 men in hospital, and three with fever, out of a strength of 684 men. In consequence of their opinion of the unhealthy character of Kowloon as a station, and that the regiment bad been withdrawn from it on the 29th of the preceding June, for sanitary reasons, this move was strongly remonstrated against by the officer commanding the regiment, the principal medical officer, and by Mr. Snelt, the stwgeon of the regiment,, who pointed out that " greatly increasedl sickness and mortality will follow from the change,, and the health of all will be deteriorated*" Sanitary Report, P.M.O., App. 4, p. 313, and following pages- Evidence, 2657. Sanitary Report, App. 4, Surgeon Snell, 99th Regiment, War Office Form 517, p.313, and foUovnng pages. Table A. page 319. App. 4, pp. 254, 30<5r3i3- Sanitary Report, Surgeon Snell, 99th Regiment, App. 4, page 313, and following. These strong^ representations were made to Colonel Moody, commandant, but unfortunately without effect. The following sanitary state of the regiment for the three ensuing months : — R.E., was the the Date. Strength. In Hospital. Fever Cases. I'i Sept. 1864 - 14 Get.. » - - - 14¥ov, » - - - 14 Dec. J, - - - 683 623* 619 612 31 L28 161 97 3 81 i IIS ' . 6'2 Table A,, App 4, page 319. • Decrease in the strength caused by 60 men detached to Taku. 442. a 2 The IV REPORT FROM SELECT COMMITTEE 428. 1442. Sanitary Report, 1863, Dr.Snell,App. 4, p.248. Ditto, Dr. Dick, 1864, App. 4, p. 254. Ditto, Dr. Snell, 1864, App. 4, pp.269, 272, 276, 278. Sanitary Report, 1864, Principal Medical Offi- cer, pp. 298, 306, War Office Form517, p. 318. App. 4. Evidence 373 to 381. Sanitary Report, 1864. P.M.O. App. 4, p. 276. 305. The regiment remained at Kowloon until the 28th February 1865, when they embarked for the Cape of Good Hope, where they landed on the 9th April, after a voyage of 38 days, in a most debilitated condition. Your Committee express no opinion as to the military necessity which, it has been stated, required that the 99th Regiment under these circumstances should be sent to Kowloon, and kept there for five months ; they confine themselves to expressing their opinion that the sanitary state described was due to the adoption of that course. It is shown by the evidence that the present unhealthy nature of Kowloon, as a station, is owing to the emanations arising from the cuttings and exca- vations of the earth, preparatory to the construction of roads and buildings which are necessary for its permanent occupation, and a very general opinion, medical and other, has been expressed that all excavations should be com- pleted from two to three years before adjacent buildings are occupied. The unfitness of Kowloon in its present condition for occupation by Euro- pean troops, appears to your Committee to have been thoroughly established by the case of the 99th Regiment, and by that of a detachment of the 2nd Battalion 20th Regiment, in the year 1863, the history of which is to be found in General Sanitary Report of the Principal Medical Ofiicer. Annual Return, App. n, p.384. App. 12 and 13. loSi. App. 12 and 13. App. 1, p. 213. App. 13- Case of 2nd Battalion 9th Regiment. It arrived at Hong Kong in February 1865 ; the strength, on the 1st March 1865, being — Serjeants, 48 ; Drummers, 23 ; Rank and Tile, 767 :— Total, 838. Between the 1st of March 1865 and 1st of March 1866, there were— Invalided home --_____-- 145 Deaths in China ---_---«- 55 Diminution of Strength - - - 200 Of the invalids, there died on passage home - _ _ _ 30 Deaths in China (as above) ---____ 55 Total Deaths - - - 85 In addition to these losses, between February and October 1865, there died of this battalion 6 women and 24 children ; and 27 women and 40 children were invalided home. Annual Return, App. 10, p. 381. App. 11 and 12. 1061. Case of 2ud BattaUon 11th Regiment. It arrived at Hong Kong in May 1865 ; the strength, on the 1st June 1865, being — Serjeants, 37 ; Drummers, 21 ; Rank and File, 658 :— Total, 716. Between the 1st June 1865 and 1st of March 1866, there were— Invalided home - - - - _ _ _ _ -193 Deaths in China -----____ 55 Diminution of Strength - - - 258 Of the invalids, there died on passage home - _ _ _ 29 Deaths in China (as above) - - - - - _ -65 .u Total Deaths - - - 94 App. 1, p. 213- In addition to these losses, between June and October 1865, there died App- '3. of this battalion 3 women and 28 children, and 21 women and 28 children were invalided home. It ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINa). V It appears to the Committee that the principal causes of this mortality among the European troops were, — 1st. The unhealthiness of the season of 1865. 2nd. Exposure to heat and malaria on duty. 3rd. But the chief cause was want of barrack accommodation for the , number of troops stationed at Hong Kong and Kowloon, the inadequacy of the huts and hired buildings to the sanitary requirements of Europeans, and the occupation of huts at Kowloon during the progress of excavations. With regard to the first point, the evidence is somewhat contradictory; Evidence 1689. but that the season was more unhealthy than any year since 1858, to the civil 2021, 2, 3. 2345. as well as the military inhabitants, is distinctly stated both by General ^^^'l°'f^A^^~^' Guy and Dr. Murray, the colonial surgeon. Munay^App! 14. Before adverting to the two latter causes, it is necessary to refer to the history of the military occupation of Hong Kong and Kowloon by British troops. From 1850 to 1854, the garrison of Hong Kong consisted of a wing of App. 3, p. 232. an European regiment and about 400 Ceylon Rifles. From 1854 to 1857, the garrison was composed of the same number of European troops, without any native corps, except a detachment of gun Lascars. In 1857 and 1858 a large number of troops, both British and Indian, were dispatched to China to take part in the war ; and at its conclusion, the ports of Taku and Shanghai being still occupied by us, and an European force being considered necessary for the protection of British residents in Japan, a force consisting of two batteries of artillery, a company of engineers, three battalions of infantry, and two regi- ments of Indian troops, were retained in the command. The 2nd Battalion 9th, and 2nd BattaUon Uth, were ordered to China i3»i. to relieve the 67th and 99th, as part of the ordinary reliefs of 1864-65, at a time when the determination to withdraw from the occupation of purely Chinese territory had not been come to by the Government, and when there- fore no diminution of the force serving in China or alteration of its composition was in contemplation. It appears that in November 1864 the Government determined to with- App. 1, No. 3, draw from the occupation of Shanghai, Taku, and other points of purely p. 186. Chinese territory, and Lord de Grey states that, after discussing with His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief the arrangements to be made in consequence 2455. of this decision, he at first intended to send back to India all the troops of the Indian Government in the China command, and to reduce the force of European "* infantry by one battalion, leaving two battalions in the command ; one for China and one for Japan. The Government, however, subsequently determined that it was desirable, App. 1, No. 2, p. in consequence of the unsettled state of affairs in Japan, to retain three European ^86 ; Nos. 6 and battalions in the command for a time, and no change was consequently made 7. P- 187. in the orders already issued for the China reliefs. But it should be stated that, by the letters of the 6th and 10th January 18(65, the force in the China com- mand was reduced by one battery of artillery, and the estabUshment of regi- ments serving in China was reduced from 1st April 1865, from 900 men to 800 men, depots included. Lord de Grey has informed your Committee that it always was his inten- tion that the greater part, if not the whole, of the extra battalion thus temporarily 2392, 3- left under General Guy's command should be sent to Japan, although he con- sidered it to be his duty, for the reasons which he has stated, to leave to the General OflScer in command a discretionary power as to the distribution of his troops. On the receipt of General Guy's Despatch of the 28th January 1865, App. 1, No. 10, which reached the War Office on the 15th March, pointing out " the impos- p. 193; No- '" sibility, under existing circumstances, of providing for the 2nd Battahon 1 1th P- ^S''-- in China, at least until additional accommodation be prepared for a second regiment at Hong Kong," a letter was written on the 23rd March to that officer in the following terms : " With regard to the difficulty which you antici- pate in providing sufficient accommodation for a second regiment at Hong Kong *^ 442. a 3 and 12, VI REPORT FROM SELECT COMMITTEE App. i8, Gen. Guy's letter, an- swer to question No. 1, p. 438. and Kowloon, I am to acquaint you that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have decided on withdrawing the Royal Marines now serving m Japan. There will therefore be no objection to your sending the 2nd Batta- lion 11th Foot on its arrival from the Cape, or such portion of it as you. may be unable to accommodate at Hong Kong, to Yokohama, where the climate is better suited than that of China to the European constitution ;"— hut this order for the re-embarkation of the Marines was not carried out till the following August. This letter was in General Guy's hands three weeks before the arrival of the 2nd BattaUon 11th Regiment at Hong Kong. It is clear, therefore, that it was the intention of the Secretary of State that the 2nd Battalion 1 1th, should go to Japan, and that he met General Guy's difficulties about accommodating that regiment by referring him to this inten- tion ; it is also clear that General Guy was aware of Lord de Grey's views on this subject, upon the arrival of the regiment at Hong Kong ; but he did not carry Lord de Grey's intention into effect on the ground, as it seems that the duties at Hong Kong and Kowloon could not be properly performed by a less force of infantry than two battalions ; and the consequence was that the two regiments thus retained at those stations were obliged to be accommodated in the inadequate and unsatisfactory manner described below. With regard to the second point, your Committee are of opinion that the guard duties, reduced, on the withdrawal of the native Indian troops', to the lowest number of sentries considered prudent, were altogether disproportionate to the number of European troops for which there was anything like adequate accommodation. In these circumstances, General Guy deemed it necessary to retain the greater part of two battalions, in order to furnish a sufficient number of men, but as the consequent overcrowding and occupation of unhealthy huts tended greatly to increase the amount of sickness, the number of healthy men for duty was wholly insufficient. It has been suggested, that General Guy might have met the difficulty hy employing police or watchmen to any extent desirable, but no order nor distinet authorisation to this effeet was given to him. It is proved, however, that both General Guj and his predecessor did employ hired watchmen when they con- sidered it necessary ,- nor was any objection ever made by the War Offiice to the expenditure incurred. Dr. Logan's Sanitary From the Sanitary Report of Dr. Logan in 1859 to Dr., Saunders' Letter BtfStherford's ?^ ^^th August 186&, the evidence brought before your Committee points out Sanitary Report, 1860. in the Strongest terms the necessity for European troops having manv nights in ottft™ng„ bed between the intervals of duty. App. 4. Dr. Snell,, 99th Reg. App. 4. Principal Medical OiEcer, Hong Kong, 1864,>pp. 4. Dt. SneU, 99tli Reg. 1864, App. 4. 57, 58, 59, 60. 70, 71- App. i,No. 17, p. 198. 861, 2. 3. 1088. 855, 856. 858. 1489. 1492. 1494- Dr. Rutherford,, in 1860, stated as his opinion that they should have from six to seven nights in bed, and that opinion has been very generally confirmed ; but the evidence and official returns show that they frequently had but three nights in bed, and Colonel Sankey stated thlat, on the 6th Septem- ber 1865, 20 of his men went on guard with but two nights in bed ; and AdiutantGenerai's Co^o^iel Jenner, of the II th Regiment, stated that on one occasion his men Return, App. 12. "^^^t ^^ ^uty with one night in bed. It appears from the evidence, to be requisite for the due preservation of their health that, during the day, the Europeans should be employed as little as possible on any duty where they are exposed to the influence of the heat ; and, to preserve them from malaria, that they should be employed as sparingly as possible upon night duties. 87-S95. This object was for many years, to a large extent, obtained in China by the employment of Asiatic troops, and great advatitag;e& to the health of the troops was the result. ' ' It appears, however, that in consequence of the withdrawal of the native troops many guards, by day and by^ night,, formerly furnished by them, and the ON MOKTAHTY OF TROOPS (cHINA). vu the whole of the daily escort duty to Stanley, were thrown upon the Europeans ; 796, 797. 803, 804. also, that some of the guard-rooms which had sufficed for native troops were quite unfit for European troops, and that the escort duty to Stanley was espe- cially injurious to them. It appears, therefore, that the military departments at home were of opinion that the garrison of Hong Kong might fitly consist of a force which the general officer on the spot did not consider sufficient to perform the local duties, and your Committee have consequently inquired how this discrepancy arose. Lord de Grey has explained to your Committee the facts upon which the view entertained hy his department wafe grounded. They were stated by Lord de Grey as follows : That during tlie last three years, before the outbreak of war at the end of 1856, the garrison duties of Hong Kong had been performed without complaint by a wing of an App. 3. European battalion, and that the Ceylon Rifles, of which a few companies had been employed at Hong Kong for some years previous to the year 1854, were in that year withdrawn by the order of the late Duke of Newcastle, with the acquiescence of the late Lord Hardinge, then Commander in Chief, and that no objection to their removal had been made by the officers in command in China during the three years which elapsed betweea their departure and the com- mencement of hostilities in 1856. On reference to the Adjutant General's returns, it appears that Lord de Grey App. 3. is in error as to the amount of force, which consisted of one weak regi- ment. Your Committee have examined various officers upon the subject of the employment of non-European troops at Hong Kong, and have had the advan- tage of hearing the view taken by Lieutenant General Sir Hope Grant, and General Brown, who commanded for some time in China, and who concur with General Guy and other officers in thinking that one battalion of British troops is insufficient to provide properly for the duties of the station. > , Your Committee have to report that the evidence points strongly to the advantage of constantly maintaining an Asiatic auxiliary force at that station. The third cause which appears to your Committee to have led to the excessive mortality among the troops in China, was the inadequacy of the barrack accommodation both in extent and quality. It appears that, soon after the late Lord Herbert became Secretary of State for War, he, with a full knowledge of the necessities of the station, decided that barracks for 1,000 men, with a proportion of hospital accommodation, should be erected at Kowloon, after a hut, specially put up to test the healthiness of the site, had been in use a sufficient length of time for the purpose. That plans were proposed and sent to Hong Kong ; that, thereupon, the Captain Gallon's Colonial Government raised claims to a certain portion of the ground on Evidence, which it was proposed to construct the barracks. That the consequence of this was so great a delay before the hut could be constructed that it will only be completed in the autumn of the present year, after a delay of five years. That to this delay is due the fact that, in 1865, the healthiness of the site had neither been tested, nor had barracks or hospital been built when the troops arrived. The Barrack and Hospital Commission have reported to the Secretary of State for War that, in tropical climates, from 1,000 to 1,500 cubic feet should be allowed per man, and from 1,500 to 2,000 feet per man in hospitals. From War Office Circular 846, dated 9th September 1863, it appears that the War Department recognised this amount of space as the standard of barrack accommodation requisite for Europeans in tropical climaftes. 442. a 4 It Captain Galton, Evidence fl887, and onwardB. App. 15, p. 425. VIU BEPORT FROM SELECT COMMITTEE App. 5. App. 4. 305. 278, 309. App. 5. 786. Barrack Return, App. 6. App. 8, p. 359. 1472. ' 191- S52. 321. 341- 660. 151310 1517, 3671,2,3,4.7. It appears, by a return laid before your Committee, that the barrack and hospital accommodation in Hong Kong, Stanley, and Kowlopn, was estimated as follows, according to the old barrack regulations : — Is s. 1 E m CO ■ 1 a> CO •- , CO •2 .a 1 i Barbacks : Murray . . - 700 2 16 4 ' 16 - 440 — North - - - - 670 - - - 7 - 409 Stanley . - - 900 1 5 - 6 - 150 — - 3 21 4 29 - 999 — Hospitals : Stanley ... 900 - _ _ — _ 88 General Hospital - 1,060 - - - - - 120 - - - - - 208 But the actual accommodation, taken at 1,000 cubic feet, would be ; Murray Barrack -----____ 308 North Barrack ---____ Total 274 582 Men. It does not appear, however, that in any of the sanitary reports of previous years, complaints had been made of over-crowding, though the appropriation of the barrack had been made on the scale of 700 cubic feet per man. Stanley Barracks having been partially unroofed by a typhoon, being seven miles away from Victoria, and difficult of access, were not available for soldiers performing the garrison duties of Victoria. These barracks were abandoned in 1861 on account of their insalubrity, and, from December 1863 to September 1865, were again occupied by small detachments, and by families of married , n^^ f^T\ ^°X-^^x,'' '^^^'^ *° ^^ '^^P^^^^ °f ^ol'^i^g 120 patients at 1,063 cubic feet. This hospital, at 1,500 cubic feet per man, would only hold 84 patients ; but, from want of hospital accommodation, it is stated that no less th^n 195 men of the 2nd BattaUon 9th Regiment were placed in it for On 1st April 1865 the garrison of Hong Kong consisted of one battery: Koyal ArtiUery, one company Royal Engineers, the 2nd-9th Regiment Deducting those stationed at Stanley, the number of men to be provided with quarters and the actual accommodation were as follows :— Troops to be provided for - - - _ . ooq Actual accommodation on old scale, exclusive of Stanley Barrackl 849 "'^°' But on the new proposed scale of 1,000 cubic feet, this would be reduced to - - - _ _ .-„„ - 582 To which are to be added 38 married soldiers and their families, for whom there was no permanent accommodation. There existed, therefore a n^rmS deficiency of barrack room at Hong Kong. "lereiore, a normal This deficiency was increased by the arrival of the 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment, and was met by over-occupying the barracks, br hiring bTldiW^ and by quartermg 250 men, married and single in the^at hnt« i buildmgs, and by occupying the condemned ship « Hercules/' ^ ^°''^°°°' The huts at Kowloon were built in 1859 for the temporary -ecention of Furo pean troops engaged in the Chinese war. They were doublelinpKl^ ff" were from three to four feet from the ground, i:r:ot^^tro:^ Ind wife "£ a good state of repair, ave stated to have been perfectly wind and waterproof It ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINa). ix It appears they had been allowed to fall to a considerable extent into a bad state of repair, and though it is not asserted that when first occupied by 546. European troops they were unhealthy, they were undoubtedly in 1865 unfit for occupation. The mat sheds at Hong Kong, constructed for 700 men, lately occupied by Sanitary_Eeport5 of : 22nd Bengal Native Infantry, are excluded from this calculation, inasmuch General DicTand as the Barrackmaster's Monthly Return, furnished to the Secretary of State for Surgeon Sneu^ 99th v- War, dated 1st April 1865, states them to be unfit for European occupation, Append^'. and as occupied by 68 gun-lascars. 546. i6i8, i6ig. At this date, 1st April 1865, the 2nd-llth Regiment was linder orders, and expected to arrive in a short time from the Cape of Good Hope. Major General Guy, commanding in China, had, upon the 12th November App. \, No. 1, 1864, upon receipt of the first intimation that the regiment was about to p. 185. be sent to China, reported to the Secretary of State for War that he had no accommodation available for them, and requested l.ord de Grey's instructions as to their disposal. In reply Major General Guy received a letter from the War Office, dated App. 1, No. 7, 10th January 1865, conveying Earl de Grey's instructions, of which the following P- 188. is an extract : — "You have been informed by the letters which were addressed to you, by his Lordship's directions, on the 3rd December and 6th instant, that Her Majesty's Government have determined on the withdrawal of the troops from Shanghae and Taku, and on sending back to India the two battalions of Native Infantry and one battery of Royal Artillery. This will leave three battalions of European troops, one battery of artillery, and one company of engineers to be distributed between Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Japan ; and Earl de Grey can only rely on your making the best and most economical arrangements in your power for the proper accommodation of these troops until such time as one of the battalions can be brought awayi" On the 16th of March 1865 the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry, 600 strong, left Hong Kong for India. In pursuance of the above insti'uctions, on the 4th of March 1865 a Board Quartermaster assembled, by order of General Guy, to consider the best mode of accommo- General's Diary, dating the 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment, then on its passage to Hong Kong, ^""^g p"^qs2 and an advertisement from the Commissariat Department was issued, calling ' ' " for tenders. Great difficulty was found in obtaining tenders for the hire of suitable 1°°^' ^°°''' ^°°^- buildings, especially for the soldiers' famiUes, for on the 28th of March and 3020! 2304' a3\t". 10th of April 1865 the Board reported that no houses had been tendered for 2323,2324.2353, their accommodation. 2354. On the 5th April " godowns," tendered by Messrs. Fletcher, were engaged. Quartermaster at a rental of 403 I. 15 s. a month, which were stated to be capable of holding General's Diary, SOO men, but were subsequently proved to be only equal to 360. ^PP- 5, p- 332. Messrs. McGregor's godown was also engaged, at a rental of 446 I. 5 s, a Barrack Returns, month, stated to be capable of holding 200 men, but found only equal to 168. \^^ ^°*- '^^5- ' ^ * -^ /^ App. 5, p. 332. On the 28th May 1865, which was about one month earlier than General App. g, p. 377. Guy expected, the 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment arrived; total strength of non-commissioned officers and men 7 J 6, 54 women, and 92 children, at 1459. which date the only additional accommodation ready was Messrs. McGregor's. In July the buildings hired from Messrs. Fletcher were ready for occupa- tion. The sit,uatipn then was as follows : — Troops to be provided for _ _ _ - - 1,393 Actual accommodation (old scale) - - - - 1,377 Deficiency ■-------_ 2I6 To this is to be added deficiency of accommodation for 38 married soldiers and their families of the 2nd Battalion 9th Regiment, ahd the 54 women and 92 children of the 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment. 442. b Every X REPORT FROM SELECT COMMITTEE Every exertion appears to have been made by the authorities at Hong Kongj and the proprietors Of the various hired buildings^ to get them ready as soon as possible ; but still it was not until the 11th of July that they were ready for occupation, nearly six weeks after the arrival of the 2nd Battalion 1 1th Regiment, large alterations and additions being requisite to prepare them for the troops. 1559. Notwithstanding the enormous rent paid for these buildings, Colonel Jenner, in describing the accommodation for his men, stated as follows : — , " The ventilation was bad ; they had to make ventilation after it was occupied;,* there were no latrines ; the men had to go down u^ the hot sun upwards of a quarter Of a mile, into the bush at the back, to answer the calls of nature. There were no places for the cooking ; they had to cook in the open sun, in rear of the barracks, where there was a spring of brackish water, which they had to drink. In fact, it was misery itself. The only means of getting into this upper story of the godown was by bamboo ladders." i6a6. To these hired buildings there were no verandahs, nor recreation nor day rooms. ^•'^•„®' "^^^'■' To supplement the accommodation. Her Majesty's ship ^* Hercules" had been for many years employed as an hospital ship. App. 15, p. 421. On the 23rd December 1864, a Naval Board reported her unseavi«orthy and past repair ; and again, on the 7th July 1865, Admiral King wrote to tfe (Commandant at Hong Kong to request him to remove the troops from her, as she was "no longer a safe habitatioio." App. 15, p. 420. Major General Guy, on the 10th January 1865, reported to the Secretary of State for War that she was condemned, and begged that another vessel might be provided in her place, as she had been extremely serviceable, and liad saved great expense in hiring buildings. He conveys his opinion in the following terms : " The ' Hercules ' has proved a most valuable addition to the limited hospital aooommodation here ; ■*PP" '• indeed, had this vessel not been available, it would have been absolutely necessaiT to have hired a building for a hospital, a proceeding which would have entailed an enormous expense upon the Government. A vessel of this kind is, more- over, always useful, to meet any pressure for barrack accommodation." App. 15, P- 4^4- A correspondence ensued between the War Department and the Admiralty, 3 May 1865. -pfho represented that no three-decker was available ; that the only two-deckers available would require an expenditure of from 13,000 I. to 14,000 I, and would probably only last 10 years ; and, moreover, be " liable to be unroofed by a typhoon, and thus rendered useless when most needed ;" and suggested it was preferable to build a hospital. The result, however, has been that no ship has been sent out, and no hospital built. ^^^°' It should be stated that the decision of the Secretary of Staite not to replace the hospital ship was arrived at after consultation with the medical authorities at Home. It must be borne in mind that the hospital ship could not, under any eireum- stancBS, have arrived in time to have been of use during the sickness which ensued in 1865. Notwithstanding the report upon the state of the "Hercules," the followme passage appears m the journal of the Quartermaster General's Department 2l5 June 1865 :— ^ ' App. 8, p. 361. "The general hospital being full, and sickness on the increase, it has been found necessary to re-occupy the hospital ship 'Hercules' as a hospital* The detachment 2nd Battahon 11th Regiment, 150 men and 6 oflScers, wiU be removed to Her Majesty's ship ' Princess Charlotte,' Captain NoUoth having kmdly consented to this arrangement." •- 1 uaviug X844-9. „ The - Princess Charlotte^-' was a three-decker (originally sent out as a floating barrack, but was at this time the receiving ship for the squadron). Itiff stated that she would hold about 1,000 men ; but the reUef of the squa(£m was about to take place, and bn their arrival the men wouM have to be drS ii)to / O-S MC^B'EAiUfnf OF TROOPS (gHTNaV 3fi into the reqeiving ship. It 4oes ijot appear that any appHcation was made to tja^ Admiral foK aocommodation on board this ship until the 21st June, when, 15-0 men were taken, on board. No communication on the subject had passed between the War Department 1151. and the Admiralty on the subject. Major General Guy reported, on the 18th September 1865, that he had App. 1, No. 22, authorised the hire of two buildings to hold 60 patients, at a rent of 500 dollars P- 200. per month, or about 1,300 I. a year, and states that it was rendeijed necessary by the great amount of sickness ; and further, that, " on the 26th August there were 304 sick, and of these 54 soldiers were treated in quarters, and 48 sleeping in the verandahs of the existing hospital." Removal of Indian Troops. — ladian troops were employed in China from, App. 3. 1850 to 1854, and from 1857 to 14th March 1865. From this Return it appears that they have been eminently useful in re- lieving the Europeans from much duty and consequent exposure to heat and malaria, which are the fertile causes of death and invaliding. Your Committee have inquired into the reasons which induced the Govern- ment to withdraw altogether from the China command the Indian troops, which had been employed there since the outbreak of the war of 1856. Lord de Grey's evidence contains a statement of the various grounds upon which, he considers it unadvisable to employ troops on the Indian establishment for Imperial purposes, except in the pressing emergency of war. To use his own 2432. words, these reasons are " financial, in the widest sense of the word ; but not .at all financial in the nai:row sense of the word, as meaning whether that em- j)loymei)t causes an expenditure of 20,000 L, or 30,000 I., or 40,000 /., more or less ; but the employment has this effect — that it removes the allowances of pay and the allowances of the officers and men of the Imperial troops employed with Native troops from the control of Parliament. 1 have always felt, and it is an <)pihion which, as far as I know, was shared by my predecessor, certainly by those of my predecessors under whom I personally served, by Sir George Lewis and Lord Jlerbert, that that is upon constitutional grounds an undesirable arrangement ; and that it does not give the control to the Secretary of State and to Parliament through the Secretary of State's responsibility, which the Se- cretary of State and Parliament ought to exercise in regard to every portion of Her Majesty's army." It appears from this statement, and from other evidence, that the troops on the Indian establishment were originally sent to China on account of the war ; and that at least from 1859, if not from the very commencement of their employment there, it was the intention of the War Office, under successive Secretaries of State, that these troops should be withdrawn as soon as the warlike necessities which had led to their employment had ceased to exist ; and in withdrawing tliese troops when the occupation of foreign territory in China had ceased^ Lord de Grey adopted the course which had been contem- plated by his predecessors, if the opportunity had occurred in their time. It appears, however, to your Committee, that it is to be regretted that successive Secretaries of State, whilst contemplating the removal of these troops when the military reasons which had caused them to be sent there had ceased, did not advert to the very beneficial sanitary results accruing from their presence to the European troops stationed there, and to the desirableness of supplying their place by other Asiatic troops. Your Committee fully recognise the importance of the reasons adduced by Lord de Grey for the non-employment of troops on the Indian estabhsh- ment in other countries ; but as a financial question they are of opinion that the 3309-10. 11. 12. withdrawal of these troops, and the substitution of a purely European garrison, ultimately resulted in increased expense to the British Government. There was a saving on the Indian allowances, but a largely increased expenditure in the cost of transport of European troops, both of reliefs and invalids ; and also increased expenditure, both from the costly nature of the barrack accommodation required for an increased European garrison, and the extra cost" of rations and comforts required by such troops in that chmate. ■^ 442. b 2 Sir Xii REPORT '.—MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINA). Sir Edward Lugard,the Under Secretary of State for War, states that it was con- sidered at the War Department that the troops would be provided for in one or 1285. 1280. niore of three ways, namely, by placing a portion of the troops on board a man-of- war; secondly, by quartering the greater part of the 2nd Battalion 1 1th Regiment at Japan, in place of 500 marines ordered to embark ; thirdly, by accommodating, them in hired buildings at Hong Kong. These expectations were not alto- gether realised. No demand was made to the Admiralty to instruct the Admiral in China to furnish accommodation on board the man-of-war ; and with the exception of 1 50 men sent on board the " Princess Charlotte," by the kindness of Captain NoUoth, none was afforded ; 1 50 men only were sent to Japan for .4pp. 8, p. 359. the reasons previously stated, and the head quarters of the regiment, 250 strong, were sent to Kowloon to occupy the mat huts. Colonel Jenner, 11 th Regiment, gives a deplorable account of the state to which they were reduced by fever and ague at the end of one month in answers 1478, 1479, 1480, 1481, 1482, 1483, 1484, 1485, 1486. The insufficiency of the hired accommodation has been stated above. 1626-7. 8. 1630. In reference to paragraph 23 of General Guy's letter of 23rd May 1866, 1719-20. 21. 22. jjg states that "the hired barracks were in a situation that is generally con- sidered the healthiest in the place ;" and that there was a " large and well lighted recreation room in McGregor's barracks." It appears that the Secretary of State for War, after consultations with the Commander in Chief, acted upon the opinion that the experiences of the years 1854-5-6, showed that the duties of the garrison at Hong Kong could be tem- porarily entrusted with safety to the force employed at Hong Kong in those years, with the addition of about 180 rank and file to supply the posts, if any required, at Kowloon. This was not an unnatural conclusion, but your Com- mittee regret that further inquiry was not made as to the amount of duties at present required in the colony. 1626-7. 8.1630. That it appears that General Guy authorised the hire of buildings to the 719-20. 2}. 22. j^jj^ount of 18,610 Z. per annum, and that nevertheless the accommodation was defective in quality. It appears from a review of the facts above stated, that, during the summer of 1865 the troops were overcrovyded, and that the hospital accommodation was insufficient. It also appears that the information in possession of the War Department led that Department to believe that the troops ordered to be retained in the command between China and Japan might have been so distri- buted as to avoid overcrowding. The reasons why General Guy was unable so to distribute them are stated in this Report, and in his letter of 23rd May 1866. Imperative instructions as to the distribution of the force were not given by the War Department ; but looking to the various contin- gencies which might arise at a station so distant as that of China, your Com- mittee are not of opinion that it would be desirable to limit the discretion which in this, as in similar instances, was left to the general. They are, however of opinion, that fuller instructions, explaining the views as to 'the various arrangements which were contemplated by the Department at Home and the grounds which it was considered might render their adoption desirable, far from hmiting General Guy's discretion would have enlightened and strength- ened him in its exercise. ° [ xiii ] PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE. Friday t 13tk April 1866. MEMBEES PRESENT : Colonel North. General Dunne. Mr. Trevelyan. Mr. Adderley. . Sir Harry Verney. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. Lord John Hay. Marquis of Hartington. Mr. Dalglish. Colonel North was called to the Chair. The Committee deliberated. [Adjourned to Thursday next, at Twelve o'clock. Thursday, \9th April 1866. MEMBERS PRESENT : Colonel North in the Chair. ' >,5, Major General Lord H. General Dunne. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Sir Harry Verney. Colonel Percy Herbert. Mr. William Snell, Examined. Percy. Mr. Trevelyan. Lord John Hay. Major Anson. Marquis of Hartington. Mr. Adderley. [Adjourned to Monday next, at Twelve o'clock. Monday, 23rd April 1866. MEMBERS PRESENT: Colonel North in the Chair. Major General Lord H. Percy. Marquis of Hartington. Major Anson. Lord John Hay. Sir Harry Verney. General Dunne. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Calthorpe. Mr. Adderley. The Committee deliberated. Resolved, That Questions 351-2-3, with the answers, be omitted from the evidences' Resolved, That all the words from the words " mixed up " to the end of Question and" Answer 361, be omitted from the evidence. Resolved, That Questions and Answers 361-372, be omitted from the evidence. Mr. W. Snell, further examined. The Committee deliberated. [Adjourned to Monday next, at Twelve o'clock. 442. b3 xiv PEOCEEDINGS QP THE SELECT COMMITTEE Monday, 30th April 1866. MEMBERS PEBSENT : Colonel North in the Cham Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. Mr. Calthorpe. Mr. Adderley. Major O'EeUly. General Dunne. Lord F. Cavendish. Lord John Hay. Mr, Baxter. Sir Harry Verney. ■Marquis of Hartington. Colonel Percy Herbert. Mr. Henry G. Gore and Colonel Sanhey were severally examined; Room cleared. — The Committee deliberated. [Adjourned to Thursda,;^ next, at Twelve o'clock. Thursday,' 3rd May 1866. MEMBERS PRESENT Colonel North in the Chair. Mr. Adderley. Major General Lord H., Percy. Major O'Eeilly. General Dunne. Lord F. Cavendish. Sir Harry Verney. Colonel Percy Herbert. Mr. Calthorpe. Lord John Hay. Mr. Baxter. Mr. Dalglishi. Colonel Sanhey, further examined. Colonel Egerton, Captain Walker, and Sir Edward Lugard, were severally examined. [Adjourned to Thursday next, at Twelve o'clock. Thursday, IQth May 1866. MEMBERS PRESENT : Colonel North in the Chair. Mr. F. Stanley. Major O'EeiUy. Mr. Adderley. Mr. Trevelyan. Major General Lord H. Percy. Sir Harry Verney. General Dunne- Mr. Baxter. Major Ansoji. Lord F. Cavendish. Colonel Pexey Heibert. Itbjeing Ascension Day, the Committee, by order of the Houses met at Two o'dook. Colonel Augustus Frederick Jenner, examined. [Adjourned to Monday next, at Twelve o'eloek. XSS MCQETAIITT OP TROOPS (cHINA). xV Monday, Hth May 1866. MEMBERS PRESENT : Colonel North in the Chair. Mr. Adderle^r. Major General Lord H. Percy. Mr. F. Stanley. General Dunne. Colonel Percy Herbert. Lord John Hay. Marquis of Hartington. Mr. Trevelyan. Lord F. Cavendish. Major Anson. Colonel Egerton and Colonel A. F. Jenner, were seTerally further exammed. Ml. W. Schmidt and Lieutenant General Sir Hope Grant, were severally examined. [Adjourned to Monda,yj 28th May, at One o'clock. Monday, 29>th May 1866. MEMBERS present: Colonel North in the Chair, Major General Lord H. IPercy. Mr. Adderley. Sir Harry Verney. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Colonel Percy Herbert. Mr. Calthorpe. Marquis of Hartington. Mr. Dalglish. Mr. Robert Brand, Mr. Graham Anderson, and the Earl de Grey and Ripon (aEttending by permission of the House of Lords), were severally examined. £Adjoumed to Monday next, at Twelve o'clock. Monday, 4th June 1866. MEMBERS present: Colomel JSiOiETH in the Chair. Major General Lord H. Percy. Mr. F. Stanley. Mr. Adderley. Lord F. Cavendish. General Dunne. Mr. Calthorpe. Lord John Hay. Sir Harry Verney, Mr. Trevelyan. Colonel Percy Herbert. Marquis of Hartington. Major Anson. Major O'Eeilly. Mr. Dalghsh. Captain W. H. Burland, Colonel Hampden C. B. Moody, and Major James Sevan Edwards, were severally examined. .[Adjourned to Thursday mext, at Twelveio'clock. 442. b 4 XVl PROCEEDINGS OP THE SELECT COMMITTEE Thursday, 7th, June 1866. MEMBEES PRESENT : Colonel North in the Chair. Major General Lord H. Percy. Sir Harry Verney. Mr. Adderley. Major Anson. ., ,; Lord F. Cavendish. ; Mr. Calthorpe. Mr. F. Stanley. General Dunne. ^ Marquis of Hartington. Colonel Percy Herbejl;. Lord John Hay. Captain Z>0;M^?as Galton, examined. [Adjourned to Monday next, at Twelve p'clpj^k. Monday, Wth June 1866. members PRESENT: Colonel North in the Chair. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Mr. F. Stanley. Mr. Calthorpe. Marquis of Hartington. General Dunne. Mr. Dalglish. Lord F, Cavendish. Major O'EeiUy. Lord John Hay. Major Anson. Mr. Adderley. Mr. Baxter. Mr. ^27?ia?M SweZZ, further examined. Major General Brown and Mr. Henry Robinson, were severally examined. [Adjourned to Monday next, at Twelve o'clock. Monday, l^th June 1866. MEMBERS PRESENT: Colonel North in the Chair. Sir Harry Verney. Marquis of Hartington, Lord John Hay. Mr. Calthorpe. Mr. F. Stanley. Mr. Trevelyan. Mr. Adderley. Major General Lord H.Percy. Major O'Reilly. Colonel Percy Herbert. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Baxter. General Dunne. Mr. H. Robinson, further examined. Sir Jizmes Brown Gibsmi, Major General JF. G. Brown, Mr. J. S. Robertson, Mr. Charles Cox, and Mr. J..L. Rowland, -were severally examined. [Adjourned to Thursday, 5th July, at Twelve o'clock. , ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHIKA), xvii Thursday, 5th July 1866. MEMBERS present: Colonel North in the Chair. Major General Lord H. Percy. Lord F. Cavendish. General Dunne. Sir Harry Verney. Mr. F. Stanley. Mr. Adderley. Lord John Hay. Major Anson. Major O'Eeilly. Mr. Trevelyan. The Committee deliberated. Kr James B. Gibson, further examined. [Adjourned to Monday, 16th July, at Twelve o'clock. Monday, IQth July 1866. members present : Colonel North in the Chair. Major General Lord H, Percy. Lord John Hay. Major O'Eeilly. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major Anson. Mr. F. Stanley. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. General Dunne. Sir Harry Yerney. Mr. Calthorpe. Draft Report proposed by the Chairman read a first time, as follows : — "The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the Mortality in the Troops in China, the Causes which led to it, and into the conduct of those Departments of the Govern- ment whose duty it has been to administer to the wants of those Troops; — Have considered the matter to them referred, and have agreed to the following Report: — " 1. The period to which the attention of your Committee has been especially drawn is from 1st March 1866 to 1st March 1866. " 2. During that period the 2d battalion 9th Regiment, out of a strength of 838 men, lost 197 men by death and invaliding home; the total deaths were, or nearly, one-tenth of the strength. " 3. The 2d battalion 11th Regiment, out of a strength of 716 men, between the 1st of June 1865 and 1st March 1866, a period of nine months, lost 257 by deaths and invaliding, or more than one-third of their strength ; the total deaths were 93, or more than one-eighth. " 4. Besides these two remarkable cases, the attention of your Committee has been called to that of the 99th Regiment, which, as it comes first in chronological order, is now .■« detailed. " Case of the 99th Regiment. "5. It appears by the evidence that, on the 15th September 1864, this regiment, then SanitaryReport,P.M.o. stationed at Hong Kong, was ordered, at the suggestion of the civil governor, at three hours' foUowing''pages.™Evi- notice, to quit the permanent barracks, owing to a riot which had taken place between men dence 2657. of that regiment and some Malays and Colonial police, and to proceed to Kowloonto occupy Sanitary Report, App. the mat huts there. At that time the regiment was singularly healthy, having but 31 men Eegiment,"war Office in hospital, and three with fever, out of a strength of 684 men. Form5i7',p. 313, and following pages, Table, , A p. 319 "6. Owing to the known deadly nature of Kowloon as a station, and that the regiment ^^.'4 pp. 254. 306. had been withdrawn from it on the 29th of the preceding June, for sanitary reasons, this move 813. was strongly remonstrated against by the officer commanding the regiment, the principal Sanitary Report, Sur- medical officer, and Dr. Snell, the surgeon of the regiment, who pointed out that ' greatly ment.^App'. 4,^p. 3l£' increased sickness and mortality will follow from the change, and the health of all will be and foUowing'. deteriorated.' 442. c « 7. These X^Tll PEOCEEDINGS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE " 7. These strong representations were made to Colonel Moody, k. e., the commandant, but unfortunately without effect. The following was the result: — TabIeA.,App.4,p.319. * Decrease in the strength caused by 60 men detached to Taku. Date. 14 Sept. 1864 14 Oct. „ 14 Not. ,, 14 Dec. „ Strength. 683 623* 619 612 In Hospital. 31 128 181 97 Fever. 3 81 113 62 428. 1442. Sanitary Report, 1853, Dr.Snell,App.4, p.248. Ditto, Dr. Dick, 1864, App. 4, p. 254. Ditto, Dr. SneU, 1864, App. 4, pp. 269. 272. 276. 278. Sanitar/ Report, 1864, Principal Medical Offi- cer, pp. 298. 306. War OfficeForm,517,p.318, App. 4. Evidence 373 to 381. Sanitary Report, 1864. P.M.O. App. 4, p. 276. Annual Return, App. 11, p. 384. 1061. "8. The regiment remained at Kowloon until the 28tb February 1865, when they embarked for the Cape of Good Hope, where they landed on the 9th AprrI, after a voyage of 38 days, in a most debilitated condition. " 9. Your Committee express no opinion as to the military necessity which, it has been stated, required that the 99th Regiment under these circumstances should be_ sent to Kowlaon, and kept there for five months; they .confine themselves to expressing their opinion that the result described was due to the adoption of that course, " 10. It is shown by the evidence that the present deadly natureof Kowloon, as a station, is owing to the emanations arisin'g from the cuttings and excavatioirs of the earth, preparatory to the construction of roads and buildings which are necessary for its perndanent occupation; and a very general opinion, medical and other,- has been expressed that all excavations should be completed from two to three years before the buildings are permanently occupied. " 11. The unfitness of Kowloon in its present condition for occupation by European troops, appears to your Committee to have been thoroughly established by the case of the 99th Regiment, and by that of a detachment of the 2d battalion, 20th Regiment, in the year 1863, the history of which is to be found in General Sanitary Report of tlie principal medical officer. " Case of 2d Battalion 9th Regiment. " 12. The case of the 2d-9th Regiment was as follows : — "It arrived at Hong Kong in February 1865; the strength, on the 1st March 1865, being — Serjeants,. 48 ; Drummers, 23 ; Rank and File, 767 : — Total, 838. "Between the 1st of March 1865 and 1st of March 1865, there were— lavalided home -.-.--..-. 14-4 Deaths in China -.--......53. Diminution of Streng'th - . - 197 Of the invalids, there died on passage home ----- 28 Deaths in China (as above) ------..63 Total Deaths - . . gi Annual Return, App 10, p. 381. 1061. " In addition to these losses, between February and October 1865, there died of this battalion 5 women and 23 children ; and 23 women and 29 children were invalided home. " Case of 2d Battalion 11th Regiment. " 13. The case of the 2d-llth Regiment was as follows : — " It arrived at Hong Kong in May 1865; the strength, on the 1st June 1866, being- Serjeants, 37 ; Drummers, 21 ; Rank and File, 658: — Total, 716. " Between 1st June 1865 and 1st March 1866, there were Invalided home - ■------•193 Deaths in China -------... q^ Diminution of Strength Of the invalids, there died on passage home - Deaths in China (as above) - - - - Total Deaths 257 29 64 93 "In ON MOJITALITX OF TBQiOPS (chINA). f ::^x " In addition to these losses, between June and October 1865 there died of tins battalion three women and 24 children, and 16 women and 14 children were invalided home. " 14. It appears to the Committee that the principal causes of this mortality amono' the European troe>ps were, — " 1st. Exposure to heat and malaria on duty. " 2d. Want of barrack accommodation for the number of troops stationed at Hong- Kong, and inadequacy of the barracks to the sanitary requirements of Europeans. The immediate origin of these two causes of mortality arose from the withdrawal of the native Indian troops without adequate steps beiug taken to meet the conse- quences of that withdrawal. "15. Kegardingthefirst-namedcause, your Committee are of opinion that the guard duties, reduced, on the withdrawal of the native Indian troops, to the lowest number of sentries considered prudent, were altogether disproportionate to the number of European troops for which there was anything like adeqiiitte accommodation. In these circumstances, General Guy deemed it necessary to retain the greater part of two battalions, in order to furnish a sufficient number of men, but as the consequent overcrowding and occupation of unhealthy huts tended greatly to increase the amount of sickness, the number of healthy men for duty was wholly insufficient, " 16. It has been suggested that General Guy might have met the difficulty by employing police or watchmen to any extent desirable, but no order nor ciistinc t authorisation to this effect was given to him ; and the sieneral authority conveyed to officers commanding, by Circular No. 361, 17th December 1858, to take any steps which may be necessary, refers to the hire of buildings, and does not appear to your Committee to meet such a case as this, , " 17. From the sanitary report of Dr. Logan in 1859 to Dr. Saunders' letter of 12th August jj^. Logan's Sanitaiy 1865, the evidence brought before your Committee points out in the strongest terms the Report, 1859. necessity for European troops having many nights in bed between the intervals of duty. ^^- RutlierfGrd's J f^ 1^ '^ ■> o J Sanitary Report, 1860, Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong, App. 4. Dr. Snell, 89th Regiment, App. 4. Hong Kong, 1864, App. 4. Dr. Snell, 99th * ~ Regiment, 1864, App. 4. " 18. Dr. Rutherford, in 1860, stated as his opinion that they should have from six to seven 57, 58, 59, 60. 70, 71. nights in bed, and that opinion has been very generally confirmed; but the evidence and official returns show that they frequently had but three nights in bed, and Colonel Sankey stated that, on the 6tli September 1865, 20 of his men went on guard with but two nights 855, 856. 858. in bed; and Colonel Jenner, of the 11th Regiment, stated that on one occasion his men 1489.1492. 1494. went on duty with one nie;ht in bed. Adjutant-General's •' ° Return, App. 12. " 19. It appears from the evidence to be requisite for the due preservation of their health that, during the day, the Europeans should be employed as hltle as possible on any duty where they are exposed to the influence of the heat; and, to preserve them from malaria, that they should be employed as sparingly as possible upon night duties. " 20. This object was for many years, to a large extent, obtained in China by the employ- ment of Indian native troops, and great advantage to the health of the troops was the result. " 21. ft appears, however, that in consequence of the withdrawal of the native troops, many guards, by day and by night, formerly furnished by them, and the whole of the daily escort duty 10 Stanley, was thrown upon the Europeans ; also, that some of the guard-rooms which had sufficed for native troops were quite unfit for European troops, and that the escort duty to Stanley was especially injurious to them. " 22. The second cause which appears to your Committee to have led to the excessive mor- tality among the troops in China was the inadequacy of the barrack accommodation both in extent and quality. "23. The Barrack and Hospital Commission have reported to the Secretary of State for War that, in tropical climates, from 1,000 to 1,500 cubic feet should be allowed per man, and from 1,500 to 2,000 feet per man iu hospitals. " 24. From War Office Circular 846, dated 9th September 1863, it appears that the War Department recognised this amount of space as the standard of barrack accommodation requisite for Europeans in tropical climates. » 442. c 2 « 25. It 87-295. xz PEOCEBDINGS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE " 25. It appears, by a return laid before your Committee, that the barrack and hospital accommodation in Hong Kong, Stanley, and Kowloon, was estimated as follows : — Barracks : Murray ... ■s i 6 o 1 S O 1 f 1 CO i 1 1" i. I. 1 ' 1 700 2 16 4, 16 - 440 — North ... - 670 - - - 7 - 409 — Stanley- - . - 900 1 5 - 6 - 150 — - 3 21 - 29 "* 999 ■ Hospitals : Stanley ... 900 - - - - - - 88 General Hospital - 1,600 — — - — — — 120 - - - - - - - 208 " But the true actual accommodation, taken at 1,000 cubic feet, would be: — Murray Barrack -------... 308 North Barrack 274 582 278. 309. - ■'"■.' App. S. 786. Bairaek Return, App, 6. App. 8, p. 359. 1472. Sanitary Keports of Deputy Inspector General Dick and Surgeon Snell, 99th Regiment. — Vide Appendix. 546. 1618, 1619. App. 1, No. 1, p. 185. "26. Stanley Barracks having been partiallyunroofed bya typhoon, being seven miles away from Victoria, and difficult of access, were not available for soldiers performing the garrison duties of Victoria. These barracks were abandoned in 1861 on account of their insalubrity, and, from December 1863 to Sepleml)er 1865, were again occupied by small detachments^ and by families of married soldiers. " 27. The general hospital is stated to be capable of holding 120 patients at 1,063 cublic feet. This hospital, at 1,500 cubic feet per man, can only hold 84 patients ; but, from want of hospital accommodation, it is stated that no less than 195 men of the 2d Battahon 9th Regiment were placed in it for treatment, " 28. On Ist April 1865 the garrison of HongKong consisted of one battery Royal Artillery, one company Royal Engineers, the 2d-9th Regiment. Deducting those stationed at Stanley, the number of men to be provided with quarters and the actual accommodation were as follows : — Troops to be provided for Actual accommodation 889 582 This information was in the possession of the War Department, as shown by the ' barrack returns from that station, but on the requisition of the Foreign Office, the Deficiency .---..... 307 "To which are to be added 38 married soldiers and their families, for whom there was no permanent accommodation. There existed, therefore, a normal deficiency of barrack room dt Hong Kong. "29. monthly War Department deemed it necessary to augment the troops in the China" command to three European battalions. " 30. This deficiency was met by over-occupying the barracks, and by quarterino- 175 men, married and smgle, m the mat huts at Kowloon, wiiich had been reported unfit for occupa- tion by Europeans, and by occupying the condemned ship "Hercules." "31. The mat sheds at Hong Kong, constructed for 700 men, lately occupied by 22d Bengal Native Infantry, are excluded from this caleulation, inasmuch as the barrack-master's monthly return, furnished to the Secretary of State for War, dated 1st April 1865 states them to be unfit for European occupation, and as occupied by 68 gun-lascars. " 32. At this date, 1st April 1865, the 2d-llth Regiment was under orders, and exnected to arrive in a short time from the Cape of Good Hope. "33. Major General Guy, commanding in China, had, upon the 12th November 1864 ' upon receipt of the fiist intimation that the regiment was about to be sent to China repoi4ed' to the Secretary of State for War that he had no accommodation available for them and req|uested Lord de Grey's instructions as to their disposal. -r '\^ '■ ^ ' " 34,' In / ON MOETALITT OF TROOPS (CHINA). XXX " 34. In reply,' Major General Guy received a letter from the War Office, dated 10th January 1865, conveying Earl de Grey's instructions, of which the following is an extract: — " * This will leave three battalions of European troops, one battery of artillery, one App. i, No. 7, p. 188. company of engineers, to be distributed between Hong Kong-, Kowloon, and Japan, and Earl de Grey can only rely upon your making tlie best and most economical arrange- ments in your power for the proper accommodation of those troops, until such time as one of the battalions can be brought away.' " 35. In pursuance of these instructions, on the 4th of March 1865, a Board assembled, by Quai-termastei- order of General Guy, to consider the best mode of accommodating the 2d-ilth R;gi- General's Diaiy, Hong ment, then on its passage to Hong Kong, and an advertisement from the Commissariat °^' '^^' '^' Department was issued, calling for tenders. " 36. Great difficulty wras found in obtaining tenders for the hire of suitable buildings, 2001 2002. 20O8- especially for the soldiers' families ; for, on the 28th of March and 10th of April 1865, 2010! 2012-2014. the Board reported that no houses had been tendered for their accommodation. ^^^2' „^„^i'/' ^?}^' " 37. On the 5th of April godowns, tendered by Messrs. Fletcher, were engaged, at a rental ^^\ of 403 Z. 15 s. a month, vyhich were stated to be capable of holding 500 men, but were General's Diary. subsequently proved to be onlv equal to 360. App. 5, p. 332. ^ ■> ^ •' ^ App. 9, p. 377. " 38. Messrs. McGregor's godown was also engaged, at a rental of 452 I. lis. 6 v the increase or the European troops, bearing in mind that the huts hitherto occupied by the Indian troops were not fit for Europeans. " 60. That it would have been !)etter if General Guy had not been forced, through want of more definite instructions from home, himself to assume the responsibility of providing accommooation for so large a force at short notice. ■> r & " 61. That it appears that General Guy authorised the hire of buildings to the amount of 18,610 ? per annum, and that nevertheless the accommodation was clefective in quantity and quahty. ^ " 62. That the War Office Circular, 361 17th December 1858, referred to in the evidence, however equal to mee. ordinary cases, hardly conveys to a general in command at a distan station sufhcient authority to incur so enormous an outlay for hire of buildinc^s as was sanctioned by General Guy. ° "63. That ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS (CHISA). xxm 63. That the instructions conveyed in War Office letter of 10th January 1866 were Vide Coaesponisi inadequate to the emergency, and distinctly contemplated the occupation o( Kowloon, where there were only mat huts for the troops, which had been emphatically condemned iri the Sanitary Eeport of 1863, printed and published by the War Department. " 64. Your Committee cannot close their Report without calUng- attention to the praise- worthy conduct of- the medical department generally, but especially that of Dr. Saunders, surgeon of the 2d-9th Regiment, upon whom devolved the duties of principal medical officer, in the absence of Deputy Inspector General Dick, on duly in Japan, and they are of opinion that the energy and devotion exhibited throut;hout by that officer was the happy means of saving many valuable lives." Draft Eeport proposed by the Marquis of Hartington, read a first time, as follows : "The Select Committee appointed to inquire into the Mortality in the Troops in China, the causes which led to it, and into, the conduct of those Departatents of the Government whose duty it has been to administer to the wants of those Tioops: — Have considered the matters to them referred, and have agreed to the fcdlowing RfiPOBT : " 1. The period to which the attention of your Committee has been especially drawn is from 1st March 1865 to 1st March 1866. " 2. During that period the 2nd battahon, 9th Regiment, out of a strength of 838 men, lost 197 by death and invaliding home ; the total deaths were, or nearly, one-tenth of the strength. " 3. The 2nd battalion, 11th Regiment, out of a strength of 716 men, between the 1st of June 1865 and 1st March 1866, a period of nine months, lost 257 by deaths and invaliding, or more than one-third of their strength ; the total deaths were 93, or more than one-eighth. "4. Besides these two remarkable cases, the attention of your Committee has been called to that of the 99th Regiment, which, as it comes first in chronological order, is now detailed. Case of the 99th Regiment. "5. It appears that on the 16th September 1864, this regiment, then stationed at Hong Kong, was ordered, at the request of the Civil Governor, at three hours' notice, to quit the permanent barracks, in consequence of a very serious riot which had taken place between Correspondence, men of that regiment and some Malays and Colonial police, and to proceed to Kowloon to App. l,No.58,p.l88. occupy the huts there. At that time the regiment was singularly healthy, having but 31 men in hospital, and three with fever, out of a strength of 684 men. " 6. In consequence of their opinion of the unhealthy character of Kowloon, this move was stronglyremonstrated against by the officer commanding the regiment, the principal medical App. 4, pp. 254. 306. officer, and Dr. Snell, the surgeon of the regiment, who pointed out that ' greatly increased sickness and mortality will follow from the change, and the health of all will be deterio- rated.' These strong representations were made to Colonel Moody, h.e., the commandant, but without eflfect. The number in hospitil increased in the months of October, November, and December to 128, 161, and. 97 ; of which 81, 113, and 62 were fever cases. Dr. Snell, ■ , , of course, attributes the increase of mortality to the removal of the regiment to Kowloon; 2737. 2791. 2792-6. but Colonel Moody is of opinion that it is, in part, at least, attributable to other causes. " 7. The regiment remained at Kowloon until the 28th February 1865, when it was embarked for the Cape of Good Hope, where it landed on the 9th April, alter a voyage of 38 days, in a most debilitated condition. " 8. Your Committee express no opinion as to the military necessity which, it has been stated, required that the 99ih Regiment under these circumstances should be sent to Kowloon, and ktpt there for five months; they confine themselves to expressing their opinion that the result described was due to the adoption of that course. " 9. It is .shown by the evidence that the present unhealthy nature of Kowloon as a station, is owing to the emanations arising from the cuttings and excavations of the earth, prepara- tory to the construction of roads and buildings which are necessary for its permanent occu- pation, ;ind a very general opinion, medical and other, has been expressed that all excavations should be completed from two to three years before the buildings are permanently occupied. "10. The unfitness of Kowloon in its present condition for occupation by European troops, appears to your Committee to have been thoroughly established by the case of the 99th Regiment, and by that of a detachment of the 2d battalion, 20th Regiment, in the year 1863, the history of which is to be found in General Sanitary Report, *of the jjrincipal medical officer. < 442. c 4 Sanitary Report, 1863. Dr.SneU,App.4,p.248, Ditto, Dr. Dick, 1864, App. 4, p. 254. Ditto, Dr. SneU, 1864, App. 4, pp. 269.272. 276. 278. Sanitary Report, 1864. Principal Medical OfiS- cer, pp. 298. 306. War Office Form,517p.318. App. 4, Eridence 373 to 381. Sanitary Report, 1864. P.M.O.,App.4,p.27^. XXIV PROCEEDINGS OP THE SELECT COMMITTEE Annual Return, App. 11, p. 384. 1061. Case of 2d Batalion, 9th Regiment. "11. The case of the 2cl-9th Regiment was as follows: "It arrived at Hong Kong in February 1865; the strength, on the 1st March 1865,. beingr— Serjeants, 48 ; Drummers, 33 ; Rank and File, 767 :— Total 838. " Between the 1st of March 1865 and 1st of March 1866, there were:— Invalided home Deaths in China - Diminution of Strength 144 53 197 Of tlie invalids, there died on passage home Deaths in China (as above) - - - Total Deaths 28 53 81 "In addition to these losses, between February and October 1865, there died of this battalion 5 women and 23 children; and 23 women and 29 children were invalided home. Annual Return, App.,10,p. 381. .1061. Case of 2d Battalion 11th Regiment. " 12. The case of the 2d-llth Regiment was as follows .— « It arrived at Hong Kong in May 1865 ; the strength, on the 1st June 1865, being— ' f^ Serjeants, 37 ; Drummers, 21 ; Rank and File, 658 :— Total, 716. > « Between the 1st June 1865 and 1st of March 1866, there were— ;|;. Invalided home .-.------- 193 Deaths in China -- °^ Diminution of Strength 257 Of the invalids, there died on the passage home - - - - 29 Deaths in China (as above) -------- 64 Total Deaths - - - 93 " In addition to these losses, between June and October 1865, there died of this battalion tliree women and 24 children, and 16 women and 14 children were invahded home. " 13. It appears that the principal causes of this mortality were : — 1st. The unhealthiness of the season of 1865. 2d. Over-crowding in barracks and hired buildings in Hong Kong, and the occu- pation of huts at Kowloon, during the progress of excavation.3. Evidence, 3526-8. "14. With regard to the first point, the evidence is somev/hat contradictory ; but the Report of Dr. Murray, ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^q season was more Unhealthy than any year since 1858, to the civil as well as App. 1, No. 26, Gene- the military inhabitants, is distinctly stated both by General Guy and Dr. Murray, the ral Guy. App. 3. 1311. colonial surgeon. " 15. I'^'ilh regard to the second cause of the mortality, it is necessary to refer to the history of the military occupation of Hong Kong and Kowloon by British troops. " 16. From 1850 to 1854 the garrison of Hong Kong consisted' of a wing of an Euro^.fci' pean regiment and about 400 Ceylon rifles. From 1854 to 1857, the duties were performed by about the same number of European troops, without the assistance of any native corps..| In 1857 and 1858 a large number of troops, both British and Indian, were dispatched to^ China to take part in the war'; and, at its conclusion, the ports of Taku and Shanghai-i being still occupied by us, and an European force being considered necessary for the pro- tection of British residents in Japan, a force consisting of two batteries of artillery, a com- pany of engineers, three battalions of infantry, and two regiments of Indian troops were retained in the command. " i7. The 2d battalion 9tb, and 2d battalion 11th, were ordered to China to relieve the 67th Hnd 99th, as part of the ordinary reliefs of 1864-65, at a time when the determination : to withdraw from the occupation of purely Chinese territory had not been come to by the*^' Government, ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS (CHIKA). XXV Government, and when, therefore, no diminution of the force serving in China or alteration of its composition was in contemplation. "18. It appears that in November 1864 the Government determined to withdraw from App. 1, No. 3. p. 18g. the occupation of Shanghai, Taku, and other points of purely Chinese territory, and that Lord de Grey, after discussing with his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief, the 2455 arrangements to be made in consequence of this decision, at first intended to send back to India all the troops of the Indian Government in the China command, and to reduce the force of European infantry by one battalion, leaving two battalions in the command — one for China and one for Japan. "19. The Gpvernment, however, subsequently determined that it was desirable, in con- sequence of the unsettled state of affairs in Japan, to retain three European battalions in the command for a lime, and no change was consequently made in the orders already issued for the China rehefs. But it should be stated that, by the letters of the 6th and 9th January 1865, the force in the China command was reduced by oni? battery of artillery, and by 300 men. " 20. Lord de Grey has informed your Committee that it was always his intention that the greater part, if not the whole, of the extra battalion tiius temporarily left under General Guy's command should be sent to Japan, although he considered it to be his duty, for the reasons which he has stated, to leave to the general officer in command a discretionary power as to the distribution of his troops. " 21. On the receipt of General Guy's Despatch, of the 28th January 1865, which reached the War Office on the 15lh March, pointing out 'the impossibility under existing circumstances, of providing for the 2nd Battalion, 11th, in China, at least until additional accommodation be prepared for a second regiment at Hong Kong,' a letter was written on the 23rd March to that officer, informing him that the Admiralty had authorised the with- drawal of the marines from Yokohama, and clearly indicating the Secretary of State's intention that the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, should be sent to that place ' where,' as the letter states, ' the climate is better suited than that of China to the European con- stitution.' " 22. This letter was in General Guy's hands three weeks before the arrival of the 2nd Battalion, nth Regiment, at Hong Kong, before which date he had in all probability also received another letter, dated lOlh Aprjil, and written in the same spirit. " 23. It is clear, therefore, that it was the intention of the Secretary of State that the 2nd Battalion, 11th, should go to Japan, and that he met General Guy's difficulties about accommodating that regiment by referring him to this intention ; it is also clear that General Guy was aware of Lord de Grey's views on this subject, upon the airival of the reo^iment at Hong Kong; but he refrained from carrying Lord de Grey's intention into effect on the ground, as it seems, that the duties at Hong Kong and Kowloon could not be properly performed by a less force of infantry than two battalions ; and the consequence was that the two regiments thus retained at those stations were obliged to be accommodated in the inadequate and unsatisfactory manner described below. <- " 24. It appears therefore that the military departments at home were of opinion that the .necessary duties of the station could be perfoimed by a force, which the General Officer on the spot did not consider sufficient for the purpose ; and your Committee have consequently inquired how this discrepancy arose. "25, Lord de Grey has explained to your Committee the facts upon which the view entertained by the departments at home was provided, " 26. They were as follows : That, during the last three years, before the outbreak of war at the end of 1856, the garrison duties of Hong Kong had been performed without complaint by a wing of an European battalion, and that the Ceylon Rifles, of which a few companies had been employed at Hong Kong for some years previous to the year 1854, were in that year withdrawn by the order of the late Duke of Newcastle, with the acquiescence of the late Lord Hardinge, then Commander in Chief, and that no objection to their removal had been made by the officers in command in China during the three years which elapsed between their departure and the commencement of hostilities in 1856. "27. Th^ years 1854, 55, 56, when the garrison of Hong Kong was composed exclu- sively of European troops, were not marked by any unusually high rate of sickness or mortality ; and your. Committee cannot blame the Secretary of State for War, or the Commander in Chief, for having acted upon the experience afforded by the years 1854, 55, 56, and having considered that the duties could be temporarily entrusted with safety to the force employed at Hong Kong in those years, with the addition of about 180 rank and file, to supply the posts, if any, required at Kowloon. " 28. Your Committee have examined various officers upon the subject of the employment of non-European troops at Hong Kong, and have had the advantage of hearing the view taken by Lieutenant-General Sir Hope Grant, who commanded for some time in China, J-.^nd who concurs vidth General Guy and others officers in thinking that one battalion of ^British troops is insufficient to provide properly for the duties of the station. 442. ; , , . d " 29. Your XXVI PROCEEDINGS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE " 29. Your Committee have to report, that although there is no evidence to show that prior to the year 1865 the health of the troops had suffered in consequence of the non- employment of a native auxiliary force, the evidence points strongly to the advantage of constantly maintaining such a force at the station. "30. Your Committee have inquired into the reasons which induced the Government to withdraw altogether from the China command the Indian troops which had been employed there since the outbreak of the war of 1856. "31. Lord de Grey has explained to your Committee the reasons which induced him to take this step ; and it appears from his statement, and from other evidence, that it has been always contemplated, at least from the year 1859, if not from their first employment, that these troops should be withdrawn as soon as the warlike necessities which had led to their employment had ceased to exist. "33. This was the intention of the War Office under successive Secretaries of State, com- mencing with General Peel in 1859 ; and in withdrawing these troops when the occupation of foreign territory in China ceased. Lord de Grey adopted the course which had been contemplated by his predecessors if the opportunity had occurred in their time. "33. Lord de Grey's evidence contains a statement of the various grotinds, constitutional, financial, and others, upon which he considers it unadvisable to employ Indian troops for Imperial purposes, except in the pressing emergency of war, but that he would suggest the employment in preference of other non-Europeans, who would be on Imperial pay and under complete Imperial control. Your Committee, recognising the importance of the reasons thus adduced, are of opinion that Lord de Grey's views on this subject are well worthy of the fullest consideration. "34. Your Committee have investigated the nature of the arrangements made by General Guy for the accommodation of the force which he deemed it necessary to retain at Hong Kong and Kowloon. "35. The Barrack and Hospital Commission have reported to the Secretary of State for War, that, in tropical climates, from 1,000 to 1,500 cubicYeet should be allowed per man, and from 1,600 to 2,000 fleet per man in hospitals. "36. From War Office Circular, 846, dated 9th September 1863, it appears that the War Department recognised this amount of space as the standard of barrack accommodation requisite for Europeans in tropical climates. "37. It appears, by a return laid before your Committee, that the barrack and hospital accommodation in Hong Kong, Stanley, and Kowloon, was estimated as follows : I! a, 1 3 g m o 1 1 m OS to 1 11 S 1 -a Pi i 1 Barracks : Murray 700 2 16 4 16 - 440 - North 670 - - 7 — 409 - Stanley 900 1 5 - 6 - 150 - - 3 21 - 29 - 999 - Hospitals : . Stanley 900 - - - - - - 88 General Hospital . - - 1,060 - - - - - - 120 - - - - - - - 208 " But the true actual accommodation, taken at 1,000 cubic feet, would be : 3668-9. Murray Barrack - - - - - - 308 North Barrack -------- 274 582 "38. It has been stated, however, by a witness, who, for many years acted as barrack master at Hong Kong, that the fact of the barracks being provided with verandahs made it, in his opinion, unnecessary to allow more than 700 cubic feet of air per man in the rooms themselves ; neither does it appear that in any of the sanitary reports of previous years complaints ON MORTALITY OP TEOOPS (CHIJiTA). xxvn 3672. S703. 1844-69. H.M.S. " Hercules." App. 15, p. 4ai. coiiiplaints had been made of over-crowding, though the appropriation of the barrack had been made on the scale of 700 cubic feet per man. " 39. The huts at Kowloon were built in 1&59 for the temporary reception of European troops. They were double lined with matting, were from three feet to four feet from the ground ; had wooden floors, and, when in a good state of repair, are stated to have been perfectly wind and water proof. " 40. It appears they had been allowed to fall to a considerable extent into a bad state of repair; and though it is not asserted that when first occupied by European troops they were unhealthy, they were undoubtedly, in 1865, unfit for permanent occupation. " 41. In the harbour of Victoria there was a three-decker, named the ' Princess Charlotte,' originally sent out as a floating barrack, but subsequently used as a receiving ship for the squadron. It is stated that she was capable of accommodating 1,000 men, but it does not appear that any application was made to the Admiral for the temporary use of this ship until , when 150 men were quartered on board of her. " 42. Great difficulties appear to have been encountered in obtaining hired buildings for the accommodation of the troops, and these, even when obtained, required considerable alterations, and were not capable of being converted into proper barracks for Europeans. " 43. No unnecessary delay or want of exertion appears to have occurred on the part of the authorities, in obtaining and adapting such buildings as could be procured. "44. To supplement the barrack accommodation, Her Majesty's ship 'Hercules' has been for many years employed as an hospital ship. " 45. On the 23rd December 1864, a Naval Board reported her unseaworthy, and past repair ; and again, on the 6th July 1865, Admiral King wrote to the Commandant at Hong Kong, to request him to remove the troops from her, as she was ' no longer a safe habitation.' " 46. Major General Guy, on the 10th January 1865, reported to the Secretary of State App. 15, p. 420. for War that she was condemned, and begged that another vessel might be provided in her place, as she had been extremely serviceable, and had saved great expense in hiring buildings. " 47. A correspondence ensued between the War Department and the Admiralty, who represented that no three-decker was available ; that the only iwo-deckers available would require an expenditure of from 13,000 I. to 14,000 /., and would probably only last 10 years. " 48. The Secretary of State for War decided, after consultation with the medical autho- rities, and in accordance with their opinion, not to replace the hospital ship, but directed that the hospital, part of which was at that time used for other purposes, should be exclu- sively appropriated for the accommodation of the sick, and that, if necessary, additional buildings should be hired. " 49. It must be borne in mind that the hospital ship could not, under any circumstances, have arrived in time to have been of use during the sickness which ensued. " 50. During the period of severe sickness there was a great deficiency of hospital accomm dation. " 51. The General Officer commanding has undoubtedly full power, under such circum- stances, to hire whatever buildings may be necessary. " 52. Alexander's houses, which are stated to have bten well adapted for the purpose, were actually hired ; but a consideiable and unfortunate delay appears to have occurred, in consequence of the Commandant having considered it necessary to transmit the proceedings App. 1, No. 22, p. 200. of the Boards to the General Officer, who was absent in Japan. " 53. It appears, from a review of the facts above stated, that, during the summer of 1865, the troops were overcrowded, and that the hospital accommodation was insufficient. It also appears that the number of troops oidered to be retained in the command might have been so distributed as to avoid overcrowding. Imperative instructions as to the distribution of the force were not given by the War Department ; but looking to the various contin- ' gencies which might arise at a station so distant as that of China, your Committee are not of opinion that \t would be desirable to limit the discretion which in this, as in similar instances, was left to the general ; and in the absence of General Guy, or of direct explana- tions on the point from him, they are not prepared to impugn the course which he thought it his duty under the circumstances to take." The Committee deliberated. [Adjourned to To-morrow, at Half-past Three o'clock. App. 15, p. 422, 3 May 1865. Sic James Gibson. 442. d2 XXVIU PKOCEEmKGS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE Wednesday, ISth July 1866. MEMBERS PKESENT: Colonel NoKTH in the Chair. Colonel Percy Herbert. Sir Harry Verney. Mr. Trevelyan. General Dunne. Lord F. Cavendish. Lord John Hay. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. Mr. Dalglish. Major O'Reilly Marquis of Hartington. Mr. Calthorpe. Mr. F. Stanley. Mr. Adderley. Motion n.ade and question poposed, "That the Dr^^^^^^^ Hian be now read a second ^'^^' V^Y^f} .^IJTf^^X "Marquis of Hartington' leave out the word " Chanman," iJ^o^der^omsertthewOTds marq^^^^ «Chaiman" instead thereof-(Marquis of HartinfftonX-Question put, That the wora stand part of the question.— The Committee divided: Ayes, 7. Mr. Adderley. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. Major O'Reilly. General Dunne. Mr. F. Stanley. Noes, 7. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Mr. Calthorpe. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Sir Harry Verney. Whereupon the Chairman declared himself with the Ayes. Main question put, and agreed to. Draft Report proposed by the Chairman, read a second time paragraph by paragraph. Paragraph 1, agreed to. Paragraphs 2 and 3, postponed. Several paragraphs agreed to, with amendments. Paragraphs 12 and 13, postponed. [Adjourned to To-morrow, at Twelve o'clock. Thursday, I9ih July 1866. MEMBERS PKESENT : Colonel NoKTH in the Chair, Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Adderley. Major O'ReUly. Lord John Hay. Mr. F. Stanley. Colonel Percy Herbert. General Dunne. Mr. Trevelyan. Sir Harry Verney. Paragraph 14. — Amendment proposed, after the words "mortality were," to insert the words " 1. The unhealthiness of the season of 1865"— (Major O'Reilly'). — Question put. That those words be there inserted. — The Committee divided : Ayes, 7. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Lord H. Percy. Lord Jolm Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Reilly. Sir Harry Verney. Noes, 5. Mr. Adderley. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major Anson. General Dunne. Mr. F. Stanley. Amendment ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS ( CHINA). XXIX Amendment proposed, before the words, « Want of barrack accommodation," to insert the words, "3rd. But the chief cause was"— (Mr. Adderley).—Qneation put. That those words be there inserted. — The Committee divided. Noes, 3. Marquis of Hartington. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Ayes, 9. Mr. Adderley, Lord F. Cavendish. Colonel Percy Herbert. Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. Major O'Eeilly. Sir Harry Verney. General Dunne. Mr.F. Stanley, Amendment proposed, to leave out the words, " The immediate origin of these two causes of mortality arose from the withdrawal of the native Indian troops, without ade- quate steps being taken to meet the consequences of that withdrawal"— (Major O'Reilly). — Question put. That those words stand part of the paragraph. —The Committee divided: Ayes, 4. Mr. Adderley. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major Anson. General Dunne. Further amendment made. Noes, 9. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Major General Lord H. Percy. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Reilly. Sir Harry Verney. Mr. F. Stanley. Amendment proposed, at the end of the paragraph, to add the words, " 4th. The with- drawal of East Indian troops without the substitution of other Asiatic troops " — (Major Anson). — Question put. That those words be there added. — The Committee divided : Ayes, 5. Mr. Adderley. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. General Dunne. Noes, 8. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Eeilly. Sir Harry Verney. Mr. F. Stanley. Paragraph, as amended, agreed to. Amendment proposed, after the last paragraph, to insert the following paragraph: " With regard to the first point, the evidence is somewhat contradictory; but that the season was more unhealthy than any year since 1858, to the civil as well as the military inhabitants, is distinctly stated both by General Guy and Dr. Murray, the colonial surgeon" — (Marquis of Hartington). — Question proposed. That the proposed paragraph be inserted in tiie Draft Keport. — Amendment proposed, at the end of the paragraph, to add the words, " which, if true, may (in that year) have aggravated the other causes to which your Committee attribute the general unhealthiness and mortality of the garrison at Hong Kong and Kowloon " — (General Dunne). — Question, That those words be there added, put, and negatived. — Question, That the proposed paragraph be inserted in the Draft Report, put, and agreed to. Two new paragraphs inserted. Amendment proposed, after the last paragraph, to insert the following paragraph, " The 2nd Battalion 9th, and 2nd Battalion 11th, were ordered to China to relieve the 67th and 99th, as part of the ordinary reliefs of 1864-65, at a time when the determination to with- draw from the occupation of purely Chinese territory had not been come to by the Government, and when, therefore, no diminution of the force serving ;n China or altera- tion of its composition was in contemplation"— (Marquis of Hartington). — Question proposed. That the proposed paragraph be inserted in the Draft Report. — Amendment pro- posed, to leave out from the words "and 99th," to the end of the paragraph. — Question put. That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the paragraph. — The Committee divided : 442. Ayes, 8. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F- Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Reilly. Sir Harry Verney. Mr. F. Stanley. Noes, 4. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. General Dunne. ^, d3 Question, XXX PROCEEDINGS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE Question, That the proposed paragraph be inserted in the Draft Report, put, and agreed to. Amendment proposed, after the last paragraph, to insert the foUowing paragraph : " It appears that in November 1864 the Government determined to withdraw trom the occu- pation of Shanghai, Taku, and other points of purely Chinese territory, and that Lord de Grey, after discussing with his Royal Highness the Commander m Chief the arrangements to be made in consequence of this decision, at first intended to send back to India all the troops of the Indian Government in the China command, and to reduce the torce ot European infantry by one battalion, leaving two battalions in the command, one tor China and one for Japan "—(Marquis of Hartinffton).— Question proposed. That the proposed paror graph be inserted in the Draft Report.— Amendments made.— Question put, Ihat the piro- posed paragraph, as amended, be inserted in the Draft Report.— The Committee divided: Noes, 3. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major Anson. General Dunne. Ayes, 9. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Lord Henry Percy. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Reilly. Sir Harry Vemey. Mr. F. Stanley. Amendment proposed, after the last paragraph, to insert the following paragraph: " The Government, however, subsequently determined that it was desirable, in conse- quence of the unsettled state of affairs in Japan, to retain three European battalions in the command for a time, and no change was consequently made in the orders already issued for the China reliefs. But it should be stated that, by the letters of the 6th and 10th January 1865, the force in the China command was reduced by one battery of artillery, and by 300 men" — (Marquis of Hartington).— Question proposed, " That the proposed para- graph be inserted in the Draft Report." — Amendment proposed, to leave out the words, "and by 300 men," in order to add the words, "and the establishment of regiments serving in China were reduced from 1st April 1865 from 900 men to 800 men, depots included"— (Major O'Reilly). — Question, That the words, " and by 300 men," stand part of the para- graph, put, and negatived. — ^Words added. — Question, That the proposed paragraph, as amended, be inserted in the Draft Report, put, and agreed to. A new paragraph inserted. Amendment proposed, after the last paragraph, to insert the foUowing paragraph : " On the receipt of General Guy's Despatch, of the 28th of January 1865, which reached the War Office on the 15th March, pointing out ' the impossibility under existing circum- stances, of providing for the 2nd Battalion 11th, in China, at least until additional accom- modation be prepared for a second regiment at Hong Kong,' a letter was written on the 23rd March to that officer, informing him that the Admiralty had authorised the withdrawal of the Marines from Yokohama, and clearly indicating the Secretary of State's intention that the 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment should be sent to that place 'where,' as the letter states, ' the climate is better suited than that of China to the European constitution ' " — (Marquis of Hartington). — Question proposed, " That the proposed paragraph be inserted in the Draft Report." — Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word " officer," to the end of the paragraph, in order to add the words, "in the following terms: with regard to the difficulty which you anticipate in providing sufficient accommodation for a second regiment at Hong Kong and Kowloon, I am to acquaint you that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have decided on withdrawing the Royal Marines now serving in Japan. There will therefore be no objection to your sending the 2nd Battalion 11th Foot, on its arrival from the Cape, or such portion of it as you may be unable to accommodate at Hong Kong to Yokohama, where the climate is better suited than that of China to the European constitution ; but this order for the re-embarkation of the Marines was not carried out till the following September."— Question, " That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the paragraph," put, and negatived.— Words added. — Amendment proposed, at the end of the last amendment, to add the words, " but this order for the re-embarkation of the Marines was not carried out until the following September" — (Lord M. Percy). Question put. That those words be there added. — The Committee divided : Ayes, 7. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Reilly. General Dunne. Mr. F. Stanley. Noes, 5. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Lord John Hay. Sir Harry Verney. Question, ON MORTALITY OF TBOOPS (cHINA). XXXI Question, That the proposed paragraph, as amended, be inserted in the Draft Report, put, and agreed to. A new paragraph inserted. Amendment proposed, after the last paragraph, to insert the following paragraph : " It is clear, therefore, that it was the intention of the Secretary of State that the 2nd Battalion, 11th, should go to Japan, and that he met General Guy's difficulties about accommodating that regiment by referring him to this intention ; it is also clear that General Guy was aware of Lord de Grey's view:s on this subject, upon the arrival of the regiment at Hong Kong ; but he refrained from carrying Lord de Grey's intention into effect on the ground, as it seems, that the duties at Hong Kong and Kowloon could not be properly performed by a less force of infantry than two battalions ; and the consequence was that the two regiments thus retained at those stations were obliged to be accommodated in the inade- quate and unsatisfactory manner described below " — (Marquis of Hartington). — Question proposed, " That the proposed paragraph be inserted in the Draft Report." — Amendment proposed, after the word "Japan," to insert the words, "Whatever may have been the inten- tions of Earl de Grey, the Secretary for War. It, however, appears to your Committee, that it was impossible for General Guy to send this 2nd- 11th to Japan, because the marine force still occupied Yokohama, and had they even evacuated it, it appears the necessary grounds and duties at Hong Kong and Kowloon required that additional force to the garrison" — (General Dunns'). — Question put. That those words be there inserted. — The Com- mittee divided : Ayes, 5. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Major Anson. General Dunne. Mr. F. Stanley. Percy. Noes, 7. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. DalgKsh. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'ReiUy. Sir Harry Verney. Amendment proposed, to leave out the word " views" in order to insert the word " permission" — (Lord Henry Percif) — instead thereof. — Question put, That the word " views" stand part of the paragraph. — The Committee divided : Ayes, 8. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Reilly. Sir Harry Yemey. Mr. F. Stanley. Noes, 4. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Major Anson. General Dunne. Percy. [Adjourned to To-morrow, at Eleven o'clock. Friday, 2,0th July 1866. MEMBEBS present; Colonel North in the Chair. Major Anson. Major General Lord H. Mr. F. Stanley. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'ReiUy. Sir Harry Verney. Marquis of Hartington. Percy. Lord John Hay. Lord F. Cavendish. General Dunne. Mr. Adderley. Mr. Dalglish. Mr. Calthorpe. Paragraph proposed by the Marquis of Hartington, further considereid. — Question, That the proposed paragraph, as amended, be inserted in the Draft Report, put, and agreed to. Amendment proposed, after the last paragraph, to insert the following paragraph : — ♦• The Committee abstained from taking evidence with regard to the health of the troops between 1854 and 1857, in order to shorten the iaquiry; but from a Return which was presented to them, it appears that in 1854, out of a mean strength of 477 infantry, 120 were invalided, and 50 men died in China, or on passage home. In 1855, out of 430, 183 442. d 4 were xxxu PROCEEDINGS OP THE SELECT COMMITTEE were invalided, and 36 died "—(Colonel Percy Herbert). — Question put, That this para, graph be inserted in the proposed Eeport, — The Committee divided : Ayes, 4. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. General Dunne. Noes, 9. Marquis of Hartington. Mr. Adderley. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. DalgHsh. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Keilly. Sir Harry Verney. Mr. F. Stanley. Paragraph 15, agreed to. Paragraph 16, Amendment proposed, to leave out from the vrords "to him," to the end of the paragraph— (Marquis of Ifar^^tow).— Question put, That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the paragraph.— The Committee divided : Ayes, 5. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. Major 0'B,eilly. General Dunne. Noes, 7. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Sir Harry Verney. Mr. F. Stanley. Amendment proposed, to insert the words, " it is proved, however, that both General Gruy and his predecessors did employ hired watchmen when they considered it necessary, nor was any objection ever made by the War Office to the expenditure incurred" — (Marquis of Hartington) — instead thereof. — Question, That those words be there inserted, put, and agreed to. — Amendment proposed, after the last amendment, to add the words, " It appears, however, that the native watchmen are not trustworthy or respected by the Chinese " — (Lord H. Percy). — Question put. That those words be there added. — The Committee divided : Ayes, 5. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. General Dunne. Mr. F. Stanley. Paragraph, as amended, agreed to. Paragraphs 17-21, agreed to. Noes, 7. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Reilly. Sir Harry Verney. Amendment proposed, after paragraph 21 to insert the following paragraph: "It appears that the Military Departments at home were of opinion that the garrison of Hong Kong might fitly consist of a force which the general officer on the spot did not consider sufficient to perform the local duties, and your Committee have consequently inquired how this discrepancy arose"— (Marquis of J^arim^rfow.)— Question put. That this paragraph be inserted in the proposed Report. — The Committee divided : Ayes, 8. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Mr. Calthorpe. Lord J. Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Reilly. Sir Harry Verney. Noes, 5. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. General Dunne. Mr. F. Stanley. Two new paragraphs inserted. Amendment proposed, after the last paragraph to insert the following paragraph — « On reference to the Adjutant General's returns, it appears that Lord d? Grit ;f- to the amount offeree, which consisted of one regiment and that th.l^ r/ ^aT"" t^ in 1854 and 1855 were very great ''-( Colonfl S^r^X ?^n^''*i''S^°^ "^^^^^^ That the proposed paragraph be^inlrted in the Dra^ Sp^rt -ienZiT'*""" ^iSTf ^* the word "Regiment" to insert the word " ^^^^^^C•^.^t7''^ZX^^^, That ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (OHINA). xxxm That the word "weak" be there inserted, put, and agreed to. — Amendment proposed, to leave out the words " and that the invaliding and deaths in 1854 and 1855 were very- great" — (Marquis of H artington.') — Question put. That those words stand part of the paragraph. — The Committee divided : Ayes, 4. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. General Dunne. Noes, 9. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Mr. Calthorpe. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Keilly. Sir H. Verney. Mr. F. Stanley. ' Question, That the proposed paragraph, as amended, be inserted in the Draft Beport^ put, and agreed to. Two new paragraphs inserted. Paragraph 22, agreed to. Amendment proposed, after paragraph 22 to insert the following paragraph : " It appears that soon after the late Lord Herbert became Secretary of State for War, he, with a full knowledge of the necessities of the station, decided that barracks for 1,000 men, with a proportion of hospital accommodation, should be erected at Kowloon, after a hut, specially put up to test the healthiness of the site had been in iise a sufficient length of time for the purpose. That plans were proposed and sent to Hong Kong ; that there- upon the Colonial Government raised claims to a certain portion of the ground on which it was proposed to construct the barracks. That the consequence ot this was so great a delay before the hut could be constructed, that it will only be completed in the autumn of the present year, after a delay of five years. That to this delay is due the fact, that in 1865 the healthiness of the site had neither been tested, nor had barracks or hospital been built when the troops arrived " — (Sir jST. Verney). — Question, That this paragraph be inserted in the proposed Report, put, and agreed to. Amendment proposed, after the last paragraph, to insert the following paragraph : " But the reasons given by Captain Galton appear to your Committee not to be sufficient to justify the delay of building barracks, or giving accommodation for British troops suffer- ing as was the garrison of Hong Kong from exposure to a tropical climate " — (General Dunne). — Question put. That this paragraph be inserted in the proposed Report. — The Committee divided : Ayes, 4. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. General Dunne. Paragraphs 23-25, amended, and agreed to. A new paragraph inserted. Paragraphs 26-28, amended, and agreed to. Paragraph 29, disagreed to. Paragraph 30, amended, and agreed to. Noes, 9. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. Mr. Calthorpe. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Reilly. Sir Harry Verney. Mr. F. Stanley. [Adjourned to Monday next, at Twelve o'clock. Monday, 23c? July, 1866. MEMBERS PRESENT : Colonel North in the Chair. Sir Harry Verney. Major O'Reilly. Major General Lord H. Mr. Trevelyan. Mr. F. Stanley. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major Anson. Percy. Marquis of Hartington. Lord John Hay. Mr. Dalglish. Lord F. Cavendish. General Dunne. Mr. Calthorpe. Motion made, and Question, "That the Chairman be directed to move the House 442. e * XXXIV PEOCEEDIN6S OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE that a message be sent to the Lords to request that leave may be given *« Him^i^^^^rf Duke of Cambridge to attend and give evidence before the Committee -(Marqms of Hartington) — ^put, and agreed to. Two new paragraphs inserted. Paragraph 31-46 amended, and agreed to. A new paragraph inserted. Paragraph 47 .-Amendment proposed, after the words " Admiralty who," to insert the woS "represented that no three-decker was available; that the only Jo-deckers avile would require an expenditure of from 13,000Z. to 14,000 Z., and would probably only last 10 years "-(Marquis of Hartington).-Qlu^fxou Th^t those words be there inserted, put, and agreed to. -Amendment proposed, after the last amendment, to insert the words"" And moreover be liable to be unroofed m a typhoon and thus rendered rsekss when most needed, and "-(Lord ^. ^ay).-Question put. That those words be there inserted. — The Committee divided : Ayes, 7. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Major Anson. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Sir H. Verney. General Dunne. Noes, 4. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Major 0'B.eilly. Mr. F. Stanley. Percy. Amendment proposed, to leave out the words, « Suggested it was preferable to build an hospital. The result, however, has been that no ship has been sent out, and no hospital built '-(Marquis of ^arftw^^ow).- Question put. That those words stand part of the paragraph. — The Committee divided : Ayes, 6. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. Major O'Reilly. General Dunne. Mr. F. Stanley. Noes, 5. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Sir H. Verney. Paragraph, as amended, agreed to. A new paragraph inserted. Amendment proposed, after the last paragraph, to insert the following paragraph : " It must be borne in mind that the hospital ship could not, under any circumstances, have arrived in time to have been of use during the sickness which ensued, in 1865 " — (Marquis of Hartington). — Question put. That this paragraph be inserted in the proposed Keport. — The Committee divided : Ayes, 8. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Major General Lord H. Percy. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major CReilly. Sir H. Yerney. Mr. F. Stanley. Noes, 3. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major Anson. General Dunne. Paragraph 48, amended, and agreed to. Amendment proposed, after paragraph 48, to insert the following paragraph : " The « Princess Charlotte ' was a three-decker, originally sent out as a floating barrack, but was at this time the receiving ship for the squadron. It is stated that she would hold about 1,000 men, but the relief of the squadron was about to take place, and on their arrival the men would have to be drafted into the receiving ship^ It does not appear that any application was made to the Admiral for accommodation on board this ship, until the 21st June, when 150 men were taken on board. No communication on the subject had passed between the War Department and the Admiralty on this subject" (Major O'Reilly). Question proposed, That the proposed paragraph be inserted in the Draft Report.— Amend- ment OK MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). XXXY ment proposed, to leave out the words " originally sent out as a floating barrack " — (Xiord H. Perc?/).— Question put, That those words stand part of the paragraph.— The Committee divided. Ayes, 6. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'EeiUy. Sir H. Verney. Noes, 5. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. General Dunne. Mr. F. Stanley. Question, That the proposed paragraph be inserted in the Draft Eeport, put, and agreed to. [Adjourned to To-morrow, at Eleven o'clock. Tuesday, 24th July 1866. MEMBERS PRESENT : Colonel North in the Chair. Colonel Percy Herbert. Major General Lord H. Percy. Major Anson. Major O'Reilly. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Mr. F. Stanley. General Dunne. Sir Harry Verney. Lord John Hay. Mr. Adderley. Paragraph 49, agreed to. Amendment proposed, after the last paragraph to insert the following paragraphs : — " The primary cause of the extreme mortality and sickness of the troops in China in 1865 was the withdrawal of the Native Indian troops from the command, as that with- drawal resulted in increased exposure of the British troops to the heat of the sun by day and the effects of malaria by night, and to the overcrowding of the barracks and deficiency of proper sanitary accommodation for the additional number of European soldiers required for that performance of the duties of the garrison. " Evidence (though somewhat contradictory) has been given with regard to the unhealthiness of the season of 1865, which seems to have been rather more unhealthy than usual. This undoubtedly aggravated the effects of the exposure, overcrowding, and general deficiency of proper sanitary accommodation. " The seasons in China are always more or less unhealthy. Greater care should there- fore be taken to avoid exposing European soldiers to the chances of a more unhealthy season than usual under such disadvantageous circumstances as those of 1865. " From the evidence of Lord De Grey, it appears that it had been the intention of suc- cessive Secretaries of State for "War, from the time of General Peel in 1859, to withdraw the Native Indian troops from China at the first opportunity. " Their reasons for such intentions, as stated by Lord De Grey, were, first, the wishes of the Treasury ; secondly, the complications of monetary arrangements ; and lastly, reasons of a constitutional character. " No military reasons are alleged for that course. The Committee have no evidence that the Secretary of State for War consulted with any officers of experience, or called for reports on the subject from officers serving in China; and the War Office seems rather to have informed His Eoyal Highness the Commander in Chief of their intention, than to have consulted with him as to its advisability. " From the sanitary reports laid before your Committee, the War Department must have been aware of the unhealthy nature of the station, and of the evil effects produced on the European soldier by exposure to the climate, therefore the interest of the army, the welfare and health of the soldier, ought at least to have had as much consideration as the wishes of the Treasury, or questions of finance, or even reasons of a constitutional character of the nature stated by Lord De Grey. "Your Committee have examined several witnesses of experience, with regard to the advisability of retaining Asiatic troops in the China command, and they are unanimous with regard to its: absolute necessity. 442, . ' ' e 2 " It XXXVl PKOCBEDIN6S OP THE SELECT COMMITTEE " It would therefore seem obvious that the War Office, having decided to withdraw the Indian troops, should have provided other Asiatic troops to replace them, before their departure. " "When the 2d-llth Regiment was sent out, the War Department were informed by General Gruy that he would have great difficulty in providing for their accommodation. Lord De Grey gave permission to the General to send them on to Japan, where the climate was more suited to Europeans. But the 500 marines ordered by the Admiralty to be withdrawn, for the purpose of making room for the troops of the line, were not withdrawn till 1st September. " On their arrival at Hong Kong, General Guy found it absolutely necessary to retain the great majority of the regiment, on account of his not having a sufficient force to perform the garrison duties of the place. " This necessitated the overcrowding of the barracks, the hire of temporary buildings, and the occupation of the mat huts at Kowloon ; whereas, if the native Indian troops had been retained, General Guy would have been enabled to send the 2d-llth Eegiment on at once to Japan, where their presence was desirable and where the climate was healthy. " It is only necessary to refer to the evidence of Colonel Jenner, to see the amount of work and exposure undergone by some of his men, and the effect on their general health, the work seeming to increase the sickness in the same ratio as the sickness increased the work, till there were hardly any men left fit for duty. " This work could have been adequately performed by Indian troops, had they been left in the command ; and they would not have been so liable to suffer from exposure to the heat and the performance of garrison duty in that climate. " With regard to the case of the 99th Regiment, it is a matter of serious consideration whether a regiment should be punished for the faults of a few of its members, in a manner likely to injure its efficiency, by being exposed to serious unhealthy influences, and by being deprived of the comfort of permanent barracks for such wretched accommodation as the mat huts at Kowloon"— (Major ^wsore).— Question put. That the first of the pro- posed paragraphs be inserted in the proposed Report. — The Committee divided : Ayes, 3. Major General Lord 11. Percy. Major Anson. General Dunne. Remaining proposed paragraphs, disagreed to. Paragraphs 50 and 51, agreed to. A new paragraph inserted. Noes, 7. Marquis of Hartington. Lord F. Cavendish. Lord John Hay. Mr. Trevelyan. Major O'Reilly. Sir H. Verney. Mr. F. Stanley. "lZ^^tGl^^T""^"^^^Tr'^k ^'•^°'^^ ^^^ ^^^roducing a photograph) ; here is a view of Kowloon, from Hong Kong (jiroducing another photograph) ; this is Kowloon. This corresponds to that point on the plan (explaining the photograph) ; here is Kowloon, from behind, with Hong Kong in the distance {producing another photograph) ; this is Kowloon, looking towards Hong Kong. 16. Lord Jo/m -H«y.J Looking from the north, then ? — Yes. 17. All the town of Victoria here, you say, is comparatively healthy ? — Comparatively healthy now ; it was not forinerly. 18. This is the high ground of Hong Kong, is not it? — Yes. 19. It stands between Victoria and the sea breeze, does not it? — Yes, it stands between Victoria and the sea breeze during the south- western winds. 20. Chairman.] Then Victoria is to the north- east of the island of Hong Kong ? — Yes, or rather the north ; you could scarcely say the north- east. 21. In the direction of Kowloon? — Yes. 22. And within three-quarters of. a mile ?— ^ Yes ; here is the Happy Valley {pointing to thk photograph) before those houses were built; it shows the top of Morrison's Hill before they built those houses, with the remains of the old dwelling-houses there. 23. 'Lor A John Hay.] When was that built ?— It was finished in the beginning of 1863. 24. What was it built for ? — It was built for dwelling-houses. >* 25. Who built it ; was it built by Mr. Mathie^ son? — Yes; it was built by Jardine Mathieson merely as a speculation. That is the Grovern'- ment House {pointing to photograph) ; these are merchants' ofi&ces (Heard & Co.) 26. Sir Harey Verney.] What is the height of the mountain at Hong Kong ? — One thousand seven hundred and seventy-four feet above the level of the sea ; that is the height of Victoria Peak. 27. Chairman.] Have you finished what yon have to-sa,y with regard to that map and thfe huts ?— Yes. 28. With regard to the barracks, was there any accommodation for the married soldiers ?-^ In the Murray Barracks, at Hong Kong, the staff sergeants had a room each in the canteen building ; the colour sergeants had a room (# their companies' barrack rooms ; but beyond that there was no accommodation whatever for map- ried soldiers. 29. Then, in point of fact, it was one sergeanft of a company and the colour sergeant who had- ft separate room? — That is all. 30. And none of the non-commissioned officersi, except them or private soldiers, had one ? No- there was no room. The 99th had very fe^ women ; and as regards the few whose husband^ bad to be with head-quarters, accommodation bad SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TROOPS (cHINA). bad of iieoessity to be given them on the ground floor, which is at all tLnaes objectionable. Your question refers to Hong Kong ; you do not ask about Kowloon now, as I iinderstand. 31. I meant at the permanent barracks? — Beyond what I have stated, there was no accom- modation for married soldiers. 32. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Where was the accommodation given to them on the ground floor ? — In places that had been store- rooms. No men slept on the ground floor, but some of the married people had to sleep on the ground floor, because they had no other accom- modation. ■ 33. Chairman.] Is it your opinion that that was very pernicious to their health? — No doubt of it ; we never got any women over in Hong ^Mong unless it could not be avoided. I do not think in the 99th we had more than 15 married women altogether. For the most part, the wives were left in India in 1859 when the regiment came to China, and a good many of them died at Dum Dum ; the most of the men never saw their wives again. 34. In the mat huts at Kowloon, were there quarters for the women ? — Amongst the huts at Kowloon, there were four manilla huts that had been built in Manilla during the expedition; they were heavy wooden huts, and these had been handed over to our women and children ; they had a kind of second mat roof over them ; they were the only ones that had a second roof at all. They were badly lighted and badly ventilated, and were very far from being proper dwellings for anybody. 35. With regard to the drainage and sewerage in - eonnexion with the barracks, were they properly carried out ? — The ordinary drainage was good, but I always considered, and I stiU consider now, unless they are altered, that the position of both oflScers' and men's privies, closed in as tiey were between the ranges of barrack buildings, was in the highest degree objectionable. The officers' privies, from the shape of the drain, and the scanty supply of water, have continued for years the most ofiensive source of discomfort within about 20 yards of the officers' quarters. Monthly representations were made, and special reports furnished by me on more than one occasion upon the subject. 36. Sir Harry Verney.\ To whom were those representations and reports made ? — I had only two channels of communication ; I could only as the regimental surgeon^ communicate with and re- port to the commanding officer and the principal medical officer. It was for them to carry it further. 37. Chairman.] And you did report this to Jboth of them ?-^Yes ; there is a monthly sani- tary report, which every surgeon in charge of a jregiment has to send inj and there never was one of those reports sent in by me, while 1 was in Hong Kong, in which those privies were jBOt brought forward, beades special reports on .the subject. 36. Was anything done in the way of a re- ja,edy ? — No effectual rranedyhad been attempted W^ to 1865. They had put on and turned into the drain another small supply of water, and instead of having aU the stench inside the j)kce fa)U went into, they eaxried an air-shaft through the roof, taking it up to tie first verandah by the officers' quarters ; but there was no cessation of the evii : fl.^3. 39. Can you speaik as to the whole time from y^^ g^^n 1860 to 1865, and say that no remedy was ap- Esq. plied ? — Yes, I can speak to the state of things in ' 1860, though I was not in charge of the barracks »9 April then. I have used the same conveniences all the •^^^"■ time, and they were as offensive in 1865, when I left them, as they were in 1860. 40. Colonel Percy Herbert] When did you begin to report?— In 1863. 41. And you reported continuously up to when ? — Up to the time when the 99th Regiment vacated the Murray Barracks in September 1864, fully 16 to 18 months. 42. Chairman.] Are you talking now of Kow- loon, or of Hong Kong ? — I am speaking of the Murray Barracks. 43. Lord Johfi Hay.] You were describing the healthy part of it? — Yes, I was describing the healthy part of it. 44. Chairman.] Have you any remarks to make about the clothing ? — None at all. The clothing of the 99th Regiment was most suitable. In that climate three different descriptions of clothing are absolutely necessary to suit the variations of the temperature at the different seasons, and the changes between the day heat and the night cold. First of all you must have English clothing, namely, cloth tunic, shell jacket, and English winter trousers ; secondly, you require a suit of serge, consisting of a loose serge tunic and trou- sers of the same material ; and thirdly, you re- quire cotton karkee trousers and loose tunic. I may mention that flannel shirts were always worn, summer and winter. A wicker helmet with a white cover and purgaree is absolutely indispensable. 4-5. Colonel Percy Herbert,] Is that worn ? — Yes; and a forage cap can be worn at night. All these the men of the 99th had. But I may mention that helmets are matters which are supplied regimentally ; and I know that when the relief of the Artillery, the draft of the 67th, came out they were, I may almost say, months before they got helmets. 46. Chairman.] But in the case of a regiment already out there, when the time for the issue of shakos comes, are shakos served out to them ? — ^I do not exactly know how that is, but when the hel- mets have to be procured, in the first instance, there is a great delay ; they are not ready for a regiment arriving upon the spot. 47. Who pays for the helmet? — I think the soldier does, but he gets a certain compensation for his shako. 48. Major Anson.] Does the compensation for the shako cover the expense of it ? — I think so. I think the helmet only costs a dollar, or a dollar and a half ; but my impression is, that on a regi- ment first arriving out there, not knowing any- thiug at all about it, it would be a month or six weeks before they could get helmets. 49. Mr. Treveb/an.] Do they not keep a regi- mental store ? — No ; they are supplied regimen- tally, by the quartermaster of the regiment, 50. Colonel Percy Herbert.] They are made of wicker? — Yes; and they have a white cover. 51. Major GeneralLord jfffiwry Percy.] Is not it the custom to have umbrellas ? — ^Every man ex- posed during the day, and having to leave bar- racks, ©rdumrily carries an umbrella. Every one employed on exposed duty had umbrellas. I consider them indispengably necessary. 52. Have you heard that the ambrellas have A 2 been MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE W. Snell, Esq, 19 April 1865. been taken away ? — I have heard a rumour to that effect. 53. Do you approve of that? — Certainly not. 54. Sir Harry Verney.'] Were they taken away while you were there ? — No. 55. Lord John Hay.l Is there any foundation for that report? — I do not know. I know there was a draft of the 67th out there who had no helmets and no umbrellas for weeks. 56. Chairman.^ How long did they go on and do their duty ? — They were all stricken down with fever. I shall be able to give some evi- dence about it when the time comes. 57. In a correspondence which has been laid before this Committee, almost all the principal medical officers have stated that they consider that from six to seven nights in bed are requisite for a European soldier ; what number of nights in bed had the men of the 99thj generally speaking, while you were quartered at Hong Kong and Kowloon ? — The avernge number was hardly over three nights in bed for corporals and privates ; the Serjeants had a little more, sometimes five nights. 58. Do you agree in opinion with the principal medical officers, that from six to seven nights in bed are necessary ? — Most decidedly, certainly not one less. These are circumstances also which were mentioned month by month in the monthly sanitary report ; there were reffltonstrances always made in that report every month ; I drew the attention of the commanding officer and the prin- cipal medical officer to this, and I -^as always answered that there were certain duties to be done and that they must be done. 59. Sir Harry Verney.'] Was there ever any report made with reference to the number of sentries ? — Perhaps you are not aware that it is only a medical officer's duty to remonstrate for excessive work, and not to go into detail in the matter. 60. Chairman.] Do you think that duties re- quiring labour or exposure during hot weather can be safely performed by Europeans ? — No exposure and no labour of any fatiguing kind should be thrown on Europeans in summer. A European cannot labour and be exposed without ultimately losing his health. 61. Do you consider the means of recreation sufficient ? — Yes ; at Hong Kong there were two covered skittle alleys, one American bowling alley, covered in, one covered-in gymnasium, well equipped, a cricket ground, and bats, &c., for the game, from the 1st of November to the 1st of April, which is the only season when they can play cricket. 62. Colonel Percy Herbert.] Was there any plunge bath ? — We had the sea. 63. Did the men bathe in the sea? — Yes; there were bathing parades twice a week, if not three times. Then there were two billiard tables and two bagatelle boards, and draughts, chess, backgammon, and numerous other games which the men could enjoy at the Soldiers' Institute. But I may mention that workshops would be a great boon; they are very much wanted, on the Indian principle, which was introduced by Colonel Robertson, of the 6th Regiment, and adopted by Sir Hugh Rose. But however willing a com- manding officer might be in Hong Kong to set on foot such a desirable measure, there is not available room at present of any description to commence such an iindertaking, although plenty of ground exists in the barrack square to build on if such a thing were sanctioned. 64. Chairman.] Then it is an affair of ex- pense ? — It is an affair merely of the erection of the buildings. 65. Lord John Hay.] You say that they might be erected in the barrack square ? — In the bar* rack square or more properly enclosure. 66. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Was there much drUl going on ?— Certainly not. 67. What were the hours of drill? — They never had drills except in the mornings early, and in the winter time ; there was a parade drill at five o'clock in the afternoon. 68. Did the drills last long ? — No; they lasted for half-an-hour or three-quarters of an hour ; in the 99th Regiment, while I was out there, there never was a drill of any kind that I could call fatiguing, or such as in any way to harass the soldiers. 69. Is the drill hour being in the morning better than its being in the afternoon ? — Yes ; I think so. 70. Chairman.] Did you find that the health of the prisoners in the garrison prison was better than that of the men at their duty ? — The gar- rison prisoners were always the most healthy men in garrison, and hardly ever suffered from fever ; I attribute this to their having every night in bed, thereby avoiding night exposure, and to the regular Ufe they were compelled to lead, with the moderate amount of labour they had daily to perform. When the 99th were stricken down by fever at Kowloon, after Sep- tember 1864, the ill-behaved who had brought the regiment into nominal discredit were in the garrison cells at Hong Kong and in the civil gaol there, where they remained in good health and free from fever, whilst their peaceable com- rades were suffering from fever and, other dis- eases at Kowloon. 71. Then, in point of fact, you attribute the health of the prisoners being better than that of the men on duty, to the men on duty having, in the first place only, as you say, three nights in bed in the week ? — Yes. 72. And, secondly, to their being exposed to the night air ? — Yes ; and to the prisoners having also good accommodation, and being well housed in every way. 73. Lord John Hay.] You mentioned, also, their leading a more regular life ? — Yes. 74. You mean that they did not get drunk ? — I mean that they could not expose themselves, or take over fatigue in any one way. I have no doubt that operated also ; they could not get spirits or intoxicating liquor of any description. 75. They could not do so when they were in confinement ? — Not while they were in confine- ment. 76. Chairman.] Did you consider the drainage in the hospital buildings at Hong Kong satisfac- tory ? — No, it never was. All the waterclosete were offensive, and some of them could not bc used. The drains too, such as they were, emptied themselves into the sea very little below high-water mark, close to the hospital, and the emanations therefrom were offensive — sometimes very offensive. 77. Sir Harry Verney.] Can you teU me how many cubic feet a-piece the men in the barracks had?— About 651. 78. On the average ? — Yes. 79. Chairman.] In this report of yours, yotl SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINA). state that you consider that the high rate of fever, compared -with the preceding year, is at- tributable to the cessation for seven months of the issue of quinine daily. By whose order was it discontinued, and do you know for what reason ? — 1 can give you the history of it, but I do not know the exact reason for it. 80. Sir Harry Vemey.'] Before you go into that subject, let me ask you whether those barracks were built after any sanitary measures had been taken ; were they built on plans sent out from the War Office in this country ? — I believe that the barracks at Hong Kong were built by General d'Aguilar, out of the Canton indemnity money, and. at no cost to the Home Government. But I may say, at the same time, that in their general construction they are as fine barracks as any I have seen in any part of the world- They contain as fine barrack rooms, and are as well ventilated, or would have been so, if they had been on another site, as I have ever seen. 81. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] You do not know by whom the plans were drawn? — I have no idea. 82. Do you know in what year the barracks were built? — ^I have said that I think they Tvere bunt in 1849. 83. ChairmanJ\ Then our country was not at the expense of building those barracks? — I be- lieve not. but I am only speaking from my general impression. 84. Liord John Hay.'] You said that they were built from the indemnity money ? — Yes, from the indemnity money from the war of 1842. 85. You say that you do not approve of the site of these barracks. What site would you recommend, or rather, what would you have recommended ? — I think I should have recom- mended some elevated site ; for instance, where the cathedral is now, or one of those plateaux higher up, where you would have had a free cir- culation of air all round the barracks, and where they would have been perfectly open and stand- ing out by themselves. 86. That you think is a healthier part of Hong Kong ; are the people who live in that vicinity more healthy than ^ose who live below? — Xo; I do not think in itself that there is one portion more healthy or more imhealthy than another in Hong Kong ; but I think I would not build my bouse in Hong Kong down in a hollow, if I had a nice knoll or open space to build it on. Besides that, the barracks are bmlt in a ravine, where you have always a river, as it were, sweeping down behind you, leaving its tricklings aU along, and all the damp percolating the soil from there, must necessarily come down on the barracks. It is the circulation of air that I go by. 87. There is a very large drain there, is there not ? — Yes. 88. It is a buUt drain? — ^Yes, a beautifully built drain ; there is nothing ariang from that. 89. Therefore, the water runs o£F, does it not ? — ^Yes, in the immediate neighbourhood of thfe barracks there is nothing of the kind, but there are many pools behind the barracks. However, I do not consider in any way that the swampy F"ound or anything of that sort has to do with it ; object to the site on the groimd of the want of a free circulation of air. 90. In reference to its being built in a hollow ravine ; is not there a great deal of air coming down that ravine ? — No. 91. Do you think that it is a less airy position 0.53. than others ? — Yes ; it is a less airy position than others that I know, certainly. 92. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Is it not the case that, in the winter, it is excessively cold in Hong Kong? — The thermometer often falls very low ; I have seen the minimum ther- mometer at 45"" during the night. 93. Then a barrack that was built for a very hot country would be extremely uncomfortable and bad in the winter, would it not ? — Yes ; these bar-racks are built for a hot coimtry, but you have the means, by closing the glass windows, of turning your summer barracks into good winter barracks. 94. That could be done ? — Yes, it is done. 95. Chairman.] Will you now proceed with your statement about the discontinuance of qui- nine? — Up to the 28th November 1862 an issue was made daily of an ounce of quinine wine, which consisted of common Cape wine containing two grains of quinine, to each man. The supply of this, which had been sent out for the expedi- tion of 1860, ran short, and the authorities at home reftised, I believe, to send out more, when the issue of quinine ceased altogether. I was not in China at that time. I assumed medical charge of the 99th Regiment about the end of April 1863, and the number of fever cases led me to recommend the re-issue of quinine, which, after some trouble, I obtained auAority to have issued, mixed with water and acid. The men did not relish this, as they called it " physic." I then wrote for authority to add a small portion of rum to this, and to make it a ration. I was told by Dr. Home, then the principal medical officer, that this was to be granted; but it never was issued. 96. It never was granted ?— No, nun was never added to it. The way in which the men got their quinine was this : the colour-sergeants got a bottle, and by regimental orders every man, when he got out of bed in the morning, got his certain allowance. Whilst it was wine it was eagerly sought after, but when it was only mised with water every man shirked it who could. 97. Major General Iiord Henry Percy.] What do you suppose was about the value of a dose ; what did it cost ? — There are, I think, 480 grains in an ounce, and I suppose the price of quinine, calculated out there (-the price in London being 8 s. 6d.), would be about 10 s. an ounce; the price of the dose remains to be calculated. 98. How much is the wine a bottle, do you know ? — I think I calculated that the cost of adding a little rum to the water and quinine would come to something imder one halfjpenny a man. 99. TiotA John Hay.] A halfpenny each dose ? — Yes ; I have not got the calculation with me. 100. Were' they to drink that rum the first thing in the morning, when they got out of bed ? — Yes, it was only a little over a teaspoonful mixed with some water ; it would give a colour and a taste to the thing, and induce the soldiers to take it ; it was not in the quantity of an intoxi- cating dram. 101 . Chairman.] However, you consider that the not having this issued to the men was the cause of the great increase of fever among the men at that time ? — No doubt of it. 102. Lord John Hay.] Are there not some strong objections to the^ontinuous use of quinine? — I have never heard any. A 3 103. I mean IF. SneU, Esq. 19 April 1866. MINUTES OP EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE W. Snell, 103, I mean during long periods ? — I never Esq. heard any. — ■ — 104. Does not it make people deaf? — That is 19 April when it is taken in excessive doses, and in cli- 1 866. mates where there is not what they call a tolerance of quinines If a person is afflicted with intermit- tent fever, and lives in a climate where quinine acts as a preventive against fever, there is some- thing in the constitution that enables a person to stand very large doses of it without any inconve- nience, whereas a person in England taking a third of the same dose would be rendered deaf and stupid altogether. 105. Have you heard that out in China men have suffered from deafness from taking quinine in that way ? — Yes, temporary deafness ; it is a very common thing for a man in hospital to take large doses of quinine to check an attack, and the chance is that he would be deaf for three or four days ; but that would not happen if it was taken in a small quantity lilce this. I do not think that it would affect a man more than drinking a cup of coffee. 106. Colonel Percy Herbert.] You were not in China when the issue of quinine was made in wine, were you ? — Not after 1860. During the expedition in 1860 the soldiers used to get it so. I was not there with the 99th B,egiment as the regimental surgeon then. , 107. But you had the experience of being with the troops when it was issued with wine ? — Y-es ; and I had also the experience of the offioers and sergeants in the regiment as to how eagerly it was sought after by the men as wine. 108. How much did they get ? — They got an ounce of this mixture ; an ounce is half a wine glassful. The men at Hong Kong of the 99th Regiment got two grains daily ; those at Kowloon got four. 109. Was the issue of quinine in wine prefer- able in your view to the issue of it, as you pro- posed afterwards, in spirits ? — I think that wine would be preferable, bjit there was no wine in the country, and there was plenty of rum in the commissariat stores. I adapted my recommenda- tion to what I knew could be got on the spot. 110. Chairman.'] There would be no difficulty in getting Cape wine, would there ? — They would have to send for it. 111. The only difficulty was that it would have to be sent for ? — Yes. 112. Lord John Hay.] Should you recommend quinine always being issued to the troops, whe- ttier there was fever prevailing at the time or not, in those particular parts of the world ? — No, ex- cepting in peculiar cases ; it should always be in ^tore, so that if required it could be given upon the recommendation of a medical officer. I cer- tainly would not say that it should always be issued. 113. Colonel Percy Herbert.] Do you suppose that any 12 months would pass without your considering it desirable to issue it in that way ? — No, I think that in some portion of the 12 months it would be desirable that it should be issued. 114. Chairmfin.] You do not know by whom it was discontinued, do you ? — It was discon- tinued, because there was no more quinine wine. I was shown a letter from the Director General of the Army Medical Departmeat, saying that no more would be sent out, and that they must use it with water. 115. Colonel Percy Herbert,] Was any reason stated in tliat letter ? — "i^o, I am not aware of any^. lis. Major General Lord \flenry P-ency.] Was it, in your opinion, better as a medicine when ifc was mixied with water and acid, than witt wine? — I do not think that the wine would have any medicinal effect. I do not think there would be any difference in its action. 117. The acid would make it better, would it not ?— You must have the acid to dissolve it in the wine, it is not soluble in wine or water. 118. Chairman.] Were you on the staff in the- expedition of 1860? — I was staff assistant surgeon. 119. Do 3?:ou consider Kowloon, in its present state, as seriously injurious to the European con- stitution, and if so, will you be so good as to state your reasons for entertaining that opinion? — A residence at Kowloon of men of the 99th Ee^i- ment for any period, say over a month or six weeks (I meanbefiDre any cuttings or excavations were commenced there), was pretty sure to be followed by attacks of intermittent and remittent fever, the peculiar fever producing influences of the soil, which I have already alluded to in lefer- ence to Hong Kong, being sufficient to account for this in men who had been for over three years in the south of China; if other predisposing causes of fever, such as bad and insufficient bar- rack or hut accommodation, exposure to the sun's rays, and proximity to low garden lands, where irrigation and rank vegetation were alternate, had not existed as well. The whole of thia {pointing to th^ plan) consists of garden and paddy lands ail round here everywhere. 120. Sir Harry Verney.] Is that cultivated according to the Chinese fashion? — Human or- dure was the manure which was generally used, and highly offensive it was to the senses. 121. And also unhealthy? — There are great differences of opinion shout that ; it is very im- pleasant, and I should certainly say not healthy. I would not attribute too much to that. I think ordinary irrigation in the paddy fields might have caused as great discomforte. 122. Lord John Hay.] It is the system that prevails throughout China, is it not ? — It is the system that prevails throughout China; there was nothing exceptional here. 123. It is not regarded in China as an un- healthy process, is it ? — No. 124. Chairman.] What is your opinion of the sanatorium which was established at Victoria Peak? — I am sorry to say it proved an utter &ilure. 125. Lord John Hay.] When was it esta- blished? — It was commenced to be built in 1860, and I think it was first opened in 1862. I think not before that. It was a hospital hut. 126. Colonel Percy Herbert.] What was the site of it ? — It was under the Peak ; not so high as the Peak ; about 1,670 feet above the level of the sea. I am soriy to say that it proved an utter failure; nearly every case sent was attacked with diarrhoea of an intractable nature, and all medical cases were aggravated rather than im- proved. I considex that four deaths out of 17 cases were accelerated thereby. 127. Jjord John Hay.] Whemvasthis; about what period ? — It was opened in September, and shut up at the end of November ; it was open during the hot season, in the August or Sep- tember. 128. Chairman.] What do you consider the worst periods of the year at " Kong Kx»ng for Europeans?— Erom the middle (rf May till, cer- tainly. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS (CHINA). tainfy, the first 10 days in September ? you may say from the middle of May to the middle of September are tfa^ hottest and most trying m:onths in the year. 129. Then any troops arriving in that period would, of course, be exposed to greater sickness than at any other time ? — I do not think that any troops ought ever to be sent to China earlier than the middle of October or later than the taiiddle of January. 130. Sir Harry Verney.] Was this a barrack that was triedi and found not to answer ? — It was a hospital barrack ; it was very well btiilt. and, as far as accommodation goes, very good, 131. It was established about three years ago. as I understand ? — ^It was commenced in 1860, and, I think, it was occupied in 1862 and 1863. i am speaking of my experience of it in 1863. The experience was not repeated in 1864 ; the results were too dangerous for it to be tried again. 132. Colonel Percy Herhert.~\ Have you served in India ? — I have never, for any length of time, been in India. . 133. Was the experience of the effect of sending the sick up to this high station similar to what you know, either from your experience or from what you have heard, has occurred in India, on sending the sick up to the hill stations in India ? — No ; quite different ; that may be accounted for, first of all, by the soil of the island of Hong Kong and that neighbourhood ; the sick were up there, mostly in the clouds, in a very damp atmosphere, and exposed to the whole of the malarious influences of the actual soil around them. 134. Lord John .IIai/.~\ Do you mean rock or soil ? — Soil ; the same influences of the soil acted upon them that acted upon the Europeans when Hong Kong was fii-st inhabited ; I do not, in my remarks about the sanatorium, class India with China in the least ; I ' talk of China by itself. 135. Colonel Percy Herbert.] I believe it is the case in India that the sick are apt to suffer from diarrhoea when they are sent up to. the hill stations?- — Tes ; in the cold weather. 136. Was there any floating hospital during the time you were in Hong Kong ? — Up to the end of 1862 there was a hulk called the " Hercules," which had been used for many years as a floating hospital. 137. Had you any experience of the success or the contrary of that floating hospital ? — It was very beneficial indeed, but the " Hercules" be- came so rotten and dilapidated that she had to be moved about two and a-half miles from the other hospital, and she fell into disuse, and it was only in emergencies that she was used ; I look upon a floating hospital at Hong Kong as almost indispensable. ■ 138. Did either you or the principal medical officers, to your knowledge, make any recom- mendations upon that head ? — I believe several recommendations were sent home to England to have another vessel sent out in place of the "Hercules." 139. Were those recommendations attended te? — I have no idea; it would not fall within my province as a regimental medical officer at all. 140. Lord J&kn Hay.J With regard to the healthiness of the top of the hill, are there not many people who live at the top of the Victoria Peak, higher up ? — There is one signal man. 0.53. 141. Is not it considered a healthy position jy Sndl there?— I think not; I do not know anybody JEgn, ' who ever went up to try it. '- 142. Chairman.'] However the result was, that 19 April the sanatorium was a failure ? — The sanatorium ' ^^^• was a failure. The minutiae of the 17 cases; which I detailed in my report were sent home, and are in the army medical department office here in a tabular form. 143. What is it used for now ; is it entirely abandoned ? — Yes ; I think so. 144. Have you any remark to make upon the delay and uncertainty in the despatch of invalids from Hong Kong?— Yes. In 1863, about 50 broken-down men of the 99th Regiment were passed by an invaliding Board in May, as unfit to remain in the country. They were kept dur- ing the summer to pine and drop off for want of transport. This was caused by the Admiral being at Japan, as all arrangements had to be made through or by him. 145. In what year was this ? — In 1863. In 1864, authority was obtained from the Secretary of State for War to send four invalids a month by the overland mail steamer. This was done in urgent cases on several occasions, but the results of the voyage on those cases I never saw or heard of. The men went as second-class passengers at 75 /. a head, and were individually responsible for their own care, an arrangement which could hardly be found conducive to satis* factory results. They had medical attendance- from the surgeon of the vessel. I believe that there is a new and extended system of Indian transports contemplated by the Isthmus of Suez. 146. Lord John Hay.] Were there Govern-^ ment agents on board those vessels ? — On board some of them, not all. It would be a very great benefit if a branch line for reliefs and invalids were extended to China, communicating at Point de Galle. The transport for reliefs and invalids under such a system ought to be at least four times during the year. 147. Do you consider it a good way to send invalids through the Red Sea ? — ^Not during the hottest seasons ; but the grand thing in a country like China is to get whoever has been stricken down by severe disease out of the country. 148. And you think it better to send them by the Red Sea? — I would send them that way, if no other means existed to send them round the Cape. I think, as a general rule, a Cape voyage might have a better effect ; but the great advan- tage of the overland route for invalids, as sanc- tioned by the Secretary of State for War, was that you could get the men away once a fort- night or once a month. You could send them away if they were excessively ill ; even when they were dying, you could put them on board a steamer, and send them away like civilians. 149. Colonel Percy Herbert] When did you receive the permission to send them home in that way ? — It was sanctioned in 1863, and it has been carried out on several occasions. 150. Does it exist still ? — I believe so ; unless it has been cancelled, it does. 151. Lord John Hay.] You said that nothing could be done for some time about sending those invalids home, in consequence of the absence of the Admiral in Japan ; do you know that of your own knowledge? — I was told so; I have got it in official documents, in reply to my representations ; it was stated that communi- cations had been made to the Adm^iral in Japan ^ A 4 that MINUTES or EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE W. Snell, Bsq. 19 April 1866. that was in reply to my statement that the men were ready to go home. 152. How long had they been ready to go home ? — In May 1 863 men were passed by the invaliding board, and every month added to the number. 153. Chairman.'] What is the rule, as it exists now, for getting rid of men ; you say the Secre- tary of State authorised four men per month to be sent home ? — Yes, to take advantage of the overland route. 154. Supposing there were 40 men instead of four, what power has a general officer or the principal medical officer, of carrying it out, especially supposing that the Admiral is at Yoko- hama, or cruising about ? — As far as I am aware, none ; it would Jig,ve to go through the senior naval officer on the station, and whether he would take the responsibility or not, is a question. 155. But the military authorities have no power ? — As far as I am aware, they have none ; the principal medical officer has none; he can only represent to his General. The principal medicaloflRcer has no power, except that of re- commendation and representation; whether his recommendations are carried out is doubtful. 156. Chairman.'] I will read to you this part of Dr.Dick'sreportwithregardtothe " Hercules," about which a good deal has been said. He says: " There is, besides the hospital hulk, ' Hercules,' which has been used for hospital purposes in emergencies ; but as this vessel is not only un- seaworthy, but also, occasionally, very leaky, on account of decay in her lower timbers, it has been found expedient by the naval authorities on the spot to moor her in shallow water to meet the very possible danger to the persons on board of her filling and going down ; and as her sanitary condition can scarcely be improved by more or less leakage, or the comfort of the sick on board much enhanced by the noise occa- sioned by the working the pumps 24 hours together, as has occurred from time to time, I do not think she ought to be employed for hos- pital purposes where it can be possibly avoided ; but when it was found necessary to send sick on board during a recent extraordinary outbreak of sickness in the 99th Regiment, the convalescents only were sent. In a climate, however, such as Hong Kong, where extraordinary sickness may at any time prevail, there can be no doubt that a hulk in good repair, moored in the harbour, might prove most useful as a supplementary hospital for the troops, and application has accord- ingly been made to the authorities in England for such a vessel, as also for an old three-decker, to be used as a supplementary barrack when oc- casion may require, by the major general com- manding." Do you agree with Dr. Dick that these two things would be desirable ? — Yes, in every respect. 157. Major General Lord Henry Purcy.'y Do you not think it would be better that the troops, during the bad season, should be quartered, as a matter of course, in hulks? — No; I consider that good barracks would be preferable to hulks under any circumstances. 158. It you have not got the good barracks ? — Do you speak of Hong Kong, or Kowloon ? 159. Of Hong Kong ?— Certainly, if you had no barracks to put them in, hulks would be preferable to anything else you could do ; it would be preferable to tents and preferable to temporary huts. 160. But not preferable to barracks? — Cer tainly not. There is a letter this morning in the newspaper from Colonel Sarjent, of the 95th, who was out in the Buffs afterwards. He writes of Hong Kong as it existed in 1848. With reference to hulks and those things, all that he says is perfectly, in every respect, sound ; but he does not know the altered condition of Hong Kong. 161. Lord John Hay.] Has not he been there since 1848 ?— He was out in Canton for a few months. 162. Was not he in the last war ? — Yes. 163. He went to the north, did not he? — Yes; but he has not been stationed in Hong Kong, and he does not know the present health statistics at all. 164. Major Anson.] Do you think that the troops would be better in hulks than in barracks / at Kowloon? — Yes. 165. Would you not think it better to have a ship like the " Melbourne," which was there some years ago, to serve as an hospital ship, and which would be able to take troops out to sea, if there was any epidemic amongst the men at any moment ? — Certainly ; but there is, or there ought to be, by the Admiralty regulations, a transport always on the station. 166. Can it be used whenever the military authorities wish it to be used ? — No. 167. You require one which shall be entirely under the control of the military authorities, do you not? — To have any ship of that description would be a highly commendable arrangement, and it would be perfectly useless, unless it was under the control of the military authorities. 168. Colonel Percy Herbert.] When you say under the control of the military authorities, you mean, I suppose, so arranged that they could get it when they asked for it? — ^Yes, that is what I mean. 169. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] And that they could get it at once ; that is the main point ? — Yes. 170. Chairman.] Dr. Dick also says this — "Having referred to the protection from solar influence afforded by the shade of trees as an effective sanitary precaution in this climate, it doubtless has frequently happened that men have been struck down by the fierce rays of the sun, who might now have been alive had such shade existed ; but I find also that an impression exists among e:^perienced medical practitioners in this part of China, among a large proportion of the old European settlers who have resided many years in the colony, among the educated and intelligent of the Chinese population in the south of China, that trees exert a highly beneficial influence on the public health in another way. They are believed to possess the property of decomposing the malaria existing in their vicinity, and so contributing to the salubrity of the locali- ties where they grow: and strange as it may seem, the very small sum of 50 I. a year inserted in the annual estimates, and intended to cover the expense of planting trees in the localities requiring shade, has been struck out by the home authorities." Does your opinion agree with that, with regard to the shade of trees being benefi- cial? — I have mentioned that as one means by which the health of Hong Kong has been im- proved. 171. Marquis of Hartington.] Do I under- stand you that the health of Hong Kong has been or SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TEOOPS (cHINA). 9 or that it might be improved by those means ? — It has been improved ; Hong Kong is very ex- tensively planted with trees. 172. Chairman.'] You have already stated that there is no accommodation for the women and children. Here is a statement of Dr. Dicks also respecting that. He says, " The barrack accom- modation for officers is also very inadequate. At the present time I am informed that as many as three officers are living in the same room in Murray Barracks. Surely this is not a state of things that ought to be allowed to exist in a tro- pical, or any other climate ; and the major-general commanding being fully impressed with the in- adequacy oi the accommodation, has sanctioned such private houses being hired as will meet the necessary requirements of the service " ? — Although the Murray Barracks are excessively fine barracks for the men, they are very bad for the officers. The officers' rooms were very badly ventilated. In the 99th Regiment I have known our junior officei's living two in a room, doubled up ; there was no other accommodation to be had under the circumstances, and they had both to pay for the same room, I believe. 173. Why did they have to pay for it ? — When receiving Indian allowances you have to pay for your quarters. For two rooms I, ranking as a field officer, have had to pay 8 Z. a month. 174. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] Was that paid to a private person ? — No, to the Government ; it was deducted from my pay. 175. That was the rent they charged you ? — It was the rent I had to pay for two rooms. 176. Was it paid to the local government ? — No, to the paymaster ; and it was paid over to the Government at home, of course. 177. To the War Department ?— To the War Department. 178. Marquis of Hartington.] That was when the troops were receiving Indian allowances, was not it?— Yes. 179. Chairman.] Have you any idea what the subalterns paid ? — I think it was about 2 I. 10 s. for a room. 180. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Do you mean 2 /. 10 s, per month?- — Yes. 181. Colonel Percy Herbert] What was the size of the two rooms for which you paid 8 Z. a month ? — They were about the area of this room, but about 10 feet high. 182. The two rooms or the one?— The two rooms were about the superficial area of this room. 183. Each of them? — No; if you divide this superficial area into two, that would give the size of each room. 184. And with a height of 10 feet ? — Yes, 10 or 11 feet. The colonel paid less than anybody; he was entitled to five rooms, and if he only got three he only paid-in proportion to five. 185. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] But a subaltern paid 2 Z. 10 s. for the half of one room?— Yes, and the colonel, if he only lived in one room, would only pay 2 Z. 186. Marquis of Hartington.] When the In- dian allowances ceased, the payment for the rooms ceased too, did it not?— I believe so; I was not there when the Indian allowances ceased; you do not pay for quarters in any other part of the world, except India. 187. Lord John Hay.] Eents are very high, are they not, in Hong Kong ?— Yes, rents are very high; but then you get very superior accom- modation ; they are very fine houses. 0.53. 188. Chairman.] It appears that there was W. Snell, a Board ordered by the General Commanding in Esq. Chief to sit, to inquire into such matters as would ^ be brought before it; I want to ask if you agree 19 April with the different headings of decisions that they 1866. came to. The first is, that the return of each de- tachment from Kowloon to Hong Kong was fol- lowed by a considerable increase to the general regular sick list ; this is the return, dated Novem- ber 1864 ? — On all occasions Avhen a detachment of the 99th Eegiment from Kowloon joined head quarters at Hong Kong, a considerable increase to the general sick list, principally from fever, took place ; and the detachment proceeding, there, became sickly in about a month or six weeks. I am now speaking of Kowloon as it existed before any excavations or cuttings com- menced. 189. That was when coming back from Kow- loon to Hong Kong? — When they came back from Kowloon, there was always an increase to the general sick list in the hospital, of those companies. The company, when it went over there, became sickly in about six weeks ; if the company had been 12 months at Hong Kong, and had only five or six sick when it went over, it would have 15 to 25 or 30 sick in six weeks at Kowloon. 190. Lord John Hay.] It did not matter what time of the year it was ? — No ; the summer was, in proportion, the worst ; but the proportion be- tween Hong Kong and Kowloon kept-pretty fair according to the seasons. Both fluctuated ac- cording to the seasons, and fluctuated equally. 191. Chairman.] The second is that " the mat huts occupied by the troops at Kowloon did no't afford sufficient protection from ordinary vicissi- tudes of weather " ? — The huts I always con- sidered as improper and inadequate protection for Europeans. 192. The third is that " extensive marshes and abandoned paddy-fields existed on two sides of the military station " ? — There were large tracts of marshy and undrained land which adde'd to the natural unhealthiness of the soil. 1 93. The fourth is " that the water is of bad quality, and unwholesome in its native condi- tion " ? — The water was never good ; it was always charged with organic impurities, and it was very far from plentiful. 194. Were any means adopted of improving it or getting it in larger quantities ? — The water was taken out of two little mud-holes, or natural kind of wells at the bottom of the valleys ; there was no running stream or anything of that kind 1 every drop of water had to be baled out with a bucket. 195. Was that water for drinking ? — For everything ; there was no other means of getting water. 196. Could not good water have been brought from a distance ?— Not from within our territory at Kowloon. 197. Sir Harry Verney.] Was this water that was used, rain water ? — No, it was water that was obtained at the bottom of a little gorge or hollow, where water collected. 198. Mr. Adderley.] It was surface water, I suppose ? — No ; it could not be called surface water ; there was no direct spring, but there was always water there ; it was a kind of surface well. 199. Lord John ^ay.] How could you have brought water from a ^stance ? — ^I fancy that by B an 10 MINUTES OP EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE W. Snell ^^ aqueduct, or by pipes, it could be brought Esq. ' from the mountains four miles at the back in the Chinese territory. ^9^Fil 200. By four miles of aqueduct?— Yes, or 1800. pipes ^ there is a range of hills there, but it is in China Proper. These mountains {^pointing to a photograpK) are about four miles or so distant; there are large supplies of water all along there. 201. Chairman.'] The fifth is that '•' the sani- tary condition of Kowloon is and has been un- satisfactory, and that no proper means have been adopted to improve it " ? — The general conditions which I have already described were reported monthly whilst the 99th were there, in the ordi nary monthly sanitary reports ; biit no means were ever attempted to be taken to improve it. 202. The Board say that, "amongst other pre- disposing causes of fever, may be classed undue exposure to solar influence and night duties;" you have fully gone into that ? — Yes. 203. Were you at Hong Kong when the 2d battalion of the 20th Regiment was stationed at Kowloon; ajid can you give any history of the state of health of the regiment on landing, and also on its departure for Japan ' — I was stationed in Hong Kong when the 2d battalion of the 20th arrived from Calcutta. They, came almost direct from England ; they had merely been transhipped at Calcutta, and had come on by the steamer. They arrived at Hong Kong in December 1863, and had to be sent to Kow- loon, as no other barracks existed for them. They were a very fine body of as healthy men as I ever saw. Their health continued very fair up ■to April 1864, when fever appeared among them, and from that time they became very unhealthy indeed. 204. Major General Lord Z?i?wr3/Pe7-cy. J When did the fever begin?- — It had commenced to show itself, and developed itself considerably in April. Their fever cases after April averaged as high as 80, and latterly cholera broke out; and the whole corps, on its departure for Japan on 27th June, was in a most unhealthy state. 205. Mr. Adderley.'] There were 80 cases of fever, out of what strength ? — I fancy they were about 700 strong. I have not the exact statistics. 206. Sir Harry Verney.'\ How many sick were there altogether ; you stated that there were 80 cases of fever ; what other illnesses were there ? — I was not the medical officer in charge of the battalion. I am merely speaking of what happened in their cases, from my having got the exact statistics of the fever cases ; but I think it will appear in some of the documents. 207. General Dunne.'] At what date was that ? — The dates were December 1863, April 1864, and June 1864. 208. Sir Harry Verney.] You mentioned 80 fever cases out of a strength of 700 men ; I want to know how many were sick ? — I do not think I can give you that information. 209. I mean in June 1864? — It says in the book, that on the 17th of June the weekly per- centage of sick amounted to 14*165 ; it is at page 370 of the Blue Book.; or if you will look at Dr. Dick's report on Hong Kong, you will find it there. 210. Jjou A John Hay.] Were these men living in the huts ? — They were living in the huts up to some time in the end of May or the beginning of June, when cholera, appeared, and they /were .then encamped out, and they changed their camp once or twice. 211. Was there any advantage apparent from their changing their camp? — They got iidof cholera for the time being, but they took it with them on board ship ; and in a short voyage of 10 days up to Japan, I think they lost seven or eight cases. 212. Chairman.] Was quinine given daily to the men of the 20th, do you know, as a preventive to tbe fever ? — Certainly not on their first arrival ; and I do not think, from a conversation I had with Dr. Home, the principal medical cfiicer, that it was given before fever began to make its ap- pearance. In reply to a question of mine, as to whether the 2d battalion of the 20th Regi- ment were getting quinine or not, he said " JsTo," and remarked how exceedingly interesting it would be to watch the commencement and spread of the disease without its being interfered with by the use of quinirie. 213. Did the detachment of the 99th Eegir naent at the same station, and at the same lime, receive quinine daily ? — ^They were getting four grains daily each man. 214. How could that dilFerence exist? — I can- not give Dr. Home's reasons. 215. It was merely a difference of medical opinion ?^I think he had some peculiar ideas about; quinine, but the question of expense was always brought forward. 216. Lord John Bay.] You mean that he had peculiar medical reasons for not giving it, do you not ? — Yes. 217. He had doubts as to the propriety of giv- ing quinine ? — Yes ; but the question of expense was always brought forward whenever the use of quinine, or other remedies of a costly nature, was brought on the tapis. 218. Sir Harry Veruey.] You told us, did you not, that the cost of each dose was only a iialff penny ? — When you multiply that by 700 a .day, and take it for 30 days in the month, ' or 365 days in the year, it amounts to something con- siderable. 219. Lord John Hay.] What is the name of the doctor to whom you referred? — Dr. Home; he was the principal medical officer at that time. 220. Had he had much experience in China ? —He was out there in 1849, I think ; he was out there as assistant surgeon during the time that the 95th Regiment was stationed there. 221. Colonel Percy Herbert] What do you mean when you say that the question of expense was always brought forward ; by whom was it brought forward? — By the principal medical officer. When I first went to Hong Kong I did my best to get a resumption of the daily issue of qumine after it had been stopped. There was then a very large amount of discussion with regard tp the expense. _ 222. Who objected to it ?— The principal me- dical officer mentioned the word expense; I cannot say that he objected to it. _ 223. Chairman.] Are there any other medi- cines that are necessary for the troops out in a climate like China, that are withheld on account oficxpense?— Latterly, before the 99th Regiment left China, an excessively valuable medicine., namely, chlorodyne, had been stopped. I was told that it was on account of tihe expense ; it is a most Invaluable remedy. 224. Colonel Percy Herbert.] By whom was it SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOKTALITT OF TBOOPS (CHINA). 11 it stopped? — By orders from home. A prescrip- tion or formula for making up chlorodyne in the stores, by shaking the ingredients together in a bottle, came out, and we were told to use that, a class of remedy that I found perfectly useless ; that style of medicine I found to be quite use- less ; and at the Cape the same thing happened ; in my indent six months ago, for medicine for the regiment at the Cape, it was struck out. 225. Lord John HayJ] Was it struck out at home ? — No, it was struck out at the Cape ; it was not allowed to be issued. 226. Chairman.'] By instructions from home? — I was told that it was bj' 'instructions from home ; the medicines have to be sent from home to be issued there ; therefore, if they do not get them they cannot issue them ; chlorodyne is a patent medi- cine, made by a secret process which cannot be imitated; it is a medicine that is prescribed, although it is a patent medicine, by nearly every One of the first physicians in London ; I look upon it as one of the most valuable remedies we have for sudden emergencies in the east ; the imitation of it, which we were told in the army to adopt, I look upon as utterly valueless. 227. General Dunne.] At what period was that? — It was either at the end of 1864 or the beginning of 1865 that I applied for it in Hong Kong, and could get none ; and the same thing happened in July 1865 at the Cape of Good Hope. 228. Major General Lord HenYy Percy.] Do you know whether there was any positive order that no quinine should be supplied ? — No ; I have already said that T saw a letter from the Director General stating that it was to be used with water for the future, and that they would give no wine for it. 229. The quinine was not given ? — No ; at • the time which I am speaking of now, there were lafge supplies of quinine in store equal to many years' consumption ; it was very liberally sup^ plied from home. 230. Chairman.] Was any order given with regard to the other medicine you have men- tioned? — I was told that an order came from home that no more would be sent out, and that they must use what there was. 231. Lord John Hay.] You state that yoti think the quinine was not discontinued on account of the expense, but simply because Dr. Home did not seem to approve of it? — The two reasons seemed to be mixed up together ; it was very hard to understand what the exact reason was ; I had nothing to do with the recommendations in the case of the 20th Regiment; they were another regiment altogether ; I got my own re- commendations carried out, as far as possible, as regarded the regiment of which I was surgeon. 232. Sir Harry Verney.] Is this chlorodyne generally used by civilians, who have to pay for it themselves ? — It is most extensively used. I saw a prescription the other day of Dr. Walsh, one of the first physicians in London, in which he prfesCribed it for an ofiicer in the army. 233. Lord John Hay.] Is that also the case in Hong Kong ; is chlorodyne much used there ? — Decidedly. 234. General Dunne.] Did you act upon that System when you could get chlorodyne yourself in Hong Kong ? — I did so, up to'within the last two months of our coming away, when there was no more in store. 235. Chairman.] Is it a very expensive medi- cine ? — As medicines go, I think it is costly. 0.53. 236. You mentioned just now the 2d battalion w, Snell of the 20th, besides the 99th; had you any Esq. Indian troops there at the time? — We" had; the 22d Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry formed 19 April part of the garrison of Hong Kong during all the 186(6. time I was in China, and we had besides a com' pany of gun Lascars. 237. You had two European regiments V—The 20th was sent there in connection with some political emergency in Japan. 238. Colonel Percy Herbert] In what year was that? — They arrived at Hong Kong in December 1863. They were supernumerary to the garrison of Hong Kong; they md no duty on the Hong Kong side at all. 239. Mr. Trevelt/an.] Where were they quar- tered?— At Kowloon, in the huts there. 240. Lord Joh?i Hay.] They were sent, you say, for an emergency in Japan? — Yes. 241. Did they go to Japan?— Yes, in June 1864 ; they were six months at Kowloon. 242. Do you know why they did not go to Japan before that time ?— 1 believe there were no barracks ready for them there. 243. In Japan ? — Yes ; but that is a matter I have no knowledge of. 244. Marquis of Hartington.] You mentioned that a detachment of the 99th Regiment was sent to Kowloon, and that there was an outbreak of fever there soon afterwards?— -There was always a detachment of the 99th at Kowloon. The de- tachment I mentioned as going across were the reliefs, which were made about once in three or four months, to give it to the diiferent companies in turn. 245. How many would the Murray Barracks hold?— In 1863 there were 578 men of the '99th Regiment in the Murray Barracks. From the 30th of June to the 15th of September 1864, there were 658 men in the Murray Barracks; about 80 of those men (it was during the summer time), slept in the verandahs. 246. It was necessary to keep one or two companies at Kowloon ? — When the regiment was very strong, that is to say, when it was over about 800 strong, it was necessary to keep gene- rally about 200 men at Kowloon. 247. You stated that no means were taken to improve the sanitary condition of Kowloon ; did you say what would have improved its sanitary condition ? — No, but drainage would have done so, and good and suitable barracks, and the stop- page of all rank cultivation and irrigation close by, would have been the means of improving it very much, even if it had only been done ae a temporary matter. 248. Was that in the power of the authorities there; is Kowloon the property of the British Government ?• — Kowloon has been the property of the British Government since the treaty of Pekin in 1860, I think. 249. Sir Harry Verney.] When the 20th Regiment arrived at Kowloon, had preparations been made for their reception? — Yes. 250. Were there suitable barracks for them ? — There was the same description of hut that had always been there, and additional huts had been erected ; whether they were specially erected for the 20th Regiment, or whether they were erected in anticipation of the 67th coming down from- Shanghai, I do not know, but there were huts to put the troops in. 251. Colonel Per cp Herbert.] Were the huts made of bamboo and mats?— Yes. B 2 252. Lord 12 MIN'UTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOBE THE IV. Snell ^^^' Lord John Hay.] Are the huts you are Rsflr speaking of the same sort of huts that they put men in in India occasionally, when they want to 19 April give them accommodation ? — They are not "i^QQ. nearly so good as anything you would see in India, and besides they have no verandah; you would never see a room in India without exten- sive broad verandahs all round. 253. Major Anson.'] Are the huts the same as those erected in 1860, which were only experi- mental ones ? — No, those were only four wooden huts ; the others were not nearly so substantial, but there was better ventilation. 254. Colonel Percy Herbert.] They were made merely of mats, with bamboo frames, were they not ? — Yes, with a single roof. 255. What was the roof made of? — Of the same material as the sides ; a rough kind of palm leaf. 256. Made into matting? — The leaves were stitched together, as it were, and made into mats. 257. Sir Harry Verney.] Did the men sleep on the ground-floor ? — They were on piles, and the boarded floor was about three feet from the ground, as I have already stated. 258. Chairman.] The North Barrack at Hong Kong is put down in a return which has been laid before this Committee, as holding seven ser- geants and 409 men ; is that correct ? — During the time that the 99th were in the Murray Bar- rack, 128 of their men occupied the North Bar- racks. I have included those 128 men already in the 578 ; and there were of Eoyal Artillery, Koyal Engineers, Commissariat Staff Corps, and odds and ends, about 120 more. 259. Your regiment having been stationed there, you have given an account of the Murray Barracks ; now, with regard to the North Bar- racks, is that capable of holding 409 men? — I never knew more than 263 men in the North Barracks. 260. Marquis of Hartington.] I think they are out of repair, are they not ? — They are ; but most of those 263 men were on the ground-floor ; at least, a large portion of them were on the •ground-floor ; the roof of the North Barracks is in bad repair. 261. Chairman.] "Was any part of that barrack occupied for the Garrison Institute ? — Yes ; there was a large room that would hold about 45 men, used as the Garrison Institute, and sanctioned by the Secretary of State for War for that pur- pose. 262. That must be deducted from the 409, must it not ? — I do not know how the barracks could ever hold 409 men under any circum- stances. 263. Colonel Percy Herbert] That includes the ground-floor, probably ? — Yes ; but the men in the North Barracks were on the ground-floor. I should like to correct an error I made just now. In rei^ly to a question, I said that the Murray Barracks held 578 men of the 99th, but that includes those who were in the North Bar- racks as well. It was the number of the 99th who were actually in Hong Kong, 450 of whom were in the Murray Barracks, and 128 in the North Barracks. That makes up the 578. 264. I see that this return gives the Murray Barracks as holding 440, that gives a rate of 700 eubic feet per man, and the North Barracks 670 cubic feet per man ; is that equal to the recom- mendations of the Sanitary Commission ? — No, the minimum recommended by the Sanitary Commission in a climate like this is 1,000 cubic feet. 265. Therefore, this shows that the barracks were made to give a very much larger amount of accommodation than, in your opinion, they ought to afford ? — Decidedly. 266. Marquis of Hartington.] I understand you to say that there was nothing v/hatever to prevent the principal medical officer ordering quinine, if he thought it necessary ? — Yes. 267. Although the question of expense was brought forward, it was not brought forward in such a way as to prevent him from ordering it if he thought fit? — Certainly not; it was merely said in the course of conversation. 268. Chairman.] I think it was with regard to the use of wine with the quinine, was it not? —No. 269. Marquis of Hartington.] I think you mentioned that Dr. Home was not using quinine at the time you were ? — Yes ; at least, he had not ordered it for the 20tli. 270. With regard to the use of chlorodyne, is there any difference of opinion among medical men with regard to the use of that medicine ? — I never heard any but a unanimous opinion of its efficacy. 271. Chairman.] What was the largest number of men that you had in the two barracks, the Murray Barracks and the North Barracks ; can you give the Committee that information? — Yes; the tune when we had the largest number of men was from the 30th of June 1864 to 15th Septem- ber, when we had 658 men in the two barracks ; about 80 of those men were sleeping in the veran- dahs of the Murray Barracks. The object of that was to keep them away from Kowloon; they were better off there than at Kowloon ; it was done to meet the emergency. 272. That could not have been done in the winter months, could it ? — No, it could not have been done in the winter months. There were 450 men in the Murray Barracks, and 128 in the North Barracks. 273. That makes about 578 ?— Yes. 274. What was the strength of your regiment at this time ? — We had 246 men at Kowloon in 1863 — that, added to 578, gives the strength of the regiment in 1863. The average strength of the regiment was about 824 men. 275. Then, if your regiment had been all to- gether in Hong Kong, you could not have been put up in the Murray and the North Barracks?— No. 276. Those two barracks together would not have held your regiment, independent of the three corps which you say were there ; the Eoyal Artillery, the Royal Engineers, and the Commis- sariat Staff? — No, certainly not. 277. The Stanley Barracks are put down as having been constructed for 400 men ; and as having actual accommodation only for 150. The note says that that barrack was so dilapidated as not to afford accommodation for more than 150 men ? — Yes. 278. What was it used for ?— The women and children of the 20th were over there from the fame the regiment landed till as late as Septem- ber 1865, when they went to Japan; they were there from December 1863, 1 think, to Septem- ber 1865. ^ ^1Q. Colonel Percy Herbert.-] You stated, some tune back, that part of your regiment was quartered at Kowloon, I think?— Yes. 280. And SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHIKA). 13 280. And that you made a recommendation 4hat they should be relieved by native troops ? — Yes. 281. In what year was that? — In June 1864. 282. And they were so relieved, I believe ? — They were so relieved. 283. "When did your regiment leave? — On the 1st of March 1865. ' 284. Marquis oi Hartington.] As to the recom- mendation for the relief of those men by native troops, that would be that the native troops should make room at Hong Kong for your men to come back there, would it not? — No; we -could not put the men into the native lines i;here. 285. There was no duty at Kowloon, was there ? — Yes ; the men had no more nights in bed there than at Hong Kong. 286. What sort of duty was it? — There were the dockyard guards, the camp sentries, sentries for the protection of the commissiariat stores, the barrack stores, and all those things there. 287. Colonel Percy HerbertJ] The native troops did relieve your men, I think you said ? — Yes, they did. 288. "Was there much advantage to the health of the troops in consequence of that ? — The very greatest advantage. 289.' When did you leave China ?— On the 1st March 1865. 290. Were there native troops there all the time you were there ? — Native troops were there all the time that we were there. 291. I believe they have been withdrawn -since ? — I have been told so ; at least, they were under orders when I left, and the ships were named to take them away. 292. From your experience, are you of opinion that the native troops can perform the duties with less loss of life than the white troops ? — Most certainly ; and there are many guard rooms in Hong Kong* which have been used for them from time immemorial, and were built, in fact, ex- pressly for native troops, and which are not fit for occupation by Europeans. 293. Those are duties that must be performed by some troops ? — Yes ; duties that must be per- formed by some troops in low-lying localities, and very exposed sentry posts, and places like that, ithe native troops always had. 294. I gather from what you have stated, that you have a very strong opinion as to the injury to the white troops, if black troops of some kind or other are withdrawn altogether? — Most deci- dedly ; I consider that most of the duties in Hong Kong, especially during the summer, ought to be performed almost solely by native troops. 295. Would the substitution of native troops for white troops for those duties be one of the greatest sanitary improvements that could be carried out there ? — Certainly it would. 296. Marquis of Hartington.'] Can you state what sort of duties those are ? — Guard duties principally. 297. On what buildings, or for what purposes ? — There is the Governor's guard, there is the colonial treasury guard, there is the main guard, there is the hospital guard, the commissariat •guard, the military store guard, the magazine guard, and guards of every description, and sen- tries in all directions. 298. Colonel Percy Herhert.'\ They are mostly over Government property, are they not ? — All over Government property, 0.53. 299. War Department property? — All over War Department property, or for the mainten- ance of discipline at the barrack gates, and things of that kind. 300. Marquis of Ilartington.l Could not any of tliose duties be performed by watchmen? — That I am not in a position to state at all. I do not know what the actual duties are ; I merely know that European and native soldiers were used for those duties ; whether they .could be discharged by others I am not in a position to state. 301. I thought you stated just now that there were duties that must be performed by troops ? — ^I said by native soldiers, in contradistinction to European. There have been always sentries of some kind In those places In my time. 302. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] At any rate, the duties must be performed by troops, until the Government furnish in some way or other paid people to do the duty? — Yes ? — I should fancy so. 303. Cliairman.~\ They are in charge of Go- vernment property, are they not? — Yes, they are protecting Government property. 304. Will you give the Committee information with regard to the Stanley Barracks? — The Stanley Barracks are a dilapidated pile of old buildings, which were used at some former time as barracks ; they are detached and scattered in different positions, and, in order to go from one portion to the other, you have to pass into the sun. 305. Is it in the town of Hong Kong ? — No ; it is about seven miles to the south of the island, on the windward side. Except during a tem- porary occupation in 1860, they have not been used for many years. 306. Major Anson.l Were they in a very dilapidated condition then? — They were in a very dilapidated condition. 307. It is a healthier site than that of Vic- toria, is it not? — No, not at present; it was supposed to be so at one time, but it has proved since not to be so. 308. Chairman.] You stated, I think, that the women and children of the 20th Regiment occu- pied it ? — The women and children of the 20th Regiment occupied it from December 1 863 to September 1865. 309. Dr. Dick reports in this paper that they were sent there without the medical authorities being consulted, and the consequence is stated by him thus : " The military post of Stanley has existed for a good many years, but was aban- doned in 1861 on account of its insalubrity, and it continued unoccupied until last year. The 2d-20th Regiment having proceeded on service to JajJan, it was decided by the military autho- rities that the post should be again occupied by the women and children of that corps, and I regret to say that the mortality among the latter has amounted to 28 per cent, in less than six months." This is in Dr. Dick's last report, that of 1864. Therefore, in point of fact, this Stanley Barracks would not be occupied by anybody, except in case of emergency? — Not except in case of emergency. 310. Therefore, you cannot consider that as affording any barrack accommodation for the troops ? — No. 311. The next item in this paper is the hospi- tals, and the Stanley Barracks hospital is returned here as constructed for 88 patients, and the actual accommodation is also returned as 88 ; this B 3 is W. Snell, Esq. 19 April i86e. 14 MINUTES OP EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOKE THE W. Snell, Esq. ig April 1866. is a return showing the accommodation for the troops of ail arms at Hong Kong and Kowloon at the time of the arrival of the 2d bat- talion 9th Eegiment, and 2d battalion 11th Regiment, specifying the nature of the accommo- dation and number of cubic feet allowed per man. But Dr. Dick, the principal medical officer, re- ports that, instead of 88 patients, it will only- hold 30 ? — In August 1 864, I was the officiating principal medical officer, and I made a visit of inspection to Stanley while the women and chil- dren of the 2d-20th were there, and in order to give them increased accommodation, as they were very much crowded, we gave up the lower part of the hospital to the women and children, and half the upper portion was the women and children's hospital. That would reduce the actual number of beds there to some 10 or 12 beds for men. 312. Marquis of Hartington.'] This Return is probably correct in stating that it would hold 88 patients, allowing 900 cubic feet per man, is it not ? — No, I should certainly say it was incorrect. 313. Why? — From the size of the building; it has only two floors. 314. Chairman.'] If these women of the 2d battalion of the 20th Regiment had not been sent there, was there any accommodation whatever for them elsewhere? — Nowhere. 315. In the barracks that were built at Hong Kong, accommodation for the women and children had been omitted altogether; there was no accom- modation for them? — There was no accommo- dation anywhere at all. At Kowloon the huts were all occupied by the men ; the strength of the regiment was very great, and there was no other accommodation for the women at all. 316. The next item here is "Mat Sheds," which is put down, " actual accommodation, 700"; that refers to the mat sheds at Hong Kong, not at Kowloon? — These were for the natives ; these were the 22d Bombay Native Iilfantry lines and the gun Lascars' lines. ] cannot tell you what the accommodation was, or what the space was. 317. What was their condition? — They were excessively dilapidated, and nearly all tumbling down when I left in March 1865. 318. Then, in fact, they cannot well be con- sidered as accommodation ? — I believe they were blown down in the first gale of wind they had, about two months after the 99th Regiment left. 319. But would they have been fit for European troops at any time ? Certainly not ; there is a remark carried out in this Return; you will see the foot note upon it, that 700 : " Sheds for 303 men blown down by the typhoon, and for 257 men so dilapidated in consequence, as not to be habitable, leaving available only accommodation for 140 men." 320. That reduces the number from 700 to 140, at the outside ? — Yes. 321. Now we come to the Kowloon huts. What is your opinion of the Kowloon huts ? — ' That they were never fit for Europeans. 322; Were they occupied by your regiment? — They were occupied by the 99th Regiment, and by European troops, on all occasions, except between. June and September 1864, when natives were sent over to do duty there. 323. Then, when did your regiment leave the huts ?— The detachment or detachments which I have spoken of were recalled in June 1864, and none ol the 99th Regiment were stationed there between thatdate and the 15th of September 1864, when the whole regiment was sent there again. 324. Do you happen to know, having lived there for a considerable time, any of the houses that were hired for the accommodation of the- troops? — I know nearly every house in Hong' Kong. 325. Personally ? — Yes, personally. 326. This Return mentions the United States depot, with accommodation for eight officers; do you know that? — That was a house that was abandoned, some time in 1864, as unsafe. 327. You are speaking of the United States depot ? — Yes ; it was considered unsafe for habi- tation on account of its dilapidated condition. 328. The next one that is mentioned in the return is "Messrs. Fletcher's premises," with accommodation for 500 men ; are those what they . call "godowns"? — Yes. 329. What does that mean ? — It means nothing more or less than a store or warehouse for goods, -. such as you would see on the Thames or any- where else; they are a block of unventUated granite buildings. 330. Are there windows in them ? — Sufficient windows for light, but nothing else. Messrsa " Fletcher's godowns were, three of them at least, excessively well built ; they were granite build- ings, but I should not think they would hold more than from 350 to 370 men. 331. Were the men able to occupy the lower floor, the ground floor ? — Certainly not ; it would be highly detrimental to their health. 332. The next is Messrs, M'Gregor's premises^ you know them ? — Yes, 333. With accommodation for eight officers and 200 men ? — I should say that they could ac- commodate a little more than that. 334. A little more than 200? — Yes, about 230 ; but in the case of both Messrs. Fletcher's go- downs and Messrs. M'Gregor's godowns, befor& the troops occupied them, there was an extra storey put on to them. 335. That was on Messrs. M'Gregor's? — On both of them. 336. Then there is St, Francis's Hospital for married soldiers? — That was the officers' quaj;^ ters and the mess room of the officers of the 22d Bombay Native Infantry, in my time. 337. Then comes Her Majesty's ship, " Prin- cess Charlotte"? — That is the Royal Naval gua,rd ship there, and hoists the pennant of tie senior naval officer ; she is a purely naval ship. I believe she was lent on an emergency, 338. Then we come to Her Majesty's ship> "Hercules," but there is a remark appended here, " The ' Hercules,' in consequence of bdng in an unsafe state, from age, was sold; fout officers and 143 men accommodated on board the ' Princess Charlotte ' as a tempoi'ary measure." Then I suppose the " Hercules " could not have been used for the accommodation of troops, as it was sold out of the service ? — No. 339. All these together, give actual accommo- dation for three field officers, 30 officers, four staff sergeants, 29 sergeants, 20 married soldiers, and 1,541 rank and file, arid 208 patients?— I do not think that the huts left standing at Kowloon, at that time if you put 402 men into them, could hold 20 married soldiers as well, 340. According to your account, the huts at Hong Kong will hold only 140, and those at Kowloon are m so defective a state, that they will hold nobody at all; is not that the state of the case?— No, I did not say that; I said that the Hong Kong huts were very dilapidated. 341. But SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OF TROOPS (cHINa). 15 341. But you said that the Kowloon huts were not fit for European troops ? — They are not fit from their construction for the protection of European troops. 342. So that, in point of fact, the real accom- modation is very much under what is stated in the Return ? — Yes. 343. Mr. Trevelyan.] Would the huts at Kow- loon, though unfit for European soldiers, be very bad accommodation for native troops ? — They are exactly the same description of huts as they had lived in on the Hong Kong side all along. 344. Would the health of the native troops be less likely to suffer in those huts than that of the European soldiers ? — Certainly. 345. You have already stated that the natives stand the climate much better than the European ijroops ; their hospital exp'enses would be much smaller, would they not? — Yes. 346. And the rations of European troops would be much larger than those of the native troops ? — Yes; I should think they would be much more expensive ,347. And also the native troops would not re- quire such costly barrack accommodation ? — Cer- tainly not. 348. Major General Lord Henry Percy. '^ Does the climate affect the native troops at all at Hong Kong ? — I believe it does, but not to the same extent as the Europeans. 349. But it does affect them to a certain degree ? — It affects them to a certain degree. . 350-53. I suppose the diseases are not very tgerious in this case ? — No, not nearly, so serious as in the European constitution. .354. Chairman.'\ It appears that your regi- ment was suddenly ordered from Hong Kong to Kowloon on the 15th of September ?— Yes, in 1864. 355. Will you be so good as to inform the Committee of the result of that inove ? — The result of the move of the 99th Hegiment from the Murray Barracks at Hong Kong to huts and tents at Kowloon, was that, from being a com- paratively healthy corps, considering their service in China, they became stricken down by fever and miasmatic disease, and rendered a sickly and inefficient body of men. 356. General Dunne.'] You say that they were moved in September, is that a bad season ? — No, it is the improving season. Nearly every one of the men who had formerly been exempt from fever ; the staff-sergeants, the band, the mess- waiters7the orderlies, and all those who had been previously exempt, were stricken down with the others. I may mention that about the 9th of August, at the time when there were no European troops at Kowloon, extensive cuttings and exca- vations had been commenced. 357. Lord John Hay.] What were they for ? — For the general leyelling and laying out of the new settlement, civil and military. 358. Sir Harry Verney.] Did that produce bad health ? — It produced a type of fever which had been almost unknown for the last 10 years, besides dysentery and other diseases, and the con- dition of the men of the 99th Eegiment when "they left China on the 1st March 1865 was most debilitated ; they were weak, pale, sickly, broken down men, and even after six months at the Cape more tthan half the regiment was still subject to periodical attacks of fever. 359. Mr. Trevelyan.] Who took the place of 0.53. i866. the 99th Eegiment in the Hong Kong barracks ? W. Snell, — The 2d battalion 9th Regiment. Esq. 360. I mean, who took their place in Septem- ber 1864 ?— Nobody ; the barracks were left idle '9 April and quite empty, 361-72. Chairman.] What was the cause of that move, then ? — The cause of the move was a series of disturbances which had taken place in Hong Kong between some Malays and the police, in which some of the soldiers of the 99th Eegi- ment had been mixed up. 373. From what you know of Kowloon as quarters did you make any representations about it ? — I made representations at the time in the same office ; I made a verbal representation to Colonel Moody, and told him the results that would follow from going over there, and I was told that the question of the healthiness of Kow- loon was a matter of opinion, and one upon which he could form his own opinion. 374. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Who told you that ? — Colonel Moody, the com- mandant. The next day I made an extended' protest in writing. 375. Chairman.] Was that to your'own prin- cipal medical officer? — To the commanding officer and the principal medical officer too. I will read it to the Committee. 376. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Did the principal medical officer of the station repre- sent against the 99th being sent to Kowloon ? — Yes. 377. And, nevertheless, they were sent ? — Yes. On the 15th of September I addressed the following letter to the commanding officer, that was the same day. " After my views expressed in my letters to you of 19th and .■27th June, and 6th instant, of the climate of Kowloon in its present state, and the inadequate protection afforded by the mat huts used as barrack rooms, it would be useless on my part to adduce further evidence of the known unhealthiness of that station. Whatever reasons of urgency or politi- cal importance may have prompted the sudden removal of the entire regiment to a locality well established in reputation by statistics for its general insalubrity and fever-producing quahties, are best known to those who are responsible for the act ; but as the surgeon in charge of the corps, I again repeat that greatly increased sickness and mortality will follow from the change, and the health of all will be deteriorated. The wonderful improvement in the health of the men since being- all stationed in Hong Kong has been most marked, and I need only call your attention to the morning sick state of to-day to show the exceed- ingly small number sick and the slightness of the cases total sick, 31 ; of these three cases only are from fevers, and the total includes two casual- ties from gun-shot wounds. The strength of the regiment is 669 ; to-day's state shows only 4-60 as the per-centage of sick to well. I particularly wish that the minutiEe of these facts may be noted, as they are, and will be, important data to go by when comparison will be invited between the health statistics of the men of the 99th Eegiment when stationed in Hong Kong, and what they must inevitably be if the regiment is kept any length of time at Kowloon." A letter of the same description was sent to the principal medical officer, and they were both brought forward. 378. Chairman.] I suppose you have not got the letter to the princip'kl medical officer? — It was nearly identically the same. B 4 379. I 16 MINUTES OP EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE IV. Snell, Esq. IQ April 1866. 379. I suppose this refers to the affair : it says, " The 99th Eegiment anived at Kowloon while these cuttings were still in progress, and though they were discontinued a few days afterwards much fresh earth was still exposed, and ' fever supervened, just about the period it might have been expected to appear, if it resulted from the injurious influence of these cuttings. The evi- dence further shows that the cuttings nearest the military post and almost in contact with some of the barrack buildings, were resumed on the 20th of October, at which date fever had greatly de- creased in the 99t]i Regiment, and then again a new accession of fever occurred, just at the period that might have been anticipated, if it could be demonstrated with the accuracy of a mathematical problem that the infection had been the result of the malarious influence of the newly-turned up earth. In dismissing this subject I cannot help remarking, that if an entire regiment can in future be removed from good and healthy bar- racks to wretched mat huts in a malarious locality, rendered doubly so, as it was in this instance, by artificial means in the shape of extensive cuttings, an account of the misconduct of a few of its mem- bers who were afterwards legally exonerated by the decision of a court of justice, then an addi- tional very serious obstacle will be placed in the way of all sari^ary measures intended for the benefit of the soldier and the advantage of the public service." Does it refer to that move ? — It refers to that move. Those men that I have referred to as having broken out of barracks were all apprehended, and there was a coroner's verdict of wilful murder found against 13 soldiers of the 99th Regiment, on account of the policeman who jumped into the water ; they were indicted for murder and riot ; the indictment for murder was withdrawn, and they were acquitted on the charge of riot. 380. Sir Harry Vernei/.] Was Colonel Moody the commanding ofiicer at that time ; was it not General Brown ? — Colonel Moody was the com- manding ofiicer ; General Brown was in Japan or Shanghai. 381. Chairman.] It appears that you and the principal medical ofiicer remonstrated about the cuttings going on, and they were stopped until the 20th October ? — No, they were never stopped altogether ; they were stopped in one place, but they were going on in another ; they were going on actively here and there {pointing to the Plan) ; here are the huts ; that portion of earth had been got down about as far as that ; they were stopped there, but they were commenced there ; the soil was wheeled in barrows, and thrown down there. 382. Then it was likely to afiect the health of the troops just as much ? — Yes. 383. Sir Harry Verney.'] Was this done for building purposes, or what ? — To make an em- bankment, like the Thames Embankment, up here, and to level the whole of this (^pointing to the Plan). 384. What is it for ; for building ? — It was to make a plateau upon which to erect a town and erect the barrack. 385. Chairman.] Was it true that of 12 officers who lived in a range of quarters immediately overlooking the cuttings, nine were more or less seriously affected with fever, and that of six oflScers quartered in another range of buildings at some distance from them, only one had fever ? — Yes, these were the officers' huts, coloured in pink, here {pointing 'to the Plan). At the time that evidence was given it was perfectly true^ and continued so to the 17th of November, when we were moved over here, and went under canvas, after which there was only one officer in the whole regiment that escaped having fever. These are the huts ; those that were near suf- , fered first {pointing out the position of the huts). 386. Where were the other officers that escaped ? — There {pointing to the Plan). 387. These were the ones who escaped at first ? — ^Yes, those escaped at first. 388. Marquis of Hartington.] Do any other Europeans live at Kowloon ? — No. 389. None whatever ? — No. 390. Chairman.] Were any officers and men left behind in Hong Kong when the main body of the 99th Regiment was sent to Kowloon on the 15th of September ? — There was the pay- master, a married captain, who lived in Hong Kong, and myself, together with about from 40 to 45 non-commissioned officers and men who were employed in the different offices and staff depart- ments there. 391. What was the state of health of these offi- cers and men when the rest of the regiment was in so imsatisfactory a state of health at Kowloon? — Most satisfactory ; none of the officers left in Hong Kong suffered from fever, or have suffered from it since; none of the hospital attendants had any fever, and the few cases of fever that there were amongst those men, occurred in the cases of those who had been obliged to join their companies at Kowloon for 15 or 16 days for the annual rifle practice. In those, almost with- out exception, fever appeared shortly after their return to Hong Kong. 392. It was very frequently the case, I think you say, that the fever did not break out imtil some time after they had returned to Hong Kong from Kowloon; that they might be healthy at Kowloon, but still, when they returned to Hong Kong, they were attacked with fever? — As we have reached the time of the cuttings now, the evidence which I gave this morning is altered ; it was a different form of fever altogether ; it was most deadly ; it took about three weeks to ger- minate, and whoever was exposed to its in- fluences was sure to succumb. 393. Do you agree, then, in the opinion of the Board, " that on a review of the whole of the evidence, they are of opinion that the recent out- breaks of sickness in the 99th Regiment were mainly produced by the malarious influences of the cuttings which have recently been going on there, and that if these cuttings had been effec- tually stopped in the first instance, much of the sickness and mortality which has siace ensued, would not have occurred " ?— Most certainly I do; I agree with the opinion of the Board in every respect. 394. Lord John Hay.] Was there much dnnkmg among these men at Kowloon ?— No. 395. There were no means of getting liquor perhaps ? — There was our own canteen. 396. Nothing more ?— No other means. 397. Major Anson.] Did they get no samshoa there?— Very little; for three months after- wards, no man was allowed to cross over to Hong Kong, therefore there was no drink obtained in that way for three months. 398. Lord John H&y.] Did they not bring the samshoo to Kowloon ?— I dare say, in exceptional cases, they did; but with the barrack police and all the institutions of that kind, as the men were not SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITT OF TEOOPS (cHINa), 17 not allowed out of their quarters during the day time beyond certain bounds, it could not have gone on to any extent. 399. There was not more drunkenness, in fact, than there was in Hong Kong ? — No, a great deal less. 400. Major Anson.'] The men had more oppor- tunities of obtaining drink in the town of Victoria than they had at Kowloon ? — Yes ; they had no opportunities at all at Kowloon. 401. Chairman.] {Reads a statement.') Dr. Dick, I think, makes a comparison between the European and native troops with respect to intemperance — {quoting date of XeWer)?— He says that 294 men of the 67th and 99th Regi- ments were tried by court-martial in 1864, and various punishments awarded to them, while only 24 men of the 2 2d and 29th Bombay Native Infantry, were tried by court-martial in the same period, showing a difference of 270 men. And then, as regards habitual drunkenness, there were 180 cases in the 67th and 99th ^Regiments, while in the 22d and 29th Bombay Native Infantry there was not a single one. 402. Marquis of Hartington.] Is there a great deal of drinking among the troops at Hong Kong ? — I do not think more than in any other garrison town in the east. There is no doubt about it that drink is the prevailing vice of the soldier, especially in the east. 403. More than at home ? — Yes. 404. What is the liquor? — The liquor that they get drunk on in China is samshoo, a most villainous spirit ; I believe it is distilled from rice and coarse grain. 405. Is that very cheap ? — Very cheap indeed; the commonest description you can get for about 4 4 754. You 32 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Colonel 754. You describe it as a salt marsh? — It W. Sankey. seemed to be so-^ it looked as if the sea was able to get into it ; it could not have been healthy ; 30 April there was the remains of a paddy field between x866 where the huts were, and where the 99th Regi- ment were encamped ; that, I think, would have been improved by an open drain. 755. Is not it the case that this system of cul- tivation which has been complained of in the neighbourhood of Kowloon, namely, cultivating by human excrement, is pursued in the most po- ' pulous parts of China habitually ? — As far as my experience of China goes, they use it to an ex- cessive degree ; but I have never heard it com- plained of, nor have I heard it alleged that the troops suffered in consequence at Kowloon; I think we were out of the reach of it. 756. Mr. Adderley.'] Do you know in what part of the period from February to October, the chief part of. this mortality that you have spoken of, occurred? — During July, August, and Sep- tember; I might almost say it commenced in June, but August was the worst month. 757. We may take it that the chief part of the mortality and invaliding which you have men- tioned occurred in about three months? — It occurred in about three months. 758. What sort of proportion, should you say, of this mortality and invaliding in the 9th Regi- ment was occasioned by their coming from Kow- loon ? — I could not give the proportions. 759. Should you say about half? — I cannot say that; I can only say that out of 110 men who went to Kowloon nearly every one of them, after their return from Kowloon, visited the hospital, and three of them died; they returned from Kowloon in the first week in August. 760. The causes of the mortality and invalid- ing were partly diseases caught in Kowloon, and partly overcrowding in Hong Kong, if I under- stand you rightly ? — I consider so. 761. Can you state at all to what extent you should say this mortality and invaliding were in excess of the average deaths and sickness ? — I have not gone into the average deaths and sick- nesses, generally speaking, but I can give the Committee a few details, if you will allow me to do so. I will state, first, the increase in August. 762. Do you mean the increase over other autumn mortalities ?■ — -Yes ; when I was ordered to give up the accommodation of the 9th Regi- ment in Fletcher's Buildings, and put those men into the Murray Barracks, I had at that time 61 men in hospital; that, I may say, was on the 31st of July. Sickness gradually increased. In August seven men died; and I find from the weekly return for the week ending the 4th of September (I think it was about the 4th of Sep- tember) that 102 men were in hospital, 122 were admitted during the week, giving a total of 224 patients and men treated, of whom 54 had been discharged, two died, and the remaining 168 men remained. 763. Can you state what is the usual average sickness in your regiment ? — No, I cannot. 764. But you consider that greatly in excess of the ordinary sickness ? — Immensely ; we lost I think two men in 15 months or so in the Mediterranean, previously to going out to Hong Kong ; we have now lost 57 men. When I brought them to Hong Kong the men were in as healthy condition in which British soldiers can be, I think. 765. Can you fill up the numbers of invalided women and children; the numbers I have are 23 women invalided ? — The number of women gone home, that would be invalided, is 28 ; the number of children dead is 27 ; I do not know the number of invalids ; I do not know any num- bers beyond that, 23d October, but Captain Burland who commanded going home, can no doubt state the numbers more positively than I can. 766. Marquis of Hartington.'] Was it con- sidered a healthy season for civilians, do you know ? — No ; it was not considered a healthy season ; it was considered an unhealthy season. 767. To any great extent? — It was considered the most unhealthy season since the year 1848. 768. Mr. Adderley.'] What was the nature of that unhealthiness ; was it malaria ? — It is very hard to tell in Hong Kong what it is ; there are so many kinds of disease. 769. Chairman.'] Had there been any excava- tions recently .going on in Hong Kong which might have caused it ? — I believe that one of the principal reasons was that there was not so much rain as usual at Hong Kong ; but that is never considered to account for the immense mortality among the troops. 770. Lord i7oA« Hay.] Excavations have been continually going on in Hong Kong for the last 20 years, have they not? — They must have taken place to some extent in preparing for new houses. 771. Has it been considered that making those excavations produced great sickness? — It is always considered to be one of the principal causes of sickness in Hong Kong. 772. Chairman.] When you were acting as commandant, had you complaints and remon- strances made to you by the medical officer in charge of the troops at Hong Kong, with refer- ence to the cuttings ? — I do not recollect having any complaints upon the subject. 773. Lord John Hay.] In Hong Kong, when cuttings have taken place, has it been noticed that sickness has taken place in the particular neighbourhood of the cuttings to a greater extent than in other neighbourhoods ? — It has. 774. At the same time ? — Yes. 775. Is that invariably the case ? — It is con- sidered as such by the medical authorities of '4 Hong Kong, as I think the Committee will see ' by a letter from Dr. Keane, one of the princi- pal medical practitioners in Hong Kono-. 776. Sir Harry Verney.] Is it within your knowledge that there were only 91 men out of a regiment of 568 sent to Kowloon, who were not \ attacked by some miasmatic disease during the ' time they were there? — I cannot answer that question ; I am simply stating what I know my- '^ self to have positively taken place. 777. Chairman.'] I want to ask you about the hospitals ; the Stanley Barrack, in this return, is put down as capable of holding 88 patients?— Yes. 778. Can you answer any question about it ? — I cannot answer any question about Stanley Barrack more than by saying that I visited it on one occasion, and I found that most of the roof of the hospital had been blown off by the tvphoon, on the 29th June. 77 9. _ It is put down in this Return as capable of holding 88 patients, and Dr. Dick reports that it will only hold 30; I suppose that that is in con- sequence of the typhoon?— Yes; there was a typhoon on the 29th of June, and a great portion of SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHIJSTa). 33 of the hospital was unroofed by that typhoon, and consequently rendered unfit for the occupa- tion of the sick. 780. Then there is the General Hospital? — Yes, the General Hospital is at Hong Kong. 781. How many is that hospital capable of holding ? — I cannot tell the number it is capable of holding, but I can speak as to the crowding of that hospital. 782. Win you give the Committee any in- formation you can upon that subject? — The 2d Battalion of the 9th Regiment occupied a portion of the hospital. The beds in ,the ordinary wards were very close together, and when a num- ber of fresh sick came into the hospital they were accommodated by mattresses placed on the floor in the centre of the rooms, and remained there until the beds were either emptied by the men recovering, or very often by the death of the patient. A man was then put into the bed that had been occupied by his comrade. There were verandahs round those hospitals. The verandah was about 11 feet wide ; it was bounded by a balus- trade, two or three feet high; from that, for several feet, it was quite open to the air ; and on one occasion, oh a very wet day, when I went down, the beds were put standing perpendicular from the wall, and the rain was coming in ; so that half of each bed was wet by the rain. 783. ChairmanJl Do you mean in the ve- randah? — In the verandah. 784. Marquis of Hartington.'\ Will you men- tion the time when this took place ? — I will ; I made a note of it : it was about the 28th of August that this happened which I am speaking of now. I calculated at the time that the length of one verandah, the portion occupied by 9th Kegiment was about 114 feet by 10 or 11 feet wide; there were 19 beds in that verandah, and another bed was preparing ; that would make 20. ' This gives about six feet from centre to centre of each bed. The bedding of the men, during the wet weather, was wet nearly half way up the bed ; and when the men were obliged to leave their beds, of course, their feet were wet directly they left them. 785< Chairman.'] There is a report, at page 22 in the Correspondence, which says, " the accom- modation is required for hospital purposes;" this refers to a house hired of a Mr. Alexander? — Yes; I suppose so. 786. " The accommodation is required for hos- pital purposes. There is only room for 126 sick in the General Hospital ; 195 are at present treated in it, and 73 in barracks ?" — A great num- ber of our men were treated in the barracks because there was not room for them in the hos- pital; at least they were considered convalescents. They did not do duty ; they were unfit for any duty. 787. With regard to the Stanley Barracks, on "the other side of the island, was that used as a hospital? — The hospital at the Stanley Barracks had been unroofed by a typhoon in June. 788. Was that used merely for the women and children ? — We afterwards sent convalescents over to Stanley Barracks for change of air. 789. What are the Stanley Barracks? — I believe that the Stanley Barracks were originally a very large establishment in former times, but at present there are very few soldiers kept there ; first of all, the married women of the 20th Eegi- ment were there ; after they went away, the 9th 0.53. i866. and 11th Eegiments sent some of their conva- Colonel lescents down there ; but I belpve that late in W. Sankey. the autumn Stanley is considered more unhealthy than Hong Kong, as far as bowel complaints are 3^ April concerned. 790. How far is it from Victoria, Hong Kong, 1o Stanley? — It is by a mountain path, over the hills, about eight or nine miles distant ; but by water it is a much longer distance. 791. Lord John Hay.] There is a road round to Stanley, is there not? — Yes, there is a road round, but that is a considerable distance round by Aberdeen. 792. Chairman.] How is it provisioned ? — They send the meat every morning. 793. From Victoria? — Fi'om Victoria. I am not certain about the bread ; I rather think the bread is sent also ; I know the meat is sent from Victoria. 794. How is it sent ? — It is carried by Chinese coolies, and they send an escort of two soldiers aqd a non-commissioned officer. 795. Do they send every day ? — They send every day ; the meat must be killed in Hong Kong, and it has to be sent every day, in hot weather particularly. 796. Do they march during the night, or what ? — The men used to start about three or four o'clock In the morning, and then they remained at Stanley during the day and returned to Hong Kong the following night. It was a cause of great sickness to our men ; I think one man died two and a half hours after his return, in the barrack room. 797. The furnishing of that escort was a great cause of sickness to your men ? — Yes. 798. Marquis of Hartington.] Could not it be sent by water ? — It Is a considerable distance to send by water, and If you sent by boat there might sometimes be an adverse wind, and then it would be very difficult to get there. 799. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] It would be uncertain ? — Yes, very uncertain ; if a typhoon came on they could not go. And a water guard would be also necessary, because there are water pirates as well as land pirates in Hong Kong. 800. Lord John Hay.] What Is the necessity of sending a guard by road ? — The Chinese in- habiting the hills would attack the provisions if they had not an escort. 801. Chairman.] Do you know any case in which they have been attacked ? — Yes, I know that one of our own officers was attacked ; he was with the escort, but he turned round a corner before the escort came ; he was struck, but luckily he had his revolver with him, and he escaped. Besides that, the escort on one occasion were attacked, 802. How were these escorts performed before? — They were performed, as well as I remember, by the native Infantry before they left. Then we had to take the ^xxtj. 803. Lord John Hay.] What was there un- healthy about the duties of the escort ? — It was a considerable march in such a climate as that, to have to go 16 or 18 miles in the 24 hours, parti- cularly as you have to mount up one side of the hills and go down the other, very likely meeting the wind on the summit. When you were in a state of intense perspiration, any breeze on the top of those hills would be quite enough to create sickness., E 804. I understand 34 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Colonel JV. Sankey. 30 April 1 866. 804. I uBderstand you to say that they went one morning an^ came back the next ; that would be 16 miles in 48 hours, or eight miles in 24 hours ? — They went back again before six o'clock the following morning. I should say 26 hours would be about the actual time they took to go there and back. 805. Chairman.'] "We may take it as about 26 hours? — Yes. They might be earlier, for the men always tried to come back before the sun was up. 806. You cannot give the Committee any further information with regard to the accom- modation at the hospitals, except that the Stanley Hospital was used for convalescents ? — Yes. 807. And that the Stanley Barracks were ifn- roofed ? — The hospital, and thereby rendered, to that extent, unfit for use. 808. You cannot tell us what the accommoda- tion was in the General Hospital ? — No ; except what I have already stated, that it was over- crowded to excess. Allow me to add that the General Hospital accommodation must now be much greater than when I was at Hong Kong. It consists of a centre building, with two large wings, and those wings w^ere occupied by pur- veyors and purveyors' stOres and medical officers. I do not think that either of the wings were used as medical wards, except a ward for gun Lascars attached to Eoyal Artillery. But then an order came out from England that they were to be cotopletely cleared out. Consequently, under that arrangement, the hospital would accommo- date a great many more. 809. Has that been done since you came home? — The order was given before I left, and it has been since carried out, I suppose. 810. Had not the general officer the power of ordering this before ; did he order it, or did the order come from home ?— ^The order came from home, I believe. 811. Had not the general officer the power to turn out the stores ? — I was not the general officer there. 812. As commandant could you have done it? — I could not have done it as commandant. I should have referred it to the general if he had been there. 813. Marquis of Ha.rtington.'] If he was in Japan what should you have done ?-— I believe a general officer has always to procure sanction from home for changing the accommodation in barracks and hospitals. 814. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] That would be under ordinary circumstances, but in a case of necessity he would take it upon his own responsibility, would he not ? — I can give no opinion upon that, I was not the general there. 815. 'NL&ra;a\s,fii Hartington.] Ifyou had been commandant, and it had been reported to you that these hospitals were overcrowded, and the general was in Japan, would you not have taken the responsibility of accommodating the purvey- ors and the other departments elsewhere ? — It would have entailed an enormous expense, and the question is, whether I might not have been called upon to pay it myself afterwards. 816. You would not have taken the responsi- bility then ? — I was not put to the trial ; I think I might have done it; however that is a question of opinion. It would have entailed an enormous expense, and if I had been obliged to pay it, it would have utterly ruined me. 817. When did you first notice, or when was it first brought to your notice, that the General Hospital was overcrowded ? — I noticed it by con- stantly visiting the hospital. 818. At what time? — From July until the arrival of Colonel Knox ; then I simply reverted to my position as major in the regiment. 819. I want to fix the dates ? — 1 will say from the 25th of July until I gave over the command on the 24th of October following to Colonel Knox. During the whole of that period I con- sidered the hospital to have been overcrowded. 820. Did you represent to the commandant that it was overcrowded ; the medical officer represented it, I think ?^ — The medical officer represented it constantly : he wrote several times. Dr. Saunders and I constantly conversed on this subject, and he wrote many letters on my sug- gestions ; it~gave us great anxiety. 821. What was done in consequence of his representations ? — After a very long time they took up Alexander's Buildings. I do not know what the date was when they inhabited them, perhaps sometime in September, if so soon. I think it was in September. 822. Do you know what was the cause of delay in taking up Alexander's houses ? — I be- lieve they had to communicate with the general in Japan, and it would take a month to have an answer. 823. Colonel Wyatt was commandant, was not he? — Colonel Wyatt was commandant. 824. Then he did not like, apparently, to take the responsibility of hiring additional hospital accommodation without the general's sanction? — I should conclude so, because the expense of hiring buildings there is something enormous. 825. Major Anson.] How long was the genetal absent in Japan ? — The general left Hong Kong on the 17th of May, and he returned, I think, about the 26th or 27th of October. 826. Mnrquis of HaTtingtonI\ If the General Hospital had been entirely available, and if Alex- ander's houses had been hired earlier, there would have been quite sufficient hospital ac- commodation, would there not? — I dare say there might have been; I only say, "there might," I will not say "there would," because we had to accommodate a great number of sick men in our barracks, and I believe t]ie 11th Regiment had to accommodate a- great number more. 827. Mr. Adderley.] Where were the 78 invalids of your own regiment placed in hospital ? — They were in the General Hospital, some of them. 828. But not all of them ? — I cannot say where the rest were; there were 78 men that were invalided, but you will remember that those 78 invalids were not all invalided at one time ; there were some sent home by the "Tamar" and " Sovereign of India," some sent home overland, and others by the " Gresham " ; they were sent on many occasions. 829. The greatest number of invaKds that were not shipped home were placed in the General Hospital, were they? — Yes, in -the General Hospital; I believe the "Gresham" brought home about 52 men invalided out of the 78. 830. Were your own men very much crowded in SELECT OOJWSIITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 35 in hospital?— 'I have already stated that they were immensely crowded. 831. And exposed to the weather P-^Yeg^ and exposed to the weather in the verandahs. 832. Was the principal medical officer present during that series of months, July, August, and September ?— No, he was not ; he was in Japan. 833. Was he present for no part of the time ? — He was not present any part of the time ; he returned to Hong Kong a day or two before the " Grresham " started, on the 13th of October. The first time I saw him after his return was on board the " Gresham^" and she started a few •days after, as well as I remember. 834. Dr. Saunders was acting for him, was he not ? —He was acting principal medical officer and surgeon of the 9th Regiment. 835. Was there a sufficient number of medical men for the number of invalids generally ? — By no means. ^36. Was there much mortality amongst the medical men themselves ? — One assistant surgeon of the 11th Regiment died, and the surgeon of the 11th was invalided. I know that assistant surgeon Adams was constantly illj and went home in the " Gresham." , 837. Besides that sickness and mortality amongst them, they were not in sufficient num- bers ? — By no means. The 2d battalion of the 9th Regiment were obliged to give their senior assistant surgeon, Assistant Surgeon Piper, to look after the hospital of the 11th Regiment. 838. Chairman.'l You have stated that this was a very unhealthy season ? — It was considered very unhealthy. 839. Was there an excess of mortality amongst the civilians resident there equal in number to that amongst the military ? — I should think not. 840. In proportion, I mean ? — By no means. The civilians^ when they are ill, are immediately shipped off to Japan, England, or one of those places, and get away at once ; whereas we have to wait until there is a transport taken up. 841. Was there a general desertion of the place in the season by the civilians ? — There was not. 842. I understand you to say that they escaped the unhealthiness by leaving the place ? — When a civilian became ill, he was immediately shipped off to some other station, and in that way they had not so many deaths ; and then the civilians in Hong Kong are exceedingly well accommo- dated and provided for. . -843. Mr. Calthorpe.'] And they have no night work ? — They have not, of course. •844. Mr. Adder leT/.l Was there an unusual desertion of the place by civilians ? — No, there was not an unusual desertion of the place that I am aware of. 845. Major General Lord Henry Percy. ~\ I think I understood you to say that you would have been deterred from clearing the hospital of the non-combatants therein residing for fear that the expense of providing quarters for then! should be disallowed by the Government ? — I did not say I would have been deterred. I said I was never put to trial upon that subject, and it was a very serious consideration. '846. Marquis of Hartington] You said, I think, that you would have run the risk of it, but that it would Jiav^e ;been a risk? — I think I •should. j847. Major General JLord JJenry J'ercy.] I 0.53. wanted to find out whether you would have run Colonel that risk ?^I. think I might have done so, but at ^^- &m%. the same time it is a serious consideration to a go April man, because if that money was disallowed to him , 866. it would have ruined him thoroughly. 848. Chair man.'\ The storekeeper general, or the person out there who had charge of the stores, probably would have insisted upon a pro- per place being found for them ? —Yes ; and the rents in Hong Kong are something fabulous. 849. Major O'Reilh/.'] Had you any reason to feel any certainty that if you had undertaken such a serious responsibility, the expenditure would have been allowed ? — No, I did not know. There are instances on record of officers having to pay those things themselves. I have heard it constantly reported at Hong Kong, that Colonel Wyatt. was told that if he engaged more native watchmen he would have to pay for them ; that was the common report among the officers at Hong Kong, i have heard it said that that was one of the reasons why he would not employ them, namely, that he was told that he would have to pay for them. 850. Lord John Hay.\ Who was he reported to have been told by ? — It was the general report among all the officers. 851. Who was supposed to have told him so? — ColonelJenner, of the 11th Regiment, would answer that question better than I can. 852. I ask, who, according to the report you heard, was supposed to have told him ? — The re- port was, as I have said, that he was told. 853. Who would be the authority who would charge it ? — The people who generally make these charges ; you have to pay them, somehow or other, to the War Office. 854. Sir Harry Ferney.] Would it not be to . the Colonial Department ? — No ; you have to pay the disallowances to the War Office. 855. Chairman.l With regard to the night duties ; are you of opinion that exposure to the night air is detrimental, in China, to the Euro- pean constitution ? — All the medical officers con- sidered it very detrimental. 856. Are you aware what number of nights in bed was considered necessary for the Euro- pern troops by the Medical Department? — I hear that the Medical Department say there should not be less than six. 857. According to the statement -^e have, it is from six to seven ? — About that. 858. How many nights in bed had your men, on the average ? — In summer they could not have averaged more than between three and four. On the 6th of September 20 of my men went on guard, with only two nights in bed ; I had at that time 186 men sick. 859. What was the strength of the battalion at that time ? — I cannot tell you exactly, because I have not got a note of it, but there were so many men that were in hospital, and so many men unfit to go on guard, that it fell very heavily upon the men who were fit to carry arms. I could not give you the strength of the regi- ment unless I had the details, which I have never prepared. I simply put this down ; that on the 6th of September it was reported to me that 20 men had gone on guard with only two nights in bed ; I reported it to the commandant. The laverage, at that time, was about three nights in rbed, for I took it very carefully. I used, from time to time, to ask the serjeant7major how many E 2 ' nights 36 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOEE THE 18G6. Colonel nights the men had had in bed, and he told me. W. Sankey. I speak of the 9th Regiment; the 11th was so "~ . weak that in fact they did very little duty. 30 April ggo. Was there no means of reducing the number of sentries ; were all the sentries neces- sary ? — Unless it was by hired watchmen there was no other means. 861. Major General Lord jffenry Percy.] Were sentries absolutely necessary at all the posts where they were placed ? — I think so. 862. Major O^Reilly.l It is a question of opinion, is it not ? — It is not merely my opinion ; I am certain of it, because this" question occupied my serious attention when I first became com- mandant at Hong Kong in February, with the prospect of the immediate departure of the 22d Bombay Native Infantry. On their departure, the weight of the duty would have fallen, upon my own battalion, the 2d battalion of the 9th Regiment ; therefore, as a matter of course, this was one of the first things I attended to. With respect to our regimental guard, I cut down as many of the sentries as I could possibly take off, and I mentioned to the general the employment of native watchmen in place of the soldiers, and after some time he sanctioned some native watch- men being employed. On three different occasions I obtained his sanction to employing native watchmen, combined with the soldiers. 863. What do you mean by combined wi+h the soldiers ? — I mean that the guards would be combined ; the sentries and the native watchmen could take the guards in place of the sentries alone ; the native watchmen would supply the place of the soldiers in many cases, but they would be under the eye of the serjeant who commanded the guard. I also asked the general to allow that the governor's guard should be formed by civil policemen or watchmen in place of soldiers, and that the Colonial treasury guard should be found by civil authorities in place of soldiers. There was a naval yard at Hong Kong, and I considered that the naval police, who were Englishmen, might be used as a guard, or that the marines and sailors who were ^convalescents on board the " Princess Charlotte " might also be made use of as watchmen at night. Then there was the naval yard over at Kowloon and the commissariat stores ; to all those places we had to find sentries. We had to furnish a guard to the " Hercules," which was considered as an invalid depot at that time. I had an arrange- ment made by which invalids who were sent over to the " Hercules " should be able to do the police duty of that ship, in place of sending a guard every day. There were a number of watchmen sanctioned by the general, but I am of opinion that more watchmen might have been employed, and that they might have supplied the place of sentries ; but it was a question of expense. 864. Chuirman,'] Was there any difficulty in finding those native watchmen ? — None at all. 865. Are they trustworthy men ? — I do not know any Chinaman that I thoroughly trust, but if these watchmen were combined with soldiers, under the eye of the serjeant, they could be trusted better than if they were alone. 866. Major General Lord Henry Percy. 1 Under that arrangement, although the soldiers do not mount sentry, they would be ready to turn out in case of any disturbance, and these men would act as sentries? — If we had a place to guard and had a feV sentries there, the serjeant of the guard could have those watchmen under his superintendence. 867. Colonel Percy Herbert.'\ You stated that it was a question of expense ; what did the general say in answer to your application ? — On three different occasions he granted watch- men, but the reply I received at last was, that no more watchmen would be granted, 868. Did he give you any reason for that? — I cannot say that he gave any reason that I now remember, but I know the objection was that they would entail expense. 869. Who made that objection that it was ex- pensive ? — I cannot exactly tell that, but I know that that was the reason. 870. Who made that objection ? — I cannot tell you. 871. You said It was the reason; you have not said who made it the reason ; who raised it as the objection? — I fancy it was the major general. 872. CAazVmaw. j It would be an objection on the part of the Colonial Government, I suppose ? — No ; the military have to pay for them. 873. Sir Harry Verney.'\ Was that reply in writing? — My applications were several times made in writing. 874. Was the reply you speak of in writing ? — Not the last ; the last reply I received was a communication through Major Gammell, or Cap- tain Roberts, to say that no more watchmen would be granted. I knew that It was in con- sequence of the expense. 875. Colonel Percy Herbert.^ Did they say that they would not sanction the expense, or merely that the War Department at home would object to the expense ?— I have already said that I am confident that the objection was on account of the expense. 876. Sir Harry Verney.] But who made the objection; was it the Colonial authorities? — The Colonial authorities had nothing to do with it; it was the military. I believe that was the reason that there were not more men employed. The question can be very well decided, because the officers on the staff in China could answer it. 877. Colonel Percy Herbert] Among other grounds you spoke of, a guard over the Colonial Treasury, and another over the Colonial Gover- nor's house ? — Yes. 878. You recommend that they should be re- lieved. If I understood you rightly ? — I did. 879. Was your recommendation attended to? — The Governor objected to having the soldiers taken off, and they said that they could not trust the guard of the Treasury to other than British soldiers. There was no result from it, the guards still continued. 880. I presume that the expense of watchmen in those two cases would have fallen upon the Colonial Treasury ?— I had nothing to do with the Colonial Government. 881. You can answer the question whether, if they had had a guard of policemen, the ex- pense would have fallen upon the Colonial Treasury ? — I presume it would, but they said they could not trust the Treasury with them. 882. Sir Harry Verney. 1 Was not your repre- sentation with regard to the sentry over tibe naval stores attended to; you suggested, I think, that the marines or the sailors should be em- ployed?— I suggested that the marines, or the sailors SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS (cHINA). 37 sailors, or the police of the dockyard, might take it, but I had no success in that either. 883. Chairman.'] "Was the Government House guard what is called a combinatory guard or a a guard of protection ? — As in most Colonies there was a guard of a non-commissioned officer and three men appointed to stand at the gate. There was also a guard at the general's house of six men. 884. Marquis of Hartington.] Can you give the Committee the actual detail of those guards, stating the number of men in each case?— I cannot. I could give the number of guards and stations, but not the exact strength. 885. Do you know who could ? — I see Captain "Walker, 99th Regiment, here; he was my garrison adjutant at Hong Kong when I went there first, but the guards were so constantly changing and so much cut down by every new commandant, that it would be very difficult even for him to give it accurately. I know that I myself reduced every sentry that I possibly could. 886. Sir Harry Verney.\ How many did you reduce altogether? — I cannot answer as to the number. 1 took off as many as I possibly could. 887. Marquis of Hartington.'\ Can you say while you were commandant how many men were required on guard every day ? — I do not remember now ; it is difficult to carry all these numbers in the head ; I could detail the guards we had to furnish, but not the strength. 888. Major General Lord Henry Percy. \ I think you said that there were about 20 sentries ; therefore, that would be 60 men? — I do not think I have given the number of the guards ; I can gipe a list of them, if it would not take too long. I might mention that the reason there were so many guards required at Hong Kong was that most of the Government buildings were detached, and the Chinese are such expert thieves that every place requires to be watched to guard against them. 889. Marquis of Hartington.] Did the artillery take any share of the guard duties ? — They took a very small share of the duty. 890. Chairman.] They merely found the guard over their own barracks, I suppose ? — Yes, and sometimes they took some of the garrison duty. "When I went there I insisted upon their taking their share of it, but they were not very strong, and had a good many things to do in the arsenal and other places. 891. Colonel Percy Herbert.] There was only one battery, was there ? — I think there was only one battery. 892. Sir Harry Verney.] The Chinese watch- men were not to be trusted! as guards, you say ? — No, not thoroughly. 893. If you had Indian troops, would not they be trustworthy? — I never had anything to do with Indian troops further than being a few days at Hong Kong with them, but I should consider that the Indian troops ought to be more trust- worthy than Chinese • watchmen, because the Indian troops are isolated from the Chinese ; they cannot understand them ; whereas, the Chinese all live together, and, of course, under- stand one another. 894. Major Anson.] Native troops had been used previously had they not? — Native troops had been used previously. 895. Lord John Hay.] Do the merchants em- 0.53. ploy Chinamen to watch their godowns and other Colonel property ? — They do, and to a great extent. W. Sankey. 896. Is the property in the merchants' godowns in China of considerable value ? — Very valuable ;jo April at times, but the great house of Jardine and i866. Matheson have not Chinese, they have Lascars, and men of that kind employed for that purpose. 897. Sir Harry Verney.] They employ Indians? — They employ, they style them Lascars. 898. Lord John Hay.] There are many other large firms there besides Messrs. Jardine and Matheson ? — Yes, some very large firms. 899. Mr. Calthoiye.] But Messrs. Jardine and Matheson's premises being detached wouldrequire more protection than others ; — Yes, being detached they require a very strong guard. 900. Lord John Hay.] Practically, the guard- ing of property in Hong Kong on the part of the merchants is, as I understand, habitually per- formed by Chinese watchmen? — Yes, but some excessive robberies take place there. 901. Do you know whether that is the practice followed in Canton, also by the mercantile estab- lishments there ? — Yes ; I should think so. 902. And at Macao? — I have never been there. 903. Is it the case at Shanghai? — I cannot state ; I have only been on a visit there for a short time. 904. Sir Harry Verney.] Do you think that there is any one spot, from which you may want 70 sentries, within view ?— No, I think not. You would take three men to each sentry ; there are not so many as that (70 sentries). 905. Chairman.] Do you consider that the effect of the climate upon the native troops is less detrimental than upon Europeans? — I was only with the native troops about a month, but it is generally known all over the world that native troops in their own climate, or in a climate similar to that of their own country, must be more healthy than Europeans. 906. Are you aware, with regard to the 11th Regiment, whether, during the time you were at Hong Kong, umbrellas were not allowed to be issued to them ? — Umbrellas were issued to the orderlies while I was there. 907. To the orderlies of your own regiment ? —Yes. 908. "Were they issued to the 11th Regiment? — I never heard ; I presume that they got um- brellas also, for Colonel Jenner told me that whatever we got he applied for similar things,, and he never told me that he had been refused. 909. It has been stated that they did not get the helmets until six weeks after they landed ? — They might not have been ready. 910. They were not kept in store then? — The helmets are kept in store, but they require to be covered, and to be fitted also, which takes a long, time. 911. Major General Lord ^erary Percy. J They are furnished regimentally, are they not? — No, they have been furnished lately from the miHtary store at Hong Kong. 912. Chairman.] "Will you give a description of the helmet ? — It is made of a kind of wicker- work, with a very thin brown covering over it, and a very thin white covering on that, with a small puggery, which I consider not sufficiently sun-proof. 913. I thought that tlje helmets were made of pith ? — No, the soldiers' helmets which were in • B 3 the SB MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Colonel W. Sankey. 30 April 1866. the stores, were not made of pith. There being instevstices in these helmets, the sun must strike much more through the wicker hehnet than it would through a pith helmet. 914. Major Anson.'] Had the helmets only two thin linen covers ; was there no quilted stuff? — There was no quilted stuff; at least it was quite thin ; I do not consider that it was quite sun- proof. ■ 915. Mr. Calthorpe.] Did those helmets fit close to the head, or was there a ring ? — There was a ring put into them. 916. I believe they are copied from those that come from Manilla ? — Their having the ring is an advantage, because there is a current of air between the helmet and the head. 917. Chairman.] The helmet you describe was not more or scarcely more protection than the shako would have been ? — Not much more ; but the circulation of air round the head was an advantage. 9r8. 'Coilonel Percy Herbert.] You say the helmet was not sufficiently covered ? — It was not. The covers we had for our shakos in the Medi- terranean were more flun-proof than these hel- mets. 91®. Major O'Reilly.] Those guards you have mentioned that were furnished for the military stores, were chiefly for the protection of property against thieves, were they not? — Yes, for pro- tection. 920. Were the guards for the protection of property, chiefly out-door sentries, or in-door watchmen ? — Out-door sentries. ' 921. It was necessary to have those out-door sentries, was it not ?— Yes, it was necessary for them to walk round the place"; if they had been inside, the Chinamen might have come to some other part and robbed the place ; it was necessary for them to walk round. 922. When you were commandant, were sentry duties performed by the different corps according to their strength, after deducting for their special duties ?— Yes. 923. Then the artillery and all the other corps took their share ? — Not the engineers, they had other duties to do ; but the artillery took their share. 924. According to their strength ? — Yes. T know that three men of the Artillery died, and though I have not seen it mentioned in the papers, I believe the Artillery were considered more sickly than the 9th Regiment. 925. Chairman.] This report, with regard to the ArtiUery, relates to 1864; that was before your arrival, I think ? — There were three men of the Artillery who died in the summer of 1865. 926. Upon the subject of the invaliding, it appears in the correspondence we have before us, that a letter was addressed by your surgeon, on the occasion of transport for 160 men being taken up, and the matter was referred to General Guy in Japan ? — Yes, at Yokohama, I believe so. 927. But the case was so urgent that Dr. Saunders applied to the commandant, saying that in all probability many of them would die if transport was not taken up immediately for them? - — Yes. 928. And accordingly a ship was taken up, but it did not sail, I think, for three or four weeks after that. Have you any remarks to make with Tegatd to periodical invaliding from Hong-Kong? -^An invalid ship was sent in March, lihe " Sovereign of India," and then there was this invalid ship I have spoken of, in September. 929. What ship was .that ?— The " Gresham." 930. Another ship has been taken up since that, I believe ? — Another ship has been taken up since that, and is on the voyage home. 931. But that is a peculiar case, is not it? — I believe the " Gresham " was considered as a pecul iar case. I do not know that it was a general rule to have invalid ships going off in the autumn. 932. But when you were commandant you would have had no hesitation in securing a trans- port, under the circumstances, when it was re- commended by Dr. Saunders, would you ? — .1 think I should have run the chance, but as I have already said, it was a great expense to risk. The " Gresham " alone cost about 5,000 Z. going home ; it would be a serious consideration to an officer to take up a ship like that. I dare say it would be quite necessary, from my experience of Hong Kong, to have an invalid ship going home four times a year, with the number of troops we had when I was there, and suffering as we did. 933. The War Department have sanctioned the sending home of four invalids a month over- land, have they not ? — That is abandoned now. I came home with some men, and they suffered very much, and two of them died. I wi^ote to Colonel Wetherall about it, and he tells me that it is abandoned ; it occasioned great suffering to those men. 934. Lord John Hay.] You mean coming over- land ? — Yes ; they had nobody to look after them, and they suffered very much from the great heat in their small cabin. 935. There is a medical officer, is not there, on a Peninsular and Oriental steamer ?- — Yes ; at- tached to the ship. 936., Colonel Percy Herbert.] Was there pro- per accommodation for the men? — I do not con- sider that they were properly accommodated. 937. Will you describe what their accommo- dation was ? — There was a small cabin, in which these four men were all put ; two of them were suffering from dysentery, and the things were not removed as they ought to have been ; and the heat being very great, the smell was most offen- sive. I visited them in the mornings, and I found the place very close, and the smsU very bad ; one of those men died. 938. Was there any person told off to nurse them? — They had one of the Lascars to look after them ; but there they were, four men, in a very small cabin, in the heat of the tropics, and two of them with dysentery. 939. Where was the cabin situate ; in what part of the-ship ?— It was near the engines of the ship ; it was second-class accommodation ; it would be about the middle of the ship. The practice of sending invalids overland has been abandoned since that; Colonel Wetherall wrote to tell me so. 940. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Was there any ventilation in the cabin ?^-Very little.; it was very small accommodation. 941. 'LorA John Hay.] That cabin was not less ventilated than other cabins, I presume ? It was not so well ventilated as the first-class cabins, of course. 942. I mean SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETAHTY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 39 942. I mean in comparison with other second class cabins ? — It was just the same as the others. 943. Chairman.'] Are you aware that Dr. Saunders, on the 5th of July, applied for accom- modation for 60 patients to he provided with the least possible delay, and that in reply the com- mandant stated that there was accommodation for 80 sick on board the " Hercules," and 40 at Stanley; can you give the Committee any in- formation on the subject? — I could not speak to that ; I know that Dr. Saunders constantly ap- > plied for accommodation for sending men home by ship. The letter^ you have read was not the first letter he wrote on the subject. 944. There was a letter addressed to you, I think, relative to the accommodation of the men of your regiment; I refer to the letter of July 28th, 1865 ? — There was a letter. 945. Are you aware that Dr. Saunders ad- dressed a letter to the commandant on the 12th August 1865, relative to the severity of the duty upon the men? — I do not remember it, but I addressed a letter myself on the ,6th September on the same subject. 946. You were not, I think, at Hong Kong in November, were you? — I left Hong Kong on the 1st "November. 947. You would not know anything about what took place on the 11th November, then? — No. 948. The senior medical officer stated these causes of sickness among the troops. The first was insufficient and defective barrack and hos- pital accommodation J the second, overcrowding the men in their barrack rooms"; the third, insuf- ficient number of nights in bed ; and the fourth, intemperance and want of indoor employment. You have answered the three first most fully ; have you any opinion to give with regard to the indoor employment? — If indoor employment could be procured, as a matter of course, it would be of great advantage. 949. Is there any sort of employment which you would suggest ? — We had a reading room, or rather a recreation room, and there was a billiard table in it for the men, and in the canteen there was a bagatelle board, and I had in the galleries boards made for the men similar to what they use on board ship for pitching. I think they call them bull boards. They used to amuse themselves with them. There were two skittle alleys besides; and a theatre has since been arranged in one of the ground-floor rooms. North Barracks. 950. Were those all covered ? — Yes, they were all under shade. 951. Major General Lord ITeMT-j/ Percy. J Were the men more intemperate at Hong Kong than in other quarters ? — I do not consider that the men were as intemperate at Hong Kong, on the average, as they were in the Mediterranean; but as regards the nature of the liquor, that procured at Hong Kong, from the Chinese shops, is a deadly liquor called samshoo. • 952. Chairman.'] Among the recommendations of the senior medical officer is one that the regimental canteens should be always supplied with porter by the Commissariat Department, and no ardent spirits sold, which are decidedly injurious to health, and their excessive use fatal in China ; do you agree with that recommenda- tion? — Not altogether. I thoroughly _ agree in the recommendation that the commissariat should 0.53. keep porter to be sold to the troops. When we Colonel wore in the middle of the summer, able to pur- ffr. Sanhey. chase porter or beer from the merchants in the town, we had in the canteen a large ice box, 30 April and we kept ginger beer, and similar draughts, i8p6. and the soldiers drank a great deal of iced gin- ger beer, with porter or ale mixed with it, and at that time there was very little drunkenness among the men. But when the store of beer and porter fails, and the supply constantly fails in Hong Kong itself, you are obliged to revert to spirits, and, consequently, the drunkenness increases, because spirits are cheaper, and they have a worse effect upon the men. My idea is that the commissariat should always keep a supply of both beer and porter, to be sold to the canteens, which would, consequently, always provide good wholesome liquor to be sold to the men. Sometimes we were able to get a little porter from the commissariat, when they had an overplus of it. 953- Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Would there be any difficulty in carrying out that view of yours ? — No. When we purchased it from the commissariat when they had an over- stock, it cost about 5 d. a, quart. It cost us generally 10 c?. a quait when it was supplied from the town, and it was cheaper at 10 d. a quart than the men could buy it at in the shops in the town. As long as good and cheap porter re- mained at the canteen, the men always drunk there, and not in the town. 954. Was your canteen conducted on the regimental system? — On the new regimentaL system altogether. With respect to the supply of ardent spirits, there are some men who will drink spirits, and if you do not keep a good spirit in the canteen, they will go out and buy a bad spirit in the town. I therefore consider that spirits of good quality should -be kept to be sold to the men, under certain restrictions, in the canteen. If you do not do that, you drive them out to the town where they will get drunk on poisonous spirits, and lie out drunk, perhaps, the whole night. 955. Sir Harry Verney.] Where is the beer made ? — It comes from England. 956. Could not the beer be made out there ? — I do not think so ; all the beer and porter comes from England, and the commissariat supplied us with a ration of porter of a sixth of a gallon to -each man ; it was very good porter. 957. Chairman.] You have already stated the- means of amusement that were provided for the men, have you not ? — With regard to procuring amusements for the men from the overplus of our canteen fund, we were always adding to the means of amusing the men, and, I dare say, by this time, a great deal more has been added ; for instance, when we had money, we always pur- chased boats for them to row about in the evening ; we had four or five very fine boats when I left, and we contemplated having as many boats as we could ; then there was football and cricket. 958. That was all done out of a private fund? — No, out of the canteen fund ; the canteen fund is ample for doing it when once it gets into operation. 959. Marquis of HartingtOn.] From your knowledge of the place and the duties, what are the composition and strength of the garrison which you would consider sufficient for the proper performance of the duties, having regard E 4 to . 40 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Colonel to the health of the men ? — I have not made a W. Sankey. proper calculation upon that subject. 960. You can probably give it with regard to 30 April the duties ; suppose, first of all, that the garrison 1866. TffaB to be composed entirely of Europeans, how many battalions would be required ? — That would be a very difficult question to answer, for this reason: sometimes the men might be healthy, and, at other times, excessively sickly, and, of course, the number of nights in bed would vary according to the sickness of the troops. 961. Would you recommend more than one battalion ? — I should never recommend more Eu- ropeans being sent to Hong Kong than were positively necessary ; in fact, more than would be# just sufficient to look after the native troops. 962. Have you any notion as to what strength of native troops would be required ? — It would be necessary first to know the number of guards, and all the duties to be performed. 963. But you have a general notion of the guard duties that are required ? — Not sufficiently to speak upon a point of that kind, because every post will require three men to it ; and I don't know the number of nights in bed con- sidered necessary for native troops. 964. I should like to know, if you have formed an opinion, what your opinion is ? — The average duties of my men allowed them between three and four nights in bed, altogether. 965. Sir Harry Yerney, J I should like to have an answer to this question : do you think one European battalion, and two native Indian batta- lions would be enough to perform the services ? — They certainly would. 966. Take a common battalion of 600 men? — Yes, there is no doubt about it ; two Indian regiments with such a battalion would be ample, because the Indian regiments would take the out duties, and consequently the Europeans would not be so much exposed ; they would also do the orderly duties, &c. 967. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] Would three battalions, namely, one European and two Indian battalions, of 800 rank and file each, be amply :sufficient for the garrison duties there ? — They certainly would ; they would be more than suffi- cient. I should think 800 is a very strong bat- talion. 968. You think they would be more than sufficient ? — Yes ; that is my opinion. 969. Have you any question in your mind as to whether it is advisable to have native troops there ? — I have no question in my mind upon it ; I am perfectly certain that it is the only way to •carry on the duty. 970. You are not satisfied to have a European regiment only, whatever may be its strength ? — I am not. There are certain duties which no European is fitted for, such as going to Stanley, for instance, and frequent night duty, orderlies, , &c. 971. If the garrison is composed entirely of European troops, can the duties be carried on •without great sacrifice of life ? — It is impossible, in that case, that they can be carried on without great sacrifice of life. 972. Lord John Hay.] Could not those duties -which would be performed by native troops be performed by others, such as Chinese police ? — I do not think that Chinamen are to be thoroughly trusted. 973. But you say that the merchants trust them with their valuable property ? — I do not say that they trust them, but they use them as watchmen, because they can get no others ; they have no choice. 974. Major Anson.] Do they not use Malays ? — Yes, they may occasionally. The robberies that occur in Hong Kong sometimes are sur- prising. 975. Lord John Hay.] Do you think that the merchants, as a general rule, have been more robbed than the Government buildings and pro- perty ; do you think that the Government property has enjoyed an immunity in conse- quence of possessing the" advantage of having military guards? — Several attempts have been madfe to rob the Government property, but they have been sometimes frustrated by the sentries, and similar attempts have been successful also. But the robberies that take place in Hong Kong and in the town of Victoria are excessive at times. 976. Do you consider, for instance, that such a duty as protecting some meat and other pro- visions, when it is being carried over to Stanley, could not be performed by other than troops ? — I think that it could not be performed by other than troops. 977. You think that you could not trust the Chinese to contract to supply provisions on the spot ? — They could not supply the meat on the spot at Stanley, because they could not kill the meat there ; the meat required there would be less than one carcase, and, consequently, they could not supply it there ; it has to be brought from the main land, and if an escort to Stanley was supplied by the Chinese only, I consider that the mountain men would not be afraid even to attack a very large body of them, although they are deterred from attacking a few Euro- | peans. ' 978. Sir Harry Verney.] Do you mean to say that there are robbers in the middle of the island? — Yes, there are men who live through the island, and attack people on the road. Perhaps I may be permitted to mention, with respect to the manner in which Surgeon Major Saunders has performed his duty, not only as acting prin- cipal medical officer of the station, which has oc- cupied an immense deal of his time, but also in looking after the sick of his own regiment; I do not think any man in the British service could have performed his duty in a more honourable noble and talented manner than he has done. He was employed both day and night at these duties, and I have never myself met with such a medical officer as Surgeon Major Saunders; his exertions and labours are beyond all praise, and I consider it providential that such a man was placed at the head of the medical depart- ment at Hong Kong, during the great sickness in the summer. 979. Colonel Percy Herbert.] Is he out there now ? — He is. 980. Sir Harry Verney.] Do you wish to make any other observation to the Committee ? , — There is one observation which I should like to make, relative to giving the men on guard | : some kind of supper. Early in the morning, about five o'clock, the men used to get a cup of hot coffee ; then they got their breakfast, dinner, and tea, the latter being served about five o'clock in the evening ; from that time and till the fol- lowing morning they had nothmg more. About ,, 10 SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOBTALITY OP TROOPS (CHINA). 41 10 or 11 o'clock at night is the time a man re- quires to have his stomach filled; and, acting on the advice of some of the old civil medical prac- titioners in Hong Kong, we were enabled, from the canteen fund, to give our soldiers (9th Kegi- ment), a tumbler of beer and some cheese, and we considered that that had a very beneficial effect upon their he_alth. I think if the Govern- ment were to give the men something of that kind, in the way of a supper meal, it would be of the greatest advantage to them, 981. Chairman.'] You think it would be of the greatest advantage for their health ? — Yes ; because at night, when the miasma and damp arises, if a man's stomach is filled, he will not suffer so much as he would do otherwise. 982. Major Anson.] Are you aware that what you have just recommended has been recom- mended constantly since 1860 in the different medical reports of the medical men who have been out there? — I am not certain about that. I know that an addition of a quarter of a pound of meat was given to the troops daily on the recommendation of the medical men, for the purpose of enabling them to fry some of it for breakfast. The meat was given, but it was a very difficult thing for them to fry it, because the fuel was so very insufficient., 983. Chairman.] Have you any other obser- vations that you wish to make to the Committee ? — I think not. Colonel W. Sankey. 30 April 1866. 0.53. F 42 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Thursday, 3d May 1866. MEMBERS PKESBNT ; Mr. Adderley. Mr. Baxter. Mr. Calthorpe. Lord Frederick Cavendish. Mr. Dalglish. General IDunne. Lord John Hay. Marquis of Hartington. Colonel Percy Herbert. Colonel North. Major O'Eeilly. Major General Lord Henry Percy. Sir Harry Verney. COLONEL NORTH, in the Chair. Colonel William Sankey, further Examined. Colonel W. Sankey. 3 Msiy i866. 984. Chairman.'\ Were punkahs supplied to the non-commissioned officers and soldiers when you were in Hong Kong ? — Punkahs were sup- plied to the soldiers, to all the soldiers' barrack- rooms in Victoria, Hong Kong, and to the hospi- tals in Victoria, Hong Hong. An order from the "War Department did not permit the non-commis- sioned officers living in sejDarate rooms to be pro- vided with punkahs. It would have cost a non- commissioned officer six dollars a month, at the very least, to have had a punkah, an expense which his pay would not have allowed him to meet. 985. Was there any reason given for this dis- continuance of punkahs ? — I do not know of more reason for its discontinuance than that it was discontinued on the order coming out from the War Department. There were no punkahs allowed at Kowloon, on the supposition that Kowloon was sufficiently cool from the effects of the monsoon. At that time — that is, in August — the men of my battalion on duty there complained to me that they could not sleep on account of the number of mosquitoes there were in their rooms. The wind of the punkahs would have driven away those mosquitoes. I have been informed that men used to sleep out in the long grass at night, to escape the bites of the mosquitoes. The gal- leries, or, as they are called, verandahs, in the hospital, were not supplied with punkahs. 986. Sir Harry Verney.'\ In what hospital? — At Victoria. 987. Chairman.'\ There were no punkahs there ? — Yes, in the hospital rooms there were punkahs ; the galleries, or verandahs, were not supplied with punkahs. 988. Were they necessary in the verandahs ? — Quite necessary. The officers in the mess verandah had punkahs to cool them ; wheii there was no breeze, it was just as hot in the verandahs as in the house. 989. Was there any reason given for not having punkahs in the verandahs ? — The occu- pation of the verandahs or the galleries was an extra occupation ; it was not anticipated being a temporary arrangement. 990. It was a necessity that was forced upon you ? — Yes ; it was a necessity. In conseij^uence of the overcrowding of the rooms we were obliged to occupy the verandahs, which were intended- originally for the recreation of those patients who were not confined to their beds, and for them to take their meals in, and for the services of the hospital. 991. But when it became necessary to put the men in the verandahs, in consequence of the overcrowding of the hospital, could not those punkahs have been provided by any of the departments out there ? — They could ; there was nothing to jirevent it. 992. You do not happen to know whether application was made to them to provide them, do you ? — No, I do not. I know that Surgeon Saunders never wearied in making applications. 993. For things of what description? — For everything that would improve the sanitary con- dition of the soldiers ; he was unwearied about it, I know. 994. However, the non-commissioned officers were refused them, and would have had to have paid their six dollars a month for the use of tliem if they had provided them ? — It would have cost them six dollars a month, two coolies to pull all night by turns at three dollars each. 995. And the consequence was that they did not get them ? — They could not afford it. We lost an immense number of non-commissioned officers by death and invaliding. The proceed- ings of the Board of which I was the president assigning the number of punkahs must be obtain- able at the War Department. I was president of a Board that assembled to detail the number of punkahs and punkah coolies that were required for the use of the troops ; I think it was in March or April. 996. What was that for ? — You might call it a Board on punkahs and the number of punkah coolies that were considered necessary. The proceedings must be at the War Department. 997. When did it meet? — It was either in March, April, or May ; I cannot exactly tell you which month, but I was the president of that Board to detail the number of punkahs and pun- kah coolies that we required. 998. Were you commandant at that time ? — I was commandant and president of the Board at that time. We made provision for the non-com- missioned officers, but it was afterwards struck out. 999. How were the soldiers' wives, when sick, treated? — They were treated in the places they lived in ; in the mat huts generally speaking they livecl in, there was no ward in the hospital provided for them. There was a ward in hospi- tal marked up " sick women," or something of that kind, but it was occupied by a medical officers I think. 1000. Then SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOBTALITT OP TROOPS (CHINA). 43 1000. Then the women were treated, when sick, where they lived? — Yes; they were the peculiar care of Dr. Piper, of the 2d Battalion of the 9th B,egiment. 1001. "What means had those women of living when their husbands were in hospital? — They had very straitened means. When the hus- band is on full pay and able to do his duty, he pays 4^ d. a day for rations ; when he goes into hospital he pays 9 •dates, and notwithstanding the Duke of Cam- bridge, and also the Quartermaster General, Sir Hope Grant, who had command of an expedition there, all pressing for native troops to be em- ployed, and stating that our own troops were dying hourly and daily, and that they would be saved by the employment of native troops, a letter was written from the War Office, dated the 30th of June 1865, finally saying that no native troops would be allowed ? —It was. 1300. Can you give the Committee any reason why the native troops were not sent from India, notwithstanding all the remonstrances and all the opinions of the medical officers? — It was considered, as I stated before, that the duties were excessive, and that they should reduce their duties and organize a proper police force. 1301. Was General Guy authorised to go to any expense for the hire of watchmen ? — I have answered that question twice already, I think. 1302. Were any orders sent to him on the subject ? — None. 1303. Marquis of Hartington.^ You stated that it has been the intention of the Secretary of State for War to recall those Indian troops ever since they were sent there? — Quite so; they were recalled on the former occasion when they were borrowed. 1304. Will' you refer to the letter from the War Office of the 22d of March 1859 (it is the rfirst letter in the correspondence with the Trea- sury), and read the first two paragraphs? — " I am directed by Secretary Major General Peel, to request that you will bring under the notice of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury the correspondence which has taken place upon the subject of the issue to officers of the British Army, serving in China, the same allowances as are drawn in that command by officers of the Indian service. I am to represent that General Peel has abstained from pressing this point on their Lordships' attention, as he had ioped that the Indian troops would, before this time, be removed." 1305. Then it was the intention, in 1859, to W^ithdraw those troops as soon as the war was over? — Quite so. 1306. And it has been the intention ever since ? — Quite so ; it was never intended to keep them as a permanent garrison there. 1307. At the time when the removal of the native Indian troops was ordered, what other arrangements were ordered with respect to the garrison ; was there any reduction of the number of poets occupied ? — All the posts occupied up to that period, except Hong Kong, that is Shanghai and Taku, were to be abolished, and the troops concentrated at Hong Kong. 1308. There was then a reduction of the duties to be performed by the troops, and, therefore, a reduction of the number of the troops ? — Quite so. ' 1309. Do you know what European batta- lions were in the China command on the 1st of January 1865; the first letter in the corre- spondence will show you, I think ? — The 67th the 99th, and the 20th, were there. 1310. Were there not three battalions in the command at that time ? — Yes. 1311. And there were never more than three battalions subsequently to that time, were there ? — No, certainly not ; the 2d Battalion of the 9th, and the 2d Battalion of the 11th were sent to relieve the 67th and the 99th. 0.53. 1312. Then there was no increase in the strength of the European force in the command during that period ? — No. . 1313. Therefore it is not correct to say that the 9th and the 11th were sent to relieve native troops ? — No, they were sent to relieve, as I stated before, the 67th- and the 99th .Regiments. 1314. Was there any reason to believe that sufficient accommodation could not be provided for three battalions in the command between Hong Kong, Kowloon and Japan ? — No, cer- tainly not ; we had every reason to believe that it could, as I have already stated. 1315. The honourable and gallant Chairman has called your attention to a letter, No. 14 in the correspondence, at page 17, enclosing Dr. Dick's report, and recommending the employ- ment of native troops ? — Yes. 1316. That letter was received, I believe, at the War Office on the 1 st of June 1 —Yes. 1317. And it was replied to in letter No. 18, at page 20, declining to send native troops ? — Yes, on the 30th of June. 1318. Supposing it had been thought advis- able, in consequence of Dr. Dick's recommenda- tions, to send out a force of native troops again, could arrangements have been made to have sent them, so as to arrive before the hot weather of that year ? — No, certainly not. 1319. And have arrangements been made this year by which some native troops will be sent to Hong Kong before the hot weather will com- mence ? — Yes. 1320. Then the recommendati.ms of the medi- cal authorities have not been neglected ?— They could not have been carried out when they were received, as I stated before ; but they have now been followed. 1321. They have not been disregarded? — They have not. 1322. Will you look at letter No. 10, page 13; your attention has already been drawn to it ? — It has. 1323. General Guy states in that letter the arrangements that he proposes to make in conse- quence of the order for the removal of the Indian troops ? — Yes. 1324. And it appears that, at that time — that is, on the 28th of January — he was aware that the 2d Battalion of the 11th Regiment was imder orders, and was coming ; he refei'S to it in the last paragraph ? — Quite so. 1325. Do you think there was any reason to suppose that, between that time and the arrival of the battalion, there was not time to get build- ings ready for its accommodation ? — No ; I stated that we had every reason to believe that accom- modation could be prepared and ready by the time of their arrival. 1326. Is there anything in the least degree unusual in giving a general officer commanding at a station such a discretionary power of pro- viding temporarily for troops as was given to General Guy in the letter of the 10th of January? — Not at all; you must do it on an emergency when you are obliged to send troops for a particular purpose ; the general on the spot must make his own arrangements ; you cannot make them from home ; it is impossible. 1327. Mr. Adderley asked you whether it was not the fact that all our anticipations as to the possibility of providing for these troops had not failed ; we have no reasofl to suppose that it would not have been possible to accommodate those G 4 troops Lieutenant General Sir E. Lvaard, K.C.B. 3 May i866; 56 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEW BEFORE THE T-ientenant troops io Japan, have we? — Not at all; and Goneral Sir they could have been so accommodated, but for JS. Lugard, the duties at Hong Kong requiring the general K.c.B. to keep a portion of them back ; he gives that as ~rT~ his reason for not sending them. iBrfi^ 1328. Were you in possession of any informa- tion which made you think that it would be necessary to retain so large a force at Hong Kong as the general thought it necessary to retain ? — Certainly not. Looking to the garrison which had been maintained there in former years, I imagine that one regiment could have performed all the military duties that were necessary. 1329. Is there anybody in England now who was in China when there was only one battalion at Hong Kong v/ho could give us any information about that? — Yes; the officer who commanded the regiment. Colonel Graham. 1330. ilajor O'Reilly.'] Which regiment did he command? — The 5 9th Kegiment. 1331. Marquis of Hartington.] Colonel Hay- thorne was there, was he not? — Not at that time. 1332. Colonel Haythorne was in command out there at one time ? — Yes, he commanded the Eoyals at one time. 1333. He is in England, is he not? — Yes. 1334. ^vc Harry Vernei/.'] Coiild not Sir Hope Grant give us that information ? — He Avas there in time of war. 1335. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs had not expressly stated his opinion that there ought to be three European regiments in the China command, had he ? — I have stated so. 1336. Three European regiments? — Yes. 1337. Lord John Hay.'] That is to say, be- tween China and Japan? — Yes, that is the China command. 1338. Sir Harry ^Ferney.] Was it a peculiarly unhealthy season in the year 1865 ? — I believe it was the most unhealthy season they have ever had in China. I was speaking to a captain in the Koyal Navy, the other day, who told me that on board his ship, out of 72 men, he lost 18 in two months by deaths, and that the crew were so laid up that for some time he could not proceed to sea. Now those were men who had every ac- commodation and everything you could possibly provide for them, and the civilians, he said, suffered in the same way. 1339. Chairman.] Was he stationed in Hong Kong ? — Yes. 1340. Was he stationed there all the time? — Yes, to the best of my belief he was. The civilians suffered in the sanie manner, he said, and so I have heard from all parts. 1341. Sir Harry Verney.] What was his ship ? — It was the " Cormorant." 1342. Chairman.] The " Princess Charlotte " ■was the only one of Her Majesty's shijDS there at that time, was she not? — ^You are alluding, I presume, to a receiving ship ? there was no other ship that could have taken a regiment; there must have been another ship, because the Navy medical men assisted the Army medical men in the treatment of our troops. 1343. Colonel Percy Herbert.] Did your de- partment consult the general officer commanding at Hong Kong, previously to the removing of the native troops, as to the composition of the gar- rison at Hong Kong? — I cannot recollect exactly. 1344. Did he ever volunteer an opinion upon the subject ? — He did, subsequently to the order. I think there is a letter here in which he states that he considers that there ought to be nativfr troops. 1345. He had no opportunity of giving that opinion before he received the order, I presume? — Not that I am aware of. 1346. Was the Commander in Chief consulted.. upon that point. I think you stated that you. had no record of it ?— I cannot state for certain. 1347. You are aware that he has given an, opinion subsequently ? — Quite so. 1348. That opinion is in favour of having two native regiments there, is not it ? — Yes, it is in favour of having two native regiments there. 1349. You said that you had every reason to- • believe that accommodation could be provided for. three regiments at Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Japan, in time for tlie reception of these regi- ments ? — Yes. 1350. When you say "accommodation," do. you mean laermanent accommodation, or do you " mean that they could have mat huts run up ? — It is not generally customary to provide perma- nent accommodation for troops used for a tempo- rary occasion. One regiment was sent there merely for the nonce, merely until our political relations with Japan would enable us to dispenag with it. We never provide permanent accom- modation for a regiment sent out under those circumstances. 1351. Did you contemplate their being in permanent buildings that would be hired and adapted, or did you contemplate their being in huts at Kowloon ? — We contemplated both ; we contemplated that permanent buildings; godowns as they are termed, could be hired and adapted to the accommodation of a portion of the troops, that mat huts at Kowloon would be available for them also, if deemed necessary by the general, and that the remainder should be sent to Japan. 1352. _ As a general officer of great experience and distinction, and as Under Secretary of State for War, and therefore in possession of full in- ; formation upon the subject, as to the accommo- ' dation and the state of affairs at Hong Kong, may I ask did you contemplate, as a satisfactory state • of things, that the garrison at Hong Kong and ■? Kowloon should be reduced to one battalion ?-^ >. I do not know that I should give my individual. ' opinion. it^.:- 1353. You would hesitate to give your opinion as a general officer, or as a military man, up'.to that point ?— I think myself that a small portion of -^ native troops is necessary, and a portion of native ,- troops have been sent there, but I do not see any *" impossibility at all in garrisoning Hong Kong with one European regiment. ° 1354. I mean, were you of opinion, as a military man, that it was desii-able to confine the garrison to one battalion previous to this outbreak of disease, when other arrangements were ren- dered necessary ?— Yes, 1 did think it was. 1355. You thought that that was sufficient?— les. j, 1356. Then, did you contemplate the whole of the balance being sent to Japan?— I do not exactly understand what you are seekino- to ar- rive at. ° 1357. There were three regiments sent to the '• command, were there not ? — Yes. xi. \^fi^' ^°"' ^ ^ military man, were of opinion that the gai-nson of Hong Kong and Kowloon should be reduced to one regiment ?— Yes, as a garrison. 1359. Did you contemplate the whole of the other SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINa). 57 ofcer two regiments being provided for in the more healthy country of Japan? — No, it was necessary to have three regiments in the com- mand. I always imagined that a portion of the third regiment would be, if possible, accommo- dated in Hong Kong and the remainder sent to Japan. 1360. That it would make it a battalion and a half? — Yes, a battalion and a half, because this ■ regiment was only to be accommodated as a tem- * porary measure, as I have already stated. 1361. Did you contemplate as a satisfactory arrangement the quartering of troops in mat huts at Kowloon? — From the knowledge we have now, there is not the slightest doubt that Kow- loon is a very unhealthy place; but we were always led to believe from reports, that Kowloon was to be the sanitarium of Hong Kong, and for that very purpose it was pressed upon the Govern- ment to acquire the ground. 1362. In November 1864, were you of opinion that it would be satisfactory to quarter troops in mat huts at Kowloon? — Not to any extent. 1363. Had you no Reports deprecating the quartering of troops in Kowloon in your posses- sion at the "War Office, at the end of 1864 ? — I am not quite certain. 1364. There were Dr. Dick's Reports ? — Dr. Dick's Reports were not received then ; Dr. Dick's Report was not received until April 1865. 1365. That is the Report of 1864.— Yes. 1366. Major O^Reilly.'] In the last paragraph in the letter from the War Office, dated 30th June 1865, you will see this : " His Lordship relies with confidence on the efficacy of the mea- sures which have been authorised for improving the sanitary condition of the British soldier in 1 China." " His Lordship relies with confidence " on that for rendering the substitution of European for Indian troops innocuous. Could you state what the measures were to which the Secretary of State refers as those upon which he relied for rendering this change innocuous ? — No, I cannot at this moment. 1367. You do not know of any important alterations in the sanitary arrangements which were made in contemplation of this change ? — No, I do not remember at this moment what that . paragraph alluded to. r,, 1368. Do you know whether the general question of the employment of Asiatic troops on tropical stations, apart from any question of re- moving troops from the Indian establishment, has been under the consideration of the Secretary of State for War? — For some time we have been considering the question. 1369. Has the question of the organisation of such Asiatic troops for general tropical service, as distinguished from the local corps or local police, been under consideration ? — Yes, it has. 1370. Are you aware whether any decision upon these two questions has been arrived at? — No decision has been actually come to, because the question of our' taking over the Straits Settlement is involved in it ; that is, we should have to garrison Ceylon, Singa- pore, and China; and we want, if possible, to form a corps that shall be interchangeable. The question is hung up for a little, until the Treasury and the Colonial Office have settled the question as to the transfer of the Straits. 1371. Mr. Adderley.'] You stated that no orders , were ever given to the local authorities at Hong 0.53. Kong to organise a police force; at the same time. Lieutenant it appears, that_ the War Office calculated upon General Sir such a force being organised, although no orders E, Lugarcl, were given, did they not ? — There is an organised k.c.b. police force there, under the Grovernor. 1372. But the police force that you contem- 3 May plated has never been adequately provided yet? ^^66. — That we have yet to learn ; we have now written, suggesting that a portion of the duties that have been hitherto taken by the troops should be taken by the Colony, that is, by the colonial police force, and we have received no answer to that, suggestion yet. 1373. Then, at this moment, are there orders for the increase of the local police ? — Not that I am aware of. 1374. You state that the Indian troops were borrowed for the Chinese war, and not intended to be permanently kept as part of the garrison ; was there anything in the terms upon which they were borrowed that made it absolutely necessary to send them back just at the moment when their presence at Hong Kong was apparently neces- sary ? — There was no arrangement to send them back at any particular time, but we did not con- sider that their presence was necessary at Hong Kong. 1375. So that there was nothing in the terms upon which they were borrowed that necessi- tated their being sent back, then ? — Nothing whatever. 1376. The idea of Kowloon being used as a sanitarium, I presume, referred to the time sub- sequent to the completion of the drainage works now going on, not during the process of draining? — I cannot exactly answer that question ; it is connected with the AYorks Department. 1377. You stated that Kowloon was looked upon as a sanitarium ? — That was previously ; it is only latterly that these drainage works have been carried out, that have made the place so unhealthy. 1378. A part of the plan of reducing the posts in China was the concentration of the troops at Hong Kong, and therefore a reduction generally in China was practically an increase of the troops at Hong Kong ; was not that so ? — Not at all, because we sent away the surplus. We sent away one or two batteries of artillery, and we sent away all the Indian troops, so that there was really no concentration of troops at Hong Kong; the garrison of China generally was reduced. 1379. Then the reduction of posts in China did not involve a concentration of troops in Hong Kong? — Not exactly. I meant to say that Hong Kong was to be our sole military post in China. 1380. Colonel Percy Herbert.'l I understood you to say that the quartering of troops in huts at Kowloon was one of the ways of providing for them which you contemplated at the War Department ? — Yes. 1381. Are you aware that in the Sanitary Report for 1863, published by the War Depart- ment, there are these passages : " At Kowloon the bamboo and mat huts are, in the highest degree, objectionable;" and in another place, the same Report, by Dr. Shell, says, " Hong Kong I look upon, in comparison to Kowloon in its present state, as a sanitarium." I presume those passages were not before you, or present to your mind, when you came to that opinion, that it was a suitable waj of providing for the troops, to put them in huts there ? — I said that was one of the means of providing for them. H 1382. And 58 MINUTES or EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOEE THE Lieutenant 1382. And you thought it was a suitable one ? General Sir -r— There was a party at Kowloon at the time £J, Lvgard, these troops were sent. K.c.B. 1383. General Z^MKHfi. J It was the withdrawal " of the Indian battalions that caused General 3 May Guy to keep the 1 1th there, was not it ? — Np. 1866. 1384. If you look at his letter, I think you will see that he states that to be so ? — To keep a portion of the 11th, certainly I have; I stated so. 1385. With reference to the Noble Lord's question, as to having the same number of troop3 in China latterly as there were before 1865, waa not there before 1865 one regiment always at Shanghai ?^-Yes, before 1865. 1386. Up to that time one regiment was provided for at Shanghai ? — Yes. 1387. Therefore, the provision for the three regiments was at Shanghai, in Japan, and Hong Kong? — Yes. 1388. They were compressed into that space? —Yes. 1389. The Noble Lord also referred to a letter from General Peel as to the allowances, and the contemplation of the removal of the Indian troops ? — Yes. 1390. In the same correspondence there is a series of letters from the Treasury to the War Department, pressing, on the score of economy, the removal of the Indian troops ; will you look at those letters ? — There are some letters. 1391. Does not almost every letter press for the removal of the Indian troops, on the ground of economy ?^Not exactly ; I think there is one letter in which we are asked when it will be possible to remove those troops. 1392. The words are, " On economical grounds"? — There is no doubt that they were a very expensive class of troops'; we paid very highly to the Indian Government for them, much higher than we could keep a native corps of our own for, on very liberal terms. 1393. The letter of the 7th of May 1860, says " The large amount of these allowances leads my Lords, however, to doubt very much whether, on economical grounds, there is any advantage in associating the two services together " 1- — I do not say that it was not on economical grounds, but I say that there were other grounds besides economy. 1394. But the Treasury rested it on economy, did they not ? — They would know nothing of the other inconveniences. 1395. As to real economy, was not the loss of so many men much more expensive than any allowances ? — Certainly, but you cannot attri- bute that entirely to the withdrawal of the native troops. The withdrawal of the native troops did not render Hong Kong more sickly in 1865 than it has ever been known to be before ; it is only one of the contingencies. 1396. It exposed a greater number of English troops to the effects of the climate ? — It gave them according to the system pursued there more duties, but we were always of opinion that those duties, as I said before, might have been reduced to a very considerable extent. 1397.. Do you recollect at what date the final order for the 11th Eegiment to leave the Cape was sent out? — Yes, on the 5th of August 1864, 1398. That was the year before they went ? — Yes ; the order was sent at the same time as the order for the removal of the 9th. 1399. They did not arrive until the next year. did they ? — No ; the final order was in December, but the arrangement was agreed to in August 1864. 1400. The date of the final order is what I want ? — I think it is the 3rd of December. 1401. Marquis of Hartington.'] The Horse Guards would send the final order, would they not ?^ Yes. 1402. General Dunne.l There was no com- munication from the War Department to the Horse Guards to direct the final removal, was- ther« ?— I do not understand what you mean by ■ the final removal. What takes place is this: die j Horse Guards propose certain reliefs to the War Office ; if they are concurred in, then the Horse Guards, that is to say, the Quartermaster General carry them out. 1403. The first communication was on the 5th of August 1864 ? — Yes ; that was settliag what the relief should be. 1404. Then there ie the order sent for the route, in fact? — That does not proceed from the War . Office. 1405. Was not there any communication on the subject from August 1864 until the December following ? — I presume not. The Horse Guards must have written to the general, because, in his letter of the 12th of November, he alludes to it. 1406. Major General Lord Henry Percy.'] You state that General Grey had a general discretion how to act, relative to the disposal of the troopa in China? — Yej. 1407. Supposing the judgment of the War Office at home had differed from that of tte general abroad, who is on the spot, would not the general probably have been subject to great pecuniary loss? — Certaialy not; he could not have been. 1408. Not for procuring buildings ? — No ; not for the accommodation of troops; it is impossible^ . 1409. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] Have you had any correspondence with Deputy Commissary; General Maturiu upon the question of the pay and allowances of the troops in China ? — I hav*' y^ had private communications with him. ',; 1410. In which he recommended changes-fin the garrison ? — No. 1411. Or financial changes ? — Yes, to a certain extent, merely giving information relative to the expenses at Hong Kong, and his own private opinion upon the different salaries, 1412. Offering suggestiqng ? — Yes, perhaps offering suggestions. 1413. Have any of those suggestions been acted upon ? — Not entirely. 1414. To some exteut?— Yes; it is information, ■ ' which, like all other information of a confidential ■ nature, influences arrangements, but nothing '■ beyond that. -,. 1415. It has influenced arrangements to some extent? — Yes, 1416. Have those communications of a con- fidential nature been minuted out of the office' —No. 1417. Have they never got to the Treasury? — No, certainly not, that I am aware of. 1418. Or the information contained in them ? —Not that I am aware of, most certainly. A letter may be surreptitiously sent, but they have not been sent to my knowledge. We never mmute papers to the Treasury ; our communi- cations to the Treasury are always official letters. ,. -I-- V n ^ . ^°* ^^^° communicated in the otticial letters ?— Not as Mr, Maturin's. ' 1420. None SELECT COHMfTTEE ON MOETALITY OF TROOPS (cHINA). 5& 1420. None of Mr. Maturin's ?— No. 1421. Chairman.l Can you tell us whether Mr. Maturin had received any instructions to make communications with regard to the with- drawal of the Indian troops? — Not any, with regard to the withdrawal of the Indian troops ; but before he went out to China the question of the scale of allowances for the garrison of Hong Kong, or the garrison of China, was under con- sideration, and had been discussed a good deal. He went out there on a special duty, as con- troller, and to look into the financial affairs of the place, and he was then asked (he was asked by myself) to send private communica- tions as to the expenses, and as to what, in his own opinion, he considered fair allowances ; but not at all with regard to the withdrawal of the Indian troops, because, as I have said before, that had been decided upon in 1859. 1422. "Was the same inquiry sent to the General commanding in Hong Kong to furnish the War Department with any suggestions? — Yes; we have had the proceedings of Boards, and reports of all kinds. 1423. Colonel Perci/ Herbert.^ These proceed- ings of Boards and so on are public papers that we could have laid before us if we wanted them? — Yes, I imagine so.. 1524. But you consider that the communica- tions sent by Mr. Maturin were of a private^ nature ? — They were mere private notes. 1425. Still they were to guide the Secretary of State in his decision? — They were not to guide the Secretary of State ; they were to give me information that would put me in a position to offer an opinion. It is a very difficult thing for a person who has not been in China, to give an opinion on many matters connected with China, and one is always glad to get some infor- mation from those who have visited the place, and who are at the place at the time ; it was merely a private conmiunication. The Secretary of State and other officers are often in the habit of sending for people who have visited places to get information from them. But they are not obliged to adopt the information they get, nor would they thiuk of handing up and publishing the 'name of their informant, nor the information he gave ; at least I should think not. 1426. Major O'Reilly.'] You have stated that General Grey could ,not possibly incur any pecu- niary risk by providing accommodation for the troops, or employing watchmen. Now, in case he had, in the exercise of his judgment upon these points, incurred any expense which the War Department should subsequently consider had not been necessary, would he not have been liable to be surcharged to that amount ? — No, not if he could justify it. It is a most problematical question to put. 1427. Will you either state that you cannot answer it, or answer it ? — It is impossible to do so, because any legitimate charge, any act that he could justify, would never be thrown back upon his shoulders. Although we might say, " We think it was scarcely discreet to have gone to this extent," it never would have been sur- charged upon him. 1428. Mr. Adderley.] The ultimate judge of his actions is the War Office ?■ — Yes. 1429. Does not that act as a restraint upon a distant officer as to the discretion he may use ? — It ought not to do so upon an intelligent officer. 1430. You think that the judgment of the War Office is liberal ? — They might find fault if they considered that he had wantonly done anything incurring expense, but I do not think that they would have made it a personal pecuniary charge upon him. 1431. Do you know cases of surcharge ? — Not of this kind at all. 1432. Major O'Reilly.'] But you do know cases of surcharge to officers for expenses incurred, do you not ? — Officers may send in excessive tra- velling bills, or something of that sort ; it is only in such cases that it would occur. 1433. Are you aware, not including your own time only, but in the history of the British Army, of any cases in which general officers com- manding have been made to pay large sums for the expenses incurred by them in providing accommodation for troops ? — No ; I am not aware of any such eases ; certainly not in my time. Lieutenant General Sir E. Lugard, K.C.B. 3 May l866. 0;53. H 2 60 MINUTES OP EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Thursday, 10th May 1866. MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Adderley. - Major Anson. Mr. Baxter. Lord Frederick Cavendish. General Dunne. Marquis of Hartington. Colonel Percy Herbert. Colonel NOKTH in the Chair. Colonel North. Major O'Reilly. Major General Lord Henry Percy. Mr. Frederick Stanley. Mr. Trevelyan. Sir Harry Verney. Colonel Augustus Frederick Jenner was called in ; and Examined. Colonel A. F. Jenner. 10 May i866. 1434. Chairman.'] I believe you are the Lieutenant Colonel of the 2d Battalion of the 11th Eegiment, and a full Colonel in the Army ? —Yes. 1435. Were you in command of that regiment at the Cape of Good Hope ? — I was. 1436. When did you receive orders to leave the Cape for Hong Kong ? — The first order we received was, I think, about the 16th of August; the letter was dated from the Horse Guards in August ; it was received in September. 1437. September 1864 ?— Yes. 1438. On what day did you embark for Hong Kong ?— On the 10th of April 1865. 1439. By what regiment were you relieved ? — I should say that the 11th were divided into wings ; one wing was in Natal, of which I was commandant, and one wing was on the eastern frontier ; they were assembled at my request at East London, to be in readiness on the arrival of Her Majesty's ship " Tamar." 1440. The head quarters were in Natal ? — Yes. 1441. Where was the other wing? — At East London, waiting the arrival of the " Tamar " to take them to Hong Kong. With regard to the regiment which relieved us, I may state that the head quarters of the 99th, the whole of the 99th I may say, with the exception of one company, was up at Taku Forts, and they could not come down for some time for the ice ; and a detachment of the 67th came in the " Tamar." The 99th relieved the head quarters of the 11th at Natal. 1442. What was the condition of health of the 99th Regiment when they relieved you? — Miserable ; they were so decrepit that they could not march to their camp. I was there myself superintending the disembarkation on Sunday the 9th of April. The roads were strewed with men trying to march up with their band, and the 11th, who were sent down to march them up. The whole road up to the camp was strewed with them. I think, out of the whole number disem- barked, which was nearly 250 men, there could not have been 45 who got to the camp without assistance. 1443. What distance was it to the camp ? — Two miles at the outside. I should say that it was through heavy ground, a sandy soil. - 1444. The distance was not above two miles ? —No. 1445. Were they in heavy marching order? — When they disembarked they put on their packs at the wharf, but the packs were thrown away ; in fact the whole road was strewn with them. 1446. In fact they were in no order ? — None whatever ; we pitched the camp for them, and procured everything for their comfort when the^ came in. A great number of them with their packs went up in a train between the port of Durban and the town. 1447. On what day did you ai-rive at Hong Kong ? — We anchored at Hong Kong on Sun- day, the 28 th of May following. 1448. Major General Lord Henry Percy.'\ That was in May 1865 ?— Yes. 1449. Chairman.'] Did you arrive there earlier than you had been expected, do you know ? — I was informed so. On my arrival I was told that we were not expected for a month. 1450. The captain of the " Tamar " was Captain Stirling, was he not ? — Yes. 1451. It has been stated that Captain Stirling said that he might be expected any day after the 14th of June. Have you any informer tion upon that point? — I have heard Captain Stirling deny that statement altogether. He said he should make the best of his voyage to the Cape and back again ; but owing to the 1 1th Regiment being so far inland he would not say to a week or 10 days, when he might be expected. 1452. Mr. Adderley.] When did you leave the Cape ? — The regiment was in wings. The head-quarters embarked at Natal, or at Durban, on Monday, the 10th of April. We then went down to East London, and embarked the left wing. In fact, it occupied three days at East London, because the weather was so rough one day that we were obliged to knock off altogether, but we sailed finally on Saturday, the 15th of April. 1453. Chairman.] When were the final orders for the departure of your regiment given? — They were given in a private communication to me from the General Officer, to be in readiness about tiie 15th or 16th of the month of April. 1454. And that was the day upon which you took SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINA). 61 took your final departure, the 15tli of April? —The 15th of April 1865, was the date of the final departure from East London. 1455. Was there any communication between the first orders you got in 1864 and the final order for departure? — Most certainly, because the first order was cancelled. The 2d Battalion of the 9th were to relieve the 2d Battalion of the 11th at the Cape, and the 2d Battalion of the 11th were to have gone to China, to relieve the 99th, but they found that the 67th must be relieved the same year, so they forwarded the 2d Battalion of the 9th straight from Gibraltar to Hong Kong, and the vessel came back with the 99th on board, and a detachment of the 67th, and embarked the head quarters of the 11th for Hong Kong. 1456. On what day did you disembark ? — On the 31st of May. 1457. We have the disembarkation return, which I wiU put into your hands ; this is a copy from the Horse Guards, and it is signed by you. Will you look at it and see whether it is correct, especially with regard to the strength of your corps on landing ? — Yes, that is right ; 607 pri- vates is the totaL 1458. Will you state the number of officers and women and children according to that return? I think, if you will allow me to refer to one of my own regimental returns, it will be more con- cise. 1459. That which I handed to you is the one you sent to the Horse Guards ? — Yes, mine will be found to be precisely the same, but it is in a more condensed form. We landed on the 31st of May 1865, 704 men, 54 women, and 92 chil- dren. 1460. Now, will you give the number of ofii- cers? — For that I must refer to the Horse Guards B.eturn. 1461. Mr. Adderlej/.'] Are the officers in- cluded in the 704 ?— No. 1462. Chairman.l It is not necessary to give the nominal retiirn ; how many field officers were there ? — Two field officers, four captains, seven lieutenants, six ensigns, five staiF, that is adju- tants, and so forth ; those were the numbers dis- embarked. 1463. Does the 704 include your non-commis- sioned officers, staff, and all ? — Every soul. 1464. Having disembarked, will you be so good as to describe the manner in which your regiment was quartered on landing ? — That is rather a difficult question to answer ; I think I may begin by saying that when we arrived there was no accommodation prepared for us whatever. We landed on a Sunday, and from what I could learn, the godowns that we were to inhabit had been but a fortnight, at the outside, commenced being converted into barracks ; that was the state of things in Hong Kong. I was obliged to take the head quarters over to Kowloon, much against my wish ; I was forced to do it, from circum- stances over which I had no control, although I regretted it, because the fact was that I had seen the 99th land at Natal, direct from Kowloon, in such a used-up state, if I may use the expression, that I felt, as Dr. Dick told me himself, on board Her Majesty's ship "Tamar," and as another medical officer told me, whose name I forget at this moment, that to go there was certain death ; that the place had been condemned as quarters for a regiment by a medical board of officers. I remonstrated in the presence of Captain Stir- 0.53. ling and the commandant, about the head quar- Colonel ters being sent there A. F. Jennet. 1465. iixr Harry Verney.] With whom did you remonstrate ? — With Captain Eoberts. lo May 1466. Chairman.'] The Deputy Assistant Quar- '^^^• termaster General? — The Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General; he was the only staff officer of the general staff in Hong Kong. 1467. What did he say ?— He assured me that it was perfectly untrue ; that Kowloon was not unhealthy, and that there could be no ground whatever for the report I had heard. That is how part of the regiment, the head quarters, was provided for. Then 152 (I forget the exact number within one or two, but 150 in round numbers) were sent off on board Her Majesty's ship " Hercules," which was in a sinking condi- tion, very unhealthy, and in a position with only two feet of water under her bottom. She was so rotten that they were afraid, if any strong typhoon came on, she would sink ; and she was therefore put in a position where she had only two feet of water under her keel, in order that she should not have very far to go down in case of a strong wind. 1468. I win read to you a report, dated the 6th of July 1865, made by Captain NoUoth, of Her Majesty's ship " Princess Charlotte," ad- dressed to Admiral King, Commanding in Chief. He says, — " Sir, With reference to former corre- spondence, respecting Her Majesty's hospital ship " Hercules," I have the honour to inform you that she has sprung another leak ; and the officers of the yard having again surveyed her, as far as practicable, without docking, are of opinion that she is no longer a safe habitation, in which opinion I entirely concur. Although she has been anchored where she has less than three feet of water, soft bottom under her at low water, spring tide, if she should sink at her moorings during a typhoon, when no assistance could be rendered, heavy seas might break over her while broadside on to them, and the lives of those on board, especially sick soldiers, would be in immi- nent danger " ? — Yes, that is quite true. 1469. The next day Admiral King wrote to Colonel Wyatt, one of your officers, the com- mandant of the garrison ? — Yes. 1470. This is the letter : " ' Princess Eoyal,' Hong Kong, 7th July 1865. Sir,— I beg to for- ward herewith a copy of a letter addressed to me by Captain NoUoth, informing me that the ' Her- cules' is no longer a safe habitation; I therefore deem it my duty to apprise you of the same, in order that the necessary steps may be taken to remove the men and stores as soon as possible ; and I must, under the circumstances stated in the enclosure" (that is, Captain Nolloth's letter), '' decline to take any further responsibility with regard to the ship. I much regret to have to communicate this to you, as I am fully aware of the difficulty experienced in providing sufficient quarters for your men. — I am, &c., George King, Vice Admiral and Commander in Chief." It is addressed to " Colonel Wyatt, Commandant, Hong Kong"?— Yes. 1471. That confirms your opinion of Her Ma-, jesty's ship " Hercules" ? — Yes, quite. We have disposed, then, of the head quarters at Kowloon, and 150 men on board the " Hercules " ; then we have some more to dispose of. 1472. This return, which has been laid befor& the Committee this morning, gives the disembark- ation return of these men. I will read it to you, H 3 and 62 MINUTES OF EVIDEN€E tAKEX BEFCWKE THE Colonel "^^ y°^ ^-^^ ^^7 ''^betlier it is in accordance with A. F. Jenner. your memory : " Disembarked the 2d 11th Regi- ment, at 1 p.m. ; 200 men and seven oflSeers at 10 May Hong Kong, to occupy Heard & Co.'s godowns i866. and Lammert's houses ; 150 men, 12 families, and six officers, hospital ship ' Hercules'; 250 men, 14 families, and eight oflScers at Kowloon, church, and mat huts; eight families. Hong Kong, St. Frances' Hospital." That is the distribution, according to the Quartennaster General? — Yes, that is right ; but there is nothing about Stanley there. 1473. I find this under date of the next day : " Thursday, 1st June 1865, Hong Kong. Pro- ceeded to Stanley by gunboat at 9 a.m., with 70 men, 20 families, and Aree officers. 2d 11th Re- giment arrived at 1 1 a.m. Quartered the troops, 50 men, in lower ward of hospital, remainder and families in married quarters " ? — Yes. 1474. Can you give any information with re- gard to this occupation of Stanley by your men ? — I know nothing at all about Stanley as a bar- rack, except that during the fine weather they were able to accommodate 70 of the 11th; and those were made up of married men, their wives and families being there at the same time-. The barracks were principally occupied by the women and children of the 20th Regiment, whose hus- bands were up in Japan, and where they were hard pressed for room, and could not be accom- modated. 1475. The next thing I wish to draw your at- tention to, with regard to your regiment, is this extract from ihe journal of the Quartermaster General, which is dated " Wednesday, the 21st of June 1865. Hong Kong. The general hospital being full, and sickness on the increase, it has been found necessary to re-occupy the hospital ship " Hercules," as a hospital. The detachment 2d lltli Regiment, 150 men and six officers, will be removed to tier Majesty's ship, 'Princess Charlotte,' the senior naval officer. Captain !N oUoth, having kindly consented to this arrange- ment"?— Yes. 1476. Can you give us any information about that, as to the removal of a detachment to the " Princess Charlotte ;'' was it done upon your application? — I remember this perfectly well: at that time we were under orders for 150' men to go to Japan ; the men on board the " Her- cules " went to Kowloon; and the Kowloon party, the fifth and sixth companies, the healthiest companies in the battalion, were sent on board the " Princess Charlotte," to keep them, if pos- sible, away from the fever; but whether the patients went on board the " Hercules" or not, I cannot bring to my memory. 1477. You think they did not?— I do not think they did. 1478. I see by this extract, dated Friday, the 30th of June 1865, which is just nine days after your sick men were sent on board the "Her- cules," as a hospital, that the very contingency to which Captain Nolloth refers appears to have occurred. It says, " Tuesday, 30th June 1865. Kong Kong. Commenced to blow at four a. m., and increased to a heavy gale at six o'clock, which moderated at noon ; two of the Gun Las- cars' huts were blown over"? — I remember it perfectly well. 1479. " And the old native infantry lines con- siderably damaged; several boats were sunk in the harbour, and a large vessel blown ashore at Kowloon " ? — I recollect- it all. That was a mus- ter day. I had to go over there, in the e^^emng, after the typhoon was over, to muster the troops, and out of 240 or 250 men who oug'ht to have been at Kowloon, there were on parade when I got there 36 men ; before the roll could be called there were 16, when I deemed it my duty to dismiss the parade, and make musters \(f com- panies. 1480'. Sir Harry Verney^ What did you say -with reference to the 16 men ?— There were 16 men left on parade. 1481. Out of how mamy? — -There ought to have been 230 at least on parade, aiad there were 36 when I came on parade, for the purpose of mustering the- men, and before the companies*: roUs were called the number was reduced to 16. 1482. Major Anson^ Was that from illness ? — Yes ; they were down in the church or chapel, as they call it ; the place was fuli. I reaUy do not know how to describe it ; they were lying'on the floor, covered over with blankets and gi'eal coats, in a state of fever and ague ; and thoste 36 men were the only men that could appear ott pairade. 1483. Sir Harry Verney.] How long did the parade last ? — Not four minutes. I sent them off at once ; it was no use, I couldi not keep them there. 1484. I think you said there were 36 men at the beginning of the parade^ and 16 at the end? — Yes. 1485. Major O'Reiily.J Then 20 men fell out during the parade ?— Yes. 1486. Sir Harry Verney.'] Do you mean that in four minutes 20 men fell' down ? — Yes, cer- tainly ; I have seen them go down 120 at a parade. 1487. Chairman.'] The next thing in this paper is this : " Sunday, 9th July 1865. Hong Kong. Visited Kowloon, at 5 p.m., with lie' commandant and barrack-master, with a view of ascertaining the least possible number of men that it will be necessary to station there, for the per- formance of the duties of the post The guards are, naval stores, commissariat huts, and Eoyai' Engineer huts. To take these with four nights in bed, it will require a detachment of four Ser- jeants, six corporals, and 110 privates " ? — Yes ; I was one of that party that went over to Kow- • loon. 1488. It goes on : " The troops quartered there in excess of this will bo withdrawn on the llih instant"? — Yes; that is the 11th of July. 1489. But we have had it stated in evidence, over and over again, that all the medical gentle- men have stated that the Europeans should have' at least six or seven nights in bed ? — Yes, and my reginient did duty with only one night in bed occasionally. 1490. But, according to this statement, as soon as it was ascertained that 110 pri-vates could do the duty with four nights in bed, they -withdrew all the other men?— Yes; but you forget that the remainder of the detachment, who went over to Hong Kong, went into hospital; they were not fit for duty. 1491. Sir Harry Verney.] Did vou say that your regiment resumed duty with one night in bed?— Yes. ^ 1492. For how long was that? — There were causes over which one had no control. There were 40 men, say, detailed to-morrow for dtity, and at 12 o'clock at night 36 of them were ad- mitted into hospital sick, and unfit for goin*■■'- 1772. Were any means taken to see that the compradore gave them good fruit ? — ^Yes. ' 1 773. What were those means ? — The constant inspection of the quartermaster and the -officers of SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TKOOPS (CHINA). 73 ■€(?■ the company ; when any man made a com- plaint it was inquired into. I turned one com- pradore away for supplying bad fruit. 1774. Major Anson.'\ You state that the men had a morning and an evening meal ; had they anything after five o'clock in the afternoon ? — Half-past four or five o'clock, I think, was the hour ; it varied according to the days for parade. 1775. Still they had nothing after their tea later at night ?— Nothing. 1776. Not even when they were on guard ?— Yes, they had bread and cheese and half-a-pint .of porter when they were on guard. 1777. Major General Lord Henri/ Pej-cy.] Supposing that the men had mounted guard every 12 hours, and been relieved every 12 hours, would that have made the duty less severe for them ? — No, it would have increased it, I think, because a man got so much more sleep when he had 24 hours off than he would have having 12 hours only. 1778. It has been alleged to be preferable, on account of their having only four hour's sentry in the heat of the sun, and having the change between the night and the day ? — I do not think it would be better myself. Their opinion was that they were better with the 24 hours on guard, because they got the 24 hours off. 1779. Ckairman.2 It has been recommended in evidence here, that it would be very desirable for the men on duty to have a regular meal during the night, at 9 or 10 o'clock ; what do you think of that ? — I think it most necessary ; in the hot weather, the men could not possibly have done the work if we had not supplied them with the bread and cheese and beer at night that I have mentioned. 1780. How was that paid for ? — It was paid for out of the canteen fund. 1781. Was it given to the men on duty, or to the whole regiment ? — To the men on duty. 1782. Can you tell the Committee how the soldiers' wives when sick were treated ? — The medical officer of the regiment visited them, and there was one man told, off for it. 1783. Were there regular wards in the hospital for those who were sick? — Certainly not. The women and children who were sick were lying in their own bunks in St. Francis's Hospital ; it was not fitted to be occupied by the men, but it was handed over for the women. 1784. Then they were treated in their own quarters, where they lived ? — Yes. 1785. What means had the women of living, when their husbands were in hospital? — They had their rations. 1786. Do you know what a soldier pays for his rations ? — Fourpence-halfpenny ; that includes the porter. ' 1787. And when he goes into hospital what does he pay ? — Ninepence. 1788. Do you know anything with regard to the issue of punkahs to non-commissioned officers ? ■ — All the rooms were provided with them. 1789. Did the non-commissioned officers pay for them ? — No ; they were furnished by the Gro- vernment, at. the Government expense, by the Engineer Department. 1790. Was there an allowance of 2d. a-day extra, to a soldier serving in China ? — ^Yes. 1791. Do you know anything about that allow- ance being withdrawn ? — Upon the subsequent amval of any body of troops, or detachment of Engideers/it is to cease to be issued. 0.53. 1792. With regard to the fuel, was that con- CoL^ F sidered sufficient ? — For the rooms it was. Jamer. ' 1793. And for cooking?— No, I have said ' already, that it was insufficient ; they could not U May have their meat roasted and boiled alternately. i866. 1794. Major Anson.l The men had punkahs to all their rooms, had they not?— Yes, to all. 1795. Were the punkah pullers paid for by the Government, or had the men to pay for them themselves ? — They were paid for by the Govern- ment. 1796. There was a sufficient supply of men for that purpose ? — Yes, there was no complaint of that nature at all ; I think they had plenty, as far as my regiment was concerned. 1797. Chairman.'] Does the regimental con- tract system for vegetables and brealrfasts exist in your regiment ? — Yes. 1798. Do you know what the allowance of vegetables per man was out there ? — Three half- pence a day. 1799. Was it allowed in money, not in kind ? — Yes, I think so. 1800. It has been stated to us that the allow- ance was not in money, but that four ounces of vegetables were allowed? — The vegetables used to come to about l^d a-day, I think; they are very cheap. 1801. Can you give any opinion at all upon the advantage of the troops at Hong Kong, in the present state of want of permanent barracks, being on board hulks in the harbour during certain times of the year? — That must be far preferable to being in godowns as we were, because you can have change of air so easily. 1802. Marquis of ITartinffton.] You stated in your evidence the other day, that from what you could learn, the godowns that you were to inhabit had been but a fortnight, at the outside, com- menced being converted into barracks when you arrived ? — Yes. 1803. General Guy states in his letter of the Slst of October 1865, that, " although a consi- derable difficulty was experienced in obtaining these buildings, they were finally engaged on the 17th March; thus no delay, beyond what was absolutely unavoidable, had occurred in con- cluding the necessary arrangements" ; you did not arrive until the Slst of May, I think?-- We arrived on the 28th of May. 1804. Can you give any explanation of your statement as to the alterations flot having been commenced more than a fortnight, when General Guy says the buildings were engaged on the 17th of March, finally ? — ^I can give none, except that the appearance of the state of the buildings themselves confirmed the statement made to me, that they had not been commenced above a fortnight. 1805. Are you sure that that was the fact? — Judging from appearances, I should say it was. 1806. Your belief is, that nothing had been done to those buildings until a fortnight before your arrival? — Not until about a fortnight before we arrived, judging by the state the buildings were in on our arrival ; and we were not in occu- pation of them till the 10th of July. 1807. Was General Guy at Hong Kong when you arrived? — No. 1808. He had left for Japan?— Yes. 1809. Do you know how long before he had left?— About the 18th of the month, some 10 days before we arrived. I will not be certain K about .71 MINUTES OF BVIBEKCE TAKEN BEFORE THE .CoL A..!, about it, but I believe ie had just left .before we Jtvmr. arrived. 1810. And Colonel "Wyatt was in commasnd, 14 M»y was be not? — Colonel Wyatt belongs to my .t866. regiment. He arrived in the " Tamar." Colonel Knox was in command at the time we arrived ; but, on Colonel Wyatt's landing, he, as senior officer, became commandant. 1811. Will you refer to Question 1540 of your evidence ; in reply to a question whether " a commandant has the power to take up buildings, or is he limited as to the sum he may lay out ■upon such objects," you state, " He is limited, even as to the hire of a watchman; he has to pay for it himself if be hires without authority " ? — Yes. -1812. In that, answer, do you refer to a com- mandant as distinguished from a general officer, or would your answer apply equally to a general officer ? — No ; I referred to instructions from the general himself, that he was to hire no more watchmen, and that if he did, he would have ' had to pay for them himself. 1813. Did you ever see any order to that effect ? — No ; Colonel Wyatt mentioned it to me ■himself. 1814. Colonel Wyatt told you so ? — Yes, in his own office. 1815. But the general himself was not limited by any instructions in that manner ? — No, I im- .derstood the question that was put to me to refer to the commandant ; Colonel W yatt, in fact, was the individual referred to, not the generah I know that .general officers have a very much greater limit. 1816. Then, when you said, " he is limited," you only meant that Colonel Wy^'tt was limited by the orders of General Guy ? — Yes. 18 17. Not that he was limited by any order from home ? — All I can say is, that the inference drawn was that his hands were very mucb tied ; that he could not hire watchmen ; that he was instructed not to hire watchmen, and that the two regiments in garrison were to do the duty. 1818. But the question referred to the power to take up buildings ; you are aware that a ge- neral officer has power to take up any buUdings he may consider necessary, has he not ? — Yes. 1819. Do you think that a general officer would incur any pecuniary responsibUilsy in taking up such buildings as he thougbt necessary ? — ^Cer- tainly. 1820. What causes you to think that ? — I think whatever he may iake up is taken up, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for War. 1821. Are you acquainted w;ith a circular under which general officers are allowed to hire build- ings ? — ^^I have not got it before me now. 1822. This is the circular : Circular 361 cor- rected by Circular 401, dated the 17th of December 1858, and the 19th of Maxch 1859. A passage from the latter will be sufficient, it says, '' Paragraph 10 of Circular 361, willread as follows : ' When circumstances do not admit of a reference to England, the General Commanding may, upon receiving the report described in para- graph 3,- direct the Controller of Army Expendi- ture to effect the hiring, resorting, if ,poBsi]ble,1;0 competition.'" Do you not consider that that order gives full power to the general to hire such accommodation as he thiuks necessary ; and do not you think it would be impossible, if the gene- ral referred to that Circular, to make him pay for any buildings which he had hired under it?— That is true ; you are not likely to mate him ;pa7 for it, but he might receive censure for iaving hired expensive buildings. 1823. You mean, if it was shownto-be unneces- sary ?— I always conceive that a general officer oii ablation acts in his position as the Secretary of State for War ; that is to say, all expenses must obtain his sanction before any services are' carried into execution. 1824. Do you mean that you have understood that ie must obtain 'the sanction of the War Office?— No; that his word was sufficient to ensure the service being done. 1825. I understand you to eay that you know of your own knowledge, that General Guy bad issued orders to the commandant to take up ao more buildings, and to;bire no more watehmen? — I do not think I said so with regard to buildings. 1826. The Question, No. 1540, was with re- gard rto buildings ? — About the buildings; I am not aware ; but about the watchmen, the com- mandant told me, in his owJi office, that-he had received orders that he was to hire no more watchmen. 1827. Then, in reply to a question, " There- fore, it is not the fault of the commandant s» much as of the directors of the Government, in limiting him for the sake of economy" ; you said, " His hands are tied"; the commandant's hands in this case were tied by the general, if I under- stand you rightly ? — Yes. 1828. And you cannot point to any orders on the part of thje Government which tied General Guy's hands ? — No, I am not able to do so. 1829. You stated that you were not sent to Japan, because there would be no accommodation for you at Yokohama until the marines embarked? —Yes. . 1830. Are you quite sure that ihere would have been no accommodation? — ^That was the reason given for not moving us ; I have not been to Yokohama. 1831. It was not the reason given to us ; who gave that as the reason ? — I forget who gave the reason ; I did not see the official documents ; that was the reason given wby we did not go up there; and I have heard; it - said by those wh» came down from Yokohama that had we gone up we must have remained on board the ship luntil the marines embarked. 1832. How were the marines removed ? — In the " Conqueror," a man-of-war. 1833. \iOx^ John Hay. 1 Was it Colonel Wyatt who gave you that reason; I suppose it must have been some lofficer senior to you? — I did not see the correspondence ; I was merely in command of a battalion. 1834. Marquis oi HartmgtonA You understood that to be the reason? — Yes, and what, confiirmed it was, that when we sent up 150 men in Sep- tember, the marines were tembarked.^* 1835. Would it have been impossible to encamp you at Yokohama?— That I do not know; 1 never was there. 1836. You do not know, then'',-thatit would not have been possible ?— Njo. 1837. I believe Japan is'supposed to be a very- good climate ? — Very good^ it is very hot in the summer. ; . 1838. There could banoobjectian, probably, to eBreamping troops there? — ^In .the months of September and'October, I ha.-vEBabBrays understood that it is excessively hot. 1839. You state that it was iinpossibl& for ths dirties SELECT GOMMIITEE ON MOEXAIiITX OE TROOPS (CHINA). 75.' duties t0 have. beetiiper&rmed at Hong. Eong by one regiment. If your regiment had been sent. to Japan, -wiouldi not. one healthy regiment^, pro- perly acoonimod&ted, have been, better than two battalions crowded as the men were,, while yours was kept at Hong Koag;? — I look upon it as an impossibility that any European battalion that., ever was raised could do iihe duties of Hong Kong. I have not the slightest hesitation, in saying that it ia animgoea^biUt]?-^ 1840. But they have done it? — ^With assist- ance. But they havie not done it; withithe duties thay have to furnish now. 1841. But it has beeu done j- are you aware of that ? — The. 59th, I believe, did. it; but that. is rather a severe story. 1842. For the purposss of perfarniing the duty at Hong Eong,, after your regiment was struck down by sicknessj it was uearly useless, I sup- pose? — I think we had from 89 to 90 duty meni out of the whole of "our force, and I do not think: the 9th had 200 ;. I do. not think there wene 2S0 dxity men in Ihe. garrison.. 1843. Then one healthy, regiment, as it turned; out,, would, have beeu more available for duty, than, two regiments sucht as- yours and the 9thi were ? — They would furnish, more duty men, o£ course., 1844. Was the « Erincesa Charlotte " in. the. harbour when you arrived ? — Yes. 1S45. What is tha" Princess Charlotte"?^ A. 120-gun. sMpi and a receiving ship for. the IjTavy,, commanded, by Captain i NoUoth. 1846. Do you know bow many men. she wouli hold ?— I should think 1,000. 1847. One: thousand soldiers? — I.^ould say so, in, round numbers.-. 1848. Was any application, made to have your battalion accommodated on. board the. "Princess Charlotte"? — No^, they could, only, afford to take 150-of outmen on. board,, which they did. 1849. Bor what reason? — The; relief of the ^qiiadron was about to take place, and it was not Imown how soou. the " Orontes," or whatever the vessel nai^t bei, that would bring the men out, would arrisFe,. ani ou her arrival, they would lutve to draft them into the receiving ship ; they, would thin the at£famer that came out from. Eng- land; with themj, andj put. them on board: the *' Princess Charlotte,"' 1850. I gather from- your answer^ that an ap- plication was- made to. have part of your battalion, accommodated on board the " Princess Ghar- lotte," ?-r-¥es.. 1851. Tou said " No," just now, .when- 1 asked. Tgou the question? — It was not for. the. whole regiment. L852. Did anyone apply to the Naval Gom- laandant Jqe accommodation, on hoard ship. for. your battaliomi.-— Not for the^-whole, battalion, for a detachment of 150 men to thin the rooms^ 1853. Could you, produce the. correspondence on.that subject? — No.. IS54. Between whom did the, correspondence; take place ? — ^Between the Commandant, Colonel Wyatt, and Captain Nolloth,, of Her Majesty's- ship " Princess Charlotte." 1855. What. did. Captain, Nolloth say? — First of all„he said, he could not take any. I went to him subsequently, and ha said," I can take- 150;. Lcannottakei more.!' .1856. you. went yourself to see him?— Yes^ ISai. Chairm.an.2 There ia this entry in the? the paper we ,have before us : " The detach- 0.53i. ment 2nd-l 1th Eegiment, 150 men and six offi- cers,, will be removed to Her Majesty's ship ' Prin- cess Charlotte,' the senior naval officer. Captain Nolloth, having kindly consented to this arrange- ment." ?' — Yes, it was a private: request of mine. 1858. MarquiB of Hartinfftan.'] Was that when you first arrived ? — No ; it was when, the sickness was. so great., 1859. No application was made when you ar- rived? — No, not that I am aware of ; it might have been, done without my knowledge ; it was not done to my knowledge. I860., You did not make it ?--No. 1861. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] It was not your place to do so ? — No. 1S62. Marquis of Hartington.'] You are not aware whether, when your battalion arrived, any application for accommodation was made to the naval authorities or not? — I feel confident it was not, but it was not within my province ; I should not' have known if it had been, in all probability, e^Rceptthatin this case, aa.the commandant was my senior major, I think he would not have done it without consulting me upon the sub^ ject ; therefore, I think, I may say it was not done. 1863. Then you cannot state from your own knowledge that there was no available accommo- dation on board ships at the time of your ar^ rival? — No, I could not say anything at all about it, it was not within my province. 1864. Chairman.'] Except that Captain Nol- loth refused to take on board any of your men at first? — That was not when we first went there on the 3 1st of May ; when he was applied' to he refused' first of allj and afterwards he consented. 1865; Colonel Percy Herbert.] What was the date of the refusal? — I will take the date of the men leaving the " Hercules," as the day we ap- plied for those men to on board the " Princess Charlotte." 1866. I want to know the date when you asked for them to go on boa.rd the " Princess Charlottie " ?— It was about that date ; I cannot state exactly. 1867. Was it sometime in June? — It was sometime in June. 1868. Where was the "Princess Charlotte" lying ? — In the harbour. 1869; That was handjifor the performance of garrison duty ? — Yes, quite. 1870. Marquis of Hartington.] When the al- terations in the godowns were completed, was the battalion tolerably well accommodated? — No, very badly. 1S71. But it was better than when yon landed at first ? — Yes, certainly. 18-72. Then the great overcrowding and' suffer- ing took place in consequence of the buildings not having been taken in hand in sufficient time ? — They were not ready upon our arrivalj and that was the fact. 1873. You stated that the officers did not receive any allowance for chairs, or anything of that sort , your words were " None whatever, not a stiv* ; they had a general one, for the duties amongst themselves, which they paid for," but you did receive special allowances, did you not ? — Colonial allowances. 1874. To what amount? — I received, as the. officer commanding the battalion, 13 «.. a-day; the field officers got 13 «., and the other ranks of officers 10*. a-rday. 1875. As a lieutenant colonel you were en- K 2 titled 061.,^. .^. Jemter. 54 May 76 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Col. A. F. titled to forage allowance for two horses, were Jenner. you not? — Yes; everywhere else but in China, — — because lieutenant colonels and all field officers 14 May are put upon the same allowance. 1866. ig76_ Had you forage for two horses?— No; I did. not draw forage at all. It did not matter who the field officers were ; they were all draw- ing the same Colonial allowance of 13 5. a-day. 1877. The forage allowance was included in that, was it not ? — Yes. 1878. Major General Lord Henry Percy.\ What are called the consolidated allowances in- cluded everything, did they not?— Every single thing, with the exception of lodging. 1879. Chairman.] "Would not you have been entitled to 1 1, a-day as a full colonel ? — You are thinking of the staff, I think. 1880. General Dunne.] You were asked as to the marines ; you are aware that they were sub- sequently embarked at Yokohama, and came down when part of your regiment went up ? — Part of our regiment went up on the 2d of Sep- tember ; 150 of us. 1881. That was in consequence of the with- drawal of the marines, was not it ? — Yes. 1882. There can be no doubt that the marines were at Japan, at the time you arrived at Hong Kong ? — Certainly ; we relieved them. 1883. You stated, that a whole battalion could not do the duties at Hong Kong, did you say that upon the supposition that these men could be a healthy battalion then ? — Yes. 1884. The Secretary of State for War seems to think that the duties depended upon the Ge- neral, do they not depend upon the service to be performed ? — The General, of course, must be guided as . to the number of men he requires by the duty to be performed. 1885. The General cannot capriciously name any number of sentries, he must apportion the number of sentries to the duties required to be performed ? — Yes. 1886. Those duties at Hong Kong required more sentries than one regiment could furnish ? — Certainly. 1887. The duties became heavier in consequence of ' the withdrawal of the black troops ; your sentries were substituted for black sentries, were they not ? — 1 was not in China with the black troops. 1888. They were there before you came? — Yes, they^ left in April. 1889. Can there be any doubt that the with- drawal of those troops was the cause of the in- crease of mortality amongst the British troops which were sent there? — It was yery much attributable to the severity of the duty ; the night work in particular. •; 1890. That, of course, was owing to the with- drawal of the black troops ? — Yes. 1891. The allowances which the British gar- rison got when the black troops were there have now been withdrawn, have they not? — Yes, they have been altered to the consolidated allowances. 1892. They have allowed them something more than the ordinary pay, have they not? — Yes. 1893. Are not those allowances perfectly ne- cessary to the health of the troops, in order to procure them extra comforts ? — Yes ; but I think they continued the soldier in his 2 d. a-day, and his od. a^month in lieu of something (I do not know what). The men still continued to enjoy that ; but it was to cease on any battalion, or any detachment of artillery, or engineers arriving in future. 1894. Are you aware that during the con- tinuance of the British troops there, they will get the extra pay beyond what they get in other colonies ? — Those that are now in the command will. 1895. For the future ?— Yes. 1896. What has been struck off? — Nothing has been struck off from the soldiers ; it has been from the officers only. 1897. The only economy that has been effected, has been by taking from the officers and not from the soldiers ? — Certainly. 1898. That you are aware of? — Yes. 1899. Are you aware of the cause of the with- drawal of the black troops ? — No. 1900. Will you look at that letter from the Treasury which has been put in evidence, dated 17th December 1864; did you ever see that letter, or are you aware of it ? — I never saw it. 1901. Do you think that the last paragraphin that letter was the c.ause of the withdrawal of the black troops. The Treasury presses upon Sir George Lewis to withdraw the troops " from the double disadvantage of the greater charge involved in the employment of European troops, and of the extra allowances entailed by the em- ployment in connection with them of sepoys"?. — Yes. 1902. Did you understand that to be the reason for the withdrawal of the troops, or can you form any opinion as to what the reason was ? — I have an opinion, but I do not know what the reason was. 1903. However, the fact was that there was a reduction of the allowance ? — A reduction was made, but that must be taken with the proviso that the black troops had left the command. 1904. Then the reduction did not take place until they, had left the command ? — No ; the letter of the War Office, I believe, is dated the 29th of May 1865, as far as my memory serves me, and; it was not received in Hong Kong, I think, until some time in August ; I will not be positive about the date. The allowance ceased to be issued, P think, on the 31st of October ; three months were to run after the letter was received. 1905. As an officer of experience, do you think that there was any real economy to the country' in the withdrawal of the black troops, which caused such a mortality among the British troops ? — Just the reverse. 1906. It must have cost the country a great deal more ? — Yes. 1907. The value of a British soldier out there is considerable, is it not ? — Considerable. 1908. And the saving by not giving the batta to those unfortunate officers was a very triffing saving comparatively, was not it ? — Very trifling: indeed, I think. ; 1909. Lord John Hay.] With regard to the necessity of having so many sentries, could not native police or watchmen do a considerable por- tion of the duties that were performed by sentries in protecting public property? — There are no native police. 1 1910. But supposing that some police establish- ment were created there, and watchmen employed? — They would require surveillance. 1911. Do the merchants protect their valuable property in the stores at Hong Kong by native watchmen ? — Yes. 1912. And their goods, I suppose, are as valuable SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TROoTPS (cHINA). 77 valuable as the property in the storehouses of the Government, are they not ? — Yes, but the mer- ■chants' stores are all close up together, whereas the Imperial stores are scattered all over Hong Kong ; they are very much scattered. 1913. You stated, in answer to Question 1570, " that the men of your regiment had to go about a quarter of.a mile to the rear, in consequence of there being no convenience of any sort or kind in the godowns" ? — Yes. 1914. Did you represent the exposure that the men were subject to ? — Yes. 1915. What was the result? — That latrines were temporarily erected ; it was of course the best arrangement that could be made. 1916. Were the arrangements of a nature that would protect the men from exposure ? — Yes. 1917. Therefore, when the evil was represented, it was remedied ? — As quickly as possible. 1918. I think you said also that when buildings were found not to have sufficient ventilation, a greater amount of ventilation was immediately made for them ? — Yes. 1919. That applies to Heard's Buildings? — Yes. 1920. When your men had no helmets, did you apply for umbrellas for the men going out when exposed to the sun ? — I must explain about the umbrellas ; they are only allowed for the orderlies and clerks going backwards and for- wards for orders to their respective barracks with orders, &c. I drew 100. 1921. One hundred umbrellas? — Yes. The men are not allowed out in the open as a rule until late in the evening, and therefore they do not require them. 1922. You stated that 150 men were sent on board the "Princess Charlotte" for Japan? — Yes. 1923. How did they go to Japan, by being sent on board the " Princess Charlotte" ? — You will observe, that there were the same number withdrawn from the " Hercules," and then Kow- loon was full, and I selected the 5th and 6th companies, the two healthiest companies in the battalion, for Japan, and Captain NoUoth kindly took . them on board the " Princess Charlotte," and there they remained until they embarked for Japan. 1924. In this case which you mentioned with regard to General Wynyard, when he was sur- charged to the amount of 3,000 1, for sending the 99th from Sydney to Van Dieman's Land, and the ilth from Van Dieman's Land to Sidney (it is in Questions 1604 to 1607), had he received any instructions to make the removal ? — No, he did it on his own responsibility. 1925. In this case are you aware that, with regard to the hiring of buildings in Hong Kong, the General had received distinct instructions from the War Office that he was to make those arrangements ? — I am not aware of it. 1926. Will you look at the letter of the 10th of January 1865, from the War Office, and say from that letter, when you have read it, whether it would not appear that instructions had been given to the General to provide proper accom- ^. modation for the troops on arriving at Hong \ Kong?— Yes. \ 1927. Do you think that the case which you Uted, of General Wyliyard being surcharged, i'here he had no instructions, is at all parallel to the case of responsibility likely to be incurred 0.53. by the General at Hong Kong, when he had re- ceived precise instructions to do certain things ? — Certainly not ; there are the General Officers' Instructions there, from the War Office. In the other case it was on his own responsibility. 1928. Supposing you were in the position of a general in command at Hong Kong, do you consider, under the circumstances of having re- ceived instructions of that nature, sucli a desire being shown as is shown in that letter which you have just read, and being aware also of the circular, that you would have hesitated to make such preparations as would have been suitable for the accommodation of the troops ? — Certainly not in Hong Kong ; but in a healthy climate I shojald have delayed, decidedly, before I should have incurred such a heavy expense. 1929. I speak of the particular case of Hong Kong, where, not having the proper accommo- dation, would be likely to cause great sickness among the troops, would you have hesitated, under instructions of that sort, to incur such ex- penses as was necessary for their accommoda- tion ? — No, certainly not. 1930. With reference to Question 1655, sup- posing that expense had not been a difficulty in the minds of the authorities, was there any diffi- culty in getting good accommodation at Hong Kong for the Ilth? — No, I think not; but we know that directly the Government go into the market the prices rise to an enormous and fabulous degree. 1931. The room existed there; it was a mere question of price and cost ? — Yes. 1932. In reference to Question 1665, suppos- ing the buildings to which you refer in that part of your evidence had been required, would they not have been got possession of in less than a month ; I mean, could not the tenants have been ejected by the orders of the Government? — No; they were private dwelling houses ; they were not Government property at all. They belonged to private proprietors. 1933. They are houses that are let, are they not? — Yes. 1934. They are not houses lived in by the proprietors ?— No ; they are in rows. 1935. They are rows of houses to let? — Yes; residences. 1936. If those buildings were required for the use of the troops, would it not have been within the power of the Government to have taken possession of them for the use of the troops ? — I cannot answer that question. I should think not. 1937. With regard to Question 1689, you say that the year 1865, as I understand, was not more sickly than usual ; and you are referring specially to the time when the 1 1th were there ; are you aware whether the ships in the fleet that were at Hong Kong at that time were unusually sickly ? — No ; I cannot say I am. But there were very few of them there ; most of them were up at Shanghai, along the coast, and at Japan. 1938. Did you happen to know of the " Cor- morant " being there ? — Yes ; she had been down to Manilla, and got the cholera there. 1939. Was she unusually unhealthy at Hong Kong ? — I think she was ; but from that cause only. I think she brought up one or two cases of cholera with her, and fever also, if I remem- ber rightly. 1940. You mean she was unhealthy at Manilla? - — Yes ; I think that was where the disease was contracted. ' K 3 1941. Colonel Col. A. F. Jenner, 14 May 1866. 78 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOEB THE Col. A. K Jemtm. 1866. 1941. Colonel Percy Herbertl Will you state to the Committee what the accommodation for troops was at Kowloon, when you arrived? — Mat huts, aay: from 2 J feet to 3 feet, off the ground. 1942. Were there any permanent buildings at Kowloon? — ^No, none; I was thinking at first whether I ought to mention the chapel, or not. 1943. I mean, private or public property? — It belonged to the public. 1944. My question is, were there any perma^ ftjent buildings, at Kowloon, either public or pri- vate?- — Notoccupiied^by the troops. 1945. Available for the troops ? — No. 1946;. Permanent buildings that could bave be*n hired ? — No. 1947. Lord John Hay-I With regard to Quee-r tioa 1714, you state, that you never saw sheets issued for use onboard ship for troops ? — Neverw. 1946. Do you refer to cases of hospital ships? — To every kind of ship; even in the sick bays in troop. ships, I never saw sheets used. 1949; Have you ever visited a hospital ship, in which there were sick troops? — Yes, many. 1950. And did you never observe sheets? — Never:; I was Acting Quartermaster General for li2; years, and I never saw it. 1951.. Where was that? — In Sydney. 1952. Have you ever seen a hospital ship within the tropics ? — Yes, two. 1953. Where ?— At Japan and China 1954. Had they not sheets ? — I think that was the ship that gave rise to the very question you are asking about now ; they had no sheets. 1955. What were the two ships ? — The ships that brought home the invalids of the 9th and nth. 1956. Were the men imder treatment ? — Every one. 1957. You have not seen a regular hospital ship then, but only an invalid ship ? — That is all. 1958. Chairman.^ With regard to the latrines. Lord John H ay asked you, whether the men going a quarter of a. mile to their privies and latrines was not remedied by their being brought into the godowns, or wherever they were quartered ; I think you stated the other day, that they caused a most tremendous stench ?'— That is another place ; that was what was considered the perma- nent barracks which theybuilt for us ; there the latrines were put on the lower part of the build- ing, under a barrack room, with 80 people in it. 1959. Where were the latrines put that Lord John Hay referred to ? — They were put on the outside ; I suppose there were six or eight feet between the building and the outside wall; eight feet, I should say. 1960. And under cover? — Under cover. 1961. Mr. Stanley.'] You mentioned that the latrines were about six or eight feet from the wall, and under cover, were there any windows from the barracks directly opening upon them.? — I do not know ; I do not recollect. 1 962. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Re- femhg to the questions; of the Secretary of State for War, relative to the power of the General as to hiring quarters, &c.,.your answer was,, I think that a general would be liable to be surcharged for expenses? — Yes. 10^3. By that you mean, do you not, unless he had a special order to incur what expenses he thought proper ? — Yes, certainly. 1964. CAamnaw.] Have you anything else you wish to state to the Committee ? — I should like to call the attention of the Committee to one thing, thatis, with regard to Dr. Saunders of the 9th, hia attention to the sick, the arduous duties he had to perform, and the manner in which he pec- formed them, I must, say reflects credit on him mosti strongly ;, nothing could exceed hia attention to all classes night and day., 1965. He was the principal medical officer, was not he?-— He was the principal medical officer present in Victoria. 1966. In the absence of Dr. Dick? — Yes. 1967. Marquis of Hartinytan.] Was there anj deficiency of medical offiiGers?— A great defi- ciency.. 1968. What medical officers were there pre- sent? — There were three in the garrison. 1969. Who were those?— Dr. Saunders, As- sistant Surgeon Smith, of the Artillery, and Assistant Surgeon Piper, of the 2nd-9th,, who had medif-al charge of the 11th. 1970. Do yonknow what other medical officers there were in the command? — I know that there were two,, if not three, medical officers belonging to Her Majesty's -Navy told off. for duty among the troops. 1971. But you know that there were other medical officers in, Japan? — ^es. 1972. You do not know how many? — No. 1973. Dr. Dick was in Japan, was he not? — Yes, he was the cmly one I knew of as being there. 1 974. Did he leave with the General ? — No, he left after the General. 1975. Did he leave after your arrival ? — ^Yes. 1976. Before the men became sickly, I prer sume ?' — Yes. 1977. Are you aware of any grfiat delay or in- convenience which took place in- consequence of references to the General, he being in Japan at the time ; was not there some delay in obtainU]^ extra hospital accommodation ? — That is hearsay. I saw no correspondence upon the subj^ect, but.I know it is a fact. 1978. You know that there was a deficiency^of hospital accommodation? — Certainly; I have stated in my evidence ihat the men were lying about in all directions, 1979. Do you not know that reference was made to the General? — Yes; I hav£ not seen the correspondence, but I am aware that it was so* 1980. Would you have hesitated under those circumstances to take up the necessary hospital accommodation withoutareferenoe to the General^ — No, I should not, have hesitated a moment; I diould have dome it at once. 1981. What length of time did it usually take to communicate with the General ; to send a letter and to get an answer? — A month; it was a.fQrfcr nightly communication. 1982. Are you aware of any orders which, he left, for the instruction of the Commandant ? — No, I saw none,. nor did I hear of any. 1983. Except with reference to. the hiring, of watchmen? — That was from Japan. 1984. Tiat came from Japan? — Yes. 1985. The order wa& that the Commandant was to hire no more watchmen ? — Yes. 1986. Major General; Lord. Henry PercyJ] Do_y,ou know how long the General, had been at Japan before your arrival?— I should, say about 10 days; I think he went away upon the; l8tE of the month,, by. the mail., 1987. Mr. Stanley.] Yau ha^e stated that there was a great deficiency of medical officeja» vras SELECT COMMITTEE OK MORTArrTT OF TROOPS (CHINA). 79 was there any question of employing any private practitioners in aid of the medical officers of the service ? — There were no j)rivate practitioners, with the exception of about three or four in the island, and they had plenty of work of their own, they would not have been able to afford the assistance required. 1988. Chairman.'] You were deprived of the services of two of your medical officers, were you not? — Yes, one of them, an assistant surgeon, died, aud the other was invalided ; the second assistant surgeon had never joined me. Col. A. F. Jevmer. 14 Ma|y 1866. Waldemae Schmidt, 'Esq. ; called in, and Examined. ISS'O. Chairman.'] I :beliete what are called " Fletcher's premises " were hired from you ? — Yee. 1990. What were the terms upon which they were hired ? — 1 think the terms Avere 1,900 dol- lars a month, and they were taken for one year certain, and were to make certain alterations in the , godoAATis ; we were to build two storeys on to them. There were three godowns, and on each of the outside godowns we were to put an extra storey to accommodate the troops. 1991. Were there any verandahs ? — ^No ; there was no room for making verandahs. 1992. How were they got up to, by staircases or ladders, or how ? — There was a central stair- case leading from the first floor .up to the second floor. In the centre of this great room there was a staircase leading up to the upper storey, it acted as staircase and caused ventilation at the same time. 1993. Can you give us an idea of the number of men the building was capable of accommo- dating? — No; I could not say how many were accommodated. I believe there were somewhere about 400 accommodated altogether, but I cannot speak to that. 1994. Do you know how the godowns were to be paid for, whether monthly, quarterly, or annually ? — I think they were to be paid for monthly, but I am not certain ; at all events, the rent was so much per month. 1995. These buildings were used for merchan- dise, were they not? — Yes, they were for Man- chester D;oods; the Government had had them before ; the commissariat had had the lower parts of the godowns before. In the upper parts we have stored Manchester goods, and all sorts of light goods. 1996. But they happened to be empty at the time they were applied for ? — They happened to be^ empty at this particular time, in consequence principally of the dulness of business, owing to the American War. 1997. Did you say that the rent was 1,900 dollars a-month? — One thousand nine hundred dollars a-month. 1998. Is not that an enormous rent ? — No ; con- adering first of all the alterations we had to make. 199S. How much Is that a month? — It is somewhere about 450 I. ar-month, but then we had to make alterations which amounted to somewhere about 12,000 dollars^ in order to accommodate the G-ovemmeht. • "2000. In these " Fletcher's premises" there were no recreation rooms, or anything of that sort, for the troops ; you did not add any rooms for .recreation or amusement, did jou? — No, we were only to put on another storeyj and then we were to run up certain partitions on the ground ffoor, for bath rooms, guard rooms, and various other purposes. '2001. If your stores had been filled wift the m^eEchandise you refer to, would ihereTiave'been 0.53. any difficulty in getting any other large accom- Jf. Schmidt, modation of the same sort? — Yes, I should sSy there would, decidedly ; I do not think the Go- vernment could at all have got it; in fact, so anxious were they that we should tender these godowns, that they actually came round and begged me to tender them, because first of all I was not very willing to tender them. It is not very pleasant to turn private property into bar- racks, particularly when you have so many altera- tions to make as we had ; people were not anxious to tender their property for barracks. 2002. Even for a large rent ? — Not even for a large rent ; if I could have let them in any other way I should decidedly have done so. 2003. In preference to letting them for this purpose ? — Yes. 2004. Do you happen to know of any rows of houses which might have been available ? — I heard Colonel Jenner speak of some rows of houses, but I do not know what he referred to. 2005. He stated that they belonged to Dr. Fisher, and were alongside of some property of Mr. Pollard's ? — They are very high up on the hill ; they are somewhere about 400 feet up on the hill, and if they are private houses, I should fancy that the owner would not like to let them for barracks. 2006. Were they suitable for barracks? — I- should say not ; first of all, from the mere fact of their being 400 feet up the hill, if the troops are to be of any service below in the city itself To have always to march up and down in the burning sun 400 feet, would of itself almost neutralise the effect of living .up there, because no resident in China would like to walk 400 feet up the hill in the burning midday sun, or indeed at any time. 2007. Major ^wsoTz.] Were those houses as high up as the Government House? — They were higher up, according to Colonel Jenner's de- scription. 2008. Chairman.] Do you know of any pre- mises down below, near wlf ere your own godowns are, that the Government could have got for troops ? — Not one. 2009. Not even by paying any amoxmt for it ? —Not one, unless they were to take Chinese houses, whicl), of course, would be perfectly un- suitable. 2010. There were no merchants' houses? — None whatever ; there are none at all ; in fact, in the whole of that quarter, there is nothing but Government buildings. 2011. Even considering that you had to build on two storeys to your godowns, still the rent being 450 1, a-month, the expenses of Hong Kong must be enormous at that rate? — The ex5)ensEs in Hong Kong are very enormous ; we always say out there that a dollar is equal to a shilling at home; we look upon it as:belne so, and, in - fact, our expenses ' are proptSTtionea to a dollar, that is, 4 s. 6 (?. out there, helng eqiialto a shil- K 4 ling 80 MINUTES OJP EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE IV. Schmidt, Esq. 14 May 1866. ling in England. When you spend a shilling here you spend 4.?. 6 d. out there. 2012. -Colonel Feraj Herbert.'] Will you tell the Committee your opinion whether if the au- thorities there had endeavoured to procure barrack accommodation for 500 additional men, at that time they could have obtained as suitable buildings as those that you let to the Govern- ment ? — Those vf ere the only buildings they could get at the time, and then there were some other godowns also, M'Gregor's go-downs, which they got afterwards. 2013. Could they besides those have got any suitable building to accommodate 500 additional men ? — No. 2014. For any price ? — No, not for any reason- able price. 2015. Lord John Hat/.] Were there any ships in the harbour that could have been hired? — No doubt there was plenty of shipping at the time ; there was any quantity of shipping in the har- bour ; but at that time of the year all the vessels are anchored on the other side of the harbour. I should fancy it would not do at all to have sol- diers on board ships at that time of the year, because you could not land your soldiers if you wanted them. 2016. Chairman.] Do you refer to merchant vessels, or men-of-war ? — To both ; it was owing to this being the typhoon season that they were anchored at the Kowloon side. By the rules of the harbour master, the vessels have to anchor right over on the other side of the harbour at that season, and the consequence is, whenever there is a strong blow, you cannot land at all, you cannot communicate with the shore. You might have put your soldiers on board ship, if you wished, but if you wanted them on shore, you could not get them ; therefore, I fancy that mode of accommodating the troops would be quite impracticable. 2017. Lord John Hay.] Without reference to the convenience of their position in regard to the duties they would have to perform at Hong Kong, would there have been any difficulty, when there was not sufficient space for the troops, in chartering of ships anchored over at Kowloon? — They could have got ships. 2018. Chairman.] Would chartering ships for that purpose have been an expensive arrange- ment ? — >I think it would not have been very expensive, because freights were very low at the time ; there was plenty of shipping in tlj^e harbour. 2019. General Dunne.] I gather from what you have stated, that you would consider that General Guy had -done all he could to accommo- date the 11th? — I befieve he has done all that possibly could be done. I do not see that any- thing else could have been done. 2020. You think that no other buildings could have been hired? — I do not think they could at all. 2021. Can you tell me whether that season was healthy or unhealthy, among the civilians? — ^It was very unhealthy. 2022. I say among the civilians? — Yes, very unhealthy. 2023. Do you think the mortality was un- usually great that summer? — I was not there the whole summer, but the heat was very extra- ordinary when I was there ; it was greater than I ever experienced before. 2024. Major General Lord Henry Pjercy.] Do you know whether the colonial or military authorities at Hong Kong have the power to appropriate private property for Government purposes without reference to the wishes of the owners ?— No, I do not ; I should fancy not. 2025. Mr. Trevelyan.] Were you entirely re- sponsible for the way in which the work of altering the buildings which you let to the Government was carried on ? — We were to de- liver them over as soon as they possibly could be got ready, and we commenced the alterations immediately that we made the contract with the Government. We contracted for the alterations, and they took somewhere about three months. 2026. General Dunne.] Will you state the date of the contract with the Government ?— -I really do not know the date, but I should say it was somewhere about the 20th of March, and we - - commenced the alterations immediately ; in fact, we got the scaffijldings put up before we had actually signed the contract with the Govern- ment. 2027. And you used all due diligence ? — Yes, we got them ready as fast as we possibly could ; in fact, it was our interest to get them ready as soon as possible, because our rent commenced the sooner. 2028. 'M.&^or Anson.] With regard to the ships in the harbour at Hong Kong, not very many ships which are employed in the China trade would be suitable for hospital ships, would they ? — No. 2029. Or even as a floating barrack ? — I should imagine that they would not be at all suitable for troops to live on board of. 2030. Great alterations would be necessary in order to adapt them for that purpose, would they ' " not? — Yes, they would have to have port-holes made, and all sorts of alterations. 1 stated only that the ships were there if they liked to put the troops on board, but T think that the troops would have been stiU worse off if they had been on board ship. 2031. Marquis of Hartingten.] Why do you think that? — Because the ships, generally speak- ing, are not properly ventilateid ; most of the ships are only made to carry tea and other cargoes. 2032. Major Anson.] They are a totally dif- ferent class of ship from those which you could use for troops? — Yes; at Calcutta you would find a great many ships quite suitable for troops to live on board of, but not' in China. 2033. Chairman.] You say it was the typhoon season ; would there then have been danger in the ships being brought over to the Hong Kong side of the harbour ? — Ships are not allowed to anchor upon the Hong Kong side, on account of its being dangerous in typhoons ; all the vessels are anchored over in the bay of Kowloon. 2034. If the soldiers had been put on board those ships they must have been brought over to the Hong Kong side, in order to disembark to perform the duties of the garrison ; would there have been danger in the ships coming over to the. Hong Kong side ?— Yes, so at least the harbour master seems to think, because he orders the ships to anchor over there from the Ist of June (I think that is the date) ; from that time they anchor over in the bay of Kowloon, just here {pointing to the map) ; at other times of the year they anchor here {pointing to the map.) 2035. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Ig not it safe for them to lay close to the town ? No, » » ..A SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS (cHINA). 81 Noj it is not supposed to be so in the typhoon season. 2036. Colonel Perci/ Herbert] What is the distance of the place where they lay from the town of "Victoria? — About IJ miles, I should say. 2037. Is there a heavy sea running? — "Very often. 2038. Lord John Hay.\ You mean in a typhoon ? — When the wind blows strpng from the south-west, there is a heavy sea running. , 2039. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] Then, troops quartered on the other side of the harbour would not be available for garrison duties at Hong Eong, would they ? — I should say not. 2040. Lord John Hay.] Is the " Princess Charlotte " moved over to the other side of the harbour ? — Yes, and the " Hercules " too. 2041. In June ?— Yes. 2042. Chairman.] What arrangements are made as regards guarding your establishments or merchandizes ? — We have got private watchmen. 2043. What description of men , are they ? — They are Coolies ; but we can always get a better class of men than Government could, because we have got a sort of major-domo to our establish- ment, who always guarantees all the servants, and any loss that we might incur through the negligence of our watchmen, the compradore would have to make it good. 2044. Are they natives or Europeans? — Na- tives, Chinese. 2045. Could that system be adopted by Go- vernment? — Not so well, because you would not be able to get such good men as we have. 2046. Major General Lord Z?e«ry Percy.] "WTiy could not the Government get as good men? — Prom the simple fact that we have a major-domo, a compradore as he his called. 2047. Why should not the Government have a major-domo ? — The compradore whom we em- ploy is our head man in every respect, that is to say, our head Chinaman ; he gets a certain profit out of all the business that we do, and he engages all our servants. 2048. Mr. Stanley.] Would it be possible to have a compradore, with regard to the Govern- ment stores ? — I should say not, because he would not get any profit out of them. The compradore, in the case of a merchant, is an interested indi- vidual ; he guards his own interest as well as the interest of the house, and therefore it is to his interest to get good servants. 2049. Chairman.] Have you any idea what you are accustomed to pay these men ? — We paid them six dollars a month. 2050. Did you feed them besides ? — No. 2051. Nor clothe them ?— No. 2052. How are your clerks paid ; do you pay this compradore ? — He gets a certain commission on all the business that the house does. 2053. Is he above all your Europeans ? — He is our head man. 2054. Would the European clerks be under him ? — No ; he is our head Chinaman. 2055. Lord John Hay.] It is through him that your-mercanlile transactions are carried on? — Yes ; with the Chinese. 2056. Amounting to many thousands of dollars at a time ? — Yes. 2057. He derives a profit from them ? — Yes ; he gets a certain commission from the native dealers. 2058. Chairman.] How are your European elerks paid ; what sort of salaries do they get ? — ,0.53. A clerk gets from 300 1. to 500 1., and more than that, a year ; the lowest clerk gets 300 l. a year, and the house finds him in board and lodging. 2059. Besides the 300 I. a-year?— Yes. 2060. That is the youngest clerk ?— Yes. 2061. What did your head clerk have? — £. 1,000 a-year. 2062. Marquis of Hartington.] Are there any Colonial police at Hong Kong ? — Yes ; there are police, but very poor; they are Madras men, black police. 2063. Are they under English oflScers ? — .Yes. There are some white police, too ; the Serjeants are white, and the superintendent, of course, is an Englishman. 2064. Do you know what the strength of the force is ? — No, I really do not ; but I know that it is very difficult for them to guard the city at present, and I do not think that they could at all guard the Government stores also at the same time. 2065. But I suppose they might be improved ? — There is very great room for improvement. 2066. Lord John Hay.] You might increase their number, I suppose ? — Yes ; but they are a very poor class of men. 2067. In what way ? — I think they are about the lowest class of Indians that we get there. 2068. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Could not a better class of Indians be got ? — No, they do not care about taking that employment. 2069. Marquis of Hartington.] Are there any Chinamen in the police force? — Yes, there are some, but I believe they do not work very weU ; Chinamen are so apt to go hand in hand that they are not very good policemen, I believe. 2070. Chairman.] They are notorious thieves besides, are they not? — Yes. 2071. Marquis of Hartington.] Are there any Malays in the force ? — Yes, I should fancy there are ; it is a very mixed kind of police ; in fact, they take almost anyone they can get, and are glad to do so. 2072. They might be improved, you say ? — Yes. 2073. Chairman.] It is not an efiicient body of police ? — Not at all. 2074. Major Anson.] Are there any Indian half castes in the force l — Yes, Portuguese. 2075. From India ? — From Macao, mostly. 2076. Have you got any half castes from Cal- cutta ?— I do not know ; we call these half caste men all Portuguese out there. 2077. Lord John Hay.] Would no amount of pay secure a good native police, under a well paid head ? — 1 do not feel really that I can answer that question ; it might be, 2078. General Dunne.] Do not those compra- dores give security also? — Yes, they give secu- rity. 2079. A considerable security? — Yes. 2080. Therefore, you have a hold upon them which the Government could not have ? — Exactly ; we have a very different hold upon them from anything the Government could have. 2081. Do you think that a substitution of watch- men for British sentries would answer as far as your experience goes 1 — No, I do not think so. 2082. Chairman.] I suppose you do not know the expense of an Indian regiment there ? — No, 2083. If a selected body of thesemen you have referred to were employed by the Government, would they be more expensive than an Indian regiment ? — I could not say, L 2084. General W. Schmidt, Esq, 14 May 1866. 82 MINUTES OP EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOEE THE W.Schmidt, 2084. General Dunne.'\ You know what a Esq. British soldier's pay is ; Is. a, day ? — Yes. ""rrr 2085. Do you think he could live sufficiently i866 ^®^^ *° preserve health and comfort upon that in pay in Hong Kong ? — I do not think so. 2086. Marquis oi Hartington.'] Do you know what a British soldier's ration in Hong Kong is ? — I have heard ; I do not know exactly what he gets ; I believe it is something very scanty ; I have always been told so. 2087. Do you know what it is ? — No, I do not know exactly. 2088. You do not know whether 1«. a day represents the whole of what a British soldier gets there?— I know that he gets something else besides. 2089. Do you know what a soldier is charged for his ration ?— No. I should fancy, however,, that it would be impossible, with any ration, to live upon 1 «i a day. 2090. Major General Lord Henry Percyi\ Do you consider that the sum of 15 «. 6 rf. a - L 2 mend Lieut. Gen. Sir J. H. Grant, G.C.B. 14 May i866. 84 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEEORE THE 1866. Lieut. Gen. mend to the Secretary of State for War that a Sir hospital ship of the description proposed by J. H. Grant, Major General Guy, be sent out to Hong Kong G.CB. to replace the ' Hercules.' I am to request that ~~rr the enclosures may be returned." It is signed 14 May jjy gj^ Richard Airey, The next is a letter of the 5th May 1865, from the Quartermaster Ge- neral to the War Office. 2121. What was the answer to the former let- ter ? — I have it here. 2122. Marquis of Hartington.] Can you state what Vv-as the effect of the answer to the letter of the 10th of March? — The answer came on the 17th of May 1865 from the War Office, that it was not expedient to replace the " Hercules." 2123. Chairman.'] What was the date of your letter to the War Office ?— The 10th of March ; it was not my letter, it was Sir Kichard Airey's letter. 2124. And the answer was dated the 17th of May ?— Yes. 2125. Colon&l Percy Herbert] The Quarter- master General recommended that there should he another vessel sent out, did not he? — Yes, instead of the " Hercules," which had, in fact, foundered. 2126. It was requested that the " Hercules" might be replaced ? — Yes, by another ship. 2127. And the War Office wrote back to say that it was not expedient to do so ? — Yes. 2128. Did they give any reason for it ?— No. 2129. Did they enclose any letter from the Admiralty ? — There Avas a letter afterwards from the Admiralty. 2130. Did the Admiralty letter state the rea- son ? — The Admiralty letter stated that it would cost from 13,000 Z. to 14,000 Z to replace the " Hercules," that the ship by which she was re- placed would only last 10 years, and therefore they thought it more exj)edient to build a hos- pital. 2131. But the hospital was not built, and the ship was not sent out ? — There was not accom- modation enough for half the patients, I believe, according to what the doctor wrote and said. 2132. Chairman.] What was the date of the second letter from the Horse Guards relating to the " Hercules"?— The 22d of May 1865. 2133. And what was the date of the answer from the War Office ?— The 1st of July 1865. 2134. Colonel Percy Herbert.] You can put these letters in, can you not ? — Yes, the Secre- tary of State for War authorises me to do so, ( The same were handed in. — Vide Appendix.^ 2135. 'M.&^ov Anson.] It was the opinion of the Horse Guards and the Quartermaster General of the army that it was necessary to have a hospital ship at Hong Kong, was it not? — It was the opinion of the Duke of Cambridge, and the opinion of the Horse Guards decidedly. 2136. The only ground upon which the Horse Guards could put the refusal of the War Office was the ground of expense ? — I should think it was, in all probability. 2137. Colonel Percy Herbert] What is your own opinion of the advantage of having a hospital ship there ? — I think it was the only safe place to put the sick men in. On board ship they had the sea air, and they had dry and comfortable, and good accommodation, in short, I think it was the best place to accommodate the sick in. 2138. No doubt since you hstve been at the Horse Guards as Quartermaster General you have supported that view in the strongest way 1 — Yes ; I afterwards wrote a letter myself upon the same subject, but it was merely a recapitula- tion of the request that a ship might be sent out. There were three letters written upon this j subject. . ^ 2139. Marquis of Hartington.'] Do you know > whether there was a ship ready that could haye < been sent out at once ? — I am not aware. 21140. Do you know when it could have gqt ^ out ? — It could not have got out certainly under four months from the time of the letter being written from there, including the time of the,jj,i ship's going out. 2141. Supposing the first application of the , Horse Guards had been complied with ae quickly |] as possible, when do you think another hospital , ship might have been at Hong Kong ? — If the ship had to be fitted up in the first instance, that would take about a month, I presume ; so that I should say almost five months would elapse before i" the ship arrived out. ' J 2142. What would that have brought it to, the date of this letter being the 10th of March - 1865 ? — If the ship had been put in hand at once I think it might have been got out by the middle of August. 2143. Chairman.] Are you aware whether any ship of that description is on its passage ? — No, ■ none that I am aware of. 2144. Marquis oi Hartington.] Supposing the European garrison of Hong Kong is permanently reduced to one regiment, do you think that then a hospital ship will be absolutely necessary ? — I ' f think it decidedly will be necessary unless Kow- loon turns out the healthy place that I expect it to be ; and, until it is built on and finished, I think, certainly, a hospital ship ought to be there to accommodate the patients. 2145. But there is a hospital? — Yes, there is a hospital, inland. 2146. You consider a ship necessary also? — I think so ; I do not think any hospital at Hong Kong can be good for sick under any circum- cumstances, let it be ever so well built. 2147. If you built a new hospital, you would build it at Kowloon, would you not ?— I would, certainly. I would set to work and build at once as soon as possible at Kowloon, and leave it for . three years; then I think it would become a ' healthy station. 2148. Colonel Percy Herbert^ Do you con- sider it possible to provide for the garrison duties, and other duties, with one battalion at Hong Kong ? — Not with one battalion alone, because in the first place, when sickness takes place, the regiment may be reduced by one half, and then it is impossible for them to do the duties. I speak • from the experience I had when I was out there' in 1861. 2149. Major General Lord Henry Fercy.'\, Will you state your opinion as to whether a ship,, fitted up as a floating barrack, would not be very advantageous to the troops until the barracks are built ? — I should think it would, decidedly ; but there are very great objections to keeping the men on board. 2150. I only ask whether it would be advan- tageous or not ? — It would, decidedly ; ' it would be more healthy, I should' think.. 2151. Major Anson.] You therefore consider that the place of the "Hercules" ought to have been supplied before it became absolutely unfit , for use ? — I think it would have beeM^, adi^^gi^ta- geous to the troops, if it had been. 2152. C)iairman.'\ SELECT COMMITTEE OK MOBTALITT OF TEOOPS (cHINA). 85 t 2152. Chairman.] In the first paragraph of your Memorandum, you state your opinion that if only one regiment is left in Hong Kong, you .consider that the duties cannot be satisfactorily carried on ? — When I was there the duties were so heavy upon the troops, that I did my utmost to reduce the number of guards. I spoke to Sir Hercules Eobinson, the then Governor of Hong ,Eong, about it, and told him that it was impos- " sible for the troops to carry on the duties there ; the men had not above two nights in bed, or 2189. There was a memorandum written by Lord Herbert which I see is referred to in this list?— Yes. 2190. Will you hand it in ?— I will {the same was handed in). 2191. Can you state the purport of it?— 3:t relates to the appropriation of Kowloon Penin- sula ; that is the way it is headed. The memo- randum is this : — " In considering the subj ect of the appropriation of the newly-acquired peninsula of Kowloon, it should be borne in mind that while every reasonable consideration ought to be given to the commercial prospects of the colony, the question at issue is one of imperial and not only of colonial interest. The colony is defended by a garrison, the cost of which to the Home Go- vernment is materially increased by the sickness and mortality, caused by the unhealthy situation of the barracks, and the insufficient cubic space afforded for the accommodation of the troops in a climate so deleterious as that of Hong Kong. The necessity for increased accommodation for the garrison has long been apparent to the military authorities, and the acquisition of' a healthy site like that of Kowloon points at once to the direction in which this accommodation must be found. The annual cost of life in the garrison at Hong Kong, and the invaliding leave of the sick, are so costly that, putting all questions of humanity aside, it is well worth the while of the Government, in an economical point of view, to go to considerable expense in constructing new barracks, and hospitals open to the sea breeze, and afibrding increased cubic space to the sol- diers. It is, therefore, a most important object to secure to the Imperial Government the pos- session of the sites which, on sanitary and other grounds, are most adapted for barracks ; as these sites, if once otherwise appropriated, can never be regained. The Secretary of State for War has every wish to avoid any course likely to in- terfere with the commercial growth of Hong Kong ; and he considers that it is of the highest importance to lay out the newly-acquired terri- tory in such a manner as to give the colony every facility for development. But it must be borne in mind that the position of the garrison is very dififerent from that of the colonists. The latter go to Hong Kong by their option, in pursuit of their own interests. The troops who go there to protect the colonists, go out at the risk of life, with no interest of their own to gratify ; and it therefore becomes the first duty of the Govern- ment to undertake that these men shall, at least, have every security for health and life that the best site and the best accommodation can afford them. The actual extent of lands which it may be necessary to reserve for military purposes is a question upon which the Government at home has little means of deciding, and on which the Committee on the spot will be in a better posi- tion to form an opinion. The Lieutenant Gene- ral Commanding the Forces in China will be able to inform the Committee what proportion of the ordinary garrison can be moved from Hong Kong to -Kowloon, and what number of troops will be necessary for the defence of the peninsula, which, as being a portion of the mainland, does not possess the security which Hong Kong de- rives from its insular position." It is dated the- 3d of December 1860. 2192. Do SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS ( CHINA), 87 2192. Do you concur in the recommendations contained in that Minute ? — I do. 2193. "What steps have been taken by the War Department to carry out those recommendations? — In the first instance, as I tell you, I was called, before this Committee at the War Office. 2194. I mean what steps have been taken at Kowloon to carry out this recommendation ? — I have not been there since ; but when I came to this Committee at the Horse Guards I under- stood the barracks were to be .built at once. I am not aware what has been done now, but I understand that what . they call a. trial' hut has been begun ; it has merely the foundations laid, I believe. That isall, as far as I understand, that has at present been ;done there. 2195. The foundations of the trial hut are laid, and nothing further ? — Nothing further, I believe. 2196. Several letters have passed between the Quartermaster General and the War Depart- ment upon that subject, have there not? — Yes, I have given you a list of the whole of them in the: paper you have before you. 2197. At present, as far as you know, no steps whatever have been taken except the laying of the foundations of a trial hut ? — As far as I un- derstand, that is all that has been done. 2198. There is no accommodation now for troops there, except mat huts? — None, except the mat huts, which are now disposed of, I un- derstand. 2199. Will you read the letter of the 10th January 1865, to General Guy, from Sir Edward Lugard ? — I have read it. 2200. This letter from the War Office desires General Guy to distribute the troops between Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Japan, and states that the Secretary of State for War relies upon his " making the best and most economical ar- rangements in his power for the proper accommo- dation of these troops, until such time," and so on?— Yes. 2201. Could a general officer, after receiving those instructions, avoid quartering part of his troops at Kowloon ?— If he had two regiments it would be quite impossible for him to do so. 2202. To avoid quartering part of them at Kowloon? — If there were two regiments at Hong Kong it would be quite impossible. 2203. Is not that a distinct instruction to him to. accommodate part of his troops at Kowloon ? — I should presume it is. 2204. Are you aware whether the Commander in Chief was ever consulted upon the advisability of removing the native troops from the _ China command before it was done ? — On looking all over the documents I can find no objections that the Horse Guards made to the native troops being taken away, I do not, see very well that the Commander in Chief was called upon to make an objection. 2205. I ask, was he consulted? — I do not think he was. I should like to statethe reason, in my opinion, for His Royal Highness not having made an objection. 2206. I do not ask that ; I only ask whether he was asked his opinion or consulted? — Not that I can find out. 2207. Have you reason to believe that he was not? — I have reason to believe- that he was not. 2208. I will read to you a passage from Sir- Edward Lugard's evidence. The following qjiestions and answers passed between me and 0:53. i866. Sir Edward Lugard : " Was the Commander in Lieut. Gen, Chief consulted upon this removal of the native Sir troops?" The answer was, " He was informed of J -JS. Grant. it months before." My question was, " ' Con- g.c.b. suited,' was my expression ?'' " It was a measure ~ determined upon by the Government." "I must 14 J'^i^y put my question again, Was the Commander in Chief consulted upon this removal of the native troops?" '"I presume he was consulted by the Secretary of State ; the Secretary of State in- variably consults the Commander in Chief upon all matters of that kind." I draw your attention to that part of the answer, " I presume he was consulted by the Secretary of State." You presume that he was not, if I. understand you rightly ? — I cannot say anything about it ; it may have been done in conversation. 2209. Major Anson.'] When you came back from China, were you consulted by the War Office authorities as to the garrison that ought to be kept up at Hong Kong, after having been Commander in Chief out there? — I do not re- member that I was consulted about the barracks being built ; I may have been consulted on the other point, very probably, but I do not remem- ber it. 2210. They never consulted you as to keeping any troops there, or the number of European troops that would be required^ or anything of that sort ? — I do not remember. 2211. Colonel Percy Herbert.l Did General Brown write any letter upon the subject of the quartering of the troops there, or the removal of the native troops, shortly before he was relieved ? —He did. 2212. What was the date of that letter?— The 31st of October 1864. 2213. Will you read it ? — " I have the honour to report my having handed over the command of the troops in China and Japan to Major Ge- neral Guy, who arrived on the 26th instant, and I purpose remaining for such time as will enable me to affijrd him every information relative to this command. In resigning my office, I would beg to be permitted to offer a suggestion for your Lordship's consideration, as to the reduction of the troops in China, and to state that it is my opinion the marines could now be very well spared in Japan to supply their place ; should it be ne- cessary still to keep up the garrison at Yokohama- to a certain strength, in addition to the 2d Bat- talion, 20th Eegiment, a wing of one of the corps expected to relieve the 67th and 99th B-egiments, could easily be detached from China, thus leaving the distribution of the troops, as follows ; viz. : a battery of artillery, one entire (European) corps and a native infantry regiment for duty at Hong Kong ; the head quarters of the 2nd Eegiment at Kowloon, with detachments; at Shanghai, Taku, and Yokohama, if required ; the 2nd battery of Artillery I would propose still to con- tinue as at present divided, viz., half at Shang- hai, half at Yokohama. In bringing, to your Lordship's notice the above recommendation, I would not counsel for a moment any further reduction of the European troopSj for although affairs in Japan may at the present time be con- sidered satisfactory, and the rebellion in China so far suppressed as to remove all danger from Shanghai, still I am of opinion that the future of China requires to be watched for a time, and no hasty withdrawal of troops should take place, until it is seen what efforts the Chinese govern- ment are disposed to make for the protection of L 4 our 88 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOKE THE G.C.B. 14 May 1866. Lieut. Gen. our great commercial interests in tHs country. Sir Finally, before quitting China, I would again X H. Grant, rlesire to bring before your LordsMp tbe state of things at Kowloon, arid the serious consideration of the mat huts there, as explained in my letter. No. 127, of the 14th April 1864, addressed to your Lordship, when reporting a fire which had taken place, and the narrow escape of the 2d battalion, 20th Kegiment, from being burnt out. These huts are at present not in the best state of repair, and still no other accommodation can be provided for the troops at Kowloon,' nor can they be located at Hong Kong ; and before any expense is incurred in repairing them, I would suggest that no time should be lost in assembling a Board to report upon the construction of other huts, with every regard to the safety of the troops and Government property. I would also draw your Lordship's attention to the 22d Re- giment Native Infantry, and the Company Gun Lascars, both being quartered in large mat sheds of the same inflammable nature as the huts at Kowloon ; and as these lines of the native troops at Hong Kong are not far removed from the old magazine, should a fire take place it may be of a most alarming nature ; and so serious do I con- sider this matter, that I would now desire to place it upon record in retiring from the com- mand." It is signed, " "W. G. Brown, Major General Commanding Her Britannic Majesty's Troops in China." 2214. Have you got that letter of the 14th of April 1864, which is referred to ?— No, it was addressed to the "War Office. 2215. The letter you have read is addressed to the Secretary of State for War ? — Yes. 2216. And a copy of it was sent to the Quar- master General i'or the information of the Com- mander in Chief? — Yes. 2217. That is a character of correspondence that is carried on directly with the Quartermas- ter General on home stations, is it not ? — Yes. 2218. But on foreign stations the correspon- dence is sent direct to the War Office, and it is usual to send copies to thfi Quartermaster Gene- ral for the information of the Commander in Chief?— Yes. 2219. Several representations have been made on the part of the Commander in Chief as to the necessity for taking further steps for the prepara- tion of further barracks at Kowloon. I see a long list of correspondence in this paper ? — Yes ; there was a letter of the 22d of September 1863, from the Quartermaster General to the War OflSce, protesting against the delay in building barracks. 2220. Will you read out the dates and the headings of all those letters ? — The first is the 28th March 1861, from the War Office to the Quartermaster General, with reference to the appropriation of territory. The second is dated the 2d April 1863, from the Quartermastei? Ge- neral to the War Office ; drainage much re- quired. The next is dated the 27th April 1863, from the War Office to the Quartermaster Ge- neral; report on sanitary state called for. The 9th July 1863, Quartermaster General to the War Office ; early erection of barracks desirable, with an enclosure from General Stavely. The next letter is dated 15th September 1863, War Office to the Quartermaster General; ei-ection of barracks deferred until a hut has been tested. 22d September 1863, Quartermaster General to War Office ; protesting against delay, 30th of September 1863, War Office to Quartermaster General; reference made to Colonial Office. The next is 22d September 1863, Quartermaster General to War Office ; General Brown speaks of barracks ; are there any ? 25 th of September 1863, War Office to Quartermaster General; only huts. 5th January 1864, Quartermaster Gene- ral to War Office; with enclosures frorn Dr. Gibson; sickness attributed to bad drainage. 14th January 1864, War Office to Quartermaster General Conimanding Eoyal Engineers again called on to report about drainage. 14th Jan- uary 1864, Quartermaster General to War Office ; necessity for erecting barracks, and draining paddy fields. 29th January 1864, War Office to Quartermaster General, with enclosures of letter to Officer Commanding in China, and plan ; question settled with Colonial Office, but a trial hut must be erected before barracks. 6th February 1864, Quartermaster General to War Office ; necessity for draining paddy fields. 23d April 1864, War Office to Quartermaster Gene- ral; drainage of paddy fields awaiting further reports. 2221. Chairman.] That trial hut that was mentioned was the trial hut the foundation of which has only just been laid ? — Yes. 2222. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] Will you put in those letters ? — I will. — ( The same were handed in, vide Appendix.^ 2223. Mr. Trevelyan.] Why is Kowloon more likely to be healthy than the promontories on the southern parts of the island ? — There is more open flat space at Kowloon, the breeze can go over the whole of it. Hong Kong, on the other hand, on all sides of the island, is a precipitous hill, extending almost into the sea. There is very little room, in fact, all over the island ; there is scarcely any space on which you could build. There is a place just at the sputh-west there {^pointing to the plan) where a barrack might be built. 2224. At Stanley?— No, not at Stanley, on the other side ; but there would not be large accommodation there. Besides that, Kowloon commands the harbour. If you had the barracks on the other side of the island you would not have the same command of the harbour. 2225. Colonel Percy Herbert] It has been stated in evidence that the only way to deal with a site in the neighbourhood of Hong Kong, in order to make it healthy, is to get all the ex- cavations over, the roads made, the foundations built, and trees planted before you occupy it with European troops. Have you heard that opinion ? — Yes, certainly, 2226. Are you of opinion that it is well founded? — It is very well founded; in fact, the French in Algiers always state that for three years they never can occupy any land they take up- . . 4 2227. Laying the foundations 'of one experi- mental hut will have about as much effect in ascertaining the sanitary state of Hong Kong as if you built it in Hyde Park, will it not ? — I do not think it will do much good, because directly you break up the remainder of the ground it will become unhealthy again. 2228. Lord John Hay.] Have the French adopted that plan at Saigoon, in Cochin China, which you say they have adopted in Algiers ? — p I am not aware of what they have done there ; most probably they have. 2229. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] You SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS (cHINA). 89 You allude to the French civilians, I presume ? — No ; I allude to the French troops in Algeria. 2230. General Dunne.'] What was the time at which you gave up the command in China ? — In 1861. 2231. At that time, were there any represen- tations made of the want of accommodation for the troops ? — Certainly there was great want of accommodation; hecause, of course, it was not known beforehand what would be required there ; it was supposed that there would be fair accom- modation for one regiment, and not more. 2232. And one regiment Avas not sufficient? — No. There were no barracks for native troops, apart from the huts. 2233. Are you aware of any remonstrance having been made by General Guy? — No; I know nothing about General Guy. 2234. And you know nothing of this letter to which your attention was called, which was ad- dressed to the "War Office in 1865 {showing a printed letter to the Witness) ? — No ; I know no- thing about that. 2235. You state that you were before a Com- mittee, consisting of the Duke of Newcastle, Mr. Sidney Herbert, and others connected with the Government ; may I ask what was the subject of conversation then? — It was with regard to whether the barracks ought to be placed here, or not {pointing to a Plan). 2236. That is at Kowloon? — Yes; we have the property as far as there {pointing to the Plan). The question was, where were the barracks to be built in the southern part of the peninsula, 2237. Has anything been done since that time ; that is since 1861 ? — I believe there have been some cuttings made which I think was the cause to which the doctors attributed the illness; that was then put a stop to at once. There has been nothing else done but laying the founda- tions of this trial hut, as I understand. 2238. Do you think it is advisable to have British soldiers, without the assistance of black troops there ? — I think it is decidedly bad ; I think there ought to be some native troops there, because, as I said before, the mortality amongst native troops is certainly under half of what it is amongst Europeans. 2239. Therefore the withdrawal of the native troops, in your opinion, was unwise ? — I think it would have been better if they had been left there. 2240. Do you think that a general officer commanding on such a station as Hong Kong can go to any expense he likes in providing for the accommodation of the troops, without refer- ence to the authorities at home ? — No. 2241. Therefore a commanding officer cannot iay out money at his own discretion ? — No. 2242. And that is one of the reasons why Ge- neral Guy could not lay out money, or take up barracks, supposing he could have got them at any expense ? — I think that a general officer would be perfectly entitled, upon his own respon- sibility, to hire buildiiigs, or to do anything of that sort he chose, under the circumstances. ^. 2243. Would he not be subject to having it stopped if the Home authorities did not approve of it? — Of course he would be always subject, to that, but no government would^ I think, find fault with an officer who had done it as a matter of necessity or expediency. 2244. As a mere matter of judgment ? — I think he would not be found fault with. : 0.53. 14 May 1866. 2245. Major Anson.] When the War Office Lieut. Gen. order a battalion to a place like China, do they Sir not consult with the Quartermaster General of J. H. Grant, the army at the Horse Guards as to whether there g.c.b, is accommodation for them ? — Yes. 2246. Is there any case of their having applied to the Quartermaster General, before they ordered the 11th Regiment out to China, with reference to the amount of accommodation that it might be expected the general could provide on the spot ? —1 do not remember anything of that sort. 2247. With regard to the troops in China, when you were Commander in Chief in China during the expedition, did you not find the native Indian troops, when they were employed against the Chinese, almost as efficient and as useful as the English soldiers themselves? — That would be a very difficult thing to say. I should cer- tainly say they were very far inferior to the English soldiers. 2248. As against Chinese troops, they were very efficient, were they not ? — I think, consider- ing the way in which the Chinese troops were armed, and the want of discipline amongst them, in all probability they did very well. 2249. Is there any duty which soldiers have to perform at Hong Kong, that cannot be performed by native troops ? — No, I should say not. 2250. They are to be trusted in all the guards, and everything, are they not ? — They are to be trusted, but I think the Chinese, at least the bad class of Chinese there are at Hong Kong, do not pay so much attention to native troops as they do to European troops. I have no doubt if they found them sentry over any store of any impor- tance, they might very likely knock the sentry down, and take his arms from him and plunder. 2251. Do you not think they had a very great respect for the Sikh troops ? — For the Sikh troops they had, but not for the southerns. 2252. Sir John Hay.] The Sikh troops were all cavalry, were they not? — No, they were not all cavalry, there were cavalry and infantry both. Some of the finest infantry regiments were Sikhs. 2253. I am alluding to the Sikh troops that the Chinese were struck with ? — In saying this, I am alluding only to the war. They had very little opportunity of seeing the Sikhs down at Hong Kong. They were encamped at Kowloon. 2254. Major ^wsow.] If you had been consulted when you came home, you would strongly have recommended retaining the native troops, so that the chief portion of the garrison should be com- posed of native soldiers, Sikhs and others, would you not ? — I certainly think there ought to have been native soldiers there. 2255. They would have been infinitely cheaper in every way than the European soldiers, would they not ? — The great difficulty arose from the jdiflPerent style of paying them, and there was a great difficulty also in the pensioning of their wives and the pensioning of the native soldiers themselves. I believe that was the great difficulty of the War Office and the Horse Guards before their removal. , 2256. Have you been consfllted with regard to any arrangement for providing the Strait Settlements and China with troops from Ceylon ? — Yes, I have. 2257. The War Office authorities have come to the conclusion that it will be necessary to have native troops there, but they prefer haiang M them 90 MINUTES OP EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOBE THE Lieut. Gen. Sir J. H. Grant, G.C.B. 14 May 1866. them under their own control, and not borrowing them from the native army in India ? — They do. 2258. In case of another Chinese war, you would be obliged, as matters stand now, to draw upon the Indian army, and bring troops from India to China to prosecute that war, judging from your experience of the last war ? — No doubt if we had a war in China, we should require a freat many more troops, for which we should ave to go to India. 2259. If there was any war, the present arrangements would be of no use, would they? — I think decidedly that if you had another war in China, and wanted a force there, you would have to draw upon India, 2260. Do you not consider that it would be very much better to accustom the troops in India to serve, in China, instead of having a regiment of our own from Ceylon ? — I question that. I do not think serving at Hong Kong woidd improve them; serving in the upper part of china would, no doubt. 2261. Major General Lord Henry Percy.'] Do you think that if you had Chinese troops in Hong Kong, they would be of any use against an attack made by European forces ? — Yes, very great, I think, A Chinese force, if they were drilled and disciplined, would be as fine troops certainly as the Sikhs ; in fact, they would be next to Europeans. 2262. Did not the Chinese respect the Beloo- ehee regiments at Hong Kong ? — I believe they did ; I was not there with them. 2263. Lord John Hay.] Were there any Be- lochees ? — Yes, at Shanghai. 2264. Colonel Percy Herbert.] Your recom- mendation would be, to supply the want of native troops for China itself? — I am inclined to think so ; I am inclined to think that the Chinese have the making of a very fine class of soldiers in them, and moreover they understand the lan- guage, and would be able to show up, and give information as to who were the bad men in the island ; now, with our own troops and the Indian troops, who cannot speak a word of the language, they cannot tell who is a bad man, and who is not ; the Chinese soldiers, themselves, would be excellent men if you paid them well ; they would be able to show you a great deal of the iniquity that goes on in the island ; at the present time it is not safe to ride two miles out of the town ; you are liable to be knocked down, even in the day- time ; you are liable to be robbed in the town at any time. 2265. It is the town of Victoria you are now speaking of? — Yes ; in the town of Victoria I have known a European sergeant walking in the streets, and a Chinaman has come up to him, and seized his watch out of his pocket, and run away with it ; they are most daring fellows. 2266. Major GeneralLordZTewry Percy.] What was done to that Chinaman? — He was never caught. I remember another occasion, when there was a guard sent round to Stanley by boat, with money I think it was; there were some seven men, I believe ; I forget the exact number of men, but they were all murdered, except one corporal, who jumped overboard and swam ashore. 2267. Marquis.of Hartington.] I did not hear whether you told General Dunne what was the greatest amount of force you ever had at Hong Kong when you were in command ? — I had in Hong Kong and Kowloon nearly 20,000 men ; upwards of 15,000, 1 think. 2268. At what time of the year was that? — It was before the hot weather began ; it was before March. 2269. How did you provide accommodation for them ? — They were put in tents ; they were put in huts ; they were put everywhere ; they were as healthy as possible; there was scarcely any sickness at all. It was in a healthy time of the year, no doubt; bat they were full of energy and full of excitement from the war, and they kept in good health. 2270. Colonel Percy Herbert referred you to a letter No. 7, on page 8 of the correspondence ; did not that letter give authority to General Guy to send two battalions to Japan, if he thought proper? — I should say that his letter admitted of any force being sent to any of those three places mentioned. 2271. Then that letter does not contain posi- tive instructions to General Guy to quarter any part of the force at Kowloon ? — I should think it was necessary for him to quarter a certain amount there, because the letter says, " This will leave three battalions of European troops, one battery of artillery, and one company of engineers, to be distributed between Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Japan." 2272. It did not oblige him to send any of the troops to Kowloon, did it ? — I do not think he was obliged to send any amount of troops there ; but what this letter, I should say, decidedly means is, how they were to be distributed, that a certain number were to be at each of those three different places. 2273. Do you think that letter contains an imperative command to send troops to Kowloon ? — Yes ; but I think that a general officer ought, upon his own responsibility, not to have sent them- to Kowloon, provided he considered it very un- healthy. 2274. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] But there was no room at Japan, was there ? — There was no room at Japan ; there were two companies sent to Japan. 2275. Marquis of Hartington.] Will you look at the last paragraph of the letter of the 23d of March 1865, on page 15 ? — " With regard to the difficulty which you anticipate in providing suffi- cient accommodation for asecond regiment at Hong Kong and Kowloon, I am to acquaint you that the Lords Cominissioners of the Admiralty have decided on withdrawing the Koyal Marines now serving in Japan; there will, therefore, be no objection to your sending the 2d Battalion, 11th Foot, on its arrival from the Cape, or such portion of it as you may be unable to accommodate at Hong Kong to Yokohama, where the climate is better suited than that of China to the European constitution ; " that is very true ; he did send as many as he could spare to Japan ; but he could not do the duties at Hong Kong without some part of the remment. He only sent two companies of the 11th Regiment to Japan. 2276. But that letter enabled him, if he thought fit (I do not say whether he was right or not),.. to send as large a portion of troops as he chose to Japan, did it not? — Decidedly; I should say so. 2277. Chairman.] Suppose the 11th had gone there, according to what you say, there is no place to encamp at Yokohama ; then what woxild have become of the 11th, because the Marines did not embark until between the 18th and 27tli of Sep- tember. In the first place, would tiie Japanese have SELECT COMMITTEE ON M.OKTALITY OF TEOOPS (cHINA). 91 have allowed two battalions to have landed there ? — ^That is another matter altogether. They might not have known where to have put a veto upon their coming ; but I should hardly think if they gave a sanction for one regiment they would have allowed two. 2278. If they had given a sanction to their landing, was there room for them to have en- camped ? — I think that is doubtful. 2279. Marquis of Hartington^ You do not know that ? — I should say certainly not. 2280. Lord John Hay.'] "Why? — Because there is simply no room to encamp them ; Yoko- hama is a very small place. 2281. In what year was it that you were there ? — I was there in 1861. 2282. Are you aware that an immense amount of ground has been reclaimed from the sea at Yokohama since that time ; it is built up, you know, at the back of the town ? — I know they were reclaiming land when I was there. 2283. I mean all that space at the back ? — I was not aware that that had been reclaimed. 2284. Colonel Percy Herbert.l You would not think it desirable to quarter troops upon ground lately reclaimed from the sea, would you? — I should think not. 2285. It has been sought by the questions to deduce from the evidence here, that General Guy ought not to have quartered any troops at Kow- loon ; I think you have stated in your evidence that the permanent barracks at Houg Kong were not equal to holding one battalion? — Not at the increased rate of cubic space. 2286. We have had it in evidence that there were barracks hired giviag accommodation to the amount of half a battalion ; if you had been the •General Officer there, and had received that letter which has been referred to by the Secre- tary of State for War, should you have thought it was your duty to have quartered troops in the mat sheds or baaracks at Kowloon, or to have gone to the expense of hiring accommodation at Hong Kong for the whole of the force which was not sent to Yokohama ? — I think that any General Officer would have taken upon himself to hire the best place he could for the troops. 2287. Would he not have been found fault with for not having occupied the mat huts at Kowloon ? — I should think not. I should think a general officer would have been perfectly wrong to have put the troops into a place where they would have been unhealthy, if he could have got other accommodation. 2288. What construction is to be put upon that passage in the letter referring to Kowloon ? — It was necessary to have a portion of the troops at Kowloon, because there were certain guards required there. 2289. How were they to be provided for? — They were to be in the huts. 2290. General -Dwwwe.] From your experience of Hong Kong, do you think that there was, or that there could be attained more accommoda- tion there than would suffice for one battalion ? — The barracks there were adapted according to the old scale, to accommodate a regiment well. 2291. But that scale was not sufficient ? — That scale is not sufficient, it has only been settled the other day at the Sanitary Commission, that it is not sufficient. It was at the last meeting at which I was present, that we arranged that in future 1,000 and 1,500 cubic feet should be given. 2292. Major^nsow.J When you had that large force at Hong Kong, ■Qie greater part of which was encamped at Kowloon, in I860., they were only for a very short time at Kowloon, were they ? — Only for about a couple of months, I think. 2293. In the healthy part of the year? — Yes. 2294. Do not you consider that troops being encamped for a very short time in an unhealthy place, with all the excitement of a campaign be- fore them, is a very diiferent thing to their being encamped there in huts or tents, during the whole of a summer, with no excitement to keep up their spirits ? — Decidedly. Lieut. Gen. Sir /. H. Grant, G.C.B. 14 May i866. 0,53. M 2 92 MINUTES OP EVIDENCE TAKEN BEPOEE THE Monday, 2Sih May 1866. MEMBERS present: Mr. Adderley. Mr. Calthorpe. Mr. Dalglish. Lord John Hay. Marquis of Hartington. Col. Percy Herbert. Col. North. " Major General Lord Mr. Trevelyan. Sir Harry Verney. Henry Percy. Colonel NOSTH, in the Chair. Egbert Brand, Esq., called in ; and Examined. R. Brand 2295. Chairman.} I believe you have lived Esq. ' for many years at Hong Kong ? — I think from first to last I have lived there about four years. 28 May 2296. You know the town of Victoria, as I 1 866. think it is called now ? — Very well. 2297. Do you know the buildings called Fletcher's premises ? — Yes. 2298. They are large stores, or godowns as they call them there, I think ? — Yes, quite so. 2299. Did you know them before they were altered for the occupation of the troops ? — Yes. 2300. I believe that two storeys were added in the case of the premises belonging to Messrs. Fletcher ? — I think, if I mistake not, they con- sisted originally of a ground floor and first floor, and then there was one storey added to them by the Government's request at Messrs. Fletcher's expense. | 2301. They were to build two storeys upon them, were they not ? — One storey was added to the building as it was originally built. 2302. Do you know Messrs. McGregor's pre- mises too ? — Yes. 2303. Those, I think, were built upon the ground? — They were originally of one floor; there was no storey upon them at all at that time. Afterwards there was one storey added to them, I think. 2304. These are stated to have been very large godowns; do you happen to know any other godowns that would have been suitable for troops? — There were not any to my knowledge ; in fact I do not think there was a single place, other than those godowns that were taken by the Government, that could have been taken at Hong Kong. There was nothing obtainable but the godowns taken by the Government, as far as my knowledge goes. I do not think there was any suitable place that could have been ob- tained by the Government, except what they did take. 2305. I think you arc a merchant ? — I am a merchant, I am a partner in the firm of Smith, Kennedy, & Co. 2306. Sir Harry Verney. 1^ You are not in the employment of the Government ? — Not in any way. 2307. Chairman.'] It appears that the com- mittee which sat for the purpose of selecting houses visited a great many, but that none of them were proper for troops ? — They all had to be adapted ; every place that they took had to be adapted for troops. 2308. Do you happen to know Dr. Fisher's property ? — No, not by name. 2309. It has been stated in evidence that it is alongside of some property belonging to Mr. Pollard ; do you know Mr. Pollard's property ? — Yes, I think so. There is a range of very small houses, indeed, up there. I should fancy there are about four or five houses. 2310. They are up on the hill? — Yes, up on the hill, and at a very considerable distan,ce from the barracks. 2311. Do you know whether any of those houses were occupied by the troops ? — I think that two or three of the officers of the 2d-9th were quartered up there on the hill. 2312. Then you think that, no matter what rent might have been offered for the houses, it would have been difficult to have got them ? — I feel certain that the authorities could not have obtained better accommodation for the troops^ than was obtained. 2313. It appears that 1,900 dollars a month has been given for the hire of Fletcher's pre- mises ; is not that a very large rent ? — I think if Messrs. Fletcher and Company had asked 3,000 dollars, the Government would have had to give it ; it was not a question of price at all j they would just have had to pay whatever was asked, if they wanted the troops quartered. In fact, I felt so strongly upon it myself, that I laboured under the impression that the partners of Messrs. Fletcher and Company had let the godowns a little too cheaply, looking at it from a. mercantile point of view. 2314. Are the expenses in Hong Kong so great as to warrant such a sum as that being paid month by month ? — I think so ; there is also this to be taken into consideration, that any merchant is warranted in taking advantage. of the. neces- sities of the Government if he has it in his power ^o do so in mercantile operations. The godowns were cheaply let, in my opinion, to the Govern- ment ; it seems a very large sum of money in this country, but it is not so there. , ' 2315. Are things so very expensive in Hono^ Kong ? — Yes. ° 2316, Have SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS (cHINA). 93 2316. Have you ever been in India? — Yes, I have resided at Calcutta for over a year, 2317. Can you compare the expenses of India with those of Hong Kong at all ? — I think a very fair comparison would be 1 s., in England, a rupee at Calcutta, a dollar at Hong Kong, and a tael of sycee at Shanghai ; that is 1 s. as against 2 s., 45. 6d., and 6 s. 5d. 2318. Therefore at Hong Kong the expense is double what it is in India ? — I think so. 2319. Lord John Hmj.'] More than double? — More than double ; I was in Calcutta in 1859, and I am taking what it was in the two places at that time. I believe the expenses in Calcutta have risen considerably of late years since I left there, but the comparison would have been what I have stated in 1859. 2320. Chairman.'] Have you any idea of what the hire of a chair costs ; it appears that every- body goes about at Hong Kong in chairs ? — Yes ; it is 10 dollars a month for two coolies ; I think I am rather under the mark than over it, in that. 2321. Do you get a chair there as you would get a cab in this town ; my object in asking the question is with regard to the officers that were quartered up at Mr. Pollard's houses ? — It would be cheaper for them to take two coolies by the month than it would be to take a chair day by day, because they would in that case have to pay more, at the rate of a dollar a day. Then there would be the first cost of the chair to be taken into account in the other case. 2322. Lord John Hay.~\ Do you affirm the statement that everybody goes about in chairs at Hong Kong ? — 'Yes ; it is a positive necessity. 2323. When you said that no other accommo- dation could be obtained, did you mean that there were no other godowns in Hong Kong, or that those that were obtained were the only ones that could be obtained ? — They were the only ones that could be obtained ; there were no other godowns available for that purpose. 2324. What rendered the godowns unavail- able ? — Simply the fact that they were in the merchants' employment, and contained the goods of the merchants ; the godowns let by Messrs. Fletcher and Co. were godowns belonging to a firm that afterwards became bankrupt, and at that time the reason of their having them to let was that they had nothing in them. 2325. There was very little trade going on in China that year, I believe ? — There was a very good deal of trade ; a large trade. 2326. In 1865 ?— Yes; 2327. A large trade ?— Yes. 2328. There were a great many disasters, were there not ? — The value of godown accom- modation in China fluctuates very much accord- ing to the rice trade ; I have known rice stored at a cent, and a half a picul, and I have known it stored at four per cents, a picul. 2329. Was not the trade in China singularly slack in 1865, as contrasted with other years? — No, I do not think so. 2330. In 1859, when the expenses were so .great, as you stated just now in contrasting the expenses of Hong Kong with those of Calcutta and the value of money in the two places, was that due to the preparations for the war in the north of China at the time when these expenses " were so great ? — No ; I have always looked upon that as pretty much the comparison of the value 0.53. of money in the two places ; I am judging from a period extending over nine years. 2331. Then you do not select the particular period of 1 859 r— No ; if anything, the expenses have increased very considerably since that ex- pedition. 2Z^2. Chairman.] They have increased, in- stead of diminishing since then ? — Yes ; quite so. 2333. Both as regards the hire of houses and everything else ? — Yes ; but there was a slight reaction in the value of house property at one time, in consequence of the withdrawal of the troops belonging to the expedition. 2334. Mr. Adderley.] How do you account for Colonel Jenner's evidence diifering from your own as to the premises belonging to Dr. Fisher ? — I have not the pleasure of Colonel Jenner's acquaintance, and I do not know what he has stated in evidence. 2335. The statement is, that there were premises belonging to Dr. JFisher alongside of some property of Mr. Pollard's, 400 feet up the hill, consisting of private houses that might have been obtained for the accommodation of the troops ? — Can you inform me when Colonel Jenner was in China, and what time it is that he refers to ? 2336. He was the colonel of the 11th, and. he refers to the date of their landing ? — I do not think that there were any houses on the hill there adapted for the purpose ; but, as a military man, he is a better judge. 2337. You know these particular houses re- ferred to belonging to Dr. Fisher, alongside of some property of Mr. Pollard's ? — From the de- scription I have heard of them, I know the range ; I do not consider that they would have been houses adapted for troops. 2338. Do you know that they might have been had ? — I do not know that they were available. 2339. Your statement, as I understood it, was that the houses, though they might have been had, were not suitable for troops ? — I think so ; I am not aware that they could have been ob- tained ; at all events, if the houses were obtain- able, the quantity of troops that could have been quartered in them would have been infinitesi- mally small. 2340. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Will you tell me whether that season was very sickly for civilians ? — I consider it was so. 2341. Will you tell me what is the pay of a junior clerk in a merchant's office ? — If you mean simply the amount of salary he gets, his salary would begin at from 250 Z. to 300 Z. a year, and rise, up to 450 1, in a three years' engagement ; ihat is for a junior. 2342. Is his board and lodging included in that ? — No ; ' he is boarded and lodged. 2343. I only ask whether he is boarded and lodged on that, or not?— Not on that; he is boarded and lodged in addition. 2344. Could an individual in the position of a gentleman live decently at Hong Kong on 15 s. a day ? — I do not think so. 2345. Chairman.] With regard to the sickness upon which a question has just been put to you, was it a very sickly season altogether ; it was so among certain classes, but taken generally, was there a great or unusual degree ot sickness and death, except where there were particular causes for it ? — ^We had a great deal of sickness in our establishment in Qhina, but I have been told by M 3 medical II. Brand, Esq. 2 8 May i866. 94 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOEE THE R. Brand, medical men that it was attributable to excep- Esq. tlonal causes ; we were in the habit of living =• on the other side of the island of Hong Kong, and 28 May of living in a mat bungalow, and then we used to 1866. come in in the morning and go out in the after- noon; and I am told that we exposed ourselves to the sun to a dangerous extent. There was also digging-up of new soil going on near us, where people were building places of a similar charac- ter, and this caused the fever which we suffered from. I am told I left in the month of July, and it then appeared to me to be rather a sickly- season, very sickly indeed. 2346. That is the most sickly period of the year at Hong Kong ; the months of May, June, and July, are the most sickly, are they not ? — I think those months, and September and October also, are very unhealthy months. Gkaham Andekson, Esq., called in ; and Examined. G. Anderson, Esq. 2347. Chairman.'] I believe you have lived for a considerable number of years at riong Kong? — Yes, since 1850. 2348. You are in a mercantile house there, are you not ? — No, I am a broker. 2349. You know the town of Hong Kong ? — Yes, I have known it very' well since 1850. 2350. Do you know Messrs. Fletcher's and M'Gregor's premises? — Yes, both of them. 2351. They are two of the largest godowns in the town, are they not? — Yes, M'Gregor's especially. Mr. M'Gregor's is the largest go- down, I think, in the town ; it is the most ex- tensive, and covers the most ground. 2352. You knew them before the addition was made to them, I suppose ? — Yes, I had been fre- quently in them before they were arranged for troops ; before the additional storey was built. 2353. Do you know of any other godowns, large enough for troops, to be let there ? — No, not to be let ; there are a great many godowns there, but I do not know whether any could have been obtained ; I do not think that better ones could have been got ; I am sure of that. 2354. And any as good have been got? — No, I do not think so ; none as good could have been got. 2355. The rent seems to have been enormous, that is owing, I suppose, to the great expenses of the place ? — Yes, the expenses are very heavy. 2356. Do you happen to know the quarters that have been just mentioned, adjoining Mr. Pollard's, and belonging to Dr. Fisher ? — There is no Dr. Fisher in Hong Kong ; there is a Mr. Fisher, but he does not own any house property whatever ; I know him intimately. 2357. You recollect no Dr. Fisher? — No; thei'e never was any person of that name, at least within my recollection; there is a Mr. Fisher, but he has no house property, I know. 2358. Do you know Mr. Pollard?— Yes. 2359. Do you know the row of houses that has been spoken of? — Yes, I know them ; I have been in some of them. 2360. Are they suitable for barracks ? — I think not ; they contain four small rooms each ; there is no ground in front of them at all ; they are built on the side of the hill, very far up. I do not think there are more than, perhaps, a dozen or fourteen of them altogether, and the rooms are small ; they could not by any possibility have put more than a couple of men, or three men, in each. 2361. It would not have been safe for those who occupied them to have come down the hill except in chairs, would it ? — Certainly not ; that is to say, it would not in the hot weather. In winter you can walk about without requiring a chair ; but from April to November a chair is absolutely necessary. 2362. What is the expense of a chair ? — I paid my coolies seven dollars a month each, that is 14 dollars for two ; and then the chair costs about eight or ten dollars, I suppose. , 2363. That is to purchase ? — Yes, that is to purchase. 2364. Take an officer who is stationed there, can he have a chair in the way that we have public conveyances here ? — Yes, like a cab ; but then it would be much more expensive. 2365. "What would he pa.y for going down from these houses to the barraicks ? — He would pay a quarter of a dollar, that is Is. 1 d. or Is. 2d. 2366. If he went down he would need to be carried back, of course? — Yes, that would be still more necessary. 2367. In fact, he could not go backwards and forwards without being carried ? — No, it would be dangerous to do so. I would not do it myself in the heat of the day ; I might do it once, but not for a continuance. 2368. Were you out there last year ? — Yes ; I left on the 1st of January ; I have been only two months at home. 2369. Was it considered more sickly last year than usual ? — I think not among the civil com- munity. It was not so considered among the people I knew, and I knew almost every person there. There were two or three deaths, and two or three more were invalided ; but, as Mr. Brand has said, the causes were, I think, easily traceable. The summer was very hot ; it was the hottest summer I ever remember, but I do not think it was peculiarly unhealthy. 2370. To those who took care of themselves it' was not more fatal than any other ? — I think not; I enjoyed very good health myself. 2371. Sir John HagP^ Why could not other godowns have been hired besides those that were hired ? — I think that the godowns that were taken by the Government were the best adapted for troops. 2372. If more had been required than those, why could they not have been hired, if enough money had been paid for them ? — The two go- downs that were taken were empty at the time from circumstances. Messrs. M'Gregor's were owned by a firm whose business was to take in other people's goods, so that they could^dimimish that business, and when troops were more profit- able they took them in instead of goods. Mer- chants would not like to give up their godowns and build stories upon them, and change their character. 2373. Supposing the Government had wanted to get more godowns, what I want to know is, whether SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINA). 95 whether "by paying for them they could not have got others besides those they did get ? — I daresay they could ; they might have been able to do so. I do not know of any that were available ; but I should think the tenders and applications that were sent in to Government would show that, because I fancy it was advertised in the news- papers that accommodation was wanted. I believe the godowns were tendered in writing. I did not hear of any person else applying to let godowns J they may have done so, of course, without my knowledge. 2374. Major General Lord i^ewrz/ Percy.] "Was G. there much sickness amongst the civilians during Anderson, that season ? — I do not think there was more Esq. than usual ; in fact, the colonial surgeon says there was less sickness than usual amongst the 28 May civil community, and I suppose' he ought to know. 2375. Lord John Hay.\ Where does he say that? — In the yearly report which came home last mail. 1866. The Right Honourable the Earl De Geet and Kipon, attending by permission of the House of Lords ; Examined. 2376. ChairmanA YouR Lordship is now the Secretary of State for India, I think? — Yes. 2377. You were Secretary of State for "War for some years ? — Yes. 2378. The 2d battalion of the 9th and the 2d battalion of the 11th were sent out, I believe, to China, by your directions ? — By my directions, technically ; that is to say, they were pro- posed by the Horse Guards as reliefs for two regiments that were already in China. 2379. The first order that was given was on the 5th of August 1864; that was from your department, was it not? — No, the first order would not emanate from the "War Department. The reliefs are always conducted in this manner ; that the Horse Guards, the Quartermaster Gene- ral's Department, with the approval of the Com- mander in Chief, propose the reliefs that are to be made from time to time ; those proposals are forwarded to the "War Ofiice for the concurrence of the Secretary of State, and upon that concur- rence being signified, the orders go out. 2380. The final order was given by your Lord- ship, I think? — I gave my concurrence to the proposal of the Commander in Chief; I put it m- this way that you may have it correctly before you. 2381. The final order appears to have been given on the 10th of January, and was received by General Guy on the 24th of February ? — That has nothing to do with the order to the 2d battalion of the 11th; no order would be sent to General Guy in connection with the sending of the 2d battalion of the 11th from the Cape of Good Hope. 2382. The Letter of Readiness was dated the 5th of August 1864, from the "War Office, was it not ? — No, from the Horse Guards ; we send no orders to troops for movements from the War Office. All that I wish the Committee clearly to understand is, that this was a common relief, in the ordinary course, proposed by the Com- mander in Chief, and concurred in by the War Office, in the usual manner. 2383. I will read to you the first script of General Guy's letter, No. 26, on page 26 of the correspondence : " It may be explained that on the receipt at Hong Kong on the 24th February 1865, of the War Office letter, dated 10th Jan- uary, notifying that it had been decided to send the 2d Battalion llthEegiment to this station, immediate steps were taken to make the neces- sary arrangements for the hire of suitable build- ings for the occupation of the troops. The board of officers had assembled within a, week of the receipt of the letter ; and although considerable 0.53. difficulty was experienced in obtaining these buildings, they were finally engaged on the 17th March ; thus no delay, beyond what was abso- lutely unavoidable, had occurred in concluding the necessary arrangements ; as considerable alterations were indispensable, viz., the adding of upper storeys, constructing cooking-houses, la- trines, Ssc, and various internal fittings, nearly four months had elapsed before the buildings could be got ready for occupation by the troops;" it was upon the receipt of the letter referred to there that General Guy appears to have taken steps to procure the buildings? — That letter of the 10th January, as you will see if you refer to it, does not mention any particular regiment ; it informs General Guy that he will have the same number of European battalions in his command as he had previously ; it mentions that that will leave three battalions of European troops, but it does not refer to any particular regiment. I explain this that in order that the Committee may clearly understand the mode in which the business is conducted. * 2384. That letter of the 10th of January is not in this printed correspondence, I think? — Yes ; there i^ no other letter that I know of of the 10th of January, except that which you will find in the correspondence at page 8 ; I am not aware of any other. 2385. General Guy wrote a letter on the 12th of November 1864 to your Lordship ? — Yes ; that is the first letter in this correspondence. 2386. The concluding paragraph in that letter states that he requests " your Lordship's instruc- tions as to the disposal of the 2d Battalion 11th Regiment, which by Horse Guards' letter of the 26th August last it is proposed to send to China, as, under existing circumstances, it will be im- possible to provide for it in this country;" that was in November ? — Yes. 2387. And it was received by you on the 27th of December ?— Yes ; 1864. 2388. After receiving that letter, with that paragraph in it, would it have been possible to have telegraphed to General Guy to provide accommodation at once for the troops ? — Tt was not my intention that of the three battalions which were to be kept temporarily in the China command, two battalions should be stationed at Hong Kong; I left the distribution of those battalions, as it appeared to me right to do, to the general officer upon the spot, but I never con- templated from the commencement that he would be likely to retain two battalions at Hong Kong, and send only one to Japan ; besides that, the Committee wUl observe with respect to that letter M 4 ,.„ of Right Hon. Earl De Grey and Ri, 96 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOEE THE Right Hon. of the 12th of November, that General Guy there Karl De contemplates that he will have upon his hands in tirey and Q,}^\T^r„,^ as distinguished from Japan, a wing of ■^"- the 2d battalion of the 20th Kegiment. When 28 May t'^^* letter arrived, we had information here in i866. connection with the affair of Simonosati, and other matters, which rendered it quite obvious that the wing of the 2d battalion of the 20th could not be removed from Japan ; information, indeed, which had induced Her Majesty's Government, as you will see fi-om the Foreign Office letter, to think it necessary not merely to retain the force in Japan which was there then, but also to provide that there should be two battalions of European troops available, if neces- sary, for ser'^'ice in that country ; my view was, that a portion, at all events, in the first instance of the 2d battalion of the 1 1th would be sent to Japan. 2389. In one of the letters your Lordship sends directions to General Guy to detach the whole of the 2d battalion of the 11th, if he thinks fit, to Japan? — Yes. In the first letter notifying the arrangements for the year 1865-66, I leave it to the discretion of the general upon the spot to distribute his troops amongst the stations that were to continue to be occupied by British troops, after the abandonment of the purely Chinese territory, as he may think fit. That was my view then ; and it has always been my opinion that it is right, at so great a distance as that, to leave a very large discretion, and to place a large confidence in a general officer hold- ing a considerable command. When General Guy went out to China, 1 had an interview with him, and expressed my confidence in him, and told him that that was the course I should always be inclined to pursue ; in fact, I believe it is the only course that any sensible man would pursue with a general officer who was fit for his duty. Therefore I simply told him that he would make any distribution of the troops Avhich he thought fit, within the limits then assigned to his command by the withdrawal of the Chinese territory from his authority. At a later period, after subsequent reports which I received from General Guy, I sent him a letter, which is con- tained in these papers, and which is dated the 23d of March 1865 ; it is letter No. 12, on pages 15 and 16. It contains positive instructions to send the 2d battalion of the 11th to Japan, and that letter was received by General Guy cer- tainly before the 1 1th of May, because on the 11th of May he acknowledges its receipt. 2390. And the 2d battalion of the 11th landed on the 28th of May, did they not? — They arrived on the 28th, I think, and landed on the 31st ; that is my impression. 2391. Colonel Perci/ Herlert.^ What is the passage in which the " positive instructions " which you speak of were conveyed? — The passage is the second paragraph from the top of page 16 of the Papers laid before the House. 2392. It is this : " With regard to the diffi- culty which you anticipate in providing sufficient accommodation for a second regiment at Hong Kong and Kowloon, I am to acquaint you that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have decided on withdrawing the Hoyal Marines now serving in Japan. There will therefore be no objection to your sending the 2d battalion 11th foot, on its arrival from the Cape, or such portion of it as you may be unable to accommodate at Hong Kong, to Yokohama, where the climate is better suited than that of China to the European constitution " ? — Yes ; when I eay that I sent positive instructions, I do not mean that I with- drew from the general officer all discretion, be- cause I never should do that, except in some very extreme case. I will not say that I should not do so under any circumstances, but the circumstances must be very peculiar which would induce me, if I were Secretary of State for War, to with- draw all discretion (for I think that is a very dangerous thing to do) from a general officer serving at a distance. That paragraph indicated, as it appears to me, most distinctly that it was my intention and wish that the 2d battalion of the 11th should go to Japan; that was my wish, and it was what I intended to convey. 2393. Chairman.l Your Lordship wrote that letter under the impression that the Marines would be embarked to make room for the 11th? — Yes, I wrote it under that impression un- doubtedly ; though I believe it would have been possible to accommodate the troops in Japan with a certain amount of preparation otherwise. 2394. The Marines did not actually embark until between the 18tli and 27th of September, I think? — I have heard that that is the fact. I was not aware of it ; the orders that were sent by me upon the subject (of course they were not orders to the Marines) were sent upon the 23d of March. It is my confident belief (you can ascertain the fact in a moment) that orders from the Admiralty to the same effect went out at the same time ; and I am strongly of opinion that if the Marines were not withdrawn from Japan immediately on the receipt of those orders, they would certainly have been withdrawn if any re- presentation had been made to the Admiral that it was necessary for the health of the troops that the troops should go to Japan ; I cannot account for the delay in withdrawing them. 2395. There might have been some political reasons for it ? — No ; I think there could have been no political reasons for it ; because the sub- stitution of a regiment of the Line for the Marines would quite meet any political contingency, unless there had been a contingency which would render necessary the simultaneous presence of both forces, which was not the case. 2396. Might there have been any objection on the part of the Japanese authorities to the landing of a second regiment, if the Marines had been there ? — I should think not ; I do not think the Japanese authorities care a farthing what troops are there ; they would not care whether it was a regiment of the Line or Marines. 2397. As to numbers they might ? — It was of course a possibility that the presence of a large addition to the force (not of a relieving force, but of an addition to the force) might raise some difficulty with the Japanese authorities ; and it was with a view to the possibility of that arising that I was particularly careful in the first instance in not giving General Guy any absolute instruc- tions, and in directing him to consult with Her Majesty's Minister at Japan ; because I felt that our relations with Japan were then in a critical state, and it was just possible that the arrival of troops at one moment instead of at another moment might interfere with what was going on there ; but at a subsequent period that difficulty appeared to be much less likely to arise. When the letter of the 23d of March was written, I had no idea that any such difficulty would arise j that is SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TEOOPS (cHINA). 97 is my Impression ; but I may be mistaken in it, because it is a question of diplomatic relations with which I have not the same familiarity as I have with the military affairs. We had then an idea that there was not likely to be the same objection on the part of the Japanese ; they did not much care how many troops were stationed at Yokohama ; they would have disliked the occu- pation of a fresh place, but they would not equally dislike the presence of additional troops at Yoko- hama, which were in some respects of advantage to them. 2398. Did you consider that a regiment could have been put up at Yokohama ? — Yes ; my opinion was this, and I believe it is a correct opinion, that either the Marines could have been withdrawn on board the " Conqueror," which was what I intended and what the Admiralty intended and ordered, or that if they were not withdrawn on board the " Conqueror, " the 2d battalion of the 11th could have been accom- modated on board the " Conqueror" until the Marines were withdrawn. You can ascertain from the A dmiralty how far that is correct ; that was certainly my impression. 2399. Colonel Percy HerbertJ] "Was that opinion as to how things would work out, which you have just stated in your last answer, in any way conveyed to General Guy by your Lord- ship ? — No ; I did not tell him how he was to carry out the transfer of the 2d battalion of the 11th; my own opinion at the time was un- doubtedly that the order I had sent out, and the orders the Admiralty had sent out, would be carried into effect, and that the Marines would be removed from Japan, and the 2d battalion of the 11th substituted for them; and I had the greater confidence that that would be done because the Admiralty always have an objection to the em- ployment of Marines on shore. They have on various occasions expressed a dislike of their continued employment on shore, which is very inconvenient to the Admiralty; and I never doubted that they would immediately jump at the notion of getting 500 Marines available for their general purposes, and would have no hesita- tion whatever about their withdrawal ; and I am perfectly of opinion that if the general officer (I • do not mean by this answer to imply any blame on the general officer) had thought fit in the ■ ample discretion that I intended to leave him, and did leave him, to tell the Admiral that the troops ought to go to Japan on account of their health, there would have been no difficulty what- ever in the removal of the Marines, and they would have been removed. 2400. Chairman.'] In that case the garrison of Hong Kong would merely have been one European Kegiment, namely, the 2d-9th ? — Yes. 2401. With regard to the removal of the Indian troops; from the information you had received, did you consider that the duties could have been carried on by one European battalion without any assistance whatever ? — I was cer- tainly of opinion that that would have been possible, and my reason for entertaining that opinion is this; that in the years 1854, 1855, and 1856, the duties at Hong Kong were performed not by one European battalion, but by a wing of one European battalion without the assistance of any native troops whatever. The native troops were withdrawn from Hong Kong in the year 1853 or 1854, I am not quite certain which, by direction of the Secretary of State for War and ' 0.53, the Colonies, as he was at that time, after com- Right Hon. munication with the Secretary at War, and with the concurrence of the then Commander in Chief, Sir Henry Hardinge, without, as far as I know (I am speaking of matters anterior to my own connection with the War Office), any objection on the part of Sir Henry Hardinge, an officer of great experience in hot climates, and without any protest, that I am aware of, from any officer who commanded on the station during the years 1854, 1855, and 1856 ; I certainly therefore did think that the duties there, as they had been performed by a wing of a European regiment without any native troops during that period, might be performed by a whole European regi- ment, without any assistance from native troops ; and I may add that, when I consulted the Com- mander in Chief upon the subject, his Royal Highness did not differ from that view. 2402. In 1854 and 1855 we had not the Kow- loon part of the territory ; that was acquired in 1861 ? — Quite so ; I was proposing that there should be very nearly double the garrison which existed in 1854, 1855, and 1856 ; if you look at the Returns you will find that in 1854 there were 477 infantry ; in 1855 there were 430, and in 1856 there were 530. 2403. Sir Harry Verney.] Your Lordship has stated that it was left to General Guy's discre- tion where to employ the troops ; at what period and where was it so left to him ? — In the first place, I should state that a general officer has, generally speaking, a discretion to employ troops in any part of his command that he may think fit, according to the exigencies of the service ; but with respect to this particular case, the matter was left to General Guy's discretion from the very commencement of this correspondence. In the very first letter from the War Office, which appears in this correspondence, and which i^ dated the 3d of December 1864, it was left to General Guy's discretion to distribute his troops as he thought fit between Hong Hong, Kowloon, and Japan ; whereas before General Guy had a discretion (and you observe, from the letter of the 12th November 1864, that he exercised that discretion ; for in that letter he proposes a series of arrangements, and states that he is going to carry them out) to distribute his troops not merely between the three points to which he was limited by the letter of the 3d of December, but also at Shanghai and Taku, and one or two other minor points on the Chinese territory ; but the letter of the 3d of December limited him as regarded the occupation of purely Chinese territory, that being then forbidden to him ; but his discretion was amply confirmed and purposely and inten- tionally confirmed, with respect to all the rest of the territory, which it was the intention of the Government should be occupied by British troops. That discretion was somewhat limited by the letter of the 23d of March, which, though not absolutely withdrawing discretion (because that is a thing I would hardly ever do), yet gave a positive intimation of my view that he should send the 2d battalion of the 11th to Japan. 2404. Where was General Guy when the 2d battalion of the 11th arrived? — I believe he was in Japan ; I do not know ; I think that appears from the correspondence ; but he was at Hong Kong when he received my letter of the 23d of March, because he acknowledges it from Hong Kong. His reply is dated " Head Quarters, Hong Kong, 11th of May 1865," N 2405. Where arl De Grey and Mipon. 28 May 1866, 98 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE 28 May 186a Right Hon. 2405. Where was the Admiral ; was the Admiral Kajfl Be in Japan ? — I cannot tell you. Gret/md 2406. It appears that he was, and therefore Ripon. General Grey and the Admiral were both at Japan ? — Of course the Committee are perfectly aware that a general officer moves about in his command just aa he pleases. 2407. Colonel Fercy Herbert.] Did you eon- template as much as two whole regiments being quartered in Japan ? — Yes. 2408. Was there any further intimation sent to the general of that disposition, beyond the letter you have referred to in this correspond- ence ? — No ; the accommodation in Japan, as I believe it to have been at that time, was accom- modation for between 1,500 and 1,600 men. I proposed to withdraw the Marines, amounting to 500 men, and to substitute a European regiment, which would have made two European regiments there at a reduced strength, for which, as far as the information of the War Office goes, there would have been ample accommodation. 2409. The only intimation of that distribution given to the general is conveyed in this letter of the 23d of March, is it not ? — There were the other two letters, namely, the letter of the 3d of December, and the letter of the 10th of January. I repeat to the Committee, that it was my deliberate intention to leave a very large dis- cretion to General Guy, in regard to these arrangements, because, upon principle, I think it is right to do so, and I should think any Secre- tary of State very wrong who limited the dis- cretion of a general officer at a distance, except under some very peculiar circumstances, upon a question of that kind. 2410. You contemplated some of the troops being quartered at Kowloon, I presume, because the letter of the 10th of January mentions Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Japan ? — I intended to leave that, as I have stated, to General Guy, and in his letter of the 12th of November, which the Committee wiU observe was written before any of the changes settled here in December, were even settled here, and, therefore, long before they were known to the general, he informs me that it was his intention to quarter 244 men, I think it is, at Kowloon. I did not think it right to withdraw from him any power, and I had nothing which induced me absolutely to with- draw from him any power to quarter men at Kowloon, but I left it entirely to his discretion ; and, according to my view of the case, he would have been able to quarter the whole of the troops, if he had had the means of doing so at Hong Kong, or the whole 6f the troops at Kow- loon, or the whole of the troops at Japan. I left that entirely to his discretion, believing that he would make sensible arrangements. 2411. Do I rightly understand you to say that there were quarters in Japan for 1,600 men? — My impression, from the information received at the War Office, was, that there was accommoda- tion for between 1,500 and 1,600 men ; you can ascertain the fact; I think you will find that that impression of mine is correct. 2412. You did not contemplate, at any rate, any large amount of barracks having to be hired at Hong Kong ?— I did not ; I should have been quite prepared to approve of any expenditure that might have been necessary for that purpose, but I did not contemplate that necessity. 2413. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] When you mentioned Kowloon, Were you aware that it was so unhealthy ? — My impression upon that point, as far as I can remember, is that at this particular period of December 1864, and'. . . January 1865, we had very conflicting opiniona at the War Office as to the healthiness of Kow^ loon. Originally, Kowloon was obtained from' the Chinese, with the intention that it should; be made a sanitarium, and we had most CavoiuC able reports upon it from very eminent medicaJL^ officers of the army. Dr. Muir, among others,' at an early period ; but I think that in con- sequence of certain works which were in course of execution there, the healthiness of that position had decreased by this time, and my impression is (I will not speak very positively), that in December 1864 and January 1865, it was certainly clear that whatever it might become in the future, it was not then a sanitarium, but there was a greatf deal of conflicting opinion as to whether it was more or less healthy than Hong Kong itself; at^ a subsequent period, by a letter that reached uB^ ■ on the 23d of March, we received a very un^, favourable opinion as the result of an inquiry by a Board in respect to that station, but my im- pression of the view taken at an earlier date is that which I have stated; at the same time, the Committee will understand that when I mentioned Kowloon in my letters of December and January,, I never intended to imply, and I do not think that, looking to the circumstances, that would be the view of it taken by the general, that he was to send any troops to Kowloon unless he thought fit ; I was withdrawing from him certain stations that had previously been occupied, Shangha,i and Taku, and I was saying to him, there will remain to you certain other stations ; I could not describe it by radius, because it was not a ques- tion of radius, it was a question of points ; I said to him, you will distribute the troops among those stations as you think best, but whether he should send any to Kowloon, or not send any to Kow- loon, was a question which, in the state of Information which I then had, I thought it much better to leave to his discretion v.-ith his local knowledge. 2414. In short, you would not have blamed the general if he had not sent any troops to Kow* loon ? — Certainly not ; such a thing never entered my head. 2415. Chairman] But the War Office were then of opinion that quarters could be easily obtained at Hong Kong by paying for them "i— Certainly, my impression would have been that quarters could have been obtained within certain limits by paying for them, but as I have pointed out to the Committee, I never, from the very commencement, contemplated the whole of the 2d battalion of the 11th being quartered at Hong Kong or Kowloon ; and at a later period, but at a period previous to the arrival of the 2d battalion of the 11th in China, I contemplated their being sent to Japan. 2416. A correspondence took place between you, the Admiralty, and the Horse Guards, with regard to the ship "Hercules," which is a hospital ship, which was reported upon by a Board pre- sided over by Captain Nolloth, of the " Princess Charlotte," the senior naval officer. We have here the report upon the "^ Hercules," in which he says, " a few days ago she sprang a fresli leak ; previously she was making 22 inches of water in 24 hours ; she has been careened as far as two streaks of copper, which have been stripped, and the parts beneath were found to be in\ sxx ex- ceedi^y^ , , SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TROof'S (CHINA). 99 ccedingly defective state from being wormeaten. The topsides may be said to be entirely gone, a knife, together with the whole handle, being easily buried, when thrust in at many places ; the i^ain piece of the stem has been completely eaten through by worms ; the ship cannot be tlioroughly examined without being docked, which would be impracticable, either h'ere or in the Canton river, nor is she worth the expense ; but judging from the overhaul which has been already made, and ■ the frequency of leaks, there can be little doubt that the whole of her bottom is in a condition past repair. She might at any time spring a serious leak, and in a typhoon assistance could not be rendered to provide against this contin- gency; she has for a considerable period been anchored in the most sheltered pai-t of the har- feburj with only two feet of water (soft bottom) ulider her at low water spring tides." In conse- quence of that, and a report of the medical ; officer, you applied to the Admiralty for a ship •'* tb replace her? — Yes. * 2417. And on tbe 3d of May 1864, the Admiralty replied by a letter, which we have on page 3 ? — It is quite true that it is printed the 3d of May 1864, but it is really the 3d of May 1865 ; that is an important point ; the whole correspondence is a correspondence of 1865. 2418. The Admiralty say, " In returning to you the papers forwarded in your letter of the 27th ultimo, in regard to the unserviceable con- dition of the ' Hercules' military hospital ship at Hong Kong^ I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request you will state to Earl de Grey, in regard to the pro- position to replace her by a line-of-battle ship fitted with a frame roof, that there is no three- decked ship available ; and the ' Vanguard ' or ' Superb,' the only two-decked ships that could be appropriated for the service, would require an expenditure of 13,000/. to 14,000/, to fit and pUce either ship on the station, where she would probably not last 10 years. It would appear, therefore, far more economical to build a military hospital on shore, where all the requisite sanitary airrangements could be carried out, and the build- ing be made of a permanent character, rather than apply so expensive a makeshift for the purpose as an old decaying ship, liable to be unroofed in a typhoon, and thus rendered useless when most needed." That was, I think, the answer which you received to your application ? — Yes. 2419. That is followed by a letter from the Duke of Cambridge, who, takes exception to the thing, and says that he thinks that the sum of " 14,000/. spread over 10 years to fit and place either the ' Vanguard ' or ' Superb ' as a hospital ship at Hong Kong, would be more beneficially spent than in the construction of a large military Kbspital on shore, which would cost at least six times as much, ' and might possibly, from some local cause hereafter, be found not to answer." Upon this point, with regard to the hospital, it appears from all the evidence we have had that whatever buildings were erected it is utterly im- possibles, or at least attended with the greatest possible danger to life, for those buildings to be inhabited under two or three years, therefore that made it still more necessary to have a ship of some, sort out there? — If that is meant as a question I would just say that I have no doubt it is attended with very great danger to life to occupy buildings erected upon virgin soil like that at-iKowloon. Whether the same amount of , 0,53. danger (on this matter I speak quite subject to correction, for you have had evidence upon the point which I have not seen), results from the occupation of buildings erected in an old settle- ment like Victoria, I cannot say. 2420. I think a suggestion was made further on that the hospitals should be re-built upon healthy rising ground at Kowloon ; what were the reasons for the course your Lordship took, and what were the steps you took with respect to that? — I must state, in the first place, that when this letter from the Admiralty was received at the War Office, it is my impression (you would be able to ascertain all this from the War Depart- ment itself) that the Department C(/nsulted the Army Medical Department, and thit an opinion was given either by Sir James Gibson or Dr. Logan, sometimes the one gave an opinion, and sometimes the other, I cannot at this distance of time recollect which gave it in this case ; but an opinion was given by the Army Medical Depart- ment that they concurred in the view taken by the Admiralty ; so that I had the ouinion of the Admiralty and of the Army Medical Depart- ment against the provision of a hospital ship of this description, and under those circumstances, although there was no doubt a good deal to be said both ways, yet it appeared to me that as the hospital ship could not be provided to meet the requirements of the then hot season which was going on at the time, because this is the month of iM ay we are talking about, and as it was of course impossible to send out a ship to meet the reqviirements of that season, it would probably be better deliberately to consider the question of the erection of a hospital suitable to the require- ments of what was likely to be the permanent garrison of Hong Kong and Kowloon, if Kowlooa was to be occupied, and I therefore directed. General Guy, and gave him the fullest autho- rity to incur expenditure for the immediate pro- vision of hospital accommodation, and-called for. reports with reference to the proper site, and the proper arrangements to be made for the erectiori of a hospital; I acted upon that occasion, the. Committee will observe, partly upon the opinion as regarded the provision of a ship given by the Admiralty, and partly also upon the opinion of the Army Medical Department. 2421. Colonel Percj/ Herhert.~\ Where is that opinion given? — It is my belief that it was given in the official papers. I should say with regard to it, I do not think the Committee would be able to get the i^aper, because probably it con- sists of an official minute, which it is not the practice to lay before a committee, but they could get the evidence upon which the opinion was founded, which is the same thing ; they have only to ask Sir James Gibson or Dr. Logan, or, the Secretary of State for War, or any one con- nected with the War Office, whether my impres- sion is right ; but it is my clear impression that I had an opinion of the Army Medical Depart- ment upon the point ; I do not think I am wrong about that. 2422. Chairman.] We have here a letter of yours, dated the 1st of July 1865, at page 4, in which you say, " In reply to your letter of the 5th of May," (this is to the Quartermaster-Gene- ral), " c>nclosing a copy of the proceedings of a Board of Officers, assembled at Hong Kong, to report on the appropriation of the military hospi- tal, I am directed to acquaint you, for the in- formation of his Royal Highness the Field N 2 Marshal Right Hon. Earl De Grey and Ripon. ■.iti May i866. 100 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Right Hon. Marshal Commanding in Chief, that the Secre- Earl Be tary of State for "War considers it very desirable Grey and that the general hospital at that station should, if ^^V^ - possible, be exclusively appropriated for hospital 2,8 May purposes ; and with this view, the same, or 1 866. another Board of Officers, should be assembled to consider and report the most suitable plan for converting the east and west wings of the hospi- tal, which are now chiefly used as officers' quar- ters, into wards for the sick, leaving a room for the orderly medical officer, and allotting the basement and outbuildings of the centre and wings for hospital servants, stores, offices, and other purposes. I am to add, with reference to your letter of the 22d May last, relative to the proposal of replacing the hospital ship 'Hercules' by a vessel sent from this country, that Earl de Grey and Kipon proposes to take no further steps in the matter until the proceedings of the Board in question have been- received in this office." From the evidence we have had from nearly every witness, it appears that it is almost certain death to live in the basement of any buildings there. I do not know whether that might have been pointed out to you at the time ; probably it was not? — What I there stated is exactly what I intended to have implied before. I suggested the assembling of another Board, who would have just that local knowledge which you have obtained by your examination of wit- nesses here, and which, although possessed to a certain extent by the War Office, would be better obtained upon the spot by a competent Board. The General Officer had, as I have stated, the power to incur expenditure for the temporary arrangements. The permanent ar- rangements, whether they were to be in the shape of a hospital, or of a ship, were reserved, as' the letter shows, for future consideration. I do not wish here to express any opinion of my own, either for or against the employment of a ship. I had the opinion of the Admiralty, and of the Army Medical Department, upon the matter, and upon that opinion I thought it desirable to pause, and to call for further local information. 2423. Marquis of Hartington.'] The purveyor in chief would be the officer whom you would immediately consult on all hospital arrangements, would he not ? — Yes, on all questions of fittings, and buildings, and matters of that kind, subject of course to the general opinion of the Army Medical Department. 2424. Mr. Robertson would be. the person, probably, who could explain most fully what hap- pened with regard to the appropriation of a hospital, and the correspondence about the " Her- cules"? — Certainly; he would deal with the question in the War Office itself. 2425. Chairman.'l I wish to draw your atten- tion to the correspondence which took place be- tween your Department and the Treasury upon the subject of the Indian allowances ; it began with General Peel in the first instance, and then it was followed up by Mr. Herbert, and then by Sir George Lewis, and Sir George Lewis for- warded the Beport of a Board (you will see it at No. 6) which assembled, and was presided over by Colonel Clifford, the Assistant Quartermaster- General, and consisted also of Sir William Power, the present Commissary General, and Mr. John Maclean ; I do not know who he is. In this Eeport they say : " The committee, in estimating the commutation, has confined itself, in conformity with the instructions, to the narrowest data afforded by the Royal Warrants for the scales of allowances, and to the local wholesale contracts for the prices, without in any way taking into consideration the peculiar circumstances of cli- mate or locality, and without any reference to the consolidated allowances previously existing, or to the Indian allowances now enjoyed in China. T;'sse circumstances would appear to be more ficly considered indej)endently of the questions of allowances of provisions, forage, fuel, and Hght, and might be partly treated as a cli- mate or local allowance to meet inevitable ex- penses attendant on increased personal wants in a bad and enervating climate, and partly to meet the local circumstances of a very peculiar and limited market, and for the extra expense over and above the regulated number of servants, and the regulated allowance of Is. 6d. per diem ; in illustration of which it may not be out of ■ place here to remark that owing to the difficulty at- tendant upon the language, and to the local in- variable practice by which all purchases from the market people are made for Europeans by the compradors, an influential class who maintain this monopoly, an increase of 12 to 20 per cent, is made on the market rates, the compradors also receiving from 12 to 20 doUars per month as wages from the mess family establishment, to which they are necessarily attached as stewards." I read that paragraph to show that in making this Report they had not noticed the very great expenses to which the troops are liable out there. The next paper, on page 8, is a Schedule of com- muted allowances. On page 9 there is a " State- ment showing the comparative expense of Indian allowances at full batta scale, and the scale pro- posed for China by the committee" ? — Yes. 2426. Then Sir George Lewis, subsequently to this, desires Sir Edward Lugard to write to the Treasury to this effect : " The rates shown in the proposed scale were fixed by the committee of officers, upon the supposition that on the cessa- tion of hostifities the prices of the necessaries of life in China would gradually resume their former position ; but Major General Sir John Michel, who lately commanded Her Majesty's forces in China, and who is now in this country, and other officers reCcently returned from that command, vsdth whom the Secretary of State has had several interviews on the subject, state positively that aU articles have a tendency to become dearer, and are of opinion that a reduction in the present rates of allowances would be most impolitic, especially in the present unsettled state of affairs in China, it being uncertain how soon it may become necessary to garrison Hong Kong with troops from India, in which case such troops would be entitled to the pay and allowances pre- scribed by Indian regulations, and it would become a source of dissatisfaction to Her Ma- jesty's regular forces were they to be accorded pay and allowances at rates below those received by Her Majesty's Indian troops. In these cir- cumstances. Secretary Sir G. C. Lewis proposes, with their Lordships' concurrence, that- the Indian rates now in force in China should con- tinue for the present, and so long as the excep- tional high prices of provisions, lodgings, &c. shall continue to obtain in that command, and that in the meanwhile the scale approved by their Lordships in the communication from the Treasury of the 10th April last, before adverted to, Aould remain in abeyance." The answer to that SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEoSpS (cHINa). 101 that is, " That my Lords will not object to the continuance of the present allowances in China to the end of the present financial year, which will aiford time for the further consideration of -the question; and my Lords trust that Sir George Lewis may be able to make such arrange- ments as will save the Exchequer from the double disadvantage of the greater charge in- volved in the employment of European troops, and of the extra allowances entailed by the em- ployment in connection with them of sepoys." The next letter merely expresses a hope " that within a shorter period the Secretary of State may have been able to make an arrangement which will admit of the reduction which, under circumstances doubtless unavoidable, has been so long delayed." The next is a letter from your Lordship, containing this passage : " As 'although Lord De Grey has reason to believe ■'that rents are somewhat falling from the very high rates at which they have ranged since 1857, they are still greatly in excess of those which previously obtained, his Lordship considers it necessary to sanction an addition of 50 per cent, on the schedule rates for the present, and pur- poses after the lapse of a year to require such evidence from the station as may enable him and the Lords Commissioners to determine whether the allowances may not be reduced." That is the point on which I wished to ask your Lord- ship's opinion as to whether you had received information that the very high rates which had ranged since 1857 were falling, because all our evidence goes to prove that instead of falling they had been increasing? — The letter states that there was reason to believe that the rents were somewhat falling ; that was the impression, no doubt, of the department at the time, but it was not an impression sufficiently confirmed, in my judgment, to enable me to act upon it. On the contrary, I proposed an addition of 50 per cent., as you perceive from this letter, and I said that after the lapse of a year I should require evidence from the station which would enable me to determine what the allowances should be. I entertain no positive opinion as to whether the rents were falling or not ; the impression in the department was that they had somewhat fallen, but it was not in my judgment sufficiently con- firmed to enable me to act upon it. 2427. All the evidence we iiave had goes the other way ? — You observe I suspended my judg- menit, not being satisfied with the evidence I then had before me. 2428. The letter goes on, " In respect to the ex- tra 2c?. a day now allowed to the non-commissioned officers and privates. Lord de Grey fears that it would cause much discontent if it were with- drawn from the regiments now in China, but he does not propose to grant it to those who may hereafter join the command" ? — Yes. 2429. It appears from all the evidence we have had, that the expenses in China are most fearful; the evidence we have had all along, which has been especially confirmed to-day, is, that the proportion is a shilling in England, a rupee in India, and a dollar in China ? — I con- clude that the honourable and gallant gentle- man intends to ask me why I proposed to stop that grant for the future. My reason for that was this : that grant of an extra 2d. a day to non- commissioned officers and privates in China, is entirely an exceptional case, without any parallel in the rest of the British army, as far as I know. 0.53. It was given to those troops because they were Right Hor. serving with Indian troops having allowances of Earl De that description, and it was not considered de- Grey and sirable that our own troops should receive less Ripon. than the troops with whom they were serving. But there are other climates to which British '^^c'^^"^ troops have to go which are as bad as the climate ^ of Hong Kong, or nearly so, and it certainly ap- peared to me undesirable to introduce in Hong Kong a system of special rates to non-commis- sioned officers and men which are not granted in the West Indies, or in other bad climates to which our troops go. I think you must act in regard to a matter so exceedingly delicate as the pay of the soldier, upon one general uniform principle; and although I deviated from that principle so far as not to withdraw the allowance from men who were actually in receipt of it, though the causes of that allowance were re- moved by the removal of the Indian troops, yet not being prepared to recommend the adoption of special climate allowances throughout the bad climates in which the British army might be called upon to serve, I did not think it desirable to maintain for the future a peculiar exception, without parallel elsewhere, in the case of China ; that was my reason for the step I proposed to take. 2430. It was not a case of climate, but a case of enormous expense ? — I used the word " cli- mate" rather largely ; I apply the same reasoning to other places where the expenses -are high ; they have been very high in various stations at various times ; but as far as I know, although there are cases of increased allowances to officers. Colonial allowances and others, there is no parallel to this allowance to non-commissioned officers and men. You will understand that I have been talk- ing of the non-commissioned officers and men exclusively. You asked me a question about the 2 d. a, day, and I spoke exclusively of the men ; the allowance to the officers is quite a difierent question. 2431. With regard to officers there is an al- lowance of Is. 6d. a, day in lieu of a horse. The evidence we had to-day was that they can only move about in chairs at Hong Kong, that they do not ride, and that the mode of conveyance in Hong Kong is by chairs, and that it would cost about Is. 2d. to an officer for every time that he went out in one of those chairs. Some of the officers were quartered a quarter of a mile from their men, and it would be utterly impossible for them to leave their barracks except in that way, so that, instead of Is. 6d., the allowance ought to have been greater than that.. I mention that as one instance of the expenses of Hong Kong ? — With respect to the allowance to the officers, the case is this: the allowances that they re- ceived while the Indian troops were serving there were not fixed by any considerations connected with the peculiar circumstances of China ; they were determined solely and ex- clusively by the allowances that were given under the Indian regulations to the Indian troops. When those Indian troops were with- drawn, and when we had to consider what should be the allowance hereafter to be granted to our officers serving in China, it was found (I forget whether it was at first or at a subsequent period) among other things that the allowances in regard to the lower ranks, certainly the subalterns (I am not quite sure whether it did not extend to the captains), which were given under the Indian regulations, and fixed by Indian considerations, N 3 were Right Hon. Eaxl De Grey and fRipon. 102 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOEE THE 28 May (866-; ivcre undoubtedly inadequate to their wants ; and, in the scale which I proposed while I was S (CHINA). 105 mcatlon between you and the Commander in Chief with regard to this withdrawal of troops ; 4id any communication take place ? — Certainly ; the invariable practice of the War Department, as I have always seen it, and as I have always followed it myself, is that generally about No- vember the Secretary of State and the Com- mander in Chief have several meetings, in which they discuss the whole of the military arrange- ments for the ensuing year, both with regard to the Estimates, and with regard to the force to be maintained at the different stations. In the year 1864 I had the honour of several interviews with His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief for that purpose; and at those interviews the arrangements which I was thinking of then in respect to China were fully discussed between us ; that, as is invariably the case, was before I had submitted my proposals to my colleagues. I always consulted, as every other Secretary of State consulted, the Commander in Chief, in order that I might make my colleagues ac- .quainted not merely with my own views, but with those of the military head of the army, upon the arrangements that were proposed. The ar- rangements that were proposed in November 1864 were the abandonment of all points of purely Chinese territory, the withdrawal of the native troops, and the reduction of the force at Hong Kong to a single battalion of infantry, leaving one battalion in Japan ; that is to say, reducing the infantry force in the China com- mand to two battalions. These proposals having been discussed between His Royal Highness and myself, I. subsequently communicated them to my colleagues, and after consideration we came to this conclusion ; it was just after we had received the ■ news of the affair of Simonosaki, which, although successful, showed that our relations with Japan were in a critical state ; and it was decided by the Government that it would be undesirable to withdraw the third regiment from the China command, and that there were to be retained, with a view to the state of things in Japan for a time, and for a time only, three battalions in that command. As I said, I had not originally intended that, but I entirely concurred in the political grounds which led my colleagues to think that a necessary step ; although otherwise I should myself, on general War Department grounds, have regretted it. When we had come to that decision, I of course again communicated privately with the Duke of Cam- bridge, and orders were in the usual manner sent in an official letter, which you will find in this correspondence. 2456. Do you think that the retention of the Native troops would have answered the political objects that were required in Japan ? — I think not ; I think it would not have been desirable to employ Native troops in Japan in the then state of our relations with that country ; if we had been at war with Japan, and had been going to undertake a military expedition in that country, you might, as you did in China, have employed Native with European troops ; but when you were in the anomalous position in which our re- lations with Japan were at that time, when you were occupying Japanese territory though you 1 866. were not at war with Japan, it was very import- Right Hon. ant to have out there the most reliable troops you Earl De could have, and troops upon whose discretion Grey and you could rely, as far as possible ; as it was, as Ripm. the Committee are aware, there were unfortunate murders of British officers from their going out ^'^^^y and exposing themselves, to a certain extent, to attack from the Japanese. Yery unfortunate circumstances, both very painful in themselves and very complicating as political events, occur- red, and there would have been a greater lia- bility to that if we had had a less controllable body of troops, such as a body of Eastern troops, there ; and therefore it would not appear to me to have been desirable, in that particular contin- gency, to employ Native troojDS in Japan. 2457. Chairman.l Besides that, the climate of Japan is very much better than that of Hong Kong? — Yes; that is, of course, an additional reason. 2458. Have you anything more that you wish' to state to the Committee ?— No, I do not recol- lect anything ; I should be most happy to give any further information the Committee might wish to have, but I do not remember anything which I think I should call to the attention of the Committee. 2459. Sir Harry Verney.] I think we clearly understand from your Lordship that officers in command of Eastern stations have the power of incurring expense for the accommodation and safety of the troops under their command ? — Certainly. 2460. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] Does your Lordship recollect whether any representation was made to the War Department by the Com- mander in Chief, not to send a third regiment to China, in consequence of a report from General Guy ? — I think there was a letter from the Horse Guards in which, forwarding some despatch from General Guy (this is only my recollection of it). His Royal Highness pointed out the incon- venience and the evils which would result from the quartering of two battalions at Hong Kong and Kowloon ; and my answer to that letter was, that I did not contemplate that two battalions should be quartered at Hong Kong and Kow- loon, and that I had sent out orders in that sense. It was also added that I had left it to the discretion of the officer commanding in China, to distribute the troops as he thought fit between Japan and Hong Kong; and at a later period, namely in March, I positively pointed out to him that he should send the regi- ment, not to Hong Kong but to Japan, and by that I conceived that I had met the difficulty raised by the Dui or relieving them by sending a certain number of men on board the hospital ship. , 2782. Have you any correspondence of that sort ? — No, I have no correspondence here at all. Anything of that SQi't, would be recorded in Hong Kong; but I remember perfectly well the 0.53. . • • fact of giving them the option of going imder C0I.H.C.B. canvas, leaving a certain number of men only to "loody, r.e. look after the huts, as a guard, or to put a certain number of men on board the "Hercules," but 4 June 1866. I could not give you the exact dates ; it is a long time since the occurrence. I remember commu- nicating with the principal medical officer on the subject. I said that the men could not come back to Hong Kong in consequence of these disturb- ances, and it was the express wish of the Go- vernor that they should remain over there: But we brought over troops that had been at Kowloon, a company of the artillery which had been in some of those huts that the 99th were occupying, and I think some natives, and a part of a com- pany of Sappers, so as to make them do garrison duty in Hong Kong, because the garrison was very much pressed indeed by being relieved of such a large force of the 99th. 2783. Was it you who ordered the 99th over to Kowloon ? — Yes, at the request of the Governor. 2784. Did you represent to the Governor the remonstrances of the colonel of the 99th and the two medical officers as to the probability of sick- ness resulting from their being sent over ? — No, it was a matter of necessity for the sake of mili- tary discipline to remove them from Hong Kong, and the only place you could remove them to was Kowloon. 2785. Those permanent barracks at Hong Kong which are reported to be excellent of their size were left empty, were they not ? — No, be- cause there was a company of Artillery brought over, and a detachment of the 67th which came down from Shanghai, and a part of the Sappers were brought over to do garrison duty in ]3lace of the 99th. Of course they were not to the same numerical extent as the 99th, who were sent over. The only men of the 99th retained in Hong Kong were those men who were in public staff employ, clerks, and orderlies, and so forth, men of confirmed good character, who had been selected for their appointments by their characters. 2786. Did you represent to the Governor that on the 14th of September, which was the day before the regiment had been sent over, there were only 31 men in hospital, and of those three only were suffering from fever, and on the 14th of October there were no less than 128 men in hospital, and of that number 81 were suffering from fever ? — No, I did not. 2787. The increase was most fearful from three to 81 and from 31 to 128 in one month? — Yes; but you must remember that there are many ways of increasing fever. There was a case of cholera reported to me. I requested an inquiry to be made into it. I told them to inquire into the various circumstances, one of which was the previous character of the man, and whether he had been drinking hard, because I happen to know these things follow each other very often in a hot climate ; that the men, after drinking hard, get dysentery or diarrhoea, which neglected becomes dysentery, and then quickly cholera, so that much may be brought on by a man's own folly. 2788. Upon the subject of this cholera, it ap- pears from what we have, before us, that on the 14th October, two cases of cholera appeared, which was unusual at that season of the year, and that an investigation took place, and an iron tank was found, containing many thousand gallons of stagnant and putrescent water, kept for the sup- p 4 pression 120 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE ■Col.W. C. 3. pression of fire, and that was considered to be the Moody, R.E, cause of this attack of cholera ; this was brought to your knowledge, I believe, by the Colonel of 4 June 1866. the 99th? — Yes; but whether what I inspected was the tank referred to, I am not sure, but I think so ; I went over to examine into the complaint about water, at Kowloon ; the Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General was with me, the engineer officer at Kowloon was with me, and I told the medical officer, Dr. Snell, to attend, and the com- manding officer was with me. Colonel Dunn, or Major Dunn, as he was then ; I tasted that water, and the Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General tasted it, and I smelt it too ; there was neither putrescence, nor was there any peculiar taste about it ; it was not intended for drinking water, but it was intended as a reservoir of water in case of fire, from the inflammable nature of the huts ; I also asked two soldiers of the 99th, whom I took indiscriminately— I did not know who they were at all — if they had smelt the water, or if they had heard that there was anything occasioned by the water ; they were both old soldiers, and they said, " No ;" those were merely two men who happened to be going by, and who lived in the neighbouring huts. 2789. It was recommended to you, was it not, that the tanks should be kept empty ? — If they had been empty of course there would have been no decomposition; but those tanks were tho- roughly covered over; the sun could not get access to them ; and the only dehris in the tanks, were the debris which resulted from the surface washing of the soil. 2790. Did not two medical officers report to you that they considered that the cholera had been occasioned by the state of that water ? — Yes; I did not agree with them; it was not drink- ing water ; if it had been drinking water I might have understood it ; but even then it would have puzzled me, considering that I took the water and drank it, and neither tasted nor smelt any- thing ofiensive in it, and the staff officer who was with me did the same, for I did not want to go entirely by my own judgment. Although it ' might be the impression of the two medical officers that that water caused the cholera, I do not agree with them, because I consider first of all it was not drinking water, and in the second place, that the tainks themselves were covered. They were ordered to be constructed for the safety of the camp at Kowloon, as reservoirs of water in case of fire. If you had taken away the water, then there would have been no pro- tection for the camp from fire ; those huts are of a very inflammable nature, and part of the camp had once before been burnt down, and I think the tanks were constructed by order of General Brown as a precautionary measure. Further, when I tasted that water myself, and smelt it, there was no offensive odour, and there was no offensive taste ; there was, as I have stated, a cover to those tanks, and as I have also stated already, in the presence of the staff officer, I asked two soldiers, whom I took indiscriminately, if they perceived anything offensive from the water. 2791. There is no doubt that that which the two medical gentlemen and the colonel of the 99th apprehended would take place, did take place, because the regiment having when they went over to Kowloon, only 31 men sick, three of them of fever, on the 14th November the total number being 619 men, instead of 683, there were no less than 161 men in the hospital. and 113 suffering from fever? — Might not that have been from indiscretion on the part of the men. 2792. It has been stated in evidence that the men, over at Kowloon, had not the same access to samshoo as they had at Hong Kong ? — They had not the same immediate facilities, but there was certainly one thing against them at Kowloon ; there was not the same shelter, nor the same amusement for them which they had in the bar- racks ; that was a very great thing. But as far as the samshoo was concerned, those men used to get the samshoo when they were at Kowloon; the Chinese would bring it to them ; they have been seen going into a village just a little distance from Kowloon ; I presume, with the intention of getting samshoo. Further than that, I will men- tion what an officer of the 99th told me, not upon that particular occasion, but upon another occa- sion, in order to show the foolish habits of the soldiers, and how they bring illness upon them- selves. Just after lunch, I happened to be going to Kowloon, on duty, and I saw the senior officer of the 99th there, a captain ; he told me that " he had been looking, with his glass, along the shore, and that he had seen ttvo soldiers of his regiment bathing in the heat of the day, about two or three o'clock ; he thought it was madness their doing it, and watched them, and he saw a little boat of Chinamen come up, and there was a bottle handed out ; these men, under a hot sun, in the middle of the day, would go and bathe, and get their samshoo, and then go and put on their clothes again, and take it up to the bar- racks." I think that it is not to be wondered at, that in a short time they would get ill. 2793. That rather shows that it is an exception to the rule, and that they had some difficulty in gettingit? — While that regiment was over atKow- loon, I know, for a fact, that the men were seen in a village, a little to the west of Kowloon ; a col- lection of sheds that had been put up there. 2794. When you found an increase from 3 to 113 from fever; did you make any representation upon the subject, or, if you had the power to do so, order the regiment back ? — No, because I put it in the hands of the senior medical officer. 2795. I think the senior medical officer re- monstrated over and over again about the regi- ment being at Kowloon at all ? — I do not think he remonstrated about the regiment being at Kowloon, but about the sickness. 2796. He could not dictate to you ; all he did was to hold out to you the chance of the regi- ment being almost destroyed by death ? — I gave them the option, ;under the circumstances, of adopting a course which I believe is adopted in India and other places as a sanitary precaution. I considered as a matter of military discipline that the regiment was better out of Hong Kong than in Hong Kong, and the option was given to them of moving about day by day and chang- ing their camp, leaving merely a guard amongst the huts for duty, or else sending a certain number of men on board the "Hercules" to lessen the pressure. 2797. Are you quite sure of that, because we have it in evidence than when General Guy or- dered them to be encamped, the medical officers remonstrated ? — Yes, I know they did. I gave them the option of encamping, and they did not do it. General Guy did not give them the option, but ordered them to do it, and the sickness was immediately modified when they went under canvas. 2798. We SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 121 2798. We understand that you senti over the 99th regiment to Hong Kong in consequence of Avhat you considered a serious row, and you thought it in fact advisable for you to take that step? — Yes; and everything was reported to the major general commanding who happened to be at Shanghai at that time. 2799. You were commandant at the time in Hong Kong? — Yes, I was commandant at that time. 2800. Lord John Hay.'\ I understood you to say that the medical officers objected to your proposition to move the troops into tents ? — No, they did not object ; it was, I believe, the com- manding officer who objected. I considered it injudicious to bring the regiment back from the state of feeling that, there was between the civil and military powers ; that is to say, between the police and the soldiers. Under those circum- stances I wanted to do the best that could be ■done for the troops among whom the sickness had arisen. I consulted with the principal medical officer ; he wanted to bring them back to Hong Kong to the same barracks that they had occu- pied previously. I told him that the discipline prevented that, and I said, what was the next best thing to do. I told him what had been successfully done in other places, namely, letting the regiment go under canvas and move its camp from time to time, selecting the best positions they could in the neighbourhood, and leaving only a guard behind them; they were strong enough to aiford that. In order to give them the best facilities, if they preferred remaining where they were, I gave them also the option of letting a certain number of men go on board the "Hercules." However, the commanding officer, I believe, preferred keeping them as they were, at least I had nothing more to do with it. I said, you can have either one or other of these two things, or both if you please, leaving a certain number of men at Kowloon. In the meantime the movement had been reported to the major general commanding, and I expected instructions from him, or that he would come down himself in a very short time ; he did come down very shortly, and I was relieved of all responsibility. 2801. Chairman. '\ Have you any information with regard to the water supply at Kowloon ? — It was very indifferent. 2802. Is there any means on our own terri- tory, by springs or anything of that kind, of pro- viding a good supply ? — There are springs ; that was one of the questions that I had taken up before I left China ; I left some samples of water that were found in different places by a staff assistant surgeon there, and he stated that the water in all those springs was good. In any per- manent occupation of Kowloon, the water ques- tion will have to be' very seriously considered, and Considered as a special question by itself; at present you can get water from wells ; in some cases it is not considered very good, in other cases it has not been complained about ; I believe there are facilities for getting it at some expense from the hills in the neighbourhood, or else you will have to come to the last resource, which is that of having the salt water converted into drinking water. 2803. Are the hills you mention in our own territory ?-;-Yes, part of them. 2804. Major O'Reilly.'] How long were you Commandant at Hong Kong? — I was Com- mandant at different times. 0.53 2805. I mean at this time ; how long after the Co\. H.C.B. 15th September 1864 was it before you were Moody, k.e. relieved of the command ? — I was not relieved of the command until the arrival of the 9th, I 4 -Tune i866. think ; I forget whether the 20th were there at the time or not. 2806. You were commandant for the next three or four months after the date I mention, were you not ? — I think so ; I could not answer for certain as to the dates. 2807. You stated that you directed an Inquiry to be made into the causes of death by cholera ? -Yes. 2808. Can you state what was the result of that inquiry which was made ? — Merely that a man had been drinking previously, and that he had had diarrhoea, and died of cholera ; the diarr- hoea had been on him for some time. There were other cases that were reported upon some time afterwards, in which the men were men of good character ; they seemed to have had diarr- hoea upon them for a short time, but there was nothing apparently to predispose them to cholera from any intemperate habits. 2809. I find this paragraph in the medical re- port ; I wished to call your attention to it: " The Board having given its attention to the letter of the commandant dated the 29th of October;" that commandant would be you, I suppose ? — Yes. 2810. Referring to the evidence of Lieutenant and Adjutant Ffolliott, Assistant Surgeon Kevans, and Serjeant Major Short, 99th Kegirnent, had not been able to discover any circumstances in the mode of life of Private Sullivan for some da,ys previous to the accession of his fatal fever which can warrant it in coming to the conclusion that his death was hastened, or his fever induced, by any excess or imprudence on his part. The same ob- servations apply to two other fatal cases of fever which have since occurred in the 99th Regiment, viz., to those of Serjeant Carter and Private Fagan ; and the only opinion at which the Board can arrive, with reference to these cases is, that death was the result of the malarious influence indicated in the previous conclusion. The only suggestions I have to offer under this head are : 1st. That un- til the necessary cuttings have ceased for a period of at least six months, no troops ought to be quartered at Kowloon. 2nd. That until efficient drainage, good substantial stone or brick barracks are erected, and every possible protection from solar influence be afforded by spacious verandahs, and the shade of trees, troops ought not to be quartered at Kowloon. I presume that the re- port on those cases was also brought to your knowledge as commandant ? — Yes. With refer- ence to the drainage, an occasional complaint would be made of the drainage ; it was a surface drainage, it was the best that could be adopted under the circumstances there. 2811. That additional report as to the state of the troops at Kowloon on the 18th of October, was brought to your knowledge officially ? — Yes. 2812. You stated that a case of water, alleged to be unwholesome, was brought to your notice by the medical authorities, I think ? — Yes. 2813. It was reported upon by two medical officers, I think ? — Yes, probably by two; cer- tainly by one. One would be by the assistant- surgeon, and the other confirming that report. 2814. Am I right in understanding you to say- that you yourself smelt and tasted it, and asked the opinion of two old soldiers of the 99th upon it, and that you found that there was neither Q smell 122 MINUTES OP EVIDENCE TAKEN BEPOEE a?HE Col.H.C.B. smell nor taste to lead you to the conclusion Moody, v..^. that there was any offensive organic matter 4. June 1866 ™ ^*' — There was no offensive matter in it, * ■ so far as I could detect. The surgeon, Dr. Snell, was present at the time ; and when I sent a long bamboo down (I sent it down rather quick the first time, and of course bubbles came up), he pointed to them and said, "Just look at the gaseous matter in the tank." I consider that it was entirely owing to the way in which I put in the bamboo. If you throw a stone into water, of course bubbles wiU come up. The second time I put it in quifetly, and of course, if there was gaseous matter to such an extent as was re- presented, that disturbing of the water would again cause those bubbles to come up ; but when I put it down the second time, no bubbles came up, and no gaseous matter escaped. 2815. Do you consider yourself competent to form an opinion upon the wholesomeness or un- wholesomeness of water? — ^^As far as regarded that point, I should. 2816. That is as to the presence of organic matter? — Surgeon Snell stated that from the bubbles coming up, it was in a bad state ; but when I put it in the second time, no bubbles came up. 2817. It was not in the report, was it, that the bubbles coming up was a proof of the state of the water ? — No ; but it was remarked on the spot. The staff officer and myself were present ; and, if I remember rightly Surgeon SneU himself smelt and tasted the water. 2818. Are you aware that it is constantly proved that organic matter exists in water to an almost fatal degree without its being perceptible to the taste or smell ? — It might be. 2819. Chemistry, as applied to health, was not a part of your training as an engineer officer, I suppose ? — No ; it was not at that time, nor has it been yet, indeed. 2820. Would you be surprised if you were told that a perfectly transparent and tasteless water may be almost fatal ; and if you were told that by a medical officer, and a medical officer reported to you that such water was unwhole- some, would you act upon your opinion formed by your own taste and smell? — Except he had analysed the water himself, I would act by my own judgment, where I was not aware of any pre- disposing cause to make the water unwholesome. 2821. Did you ask the medical officers whether they had analysed the water in this case ?— No. 2822. Am I right in taking it that the water having been reported to you by the medical offi- cers, in the discharge of their duty, to be un- wholesome, you acted, upon the opposite conclu- sion, which you had come to by your own senses ? — Yes, I did act upon it in this case ; be- cause this water was not used as drinking water, but merely as a reservoir for protection from fire ; the water was not for the drinking of the troops ; it was merely for a reservoir in case of fire, and for that alone. I went to see it myself, and tasted it and smelt it, to see if it was offen- sive so as to be prejudicial to the health of the troops ; but no troops used that water for drink- ingpurposes ; if they had used it for drinking purposes I would have had it analysed. It was certainly stagnant water ; at the same time, there was a top to it ; It was covered ; it was not open for the sun to act upon it and send malaria out. ThereforB I considered, as far as I could see, lliat if -there was any decomposition in the water to any extent, I should have been able to detect it, either by smell or by taste ; as I have stated before, it was not used for drinking -water, or in- tended for drinking water; it was only as a precaution in case of fire; it was considered necessary by the General, on account of the inflammable nature of the buildings in which the troops were quartered, namely, the mat sheds; and part of the camp had once before been burnt down. 2823. On the 15th of September 1864, in the exercise of your discretion, in consequence of some serious disturbances at Hong Kong, you decided on sending the 99th to Rowloon, didyou not ?^— Yes. 2824. Did you receive a letter of remonstrance from the medical officer of the regiment on that day? — Yes. 2825. Did you also receive a remonstrance from the principal medical officer at or about that period? — I do not know. I know that there was a general remonstrance about it on the part of the medical men, and it was in consequence of that that I gave them the option I have stated. The Governor was the Commander in Chief, and he had the power of ordering the men over at once. He spoke to me, and said he was exceed- ingly anxious, for the discipline of the men and 'the peace of the whole community, that the regi- ment should be there ; and he said, " Unless you can send the mass of the regiment over all to-" gether, it is of no use sending any." 2826. I see it is stated in evidence that, in answer to a representation which was made to you, you said that the healthiness of Kowloon was a matter of opinion, and one upon which you could form your own opinion; is that correct? — I do not remember. 2827. Do you think it probable ? — I think it perfectly possible ; I do not remember it. 2828. Practically, it appears that you did form an opinion yourself as to the general healthiness of Kowloon ? — Yes, upon the general tendencv'to health, and the facilities for health. 2829. And you acted upon that ? — Yes. 2830. In opposition to the opinion of the medical officers ? — No. This was a matter of discipline as far as the 99th was concerned. As far as my opinion is concerned, I consider that Kowloon could be made as healthy as any place, far more so than Hong Kong; that was the opinion of the medical men when I went out there.; it was considered the favourite station of the two. A man preferred being stationed at Kowloon to being stationed at Hong Kong. 2831. It appears that when the 99th were sent to Kowloon on the 14th of September 1864, the regiment was remarkably healthy, and that when it landed at the Cape of Good Hope, from Kowloon, five months afterwards, there were not 45 men in it who could march two miles to camp ; how far do you consider this change in the health of the regiment was affected by its residence at Kowloon? — ^I consider that the health of the regiment would be affected by the residence at Kowloon to a certain extent ; to what extent of course I could not anticipate ; but there would Tse one thing to consider, that at that time the men had been for some years in China, which I think of itself tended towards debility; but what effect it would have afterwards iTeallycouldndttakeiupon myself to state ; itcer- tainlywouldnotimprovetheirhealth. Andanother* thing is this, that certain seasons are what Mwwe.j It was at the discretion of the commanding officer, and he thought.it was for the good, of the garrison to send, them over? — Yes, and the Major General Commanding con- sidered the same, because he confirmed the ar- rangements when he came. If h,e had disagreed with me, he could have brought the troops back. 2843. Mr. Trevelyan.] Which do you consider the most unhealthy month in the year at H'ong Kong ? — I consider tliat there are two. months which are, as a rule, the nibst unhealthy — those just after the change of monsoon ; because at the time of shifting, the men get chilled; but the worst months of all I consider to be July, August, and September; they are all bad months, because you have got the depressing heat and close weather and dampness, and things of that sort, to contend against. The worst month of these three I look upon as September, because the system has been relaxed by the hot summer, and the monsoon is just beginning to change again, and therefore you feel sensitively any change that may be going on. 2844. Then you consider the middle of No- vember decidedly healthier than the middle of September ? — Except in exceptional years.; I consider the middle of November decidedly more healthy than the middle or end of September. I consider that the most healthy months begin in October and end in April ; in October it begins to get healthy, because you have cool evenings ; November is more so, and December, J anuary, and February particularly so; that is, compa- ratively speaking, for the climate of course.. 284.5. Had the soldiers^ in your opinion, in- creased facilities for getting samshoo at Kow- loon ? — Yes, in some ways they had ; at least, I cannot say that exactly, because the men in Hong Kong were confined to barracks for a cer- tain time. During the heat of the day means were taken to see that they did not go out of barracks, except on duty, and it was only in the cool of the evening that they could go out; whereas Kowloon being a straggling cantonment, men might get out of the huts at times ; there was not the same control over them that there would be at Hong Kong ; but there were more grog-shops in Hong Kong considerably than there would be at Kowloon ; however, there would be more difficulty to get at them in the latter case ; there were more facilities for getting out of bar- racks in Kowloon than in Hong Kong ; but there were more grog-shops in Hong Kong than in Kowloon. 2846. Mr. AdcPerley.] Was the 99th in a Q 2 healthy 124 MINUTES OP EVIDENCE TAKEN BEPOBE THE Co], H.C.B. healthy state at Hong Kong at the time this row Moody, E.E. occurred ? — Yes, I believe they were very T oRR healthy. 4 June 1800, 2847. Has the unhealthiness of the troops at Kowloon been usually as great as it was on this occasion ? — I believe it was more so at one time, when the 20th were there. I am not quite sure ; I am not speaking from any returns. I was not commandant when the 20th were there. 2848. You cannot state, from your own know- ledge, the facts as to the healthiness of the 20th, when at Kowloon ? — No ; I know that the 20th suiFered severely at Kowloon. 2849. Did they suffer as severely as the 99th ? — That I could not say without data, which I have not got. = 2850. Mr. Calthorpe.] "With regard to the water supply at Kowloon, did the troops use that water in tanks for drinking purposes ? — No ; the coolies brought their water from springs, and put it in butts close to the huts, for the men to drink ; the drinking water did not come from the tanks ; the tanks were simply there as precautions against fire. 2851. '\Vhere did the principal supply of drink' ing water come from ? — From springs and wells sunk for the purpose. 2852. We have had it in evidence that the head spring of the chief supply of drinking water is four or five miles within the Chinese territory ? — The head springs may be within the Chinese territory, but these springs come down the sides of the hills ; they come on to our territory. 2853. Is that supply sufficient for any number of troops you could have there ? — You could also get water from wells sunk there ; I was not there at the time, but I understand that at the time of the Chinese expedition, previous to the troops going up to the north, there were many more troops came to Kowloon than have ever been there since, and they had a plentiful supply of water which was got from wells chiefly. 2854. You think then that this evidence which we have had is not worthy of much credit ; that a good supply of water would have to come from the Chinese territory, because we have not suf- ficient in our territory? — I think there would not be sufficient water in our territory for a large town such as would grow up there eventually, and for the supply of the troops ; but I think water may be laid on. You would have the choice, first of all, of wells, and one resource would be water laid on from the hills, and another, and the last resource, would be for ordinary pur- poses, for washing, and things of that sort, you might have to condense your own salt water as a matter of economy. But those would be what I should consider the main facts as to the supply of water for Kowloon. The supply of water for Kowloon has not been gone into as a question of itself yet ; it will require to be specially con- sidered. I can only give my opinion, which I have just given. I cannot state positively what quantity of water could be supplied, or to what extent, but as far as I can judge there are facilities for supplies under certain circumstances from the hills ; but then you will have to bring that water from a great distance ; it must come through pipes. 2855. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Did the Governor of the colony order you to remove the 99th to Kowloon? — He did not order me, but he expressed his wish; he could have or- dered me, but he merely expressed his wish to have them removed ; and though I considered it in the light of a command, yet I wrote expressly to state that I fully concurred, and therefore I accepted the responsibility of it. 2856. Has he the power to order such a change? ■ — He is the commander-in-chief. 2857. Has he, or has he not, the power to order such a change ?— I am not the best judge upon that point ; I should say, that as commander-in- chief, he had the power; I understand it to be so, but in any case, I put it to prevent anything of that kind, that I fully concurred in the move- ment of the troops as a military measure at the time. I do not want to be relieved from any re- sponsibility upon that point. ' 2858. Marquess of HartingtOn.'] When did you first go oiit to China? — I landed there in December 1861. 2859. You have then no knowledge^ of the reasons which make a larger garrison in Hong Kong necessary now than was needed some years ago ? — No, it depends upon the duty at a particular time; for instance, there is outlying Government property and stores in different places, if those stores could be concentrated more, it would relieve you of certain duties which necessitate a military guard, or if you would employ, as they did at one time employ with great success, the men of the Indian regiments, the privates and non-commissioned oflicers as police, it would relieve you again of the employment of Europeans for night duties, to a great extent. That would relieve the duties very materially. 2860. Do you think that none of these duties could be performed by native watchmen? — It has been done by native watchmen ; at the same time they cannot be always trusted, because we have found the native watchmen assisting in re- moving certain stores that were entrusted to them, so that, except you could get the comprador sys- tem introduced, which is getting security for the natives, and making the comprador responsible for any stores that are lost, I would not trust them. 2861. Has that comprador system ever been suggested to the Government ? — It is used to a certain degree in the Commissariat ; I do not think it has ever been suggested to the Govern- ment ; it is the only way in which you could secure trustworthy Chinamen. I think I can give instances to show that at the time of the alarm when we expected war with America, we were in a very unprepared state, and at a short notice I threw up four battferies, but with our weak garrison we could not detach guards for them, and we did not want to arm them till the last moment ; the arming would have been more for the honour of the service than anythLug else, just to take up a certain attitude. We put Chinese watchmen in charge ; we had to give them tents to look after the tools that the sappers were using ; the sappers were superintending the Chinese workmen. Then two of the police who were in charge were found bound, and a tent was taken away, and I should not be at all sur- prised if it was done by collusion with the two men. You cannot trust Chinamen, unless you have_ some person responsible for them ; you may coHsider them safe, to the best of your judgment, but yet they will always consider it fair game to trick you if they can. In another case two Chinese policemen were detected in handing out certain stores from the hospital compound to their friends outside. That was detected; the other is merely a case of Buspicion on my part. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TKOOPS (cHINA). 125 Major James Bevan Edwards, Examined. 2862. Chairman.'] You are in the Royal En- gineers, I believe ? — Yes. 2863. And you have been in charge of Kow- loon, have you not? — Yes, for a short time; I was looking after the trial hut which is being built there. 2864. When did you leave China?— On the 15th of April of this year. 2865. In what condition was the trial hut when you left ? — It was about half-finished ; it ought to be completed by October or November of this year. 2866. When do you suppose it will be right to put anybody into it ? — At the end of this year. At least, I cannot say that I think it would be right to put anyone into it then ; but the build- ing will be ready for occupation at the end of that time. It is entirely a medical question when . the, place will be fit to put troops into. 2867. We have had it very strongly repre- sented to us that no house there should be occu- pied under two years at the shortest, and that it should be generally from two to three years '/ — I think that is a question upon which it is very diffi- cult to give an opinion, because the healthiness of a site will entirely depend upon its being covered and built over, and planted with trees, and the earth covered over in some such way as that. That may not take place for three or four years. I fancy it will be tolerably healthy at the end of this year. 2868. What sort of a place is there round this trial hut; has it been permanently levelled, or whatever you call it? — There is a space of about 100 yards on both sides of it merely levelled. 2869. Not more than that? — Not more than that at present. 2870. Then every time you break ground the same sort of danger exists, does not it ? — Yes ; the project is, that if this trial hut is found to be healthy, barracks will be built upon that site. If so, then the rest of the ground will be levelled for the barracks to be built upon. At present we have levelled a considerable space of ground, much more than sufficient for the trial hut. 2871. You would not recommend it to be gar- risoned ? — I think that at the end of this year it will be quite safe to put a few men into it; if cases of fever did happen to appear amongst them they should be withdrawn, I do not think it likely that that would occur, because European policemen are living now near to it, and on a similar site; it is a good brick hut, and those policemen are perfectly healthy. 2872. This trial hut is of a permanent nature, is not it? — Yes, it is part of the permanent barracks. 2873. And built upon a good principle? — A^ajor J. iJ, Yes. Edwards. 2874. Are there verandahs and lofty rooms? — " Yes, verandahs; but the rooms are not very lofty. ''" •'""^'800. 2875. How many men can be put into it ? — Two Serjeants and 48 men ; if a few men are put in, it will be very healthy, if the men are crowded, it will be quite the reverse. 2876. Sir Hope Grant has stated that the last regulation is that there are to be 1,500 cubic feet allowed per man on low ground, and 1,000 feet per man on the upper ground. Has that regu- lation been attended to here ? — The hut is built entirely upon the plan sent out by the War Office ; it is nominally to hold two Serjeants and 48 men. Of course, it will entirely rest with the General on the spot to put in as many men as he thinks it will hold, from the healthiness of the men put into it, the question will be decided how many shall be put into the barracks. 2877. Major General Lord jHeKT-y Percy. J How many cubic feet would the two Serjeants and 48 men have, each of them ? — I cannot tell you from recollection. 2878. Would it be 1,000 cubic feet ?--I can- not say. 1 think it would. 2879. Chairman.~\ The last regulation is that there shall be 1,500 cubic feet per man. As two Serjeants and 48 men are to be put into the place, has it been built according to that ad- measurement? — That was the number of men that were originally intended to be put into it, but fresh instructions will probably be sent out upon that principle, directing them not to put so many men into it, and so as to allow each man 1,500 cubic feet. 2880. General Dunne.^ Did you ever know of accommodation for from 1,500 to 1,800 men, at Hong Kong. What is the largest accommo- dation for troops at this present moment ? — I could not answer that question entirely from recollection. 2881. Do you know anything of Japan? — No. 2882. You could not say what the actual ac- commodation is ? — No, the requirements are varying every day, and the number of cubic feet for each man has been altered. 2883. Take it at 700 cubic feet, and take it at 1,000 cubic feet, or at 1,500, what would it be in each case ? — I could not tell. 2884. Do you think it is known what accom- modation there is at this moment in Hong Kong? —Yes. 2885. When did you return ? — I returned by the last mail. 2886. When was the last return sent home, as to the accommodation ? — I could not say, that does not belong to the engineer's department. 0.53. Q 3 126 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEEQEE THE Thursday, 7tii June 1866. MEMBEES PRESENT Mr. Adderley. Major Anson. Mr. Calthorpe. Lord F. Cavendisli. General Dunne. Lord John Hay. Marquis of Hartington. Colonel Percy Herbert, Colonel North. Major General Lord Henry Percy. Mr. Frederick Stanley. Sir Harry Verney. COLONEL NORTH, in the Chair. Captain PouGLAS Galton, c.b., f.r.s., Assistant Under Secretary o£ State for War, called in ; and Examined. Captain 2887. Sir JTarn/ Ferae?/.] Will you be so good 2>. Galton, as to give to the Committee any information in C.B., F.R.S. youi' power, with regard to the original plan of construction, and the orders sent out for the erec- 7 June tion of barracks at Kowloon ? — Perhaps I had 1 866. better give an account of how we became possessed of Kowloon, and what were the reasons which induced Mr. Sidney Herbert to press very much upon the Government our obtaining it. 2888. Chairman.^ It was in 1860, was not it? — Yes ; it was just after the treaty of Tiensin that the first arrangements were made. I think I had better give the exact dates. In March 1858, General Straubenzee reported that he had recommended Lord Elgin to stipulate in the treaty for the cession of Kowloon, but because Lord Elgin had no instructions from home, he refused to entertain it at that time. Subse- quently, I think it was in 1859, the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office together, advised that we should occupy the peninsula of Kowloon with troops, in order to prevent the bad Chinese population from committing depredations at Hong Kong, and we got a lease from the Chinese Government of the peninsula. In February 1861, this lease was cancelled, and the peninsula was formally ceded to the British Crown. But in the autumn of 1859, we received reports as to the defective accommodation of the married soldiers' quarters in Hong Kong, and Lord Her- bert authorised a sum of about 9,000 /., I think, to be at once expended in providing this accom- modation. But Sir Hope Grant, who was then, the General in command, who received this order, having in view our obtaining Kowloon, sent home a report recommending that barracks for 1,200 men, including married soldiers' quarters and everything, should be built at Kowloon, and he did not allow the money which had been autho- rised for married soldiers' quarters to be expended at all in Hong Kong, He thought it had bet- ter be merged altogether in the general project. 2889. Major Anson.'] What is the date of Sir Hope Grant's despatch ? — I think it was probably early in 1860; Lord Herbert approved of the proceedings of Sir Hope Grant, and requested that he would send estiinates and plans of bar- racks in accordance with his views, and those were received at the War Office in April 1861. Meanwhile, in 1860, a proposal had been made for the allotment of the ground at Kowloon, whilst the arrangements were pending for obtain- ing the peninsula ; and a Board was convened, which sat upon the subject, but they could not come to any arrangement. The Colonial autho- rities wished to have the same site which the Military authorities thought would be the best for the troops, and we had very great difficulty in arranging as to the site we were to have ; there were three sets of persons who were concerned in getting this best site : the one were the Naval authorities, who wanted it for a hospital ; another were the Military authorities, who wanted it for barracks and a hospital ; and the third were the Colonists, who wished to obtain this site, chiefly for erecting their villas upon. These negotiations went on for some time, and the final arrangement of the allotment of sites was not completed till May 1864. Sir Hercules Eobinson, who was the governor, had come home in the meantime, and had had several interviews at the Foreign Office, and at the Colonial Office, and finally conceded to the Military the main part of the site which we wished to have, / 2890. Chairman.'] It was during this discus- sion, I suppose, that the memorandum on the appropriation of the Kowloon peninsula, by Mr. Sidney Herbert, dated the 12th of March 1860, was written ? —That memorandum was sent out at the very beginning of the negotiations for the allotment of the land; Mr. Sidney Herbert desired to put on record his views as to what should guide any committee which sat in allotting the land between the Military and the Colonists First of all. Sir Hope Grant had sent home his proposal for barracks at Kowloon, which were to occupy SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OP TROOPS (cHINA). 127 occupy the very Bite ivhich the Military had claimed. 2891- Sir Harry Verney.'] Was that in April 186 1 ? — ^Yes, he sent it home in April 1861. 2892. That was ithe date when it was received ? — Yes ; these plans for barracks were revised in accordance with the sanitary jprinciples which had come to be recognised at ihome, giving more cubic space, and more accommodation of various sorts to the troops, but keeping generally, I think, to the allotment df the blocks of buildings Avhich was recommended; and revised plans were seat out in March 1862 to the commanding engineer, with general instructions to him, which ■peuhaps I had better either put in or read. 2893. Will you read them r — " War Office, 13th March 1862. Memorandum for the Com- manding iRoyal Engineer at Hong Kong. The accompanying plans, showing the ground to be appropriated as a site for new barracks at Hong Kong are transmitted for the information of the commarding royal engineer, together with de- tached plans of the barracks as it is proposed they shall be laid out and constructed; with respect to the ground, the commanding royal engineer is requested to communicate with the governor, who will have received instructions on the subject from the Colonial Office." I may here observe, that the site for the barracks was .the one on the high ground; it is not marked upon that map, but I think it is marked upon a map which has been sent down to the Committee. 2894. Is that the plan on the fly-leaf ?— No ; we first sent a plan which is shown on the main plan ; the plan on the fly-leaf was a subsequent oncj which we adopted in order to meet the views of the colonists, so as to afford them more space than we had previously given them. 2895. Chairman.'] Will you look at this, and see if it is the one you refer to ? — (handing apian to the Witness) — Yes ; ithis was the original; the yellow mark shows a space of 100 feet, which we wished to retain round the barracks to pre- vent any buildings encroaching upon it. The letter goes on to say, " It is intended that a space of 100 feet at least shall be reserved all round the barrack wall, and that arrangements should be made to prevent any buildings containing nuisances being placed any where in the vicinity of the enclosure, or between it and the sea; access by means of a right of way must be re- served from ithe most convenient places on the beach to the enclosure ; the plans are forwarded for the consideration and observations of the commanding royal engineer, and he is informed that they have been designed in conjunction with the Army Medical Department, and fulfil the sanitary requirements necessary both in respect of position and of detailed arrangements ; no funds are provided for the above services in the present year's Estimates, ibut a sumof 2i000/. is allotted for the erection of atrial hut, which it is proposed to build on the exact site where one of the per- manent buildings for soldiers will eventually be placed, and sketches showing :two forms of huts are enclosed ; the commanding royal engineer is requested to select the design he would consider to be the most economicali and to erect a hut in accordance with such plan ; care should be taken to have the ground underneath and around well dug and moved before the erection of the hut is commenced, and vthat all the sanitary arrange- ments shown in the plan are carefully attended to; the erection of this rtrial .hutimusfc be com- 0.53. pleted and paid for during the year 1862-63." That is during the year ending 31st of March 1863, " The commanding royal engineer will observe, that the foundations of both huts are identical with what would be the foundation of the permanent building to be hereafter erected. The commanding royal engineer is requested to for- ward any observations he may have to make on the proposed barrack and hospital accommodation to be subsequently built, and he will also furnish an estimate of the cost, showing the stores which would be required to be obtained in England, and report upon the differeat classes of ma- terials which could be adopted, specifying their prices. A report, plan, and estimate of the cost of providing water and drainage should also be annexed. The commanding royal engineer will have the goodness to report ihe expenses of laying out the ground to suit the proposed arrangements, including a sum for digging over and exposing to the air all that part of the soil of the barrack enclosure which would not neces- sarily be moved during the operations ; infor- mation will also be required as to the proportion of the work which can be executed by military labour." 2896. Sir Harry Verney.] Are you able to point out on this plan exactly where the trial hut was ordered to be built ? — We left that to the commanding engineer to select, in conjunction with the general officer, merely telling him that the foundations of the hut must be the future foundations of one of the permanent blocks. The hut was made of exactly the same size as a per- manent block would be, and it was intended that it should exactly occupy the same site. It was left to the commanding engineer to fix upon any part of the site which he thought best. 2897. Chairman.'] Was Colonel Moody the commanding engineer at that time?' — Yes, Colonel Moody was the commanding engineer when these orders got out there. He had been shown the whole of the proposed arrangements before he left England, and he went out and arrived there, I think, in the winter of 1861-2, that is to say, about December 1861 or January 1862. 2898. Sir Harry Verney.] Will you pursue your detail ; you have now brought us to March 1862, I think? — Yes; I may mention that we had previously received several medical reports upon Kowloon, and that all were strongly in favour of using it as a place for barracks ; and I would mention that previously, in 1859, Lord Herbert had authorised an expenditure of about 5,000 1, on another site, that is to say, on Victoria Peak, I think, where a trial was made to see whether it was a healthy site or not ; that was in Hong Kong itself. A hut was built there ; but I believe it was found not to be very healthy in consequence of the men getting so heated in' going up the .hill to it. In 1862, the negotiations with the colony still continued as to the site, and the trial hut was not able to be commenced because of the want of obtaining the site. These negotiations went on till 1864. Then in 1864, after the site haid been finally given up to the military, a good many questions arose about pay- ing off the Chinese occupants. I think these were arranged out there, and we had to pay some sum or other, I forget what, for that purpose ; them the excavations were begun for levelling the site of the barracks, and the hut, and also excavations for colonial purposes. This prevented the actual building of the hut from being hegun till October Q 4 1865, Captain D. Gallon, C,B., F.R.S. 7 June 1866. 128 MINUTES or EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOKE THE Captain D. Galton, c.b:, f.r.s. 7 June 1866. 1865, if I recollect rightly, and a contract was then made for it to he completed in 300 days, which brings it to September 1866. That is the reason the hut has never been finished before ; it is owing to the delays on the spot. The War Office has perpetually written out, and urged the commanding engineer to report why it was not going on faster; but there were local circum- stances which seem to have interfered with its progress. 2899. Major General Lord Henry Percy, ] Can you refer to those letters from the War Office ? — Yes ; I have not got them here, but I have no doubt I could get them for you. 2900. Did the colonial authorities mark the site merely for the villas you mentioned, or for any public purpose ? — What I imagine was, that they wanted the site nearest the shore for wharves and warehouses; but I always understood that they also wanted to build houses on the upper ground, on the part which everybody agreed in thinking the most healthy. There were joint reports by committees upon it. There was a report on the 7th of March 1861, on the appro- priation of the land. 2901. Chairman.'\ Who was the president of that Board ? — The report is signed by the Sur- veyor General, Mr. Cieverley, Captain Borlase, commanding Her Majesty's ship "Pearl," on behalf of the Admiralty, and Colonel Mann, the commanding royal engineer. They were unable to agree as to the allotment of the land. I can put in this report if the Committee wish it. 2902. Sir Harry VerneyJ] Then I understand from you that the reason why the trial hut was not erected, was entirely the difficulties raised by the colonial authorities ; is that so ? — The reason why it was not commenced earlier than the date at which it was commenced, were the conflicting interests of the Army, the Navy, and the colonists, which prevented the allotment of ground being earlier settled. There is no doubt that the colonial authorities were very anxious to obtain the site which we have now got for themselves, and Sir Hercules Robinson urged very strongly that it would be almost worthless to the colony to have Kowloon at all if they had not that site. 2903. Lord Frederick Cavendish.'] We had originally asked for and obtained Kowloon from the Chinese for military purposes, had we not ? — No doubt that had a great deal to do with it ; I think the original suggestion for the occupation of Kowloon came from the military authorities, I think Sir Hope Grant was the person who originally suggested it ; before the Chinese ex- pedition all the troops who came to Hong Kong for the purposes of that expedition were located at Kowloon, and the convenience of that site -ascertained, and it also was a most important point for the protection of the harbour ; Sir Hope Grant put forward a proposal to obtain it. 2904. Sir Harry Verney.'] However, the trial hut is erected now? — It will be entirely com- pleted by September. 2905. Chairman.'] What would a block of the barrack consist of? — Each block of the barrack would consist on the same floor of two rooms, placed end to end, with broad verandahs all round, and there is an ablution room, and there are water closets detached from the block at each end, and in the centre two rooms for a serjeant. 2906. Sir Harry Verney.] Can you point out upon this plan what is being done ? — The fly leaf shows the plan now being carried out; I think this (pointing to the plan) is the one, the second from the south. 2907. Would there be any objection to restore the original plan ?-— The altered plan was a con- cession made to the colony ; I think the original plan had certain advantages over the second plan, but the colonial authorities were so anxioUs to get additional land there that we conceded it. 2908. What you conceded was this, which appears to be low ground (pointing to the plan) ? — That is lower ground upon which there were certain stor6s placed at the end of the barracks ; these were low buildings, so as to prevent their interfering with the air during the monsoon, 2909. Is it the opinion of the War Office- that the original plan was the best ? — We preferred the original plan, certainly. 2910. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Why was that plan given up ? — We were obliged to make some concession to come to an arrange- ment at all to get the land ; of course in every arrangement when there is a dispute between difierent parties, one party or the other must give way if you are to come to an arrangement at all, and we conceded what we did not consider very material ; we put the stores, I think, altogether on low ground to the left ; I will explain it upon the plan ; this was the original plan ; these were the two lines of barracks running down in that way, north and south ; these were lower build- ings at this end, but some of those were married soldiers' quarters, and the others were low stores ; in our arrangement we took these away alto- gether to give more space to the colonists, and we placed our stores down on low ground there, and we placed the married soldiers' quarters on a piece of high ground there (describing the same on the plan). 2911. They were a long way off from the barracks? — Yes, that was the only way we could come to an arrangement ; of course it is unsatis- factory in that respect, because the married sol- diers will have to go further to their parade ; I suppose they would not go out in the middle of the day, they would remain at home. 2912. Sir Harry 'Verney.] Is the water supply at Kowloon satisfactory ; — We have never had a full report upon the water supply ; in the memo- randum we desired the commanding royal en- gineer to make a report to us upon it, but we have received no report from him ; we imagined that it would be necessary, probably, to bring the water from the Chinese hills, two or three miles off, by means of an aqueduct. 2913. Mr. Adderlerj.] When you tell of the delay having been caused by conflicting claims, that means the conflicting claims of the same person, namely, the English Government in different forms ? — That is so only to a certain extent, because the colonists themselves, and the governor who represents them, have a capa- city independent of the Government. 2914. Simply a garrison established by the English Government ?— Of course the English Government has the power to allot the land as it likes, I suppose. 2915. It is simply a military station, not a colony, is it not ? — I always imagined that Hong Kong was a very great commercial port, and that it was taken originally as much for commercial purposes as for military purposes ; the military force is only there as a protection to the colony. 2916. The disputing parties whose dispute led to SELECT COiTiIMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (chINa). 129 to the delay, which was one of the causes of the mortality of the troops, were the English "War Office, the Colonial Governor, who wanted the spot for military stores, and the Admiralty, were they not ? — No, the Colonial Governor wished to have the spot for colonial purposes, for in- creasing the revenue of the colony. 2917. In what way ? — By letting out the land to colonists to build houses upon. 2918. This particular site would not produce any revenue, would it ? — I apprehend that that was what was proposed ; I apprehend that the governor anticipated that he would obtain a very considerable revenue from it. 2919. What is the space of ground to be occupied by the barracks ? — Two thousand eight hundred square yards; but it is not only the actual site that the barracks would occupy that must be taken into account, but of course they would interfere, to a certain extent, with the land all round them. 2920. And the Colonial Government wanted that land to let for building purposes ? — Yes, that is what I always understood. 2921. The proceeds going to the Colonial Treasury ? — The proceeds were to go into the Colonial Treasury. 2922. Which is the same thing as the English Treasury ? — • No ; I imagine that the colonial expenses are paid out of the colonial revenue entirely. 2923. Do you suppose that the colonial revenue pays the whole expense of Hong Kong? — Not the military, but the civil expense. 2924. Are you aware that it does so?-^No, I am not aware of it. I imagined that it did. If it does not, of course my idea falls to the ground. 2925. Any deficiency of revenue, of course, is made up from the English Treasury ; it must be so ? — That I am not aware of. 2926. Then the dispute which has led to the delay in the erection of this building, which has ended in the mortality of the troops, was a dis- pute between the War Office, the Admiralty, and the Colonial Government ? — The delay in the erection of the building arose from conflicting claims between the departments. 2927. I do not quite understand the claims of the Admiralty ? — Their claims were for a hospi- tal, but that claim was more easily accommo- dated than that of the colony, because I think we proposed to have a joint hospital. 2928. Sir Harry Vernei/.] With regard to the site at Kowloon, have the War Office ever made any attempts to obtain water, or some agreement ' for water, from the Chinese Government ? — I am not aware that that was included in any of the treaties with the Chinese, but I understood that there would be no great difficulty about it, provided we made an aqueduct, and paid some small sum. 2929. Mr. Stanley. '] Would not there be any facility for adjusting those differences you have spoken of, without reference to the department at home ? — No, I dp not think that they could have been very well adjusted, without reference home, under the circumstances. Of course, if the Governor had been willing to allow us to build our barracks upon that site, there would have been no necessity for any reference home, but Sir Hercules Kobinson was so anxious to get that site allotted to the colonists, and another 0.53. site given up for barracks, that it was absolutely Captain necessary to refer the question home. D. Gallon, 2930. Major Anson.'} When Kowloon was c.b., f.r.s. first occupied by us, we paid rent to the Chinese — — Government for it, did we not, for some con- 7 June siderable time ?— I think we did for about two '^®®- years. 2931. That rent was paid out of the military treasury chest by the Imperial Government, was it not ?— -I apprehend that it was. It was not an expenditure on Army Votes. 2932. When the agreement was made for the purchase of the place, the purchase money was paid by the Imperial Government, was it not ; not by the Colonial Government? — That is a question I am not able to answer at present, as to how it was paid. It is not a matter which falls within my department at the War Office, and I really do not know. 2933. At all events Kowloon was purchased for purely sanitary and strategical reasons ? — The Colonial Office advocated it for preventing de- predations from the Chinese population on Hong Kong ; therefore- it was partly for police reasons. The military authorities wished for it upon sani- tary grounds. 2934. But the idea originated from Sir Hope Grant entirely. It was not suggested to him by any of the Colonial authorities ? — I think, so far as we know, the idea originated in March 1858 with the military authorities, and the ques- tion was afterwards referred to Sir John Bow- ring, who was then Governor of Hong Kong, and he concurred in the advisability of obtaining it. 2935. That was done in 1860, was it not ? — No, in 1858 ; it was first talked of in 1858. 2936. It was not purchased then ? — No, it was not purchased; but the idea of purchasing it seems first to have been raised in 1858, and in October 1859 the Colonial Office recommended that the peninsula should be occupied by troops, to prevent depredations at Hong Kong, and to provide a camping ground for troops. A lease of the peninsula was then obtained from the Chinese Government, probably at the end of 1859 or early in 1860. 2937. Major General Lord ^ewj-^/Percy.j Then if the Colonial Government recommended the pur- chase, of the peninsula for camping purposes for the troops, it was not for Colonial purposes, but for military purposes that it was proposed to be acquired ? ■ — One of their reasons was for the camping of troops, and the other was to prevent the low Chinese from committing depredations upon Hong Kong. The Colonial Office recom- mended it partly for police purposes, and partly for sanitary purposes in respect of the troops. The War Office wished for it for the troops only. 2938. It appears firom your evidence now that the Colonial Government did not press for the purchase of the peninsula for the purpose of making money by it ? — It would be better to get those reasons from the Colonial Office, rather than from me, because in the War Office we have only a very few despatches which bear upon the subject at all. ' We have only those which bear upon military questions. We had a despatch from Sir Hercules Robinson, dated the 3()th of May 1861, which has been sent to us, in which in asserting the colonists' claims, he lays down his reasons, namely, that it would be advantageous to the pecuniary interests of the colony to have the best site. E. 2939. According 130 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Capteui 2939. According to your statement, the m- D. Gulton, tereste of the troops have been sacrificed to the c b., F.R.S. interests of the colonists? — They have not now, because we have got the best site. 7 June 2940. I thought you stated that the married i866. soldiers were to be sent a long distance off? — They will be some little distance off, but we have got all the highest ground, and that part of the site we have got is as good as is necessary ; we should not have consented to anything which we thought a real sacrifice. 2941. When will the trial hut be fit for occu- pation ; you say it will be completed in Septem- ber ? — I am afraid now, as there has been so much ground moved all round, and is still being mdved all round it, the use of the trial hut is very much diminished; but we contemplated, when we first ordered that trial hut, that they should set to work to move the ground which was to be moved at once, and dig it all over at once, as soon as they began the trial hut. 2942. Therefore, all the time and trouble re- lative to this trial, have been merely wasted? —No. •2943. And the barracks are not furthered in the slightest degree ? — No, I cannot say that. 2944. Chairman.'] Do you happen to know anything about this subject. In 1860, according to the Sanitary Eeport, it appears that plans were drawn up of huts, in which, " while ample means of ventilation and abundance of space were afforded to the inmates, protection from the sun and heat was procured by double roofs, the outer one to be extended into a wide and com- modious verandah ; they were, moreover, to be well raised from the ground, which was to be chunamed and drained, if necessary." That plan was never carried out, but instead of the huts with double roofs and wide verandahs, originally recommended, huts were built merely with single roofs and without verandahs?- — "We knew nothing at all about these huts at home, except that we provided money for them, for we left them entirely to be constructed by the local authorities ; in fact, they were built almost before we knew that they were being built. 2945. That would be under the commanding engineer? — Yes; under the commanding engi- neer entirely. We had nothing to do with the construction of those huts at home. 2946. Colonel Moody, in his examination, stated with regard to this trial hut that he was confined, as you have said, to a particular posi- tion, that it was to be the foundation of a part of the permanent barrack. He was then asked by whom he was confined to any particular position, and his answer was, " The authorities at home." Then he was asked, " Was the site of those barrack buildings originally proposed by your- self?'* and his answer was, " No ; there had been a project sent from China by my pre- decessor, and it was re-arranged entirely by the authorities at home." Then he was asked, " Was the re-arrangement any great change from the plan +hat was originally recommended ?" and his answer was, " No ; there was not any great change ; it was a slight alteration, keeping in great measure to the main site; but it was a modification of the original project." He was then asked, " Was it one that you on the spot approved of?" and he said, " No ; I objected to the whole system as proposed, because the site was a very irregular one, which gave a very great slope for the parade. There was a very large parade ; and, the fact is, what you want out there in barracks, as far as my experience is concerned, is to get as much ventilation as pos- sible." He then goes on to specify various details. I merely wish to ask whether the change was made without any reference to the officer on the spot, in Hong Kong. Colonel Moody said that he sent home plans, which were com- pletely altered ?— Colonel Mann sent home plane. We adhered, I think, very nearly to the position of the several blocks of buildings ; but we altered the blocks in certain arrangements in the details. We gave more cubic feet space than had been proposed. I think in those days they only pro- posed about 700 cubic feet of space from the station, and I think we gave 1000 cubic feet; and we gave ablution rooms, and water-closets, and things of that sort, more nearly adjoining the barrack rooms. I do not think there was any very material alteration besides that. I have read the Committee the instructions we sent out, and in those instructions we asked for any obser- vations upon the plan which the commanding engineer had to offer us, and we received certain suggestions from Colonel Moody, but not very much upon the sanitary part of the question. He suggested using another material, I think. I believe he wished us to make the barracks of papier mache instead of stone. 2947. His objection was this: "Therefore, although the proposal sent out from home was admirable for a temperate climate, I did not think it suitable for a tropical climate, par- ticularly one like Hong Kong, where you are so dependent in the hot weather upon every breath of air during the sumiher monsoon. The pro- posal was to put the barracks in a sort of quad- rangle, and the consequence- was, when the summer monsoon came, the range of buildings on one side the square would interfere with the current of air required to go through the builds ings on the opposite side." That was the ground on which he says he objected to the plan which had been sent out by the War Department ? — The plan we decided upon was drawn up entirely in conjunction with the Army Medical Depart- ment ; and I believe Dr. Rutherford, who had been in China, and Dr. Muir, who were in England at the time, were both consulted upon it; and, before we settled it, we asked for the observations of the local authorities. 2948. Colonel Moody says, in answer to question 2522, " It was the principle on which the barracks were built that I considered ob- jectionable; the general construction of the different buildings was admirable ; I objected to it as a block plan." It was merely as regarded interfering with the air that he objected to it ? — So I understand. 2949. General Dunne.\ I understand you to say that the altered plan was inferior in some respects to the one which had been sent home ? — No, we thought it superior. 2950. It was inferior in some respects, I think you said? — I did not intend to say that; the plan which we sent out we considered a better plan. 2951. For the sanitary condition of the men? — Yes. What I thought I said was, that we re- tained the general arrangements which had been proposed at the station. I think we did 3o entirely, except that we made certain variations to meet the altered sanitary ideas. 2952. I understood that you admitted that it was SELECT COMMITTEE OS MORTALilTY OF TROOPS (cHINA), 131 was not so good a plan ? — No, I do not admit that at all. 2953. You said it was a concession to the colony ? — I was speaking o£ a different matter then. We first sent out this plan, shown here ; we then took away the married soldiers' quarters and the stores from this part and put the stores down on low ground there ; and we put the married soldiers' quarters on a hill there, instead of lea-ving them where they were. I said that the disadvantage of that course was that we removed the married soldiers' quarters to a cer- tain distance {esqplaining it upon the plan). 2954. That was the inferiority of the plan ? — Yes. 2955. I thought the one was the Hong Kong plan, and the other was the War Office plan ? — No, both of these were War Office plans ; but the one on the main sheet very nearly occupied the site of the one proposed from the station. 2956. Were you aware that Colonel Moody proposed a plan stretching across the peninsula ? —Yes. 2957. Why was that plan objected to ? — All the medical testimony which we obtained went to say that it was much more healthy to put the teoops upon the site which we proposed. 2958. What was the concession to the colony which you alluded to ? — It was merely removing the stores from the south end of the barrack, and putting them on the low ground to the east, and moving the married soldiers' quarters to the site marked A on that plan. 2959. What right had the Colonial Grovern- ment to any concession of the kind; the land never was purchased for them? — That is an assertion ; I ,have no answer to make to it. 2960. Will you tell me whether there is any correspondence upon the subject between the colony or the Colonial Office, and the War Department ? — Yes, a great deal. 2961. Could that not be put in to show on what grounds it was done ? — Perhaps the Secre- tary of State will have it put in ; I think I have some of it here, not all ; what I have relates to the cession of Kowloon. 2962. What I want to know is, what was the inducement to the War Department to make the concessions to the colony ; what were the grounds relied upon either by the colonial authorities or by the Colonial Office at home, in endeavouring to obtain the concession ? — I think all we did was this, we urged as strongly as possible on the colonial authorities that we wanted to have that site which was the best S'ite on the peninsula ; the colonial authorities urged that it was very in- jurioius to the colony to take the whole of that site ; then we said we would arrange it with them. 2963. That is the correspoademce I want to get ; I want the reasons why they said it was injurious to the colony' ? — I will read you a letter from Sir Hercules Eobinson, which will periiaps explain it: " Government Offices, Victoria, Hong Kong, 1.3th February 1861. My Lord Duke, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Grace's despatches. No. 100 of 4th November, 105 of 25tk November, and 108 of 26th December last, on the subject of the Kowloon cession." This was sent to the Wax Office under cover of a letter from the Colonial Office. 2964. Chairman.'] Is that from the Duke of Newcastle ? — No ; this -was sent to us by the Duke of Newcastle; it is from Sir Hercules 0.53. Robinson to the Duke of Newcastle ; it goes on, , Captain " These have been communicated to the sur- D.Gdton veyor general, who, with Captain Borlase, r.n., c.b., f.r.s. and Lieutenant Colonel Mann, r.e., will, in compliance with your Grace's wishes, lose no 7 ^^'^^ time in drawing up a report on the subject sub- **^^' mitted to their consideration ; I have now the honour to forward copy of despatch addressed by General Sir Hope Grant to the Secretary of State for War, and I take the opportunity of making some remarks upon its contents ; in Sir Hope Grant's second paragraph it is stated that the lease of Kowloon was obtained by Mr. Parkes under his authority ; this is an error, as, at Mr. Bruce's request, I myself gave Mr. Parkes the written authority to acquire the land under the lease, as I advised your Grace in the despatch No, 33 of 26th March 1860 ; in the next paragraph it is stated that Lord Elgin placed the ground under the jurisdiction of the colony ; my previous despatches will show that we are still waiting the formal* document, by which the cession is to be legally placed under the jurisdiction of this Department ; these two points, however, are not material, and I pass to the more important parts of General Grant's letter. In the first place, General Grant's proposition amounts to the conversion of the newly acquired ground into a purely military cantonment, separate and apart from the Government of Hong- Kong, whereas the very article of the Pekin Convention, by which the cession is made, de- clares the ground to be ceded as a dependency of the colony of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Government in originally mooting the acquisi- tion of the peninsula of Kowloon, had in view the necessity of providing for the wants of its general population, as well as of the military garrison. The suggestion that no ground should be sold to private individuals, but that leases should be granted, means, I presume, that leases on short tenure should be given ; but, as no one would think of laying out money on substantial buildings under such leases, the proposition is simply the reservation of the whole ground for the use of the War Department, It is true that the merchants want ground for storage, but for storage generally, and not for that only landed from damaged ships, which would not amount to a great deal. Business, that is, the mercantile offices, would remain here as now, but a great . want, besides storage room, is room for docks, for hospitals, for private residences, and fdr air and exercise. I readily admit, and have admitted from the first, that the requirement of Her Majesty's military and naval services must, of course, have prior consideration ; but, when they shall have been satisfied, it will, in my opinion, be both unjust and impolitic to disregard, as Sir Hope Grant proposes, the urgent sanitary and commercial wants of this important and over- crowded commtmity. As regards the large sum of 6000 1, at present paid by the War Depart- ment for storage, I would remark, first, that this is an accident of the late expedition ; and, next, that it was never in contemplation to deprive the War Department of fair and reasonable accom- modation in the new location. The excessive robbery at this particular moment prevalent is another accident (the Chinese new year) although it must be admitted that the bulk of the native population almost deserve the character given it by Sir Hope G^ant, who has, however, been greatly misinformed, when he understands that r 2 I proposed 132 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOEE THE Captain D. GaUon, C.B., F.R.S. 7 June 1866. I proposed to let a great portion of the ground to Chinese. My constant thought has been how best to prevent a large Chinese population esta- blishing theniselves at Kowloon; and, as some native population is indispensable, how best to keep them to themselves, and preserve the Euro- pean and American community from the injury and inconvenience of intermixture with them. On General Grant's remarks on the unhealthiness of Hong Kong, I will only say that he has named two powerful ingredients; but both are under legal surveillance and control, and that all repre- sentations made on the subject meet with in- variable consideration from the Government. As the police of Kowloon must be subordinate to the civil government of the colony, it is clear that a purely military occupation is impermissible ; but, if this objection could be got over, I should be strongly inclined to advise the setting apart the Stone Cutter's Island for military and naval purposes solely." 2965. General Dunne.] That letter appears to me to acknowledge that the military claim was well founded, for the Governor only asked for a portion of the peninsula, and says that the mili- tary and naval requirements must have the first consideration ?— Yes. Then there was the re- port of the joint commission, which I have men- tioned before. 2966. That was the only letter upon which the War Department founded that concession ? — No. I only read this to show you the views that Sir Hercules Robinson entertained about it. Sir Hercules Robinson came home in the winter of 1863-4, and the question was then arranged at home while he was here. 2967. But I cannot see that the letter gives any grounds of concession of the best site in the island to private individuals ? — What I meant to say was, that we should not even have altered the size or the position of our barrack if we had thought we were making any concession which was really injurious to the soldiers. 2968. But you made that concession contrary to the opinion of the local commanding engineer, Colonel Moody ? — Scarcely so, because Colonel Moody had suggested placing the troops in a half circle over the north end of the peninsula, in scattered buildings all. the way along, of which that site (A) was one. 2969. Had you not six years to decide upon that concession ? — No ; the negotiations began at the end of 1861, and they were completed in 1864. 2970. Then why were not the barracks begun to be built in 1864 ?— Because we had ordered the trial hut to be built first. 2971. Is that trial hut built yet? — No; but that is not the fault of the home authorities. 2972. Whose fault is it?— The money has been provided year after year for the purpose ; the delay occurred at Hong Kong. 2973. Did not the money cease to be available at the end of the year 1863? — Yes; we re-pro- vided it. 2974. Was not there any account asked, or reason given, why it was not built ? — We were perpetually asking the commanding engineer to explain the delay. 2975. What was the answer given to you? — At first he could not do it, because the land was not given over to the military by the Governor. 2976. That was done in 1864? — It was civen over in May 1864. 2977. From May 1864 to 1866 nothing seems to have been done? — The summer of 1864 appears to have been spent in making ex- cavations. 2978. Were not there continual complaints of want of accommodation at Hong Kong and Kowloon during all this time? — No; we had acquired Japan in the meanwhile, and got ac- commodation there. 2979. I mean at Kowloon? — No; there were some letters upon the subject of building barracks at Kowloon. 2980. Were not there some complaints from the .Horse Guards to the War Department that there was not suflScient accommodation for the troops; when the 11th were ordered to be sent there, was there not a direct statement from the commanding officer at Hong Kong that he had not accommodation for another regiment. 1 want to know why that accommodation was not provided ; could you give the Committee a state- ment of what the present accommodation of Hong Kong and Kowloon, by the last returns, is ? — Yes. 2981. Mentioning the number of cubic feet allowed, in each case, in the barracks and hospi- tals? — At Kowloon we have only what huts there are ; we have nothing else at Kowloon. 2982. How many will they hold without cer- tain death ? — That we have not information upon. 2983. You have no information as to the ex- tent of accommodation at Kowloon ? — No. 2984. What accommodation is there at Hong Kong? — According to the latest returns, we have information that the accommodation there is for 1,874 men. 2985. Is that according to the altered cubic space, or the original cubic space ? — I should think that for 1,100 men that is at the original cubic space. 2986. That is at 700 cubic feet per man ? — Yes. 2987. In fact, then, there is not sufficient ac- commodation for 1,100 men, or for two regi- ments, at Hong Kong and Kowloon at this moment ? — No, that is not what I meant to say ; out of the 1 ,800 which I am giving you, the ac- commodation for 1,100 is at 700 cubic feet per man, and for 557 (that is the accommodation in the hired buildings) it is at the rate of 1,000 cubic feet, I apprehend. 2988. Then there is accommodation, or partial accommodation, for 1,800 men ? — Yes ; 1,600 men I ought to have said ; not 1,800. These would be the numbers about three months ago. 2989. When the 11th were ordered to Hong Kong, was there any communication made about the accommodation from the War Department ? — I really could not answer that question with- out referring. 2990. It is stated in the paper I have just handed to you, that there was a representation made by the commanding officer that he had no ac- commodation, and when the 11th were ordered there, permission was given him to send some of them to Japan. 1 want to know what measures were taken by the War Department to procure accommodation, either in Japan or at Kowloon, or Hong Kong? — I think the letters in the printed correspondence show that the General was told to hire accommodation to any extent. 2991. There is no order then, further than what appears in the correspondence ? — No, there was no SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEO(?PS (CHINA). 133 no further order ; it was not necessary. A general officer has full power to liire or to provide tem- porary accommodation in any way he thinks fit. 2992. You mean to say, generally, that any commanding officer can do it on his own respon- sibility ? — I do not know whether you can call it so much his own responsibility. I had better, per- haps, refer to the circular upon that point. 2993. Chairman.'] Could you put in that cir- cular ? — The following is an extract from Trea- sury Regulation of 1829 upon the subject : " If a governor, or officer commanding the forces, shall deem it necessary, under circumstances of peculiar and pressing emergency, such as internal rebellion, or the sudden and unexpected breaking out of war, to order a work to be executed for which the assistance of the Ofdnance Depart- ment is required, or if, in his opinion, it is indis- pensably necessary for the health and comfort of the troops that an expenditure should be incurred without the delay of a reference to England for barrack services which have not already received the sanction of Parliament, he is in either of the above cases to call upon the commanding Royal Engineer in writing to prepare a plan and esti- mate for the emergent service ; and, if the go- vernor, or officer commanding the forces, approve of the same, he will (previously annexing his signature of approval to the estimate) give the commanding royal engineer a written order to execute the worlc, and defray the expense by means of a draft on the commissariat chest, to be drawn by the ordnance storekeeper or accountant at the station, and the officer commanding the forces will authorise the commissariat officer at the same time to meet the draft." 2994. Major General Lord Henry Percy.'\ Were the plans of the Kowloon barracks referred to the Commander in Chief for his opinion thereon ? — Yes, I apprehend that they were sent to the Quartermaster General. 2995. Chairman.'] With regard to M'Gregor and Fletcher's godowns, and all the buildings that were hired for one year, has that hiring been renewed ? — They are still occupied. 2996. The hiring would have expired about this time ? — I apprehend that the hiring has been renewed. 2997. Colonel Percy Herhert.] Have you any returns of the quarters at Japan ? — We have not a detailed barrack return from Japan. 2998. Have you any knowledge of what the amount of accommodation is ? — There is accom- modation for about 1,500 ot 1,600 men, I think., 2999. Of what nature is it ? — Japanese build- ings ; they are wooden buildings, I believe, that were run up very rapidly by the Japanese work- men. 3000. When were they put up? — By an engineer officer within the last two y^ars, I think. 3001. Within two years? — Within two or three years ; I could not give any accurate informa- tion about them. 3002. The!y were in existence at the time when the llth and the 9th went out to China? — Yes, they were in existence then. 3003. Affording accommodation for about 1,500 or 1,600 men ? — I think so. 3004. Were they occupied by the Marines ? — Some of them were occupied by the Marines, I think ; but the Admiralty, I believe, sent out an order for the Marines to be removed on board ship when the regiment went there. 0.53. i866. 3005. So long as they were occupied by the Captain Marines, there would not have been room there I>. Galtm, for more than one regiment at the outside, I c.b,, f.k.s, presume ? — The establishment of the regiment in 1865 was 680 men, the year before the strength 7 Ju"e had been 770 men. 3006. And there were 500 Marines, were there not ? — There were 500 Marines. 3007. That would at any rate make 1,200 men to be accommodated ? — If the regiment was at its full strength. 3008. I presume the total you gave of 1,500 or 1,600 men includes all the accommodation, and probably a good deal of that room is required for accessories? — No; I apprehend that it is accommodation for men independent of any ab- lution rooms, and other rooms for general pur- l^oses; the establishment of the whole of the regiments at Hong Kong in 1865, together with the Artillery and Engineers, amounted to 2,200 men if they had been complete. 3009. The three regiments ? — The three regi- ments and the Artillery and Engineers ; there was barrack accommodation in Japan for 1,500 men, we will say, and there was barrack accom- modation in Hong Kong itself, exclusive of Kow- loon, for 1,600 men. 3010. In that you include the hired buildings, do you not ? — Yes, I include the hired buildings. 3011. Which were not ready till July ? — They were not ready till July, but that will give you accommodation for 3,200 men in the whole com- mand, against 2,200 men who were there. 3012. Of course you are aware that a barrack that has accommodation for 1,000 men does not, in practice, hold 1,000 troops ? — Of course 1,000 troops may be put into it on an emergency for a temporary occupation ; you might put men in your recreation room, or library, or whatever it might be, if it was only to last for a month or so. 3013. Taking their health into consideration, it would not be desirable to fill up a barrack with the nominal number of men which it is re- turned as capable of holding, would it ? — Not with the old cubic space, but with the new cubic space and with the modern construction, we ex- pect it might be filled up safely. 3014. You ought not to include the recreation rooms in the strength ? — No, but then I am not aware that they have included the recreation rooms in the strength I have given ; I admit that it may be so. 3015. The barrack return for that accommoda- tion at Hong Kong, I think you say, was based upon a less cubic space than is now given ? — Yes, I think it is so. 3016. It was a good deal less than 700 cubic feet per man, was it not ? — It was over 700 cubic feet as regards the barrack accommodation. 3017. Chairman.] Are you aware whether there is any ground that would do for encamping troops on, at Yokohama ? — I am not acquainted with Yokohama at all. 3018. It appears from the evidence we have received that there is really only accommodation, including Messrs. Fletcher's and McGregor's godowns for 1,023 men, at the rate of 1,000 cubic feet? — In Hong Kong; but then, if you add to that the accommodation for 1,500 or 1,600 men in Japan, you have accommodation for 2,600 men against 2,200 men, which was the establishment of the whole of the troops there. 3019. I was asking the question with regard R 3 ta 134 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE rf r*fe" *® *'^® accommodation of the 2nd-20th, who are "««<»«> at this moment going there, and the Ceylon ■ '' " ' corps. No troops are now quartered at the 7 June Kowloon side ; the men are merely sent over iiJ66. daily to perform those duties ? — Exactly. 3020. At the rat^ of 1,000 cubic feet per man, we are informed that there is accommodation for 1,023 men, including the, Stanley Barracks, which is supposed to hold 150 men ? — Yes. 3021. Stanley being seven or eight miles from Victoria, of course no duty-men could be put there ? — No. 3022. That would reduce the duty accommo- dation to 873 men? — Yes; in that case. 3023. General Dunne.'] You will find by the Return that you have only 817 cubic feet if you take an average of the whole. You have 1,100 men at 700 cubic feet, and you have 700 men at 1,000 cubic feet ? — No ; it would be 500 men at 1,000 cubic feet. 3024. Marquis of Hartington.] I believe General Brown wrote two or three letters, stating that the huts at Kowloon were very dangerous, on account of the liability to fire? — Yes, I believe he did ; I forget what year that was in. 3025. Except those letters of General Brown's, are you aware of any letters from the General commanding at the station, complaining of want of accommodation at Kowloon, until the letter from General Guy, of the 12th of November 1864 ?— No \. I do not know of any. 3026. You do not know what those letters are that General Dunne refers to ? — No ; unless he means Sir Hope Grant's original letter. 3027. General Dunne.'] At what time were you in a position to receive any communication on the subject of barracks in China? — Since 1859 I have been acquainted with this subject. 3028. During that period have there been communications from that time to the present, complaining of want of accommodation for the troops ? — There was Sir Hope Grant's communi- cation in 1859 or 1860, in which the proposal for barracks was made. 3029. Have there been any since? — I am not aware of any since then, up to the present time. 3030. Marquis of Hartington.] To what effect was Sir Hope Grant's communication? — Sir Hope Grant proposed in 1859 that a general scheme of building barracks at Kowloon for 1,200 men should be drawn up. 3031. Colonel Percy Herbert] Has that pro- ject been abandoned ? — No ; that is the origin of the trial hut. 3032. It has not been abandoned now ? — No. 3033. General Dunne.] Was not there not only this correspondence, but a result, namely, that as you have stated, money was put down in the Estimates for the very purpose of constructing the trial hut in every subsequent year ? — Yes. 3034. And the trial hut was not constructed though the money was granted by Parliament? — That was not the fault of the War Office. 3035. I do not ask whose fault it is ; is it the fact?— Yes. 3036. Chairman.] Colonel Moody differs a little from you on that point; but he says that the ground upon which this trial hut was to be builtwas occupied by the huts which the 67th, or some other regiment was in at that time. He gives that as one of the reasons for the delay in the building of the hut ? — Yes. 3037. There is a letter of the 24th of August 1865 at page 20 of the correspondence, in which General Guy encloses a letter from the commandr ing royal engineer proposing to build for 2,000 1 extra accommodation for the hospital, "Enclo- sure 1 in No. 19. Yokohama, 24th August 1865. Sir, I have the honour to report for the infor- mation of his Excellency the Major General,. that the approxunate estimate for providing additional accommodation for about 80 patients at Hong Kong, Tv-ill be about 2,000 l, which I would expend in adding another storey to the present hospital, as the cheapest plan of effectmg the object." It is signed by Colonel Lovell. Instead of carrying that out, barrack accommo- dation for 5uO dollars a month has been taken up.; can you give any information at all about that? — The accommodation was obtained by hiring instead. The purveyor in chief would give you an account of all these details. I know that it appeared in an earlier part of the year that several of the hospital buildings were used for other purposes than purely for the sick. 3038. That was for a few officers' quarters ?— Yes; the medical officer used for his office a room admirably suited to the sick ; I believ epurveyor's stores were in them as well, and they were ordered to be turned out, and arrangements made for the sick ; and that gave additional accommoda- tion. 3039. Sir Harry Verney.] With regard to the reply which you gave to General Dunne, do you know of any instances in which officers who have incurred responsibility, and ordered an expen- diture of money in providing for the accommoda- tion of troops, have had those expenses thrown upon themselves ? — No ; never. I have known, one instance where a question was raised, wKen a general officer, as an urgent service for the health of the troops, had ordered his own house to be whitewashed, papered, painted, and re- paired. We raised a question upon it; but we paid it. We said we thought that it was not a service that came under the description of an urgent service. 3040. You have never known an instanjce in which the money has not been allowed to tJie officer ? — I have never known an instance in which the money has not been paid ; and I do not recollect any other instance in which a ques- tion has been raised upon anything ordered by a general officer, except in a similar case, where a general officer ordered a green baize door to be put to his drawing room. 3041. Then the general commandite has full power to provide for the accommodation and safety of the troops under his command? — He has full power. 3042. General Dunne.] At any expense ? — At any expense. 3043. Colonel Percy Herbert.] Where is tiiat conveyed ? — ^We consider that it is conveyed in the circular which has been mentioned. 3044. Chairman.] I do not think that circulai conveys anything like it? — Then it must be some other circxidar., 3045. How long have you been in the War Department? — Since 1859. 3046. Colonel Perc^ Herbert.] Have you never known a case 6£ an officer in command, being told that an expenditure sanctioned by him in his position as geaeral officer had been dis- ailowed? — I have known cases, where general officers have authorised certain allowances, forage allowances, or allowances of that sort to be issued. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS (ohXNa). 135 issued, which we said were not necessary, and we have not allowed them. 3047. I am speaking of expenditure upon works for the public service? — We may have written a letter saying that an expenditure is disallowed, but then we have always allowed it afterwards upon explanation; I know of no case in which a general officer has had to pay anything. 3048. It is not a question of having to pay ; but have* not questions been raised as to the payment of such an expenditure, and has not the officer been told that it has been disallowed, and has it not required explanation from him to pre- vent the disallowance being carried into effisct ? — I do not at present recollect any cases except those I have mentioned. 3049. Mr. Adderley.'] Have you ever known a, case of a general officer alleging as an excuse for not having incurred expenditure which ap- peared to be advisable, that he was afraid to exercise the discretion which had been given him ? — 1 cannot recall any instance ' of that kind. 3050. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] Perhaps cor- respondence on these subjects would not come before you in the War Office 1 — A good many do ; most of those which relate to disallowances ; I should qualify my answer by saying that we consider that a general officer has full power to order anything which is necessary for the health or safety of the troops ; bul probably in such a case as the completion of a school which had been begun upon one year's estimates, and which was to be carried on on another year's estimates, we should have said we thought the expenditure ought not to have been ordered. 3051. Marquis of Hartington.] There is a service which has been mentioned before this Committee relative to a disallowance of an ex- penditure on account of porter for the troops at Hong Kong; can you explain anything relating to that ? — In the accounts we found an issue of porter to women and children at Hong Kong, which was brought to my notice last year. There was no explanation at all about it ; it was merely stated that it had been ordered by the medical officer. As it was contrary to regulations, I consulted Sir James Gibson, and, with his con- currence, I ordered it not to be allowed. A subsequent explanation came from the medical officer. Dr. Snell I think it was, and I referred it again to Sir James Gibson, and then we agreed to allow it, having got a proper explanation. 3052. Chairman.] Were you aware that at that very time, when the porter was ordered by the doctor, the women and children in Hong Kong were in such a state that the civilians out there subscribed 2001., and the officers also sub- scribed, for the purpose of giving porter and other comforts to the women and children ? — Yes ; but I think that the officer commanding on the spot stated that as soon as he became aware of the issue of porter he stopped it. 3053. I do not think that came out at all in the evidence. I think you refer to Colonel Jenner, who said that the officers, one and all, sabscribe^ ? — Yes, they all subscribed ; but it is one thing to subscribe out of one's own pocket, and another to order an expenditure of public money. However, the porter was allowed, and we only raised a question upon it in the first instance. If they had sent home the same ex- p],aniatian l)efore that they sent home afterwards 0.53. we should have allowed it. We must have ex- Captain planations of these things. Z). GalUm, 3054. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] c.b., r.R.s. It appears that at first there was no explanation of the circumstances under which the expenditure 7 June was incurred, and that when there was an ex- i866. planation you allowed it? — Yes, and I did not disallow it in the first instance, without having the concurrence of the head of that doctor's own department, the Director General of the Army Medical Department. 3055. Mr. Stanley.] What time elapsed be- tween this matter of the porter being first brought to your notice, and its subsequent allow- ance? — It was brought to my notice in April 1865, and the disallowance rescinded in February 1866. 3056. What time elapsed between the medical officer having incurred the expense, and the time when he was informed that it would be allowed by the department? — The expense appears to have been incurred in 1864; it was brought to my notice in April 1865, and reallowed in Feb- ruary 1866. 3057. Colonel -Percy Herbert.] Is it fair upon an officer who orders a supply of that sort, for the ad- vantage of the service, that he should be rendered liable to paying for it ? — I do not know how you could carry on the regulations at all if you did not require explanations in cases of extraordinary issues. These women and children get rations from the Government, and this porter of course is an extra allowance upon the ration, because the ration includes porter, and we assume that what we give is sufficient for the health of the troops. 3058. Still, if distinct orders are given upon the subject that things are not to be issued, you have other ways of enforcing your orders besides thatof stopping the expenditure out of aman's pay? — I do not know how we could do it in any other way, if for example, an officer 1,000 miles off choose to order an issue of provisions, which be has perfect power to do, they would be eaten before we could hear of it; but I know of no instance in which a thing of that sort has ever been stopped from a man's pay finally, except in the case of some medical comforts. 3059. Chairman.] Does not it prevent a doc- tor from giving medical comforts. I know it has done so in many cases in which I have been concerned, and when I have remonstrated the answer has been " Really it involves a piece of foolscap paper if one gives a chicken or a glass of port wine, or anything of that sort. I will not take the responsibility of doing it"? — The Royal Commission on the sanitary state of the ' army in 1859, recommended that such a change in the diet of the hospital should be made, as would render it unnecessary for extras to be given, except in the rarest possible cases, and in those very cases where the Director General of the Army Medical Department recommends that extras should be given, they are allowed. 3060. Marquis of Hartington.] Do you think that there is any hardship in requiring of a medi- cal, or any other officer, when he makes an allowance not justified by the regulations, that he should send a full explanation of it to the department? — Not the least; I think that is the only way we could carry out any regulations at all. 3061. In this case, as you have stated, there was no explanation ? — No. k4 3062. And 136 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Captain 3062. And when the explanation was received, D. Gallon, the allowance was granted ? — Yes. c.B.,r.E.s. 3063. Sir Harri/ Verney.'\ Will you be so good "~ as to state whether there has been any improve- ^i8r6^ ment made, in the course of the last few years, in the food of the troops at Hong Kong, by order of the War Office ? — In 1864, fresh meat was allowed every day, instead of salt meat twice a week, and rum was removed from the ration, and porter given, I think, instead ; porter had been given before occasionally ; they gave fresh meat and vegetables, adding them to the ration. 3064. In short, there is no salt meat given now, at all ? — There is no salt meat in the ration at all now. 3065. Colonel Percy Herbert'^ How came salt meat ever to be issued, in a tropical climate, to the troops? — I believe it used always to form part of a ration formerly. I suppose it was be- cause they considered it necessary to keep sup- plies of salt meat there, and it had to be eaten. 3066. It was so only as a matter of economy ? — I suppose so. I think formerly they had salt meat four days a-week ; in 1858, I think it was altered to giving it only twice a-week, and in 1864 they had fresh meat given every day. In the autumn of last year, it was found that the ration did not appear to be sufficiently anti- scorbutic ; the question was referred to the Army Sanitary Committee, and they have recom- mended a new alteration of the ration, which is now in course of being considered, and will probably be adopted. 3067. I suppose no medical Opinion was ever given in favour of the issue of salt provisions habitually, or twice a-week, in a tropical climate like that of Hong Kong? — No, the medical opinions that were given always were, that they recommend a larger issue of fresh meat each time. Of course the medical officers thought it a great improvement to get salt meat issued only twice a-week, instead of three or four times a week. 3068. It is only in the course of last year that we have attained that improvement, and that the giving of salt meat has been abandoned ? — It was entirely abandoned in 1864. 3069. Major General Lord Henry Percy.'\ The planting of trees close to the barracks in China is stated to be highly beneficial in a sani- tary point of Aaew, and it has also been stated that a sum of 50 1, per annum, in the Estimates for that purpose, was disallowed by the Govern- ment at home ; did the Treasury disallow this charge ? — I have not been able to find any case in which a sum of 50 1, was inserted in the Esti- mates from the station, till this year 1866-67, when it stands ; it has been allowed. There has been no case in which it has been disallowed at home ; the only case in which it was ever sent home, as proposed from the station, was this year, and this year it has been allowed. I have looked through the Estimates, for I heard the question asked on Monday, but I cannot find it anywhere. 3070. Chairman.'] Is Mr. Whiffin in your De- partment ? — He is the chief auditor. 3071. General Guy, in his letter of the 11th of November 1865, points out to the Secretary of State for War the fact that the hire of quar- ters and hospital accommodation, though carried out upon the most economical plan, amounts to 13,150Z. for one year; this does not agree with Mr. Whiffin's return; will you explain it? — Mr. Whiffin's return can only relate to the pay- ments actually made up to the date mentioned in his return, and could not by any possibility agree with the return of the liabilities. I hand in a list of the buildings hired at Hong Kong at the present time, with the several rents, according to the latest returns, by which the total rents appear to amount to 17,310/. 3072. Colonel Percy HerbertJ] Is that per annum ? — Per annum. — ( The same was handed in. — Vide Appendix A.) • 3073. Chairman.] Those buildings were hired for one year certain, were they not ? — Those buildings were all hired for one year certain. 3074. Has the general received instructions to continue the hii-e of them ? — The general will use his own discretion, and continue the hire if he requires them. 3075. Do you happen to know the strength of the Ceylon corps that is going out to Hong Kong ? — No ; the transport, I think, was to be provided for about 800, but that does not give it. 3076. Marquis of Hartington.] That includes women and children, does not it ? — Yes. 3077. Chairman.] Do you happen to know anything about the ship " Hercules" ? — I know that the " Hercules" was given up because it was decayed, and then a proposal came to send out a new ship instead of it, which we referred to the Admiralty, and the Admiralty wrote to state what the expense and inconvenience of such an arrangement would be, and we then consulted the Army Medical Department upon it, and Dr. Logan replied, that the Director General of the Army Medical Department was " of opinion that the reason given in the Admiralty letter against replacing the ' Hercules ' hospital ship is a good one, and he would greatly recom- mend the extension of permanent hospital accom- modation on shore for the military instead of it." And he added, " Sir James Gibson has very recently had under his consideration the pro- ceedings of a board of officers at Hong Kong relative to the appropriation of the general hos- pital there; there appears to have been appro- priation of certain portions of it to other than its special purposes, and he has submitted to the Quartermaster General that all the buildings within the hospital enclosure should be retained solely for the interest of the sick, including the requirements for the Purveyor's Department, and that all present appropriation foreign to these should be provided for elsewhere " ; that was done, and additional hospital accommodation was provided by means of it. 3078. And by hiring other buildings ? — Yes. 3079. I believe the Admiralty only gave the choice of two ships ? — The Admiralty only gave the choice of two ships. 3080. Saying that they had no others to offer ? — No; and those ships could not have got out there for a long time, because they would have had to be specially adapted, if I recollect rightly. 3081. I suppose the Medical Department agreed to the increase of accommodation on the Hong Kong side ? — Their proposal was, that this additional accommodation in the existing hospital should be given, and that hospital accommodation was entirely on the Hong Kong side. 3082. No answer, I think, was sent to that proposition of Colonel Lovell's, to give additional accommodation for 80 sick, by adding a storey to the hospital ?— A building was hired instead. 3083. There SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS (CHINA). 137 3083. There is a long letter signed by you, addressed to the Treasury, dated May the 6th 1855, relative to the Indian allowances ; in that letter you refer to an extra 2d. a-day allowed to non-commissioned officers and men ? — Yes. 3084. And it is proposed that that is to be dis- continued ; can you give us any reason at all for that? — It was only given to place the soldiers . on the same footing as the Indian soldiers, and it was proposed to be discontinued as soon as the Indian troops left ; we give to the soldier in China a very full ration of provisions indeed, which includes almost everything he can possibly require to eat, and therefore there is no necessity to give him any extra sum besides that ; and it has always been considered undesirable to make any exceptions at particular stations in the pay of the soldier. 3085. You are aware, perhaps, that the ex- penses of China exceed the expens3s of India most considerably? — But the soldier, you will observe, is not put to that expense ; we give him a very full ration of food, we give him porter, and we give him tea and sugar. 3086. That does not hold good with regard to the officer entirely, does it? — No, not with re- gard to the officers ; we are giving, I think, very full allowances to the officers. 3087. Marquis of Hartington.] Do you know what the value of the ration is in China? — About 11 rf., lO^tf., or lid., against which we stop 4| d. from the soldiers ; that is universal. 3088. Chairman.'] Can you give any reason why the hospital stoppages in China are very considerably more than they are to the soldier in India ? — No ; I assume that the hospital stoppage in China is the same as it is everywhere else in the Imperial establishment abroad. 3089. I think it is 5 d. which is deducted in China, and in India I think it is only 2 ^d. ? — In India they have special rules, with which we have nothing to do. You must remember that the whole scale of Indian pay and allowances was framed with reference to the army of the East India Company, and the large allowances which were given then were given as an induce- ment to people to devote their whole lives to service in India, and to enable them to get some money while there, so that they may retire with a tolerable competence after a certain number of years. We do not propose to give pay and allowances upon that principle at all ; our troops only serve for a limited time in these Colonies. 3090. Marquis of Hartington^ The hospital stoppage is the same in China as in any other foreign station under the Imperial regulations, is it not ? — Exactly. 3091. Sir Harry Verneg.] Have you any other observation to offer to the Committee upon the subject before them? — No; nothing else. Captain D. (Jcdlon, C.B.,. F.R.S. 7 June iStifi. 0.53. s. 138 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOEE THE Monday, Wth June 1866. MEMBEES PRESENT; Mr. Adderley. Major Anson. Mr. Calthorpe. Lord Fred. Cavendish. Mr. Daldiish. General I)unne. Lord John Hay- Marquis of Hartington. Coll Percy Herbert. Colonel North. Major O'Eeilly. Major General Lord Henry Percy. Mr. Stanley. COLONEL NOHTH in the Chaik. William SnelLj Esq., further Examined, W. Snell, Esq. 11 June i866. 3092. Chairman.] When Captain Galtori was examined on Friday last, the Committee ques-- tioned him with regard to the disallowaUce of pOrter, which was stated to have been otdigfed by you to the women of the 2d'20th ? — I never ordered an issue of any porter to the women and children of the 2d-20th5 but I once recommended an issue to them. 3093. Will you state the circumstances under which it was ordered ? — Tes. About the be- ginning of August 1864, I was officiating prin- cipal medical officer in China, and the attention of the officer commanding the garrison and my- self was drawn to the exceedingly sickly and unsatisfactory state of the women and children of the 20th, at Stanley, and the Commandant, Colonel Moody, of the Eoyal Engineers, put in garrison orders that the Commandant, the Deputy Quarter Master General, the District Command- ing Eoyal Engineer, and the Acting Principal Medical Officer, should proceed to Stanley on a certain day. In accordance with that order we all went there, and there was a general inspection made into every portion of the barracks, with regard to their accommodation and ventilation, and everything in connection with them. A great many of the rooms were thinned out, and the lower portion of the hospital was given over. There were increased facilities given for ventila- tion, and also for ablution ; and the exceedingly wasted, sickly, and worn out appearance of the women, most of them suckling infants, led me to the belief, in which I was borne out by tlie medical officer in, charge, Dr. Beath, that they were not recei'sdng a sufficiently nutritive scale of diet. I therefore recommended that each woman should receive two-thirds of a pint of porter with her rations, in which porter was not included before, and that each child should have half a pint of fresh milk daily. I was asked by the Commandant to give those recommendations in writing, which I did, and beyond that recom- mendation in writing I Icnew nothing about the issue. _ I know that the porter was issued for some time ; the milk, I was told, could not be supplied by the Commissariat. ItJ was supplied, as a matter of charity, by the subscriptions of the officers of the garrison, and some of the civilians belonging to the community. Both the issue of porter to the women, and the givino- of milk to the children, had a highly beneficial effect Upon their health. I made those recom- mendations in compliance with the medical regu- lations, at page 81, paragraph 24, under the head of " Sanitary Eegulatione." The following refers to the Principal Medical Officer :— " He shall represent any sanitary defects in the same, toge- ther with his recommendations thereon, verbally or in writing, to the officer commanding the troops ; and in like manner the surgeon or medical officer in charge of any regiment or detachment shall represent and recommend to the command- ing officer, verbally or in writing, whatever he may consider necessary for protecting the health of the troops, whether as regards the abatement or removal of local causes of disease, or as to any alteration of diet, clothing, drills, or duties, in terms of these regulations, subject to the condi- tion already mentioned, that if any verbal repre- sentation is not complied with, the principal medical officer, or medical officer in charge, shall make a representation in writing on the subject to his commanding officer." The medical regula- trous go on, at page 27, to define what the com- manding officer is to do when he receives such a representation : " The commanding officer of any garrison, camp, station, regiment, or detachment, immediately on receiving any verbal or written representation or recommendation from the prin- cipal medical officer, or from the surgeon or medical officer in charge, on any matter influencing the health of the troops, will take the same into his most careful consideration, and give the neces- sary instructions for remedying the defects re- presented, unless he have sufficient reasons for not doing so, in which case, and if the repre- sentation has been made in writing, the com- manding officer will state such reason in writing, and transmit the same forthwith, together with the representation and recommendation of the medical officer, to the Commander in Chief." This is an extract from the Medical Eegulations of 1859. 3094. You gave this recommendation as a medical member of a committee ordered to report on the state of health of the Women and children, if I understand you rightly ?— No, I gave that recommendation as officiating principal medical officer in China at the time. 3095. Had you the power, as principal medical officer. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINA). 139 officer, ^to order that porter aii4 that milk ? — No, a medical officer has no power to order any article of -diet for anyone, except patients or people undet medical treatment; I made no order for the issue of the porter. ^ 30&6. It. was stated the other, day that there was no explanation at all sent hon;e about this issue; it was merely stated that it had been ordered by the ^medipal officer; have you any observation to make upon that ? — On stating my views yerballyi to the Comipandant of the garri- son, with regard to this increased d;et for the women,: I asked him if he would, approve of it; he requested me to give him my recomiaenda^ tions in writing, which I did, and I believe that the issue was made upon a garrison order from the, garrison office. 3097.: Colonel Percy Herlert.l The porter could-not have been issued under any other cir- cumstances, could it ? — Not that I am aware of. 3098. Nobody would have taken your order for the issue ? — I had no power to order such a thing ; I could not have ordered it. 3G9S. It must, then, have been issued upon the order of the Conimandant ?— Certainly, upon my recommendation as principal medical officer. On the 21st of February 1866, I received in London a letter calling upon me to pay 15 Z. 15 s. 4rf. .3100. Chairman^ Who was the letter from ? — It was from the War Office ; it is signed by Mr. Whiffin. 3101. Will you read it?— "War Office, 21st February 18'66 — Sir, I am directed by the Sec- retary, of State for War to transmit for your in- formation a copy of a letter addressed from this Office to the Major - General Commanding in China, relative to an issue of porter to the women of the, 2d Battalion, 20th regiment, stationed at Stanley, on your recommendation. I am to re- quest that in compliance with the decision con- tained therein with regard to this very Irregular issue, you will pay the value of the porter in question, viz., 15/. 15*. Ad., into the hands of the general agent, who has been instructed accordingly." :.^\02iM.axqms oi Har.tington.'] Have you the enclosure that is referred to ? — I have ; the en- closure is dated "War Office, 26th April 1865.— Sirj With reference to your letter of the 14th February last, transmitting correspondence re- lative to an issue of porter to the women of the 2d Battalion, 20th Regiment, at Stanley, on the recommendation of the principal medical officer, I am directed by Earl de Grey and Kipon to acquaint you that, as the issue was directly opposed to the Regulations, as pointed out in my letter of the 14th December last, and as it appears from your letter of the 26th September last, ad- dressed to the Commandant, Hoi;g Kong, there was no necessity for the issue, the value of the porter so supplied should be repaid by the principal medical officer who recommended the measure ; and I am to request that you will accordingly call upon him to pay the amount into the Treasury Chest." — This is signed by Sir Edward Lugard, and is addressed to the Major General Command- ing in China. 3103. Chairman.'] Wliat followed upon that? — I addressed a letter to the Under Secretary of State for War, stating that I could not in any way understand why I should be called upon to pay the value of the porter issued upon my re- commendation. I had not ordered it ; I had merely recommended it in compliance with the Regula- 0.53. tions which I have just quoted ; and I also said that j^^ jg„gii I should have been wfinting in common humanity, jjgq. and departing from the ordinary sanitary princi- 1 pies of my profession, if I had neglected to make 1 1 June the recommendation. Then a reference came to i866. me from the medidal office in London. 3104. Have you got it here? — Yes. 3105. Mr. Calthorpe.l Who was the Under Secretary of State for War to whom you wrote ? — All letters have to be addressed to the Under Secretary of State for War, for the information of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for War. 3106. You do not know who was the Under Secretary ?— I do not know ; in the further cor- respondence the Marquis of Hartington's name is quoted. 3107. Chairman.'] Will you read the letter from the Army Medical Department ? — " Army Medical Department, 2d March 1866. — Sir, A reference having been received at this department from the War Office, on a letter which you ad- dressed to the Under Secretary of State on the 23d instant, relative to the issues of porter to women, of the 2d-20th Regiment at Stanley, Hong Kong, in 1864, I have the honour to re- quest that you will be so good as to inform me what was the character of the sickness and rate of mortality referred to in that communication, when you recommended porter to be issued to them." — My reply to this was, that they were suffering principally from fever and other forms of miasmatic disease, and that the rate of mor- tahty and sickness was very high. In continua- tion of the correspondence, I received on the 18th of March the following letter : " War Office, 17th March 1866.— Sir, With reference to your letter of the 22d ultimo, and former correspond- ence respecting an issuing of porter to the women of the 2d-20th Regiment at Stanley, Hong Kong, in 1864, I am directed to inform you that in the special circumstances of the case. Lord Hart- ington has been pleased to remit the claim made upon you for the value of the issues in question." 3108. M^ior O'Reilly.'] Who signed that letter ? — Mr. Whitfin, the chief auditor, signed it. 3109. Chairman.] What is the date of the letter from the Medical Department ? — The 2'd of March 1866. 3110. Did you receive it in England ? — Yes; I received all this correspondence in England. I may say, in reference to this claim, that if a medical officer is to pay for all the recommenda- tions he may make in the course of his duty for the good of the service, he will not know what to do, and be sadly crippled in his endeavours for the benefit of the health of those under his care. 3111. The reason why you did not give the reasons for ordering the issue was, that you did not order the issue, you merely recommended it ? — I merely recommended it. I suppose there is a record of it in the principal medical officer's office in Hong Kong. I was only a very short time in office ; it was done in the usual routine, and my recommendation must now be recorded in the garrison office ; that would be a sufficient autho- rity, I presume. 3112. Marquis oi Hartington.] I suppose you have not the letters of the 14th of February, the 14th of December, and the 26th of September 1864, referred to in the letter to General Brown, have you? — No, that would be the general officer's correspondence ; I have not seen those letters. 3113. I suppose that there has been some cor- S ,2 -1— spondcnce 140 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEPOEE THE TV. Snell, respondence on this very subject before ? — From Esq. that letter it would appear so ; it implies it. ■ ■ 3114. You do not know what the nature of that ^ ^ vRR^ correspondence is ? — No, not at aU. ^^°^- 3115. Colonel Percy Herbert.'\ No medical officer has any power, I believe, to order any alteration in the rations of troops ? — Certainly not ; he can only recommend. 3116. He has power to order an alteration of diet for patients under his own charge ? — Yes ; according to the regulations of the service, what Is allowed he can give indiscriminately, as he likes, keeping, of course, the proper returns and forms, and everything else in connection with the issue. 3117. In your knowledge of the service, any alteration in the rations of the troops generally, that is, the men in health, can only be made under the sanction and under the authority of the officer in command ? — Certainly ; a medical officer has no power to order at any time any alte- ration of those rations under any circumstances. 3118. Perhaps you are of opinion then that these medical regulations, however wise they may be, will lose their value if, when a medical officer makes his recommendation, he is liable to be mulct of his pay? — Most certainly; I never knew an instance of the kind before. 3119. General Z>wwwe.l Do you not think that the amount of pay which the men receive has a good deal to do with their health, as affording them the means of getting those extra comforts which you considered it necessary to order for the women ? — Most certainly it has. 3120. Do you think that the allowances in China at this moment are sufficient to enable a soldier or an officer to live as he ought to do in such a climate? — I am not sure that I know exactly what a soldier's allowance is at present. 3121. I will ask the question generally. Could a soldier live in health upon the ordinary pay of the army in other climates ? — Certainly not. 3122. Then a reduction of batta would tend to the Hi-health of the troops ? — Any reduction of batta would tend to the ill-health of the troops, as depriving a man of many almost necessary comforts which he cannot provide unless he gets extra pay. 3123. The extra pay is, in fact, necessary to the health of the troops in that climate ? — ^Yes ; and with regard to the officers, the present rate of allowance is 10 s. for captains and subalterns, and 13 *. for field officers. I have no idea how they can live upon that. 3124. It has been stated in evidence that the value of a dollar there is equivalent to 1 s. here ; does your experience confirm that ? — My expe- rience quite bears that out. 3125. Therefore, it is impossible for either an officer or a man to live with the necessary com- forts for health if he is to be paid only at the same rate as he is paid in Europe ?— It is utterly impossible. 3126. Major General Lord Henry Percy.'] Would it not be better for the soldier to have these extra things given him in kind instead of' money? — A soldier is a peculiar man, and he likes to have his little 2 d. or 3 d. a-day to spend on extras. He may fancy cheese one day, and fruit the next, and a little fish another time, as a kind of extra with his tea or supper. I think he would be more pleased to have the money to spend himself than to have it given him in kind ; and contentment has a good deal to do with health in a climate like China. 3127. Would he not be very likely to spend' it in drink ? — -It was not found so in tike 99th. A committee sat upon the diet of the soldier in China some time early in 1864, in which the whole question of food and allowances, and price and everything, was gone into. Its pro- ceedings might be an available adjunct to the Eeport of the Committee. 3128. Chairman.'] The commanding officer of the regiment, as well as yourself, recommended that the soldiers on guard at night should have a meal during the night ? — Certainly. 3129. Was that provided for by the rations ? — It was reconimended that the Government should give some extra ration for the men on guard, half a pound of meat and half a pound of bread for supper; but I do not think it was ever sanctioned. Our men of the 99th, when they did night duty, used to have larger portions for dinner sent down by their comrades from the diflfererit companies, and they used to keep a por- tion of them for the night. 3130. Would this extra 2 rf. a day go towards providing a night ration ; we can hardly call it by any other name ; for the men on guard ? — It will furnish the soldiers with the means of sup- plying themselves with many things. 3131. Major Anson.] Have the proceedings of the Committee to which you have just referred been forwarded to the War Office? — To the home authorities. I cannot say to which office they would be sent. 3132. Marquis of Hartington.] Do you not think that if you increase the soldier's pay in money, and not in kind, there is a great risk of many of them spending it in drink ? — I do not think myself that the ration is excessively good. We always found in the 99th that on the average a man spent from \^d. to 2 d. a-day on little things. A Chinese comprador kept a store in the barracks of fruit, pickles, and such things. 3133. Do you not think that there is a great risk of many of the men spending the increase of pay in drink ? — I should not say that there is a great risk ; a risk may exist. 3134. You do not think it is likely to happen ? — I do not think so, unless the troops are ex- cessively over-paid. 3135. Do you know what the ration was when you were there? — It is stated in my sanitary, report in detail with the price of every item, and what was paid for by the soldier, and every thing. 3136. Do you think that it was insufficient? — No; I do not think it was insufficient at all with what the men supplied themselves with; with potatoes, for instance ; the only want was an evening meal for men on guard. 3137. Do you know whether any alteration has been made in it since then ?— I am not aware. 3138. Except in the expenditure upon these articles of food, is there any particular expense to which a private soldier is put in that climate?— His expenses in small matters, such as his tobacco and pipes, and every other thing that he would purchase ae an ordinary individual, in any part of the world, are in the same proportion that I mentioned before ; the proportion of a dollar to a shilling. 3139. Is he obliged to expend anything upon articles which are absolutely necessary for the preservation of his health?— I consider that a great many little comforts are necessary to a man's health, for instance, books or newspapers, and different things. like that; those Are all little - items. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS (CHINA). 141 items of expenditure that a man should be able to make ; another tbing I may mention is, that in order to save themselves, and to save their health, each company had one or two extra coolies, paid for by the men ; only one coolie was allowed per company, and he was not sufficient to do all the drudgery of carrying water, and so forth, in a tropical climate like that ; the men therefore clubbed together, and kept one or two extra coolies. 3140. You think that to raise the pay of the men would improve their health ? — I think it would ; I think it would improve them in every way ; I think it would improve their status. 3141. Do you know what the allowances to officers in China are at present? — Yes; I am told that the captains and subalterns have 10 s. a day, and the field officers 13 s. 3142. Extra pay? — Yes; extra pay, besides the English pay. 3143. Chairman.^ It was mentioned the other day, that at the time when accommodation for the sick was required in the general hospital, several of the hospital buildings were used for other purposes than purely for the sick ; there were officers quartered there; were they com- batant officers, or officers of the Medical Depart- ment who were quartered there ? — I have known the general hospital in Hong Kong since the beginning of January 1860, and I have never known of any misappropriation in any way ; in the left wing there were one staff surgeon's and two assistant surgeons' quarters painted on the doors. 3144. Was that all ?— That was all in the left wing ; in the right wing there were quarters for, I tmnk, four officers altogether. 3145. Four medical officers ? — No, four officers altogether ; two of those were purveyor's officers, and two, when they were occupied, were gene- rally medical officers, and there was the principal medical officer's office, which had " female ward" written on it in that wing. 3146. Then the appropriation of these rooms was in accordance with lie duties of the officers required to attend the sick? — I have never known any of the rooms misappropriated ; I have mentioned that they were occupied as quarters, and not used by sick, except the principal medical officer's office, which at one time, when the troops were at Canton, was a sick officers' hospital, but that was given up in the beginning of 1860. 3147. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] Where were the medical stores? — They were in the base- ment, and in some go-downs at Spring Gardens, and in other places in the town ; no purveyor's or medical stores occupied any place that could have been used for sick, because they were all on the basement floor. 3148. Chairman.] If those medical officers had been turned out of those quarters, and they had been turned into wards, how many men would they have accommodated? — If the principal medical officer's office had been turned out also, they would have accommodated in all, T suppose, from 35 to 40 men. 3149. But you must have medical officers living on the spot ? — Certainly you must ; I do not know where else you could put them ; the quarters were built for them ; the left wing of the hospital is marked now, and was built originally as the Royal Engineers' barracks, and there were many attempts made during the time I was at H'ong Kong to get it baok for that pur- 0.53. pose; the hospital is built facing the sea, with W.Snell, a central building, in which the hospital wards E«q> are; the wings are detached buildings, as it ' 7~ might be here {describing the same), they are both ^ ' ""^ similar in construction, and the whole makes one complete building ; but this one was built with the intention of being a Eoyal Engineers' bar- rack, and on several of the doors there is lettered " for so many men." 3150. Colonel Percy Herbert.] It was lettered for the Eoyal Engineers' barrack? — Yes; and several attempts were made to have it given up for that purpose. 3151. Chairman,] Then in your opinion those quarters were not occupied to the detriment of the sick ? — I do not know where else you could have put the officers. 3152. General Dunne.] I see it stated in your report that the whole number of cases of drunken- ness in the year 1864 was 12 out of the regi- ment, and that there were no cases of delirium tremens at all ; is not that a singularly temperate state for a regiment to be in ? — I think so ; I think for a regiment composed of old soldiers in a tropical climate it was very good indeed. 3153. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] With reference to the ration, would it not be easy to supplement the ration with various articles, the nature of which might be changed from day to day, according to the system that prevails on board ship ? — I have no doubt it would ; but I think it would be found a very complicated arrangement, and if it cost the same money as the addition to the pay, it would not be so satisfactory. 3154. Would it not be as good for the health of the men as giving them money ? — Yes, I think it would, if it did not make the men discontented. 3155. General Dunne.] In the War Office letter to the Treasury, " Secretary Sir George Lewis concurs in the recommendations (of a Com- ' mittee which sat on the scale of allowances for officers serving in China), as he considers that the peculiarities of the station render it imperative to issue allowances there in the form of a money commutation rather than in kind." I do not know whether you are aware of that ; it is in one of the printed papers ? — Yes ; I have just answered that question practically. 3156. They are both to the same effect ? — Yes. 3157. Chairman.] Have you anything else which you wish to state to the Committee? — I have heard it given in evidence here, that the health of the 99th Begiment, after going under canvas in November 1864, on the peninsula of Kowlooh, improved very much. I should like to say that I hardly agree with that. As sur- geon of the regiment I, of course, had every means of judging of the health of the men. The apparent diminution in the figures of the sick list may have led to such an impression on the part of those who were not acquainted with the state of the regiment, but it is a mistaken im- pression. When they were encamped, they were put at least a mile from the beach, and there were only three dhoolies to carry the sick down morning and afternoon ; and many of the men, instead of reporting themselves sick, and having to drag down to the boats, took fever in the tents, and lay there, or in the hospital marquees, and thpre it passed offj and they struggled to duty the next day. From the time the regiment landed at Kowloon, till the time it s 3 -f- left i866. 142 W. Snell, 11 June 1866. MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE left, it steadily deteriorated in health ; and com- paring the condition of rather than the number of sick from month to month, the state of' health of the regiment was proportionately worse on the first of each month than it was on the first of the month before. There never was any ua- prbvem^eiit' in the condition of the regiment, after landing at Kowloon. Major General William Gtxjstavus Brown, called in ; and Examined. Major Gen. , Z\5B. Chairman.'\ I believe you were the W. G. general in command of the troops in China? — Brffwn. Yesi at one time. 3159. In what year were you there? — I arrived in China about the 10th of April 1863, and I remained in command until the latter end of October 1864. 3160. Can you at all give the Committee the strength of the garrison at Hong Kong and Kowloon when you first took the command? — The garrison consisted of Her Majesty's 99th Kegiment, a battery of Artillery, and not quite the full strength of the 22d Bombay Native In- fantry ; I think a portion of it ; one or two com- panies were at that time detached to Shanghai ; I am now speaking of Hong Kong. 3161. I suppose that you were very well ac- quainted with the accommodation of those troops ? —Yes. 3162. To begin with your own quarters ; was there a general officer's house there? — There was a general officer's house there, for which I was called upon to pay 200 rupees a month ; this I knew nothing of until my arrival in China; not a Word was communicated to me on the subject. 3163. When you arrived did you take pos- session of it? — I had to take possession of an empty house, which was totally out of repair in every way ; fortunately for me, I did not re- main, owing to the state of the rebellion in China ; by the same mail that brought me to Hong Kong, I proceeded direct to Shanghai, and in the meantime the house was taken in hand by the commanding royal engineer, to be put in repair ; in fact, the floors were so rotten that when I attempted to walk upon them I fell through. 3164. What house was that? — The Govern- ment House, built out of the Canton indemnity money, I think, by General D'Aguilar. 3165. NoWjWith regard to the accommodation for the troops ? — The permanent barracks, that is the north and south barracks, were admirable as barracks for a warm climate ; they had fine large rooms, and spacious verandahs, which must be a desideratum at all times in a very warm climate ; wherever European troops are housed, they must have that. I speak from an experience of 14 years in the East, and of a year and a-half in China ; therefore, I am thoroughly well ac- quainted with the whole subject of the housing of European troops, having commanded a regi- • ment for six years in India. 3166. To begin with the north barrack ; what accommodation did that afford ? — I should say, to house the men without crowding them, cer- tainly I would not have put in more than from 700 to 750 men in the two barracks. 3167. What other accommodation had there besides those barracks ?- mat huts at Kowloon. 3168. But there were huts at Hong Kong as well, were there not ?— ^Not huts ; there were mat sheds ; they were a diiFerent description of you -Nothing but the building; they were for the native troops; the Bombay Native Infantry occupied those. The actual barrack accommodation not being sufficient for the hmafide English portion of the garrison^ that is, the 99th and the Artillery, the surplus were necessarily obliged to be put over at Kow- loon, where! found them on my arrival, a por^ tlon of the 99th occupying the mat hufe. I will, if you will allow me, explain to you what these mat huts were ; they were raised from the ground, and were a little better built than the mat sheds at Hong Kong, which were actually placed on the ground, and the natives there slept upon wooden trestles inside those huts. 3169. Was there any accommodation for the women and children ?— None whatever; I never went into a garrison where the women had been so completely lost sight of in the way of accom- modation. 3170. Were either of those mat huts or mat sheds fit for the accommodation of European troops ? — Most certainly not : I found them there on my arrival, as I have already stated, and necessity compelled me to occupy them, but as for saying that they were fit for European troops, they ought never, in the first instance, , to have been erected ; I have had troops in tents, with choppahed roofs over them, thick straw roofs, and I would have preferred those even to the mat sheds. 3171. Mr. Adderley^ Does this refer to April 1863 ?— To April 1863, when I first arrived in China. , 3 1 72. Chairman.'] What facilities were there in the way of finding such stores or other large buildings which you could have obtained on short notice to accommodate troops ? — From my experience of Hong Kong, there were certainly large buildings, such as I have heard described, m as Fletcher's and M'Gregor's stores; there were ' buildings of that kind, when necessity obliged you to occupy them, but as to saying' that 4hey were fit barracks for troops in a warm climate ^ I condemn them unhesitatingly, as I tell you ; i imagine a body of men living in a warm climftte A In one room of that kind. Fletcher's store parti- % cularly I would speak of; it was occupied as a' purveyor's store, and I afterwards, found occasl^ to give it up ; it was a stone building. Imagine a building like a store in Liverpool, with windows . certainly in it, but with the sun beating upon that stone building day after day, and the sun rises early and sets late in China, used for the accommodation of troops. Those men were left for months in a building like that, with no other outlet than the street ; and as for ventilation, you may punch as many holes in a house as you like, but it does not fbllow that you let in fresh air ; you let in the hot air, and how is that hot air to escape. 3173. Chairman.'] Under those circumstances did you make any report upon it? — I was not there at the time ; the hiring of all those buildings was subsequent to my tinje. " ^' , 3174. I mean did you ieport upon those huts *.&nd^ SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TE0<5PS (CHINA). 143 -and sheds as being improper for European occu- pation? — They had been long, reported; the medioaL officers had called attention to them ; I mean to say that I reported when the 2d-20th were thrown upon my hands, and I was obliged to occupy them ; I drew the attention of the . Secretary of State for War to the fact that I should be pressed to find accommodation for the 2d-20th Regiment, and I urged the necessity of some instructions prior to the hot weather set- ting in, 3175. What was the date of that letter ?— It was dated head quarters. Hong Kong, 15th of January 1864; I will read the paragraph relating to this, if you please : " The difficulty that I shall shortly experience to find accommodation for the teoops in China when Colonel Neale has now left me with the greater portion of Her Majesty's .2d-20th Regiment, with the women and children, now on their way from. Calcutta, will be a matter of serious expense, and for which Her Majesty's Grovernment must be prepared ; I must therefore ask your Lordships fcr some early instructions prior to the hot season, which commences much sooner in Hong Kong than in Shanghai." 3176. What' accommodation had you for the 2d-20th, when it arrived? — -None but the mat sheds at Kowloon ; and I was obliged to run up -additional sheds, of course, to house them there. The Women and children, fortunately for me, ar- rived, 1 think, a month later, and when they arrived the only place where I could possibly put them was at Stanley. I had made it my busi- fless to go there with Colonel Brown, com- toanding 2"ad-20th regiment, the commanding R-oyal Engineer, and the medical officer, to inspect the place thoroughly, as it had been left unoccupied for some two years or more. I believe it had been condemned as unhealthy. When I arrived there, the place was in such a state of disrepair, that I was obliged to use every exertion to get it into a tolerably fit state for the reception of the women of the 20th ; not that I Conceived the buildings themselves were fit for women and children, or even for European troops, at any time, supposing even that they had been in repair, being too low and not at all adapted for a warm climate. I think they were last occu- . pied by the Ceylon Rifles, a native corps. 3177. When did you leave for Shanghai? — I left by the very mail which brought me to China, I think, on the 11th of April, and I returned on the 9th of July of the same year ; I was absent from the 11th of April till the 9th of July ; the state of tlie rebellion kept me in the north of <3hina; I could not leave my post there. I wish to add to that part of my evidence relative to the barrracks, a little memorandum which 1 find I •liave here ; it is an extract from a War Office letter, dated 10th of September 1863, touching upon the strength of the garrison : " It has further been decided to raise the strength of all European infantry regiments Serving in the China <;ominand to 1,000 men;" but no instructions were sent out at the time for any additional ac- commodation to be prepared. 3178. Were you, as general officer in com- mand in China, ever consulted as to the advisability of substituting European for native troops in China ? — Never; I am only sorry for it, because had I been so favoured, I could have given, as I have already stated, the experience of _ 14 years in the East, and perhaps I might have given very 0.53. valuable information to have stayed in a measure Major Gen. the mortality which has taken place. iV. G. 3179. Do you think that one European regi- Broirni. ment is sufficient for the garrison at Hong Kong -~ — from what you know? — iMost certainly not, be- ^' Sane cause sickness may overtake them, and it is i866. very seldom that the regiments are kept up to the full strength, and taking those two things together, they may find themselves perfectly helpless in the garrison. 3180. What is your opinion with regard, to trusting Government property to police or Chinese watchmen? — From the experience I. have had of China, and of the daring and frequent robberies by the Chinese, I know that they have not the slightest respect for the police, and worse specimens I never saw in my life than the native police ; I speak from a knowledge of India ; I would not have allowed a man of th« sort to have entered my compound in India to take service ; I never saw so low a class of men in my life. 3181. Did you receive any instructions from the War Department with regard to the employ- ment of those Chinese constables? — No, none whatever; what I did was to employ the native troops as watchmen ; I think they got 6 d. a day extra ; this was by far the cheapest and most effective way of looking after Government or War Department property. Take, for instance, the military stores ; they are alongside the river ; the Chinese might at any time have brought a couple of boats and secured the whole contents of the building, but for the military guard that was there ; they would not have paid the slightest attention to the police. 3182. You had native troops under your com- mand at Hong Kong, I think? — Yes. 3183. A portion of the 22d Bombay Native Infantry ? — A portion of the 22d Bombay Native Infantry, and a Belooch corps at Shanghai, and without that element I say that the duties could never have been done, the mixture of native and European troops is essential ; in fact, I will go as far as to say, give me a regiment of Europeans 1,000 strong, and I would then prefer two native corps-, then two extra European regiments ; but for the moral effect of a European foice, the actual value of the native is beyond anything in China. 3184. It has been stated in evidence very fre- quently that from six to seven nights in bed should be the allowance for European truops. Do you agree with that ? — I would always give a European regiment as much night rest as pos- sible ; for every man is wearied out from the heat of the climate. The night is very warm, and his sleep is bad; and if .you put him on duty too frequently you send him into hospital. You cannot take too much care of your European troops ; and that is where the native comes in so powerfully as a help. He does all the day duties, you can use him as an escort, and for any duty you like ; and he does the night duty too. In fact, when I was up at Shanghai, during the rebellion, I employed the B'eloochees more than the Europeans. They give you no trouble. In the first place, if I wanted to start upon an ex- pedition, at Shanghai, for instance, I should take 200 Beloochees, and put them in a boat with a little rice ; and there would be no commissai-iat an-angements to be made, and no trouble and difficulty. As an army they are invaluable.. 3185. It was stated that the hospital huts at s 4 Kowloon 144 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Major Gen. Kowloon were burnt down ; was that during tF. G. your command ? — Yes ; it happened during my JBrorcn. command ; and a more awful calamity to witness I have seldom seen. I cannot tell you what my 11 June feelings were when I saw the fire coinmence; loot). siaA, by an interposition of Providence, for I can call it nothing else, the fire was stayed. There was one hut that would have connected the whole range, and why it did not take fire I cannot tell. It was within three yards of the others, which were burninjr, yet it did not catch fire. I made a report upon it, which I will hand in, if you will allow me. 3186. It is not necessary to have the report put in ? — I think it is better that the Committee should have this report. It was one asked for from Sir Hope Grant. It is dated 14th of April 1864 : — " My Lord, I have the honour to lay before you a copy of a letter which has been addressed to me by Lieutenant Colonel Browne, commanding 2d Battalion 20th Regiment, relative to the present serious position of the battalion under his command. I forwarded to your Lord- ship by the previous mail a report that a fire had taken place at Kowloon ; and, by a miracle, the whole cantonment was not burnt down ; but the same may take place at any moment, and with, perhaps, most serious results, owing to the con- struction of the huts being of m.aterials most in- flammable, as specified by Lieutenant Colonel Browne. These huts, though of bamboo and matting, are necessarily obliged to be constructed as strong as possible, to resist the typhoons ; and Kowloon is so situated as to be exposed to the full force of the south-west monsoon. This, then, will account for the difficulty in pulling down any huts, should a fire take place, to arrest its progress. I have taken every precaution since my arrival in China to meet any accident by placing four large water barrels kept constantly filled to each hut ; also ladders, to enable the men to mount the roof quickly ; and, by spread- ing wet blankets, to do all they can to stay any spreading of fire. Tanks have also been con- structed ; and a fire engine has been placed in charge of the regiment. But, with every precau- tion, an accident may at any moment create a fire ; and, should it take place at night, and a strong wind blowing, it would be hopeless to do any more than to save life ; and the loss of public property alone would be immense, and, in addi- tion, the kits of the men. These huts were erected prior to my arrival in China ; and, though some have been standing for a length of time without accident, yet I conceive it my duty to support Lieutenant Colonel Browne's letter, that the same may receive from your Lordship serious consideration. How I am to advise in the matter I am at a loss to make answer, when no buildings can be hired to accommodate a second regiment at Hong Kong. The trial hut is to remain two years as an experiment before the building of reoular barracks is contemplated ; and I would therefore urge that something should be done to guard against the fatality of the 2d-20th Eegi- ment running the risk of being burnt out, and from which they have already had a very narrow escape." 3187. With regard to the trial hut, which you mentioned in that retter, was it begun during your period of command ? — No, it was not begun during the period of my command ; I sat as presi- dent of a board with reference to that. 3188. It has been stated in evidence, with regard to Stanley, that it was necessary to have- every day an escort sent with provisions to , Stanley ; did that take place during your com- mand ? — It was necessary,' and what is more the ■ coolies were attacked. A letter carrier used to go there ; he used to start very early, and the coolies were attacked on several occasions. 3189. That was the reason for the escort, was it? — That was the reason for the escort. Of course they wanted sonje protection. Stanley was situated across the hill about eight miles from Hong Kong ; that occasioned A'ery great inconvenience to the men and women stationed , there. 3190. Were any representations made to you during the period of your command regarding the quinine to be given to the troops ? — I think there was some question raised by the senior medical ofiicer about a difiSculty or expense, or something of that sort, relating to it ; I cannot tell exactly, but I think it was some difficulty about giving it,, and I think a ration of rum was recommended^ because the men found it very unpalatable to take it without that early in the morning. Ajiy person who takes quinine very early in the morning has no appetite or taste for anything during the day; and it creates nausea in the. mouth. It was formerly given in the form of quinine wine, inr a mixtui-e. 3191. With regard to the medicine caUed chlorodyne, have you anything to state to the Committee? — It was never brought before me officially ; but as a medicine I should say it is most invaluable. I suffered myself from dysentery , for some time until I got hold of a prescription in which chlorodyne was the principaf ingredient, , and it did me so much good that now I never go without it. I know of nothing so valuable in warm climates, for the cure of dysentery, as chlorodyne. 3192. Was Dr. Currie the principal medical officer in your time? — Is'o ; but I received a report from Dr. Currie before I went out. 3193. Then you know nothing about his re- commendation as to the employment of native troops for stations in the China command ? — No ; "* but I can state it from my own experience ; I , think it is most essential to have them. With. ' reference to Shanghai particularly I can confirm it, as the Belochees were up there with me; I used them in preference to Europeans as often as I could. 31 94. Marquis of Hartivgton.'\ You stated thai i the huts at Kowloon were occupied from tlie begmnmg of the time when you assumed the command?— I found them there, built and occu- pied by a portion of the 99th. 3195. Can you give the date of the represent-*'' ations which you made to the War Office, j^tt regard to the improper nature of the accom- ' modationfor European troops ?— I have handed m the letter, m which I stated the difficulty I ' had found myself placed in with regard to ac- commodation for the 2d-20th. I had 'no diffi- culties prior to that. • 3196. You stated that the mat huts at Kow-' loon were quite unfit for European troops?— OT course, I never looked upon them as being fit to be used; they had been previously reported 3197. You did use them, did you not?— I used them, and m fact they were calculated upon " as a portion of the accommodation, ' - -* 3198. What representations did you make to ' the SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOBTALITY OF TEOOP^ (cHINA). 145 the War Office about tlieir unfitness ? — "When I found myself obliged to occupy them with the 2nd-20th, I waited for the result of my letter on the subject. 3199. When did the 2nd-20th arrive ? — The 2nd-20th arrived in December 1863 ; they were not contemplated by me to remain there per- manently. I understood that they were for ser- vice in Japan, but when they arrived, I made Colonel Neal, then our charge-d'affaires at Japan, acquainted that I had a regiment at dis- posal. He sent me word back that he only wanted 150 men, and the remainder were then left upon my hands in a moment, and I was necessarily then obliged to occupy the huts at KoTvloon, and build additional ones, as the only place to accommodate them in, I reported that at home, in the letter I have given in, and on Sir Rutherford Alcock coming out, he removed the whole of the 20th to Japan. 3200. I do not see in this letter which you have put in that you say anything about the un- fitness of the huts for the accommodation of European troops? — I allude to that particular point, and request instructions, because I never contemplated the troops being left in those huts. 3201. You do not allude in that letter to the huts being unfit for troops? — In that letter I state the position I should be placed in to find accommodation, and I ask for instructions. I never contemplated that those men would be left upon my hands, and therefore I asked for instructions. 3202. I think the point you appear to call attention to chiefly in this letter, is the question of expense ? — No^ far from it ; there is no refer- ence to expense. My meaning in the letter was, and I adhere to it, that I never looked upon these huts as a fit place for European troops. I knew that the medical officers had reported, previously to my arrival, upon Kowloon, and under the cir- cumstances, I had no other alternative at all than to do what I did. I requested instructions previous to the hot weather setting in. 3203. You stated "the difficulty that I shall shortly experience to find accommodation for the troops in China, when Colonel Neale has now left me with the greater portion of Her Majesty's 2nd- 20th Regiment, with the women and children now on their way from Calcutta, will be a matter of serious expense, and for which Her Majesty's Government must be prepared " ? — Yes. 3204. And you referred again to the question of expense in the same letter ? — Whether I men- tioned the question of expense or not, I re- quested instructions previous to the hot weather , seitbig in ; dwelling upon that point, knowing what "would be the effect upon Europeans of living in those mat huts. That was followed up hj my letter at the time of the fire. 3205. I understand you to say that you have written no letters to the Secretary of State for • War, with reference to the state of the huts at Kowloon? — Yes, I wrote when I resigned the comniand. , 3206. You wrote no letter, then, previous to the 14th of April 1864 ?— No, I wrote personally no letter condemning them, and for this reason, that I should never have put troops there. It was in February that Sir Rutherford Alcock came out ahd told me that he intended to remove the 2nd- 20th 'to Japan, as soon as he could get accommo- da'tioh for them, and they went up accordingly ; 0.53. but I allude more prominently, and I think de- Major Gen. cidedly, to the point in my report regarding the jfr. G ^^^- Br'ovon. 3207. The two letters you have put in are the only ones that you recollect at present, in which ^ ^ ■^'^'^® you reported on the state of the accommodation ^^^^■ at Hong Kong ? — No, I referred to it also in my letter on resigning the command. 3208. Can you put in that letter ?— Yes ; it has already been put in, I think. Sir Hope Grant put it in, I believe. 3209. Will you let me look at it ?— I have only an extract from that letter, but I will read that extract, and put it in: "Extract from letter addressed to Secretary of State for War, dated Hong Kong, 31 October 1864:— Finally, before quitting China, I would again desire to bring before your Lordship, the state of things at Kow- loon, and the serious consideratzon of the mat huts, as explained in my letter, No. 127, of the 14th April 1864, addressed to your Lordship, when reporting a fire which had taken place and the narrow escape of the 2nd Battalion 20th Regiment, from being burnt out. These huts are at present net in the best state of repair, and still no other accommodation can be provided for the troops at Kowloon, nor can they be located at Hong Kong; and before any expense is in- curred in repairing them, I would suggest that no time should be lost in assembling a Board, to report upon the construction of the huts, with regard to the safety of the troops and Govern- ment property. I would also draw your Lord- ship's attention to the 22nd Native Infantry and Company of Gun Lascars, both being quartered in large mat sheds, of the same inflammable material as the huts at Kowloon, and as the lines of these native troops at Hong Kong are not far removed from the old magazine, sliould a fire take place, it may be of a most alarming nature ; and so serious do I consider this matter, that I would now desire to place it upon record, in re- tiring from the command." 3210. It was chiefly with reference to the in- flammable nature of those huts that you reported ? — Not only that ; besides their inflammable nature, I condemned them in every way ; I speak in this letter of the state of the huts generally. 3211. Did you think them very unhealthy ? — As I have already stated, I considered them not only unhealthy, but I do not think they were fit places for Europeans. 3212. You did not say that in your letter? — No; because the medical officers had gone so much into detail upon them in their reports, which I was aware of. 3213. You did not call the attention of the Secretary of State for War to that fact ? — I had read the sanitary reports which were going in, and I was aware that they entered so fully into detail from a medical point of view, that I thought it unnecessary to touch upon it ; I con- fined myself strictly to what I conceived to be my duty. 3214. Were you aware that it was the inten- tion of Government to withdraw the Indian troops from the command? — I was not aware of it until just before I left, when General Guy came out. 3215. You did not know when you went out that it was intended ? — No report was ever sent to me upon that subject; I have no letter in my possession about it, to the best of my recol- lection. T 3216. Who 146 MINUTES- OF EVIDENCE lAItEN BEFORE THE MaprGen. 3216. Who was the Secretary of State for ^- G. "War when you went out ? — Sir George Lewis ; "•rown. ^jj^ Lord de Grey was the Under Secretary. J J. 3217. I suppose you saw either the Secretary 1 866^ ^^ State for War or one of the Under Secretaries ? — I saw Sir George Lewis on two occasions, and I saw Lord de Grey once. The only question, I think, which Sir George Lewis touched upon was as to Taku and Japan. He said, " You are going out to China ; you will find Taku, I think, given over ; and as to Japan, you will have nothing to say to that, it will be entirely naval." 3218. You were aware, were you not, that the Indian troops had been sent to China for a special purpose ? — I was aware that the Indian troops had gone there for the campaign ; I also thought that they were retained as a necessary element with the European troops for the per- formance of the duty, having always seen them combined as much as possible in the East ; all guards, and fatigues, and orderlies, and similar duties involving exposure, are taken as much as possible by natives in the East, and Europeans are confined to their barracks within certain hours. 3219. You did not make any representation with reference to the employment of Indian troops ? — No ; had that matter been brought before me, I think I could have saved much of all this expenditure. 3220. You did not make any representation with reference to the Indian troops, because you did not know that they were going to be- with- drawn ? — I never contemplated their being with- drawn. In this letter, which I wrote when retiring from the command, I said something to this effect: " I leave the garrison of Hong Kong with one European regiment and one native regiment for the >duty." I detailed that as the disposition I proposed ; I am only sorry that, as the general officer placed in command, I was not consulted upon the disposition of the troops in that respect, because I think I could have given very valuable information. 3221. When did you become aware that it was the intention of the Government to withdraw the Indian troops ? — Just before I came away. 3222. When was that ? — I remained a month after I was relieved of the command by General Guy ; I did not leave till the month of No- vember. 3223. November 1864?— Yes. 3224. Did you make any representation to the Government on the subject ? — No ; I had no- thing to say ; I was relieved from the command in October. 3225. You did not consider it necessary to make any representation ? — No. 3226. Are you aware that the garrison duties of Hong Kong had been previously carried on without Indian troops ? — I was aware that the 59th were there for some years, and that they were decimated by sickness ; they were not an efficient garrison so far, because I believe for the last three years they were literally used up almost with sickness, and they embarked a very strong detachment of invalids when they left Hong Kong. 3227. What do you call " decimated with sickness"? — They lost an immense number of men, and if you visit the Happy Valley, as it is called, in Hong Kong, you will find that the graveyard is thickly marked with the dead of that regiment. 3228., Mr. Calthorpe. ] In what year were the 59th there?— I think they left in 1856; they, were there before that ; I think that was the yeaar _ they left ; it was long before my time ; I will not ' be certain about it, but from information which has been given me, I thirds: during the last three - years they were very sickly. 3229. Chairman.'] At the time the 59th were there, Kowloon did not belong to. us, did it ?— No. 3230. Marquis of Hartington.] Yoti have not^. examined the returns of the mortality of the * 59th, have you ? — I cannot speak . of anything positive with regard to the 59th; I can only say' that I have been told that they were very sickly, and in the last three years, from 1853 to 1856, particularly so; they embarked a very large body of sick, I believe; but of this I speak posi- tively, that one regiment would become _ sickly again, they could never do the work, and if sick- ness did overtake them, the duties of the garrison would be very difficult to be carried on. 3231. You think that it is impossible to or- ganise a corps of native Chinese police, who would be efficient for the protection of Govern- ment property ? — I think they would be difficult to keep in hand, because the Chinese come down in such a body from Canton; I have seen a steatmer come down with 1,000, and they will take up 1,000 ; if the police deserted \vhat could you do ; you would be helpless ; if those _ men en- listed they would be difficult to be depended upon, because they would get their money and desert, and you would have no power in the world to get hold of them ; I know that even in Colonel Gordon's case, with his disciplined Chinese, when he took a place they used to vanish for a short time ; he had a great deal of difficulty in keeping them togetlier. 3232. What do the merchants in Hong Kong do ? — The comprador system prevails there, and every man finds a large security ; it is in that that the great safety consists. Besides, they know a difi'erent class of men ; they get hold of men whom we should not be able to get hold of > at all, I think. Besides that, how would you officer your force? It would be a great deal of/ trouble, and I question myself whether it would ." not be better and cheaper to get a regiment from India for service in China. 3233. Why should it be a regiment from India ? — Because I think the natives are so much :, better managed ; they fall into system at oncdf Or you might have Malays, or you might raise a corps anywhere if you can get natives to do the work ; but I would never trust the Chinesej and certainly not the riff-raff of natives that comfe' from Bombay to be employed as police. ' * 3234. Colonel Percy Herbert.] I gather;, from your evidence, that you never contemplated the ' permanent occupation of the mat huts by Buro-' pean soldiers ?—" No, certainly not. 3235. You were aware that reports of a strong character had been made against them to the. War Department?— Yes, by the Medical De- partment particularly. 3236. You did not consider yourself, during, the time that you were there, called upon specially to report against them, being aware that they had been thoroughly reported upon, before? — I should have taken up the question very seriously after the fire in the huts, of the 20th, had that regiment been left upon my HahcU ; but owing to their removal to Japauy, on •Sir'^ Rutherfdrd SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOi'S (cHINA). 147 Eutherford Alcbck's coining out and again assuming the diplomatic functions at Japan, I "'■: '^'dropped the question. '-^- 3237- Did you, or did you not, contemplate ! r-ihat the Secretary of State for War could be I 's ' io-norant of the fact that it was unhealthy to " ' quarter European troops in such constructions as these mat huts?— I never imagined that the Secretary of State for War would have deemed them fit places for Europeans as permanent ac- ■ ; 'commodation, certainly. 3238. Was the garrison of Hong Kong of - •" about the same strength during the whole of the time you were in China? — Yes, during my ;.' .■'''"period. ' ' 3239. During your own personal experience ? — During my own period of command the garrison remained the same; a battery of Artillery, a regiment of Europeans, and the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry. 3240. Less a small portion of the Bombay Native Infantry, who were at Shanghai ?— No ; I had brought them all down then. It included the fall complement of the Bombay Native In- fantry. 3241. During your command it was never less than that, except that, as you say, at one time one or two companies of the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry were detached ? — Quite so. 3242. Did it require the whole of those troops to carry on the duties of the garrison? — Yes, certainly. The 99th at one period were very sickly ; therefore the 22nd Bombay Native In- fantry was a most valuable help at that time. 3243. Then the substitution of a European regiment for the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry was not at all an equivalent, in your opinion ?— No. 3244. Were Messrs. Fletcher's Buildings the best buildings that were hired ?— The best in my recollection. Knowing Hong Kong pretty well, I think that Fletcher's Buildings, and the others which have been touched upon, were about the best. ■ 3245. At any rate, Fletcher's Buildings were •■ as good as any ? — Yes, I speak positively to that. ,. „■ I might mention that I do not conceive that either of those buildings was fit for Europeans for permanent occupation. • 3246. I understand you to say distinctly that, in your judgment, none of those buildings were fit "for the permanent occupation of European troops ? "/ — Certainly not. 3247. Inasmuch as they had no verandahs ? — They had no verandahs, and the situation altoge- ther was unsuitable. The men were confined to ••'the' barracks; they could have no recreation ro5ms of any kind. • - 3248. Mr. Adderlei/.] Had you, in your ■ " position, no discretion at all to order any better ' accommodation for these troops ; the 20th, for < <• instance ?— You must bear in mind that the 2nd-20th were never sent to China as a per- manency ; they were only left with me for the moment. 3249. When you found that there was nothing but mat huts, and when you found that the 99th had no accommodation, had you no discretion to get better accommodation, if possible, by any out- ,. lay ?— Certainly not, without reporting home. There was no emergency, it was the cold season '•*^t the time, and the men had just' arrived ; and ■foinking that they would go away and be reliered af'on<;e, of course I took no steps for any ex- i".a.Ss. 1 1 June i866. penditure, nor is it customary for a general officer Major Gen. to take upon himself anything of the kind without W, G. reference home. 3'roxon. 3250. When those huts were destroyed by fire, from what funds were they repaired ? — Govern- ment funds. 3251. There was no necessity to send home in that case, of course ? — No ; of course the expense of any additional accommodation would fall upon the Government, being provided under the order of the officer commanding. 3252. In case of the destruction of huts or barracks by fire, it would be in the discretion of the general officer to order their immediate re- pair ? — Of course. 3253. But you had no discretion to provide better accommodation without reference home ? — Not where time permits, certainly ; and there was no urgency in the case at the time, inasmuch as I did not expect the men to remain there any time ; a detachment left in January. 3254. Did you consider that you had no dis- cretion whatever to make any outlay for the accommodation of the troops without reference home? — Certainly not at that time when there was no emergency. 3255. Mr. Stanley.'] You stated that in a War Office letter, dated the 10th September 1863, there was an intimation given that the battalions in the China command would be raised to the strength of 1,000 men?— Yes. 3256. What was understood to be the strength of each battalion in the command before that time ? — I think they were between 800 and 900 strong. 3257. Was there any notice given at that time that additional qiiarters would be required in consequence of the increase in strength? — No, none ; they never were increased. 3258. The sentries were reduced to the lowest number necessary to carry on the duty, were they not ? — During my command (I do not speak aa regards the sickness of the garrison, which was subsequently during General Guy's command), no extra sentry was put on beyond the actual number required. 3259. In your opinion, could the Government buildings have been more concentrated, so as in any way to diminish the daily duties ? — No, I certainly think not ; the Government buildings were as well concentrated as possible ; I think, in fact, you could not have got other Government property ; you would have had to sell those and buy others ; but I think that the Government property was the best adapted and the best situated for the purpose. 3260. Major Anson,'] When did you return to England ?— On the 20th of January 1865. 3261. Were you consulted by the military authorities either at the Horse Guards or at the War Office as to the advisability of withdrawing the native troops from China ? — No, I have never ' been consulted upon that point. 3262. Have you ever heard of any military officer who has served in China being consulted upon that point ? — I am not aware of any. 3263. Chairman.'] You know Victoria very well, and the houses and stores there ; do you consider that there would be any difficulty in finding accommodation there for troops? — I should think a general officer with a regiment of Europeans thrown upon his hands would find a very great deal of difficulty. 3264. Do you know anything of a «hip called T 2 the 148 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEPOKE THE Major Gen. the " Hercules " ? — Yes ; the " Hercules " was a W. G. condemned ship when I first arrived in China, Brovin. tut the hurning of the hospital of the 20th obliged me to occupy it nolens volens ; I had no ^ ' 9.^a^ other place for the sick, and I thought it the ' most convenient place at the time, and I took possession of it, and for a time the 20th were there, 3265. Was it as a hospital ship that you used it then ? — As a hospital ship. 3266. Do you think it is advantageous to have ships out there for a purpose of that kind, for a floating hospital or barrack ? — I certainly think it would be very advisable to have a spacious large two-decker moored over at the Kowloon ,side, in the quiet bay there, and available in any emergency for the sick, or even as a hospital ; I think I would rather have my hospital on board .ship if I was commanding a regiment at Kowloon. 3267. Mr. Adderley.'] How did the " Hercules" serve as a hospital at the time you used it ? — For the time being very well. 3268. Chairman.^ You have been in Japan, I believe ? — I have been in Japan. 3269. Can you give the Committee any account at all of the accommodation there for troops ? — As regards the accommodation there for the 2nd-20th, we were mainly indebted to the energy and exertion of Sir Rutherford Alcock in getting them housed. 3270. They were not under canvass then ? — If ; the 20th were left with me in China until Sir Rutherford Alcock could obtain accommoda- ±ion for them ; that is to say, until he could get barracks built by the Japanese. He arrived, I think, in February 1864, that is when I saw him; .and the 2nd battalion of the 20th left for Japan in June 1864. 3271. I think you said that there were only 150 men sent there? — No, that was the first detachment ; when the 2nd battalion of the 20th arrived in China, I notified to Colonel Neale that they were ready for service ; he told me that he would only want 150 men, which was strange, because he had said he should want a larger force. However, hB told me then that he would only want 150 men, and it would take a month to provide accommodation for them. 3272. For the 150 men ?— For the 150 men. 3273. What I wanted to arrive at was this ; when you came away, were those houses which you have mentioned ordinary houses or regular barracks that had been put up?-T-They were wooden barracks put up by the Japanese, under the superintendence of Major Wray, an engineer officer. 3274. What number of men did they hold ?— They were only for the actual strength of the regiment there; the women and children were left behind at Stanley. 3275. Was there accommodation for 1,000 men?— JSTo; not for more than about 700 men, because the 2nd battalion of the 20th were under 800 strong when they arrived in China, and what with the men left behind at Stanley as a pro- tection for the women and children, and what with the casualties, there were not over 750 men altogether, at the outside, when they went to Japan, if so many. 3276. Was that the only accommodation for the troops ? — That was ground obtained by Sir Eutherford Alcock ; it was a very narrow space af ground; the Japanese are very tenacious of their rights, and jealous of troops going into the country, and it required a good deal of tact, and very nice work on the part of Sir Eutherford Alcock to get the troops there. The Marines, when they arrived, were some time in tents be- fore the ground could be obtained for their bar- racks ; and when I reinforced the garrison afterwards, when the fleet went to Simonosaki, and brought a detachment of the 67th, it was by the kindness of the American Minister, who gave us a bit of ground railed in, in fact, a garden of theirs, that accommodation was pro- vided for them. I pitched the camp of the 67th there, and I put the Beloochees into any old huts and places I could find in the town. 3277, Then at that time had you the 2nd bat- talion of the 20th, and 500 Marines, and this Beloochee corps in Japan ? — JSTo ; I had not the Beloochees, I had only a detachment. 3278, You had the 500 Marines, and the 2nd battalion of the 20th, and a detachment of the Beloochees ? — Yes ; I had the 2nd battalion of the 20th and the Beloochees, and I. had the Marines under canvas. When the fleet went down to Simonosaki the Marines then left, and it was necessary to reinforce the garrison ; I then had a detachment of the 67th under canvas; the detachment of the 2nd Beloochees I placed in an old building in the town. 3279, Lord John Hay.'] You mean in Yoko- hama ? — Yes, 3280, Marquis of Hartington.} In fact, I ga- ther from what you have stated in answer to the Chairman, that if the Marines had been with- drawn, and General Guy had been able to spare the 2nd battalion of the 11th from Hong Kong, there would have been no difficulty in accommo- dating them in Japan ? — I think there would ; in the first place how would he get them there. 3281, I say, would there have been any diffi- culty in accommodating them in Japan,, I did not refer to sending them there ? — I think there would have been on the part of Sir Eutherford Alcock, If you will allow me to produce a letter, I think I can show it. The whole regi- ment, of the strength of 800 men, could not have been accommodated in the Marines' barracks. The Marines were only 500 strong. Moreover, it was always calculated upon that, in the event of the Marines leaving Yokohama, that the women and children of 2nd-20th Eegiment would be sent up; and it was so carried but, and only a small de- tachment of some 150 men of the 2nd-l 1th accom- ; , ,, panied them when they left Hono- Kong for Japan in August 1865, ° 3282, I thought you stated that the Marines were under canvas?— Yes, at one time; they were never more than 500 strong originally when they came out, 3283, Would there have been any difficulty in putting the 2nd battalion of the 11th under can- vas, m the same way as the Marines were under canvas ?— I think there would have been a diffi- culty if you had taken 800 men into Japan, be- cause the small piece of ground we had was only sufficient for the encampment of the Marines, who were only 500 strong. _ 3284, Do you think that it would have been impossible to get more space?— I think there would have been a difficulty in obtaining it. 3285. You will not say that it would have been unpossible ? — No. _ 3286. Chairman.'] It was upon ground belong- ing to the American Minister that they were encamped, was it not ? — No. 3287. Marquis SELECT COM3IITTEE OX MORTALITY OF TKOOPS (cHIXA). 149 3287. Marquis of Hartington.} Were not the Marines at one time in a floating barrack ; on ■board ship ? — No, not during my time. They were for a month at Hong Kong, waiting the instructions of the Admiral to proceed; that is all ; and then they were found to be getting -unhealthy, and a detachment of 150 of them was turned over to the " Princess Charlotte." 3288. Lord John HayJ] But they were on board the " Conqueror " for some time, were they not ? — They were for a month in the har- ibour at Hong Kong. 3289. At Yokohama? — No, when they arrived there, they were placed under canvas. 3290. The " Conqueror " remained tlierc all the time the Marines were there, I think ? — The " Conqueror " remained there, and then went to -Simonosaki with the fleet. 3291. Therefore, there Avas always the accom- modation on board the " Conqueror " available in Yokohama, during the period of the stay of the Marines there ? — I take it that it was, if the Admiral chose to apportion it for that purpose. 3292. Do you know the object with which the " Conqueror " was detained there ? — No ; that is .quite a naval question. 3293. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] During the period of your command in China, did jon from time to time authorise expenditure on the part of the War Department? — ^Yes, very little, for coolie hire, and so on ; but no matter what it was, if a building was wanted to be rented, I was applied to, and if I conceived it was neces- sary to do so, I authorised it. 3294. You authorised expenditure for building, I suppose, as well as for hiring ? — -Yes. 3295. All such items of expenditure were ,authorised by you as being for the benefit of the service ? — Quite so ; I did it from that motive. 3296. Upon your own responsibility ? — Upon my own responsibility. 3297. Did you ever receive any reproof from the War Department for any such expenditure'; or were you ever informed that any such expen- diture was disallowed? — I never received any direct reproof from the War Department ; but I scarcely ever authorised any expense when more information was not required ; and, therefore, a disallowance was almost always hanging over me for the time being. 3298. In what form was that information asked for. Did the letter say that the expenditure was disallowed until further information was fur- nished, or what ? — Perhaps it was thought exces- sive, or, perhaps, it was thought unnecessary. Of course, until I got the usual War Office letter, saying that so and so had been passed, it neces- sarily stood as a disallowance. 3299. Were you ever told in the terms of any letter that an expenditure was disallowed until further explanation was furnished ? — I have not the means of referring now to my old correspond- ence, to see the exact words that were used, so as to answer that question directly ; but the letter which came implied that it was not granted until the receipt of the explanation which might fol- low. For instance, I take this case. I hired a building, at the rate of 80 dollars a month, for four commissariat staff Serjeants, at the earnest request of Deputy Commissary General Maturin. I thought the expense high, but, nevertheless, I thought it was necessary to hire the building. The answer came out from the War Office, ob- jecting to the sum, as being excessive for the 0.53. buildirg. I therefore called upon the Commis- Major Gen. sary Genei'al to take such steps as were neces- j\r, q. sary, in order at once to give it up, and the build- Brown. ing was given up. . 3300. Was there any case of a building autho- n June rised by you to be constructed which was ques- i866. tioned ? — Yes. 3301. Will you state the case. Have you got the correspondence ? — I am sorry to say that I have not; but my memory serves me pretty fairly. I gave up two stores, and intended to construct another building in the military store yard. I reported what I intended to do, and was proceeding to carry it out ; but, before I could forward the full estimate of the building, I re- ceived a letter cautioning me at all times, before incurring expenditure, to send home plans 'and estimates. Had I done so, the Government would have been paying 900 dollars a month for two stores, for, perhaps, six or eight or nine months, whereas, I carried out my plans, and gave up the stores, and the building only cost the Government 500 I. Of course, the expen- diture was allowed, and that was all ; but, cer- tainly, I would not take upon myself any expen- diture again. I consider that that was a warning to me not to attempt expenditure without a re- ference home. Those stores were costing the Government 900 dollars a month. 3302. That is 200 I. a month in-round numbers, is not it ? — Yes ; that is about 200 I. a month. 3303. And you constructed the building for 500 /. ?— Yes. 3304. And you were reproved for it ? — I was not reproved, exactly. 3305. You were told not to do it again? — 1 looked upon it as a warning, certainly. 3306. General Dunne.] During the whole time you were out in Hong Kong, do you think that the accommodation of any kind for the troops was sufficient for the garrison ? — No ; certainly not, for the entire garrison. 3307. Did you consider yourself to have au- thority, at any expenditure, to provide accommo- dation for the troops, either in hospital, or other- wise ? — Not unless it was a very urgent emer- gency. Under any other circumstances, I should deem it my duty, from the nature of the general War Office instructions, to refer the question home. 3308. Did you receive that circular which has been laid before the Committee as purporting to be the War Office permission to enable a General to go to any expense whatever for such purposes ? — I do not remember that circular exactly ; but that circular, again, I think, alludes to this point, and intimates that where there is no emergency, a reference is to be made home. 3309. You construe that circular as merely applying' to an emergency, not to the permanent accommodation of the troops? — I consider it as applicable to an emergency. 3310. Any measures to be taken for the per- manent accommodation of the troops you would consider it your duty to refer home ? — I should do so for my own safety. 3311. Did you do so from the beginning of your command to the end ? — Literally. I was so cautious that, when I could save myself, I issued the order subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for War ; and, if I could withhold the payment of the money, I did so, until it was approved of at home. 3312. Did you remonstrate in your despatches T 3 to 150 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN EEFOr.E THE Major Gen. to the War Department at home as to the bad W. G, accommodation in your command ? — The accom- Brown. modation was not bad for the small force I had. -~— 3313. What amount of troops do yOu think ^ ' RRR^ there was accommodation for ? — There was not ^ • accommodation for a regiment, because the Ar- tillery shared it. 3314. What amount of garrison do you think there was fair accommodation for at the rate of IjOOO cubic feet per man? — For not more than 750 men in the two barracks ; that is the permanent barrack accommodation ; I do not allude to the huts at all. 3315. In permanent barrack accommodation, you think there was sufficient for about 700 men ? — Yes ; during my time. 3316. Therefore, the sending of another regi- ment there was perfectly unjustifiable ? — It was embarrassing to the general officer in the extreme. 3317. And there was no provision that could be made for them without going to considerable expense ? — No reports were made by me upon that. 3318. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] That second regiment was necessary to carry on the duty when the 23rd Bombay Native Infantry were taken away, was it not? — It would be. 3319. General Dunne.'] But there was no accommodation for them ? — There was no proper accommodation for them. 3320. In your opinion, the general officer had not the authority to obtain permanent barracks for them, or to build them ? — I cannot answer for General Guy. 3321. I am speaking as to yourself? — They were not there with me. 3322. If another regiment had been sent, do you consider that you had power to build or to hire to any extent accommodation for them ? — If they had been tumbled upon me mthout any warning I should have taken any steps I could for the safety of the men's lives that the time per- mitted ; but I should have expected due notice of their arrival, and then I would have made my report upon it. 3323. But reports were made that there was no further accommodation for the garrison which you had ? — I have already stated that. 3324. Was there accommodation for a second European battalion when the Indian troops went away ? — No, not when the Indian troops went away. 3325. Chairman.] Were you ever consulted with regard to the expenses in China ? — Never. 3326. Major O'Reilly.'] You were the general^ in command upon the China station, I think, in the moiith of September, and the greater part of the month of October, 1864 ?— Yes. 3327. You were absent from Hong Kong in the month of September, and returned and re- sumed the command there at what date in October ? — The first week in October. 3328. When you returned to Hong Kong and resumed the command, were the circumstances brought to your notice of the removal of the 99th Kegiment from Hong Kong to Kowloon ? — I had a private letter from Sir Hercules Kobinson, then Governor of Hong Kong, telling me of certain dis- turbances that had taken place between the 99th and the police, and, to the best of my recollec- tion, he stated the necessity of his ordering them over to Kowloon before I returned to Hong Kong. 3329. You had a private letter before your return when you were up the country ? — Yes ; when I returned to Hong Kong in the first week in October, Colonel Moody told me that he had acted under the instructions of the governor in sending the 99th there, and that he had also assembled a committee by the same directions to investigate the circumstances oiihe fracas ; find- ing that this step had been taken by the governor, and my successor being expected by the next mail, I did not venture to take any steps in the way of remonstrance, not knowing the view General Guy might take of the m.atter ; had I retained the command, I should not have hesitated a moment to have brought back the 99th Regi- ment, as I consider that the discipline might have been otherwise maintained. 3330. What was the nature of this committee which was assembled ? — It was a mihtary court of inquiry, the proceedings of which had not ter- minated when I resigned the command. 3331. Then you do not hold yourself respon- sible for sending the 99th to Kowloon, or retain- ing them there, nor can you be quoted as having expressed your approbation of that step ? — Cer- tainly not. 3332. Chairman.] How long was it after you returned to Hong Kong before your successor in the command arrived ? — The mail will be some- times four or five days, behindhand, but I was looking for him very shortly. 3333. Was it a fortnight ?^ — I suppose it was about 15 days ; I cannot tell exactly ; but it may have been 15 or 20 days. Heney Robinson, Esq., c. b., called in ; and Examined. jy, 3334. QioXonoi Percy Herbert.] WiLL you state Bohinson. your rank ? — An Assistant Commissary General. Esq., C.B.' 3335. You held a higher acting rank, I think, in Hong Kong ? — No ; I was not honoured with the acting rank, but I did the duties of the senior Commissariat officer. 3336. That is usually held by the Deputy Commissary General ? — Yes. 3337. All matters of expenditure would come under your cognizance, would they not ? — Yes. 3338. I suppose you would be consulted by the General upon all matters of expenditure ? — To a certain extent. 3339. To the extent of providing the money ? —No ; that is a duty that I perform under the direction of the Treasury ; it is the expending of the money that is done under the General. ' 3340. Whenever he authorised any expendi- ture he would communicate with you on the matter? — Yes; by ordering me to' pay the money. 3341. General Guy was there during part of the time that you were there ? — Yes. 3342. And he is there still ?— Yes. 3343. When did you go out there? — I first went to China in December 1859. _ 3344. Have you been there continuously ever since? — No; when the expedition came back from Pekin I was sent to the Mediterranean ; I first went to China in December 1S59 ; I left it in SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OE TROOPS (CHINA). 151 in March 1861, and went back to China in June 1862, and have been there ever since. 3345. You have been there ever since June 1862 ?— Yes ; in Hong Kong. 3346. General Dunne.'\ Have you just re- iurned ? — Yes ; quite recently. 3347. Colonel Percy Herbert,'\ Did you find in the course of your conversation with General Guy that he felt considerable responsibility, in ordering expenditure ? — Yes ; and great delicacy in doing so. 3348. You mean that he was fearful of being reproved t — He was afraid that his order would not be allowed at home. 3349. That he might be found fault with for it ? — Yes, even in trifling matters ; I will men- tion an instance ; he refused to sanction an allowance of about a shilling a day to an officer in my own department ; I recommended that the officer should get it ; he said he did not feel justified in authorising that expenditure himself, and he referred it home, and since I have come home I have been told it is disallowed. 3350. General Guy was delicate in authorising expenditure, you say ? — Yes ; he had the power, I believe, if he had chosen to exercise it. 3351. Can you give me an opinion, either your own, or what you have gathered from mili- tary officers there, as to whether it was possible to carry on the duties at Hong Kong with one battalion ? — I have always heard it was not, and I believe it was not possible. 3352. You had a general knowledge of what duties were required for discipline, and for the guardianship of the Government property ? — Yes; the duties were so heavy, that within a few days before I left, the General was obliged to notify to the Governor, that even with his two European regiments he could not furnish a guard for the building that is being erected for the new -Mint at Hong Kong. 3353. That was even with two regiments ? — Yes. You can hardly call the 2nd battalion of the IJth a regiment; there were only 300 or 400 of them. 3354. Their numbers were so diminished from sickness ? — Yes. 3355- What is the situation of the Mint build- ing? — The soldiers would have to march about a mile and a-half to it. 3356. Were there many other demands made by the Colonial Government upon the General for troops iand sentries ? — ISTo, nothing but the usual guards for the Colonial Public Offices, and the Government House. 3357. Can you give any idea of the extent of those ? — -I am only aware of two sentries at Go- Ternment House, and a sentry on the Govern- ment buildings ; those are the only colonial ^■sentries that I know -of. 3358. Were those duties ever performed by the East Indian troops ? — Sometimes; not always. They were mixed. 3359. They frequently were performed by them ? — Yes. 3360. That is so long as the East Indian troops were there ? — I cannot tax myself with ever see- ing any blaiek soldiers at Government House. 33.61. Were there many buildings occupied as Government stores, that is. War Department ivstores, and stores belonging to the Imperial Government, which required to be guarded by ■ soldiers? — ^^They all do. 3362. Were they numerous ? — Yes ; the mili- 0.53. tary store department has three or four ; there is the arsenal, and there are the military store offices and yards, which cannot be visited by the same sentries. They have stores again in the centre of the town ; then the purveyor's depart- ment have stores, and our own department have stores. 3363. What guards were furnished over purely commissariat stores? — Sometimes the guard was composed of black troops, and sometimes of white troops. 3364. Can you say off hand what number of guards were requisite ? — That is too much of a military question for me to answer. 3365. Can you say with respect to your own commissariat stores ? — We had two sentries at first ; but the work was considered too much for European soldiers, as it required them to be out at night, so we only had a night sentry on one of those places, and that sentry was taken away afterwards in consequence of the sickness of the men. 3366- Were all the commissariat stores con- centrated together ? — Yes, those in Hong Kong were ; but when Kowloon was occupied, we had stores over there also. 3367. Which required a guard, of course ? — Yes. 3368. Lord John Hay.] Did you state that both the sentries were withdrawn from the com- missariat stores ? — No, one was withdrawn. 3369. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] The troops were on Indian allowances when you went out in 1862, were they not ? — Yes. 3370. Those allowances have been withdrawn, I believe ? — -Yes, since last November. 3371. Can you give me a statement of the saving effected b^ the alteration of the allow- ances to the troops from the Indian scale to the present scale ? — I could only arrive at that by guess, because I am not prepared for the question, but I should say it is under 10,000 I. a-year. 3372. Comparing the Estimates of the present year, presented to Parliament with the Estimates of the past year, there are considerable increases of expenditure in several items relating to Hong Kong, are there not ? — Yes. 3373. Can you give me a statement of those items ? — I have got a memorandum that was taken from the Estimates that I sent home to the War Office. 3374. Of course you prepare the Estimates for your department ? — Yes ; I compile them for all the departments of the Army ; they are sent in to me from the different departments. 3375. And you compile them ? — Yes. 3376. At what time of the year do those Esti- mates come home to the War Office? — They come home so as to be in England about the 1st of December. 3377. What you will quote to me will be such as you sent home to arrive on the 1st of Decem- ber? — Yes. The War Office do not always allow the amount that is in the Estimate sent home ; but they are submitted to the General on the station, before they are sent home, and he always approves them. 3378. Can you inform me what the saving has been by the reduction of the Indian allowances, taking the basis of the strength as three regi- ments ? — I could not state exactly, but I should say in round numbers about 10,000 Z. 3379. The Estimates of the effective services T 4 pass //. Rob'mson, Esq., c.s. II June 1866. 152 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOEE THE S- pass through your hands for the expenditure in Robinson, the China command 1 — Yes. Esq., c.B. 3380. What was the basis of the calculation, ""3 as regards the strength of the troops, for the year i8ff?^ 1865-6? — Two European regiments, and one native regiment. 3381. What was the basis of the calculation for the year 1866-7? — Three European regi- ments, that, is with a battery of Artillery and company of Koyal Engineers. 3382. We wiU exclude that, because that re- mains constant. In the year 1865-6, did you in- clude the Indian allowances ? — Yes. 3383. In the year 1866-7, did you include the Indian allowances ? — No, we took the amended allowances ; the reduced allowances. 3384. Can you state the heads of these Esti- mates, and give me the savings and the excesses of estimated expenditure for these two years 1- — Yes ; I have a paper here which shows it. 3385. Will you read it? — There was a reduc- tion in the general staff and regimental services ; that is, the pure pay and allowances of the troops by withdrawing the Indian allowances of 21,926 1. 3386. Marquis of Hartington.'] Are the ar- tillery and engineers included in those figures? — Yes, but there is no change in the force in that respect. 3387. What number of Artillery and Engineers were these Estimates prepared for ? — A battery of Artillery and a company of Engineers. They were in China when 1 left in April last, but the Engineers are under orders for the Mauritius. 3388. At the present moment ? — Yes. ■3389. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] In both Esti- mates are there the same number of Artillery and Engineers included ? — Yes, the next Vote is the Commissariat ; there is an excess during the present year of 13,213 I. on that. 3390. Will you explain to the Committee how that excess arises ? — That excess arises from the difference in the expense of feeding the white soldier and the black, and in the new allowances. 3391. Marquis of Hartington.'\ I understood that the first Estimate was for only three Euro- pean battalions ? — No, the Estimate for 1865-6, was for two European battalions, and one Indian battalion. 3392. Then you estimated for the Indian bat- talion too ? — For the feeding of them, not for their pay ; that comes from the Treasury. 3393. Major Anson.] In this excess of 2 1,000 Z. you have taken into consideration, I suppose, the addition of a regiment ? — No, that is the saving in the pay of the staff of the Army and regiments by the withdrawing of the Indian allowances ; the difference in the c&mmissariat services, shows an excess in the present year of 13,213 7. 3394. That excess arises in consequence of the difference of the expense of feeding the European troops, as against the Native troops ? — Yes ; partly. 3395. Colonel Percy Herbert.] What is the next Vote ? — The next Vote is Clothing and Ne- cessaries ; there is a diminution of 139 I. : it is not a great matter. In the Barrack Services during the present year, there is an excess of 13,327 I. ; that is occasioned by hiring barracks for the accommodation of the European regiments. 3396. That is for barrack accommodation, in consequence of there being European troops to be provided for, instead of Indian troops ? — Yes. 3397. What is the next item ?— The next Vote is Divine Service ; on that there is an excess of 307. 6 s. ; the next Vote is the Administration of Martial Law, there is an excess of 530 Z. 2 s. 8d.,. that Estimate is sent in by the Adjutant General ; then there is a diminution in the Medical Staff Services of 329 I. As. 6 d. 3398. Chairrnan.] How is that caused, do you know ? — It may be by a reduction of the esta- blishment; I do not know. The next Vote is Purveyors and Hospital Services; there is an increase on that Vote of 8,052 Z. Ss. 9d. ; that is in providing extra diets for the white soldier, and hospital accommodation for them. And then there is the Military Store Services ; there is 1,267 Z. 17*. excess on that Vote. On the Engi- neer Civil Establishment, there is a reduction of 69 Z. 9s.'8d.; and on the Works and Buildings there is an excess of 19,890Z. 3399. Colonel Percy Herbert.] Have you any ' knowledge of what that is to cover ? — Yes ; I understood the Commanding Engineer to say that that embraces a portion of the new huts at Kow- loon ; they are built from time to time ; but the building of a hut will extend over two or three years, and then it will not be ready for occupa- tion for two or three years after that. I have mentioned all the items now. 3400. In the main, all these excesses of ex- penditure would be involved by the composition of the garrison being changed; is that so? — Yes. 3401. What is the whole amount of the savings and the whole amount of the excesses? — The excess amounts to 56,288 Z. IBs. Gd., and the savings amount to 22,510 Z. lis. Id., giving a difference of 33,778 Z. 7 s. 5 d. 3402. Has there been any large expenditure for the transport of the troops, that has come to your knowledge as an officer serving in China ? — Yes ; there is the expense of sending home the invalids from China in three different ships, which, never would have been incurred if the black regiment had not been removed. 3403. Did that expenditure come before you, or have you any idea of what the amount of it was ? — No, that is a naval service ; I provide the money, but then the naval agent at Hong- Kong makes a requisition on me for the money, and what he does with it I do not know ; I only know that I honour his drafts. 3404. Chairman.] Do you know what money you did provide for the naval service ? — I could not tell you, but that included aU their ordinary services. 3405. Colonel Percy Herbert.] At the time you left Hong Kong, were there any ships being taken up to remove one of those regiments then in Hong Kong to the Cape ?— Yes, orders came to General Guy from England, to send the 2nd- 1 1th back to the Cape. 3406. In consequence of the sickness ? — Yes, in consequence of the sickness. 3407. Can you give us any idea of what the cost of the transport was likely to be, or what were the tenders for their transport ? — I know that the tenders were called for to send the 2nd-l 1th to the Cape, and I believe the orders were also for the same shipping to bring home from the Cape another battalion ; what it was I do not know ; but I believe that it was a much stronger corps than the 2nd-llth, because it was considered that it would take two ships to take the 2nd-] 1th to the Cape, but that three ships would be required ■ to take the other regiment home. Two ships were SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROots (cHIXA). 153 were tendered to the Admiral before I left. He had opened the tenders, and I heard that the lowest tender was 35,000 I. 3408. That was the lowest tender for taking the 2nd-llth to the Cape, the same two vessels having afterwards to go on to England ? — Yes, he had not accepted that tender, thinking it very- high ; no doubt it is very high, but this is just the time when the teas are being shipped at Fow Chow, and the northern ports, and those ships come out to take those teas, and the employment of them for the transport of troops, throws the market out, and inconveniences the merchants, and the owners of the ships of course make the best bargains they can. 3409. Chairman.] Do you allude to the " Grresham " ? — No, that is a naval expenditure, and does not come under me ; but I heard that it was computed that the invalids cost about 50 I. a man to send home. 3410. On board the " Gresham " ?— On board all the ships. 3411. Colonel Percy Herbert.l You have no reason to doubt that that is pretty accurate ? — I believe it to be accurate in round numbers. 3412. Major O'Reilly.] The estimate which you made out for 1865-6, does not include the pay for the Indian battalion, does it ? — No. 3413. That pay is eventually paid over to the British Government by the Indian Government ? — Yes, I find the money and pay it in China, but then it is recovered. 3414. To compare the expenditure, as per estimate, for ] 865-6 with that for 1868-7, the amount of pay for the native battalion ought to be added to the former, ought it not ? — If you want to arrive at the correct information, of course it ought. 3415. Can you tell me, in general terms, what would be the amount of pay of a native bat- talion ? — To the best of my recollection, the 22nd Native Infantry did not draw more than about 1,000 Z. a month ; they were not very strong. 3416. That would be how much a year '( — £. 6,000. 3417-18. Then 6,000 Z. ought to be added to the item given by you for the estimate for 1865-6, in order to form a just comparison for the pur- poses of general expenditure between that year and the year 1866-7 ?■ — Yes, for general expen- diture; what I give is only for War Office ex- penditure. 341 9 Including the officers ?— The 22nd Bom- bay Native Infantry had only about four officers or five officers perhaps in Hong Kong. 3420. That was a very exceptional circum- stance, was it not, their only having about four officers present with them ? — That is a military question upon which I do not feel competent to give an answer. 3421. The 22nd Native Infantry was not an irregular regiment, was it? — No ; it was a native Bombay regiment. 3422. General Dunne.] In the year 1865, do you know what was the disposition of the Euro- pean and Indian troops in the China command ; were there not the 2nd-9th at Hong Kong, the 2nd-20th at Japan, and the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry also at Hong Kong ? — Yes. 3423. There was one battalion of Infantry of European troops, and one battalion of Indian troops at Hong Kong ? — Yes. 3424. In 1865, was not there an additional 0.53. 1 1 June i86G. regiment, the 67th, in Shanghai?— Yes, and an JJ. RMnsmi. Indian regiment, up to the 31st of March. Esq , c.b. 3425. But they had nothing to do with the — '— garrison at Kowloon, or Hong Kono-, or Japan?— No, but they were a part of the General's command. 3426. In 1866, were there not three European regiments in the China command ?— Yes. 3427. Were not the 2nd-9th at Hong Kong; ?— Yes. ^ 3428. Were not the 2nd-llth at Hong Kong, and the 2nd-20th at Japan ? — Yes, part of the 2nd-llth were at Hong Kong, and part in Japan. 3429. When the- one Indian battalion was removed, there were three European battalions in the command, whereas there had been only two before ; is not that a substitution of one battalion of European for a battaUon of Indian troops ? — I consider so. 3430. Marquis of Hartington.] You have been i^peaking of a change which was made in the garrison of China, will you be so good as to state exactly what change you speak of? — A change of regiments. We feel it a change, because, consequent upon the taking away of a black regiment, and the bringing of a white one, there was a considerable change in our allowances. We looked upon it as a change, decidedly. 3431. You have been speaking of a change in the garrison. I understand you to speak of the withdrawal of a black regiment, and the sending of a white regiment ? — Yes. 3432. What white regiment do you refer to ? — The 2nd-l 1th, because the 2nd -9th arrived first, and they were in the garrison with the Indian regiment. The 2nd-llth were sent from the Cape to relieve the black regiment, and to form part of the garrison at Hong Kong. 3433. You know from your own knowledge that they were sent to relieve the black regi- ment? — The black regiment was ordered away, and this regiment came in its place. 3434. That you know was an order given by the Government ?— No, I do not know that. 3435. Do you know what regiment relieved the 67th? — It required no regiment to relieve them, because the garrison of Shanghai was withdrawn. 3436. You do not know, then, what arrange- ments were made with respect to the garrison retained in the command? — Yes, the general showed me a letter which he had received from the Secretary of State, in the beginning of last year, telling him that the Secretary of State had decided that the force in the China command was to consist of three European regiments, a battery of Artillery, and a company of Engi- neers. I read the letter myself. 3437. Chairman.] And also that the strength of the regiment was to be reduced? — About the strength of the regiment being reduced, I never heard anything. 3438. Marquis of Hartington.] This is the letter, probably, which you saw. " It has there- fore been decided to dispense with the services of the two regiments of Bombay Native Infantry, leaving for the present three battalions of Euro- pean Infantry " ? — No, that is not the letter, I believe. 3439. What time are you speaking of with regard to that letter ? — The General had it in his possession about the l'6th of January last, 1865 ; it had just arrived from England. U 3440. That 154 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOEE THE H.Robinton, 3440. That, probably, would be the letter, the Esq.,c.B. 3rd of December 1864, dated from the War Office?— It might. 11 Jane 3441. Are you aware of any services that i866. were required for the health of the troops which General Guy felt himself precluded from sanction- ing on account of the expense ? — I know an instance wheie I received the instructions of the General, through the Quartermaster General, to call for tenders for some extra hospital accommodation. 3442. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] Was the Gene- ral present then, or was he absent at Japan ? — The General was at J apan when I got this letter from the Quartermaster General at Hong Kong ; the tenders were called for, and sent on to him in the usual way, and a fortnight afterwards, when the General came down from Japan, I called upon the Quartermaster General for authority either for hiring the buildings, or otherwise, to let the merchants who had tendered their buildings know ; I then recei^■ed a letter from a new Quartermaster General, to tell me that the General was not aware of any instructions having been given, and that he did not think it necessary to hire the buildings. 3443. Marquis of Partington.} You stated that the General felt a great deal of delicacy about incurring any expense which was not ex- pressly provided for on the regulations ; is that the only instance you recollect of any service which was required for the health of the troops which was not carried out? — That is the only service I can recollect ; and the General no doubt thought in that case that the buildings were not necessary. The General is conscientiously a great economist, and he wanted to keep the expendi- ture as low as he possibly could. 3444. You say that there was a considerable increase on the Commissariat vote. Estimate for 1866-7 ; was that not partly in consequence of a new scale of ration introduced to the troops ? — No ; because there had been no new scale issued since a year or two before ; it is owing to the difference between the ration of the Indian and the European soldier, but then the new allow- ances that we get now are embodied in that. 3445. The new allowances are embodied in the Commissariat vote ? — Yes ; formerly the bulk of the Indian allowances were put in the General Staff vote. 3446. An alteration has been made, has it not, in the ration of the soldier ? — Not within the last year ; a short time ago there was an alteration. 3447. Chairman.'] When you left China, Kow- loon was entirely unoccupied by troops, was it not ?• — Yes. 3448. There were merely the guards sent across to do the duty there ? — Yes. 3449. It has been stated that the huts on the Hong Kong side had been seriously injured by some typhoon, and were only capable of holding about 140 men; were they in that state when you left ? — There are no huts upon the Hong Kong side. 3450. Are they destroyed altogether? — No, there never were any ; there were only the lines of the black regiment, and when the black regi- ment went away they were destroyed. 3451. Had General Guy received any instrucr- tions when you left about the Ceylon corps going there? — No; I heard of that first at Ceylon, on my way home. 3452. What preparations were made for any corps to arrive if there were no huts on the Kow- loon side, and none on the Hong Kong side either ?— There are huts upon the Kowloon side. 3453. I thought that the troops were with- drawn from those huts, and that no troops were ever to be quartered there again? — I believe troops are never to be quartered there ; it would be madness to quarter them there, because the cause of the sickness at Kowloon was the tura- ing over the earth for making the new colonial settlement there, and Kowloon will be for the next few years what Hong Kong originally was in respect of being prejudicial to health. 3454. It was determined that the Kowloon huts should be no longer occupied by troops, was it not ? — Yes, for the present, until the trial hut has been built and tried ; and after this trial hut has been built, they have to build the barracks. 3455. What has General Guy prepared for the troops that will reach him now ? — I am not pre- pared to say ; but I should imagine that he would calculate upon the Ceylon Kifles not aiTiving there until the 2nd-l 1th went away, and then they would go into their barracks. 3456. Colonel Percy Herbert] A paper was handed in \>j Captaiu Galton, the other day, showing the expenditure for hiring the barracks according to the latest information received from Hong Kong ; have you any addition to make to that, from yoUr more recent knowledge ? — There is a hospital to be added, which has been hired for some eight or nine months. 3457. At what expense? — At 500 dollars a month; that is about 110 Z. in round numbers. 3458. That would be 1,200 I. a year ?— Yes, about 1,200 /. or 1,300 I. a year. 3459. With regard to Fletcher's Buildings, one of those godowns which are named there ; have you any knowledge about their having been lately - condemned by a Board as being unfit for occupa-. tion ? — Yes ; a Board did sit upon them. I, of- course, did not see the decision of the board ; but I know from the members of the Board that they have condemned the building, and General Guy . was excessively angry, and wanted to know how the same Board could take a building one year and condemn it at the end of the next. The principal medical officer's reason for it was, that you would require to test the healthiness of the place. All buildings are hired by a Board, of which the Quartermaster General and the medical officer are members. If the niedical officer does not object, the buildings are hired. He said that it was only by experience that he could say that a place was unhealthy. The Quartermaster General told me all this ; and he told me that I must hold myself in readiness to look out for other buildings. I told him thaf there were no other buildings in Hong Kong t6 hire that would be suitable. 3460. Those are the buildings which are repre- sented in this return as affor'ding accommodatioBu! for 500 men?— Yes. • F' 346 1 . That is correct, is it ? — Yes ; the Quarter- master General was anxious to give it up. , 3462. General Bunne.] Was it not urged upcna General Guy that it would be better to build new barracks instead of hiring buildings ? — It was Tu-ged over and over again that it is a saving to the public to build ; I have done it myself. 3463. What was the answer to that? — That the War Department would prefer the hiring. 3464. Then it was at the wish of the WarDe^ partmem that General Guy resorted to this expensive SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINa). 155 buildings instead of expensive mode of hiring building new ones ? — I suppose so. 3465. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] He had no authority to build, had he ? — He had no authority to build. 3466. Dr. Saunders was one of the medical officers in Hong Kong ; have you heard that he has received notice of an extensive surcharge against him for recommendations made by him during the sickness ? — Yes ; I heard that by the mail that came in a day or two before I leit Hong Kong. I heard that he was surcharged for ordering medical comforts that were in excess of the regulations. 3467. For the sick ? — Yes, for the sick. 3468. You know nothing further than that? — No, nothing further than that. 3469. General Dunne.] You know, of course, as a financial officer out there, what the relative value of money is ; do you agree with the evi- dence that we have had from civilians that 1 s. and a dollar are about equivalent in the paying value ? — Yes, 1 am soG'y to say I know it of my own experience. 3470. Do you think that the troops are under- paid at the present allowances ? — The troops get Indian allowances, and they are quite satisfied. 3471. But the officers do not ?— No. « 3472. The officers are not satisfied, are they ? —No. 3473. The officers do not get sufficient pay at present ? — No. 3474. Marquis of Hartington-] When you say that a dollar in China is only equivalent to 1 s. in England, do you mean that all articles are four times as expensive, or nearly four times as expensive, in China as they are in England ? — Nearly four times as expensive at least. I refer to all articles of necessaries, with the exception of beer ; I believe beer and porter to be the only reasonable things in China. 3475. Is it the case with meat? — Yes; I should say living is four times as dear there. It may not be now, in consequence of the enhanced prices in England, owing to the cattle disease. You cannot buy a leg of mutton in China for less than 2 s. %d. a pound. Upon our present allowances we cannot aiford to eat mutton, and we do not eat it. 3476. Beer you say is not nearly four times as expensive ? — Beer is cheap, but all wines are ex- cessively dear; and any officer who has ever lived in that climate must know that you are obliged to live at a higher scale of diet a great deal than you are in England. The long and short of the story is, that a man with an income of 1,000 Z. a year in China is not a bit richer than a man with 300 1, or 400 1, a year in England. 3477. Lord Frederick Cavendish.] Are all sorts of meat as dear as mutton ? — No ; beef is ten-pence or a shilling, a pound, -, 3478. That is not lour timeis the price of beef in England ? — No ; I was not talking of beef and mutton so much as of living generally. 3479. Colonel Percy Herbert.] What is the quality of the meat there ? — It is first-class meat ; it comes from China ; the troops always say that they like the supplies in China as well as any- where. 3480. Colonel Dunne.] The whole style of living is four times as dear in China as in Eng- land, is it not? — Yes; the shopkeepers charge 100 per cent, upon everything. 3481. Are not the clerks in the offices in Hong Kong paid four times as much as they would be in England ?^ — -Yes; a merchant's clerk got more pay than I did at the head of the commis- sariat. 3483. Could you give us the exact price of any actual necessaries for an officer?— Yes; we are obliged to live at a greater expense, because we keep more servants. 3484. I ask you the actual price of any article; for instance, what is the price of tolerable wine, which you say an officer requires in that climate? — You cannot get it for less than 12 dollars, that is nearly 3Z. per dozen. Take, for instance, sherry ; you drink a dozen of sherry yourself in perhaps 12 days in Hong Kong ; it would last you much longer in Europe. 3485. You think sherry is a necessary? — It is a downright necessary ; it is essential ; you are obliged to have it. I am a very abstemious per- son myself, and tried to keep my expenditure within moderate bounds, but I know that the porter for myself and family cost 48 dollars a month, that is lOZ., in the summer season, and a little less in the winter, when we did not drink so much. 3486. QoXoneX P ercy Herbert] You were very much pinched by the reduction of the allowances, were you not? — We were not only pinched, but so much pinched that the officers there are only living on in the expectation every mail, that an amended scale is coming out, because it is im- possible to live upon the present allowances. 3487. Chairman.] It was mentioned in evi- dence to-day, that milk was recommended by the medical officer, and that it was ordered by the Commandant to be issued to the women and chil- dren of the 2nd battalion of the 20th, but that the milk could not be procured from the Commis- sariat, and therefore it was bought by a subscrip- tion of the civilian and the officers, in order to add to the comforts of the women and children ; could not the Commissariat have purchased the milk ? — Yes, but it belongs to the purveyors' branch ; it is their duty to do that. It was an extra thing, and I have no doubt that the pur- veyors' branch, as well as any other branch of the War Department, would not purchase any extras of that sort, unless ordered to do so. fearing that it would not be allowed at home, and that there might be a surcharge. 3488. Dr. Saunders, from the correspondence which we have here, seems to have been most energetic in his attendance on the sick ; were any objections made to the different things that were ordered by him ? — Yes, it was Dr. Saunders who had the surcharge that I have spoken of. Esq., c.B. 1 1 June i866. 0.53. U2 156 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOKB THE Monday, \Sth June 1866. MEMBERS PRESENT : Mr. Adderley. Mr. Baxter. " Mr. Calthorpe. Lord Frederick Cavendish. General Dunne. Lord John Hay. Marquis of Hartington. Colonel Percy Herbert. Colonel North. Major O'Reilly. Major Greneral Lord Henry Percy. Mr. Stanley. Mr. Trevelyau. Sir Harry Yerney. COLONEL NORTH, in the Chair. Henry Robinson, Esq., c. b., was called in ; and further Examined. If. Robinson, 3489. Chairman.'\ In your answer to Ques- Esq., c.B l8 June 1866. tion 3395 by Colonel Percy Herbert, you state that " in the Barrack Services, during the pre- sent year there is an excess of 13,327 Z." ; the return we have received from the War Depart- ment states it to be 17,310 Z. ; can you account for that difference ? — The amount I gave you was only an estimate, and the return which the War Office give you is the actual expense ; the dif- ference arises from buildings having been hired, and no doubt put in the return, subsequent to my rendering the estimates to the War Office. 3490. Before you left Hong Kong, had any new scale of allowances to the officers been re- ceived out there ? — Only one ; it was received in the summer of last year, and came into force in November ; it is the one taking away the Indian allowances ; there has been no new scale since that. 3491. I wish to ask you a question with regard to the umbrellas, which appear to have been dis- continued; can you give us any information about them ? — Only that by the mail that came in just before I left, I heard at the offices of the Commissariat that an order had come out from home that they would be discontinued for tlie future. 3492. When did you leave Hong Kong ? — On the 15 th of April last. 3493. This year, 1866 ?— Yes. 3494. When the 11th Regiment arrived, did you issue umbrellas to them? — Yes, I provided them for and on the requisition of the military storekeeper who issued them. 3495. Do you know in what quantity they were issued ? — He makes demands of 200, 300, or 400, at a time ; I do not know who they are for. AH the orderlies and military clerks of the garrison have them. 3496. Would they require 400 or 500 to a regiment, under these circumstances? — They are apt to be broken by the soldiers. The store- keeper, I believe, issued some to the 1 1th, and I provided them ; but in what quantities he issued them I do not know. 3497. Do you keep helmets in store ? — No ; that is the province of the Military Store Depart- ment. I provide them upon the requisition of the chief of that department. 3498. What do you mean .when you say you provide them ? — The Chinese make them ; I call for tenders for their supply. 3499. Can you tell us whether any helmets were issued to the 11th? — Yes, the helmets were ready at the time the regiment arrived, but the. puggeries were not made, because there is gene- rally some regimental colour mixed up, to suit the taste of the colonel of the regiment, and therefor© the puggeries were not made till after the regi- ment had arrived. 3500. Can you give us any information about the punkahs for the non-commissioned officers' . rooms, which were recommended and were struck' out, or reported to have been struck out, at home ? — I only know with regard to my own corps, that they had punkahs, and that they were disallowed. 3501. By whom were they disallowed? — I conclude that every order comes from the War Department ; I do not know. 3502.' You cannot say, perhaps, whether that was done by the General himselfj or whether they were disallowed at home ; you only know that they were disallowed? — Of course the order comes in the garrison through the General, but whether it was the General's own act and deed, or whether it was an order from home, I could not tell, but I believe the latter to be the case. 3503. Up to the time when they were dis- continued, had they always had them during the time you have been in China? — During the tim& , I have been in China they had always had them, and they were necessary for Europeans. ' • 3504. Sir Harry Verney.~\ I see, in answer to a question by Colonel Percy Herbert, No. 3347,, " Did you find, in the course of your conversation, with General Guy, that he felt considerab^ responsibility in ordering expenditure?" you say, " Yes, and great delicacy in doing so." You are then asked, " You mean that he was fearful of being reproved? He was afraid that his order , would not "be allowed at home." Then you said that you had been told that some expenditure he had ordered to be incurred had been disallowed at home. Do you know that an expenditure incurred by order of General Guy was disallowed at SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 157 at home ? — All ' extra expenditure beyond the amount that is authorised every year by the War Office has to be authorised by General Guy on the spot, before I spend that money, or before it is spent by any other department. 3505. But you believe that that expenditure was disallowed ? — I alluded to that one case of disallowance, that I mentioned in answer to Question 3349, particularly ; but a disallowance came from home, just before I left, to the medical officers for diet or other hospital expenditure. 3506. Do you know of any rule at the War Office allowing officers in command to incur any expenditure that they may think fit? — No; except in the case of a rebellion or an outbreak of hos- tilities before the orders came from home ; then a general officer has carte blanche. 3507. I mean for the sake of preserving the health and the lives of the troops ? — No, he does it on his own responsibility, without orders from home, but subject to approval. 3508. Is not there any general order giving him power to do so ? — I could not answer that question, because I do not know what powers are given to him. I know it is not customary for a general officer to order any expenditure, that is not absolutely necessary ; and when ordered it is subject to approval, or otherwise, of the War Office. 3509. Colonel Percy Herbert^ Supposing the garrison at Hong Kong to be composed of one regiment of Europeans, one regiment of Natives, with a battery of Artillery, and a company of En- gineers ; or, on the other hand, supposing it to be composed of two regiments of Europeans, with onei battery of Artillery, and one company of Engineers ; in the first instance, with the old Indian allowances, and in the second with the reduced allowances, which would be the more economical to the Imperial Government? — A garrison constituted in the former of those two i3 June 1866. modes. A garrison with a black regiment is the ^- Robinson, more economical arrangement to the Government -^l- ^•^• on the whole. 3510. Would the saving be ■considerable? — I am not prepared to say what the extent of the saving would be ; but there would be a saving, and we are in the habit of looking to saving small amounts. 3511. In the saving you allude to, do you take into consideration the cost of transport of Euro- pean troops from England to Hong Kong? — Yes ; I mean on the whole. 3512. Sir Harry Verney.] In pursuance of that question, I would ask, supposing there were two Native battalions and one European bat- talion, instead of two European battalions, would there still be a saving, or should you con- sider that the more expensive of the two, consi- dering the probable mortality of the European battalions? — I believe that the employment of white troops there is a much more expensive afiair to the Government than the employment of black troops. 3513. General Dunne.]. Could the expenses of the former garrison, when it consisted of two black regiments and one European regiment, be given ? — Decidedly. 3514. Could the expense of another equal period, when there were two .white regiments and one black regiment, be given? — Yes; but although the 9th and 1 1th regiments, and the 22d Bombay Native Infantry, were all in garri- son together, it was only for a short time. 3515. Therefore it could not be given in that form ? — No. 3516. Can the expenses of a white regiment be given separately ? — Yes, decidedly. 3517. And the expense of a black regiment? — Yes ; but I have not got the information here. 3518. But they could be given? — Yes; they could be given by the War Department. Sir James Brown Gibson, k.c.b., was called in ; and Examined. 3519. Chairman.] How long have you been Director of the Army Medical Department? — Since the 7th of March 1860. 3520. When Lord De Grey was under exami- nation respecting an application from General Guy, for a ship to replace the " Hercules " for hospital purposes, it was his impression that you or Dr. Logan had been consulted, and that you gave it as your opinion, that you concurred in the view taken by the Admiralty ? — Yes, that is quite correct. 3521. The Admiralty letter on the subject was dated 3rd of May 1865 : it says, " I am com- manded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to request you will state to Earl De . Grey, in regard to the proposition to replace her by a line-of-battle ship, fitted with a frame roof, that there is no three-decked ship available, and ! the 'Vanguard' or 'Superb,' the only two- decited ships that could be appropriated for the service, would require an expenditure of 13,000 1. to 14,000 1, to fit and place either ship on the station, where she would probably not last 10 years. It would appear, therefore, far more eco- nomical, to build a military hospital on shore, where all the requisite sanitary arrangements could be carried out, and the building be made of a permanent character, rather than apply so expensive a make-shift for the purpose as an old 0.53. decaying ship, liable to be unroofed in a typhoon, and thus rendered useless when most needed ? " — Yes, I quite concurred in that view. 3522. Were you aware, when you gave that opinion, that even if a building was erected, it could not be occupied with safety for two or three years after it was built? — I felt that it probably would not be occupied or available for occupation for two years ; but I do not see any reason at all why it should not be available in two years, indeed in a less period. If the drainage and the turning over of the ground, and the cuttings and the fiUing-up went on simultaneously with the erection of the building, I think in 18 months the hospital might be occupied. 3523. The evidence we have had goes to show that it would be two years at the earliest ? — It depends entirely upon how the work is done, I think ; if all those things went on simultaneously, I think that a period of 18 months would be quite sufficient. 3524. All the evidence goes to the contrary opinion, that it would be from two to three years at the earliest ? — If the hospital was built first, and then the drainage was executed after that, and the turning over of the ground and all those accessory arrangements, which are essential to the salubrity of *the site, of course the period T7 3 wpuld Sir J. B. Gibson, K.C.B. 158 MINUTES or EVIDENCE TAKEN BEPOKE THE Sir J. B. O'lhson wo^^d be considerably protracted, but that is not K.CB. essential; I think the circumstances of the requirements of the troops would necessitate . a 1 8 June simultaneous operation. 1 866. • 3525. But as the " Hercules " was reported to be utterly unsafe and unfit for any purpose, hospital or otherwise, and as there were no barracks on shore, what was proposed by the Army Medical Department? — An enlargement of the present hospital ; and I, of course, ex- pected that hired accommodation would be pro- vided in the event of the former not being suffi- cient, in accordance with No. 2 of War Office Circular, 361. Although there were two Euro- pean regiments going to Hong Kong, yet it did not follow that the amount of sickness which has taken place should have i occurred; it is quite exceptional. It was quite an exceptional year in Hong Kong ; there has been nothing like it since 1858'; and from the salubrity of Hong Kong since 1858, we had no reason to expect the severe sickness and mortality that has occurred to the extent that has actually taken place. 3526. What reasons have you for considering that it was an exceptional year ? — My reasons are these : the medical officers who came from China and called upon me, all stated to me that it was a yery sickly year, not only amongst the troops, but amongst the civil population of all grades; and General Guy made a similar re- presentation ; and in a letter, which is in evidence before the Committee, from the civil medical officer at Hong Kong, that is fully confirmed. Although Dr. Murray makes an exception, still the tenor of the letter is that it was an exceed- ingly unhealthy year, and that there had been nothing like it since 1858. General Guy made that statement officially to the Secretary of State for War. In this letter of Dr. Murray's which I have just been reading, it is very strongly put forward indeed. There is a singular discrepancy in the letter, but still it is very important, and I will point out, if the Committee permit me, the peculiar and strong bearing of this letter. Dr. Murray begins, singularly enough, by saying, " a very general impression having prevailed that the year 1865, the subject of my seventh' annual report, has been marked by an extraordi- nary amount of sickness and mortality, it becomes my duty to point out how far this impression has been well founded in regard to certain classes of the population, and at the same time to show that amidst some startling instances of sudden death, the general average mortality of the resi- dent European and American population has actually been below that of the two years imme- diately preceding." That is very remarkable, because all the rest of the letter tends the other way. In the next sentence he says, "This I shall do very briefly, by reference to the instruc- tive tables which I have been enabled, with the kind co-operation of my professional brethren, to draw up, and which will, in some measure en- able me to expkin the reasons of the enormous increase in the general mortality which has pre- vailed amongst the residents ^of Hong Kx»ng in the year 1865." Then he goes on to give a yery good cause for that, at least one cause which, in addition to epidemic influences, is very apt to produce sickness, namely, the very deficient ra,in- lall of that yeaj. 3527. I think he sa,ys here that "The general average mortality of the resident European, and American population has actually been below that of the two years immediately preceding" ? — ;■ Yes ; but in the whole of the succeeding per-" tions of the letter he does away with the effect of that. In the latter part he says that he attri- butes that circumstance (I think he means that) to the convalescents having left the island for change of air. 3528. He says that the epidemic he referred to was confined to the Chinese ; that as regards small-pox, the mortality did not exceed that of previous years ; that there was but one_ case of cholera in the Government Civil Hospital, and two in the Seaman's Hospital. Then he says that an epidemic broke out in Victoria Gaol, which resembled yellow fever ; there were 373 admissions to the hospital, and 40 deaths from it, but that it had declined since the 2nd of May. He says this epidemic prevailed amongst the lower classes in the town, 103 cases having been admitted to the Government Civil Hospital, 40 of which ended fatally ; but those cases appear to have been among the low Chinese and the prisoners ? — But he says, at the end of his letter, " From the manner in which the table is com- piled, it is impossible to say positively whether the amount of sickness, as well as the mortality, has been less, but I am inclined to believe that it has really been very much greater, and that the actual rate of mortality has only not appeared by reason of the number of invalids who have left the colony, either in time to recover their health, or to be counted in the death returns of some other place. I believe that is the opinion of the majority of the medical practitioners here, that no such sickly year as the past has been ex- perienced since 1858." The last sentence is par- ticularly strong. 3529. With regard to this ship, you say that you intended when you gave your opinion that the general hospital on shore should be increased? — Yes. . 3530. Or that buildings should be taken up for hospital purposes ? — Yes ; or, what I would have still further preferred and wished, the com- mencement of the hospital at Kowloon. 3531. But that would not have been ready for occupation for four years at the earliest ? — An old decaying ship is not a good place for sick ; there is a constant process of decay going on in an old vessel, which is very injurious to health. 3532. The application was not for an old de- caying ship, but for a good ship to be sent to re- place the " Hercules" ?— But the proposition of the Admiralty was to send out the " Vanguard," or the " Superb," which were two old vessels, so old that they would not last 10 years ; and the Admiralty letter mentions there was a process of decay going on in them already. 3533. Are you aware of a letter dated the 24th of August 1865, written by General Guy to the War Department, in which he states that " Xn consequence of the great amount of sickness prevalent amongst the troops at Hong Kong, the buildings appropriated as hospitals are quite insufficient to accomodate the number of sick ; I enclose herewith a copy of a letter from the officer commanding Royal Engineers, and have to request that you will be good enough to authorise the immediate commencement of tihese works, in order to prevent the delay which must otherwise accrue if I await the approval and return of the usual annual estimate of the Royal Engineer SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TECfOPS (cHINA). 159 Engineer Department" ? — No ; that letter was not referred to me, I assume. 3534. I will read to you a letter from Colonel Lovell? — That was sometime afterwards, I think, 3535. No, Colonel Lovell's letter is to General Guy, and it is dated the same day, the 24th August 1865 ?— That was subsequent to the decision regarding the hospital ship ; I think the decision took place earlier, somewhere about April or May. 3536. I do not think that that signifies ; I merely ■ read it to you with reference to your answer, that you intended that the. general hospital should be augmented or buildings hired. Colonel Lovell's letter is this : — " Sir, I have the honor to report for the information of his Excel- lency the Major Getteral, that the approximate estimate for providing additional accommodation for about 80 patients at Hong Kong will be about 2,000 I,, which I would expend in adding another storey to the present hospital, as the cheapest plan of effecting the object." Were you aware of that? — No, I have no recollection of it; but I think when the question of a hos- pital ship was discussed, I then suggested the enlargement of the hospital accommodation by the conversion into hospital wards of certain rooms appropriated to other purposes, which would have increased the accommodation con- sider ably - 3537. This, I think, is a letter which would have been referred to you from General Guy, dated the 18th of September 1865 ; this also is addressed to the War Office ; it says, " My Lord, I have the honour to report that I have found it necessary to direct that additional hospital ac- commodation should be taken up for the use of the garrison at Hong Kong, and that two houses tendered by Mr. Alexander, at the monthly rental of 500 dollars for both, have been engaged as a temporary hospital, and that I have autho- rised the expenditure of about 20 l. for kitchen arrangements " ? — No, but those are two things which, I think, the Secretary of State for War would not consider it necessary to refer to me, because they did not require a medical opinion ; it was simply temporary accommodation which was wanted, and that would be a thing that it would probably not be considered necessary to refer to me ; the War Office would deal with it them- selves, it being a mere matter of providing acconamodation in the best way, according to the recommendation of the authorities in China. The senior medical officer at Hong Kong, however, sent me a copy of the Medical Board on these houses; and their occupation by sick was mentioned in the ensuing Sanitary Report. 3538. A report was made to you, I think, that the general hospital at Hong Kong was filled to overflowing, and that the men were obliged to lie out in the verandahs? — Yes; I forwarded that report to the authorities. 3539. You mentioned that you suggested that ihe quarters occupied by the office;rs in the general hospital should be converted into wards ? —I did. 3540. Upon examination, it appeared that the officers' quarters were not occupied by combatant officers ? — No. 3541. They were occupied by officers of your own department? — Yes; quite so. 3542. There were, I think, in the east wing, 0.53. ; two officers' quarters, and in the other wing five ""[ officers' quarters? — I do not know the pre- '■ ^(^wsoii, cise number. I think they were medical officers i^-'-'^- and officers of the Purveyors' Department. g ^ 3543. Upon examination, it was stated that if -ggg all those quarters were given up, they would furnish berths for from 30 to 40 men ? — Yes ; and more than that, I think ; quite as many as that, at any rate. 3544. If the purveyor's store had been given up, and if every one of those rooms had been given up for wards, from 30 to 40 additional men would have been accommodated ? — Yes, and con- siderably more. They have provided 54 addi- tional beds, at 1,500 cubic feet each. 3545. But then there would not have been a single medical officer under that roof? — That is not necessary. It was proposed, however, to reserve a room for the orderly medical officer, who is the only medical officer who it was actually necessary should be in the building. It is not usual for the medical officers to live in the hos- pital ; for instance, in India, where the climate is severe, the medical officers do not live in the hospital ; they very often live at a long distance from it. I presume at Hong Kong, which is a closely built place, accommodation could have been obtained sufficiently near their barracks, and sufficiently near their hospital. Their re^ moval from their quarters in the hospital might perhaps be inconvenient to the medical officers ; they might prefer being in the hospital, but their residence there was not at all necessary. Pro- vision was made for an orderly medical officers' room, in which to provide for one medical officer being on duty always in the hospital. That was quite necessary. 3546. But it was necessary that there should be one room for stores, was not it ; you could not take the stores out in order to put men into the room ? — Yes, if the rooms were suitable for hos- pital wards. I think there was a Board held upon the subject. It would be for the au- thorities in Hong Kong to decide whether they were suitable for the accommodation of sick or not. 3547. With regard to the number of medical officers out there, it appears that during the most sickly time, which was in the month of Septem- ber 1865, Dr. Saunders writes to your depart- ment. On the 10th of September 1865, he sends a return to you of the distribution of the medical officers serving in China. It appears by that return that Dr. Saunders was at Victoria in charge of the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Regiment, and was also performing the duties of Principal Medical Officer ; and that Dr. Black, the surgeon of the 11th, was incompetent to perform any duty, being ill ; that Dr. Smith, of the Royal Artillery, was at Victoria, in charge of the Royal Artillery, the Engineers, and staff corps, and the sick of the 2nd Battalion of the 11th Regiment in quarters : that Dr. Piper, who was the assistant surgeon of the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Regiment, was in charge of the whole of the 11th Regiment; that Dr. Stock was at the other side of the island at Stanley ; that Dr. Adams, staff assistant surgeon, was sick at Victoria ; that Dr. Curtis was on his passage to Japan ; and that Dr. Clapp was at the Taku Forts. The consequence was that at the time of this great sickness there were only Dr. Saunders, Dr. Smith, and Dr. Piper fit for duty in Hong Kong ?^— The establishment of medical officers for. China for that year consisted of u 4 a deputy 160 MINTTTES or EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Sir a deputy inspector of hospitals, a staff surgeon, /. B. Gibson, four staff assistant surgeons, two regimental sur- K.c.B, geons, five regimental assistant surgeons, ?nde- ZT~ pendently of one regimental surgeon, and two ^ Rfifi"^ regimental assistant surgeons at Japan, amounting altogether to 13 medical officers in China, and three in Japan ; an immense staff for so few troops ; but unfortunately Dr. Dick, the Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals on the China station, went to Japan in June; and Mr. Woolferys, the staff surgeon, had been already sent to Japan early in the year, and was then there ; and the assistant staff surgeon. Dr. Curtis, whom you have referred to, was also at Japan, accompanying detachments of troops.' One assistant surgeon of the 11th Regiment liad been supernumerary in the 99th Kegiment, and it was necessary to remove him from the 99th Regiment ; and not having served his period in China, he was gazetted to the 2nd Battalion of the 11th Regi- ment, but previous to the arrival of the 2nd Bat- talion of the 11th Regiment, he had proceeded on to the Cape with the 99th Regiment. He ought to have returned, and it was presumed and be- lieved that he would return from the Cape to China immediately ; but he got a Medical Board at the Cape, and instead of going to China, he came to England on the recommendation of the Medical Board. Then one or two of the staff assistant surgeons had been sent away with in- valids. Besides that, one assistant surgeon was at the Taku Forts ; he joined in September, and the assistant surgeon of the 11th Reriment died. I think if the proper medical staff of Hong Kong had been in Hong Kong, or even if Dr. Dick and Dr. Woolferys and the assistant staff surgeon who went to Japan had been there, the medical officers would have been quite sufficient to have met all the requirements of the service. 3548. Sir Harry Verney.'] "What was the reason why Dr. Dick went to Japan? — He gave me two reasons for it, when I called upon him for an explanation ; one was that he had not been well ; he had been suffering from irritability of the bowels, and was out of health, and he thought a change was advisable and necessary ; his second reason was to make his annual inspection of the 2nd Battalion of the 20th Regiment, and the troops at Yokohama. 3549., Chairman.] Even if all those medical officers had been present, it was necessary to have had a surgeon at Stanley, in Japan, and at the Taku Forts, was it not ? — No staff surgeon was necessary in Japan; there were a regimental surgeon and two regimental assistant surgeons in Japan, and they were amply sufficient for the health of the station. 3550. A general officer, especially the first time he goes to see his command, is always ac- companied by the principal medical officer on the station, is not he ? — No ; not always. 3551. But generally? — No; very rarely indeed. It is quite unusual and exceptional. 3552. Here is another letter from General Guy, dated " Head Quarters, Hong Kong, 14th No- vember 1865. — Sir, I have the honour to re- quest you will bring to the notice of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, the insufficient number of medical officers in this command, there being at present vacancies for three regimental and four staff officers." Suppose any one of those three officers. Dr. Saunders, Dr. Smith, or Dr. Piper, had been taken ill, what would have been the condition of things ? — I think General Guy should, pre- viously to writing that letter, have sent Dr. Dick and Dr. Woolferys back again, and sent the staff assistant surgeon back also to Hong Kong, and one or perhaps both of the assistant surgeons of the 20th Regiment besides. I think when it became known at Yokohama that that sickness existed at Hong Kong, all the medical staff be- longing to Hong Kong who were there should have been sent back immediately, and as many spare medical officers as were available from the troops there also ; that would be the usual course, because it is necessary not to maintain a very great excess of staff; and when sickness to an unprecedented extent breaks out at a station, it is usual for the general officer and the principal medical officer to apply to the nearest military station for aid and assistance, as was done in the case of Bermuda, from which station assist- ance was sent for to North America during the prevalence pf yellow fever in 1864. They might have sent to Ceylon, or they might have sent to New Zealand or to Australia, and they would have had in a very short time a large staff. When I received the information of these gentlemen having become inefficient, that is the surgeon of the 11th having been sent home by a Medical Board, and one of the assistant surgeons having died, and two or three assistant staff sur- geons having been sent home with invalids, I took steps to send some officers overland to replace them. Of course, as regards the sending home invalids, that would always occur, but there would not, under ordinary circumstances, be three medical officers sent away at once. We rarely have so large a number of invalids on one occasion as would fill more than one ship ; and on hearing from the principal medical officer at Hong Kong, by the overland mail, that an assistant surgeon had been sent off with the invalids, I sent out one, as I should always do, under similar circumstances, to replace him immediately, so that he in fact would arrive in China before the invalids would arrive in England, and the medical officer with them. 3553. In consequence of what took place last year in Hong Kong, have you increased the number of medical officers there? — No, not at all ; I filled up the vacancies ; there is no in- crease in the staff, it is, I consider, quite ample ; it is a very large staff; if they had been all there, even if the healthy officers only had been there, and those three who were in Japan, there would have been quite enough to have met the sickness. 3554. We asked one of the witnesses a ques- tion as to whether the civilian medical gentlemen were employed to assist the military, and the answer was, " No ;" and, he added, that, in fact, it was an impossibility ; they were occupied with the civilians themselves, and there were no means of getting any medical assistance ?— No, and it was not necessary ; Hong Kong is an important naval station, and there is, I believe, a consider- able staff of medical officers there. The principal medical officer of the navy kindly sent -three assistant surgeons, and those three assistant sur- geons were ample, although so many of ours were sick and absent, to meet the requirements of the troops, and therefore if the three medical officers had been sent back from Japan, there would have been sufficient medical staff at Hong Kong without the naval medical officers. 3555. With regard to the invaliding, it has been mentioned SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOO'PS (cHINA). 161 mentioned by the witnesses here, that there should be two or three invalidings in the course of the year ? — Yes, I think, practically, there are two. 3556. Permission was given by the Secretary of State for War for four invalids, I think, monthly to be sent overland ? — Yes, if necessary, but it was not necessary to send four invalids monthly ; there were not four sent every month, but they were occasionally sent, and it was very unsatisfactory and not advantageous to the men themselves ; they were sent alone, and they were notwelltakencareof on the transit through Egypt, and they were under great difficulties ; I think great injury occurred in consequence to their health ; it was therefore discontinued, as there was no prac- tical means of meeting that difficulty ; authority and instructions were however sent out to China by the War Office to send home on every oppor- tunity that offered, by every ship leaving Hong Kong for England in which there was a surgeon, any and every sick man whom it might be advisable to send away from the place ; in ad- dition to that, instructions have been sent to Hong Kong to send to Japan, by every avail- able opportunity, either public or private, every sick man who would be benefited by the change, and also invalids for whom there is not imme- diate transit to England, so that they may be in a better climate. 3557. Colonel Percy Herbert.'] What is the date of those communications that yoii are speak- ; ing of? — The first instructions, that is, those which were sent to China to send home invalids by every available ship in which there was a surgeon, were sent at the time that we discon- tinued bringing them overland. 3558. Cannot you mention the date ? — I really cannot ; I think it must have been in April or May last. 3559. 1866? — Yes; the spring of the present year; that was done on the discontinuance of the authority to send men overland. 3560. Chairman.'] In this letter from Dr. Dick to you, dated 30th November 1865, speaking of Yokohama as a place for invalids, he says : " It seems to me that it would be neither safe nor ex- pedient to expose men suffering from organic disease to the low temperature obtaining^ there during the months of December, January, Feb- ruary, and March ; most of the men I propose to invalid do so suffer, and the cases of few of them would admit of so long a delay as would be requisite to enable us to send them there with safety." It appears that the sanatorium was a failure there ? — It had not been tried then ; it is only being tried now. I think the first men who went there went about that time. It is under trial now. I think Dr. Dick reasoned from analogy that that would be the case, judging from what he knew of the men of the 2nd Battalion of the 20th Regiment, then at Yokohama. But surely the climate of Yokohama is not nearly so severe as that of England, or as the climate which those men would get into soon after leaving China; on the contrary, it is much milder than England. 3561. Dr. Dick says: "Adverting to para- graph 3 of my letter to you, dated Head Quar- ters, Yokohama, the 20th September last, in which I stated that I had turned my attention to the possibility of providing a temporary sana- torium for the reception of invalids from Hong Kong at that station, I have the honour to en- 6.53, close a set of meteorological observations for the gjr years 1863-64, for which I am indebted to Dr. J. B. Gibson, Hepburn, of the American Legation" ; and then e.c.b. he adds the passage which I have already read. The trial is still going on, is it not ? — Yes ; in ' 8 June fact the accommodation is not very good. If i866, there was proper accommodation at Yokohama, it would be an admirable place ; you could have nothing better. I would hardly ever bring an invalid to England except to discharge him. The climate of Japan is a very healthy climate ; but as yet there are no stone buildings there; no buildings in which men very much advanced in disease should be accommodated. 3562. Have you received from your medical officer at Yokohama, any accounts of the bar- racks or hospital there ? — Yes, I have ; they are very light temporary structures like those run up by the Chinese for a temporary purpose ; I anticipate the best results to the health of the troops in China from being able to send them to Yohohama ; I hope that by-and-bye we shall get better buildings there. 3563. Sir Harry Verney.] I understand you to state, that Dr. Dick ought to have gone back himself, or that he ought to have sent some of the medical officers from Yokohama to Hong Kong when the sickness broke out? — That was my feeling ; I thought that the moment he heard of the sickness at Hong Kong he should imme- diately have proceeded, by the very first oppor- tunity, to Hong Kong himself, taking with him Dr. Woolferys and at least one assistant surgeon of the 20th Regiment. 3564. General Dunne.] At this moment is there sufficient hospital accommodation at Hong Kong and Kowloon for two regiments of Euro- pean troops ? — There is at this moment, I should think, a great deal more than is wanted ; the sickness has decreased very much. 3565. There is quite as much as satisfies you ? ^I think there is more than is required; I should think the permanent hospital would accommodate all the sick at present, without any hired build- ings at all ; I think, in fact, still further, that but for this unusual and unexpected sickness, there would have been sufficient hospital accom- modation in the permanent hospital with the alterations that were suggested. 3566. Chairman.] You do not know whether Colonel Lovell's proposition was carried out ? — No. 3567. Major O^Reilly.] Of course, you have well considered, and are very competent to form an opinion as to the amount of barrack accommo- dation required for the men in such a climate as Hong Kong ; what do you consider is the least amount of cubic space which ought to be allotted, with a due regard to health, to each European soldier ? — Practically, I think the quantity they have had during the last four or five years has- been about 700 feet, and they have been healthy for such a climate ; of course the more they can- get the better. With regard to tropical countries, 1,000 cubic feet per man is the amount that is to be given, and it is very desirable ; I consider that it is most advisable that they should have it. 3568. Are you, as the head of the medical de- partment of the army, practically satisfied with the barrack accommodation, and with the results of the barrack accommodation for the last four or five years in Hong Kong ? — No, I think it is- .advisable that they should have 1,000 cubic feet X per 162 MINUTES OF EVIDEIifCE TAKEK BEFORE THE gjr per man, and probably the results would have J. B. Gibson, been better, if they had ; I am an adyocate for K.c B. plenty of cubic space always. 3569. But you are of opinion that the European 18 June troops in Ho»g Kong, during the last four or 1866. five years, have been very healthy ?^ With the exception of last year, they have been much more healthy than they ever were before ; I considered that they were healthy by comparison. 3570. Is the condition of the barracks in each or every station referred to your department, in order to give an opinion as to the suitableness of it for troops, before troT)ps are sent out? — I do not think it is always so ; for instance, when the 2nd Battalion of the 11th and the 9th Eegiments were sent out, I was not asked whether there was BuflScient aecommodatioa or not ; on the con- trary I forwarded the correspondence showing that it was not sufficient. 3571. In a case in which the medical officers on any station report to you, that the barrack accommodation of that station is inadequate or liable to produce aggravated disease amongst the, troops, what steps would it be your duty to take to bring those reports under the consideration of the authorities at the Horse Guards ? — It would be my duty to forward that report to the Quarter- master General, for the information of his Koyal Highness the Commander in Chief, with such observations as I might feel it required. If the niatter was of minor importance, and if the authorities on the spot were dealing with it and adjusting it, and remedying the defects, then of course, until I had satisfied myself that they had failed to do so, I should not forward the report. 3572. Did any reports come to you, as to the unhealthiness for the European troops, of the hut accommodation at Kowloon? — The general un- heallihiness of the troops at Kowloon was reported to me. 3573. Was the influemce upon that unhealthi- ness of the barrack accommodation brought be- fore you ? — Together with the cuttings and the want of drainage, and the general condition of the place. 3574. Did you feel it necessary in any way to call the attention of the Horse Guards authorities to it ? — Yes ; I transmitted the reports to the Horse Guards. 3575. With any observations of your own ? — Yes, concurring with them. 3576. Can you tell the Committee at all what was the earliest date at which you drew attention to the slate of Kowloon, in round terms ? — The unhealthiness of the troops was not fixed entirely upon the huts ; it was a general thing. 3577. About what year was it? — 1864. 3578. Not before 1864?— Since 1861 there has been frequent correspondence about Kowloon. 3579. Major General Lord Henry Percy.^ Is not it usual for the heads of departments to ac- company a general on a tour of inspection on his first assuming the command, unless under very urgent circumstance ? — No, I think it is not the general practice ; at least so far as the medical department is concerned. 3580. Plave you been the head of your depart- ment under a general officer in command at a station? — At Aldershot, I was, for some years. 3581. Not abroad?— No. 3582. Was not Dr. Dick performing his duty by going to make his inspection in Japan ? — Yes, he was. > 3583. Was not it natural that Dr. Dick, having to make an inspection in Japan, should take the opportunity of accompanying the General thither on his first inspection ; I think it was not natural under the circumstances. Under any other circumstances, perhaps, it would have been. 3584. What were the circumstances that rendered it not natural? — That two fresh regir ments had arrived in Hong Kong, and that there was inadequate accommodation for those regi- ments, and it was necessary to provide that accommodation, and that he himself was appre- hensive that bad results would follow. 3585. Chairman.'] There was no sickness at that time, I think? — There was no sickness at that time. 3586. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] Do you know whether Dr. Dick had an opportunity of returning from Japan immediately upon hear- ing of the sickness at Hong Kong? — No ; except that I think there is a monthly communication between Hong Kong and Japan, but I do not know. 3587. Do you know whether he was well enough to do so ? — I do not know. 3588.' Do you know how long a time elapsed between his hearing of the sickness at Hong Kong, and his returning thither? — I think the sickness commenced in July, and he returned in October. I cannot speak positively without referring. 3589. Marquis of Hartington.] Do you re- member any correspondence with your depart- ment about the issue of wine to mix with the quinine at Hong Kong ? — I do. 3590. You did not consider the issue of wine necessary ? — No, I did not ; it did not increase in any way the medicinal effiect' of the quinine. 3591. It has been stated by Mr. Snell, I think, that the men would not take the quinine unless it was issued with wine. I believe you suggested rum instead ? — I recommended the quinine to be given in the usual way, in solution or pill ; after- wards Dr. Home informed me that it was in con- templation to add a proportion of rum to each dose. 3592. Which, in your opinion, would have had the same effect as wine ? — Yes, quite, and I should think the men would prefer it; they usually prefer rum to wine. 3593. Do you remember any correspondence about a medicine called chlorodyne ? — Yes, I do. 3594. Have you any reason to think that it was necessary to issue that medicine at Hong Kong?— No, I think not. It is one of those patent secret medicines, which are not recognised by the authorities ; it is not in the British phar- macopoeia. 3595. Some medical officers think it a very valuable medicine, do they not ? — Some do ; it is a preparation of chloroform, i believe, and morphia ; it is supposed to be so, ai least. 3596. There is a great difference of opinion amongst the profession with regard to its use or its value ?— I believe it is a popular remedy. 3597. Colonel Percy Herbert.] When you say that it is not recognised by the authorities, what do you mean ? — I mean that it is not included in the British pharmacopoeia. 3598. Chairman.] Wehave it in evidence that the medical officers in China were ordered to compound SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS (CHINA). 163 compound this medioineto, the best of their ahility ; but it being a patent medicine, they did not know "the proportions, and their attempts were not suc- cessful? — Dr. Aitkin, the Professor of Pathology in the Army Medical School, has given, in a work he has pubjashed, a prescription for the prepara- tion of a medicine which has similar eflPects, and that prescription is used at the Invaliding Hospital at Netley and at other places, and is believed to have similar properties, in fact, to chlorodyne. 3599. We have very strong evidence upon the use of this chlorodyne, both in China and in India? -^It is not recognised ; and the form of medicine I have mentioned, is supposed to answer every purpose. 3600. Major O'Reilly.] Is not it the case that what are called patent medicines, especially any medicines which are secret, though they may be popular with a considerable number of medical men, are not taken into use by any of the great public Departments, by the army and navy ? — Not usually ; in fact I do not supply the medical officers with them, except perhaps in a special case on a special representation or some individual thing. As a rule, I consider myself justified in giving only what is in the national pharmacopoeia. Sir J.B.Gibson, K.C.B. iS June i866. Major Genera,! "William Gustavus Brown, further Examined. 3601. Colonel Percy Herbert.] With regard to your former evidence, what was the first know- ledge that you had of its being intended by the Home Government to withdraw the Indian troops from the China command ? — I may say this, that what led me to, suspect and anticipate that it was in contemplation, though I had no positive knowledge, was a letter, which I beg to be allowed to. produce ; it was addoFessed by Deputy Commissary General Maturin to Sir E,utherfo?d Alcock. 3602. How did it come into your possession ? — It came into my possession when, after a council of war, of which I was a member, at which it was determined- to remove the marines from Yoko- hama, upon my guaranteeing the safety of Jaetween the flooring and the soil? — Yes; there were ventilators; /there were holes cut through the walls to let a current of air pass through. 3793. Did Colonel Moody order the cuttings to be .stopped at Kowloon when the troops went over ? — They had only just commenced the cut- tings for a dockyard coal store when I was there. There were no orders to stop it. 3794. You were not there when the 99th Eegiment went there, were you? — Yes, when they arrived out. 3795. Do you know a room in the North Bar- racks over the Garrison Institute ? — Yes, ,3796. Would it accommodate men? — Cer- tainly ; it was always occupied when I was Acting Barrackmaster, 3797. What number would it accommodate ? — I do not recollect the exact number ; the whole building accommodates 416 men. 3798. And it was used?— Yes. 3799. The "Princess Charlotte" belongs tt) the Navy ; she was flagship, was. she not?— She was sent out for military purposes. 3800. She wa.s the flagship, was she not ?— She was guardship, 3801. She was sent out as a military hospital? — As a sort of floating barrack. I was told to take charge of her ; but the Navy would not give her up ; the Admiral kept her. 3802. The Admiral was Sir George King, was he not?— Admiral Seymour: he kept her for naval purposes. 3803. Therefore she was not availahle for military purposes ?— Yes ; whenever I asked for space I always got it. I have had troops on board. ^ 3804. Were SELECT" COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TE'OOVs (CHINA). 171 3804. Were all the sums of money expended during your time for hiring barracks, and so forth, allowed at home ? — All. 3805. It was very expensive, you say?— Frightfully expensive ; the sums were very large. 3806. Chairman.] When you spolie of acoom-- modation for troops on board the " Princess Charlotte," did you refer to 1862, or to last year? — I am speaking of my own time; but I suppose they could have it now, because there ought to be more accommodation to spare on board, for the fleet is not so strong now as it was then. 3807. Majox G-eneral Lord Henry Percy.] Can you state the numbers that were put upon hoard the " Princess Charlotte " ? — If you mean to ask how many men could be put uponrthe two decks, I should say 600 very easily-; she is a 120 gun ship, and she can take from 1,000 ta 1,200 saUora and marines. 3808. Were any troops quartered at Kowloon in tents during the time you were there ? — Yes. 3809. During what season, do you recollect ? — Whatever season the expedition was there ; up to May, I think it was, or perhaps June. 3810., Did they suffer from bad health- then ? — -No, there were very few-cases'-; the troops were very healthy indeed when the Northern Expe- dition was there ; there was no levelling soil then. 3811. But they were on the point of starting for the expedition, were they not ? — Yes ; they were there two or three months ; I do not recol- lect how long, but we had troops in tents at Stanley, &c., for some time ; this was before the expedition for the north came on. 3812. Chairman.] Were you there with the 59th?— Yes. 3813. They were very unhealthy, were they not? — They were unhealthy. 3814. Very unhealthy, weue they not ? — At times. 3815. Especially the last.year they were there ? — They were unhealthy ; not more so than the Royals, I think. 3816. But when they embarked they embarked 168 sick, besides, leaving some behind them, and that I think out of a strength of about 600 men ? —I do not remember their number, but they were certainly not in my opinion so sickly as the merchants were; as stated before, 1858 was perhaps the most unhealthy seasoh ever known in Hong Kong. A glance at the grave-yards will show this ; it can clearly be seen by the tomb-stones there. J. C. Eoiuland, Esq. li) June i866. ass; T2 172 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFOEE THE Thursday, ^th July 1866. MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Adderley. Lord Fred. Cavendish. General Dunne. Lord John Hay. Colonel North. Major O'Reilly. Major General Lord Henry Percy. Mr. Stanley. Mr. Trevelyan. Sir Harry Verney. COLONEL NORTH, in the Chair. Sir James Brown Gibson, k. c. b., called in; and further Examined. Sir 3817. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] To J. B, Gibson, whom, in your opinion, should a general officer in K.c.B. command at a station apply for information ~ relative to the sanitary requirements of his 5 July 1 866. command ? — To the principal medical officer, or the senior medical officer. 3818. If there is a principal medical officer, the general would apply to him ? — If he is with him ; if not, he would apply to the senior medical officer on the station. 3819. Then I will whom, in your opinion, command at a station lative to the sanitary mand ?— 3820. repeat my question. To should a general officer in apply for information re- requirements of his com- -To the senior medical officer. If the principal medical officer is not with the general, the general must apply to a junior for information, must he not? — To the next senior officer. 3821. If there is a deputy inspector general of hospitals at a station, is not that the officer in charge of the medical departinent to whom the general should apply ? — If the general is present with him. 3822. Do you think it is desirable that ajunior medical officer should be in the position of being consulted by the general officer with regard to the sanitary requirements of the command?— It depends entirely upon what the circumstances of the case may be. 3823. You stated, in answer to Question 3583, that it was not natural for Dr. Dick to accom- pany the general on his first tour of inspection to Japan, under the circmnstances. Would not the general, if there had been any sanitary arrange- ments to effect in Japan, have required the advice of the principal medical officer in the command ? — The fact is, that it is quite unusual for a deputy inspector of hospitals, or a principal medical officer, to accompany a general on his tour of inspection, either at home or abroad. The proper place for a principal medical officer is the head quarters of his station. Of course if the general goes away, he must either have the opinion of the senior medical officer of the part of his command to which he goes ; or else he must communicate by writing with the principal medical officer. 3824. Chairman.] Is not the head quarters always where the general is ? — At all events the principal medical officer does not usually, in fact hardly ever, except in India, accompany the general officer on those occasions ; he remains at the station. 3825. Major General Lord Henry Percy.] When you say he remains at the station, the question I asked you was : would not the general, if there had been any sanitary arrangements to effect in Japan, have required the advice of the, principal medical officer in the command. Dr?- Dick would have had the sole sanitary command oyer the China station, would he not ? — Do you mean any sanitary requirements at Japan or Hong Kong. 3826. At Japan or Hong Kong ; had he nothing to do with Japan ? — Of course if the general could not be sufficiently advised by the senior medical officer at Japan, then it would be advis- able that he should communicate with the deputy inspector of hospitals, or the principal medical officer at Hong Kong ; but I do not think the interests and objects of the service in that parti- cular case were expedited by the deputy inspector of hospitals being with the general at Japan, because it delayed action. 3827. Was not it a question of establishing a sanatorium at Japan ? — No. 3828. Chairman.] We have evidence that it was considered that the climate of Japan did not ' suit those particular cases, and it would be dangerous to remove them ? — That was a subse- quent correspoadence ; there is nothing relative to a sanatorium that I have ever heard or seen, assigned as the reason for the general and Dr, Dick going to Japan. 3829. He did not go by your orders to choose a site for a sanatorium ? — Not at all. 3830. Major Anson.] In 1860, when the army was there during the last war, the prhicipal medi- cal officer invariably accompanied Sir Hope Grant wherever he went ? — Yes, that is on field service.- 3831. He went to the various places that might be occupied by English troops, and wherever Sir Hope Grant went, either the principal medical officer or the principal sanitary officer invariably • accompanied him ? — It was the duty of the sani- tary officer. Dr. Rutherford ; but Dr. Muir, who was the senior medical officer, accompanied the army. 3832. In SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TKOOPS (CHINA). 173 3832. In a case where you have not a separa- tion of the two. Sir Hope Grant would have taken the principal medical officer if he had not had a sanitary officer? — Yes, in the case of war. In • the case of an army in the field, the principal medical officer is always with the general officer ; at least with the head quarters of the army ; he is part of the head quarters staff, and there is a sanitary officer specially appointed to accompany armies in the field, whose duty it is to inspect the sites of camps, and to report upon other sanitary matters in addition to the senior medical officer. Of course the principal medical officer is the proper adviser of the general officer of the station. 3833. Chairman.'] Dr. Dick would, as principal medical officer, go to Japan for the purpose of his annual or half-yearly inspections, would he not ? — Yes, he would go for his annual inspections ; but under the then particular circumstances, I felt that he had much better have selected another time. The question of the sanatorium was not assigned as a reason at that time. 3834. Major Anson.] There was a regiment for him to inspect there, was there not ? — Yes, he was quite right in inspecting it ; it was his duty to make an annual inspection of the troops there. 3835. You stated,' in answer to Question 3584, " What were the circumstances that rendered it not natural for him to take that opportunity of making the inspection "? " That two fresh regi- ments had arrived in Hong Kong, and that there was inadequate accommodation for those regi- inents, and it was necessary to provide that accom- modation, and that he himself yyas apprehensive that bad resiilts would follow?" — Yes, I natu- rally, as Director General, felt that those circum- stances should have kept him at Hong Kong ; and that the service in Japan, that is to say, his inspection, was not so urgent as to require his going at that juncture. Of course, if his health absolutely required him to go away to Japan, and rendered it unsafe for him to remain at Hong Kong, I think a medical board should have re- ported upon the state of his health. 3836. He went there, not merely on account of his sickness, but on account of the duty he had to perform ; he had a regiment to inspect there ? — You must remember the circumstances which were stated, that is, that provision was required for two regiments, whicl i he stated was insufficient. 3837. That is at Hong Kong ?- -At Hong Kong. 3838. But according to your own evidence, there was no unusual sickness at Hong Kong at that time ? — Not at that time, except so far as regards the deteriorated state of health of the 99th Regiment. 3839. What difference is there between the hospital accommodation as it was" at that time, and what it is now ? — There has been an addition to the fixed, permanent hospital of 54 beds, that is to say, accommodation for 54 sick men, and two hired houses, the two private houses which have been referred to. 3840. That accommodation was provided by emptying some of the rooms in the hospital, was it uot ? — Yes ; 54 beds were obtained in that way ; they had, been used as officers' quarters; there were two wings that had been occupied in various ways. And in addition to that, that not being found sufficient, two private houses were hired. 3841. There are only 54 more beds now than there were then ? — There are those 54 beds, and Sir the two private houses which are still occupied. J. £. Gib$on, 3842. What is the total number of beds now k.c.b. altogether ? — At this moment I cannot remember , "j " the total number of beds, including the two ^ ^ ' houses; I can furnish the Committee with it; but the numbers of sick, by the last returns, were very small indeed ; I think they had fallen very milch. 3843. Lord John Hay.\ Kefierring to your reply to a question regarding the practice in India in reference to the principal medical officer accompanying the Commander in Chief on his tours of inspection, what is the practice in India at the present moment? — During the last two winters, when the Commander in Chief went to Calcutta, the Inspector General of Hospitals went there also, making inspections on his way down to Calcutta, but not with the Commander in Chief, and, in returning to Simla, when the hot weather set in, he also has returned, independ- ently of the general officer, making his inspections on his way back again ; during the last few years, in which Sir Hugh Rose was Comraauder in Chief, the Inspector General accompanied him in his tours of inspection during the winter ; in the other Presidencies, in the hot weather, when the Commanders in Chief of Bombay and Madras go to the hill stations, the deputy inspectors of those places usually go also. 3844. That is the practice at the present time ? — That is the practice at the present time ; in the West Indies, when the general officer com- manding makes a tour of inspection, it is not usual for the principal medical officer to accom- pany him, nor is it in Canada, nor is it in the Me- diterranean, nor is it in the Mauritius, nor is it anywhere that I know of as a rule. 3845. Except in India ? — ^^Yes ; under special circumstances, and for a special object, of course a general officer will take the principal medical officer, not otherwise. I may add, however, that Dr. Dick, in the letter referred to in my answer to Question 3548, 'stated that he " always under- stood that the proper station of the principal medical officer is the head quarters of the com- mand, wherever it may be," meaning, I presume, the place where the general happened to be at the time. 3846. Major O'Heilbj.] With regard to your answer to Question No. 3569, is there any further explanation which you would wish to give ? — Yes ; the ratio of deaths in the white troojDS at Hong Kong from 1844 to 1857 inclusive, was 85"94 per thousand, and of daily .sick 106-96 per thousand, whilst from 1862 to 1864 inclusive, in the white troops there, and at Kow- loon, the deaths were only 26*79 per thousand, and the daily sick 75 "26 per thousand, the force from 1860 to 1861 having varied much, owing to the vf ar, a fair comparison of these, with the pre- ceding and subsequent years, cannot be made. 3847. When was Hong Kong first occupied by the British troops ? — I infer that it was about the year 1844. 3848. Then the first period which you have taken for comparison, embraces the first years of our occupation of Hong Kong, when the accom- modation would naturally be at the worst ? — Yes, if I am correct in assuming that 1844 was the time when we first occupied it. ' 3849. And the later period which you compare with it, is the few ^ast years, excluding one which would have rendered the comparison less favour- y3 able? 174 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKJIN BJJFOEE THE Sir able ?— But if I had included 1858., it would have J.B.Qib^mf made the comparison still more unfavourable, I ^•^■^ think. I excluded 1858 and 1865 as being two sickly years; if I had included them the com- 5 Jnly i86ff. .parison would have been still more unfavourable. 3850. Still the comparison, is between the sick- ness in troops in settled occupation of the place after we had spent many years in putting it. into a condition fit for occupation as compared, with the sickness in troops on the first occupation of a new and unprepared- station ; is not that the case ? — Of course the station was undergoing a process of improvement all that time ; I believe, anterior to 1844, there was an expedition; to China. 3851. Can you say what would be the compar rison as regards the health, of the troops stationed there from 1859 to. 1861 ; would the comparison be more or less favourable in the years you have left out? — If we could make up. the returns it would be equally favourable, but the troops passed backwards and' forwards in such a way to the aorth of China, and then the- invalids came down from the north of China to Hong Kong, that it is impossible to do it. 3852. Then the years in which you consider that the European troops in .Hong Kong were, by comparison, very healthy, are in 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865, are they not ? — No; they were not healthy in 1865. Did I not mention 1861 as the first year. 3853. JSTo ;. you said from 1862 to 1864, in- clusive ?^I did not include 1865, certainly. 3854. Then I may take your statement as re- lating to 1862, 1863, and 1864 ?— Yes ; I con- sider that the troops were healthy in comparison , in those years. 3855. Is not it the case that in 1862 the troops were admittedly very healthy ? — Yes. 3856. But is not it the case that in 1863 the 2nd battalion of the 20th, which during part' of that time were stationed at Kowloon, were re- markably unhealthy, and were in consequence sent to Japan ? — A portion of them. 3857. In that year did not the 2nd battalion of the. 20th form a large proportion of the garrison of Hong Kong'?— The greater part of the regi-. ment was at Kowloon, and became unhealthy there. There was anothen regiment at Hong Kong, and there were othes troops.. 3858., Is not it the case that in 1864, in tie early part of that year, before the 99th. were sent to Kowloon, the troops at Hong Kong were ' remarkably healthy ?— Yes ;, the 99th were healthy. 3859. Is not it the fact that if you take the ' term 1864 and, 1.865, the 99th at Kowloon were exceptionally unhealthy? — They were unhealthy. 3860. When did the 2iid. battalion of the 9th arrive in Chiaa? — 'On the 7th, of February 1865. 3861. The2nd-ll.th arrived, in the same year, did they not? — Yes, in June 1865. 3862. And ihose regiments were both excep- tionally unhealthy, I believe?— No, I do not be- lieve that, the 2ndT'9th was till after June. It depends upon. whether you take it by comparison or by the individual case. They were unhealthy, but they were not so unhealthy asthe 2d^llth. 3863. Then am I right in concluding that' your statement, that the Buiiopeao troops at Hong Kong during the last four or five, years have been healthy by comparison, is made out, to some ex- tent, at least, by leaving out the last year, and by facts referring to . only three years^ , namely, the years 1862, 1863, and 1«64„ inclusive ?— Yes ; I cannot give you accurate statistics for, 1860, 1861. I cannot give you the ratios,, but the troops may be considered to have been healthy during those years also. I did. not put them in, because, from the circumstances I have stated,,! could not make out the . ratio for them. In the statement to which you, have referred I was . speaking as to the mortality, and as to the. per-'- cgntage of sick, not as to, the physical condition of the men. 3864. Tien taking you to the very, circum- stances which this Committee has to inquire into, '" are you. of opinion that the following battalions were healthy by comparison : the 2nd-2.0th, when stationed, in 1863 at Hong Kong.; the 99th, from, September 1864 to February 1865 ; the 2nd-9th, and the 2nd-l 1th, from the time of their landing! at Hong Kong, in 1865?— No; those were ex- ceptionally unhealthy instances ; they were excep- tions to the general health of the troops. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINa). 175 Tuesday, 24th July 1866. MEMBER'S present: Mr, Adderley. Major Anson. Lord F. Cavendish. General Dunne. Lord John Hay. Marquis of Hartington. Colonel PeTcy Herbert. Colonel North. Major O'Reilly. Major General Lord Henry Percy. Mr. Stanley. Mr. Trevelyan. Sir Harry Verney. COLONEL NOETH, in the Chair. --Field Marshal His Eoyal Highness The DtJKB ol' Cambridge, attending by permission of the .House of Lords ; Examined. " 3865. CJio!iVman.3 We wish to ask your Eoyal "Higliness the question, whether yout Eoyal 'TSighness's opinioii upon the expediency of with- drawing the Indian native troops from the China command was asked for by the Secretary i^of State for War previous to the decision to with- draw them, or was your Eoyal Highness only informed of th'e decision after it was arrived at ? — I was informed of the intention of the Govern- ment in the ordinary way, as I was informed of th« intention of liie Government with respect to amy of the aTrangements that might be contem- plated for the ensuing .year, at the tim'e the Estimates were being framed. 3866. Was your Eoyal Highness's opinion asked upon the question whether it was desir- able to remove the native troops, or was your Eoyal Highness merely informed by the Secre- tary of State i(xt War that they were to be removed ?^It was mentioned in the course of -dis- cuBsing the various laiTangements foT the ensuing year. One of those arrangements was the with- drawal of those troops from China, and to that extent, of course, I was perfectly awaie what was the intention with regard to them. 3867. But your Eoyal Highness's opinion was not asked whether it was desirable that they should be withdrawn or not ? — My opinion was not asked ; I was nevef asked xv^^hether the native troops should be withdrawn or not, but I was informed of it, and was perfectly aware of the intention to withdraw them "before any action was taken. 3868. Bir Harrp Verney.] Did ybu give the same assent to the withdrawal of the Indian troops as to the other arrangements that wefe then contemplated ? — Certainly *, but I should like to explain, if I might be allowed to do so, ■that it was a question of policy, and that it \*^as the policy that had been adopted from the time when the Indian troops went there at first, that ae soon as it was possible to return to the state of 0.53. things which existed before any troops were sent, that is to say before the war broke out, that line of policy should be adopted ; if you look at the letters, you will see that stated, beginning from General Peel and continued by every Secretary of State who succeeded him doWii to the period when they were removed. 3869. 'Chairman.'] Was there any objection, on jonr Royal Highness's part, to the Indian troop remaining in Hong Hong, except on the grounds your Eoyal Highness just mentioned, of its being always the intention to withdraw them ? — I con- sidered that it was not my business to give an opinion about the policy which was laid down by successive Governments, and which I considered to have been the intention from the first moment when any additional Indian troops were sent to China. It was not a question of the employ- ment of native troops or European troops ; it was the policy to withdraw the Indian troops, because the employment of them entailed allowances which were never intended to be perrnanent. 3870. Marquis of Hartington.'] X understand your Eoyal Highness to say that the decision was not definitively taken by Lord De Grey before what he had proposed to do was made known to your Eoyal Highness ? — Just so. 3871. Then when your Royal Highness says that your opinion Was not asked, do 1 understand you to mean that the question was not put to you whether you tlicugl-.t that the duties of the station could be performed without the assistance of native troops or not ? — Exactly ; the question whether the duties could be performed without the assistance of native troops or not was never put to me ; but I was informed that, according to the policy which had been laid down, it was in^ tended that the native troops should return to India. 3872. Lord De Grey had not communicated his plans and his intentioEs f(3r the ensuing year to his colleagues before the conversation took Y 4 place Duke of Cambridge. 34. July i866. 176 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEPOKE THE Duke of place between liim and your Koyal Highness, Cambridge, had he? — No. 3873. Your Eoyal Highness has read the 24 July Question 2455, put to Lord De Grey, and his i866. answer, I think ? — Yes. 3874. Does your Eoyal Highness agree that that is a correct statement of what occurred between Lord De Grey and your Eoyal High- ness? — Certainly. 3875. If your Eoyal Highness had anticipated any particularly bad effects to the health of the troops in Hong Kong in consequence of this withdrawiil, would you not have felt it your duty to represent it to Lord De Grey before the orders were sent for the withdrawal of the troops ? — No ; because 1 considered that that was a line of policy which had been adopted, and that any- thing that might be arranged hereafter as to native troops was quite apart from, and had nothing to do with, the Indian native troops. 3876. But your Eoyal Highness did make no objection to the arrangement proposed by Lord De Grey ?— Certainly not ; upon the ground that it was carrying out the policy which had been adopted from the outset. 3877. Was your Eoyal Highness aware of Lord De Grey's proposal, and that it was his in- tention tliat the garrison of Hong Kong should in future consist of only one battalion ? — I un- derstood that that Was the intention. 3878. You did not dissent from that arrange- ment? — No; but I have no doubt that both Lord De Grey and myself had it in our view that probably native troops would be required there. 3879. Subsequently ? — Subsequently ; but not Indian troops. 3880. But in contemplating this , reduction of the garrison of Hong Kong, was there any cir- cumstance in your mind which led you to make no objection to the proposed arrangement; did you consider that there would be no objection to reverting to the state of things which existed at . Hong Kong before the war ? — The question was never discussed quite in that form. Tlie ques- tion was merely whether we could revert to a state of things in which the Indian allowances could be done away with, and until you got rid of everything that was Indian in the shape of troops you could not arrive at that point. I do not consider that at that time either the Secre- tary of State or- myself ever took into account the future permanent garrison of Hong Kong. 3881. But it appears to have been General Guy's opinion that even temporarily the garrison duties at Hong Kong could not be performed by one battalion? — Yes. 3882. That view of the case, I presume, did not occur to your Eoyal Highness when the arrangements were discussed, or you would have mentioned it to Lord De Grey ? — Yes ; but that of course was a local question, depending upon the amount of duties to be performed, the neces- sity for which of course the local authorities alone could know. 3883. The proposal of Lord De Grey to re- duce the garrison to one battalion was not objected to by your Eoyal Plighness. You had not any information in your possession on which to object ? ^-Certainly not. 3884. Sir Harry Vernei/.] I think I under- stand from your Eoyal Highness, that when you contemplated the withdrawal of the Indian troops you thought it possible that some other Asiatic troops might be employed at Hong Kong ? — Yes. 3885. But that you thought it was well to withdraw the Indian troops ? — Exactly ; that was my imjoression. 3886. Major O'Reilly.] Am I right m under- standing from your Eoyal Highness, that from the year 1859 or 1860 downwards, 'you were aware of the intention of withdrawing the Indian troops as soon as it could be done ? — Exactly. I con- ceived that it was a fixed policy from the moment the - additional troops went there, that as soon as the circumstances would admit of it they should be withdrawn. 3887. And you concurred in that policy ?— I concurred in "it to the extent that I consider it the duty of the Commander in Chief to kssist, as far as he can, in carrying out the policy ( f the Government, but the policy was the policy of the Government. 3888. Is your Eoyal Higlmess aware whether in those years the question was ever discussed, as to whether it would be necessary to substitute other Asiatic troops for the troops upon the Indian establishment when they were removed ? — I do not think it ever came to that point, but it was in my mind, and I think it must have occurred to Lord De Grey or any other official who had to do with the matter. 3889. You did not make any suggestions on that point, of the necessity of employing Asiatic troops at Hong Kong? — Not at that moment, but I have subsequently ; I would add, that th§ very fact of my having done so subsequently bears out, I think, the opinion I have already expressed, that it was in our mind that native troops of some description would be required. 3890. Colonel Percy Herbert.l Your Eoyal Highness was asked a question about the amount of forces at Hong Kong that was required. I be- lieve the correspondence of general officers abroad does not pass through your Eoyal Highness's hands; it goes direct to the Secretary of State for War? — Yes, to the Secretary of State for War. 3891. Any want of barracks for the accommo- dation of troops would not necessarily come under your Eoyal Highness's cognizance ? — It would go direct to the Secretary of State for War. 3892. Am I right in believing that it has been urged upon the attention of the Secretary of State for War sometime back, that the same course should be pursued in respect of foreign stations as is pursued in respect of home stations, namely, that all the correspondence should pass through the- head-quarter staff, under the Com- mander in Chief's orders ? — It would have great advantages, there is no doubt. 3893. Has it ever been suggested and recom- mended to your Eoyal Highness's knowledge ? — I think it has, but I should not like to say, so positively. 3894. Was not the question raised by Sir Eichard Airey, as regards his Department, when he was Quartermaster General ? — It was. 3895. Your Eoyal Highness said that you were acquainted with the decision of the Govern- ment upon the question of the withdrawal of native troops; did I rightly understand your Eoyal Highness to mean that the policy of the Government having been decided and laid down, you did not fe,el yourself in a position to offer an opinion upon that policy?— I should not like .to say, SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOBTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA), 177 that I was not in a position to offer an opinion. , 3896. Was an opportunity given to you to offer an opinion ; were you called upon by any inquiry on the part of the Secretary of State to offer an opinion upon that policy ? — I conceive ■ that when the Government has laid down a policy, unless something very extraordinary .occurs, it is the dlity of the Commander in Chief to try to carry out the policy to the best of his .ajbility; and, therefore, when the policy has once been laid down, I conceive that under ordinary circumstances it is the duty of the Commander in Chief to carry it out ; but, of course, if any- thing very peculiar were to happen in connection with military transactions, where the Commander •in Chief thought he ought to express a decided -.opinion agajnst any policy which had been laid down, he could do so if he thought fit. 3897. In the present' case your lioyal High- ness_ was not cialled upon specially to offer an opinion? — I could have offered an opinion, but I did not do so ; the circumstances did not re- quire it. 3898. You were not asked?— No. 3899. Therefore you did not offer an opinion ? — No. 3900. General Dunne.'] In fact, your Eoyal Highness was not responsible for the policy ? — I do not consider myself responsible for the policy, of course ; it was the policy not of one Secretary of State, but of several. I have had the advantage of being connected with several Secretaries of State for War, and I understood, from the time of General Peel, Lord Herbert, Sir George Lewis, and Lord De Grey (of course it will be found in the letters), that that policy was always the policy which was intended to be pursued ultimately. 3901. Colonel Perct/ Herbert] Your Eoyal Highness mentioned the grounds upon which you had understood that policy to be founded, namely, the inconvenience of issuing Indian allowances to European troops ? — Exactly so. 3902. Was any other ground ever stated that you know of ? — No ; I know of no other ground than the inconvenience of additional expenditure incurred by mixing up Indian troops with Im- perial troops out of India, if that be not essen- tially necessary. 3903. Your Eoyal Highness never raised any military objection to the employment of the native Indian troops? — Certainly not; there is, mili- tarily, no objection to the employment of Indian troops ; the only objection is that it produces out of India a different state of things from what we are accustomed to, where troops are merely con- sidered as Imperial troops on Imperial pay. 3904. No military objection to them had ever been raised by officers in command in China ? — I have never raised any, and I am not aware of any ever having been raised. 3905. Sir Harry Verney.] Is it the fact that the Indian troops out of India are not under the control of the Commander in Chief? — They are not under the Commander in Chief at home ; but they are under the Commander in Chief on the spot, of course. 3906. They are not under your Eoyal High- ness ? — No ; but to that extent they would be, because the Commander in Chief on the spot would be under the Commander in Chief at home, more or .'0.53. 3907. General Dunne.] The reason for the withdrawal of the Indian troops was purely finan- cial? — I should have thought it was financial. 3908. Jjor A John Hay.] If your Eoyal High- ness had contemplated the probability of sickness ensuing among the troops at Hong Kong to the extent which took place in the year 1865, would your Eoyal Highness have felt it your duty to remonstrate with the Secretary of State for War as to withdrawing the native troops ? — I con- sidered the policy to be so fixed a policy that unless I could have put forward some grounds which certainly did not then exist, I should not have been justified, I think, in trying to contro- vert that policy. 3909. Marquess of Hartington.] Your Eoyal Highness understood when the troops went there from India, that it was intended that they should come back as soon as the war was over ? — Certainly. 3910. So that it was not necessary to look for reasons for bringing them back ; it was the inteit tion with which they were sent ? — I have always understood so, and it was the same on the former occasion ; indeed I may say on former occasions when troops were sent from India ; they always returned to India as soon as the demand for them was over. 3911. Therefore, it was not merely the policy of the Secretary of State who first proposed to bring them home, but it was the policy of the Secretary of State who sent them there, was not it ? — I should imagine so ; that is my impres- sion. 3912. Colonel Percy Herbert.] Your Eoyal Highness has probably expressed opinions before now upon the desirableness of employing other than European troops in tropical climates, such as the West Indies, and other hot climates ? — I have always held a very strong opinion upon that subject. I consider that in no hot climate should European troops ever be employed without native troops ; and at one time, when some idea of reducing the West Indian regiments was enter- tained, I, in the strongest manner, advised that the West Indian regiments should be continued to the extent that they exist now, in order to enable the European troops in the West Indies to con- tinue as healthy as they have been since the present arrangements have been made. 3913. Then I may presume that in the case of Hong Kong, if your Eoyal Highness had been fully consulted on the arrangements which were to take place, you would have proposed that the native Indian troops should not have been with- drawn without a substitute ? — I have no doubt that if I had been asked to propose a garrison for Hong Kong, such as I should have wished, I should have suggested an intermixture of native and European troops. 3914. Chairman.] Your Eoyal Highness, as long back as the 15th of December 1865, for- warded to the War Office a memorandum by Sir Hope Grant, who had been Commander in Chief in China, and you also expressed your strong opinion " that the force occupying Hong Kong should be two strong European regiments, or, if reduced to one, that there should be at least two native corps in addition to one European regiment." Then, again, a letter was written by the Assistant Military Secretary, Colonel John- son, on the 26th December 1865, in which your Eoyal Highness' also says that it is " almost im- Z possible Duke of Cambridge, 24 July 1866, 178 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE : — SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOBTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 186,6. Duke of possible for them (the European garrison) to Cambridge, perform certain duties without serious injury to -^ — their health," and suggesting whether it " might ^^J}\}y not be expedient and desirable to raise a local corps for special duty at Hong Kong." Then, I think, again, by General Forster, your Eoyal Highness, on the 1st of February, calls the atten- tion of the Secretary of State to the danger of European troops performing the duties there without the assistance of native troops. I merely mention this in confirmation of the opinion your Royal Highness has just expressed, that if you had been consulted, you would have given an opinion that Europeans should not have been without native troops ? — If I had been consulted upon the specific question as to whether a gar- rison like Hong Kong should be without native troops, or inot, I do not think there would have been a difference of opinion between myself and any Secretary of State upon the point, in arriving at the conclusion that native troops were essential ; but the fixed policy originally laid down was that upon which the Government and myself, as carry- ing out the orders of tlie Government, were acting at the moment. 3915. Major Anson.] Do you not consider that circumstances have materially changed in China since 1857 ? — I should think very considerably. 3916. More especially with regard to Ae greater number of ports that are open, and the establishment of settlements along the coast, and the unsettled state of affairs in China itself, which render it more likely that troops wiU be required to act at other places than Hong Kong ; at Shanghai, for instance ? — From all I have heard (I have no local experience) I have no doubt that the circumstances have considerably changed since the garrison was originally established there. 3917. MarqaeBB of Hartinffton.] I think your Eoyal Highness has stated that you made strong representations upon the subject of not reducing the West Indian regiments ?— I did. 3918. Were those representations attended to? — Certainly, they have been attended to. 3919. And acted upon ? — And acted upon. [ ir9 ] LIST OF APPENDIX. Appendix, No. 1. ' ; Page Copy of all Gorrespondencc which has taken place relative to the Sickness and Mortality in the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Regiment and 2nd Battalion of the 11th Regiment in China and Japan ..,....,.-...- 183 Appendix, No. 2. Returns received from the War Office, 19 April 1866 : Returns showing the Distribution of the Troops in the China Command on the 1st day of January in each Year from 1857 to 1866 ..-...-. 224 Appendix, No. 3. Return of the Mean Annual Strength, Total Annual Sickness, Mortality, and Invaliding of the Troops of each Arm, Officers and Men, at Hong Kong, from the Year 1850 to 1865, both inclusive: — And, of the Number of Deaths Annually on the Voyage to England of the Troops Invalided ' 232 Appendix, No. 4. Extracts from the Sanitary Report of the Principal Medical Officer in China, for the Year 1863 235 Extracts from the Sanitary Reports of Regiments serving at Hong Kong and Kowloon in the Year 1863 - 236 Extracts from the Sanitary Report of the Principal Medical Officer in China, for the Year 1864 253 Extracts from the Sanitary Reports of Regiments serving at Hong Kong and Kowloon in the Year 1864 255 Sanitary Report of the 99th Regiment serving at Hong Kong and Kowloon, under the Medical Charge of Surgeon William Snell, from 1 January 1864 to 31 December 1864, W. O. Form 517 266 Extract from the Sanitary Report of the 8th Battery 2nd Brigade Royal Artillery, serving at Hong Kong, for the Year 1865 288 General Report of the Principal Medical Officer in China, for the Year 1863 - - . 294 General Report of the Principal Medical Officer in China, for the Year 1 864 - . - 297 Annual Return of Sick and Wounded of 99th Regiment, from 1 January to 31 December 1864 - 308 Beport to accompany the Annual Return of Sick and Wounded of the 99th Regiment, for the Year 1864 313 Appendix, No. 5, Return showing the Accommodation for the Troops of all Arms at Hong Kong and Kowloon at the Time of the Arrival of the 2nd Battalion 9th Regiment, and 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment; specifying the Nature of the Accommodation and the Number of Cubic Feet allowed per Man -.----------- 332 Appendix, No. 6. Return of the Barracks in Hong Kong Barrack District, 1 January 1866 ... 333 Return of the Barracks in Hong Kong Barrack District, 1 April 1865 - . - - 334 Return of the Barracks in Hong Kong Barrack District, 1 October 1866 ... 336 Appendix, No. 7- Statements of Requirements proposed by.the Heads of Departments at Hong Kong, in 1863, to the Commanding Royal Engineer, for insertion in that Officer's Barrack Estimate in 1864-65 336 Statements of Requirements proposed by the Heads of Departments at Hong Kong, in 1864, to the Commanding Royal Engineer, for insertion in that Officer's Barrack Estimate in 1865-66 3*^ Statements of Requirements proposed by the Heads of Departments at Hong Kong, in 1865, to the Commanding Royal Engineer, for insertion in that Officer's Barrack Estimate for 1866-67 - ^*^ 0.53. A A I 180 ] Appendix^ No. 8. Extracts from Journals of Quartermaster General's Department in China ... 350 Appendix, No. 9. Papers received from the War Office, and laid before the Committee by the Clerk of the Committee : Return of all Sums Annually granted by Parliament on the Estimates for the Accommodation of European Troops at Hong Kong (stating the Nature and Object of such Building) during the Years from 1858 to 1866 - - - - 366 Statement of Sums paid for Hire of Godowns or other Temporary Buildiiigs at Hong Kong and Kowloon, between 1 April 1858 and 31 March 1861 - - 367" Statement of all Monies expended upon Fortifications, Military Storehouses and Buildings, and upon Barracks, at Hong Kong and Kowlooni from 1 April 1861 to 31 March 1865 - ... 368 Statement of Monies paid for Hire of Godowns or other Temporary Buildings at Hong Kong and Kowloon, between 1 April 1861 and 31 March 1865 - - 371 Statement of all Monies expended upon Fortifications, Military Storehouses and Buildings, and upon Barracks, at Hong Kong and Kowloon, from 1 April to 30 September 1866 .-.-------- 373 Statement of Monies paid for Godowns and other Temporary Buildings at Hong Kong and Kowloon, from 1 April to 30 September 1868 ----- 374 Statement of all Monies expended upon Fortifications, Military Storehouses and Buildings, and upon Barracks, at Hbng Kong and Kowloon, from 1 October to 31 December 1865 -.... 375 Statement of Monies paid for Godowns and other Temporary Buildings at Hong Kong and Kowloon, from 1 October to 31 December 1865 - . . - 375 Paper handed in by Captain Galton, 7 June 1866 : List of Buildings hired at Hong Kong, with the several Rents, acicording to latest Returns .-....-.-.... 377 Appendix, No. 10. Papers handed in by Mr. Henry S. Gore, 30 April 1866: Disembarkation Return of the 3nd Battalion, 19th Regiment of Foot, at Hong Kong, this 8th day of Fleisruary 1865, arrived from Gtibraltar -----_ 378 Distribution of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment of Foot, on iMs 8th day of February 1865 ,.--..,_ 37^ List of the Officers who have Disembarked .---... 379 Absent Officers .....__..... 375 Return of Arms, &c., and Pioneer's Appointments ---... 379 Return of Accoutremsnts, &o -------.-. 37^ Return of Clothing, &c. - - - - - - • - . . -380 Return of Ammunition Disembarked with the Regiment ----- 330 Families of Officers Disembarked -----..-. qqq Families of Non-commissioned Officers and Men Diiembarked . - . . 3^0 Disembarkation Return of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment of Foot, at Hong Kong (arrived from Gibraltar), this 7th day of February 1865 - - - . 380 Disembarkation Return of the 2nd Battalion, 1 1th Regiment of Infantry, at Hong Kong, this 31st day of May 1865, arrived from Cape of Good Hope - - - . agi Distribution of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Infantry, on this 31st day of May 1865 . - - 351 List of Officers who have Disembarked -------- ggj Absent Officers --------.-.. 332 Vacant Officers ------.-._ 382 Return of Arms, &e., and Pioneer's Appointments ------ 332 Return of A^coutriements, &c. -------_. •en Return of Clothing, &c. ------...._ ggo Return of Ammunition Disembarked with the Regiment - - - . . 333 Detail of Officers' and Soldiers' Families Disembarked ----- 333 Casualties since Embarkation ------._.. ggo Disembarkatian Return of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Infantry, at Hong Kong (arrived from Cape of Good Hope), this 31st day of May 1865 - - 383 [ ^81 3 Appendix, No. 11. Page Annual Return for the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment of Foot ; Station, Hong Kong, 1 January 1866 384 Annual Return for the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Foot; Station, Hong Kong, 1 January 1866 388 Annual Return for the 99th Regiment of Foot ; Station, Kowloon, China, 1 January 1865 • 392 Appendix, No. 12, Papers handed in by Colonel Egerton, 14 May 1866 : Monthly Return of the Service Companies of the 2nd Battalion, '9th Rfegimentof Foot; Head Quarters at Hong Kong, 1 January 1866 ------- 396 Monthly Return of the Service Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment of Foot; Head Quarters at Hong Kong, 1 February 1866 - - - - - - - 397 Monthly Return of the Service Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment of Foot ; Head Quarters at Hong Kong, 1 March 1866 ------- 398 Monthly Return of the Service Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Infantry j Head Quarters at Hong Koiig, China, 1 January 1866 - - - - 399 Monthly Return of the Service Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of In- fantry; Head Quarters at Hong Kong, China, 1 February 1866 - - - - 400 Monthly Return of the' Service Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of In- fantry ; Head Quarters at Hong Kong, China, 1 March 1868 - - - - 401 Appendix, No. 13. Nominal Return of Men of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, Invalided to England from China, from 1 January 1865 to 3 February 1866 402 Invalids notified as having left China on 15 January 1866, in the Ship " Agincourt," but have not yet arrived at Netley --.-•------ 404 Nominal Return of Men of the 2nd Battalion, llfh Regiment, Invalided to England from China, from 1 January 1866 to 3 February 1866 ..----. 405 Invailids notified as having left China on 15 January 1866, by the Ship "Agincourt," but have not yet arrived at Netley, 7 May 1866 -------- 407 Nominal Return of Men of the 99th Regiment la-^ilided to England from China, from 1 January 1863 to 7 November 1866 .-- 408 Return of Sick of the Troops proceeding from Hong Kong to Spithead, on board the Ship "Agincourt," from 13 January 1866 to 10 May 1866 ..-.-. m Appendix, No. 14. Extract from the "Hong Kong Government Gazette," 17 March 1866 - - - - 415 Appendix, No. 15. Papers handed in by General Sir Hope Grant, 14 May 1866: Hong Kong. — Correspondence relating to the Hospital Ship " Hercules " - • - 420 Kowloon. — Correspondence relating to the Erection of Barracks and Drainage of Paddy Fields - - - - 424 Further Papers handed in by General Sir Hope Grant - - - - - - -431 Letter from Major General W. G. Brown, Commanding Her Majesty's Troops in China, to the Secretary of State for War 433 Appendix, No. 16. Gari-ison Hospital, Hong Kong.— Return showing Ward Accommodatidn, and the Alterations made by the Board ------ .-..-- 434 0.53. [ ^82 ] Appendix, No. I/. Page Paper laid before the Committee by Mr. Cox : Colonial Official Reflations defining the Authority of the GoTernor in relation to Her Majesty's Troops .-., 436 Appendix, No. 18. Papers laid before the Committee by the Clerk of the Committee : Correspondence between the War Office and General Guy - - - - - -437 Letter from Major General Guy to the War Office, dated 12 February 1866, with Enclosures ---,--,..--,, 442 Appendix, No. 19. Copy of Letter, dated Treasury Chambers, 17 September 1862, signed by Mr. Peel, and addressed to Sir Edward Lugard, k.c.b., War Office, relative to the Garrison of Hong Kong ..,,-.,,, - 444 Appendix, No. 20. Correspondence between the Treasury and the War Office qn t^e subject of the Allowances of Officers servmg with the British Troops in China - , . . . , , 44^ [ 183 ] APPENDIX. Appendix, No. 1. COPY of all Correspondence which has taken place relative to the Sickness and Moetaiity in the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Regiment and 2nd Battalion of the 11th Regiment in China and Japan. LIST OF PAPERS. Number. Date. From To Subject. 3 1 Page. 1 - 12 Nov. 1864 Major General Guy - War Office Proposing a distribution of his force, viz., to concentrate the 67th at Hong Kong until the 9th arrives, and then to send it to the Cape ; a wing of the 20th being available from Yokohama to be distributed between Shanghae, Taku, and Japan ; there will then be no room left, and what must be done with the 1 1th on its arrival ? 186 2 " 1 Dec. „ Foreign Office - - - ditto Lord Russell thinks the land force should be withdrawn from Shanghae: but three battalions of European Tnfnntry should be retained between Hong Kong, China, and Japan. 186 3 3 ij », War Office Major General Guy - To withdraw troops from Shanghae and Taku, and to send the two Bombay regiments back to India ; to distribute the re- maining tioops at his discretion. 186 4 3 Jl ;) - ditto Military Secretary Troops to be withdrawn from Shanghae and Taku, and to send the two Bombay regiments back to India ; distribution of the remaining force left to General Guy. 186 5 - 7 i} s> Military Secietary Medical Department - Sending copy of No. 4 ..... 187 1 3 „ War Office Military Secretary Withdrawal of troops, &c. 187 6 - 6 Jan. 1865 ditto Major General Guy - To send G Battery, 14th Brigade, Royal Artillery, back to India. 187 7 - 10 „ ditto ditto Reply to No. 1 ; to make best arrangements possible for accommodating his troops; Infantry battalions to be re- duced to 800 rank and file, including depot, from Ist April 1865. 187 8 - 11 „ Medical Department - Military Secretary - Reply to No. 5 ; the reduction of force will allow of a StaBF Surgeon (Moore) being reduced. 188 9 - 23 „ Major General Guy War Office Sends Report of Medical Board on Kowloon ; sickness among the 99th Regiment quartered there. 188 1 26 Nov. 1864 Medical Board . Report on the Sanitary state of Kowloon - - 189 2 13 Jan. 1865 Dr. Kane - Medical opinion on Kowloon - ... 192 10 28 Jan. „ Major General Guy - War Office Reply to No. 3 ; has applied for transport to India for the two Bombay regiments; will send 99th Regiment and part of 67 th Regiment to the Cape by the " Tamar" on her arrival with the 9th Regiment; will keep remainder of 67th Regiment at Shanghae until the " Tamar" comes back from the Cape with the lUh Regiment. 193 — "^ 1 16 » Principal Medical Officerj Hong Kong. Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, Hong Kong. Reasons for not sending the 99th Regiment to Shanghae 194 U - 15 March „ SEjor General Guy - War Office - Reporting departure of Bombay regiments and intended re- moval of G. Battery, K. A. 194 12 - 28 „ War Office Major General Guy Reply to No. 10; the Marines are to be withdrawn from Japan; the 11th Regiment can therefore be sent there on arrival. 194 13 „ 6 April Quartei-master General War Office As to distribut'on, &c. of force in China ... 195 1 24 Jan. Major General Guy - Military Secretary - Sending Enclosures 1 and 2 of No. 9 - 195 * 2 31 Mareh „ Medical Department - ditto Forwarding letter from Deputy Inspector General Dick and eoucnrring therein. 195 -- 3 27 Jan. „ Deputy Inspector General Dick, Medical Department Protesting against a second European regiment being sent to Hong Kong. 195 14 - 8 April „ Major General Guy - War Office - Transmitting Principal Medical Officer's report on the effect of the climate of China on Europeans and Natives, 196 1 29 March „ Deputy Inspector General Dick. Assistant Military Secre- tary, Hong Kong. On relative sanitary condition of European and Indian troops 196 15 - 10 April „ War Office Major General Guy - Reply to No. 9; to remove to Japan troops not provided for at Hong Kpng. 197 16 11 ,, - ditto ... Quartermaster General Reply to No. 13 ; stating steps taken as regards the troops in China. 197 0,53. Bb 184 APPENDIX TO EEPORT FEOM THE Jsuniber. a Date. 11 May 1865 30 June „ 24 August „ 24 „ 10 Sept. „ 18 Sept. 31 Au§. 18 Sept. 19 Aug. 25 Sept. 26 Sept. 24 Aug. 31 „ 31 „ 27 Sept. 31 Oct. 31 „ 27 „ 4 Nov. 5 July 18 „ 28 „ 11 Aug. 12 „ 6 Nov. 19 Aug. 22 July 12 Aug. 3 „ 8 Nov. 11 14 14 20 „ 30 „ 6 Dec. 14 „ 15 „ 6 „ 14 Oct. 13 12 Dec. 15 „ From To ;:} 8 18 21 26 „ 3 Jan. 1866 14 Nov. 1865 4 Jan. 1866 23 Dec. 1865 27 Oct. „ Major General Gay War Office Major General Guy Commanding Royal Engi- neer, China. Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Major General Guy Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Major General Guy Officer Commanding 2nd Battalion, 11th Foot. Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong, ditto ditto Commandant, Hong Kong Major General Guy ditto Principal Medical Officer ditto Medical Department Senior Medical Officer,"! Hong Kong. / ditto Commandant, Hong Kong Medical Department Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong. ditto ditto Quartermaster General - Medical Departmeot ditto Major General Guy Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Medical Department ditto - - - Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. War Office . - . Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Military Secretary - Medical Department Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Medical Department Military Secretary - Sir J. Hope Grant - Senior Medical Officer, Cape Town. War Office - - ditto - Military Secretary - ditto - . - Major General Guy Military Secretary - Medical Department Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. War Office - Major General Guy War Office - - - Assistant Military Secre- tary, China. Medical Department War Office - Commandant, Hong Kong War Office Adjutant General Medical Department Commandant, Hong Kong ditto - . . Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong. War Office - - ditto Assistant Military Secre- tary, Hong Kong, ditto Quartermaster General - Commandant, Hong Kong ditto - . _ Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Quartermaster General Commandant, Hong Kong ditto ditto - - _ Principal Medical Depart- ment. Adjutant General Military Secretary - War Office Medical Department Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. ditto Medical Department Military Secretary - Medical Department War Office - Military Secretary - Medical Department Commandant, Hong Kong Military Secretary War Office - . - Medical Department Major General Guy Military Secretary War Office Medical Department Military Secretary - War Office - - . Quartermaster General - Assistant Military Secre- tary, Hong Kong. Subject. Reply to Ko. 12 ; can only spare 150 of the 11th Regiment for service in Japan. Reply to No. 14 ; cannot employ native troops Requesting immediate authority for additional hospital works Estimate for additional hospital accommodation Demanding two Assistant-Surgeons for 11th Foot, and four Staff Assistant Surgeons. Return of distribution of Medical Officers in China Has taken transport for 100 invalids to England - - - Protesting against any delay in removal of invalids Eas siuthoristd additional hospital accommodation being hired at Hong Kong. Report of a Board on the hiring of houses - Reporting his regiment deficient of one Surgeon and two Assistant Surgeons. Reporting dispatch of invalids home ; two Medical Officers will go home. Recommending that 100 invalids be sent home - Protesting against any delay in removal of invalids Has taken immediate transport _ . . Return of Troops removed from Hong Kong to Japan Great sickness at Hong Kong in the 11th Foot - Return of deaths in 9th and 11th Regiments Mortality in 11th Foot ; recommending its removal from the command. Sending correspondence as to additional hospital accommoda- tion at Hong Kong. Demanding additional hospital room for 60 patients As to dangerous overcrowding at Murray Barracks As to increased hospital accommodation Report of a Board on the overcrowding of the Garrison Hos- pital. As to sickness in Hong Kong Report of a Board on the hiring of houses - Men have only 4| nights in bed ; they should have six Men of the 11th Regiment have only one to three nights in bed ; the 9th Foot about three one-third. On the condition of the barracks, &c. - - - _ Reply to No. 28 as to lightening the guards at Hong Kong . Recommending Dr. Purefoy for 11th Regiment, vice M'ln- tyre, deceased. Requesting passage for Assistant-Surgeon G. R. O'Toole vice Adams, invalided. Recommendations for securing the health of the troops in China. Sickness still continues, but is on the decrease Reply to No. 20 as to completion of China Medical Esta- blishment. Why were the Deputy Inspector General and the Staff Surgeon both in Japan ? To explain his absence from Hong Kong at the sickly season It is necessary to invalid 100 men home The force in Hong Kong to be reduced by one battalion Slight diminution in sickness at Hong Kong On the unsatisfactory sanitary state of Hong Kong garrison - Regretting bad state of Hong Kong - . - As to invaliding and unhealthiness of Hong Kong As to the inortality, &c. - - As to the Medical Staff in the China command - Reply to No. 37 ; steps taken to carry out reduction ; 9th Regiment to go to Japan. Memorandum on necessities of Hong Kong garrison Reporting state of China invalids on reaching Simon's Bay - Calling for report as to the absence from Hong Kong of the principal Medical Officers. Reply to No. 40 ; approving steps for reducing Hong Kong garrison. 11th Regiment, instead of 9th, to go to Japan ; as to a local corps for service in Hong Kong. Forwarding letter ifrdm Major General Guy Reporting seven vacaiicies among Medical Officers Urging the necessity of native troops at Hong Kong - Forwarding Dr. Dick's suggestions as to sanitary measures - As to sanitary measures, native troops, &c. - - - Page. 198 198 198 199 199 199 2oC 200 200 201 201 202 202 202 202 202 208 204 204 205 205 206 206 206 207 207 207 '207 208 208 209 209 209 210 211 211 211 212 212 212 212 212 213 214 214 215 215 216 216 217 217 217 218 218 218 SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OP TKOOPS (CHINA). 185 Number. Date. From To Subject. 1 1 1 IPage. 47 5 Jan. 1866 Medical Department Military Secretary - Reply to No. 45 ; the vacancies have been filled up - - 220 48 — 5 „ War Office ditto Reply to No. 44 ; approving llth Regiment going to Japan :^20 49 _ 11 „ Military Secretary - War Office llthFoot to Bengal; 9th Foot to Japan . - - . 220 50 _ 16 )i 11 War Office Military Secretary Reply to No. 49 ; approving steps ----- 221 51 - 24 „ - ditto - ditto Reply to No. 46 j suggesting that a portion of the Ceylon Rifles might go to Hong Kong. 221 32 1 Feb. „ Military Secretary - War Office Proposing that European duty in Hong Kong shall be as limited as possible. Native troops there indispensable ; proposing that 1 1th Regiment should go to Cape; disap- proving Ceylon Regiment for service in China. 221 S3 - 2 „ War Office Military Secretary - Reply to No. 52 ; approving reduction of garrsion duty in Hong Kong, and the llth Foot going to the Cape. 222 54 - 5 II » Principal Medical Officer, Portsmouth. Medical Department Report on the hired transport " Gresham " . - - 222 55 " 10 „ Military Secretary - War Office - Urging immediate decision ; as to the Straits Settlement 223 — No. 1.— Major General Guy to the War OflSce. — (Received December 27.) Head Quarters, Hong Ko ng, My Lord, 12 November 1864. With reference to insti-uctions received from the Horse Guards relative to the rehef of the 67th and 99th Regiments by the 2nd Battalions of the 9th and llth Regiments, I have the honour to inform you that I purpose making the following arrangements for carrying out this service, and the distribution of the troops to remain in China. Her Majesty's ship " Adventure " has been placed at my disposal to concentrate the 67th Regiment at Hong Kong for embarkation. This regiment, strength as per margin,* may be expected here early next month, and will be accommodated in Murray and North Barracks. On the arrival of the 67th Regiment, I purpose forwarding to Shanghae, in "Adventure," head quarters of the 99th Regiment, 400 msn, with a proportion of ojSScers. These troops can be accommodated in the settlement at that station. Two officers and 61 men of this regiment are already on detachment at Taku. The remainder of the corps, 244 men, will be provided for at Kowloon. On the arrival, about February next, in Her Majesty's ship "Tamar," of the 2nd Bat- talion 9th Regiment, strength as per margin,f the 67th will be forwarded to the Cape, the 2nd Battalion 9th Regiment taking its place in Murray and North Barracks, 18 officers and 500 men being quartered in the former, 221 men in the latter; 18 officers and 117 men will remain to be provided for. The men, with a proportion of the officers, will be accommodated at Kowloon, but additional accommodation for at least 12 officers will be required at Hong Kong; and, as Murray Barracks is only constructed for two field officers, two rooms each, and 16 other officers, one room each, it will be absolutely necessary to hire a building for this purpose. I would beg to draw attention to this fact, and lo request the favour of your Lordship's instructions thereon. With reference to the annexed extract of a letter from Her Britannic Majesty's Minister in Japan to the officer commanding the troops in that country, from which it appears that a wing of the 2nd Battalion 20th Regiment can be spared from Yokohama within six months, I would beg to propose the following arrangement, viz., that this regiment be distributed between Yokohama, Shanghae, and Taku. There will then remain no available accommodation for troops in this command, except the barracks and huts at Hong Kong and Kowloon, which will be absolutely required for the 2nd Battalion 9th Regiment, their families, and those of the 8th Battery, 2nd Brigade Royal Artillery. I would, therefore, request your Lordship's instructions as to the disposal of the 2nd Battalion llth Regiment, which, by Horse Guard's letter of the 26th August last, it is proposed to send t& China, as, under existing circumstances, it will be impossible to provide for it in this country. I have, &c. (signed) P- M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Troops, China. [For reply, see No 7, p. 187.] 0.53. * 26 officers and 705 men. B B 2 f About 36 officers and 838 men. 186 APPENDIX TO BBPOET FROM THE * ■ Enclosure in No. 1. Extract of a Letter from Sir Rutherford Alcock, Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Japan, to Lieutenant Colonel Browne, Commanding Troops in Japan, dated Yokohama, 27 October 1864. " I WOULD, however, call your attention to the fact, that so far as I can foresee there is no possibiHty that the troops now here will be required to remain at furthest more than six months from this date. " I have indeed, at this moment, instructions from Lord Russell, received by last mail, to the eflFect, that wlien all danger of an attack on Yokohama has entirely ceased, the wing of the 20th Regiment, brought up from Hong Kong on my requisition, may be sent back." (True extract.) S. Gammell, Major, Hong Kong, 12 November 1864. Deputy Assistant Adjutant General. — No. 2. — The Foreign Office to the War Office. Sir, Foreign Office, 1 December 1864. I AM directed by Earl Russell to request that you will acquaint the Secretary of State for War that his Lordship is of opinion that the time is arrived when Her Majesty's land forces may properly be withdrawn from Shanghae; but that he is also of opinion that no less than three battalions of European infantry should for the present be allotted for service in Hong Kong, China, and Japan. I am, &c. (signed) E. Hammond. — No. 3. — The War Office to Major General Guy. Sir, War Office, 3 December 1864. 1 AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you that, looking to the circumstance of the capture of Nankin, and that Shanghae is no longer threatened by the Taepings, Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that the time has arrived when the troops may properly be withdrawn from Shanghae and Taku. This measure will enable a reduction to be made in the force serving under your com- mand. It has been decided, therefore, to dispense with the services of the two regiments of Indian troops, leaving, for the present, three battalions of European infantry and the existing force of Royal Artillery and Engineers to be allotted for service in Hong Kong, China, and Japan. 1 am accordingly to instruct you to lose no time in making the necessary arrangements for the withdrawal of the troops from Shanghae and Taku, and for sending back to India the two regiments of Bombay Native Infantry. The distribution of the troops which will remain at your disposal in the command between Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Japan, is left to your discretion, subject, of course, in the case of Japan, to your consulting Her Majesty's iViinister in that country on the subject. I am, &c. (signed) J. Crofton. [For reply, see No. 9, p. 188.] — No. 4. — The War Office to the Military Secretary. ®'J"> War Office, 3 December 1864. I AM directed by Earl de Grey and Ripon to acquaint you, for the information of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that Her Majesty's Government have come to the conclusion that — looking to the circumstance of the capture of Nankin and th at Shanghae is no longer threatened by the Taepings— the time has arrived when the troops may properly be withdrawn from Shanghae and Taku. This SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS (cHINA). 187 This measure will enable a reduction to be made in the China Conaaiand. It has there- App, N"o. 1-3 fore been decided to dispense with the services of tlie two regiments of Bombay Native —— Infantry, leaving, for the present, three battalions of European Infantry and the existing- force of Royal Artillery and Engineers to be allotted for service in Hong Kong, China, and Japan. Major General Guy has been informed of this decision ; but the Field Marshal Com- manding in Chief will doubtless furnish that officer with such instructions for giving effect to it as his Royal Highness may deem necessary. I have, &c. (signed) J. Crofton. P.S. — General Guy has been instructed that the distribution of the troops which will remain at his disposal in the Command between Hong Kong, Kowioon, and Japan, is left to his discretion, subject, of course, in the case of Japan, to his consulting Her Majesty's Minister in that country on the subject. J. a — No. 5. — The Military Secretary to the Director Genera], Army Medical Department. Sir, Horse Guards, 7 December i864. I AM directed by his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief to transmit, for your information and guidance, the accompanyintj copy of a letter fiom the War Office, stating- that Her Majesty's Government have decided that the force for service in China may be reduced by two regiments of Bombay Native Infantry, and that Major General Guy has been informed accordingly. I have, &c. (signed) W. F. Forster. [For reply, see No. 7, p. 187.] Enclosure 1, in No. 6. [See No. 4.J — No. 6. — The War Office to M-.ijor General Guy. ^}^> War Office, 6 January 1865. In General Crofton's letter* of the 3rd ultimo, you were informed that ii was proposed to » xr gg retain, for the present, the existing force of Royal Artillery serving under your command. ' ^» P' * * I am now to acquaint you that on further consideration Her Majesty's Government have come to the conclusion that the G Battery of the 14th Brigade, which belono-s to the Indian establishment, and is now divided between Shanghae and Japan, can be spared without inconvenience. Earl de Grey desires, therefore, that you will make the necessarv arranij-e- ments for sending this battery back to India. " " I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. [For reply, see No. 11, p. 194.J — No. 7. — The War Office to Major General Guy. T ^"^' I- . J v T-. , , ^ ^ ^^^ Office, 10 January 1865. J. AM directed by I^.arl de Grey and Ripon to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatchf t No. i,p. 185. dated the 12th November last, m which you call attention to the difficulty which you anti- cipate m providing barrack accommodation for the whole of the force serving: under vour command. ° 0.53. B B 3 You App. No. 1. •No. 3, p. i86; Igg APPENDIX TO EEPOET FROM THE You have been informed by the letters* which were addressed to you, by liis Lordship's -.-,.,r direciions, on the 3rd December and 6th instant, that Her iVlajesty's Government have No. 6, p. 187. determined on the withdrawal of the troops from Shanghae and Taku, and on sendmg back to India the two battalions of Native Infantry, and one battery of Royal Artillery. This will leave three battalions of European troops, one battery of Artillery, and one company of Engineers to be rlistributed between Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Japan ; and Earl de Grey can only rely on your making the best and most economical arrangements m your j.ower for the proper accommodation of these troops until such time as one of the battalions ran be brought away. . ou • I am to add that it is intended to reduce the establishment of regiments serving in China to 800 rank and file, dep6t included, from the 1st April next. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. — No. 8 — The Medical Department to the Military Secretary. Sir, Army Medical Department, 11 January 1865. As the withdrawal of the troops from Shanghae and Taku, as notified to me in your f No. 5, p. 187. letter! of the 7th ultimo, and its enclosure, has enabled me to recommend the reduction of a Staff Surgeon in the China Command, I have the honour to submit, for the approval of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that the mihtary authorities in China may be instructed to order Staff Surgeon F. W. Moore, who will complete a tour, of foreign service on 15th June next, to return to this country with as little delay as possible, either on duty or otherwise. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General. — No. 9. — Major General Gui/ to the War Office. — (E.eceived 23 March.) My Lord, Head Quarters, Hong Kong, 23 January 1865. I HAVE the honour to transmit for your information the report of a Medical Board, which assembled by my order to inquire into the sanitary condition of that part of the peninsula of Kowloon occupied by Her Majesty's troops. Soon after my arrival at Hong Kong, on the 26th October last, the unsatisfactory state of health of the 99th Regiment attracted my serious attention and inquiry. The removal of this corps from Victoria, Hong Kong, to the above station, by order of his Excellency the Governor, on the 15th September last, unfortunately became necessary, in consequence of the very serious riots vthich occurred in the town on the two previous evenings, when a portion of the 99th Regiment came into colhsion with the police force and some of the native inhabitants, resulting in the loss of two lives and a considerable amount of damage to persons and property. Under these unfortunate circumstances, it was deemed indispensable for the preservation of the peace that the 99th Regiment should not be permitted to return to Victoria. I found, on inquiry, that the sickness which prevailed among the troops was mainly attributable to the excavations then going on for building purposes in the close vicinity to the huts, r therefore directed that the 99th Ilegiment should be placed under canvas which was accordingly done on ihe 18th of November last. The site selected for the encampment was extremely eligible in every respect, being on elevated ground, open to the breeze, and sufficiently removed from the excavations to be out of the reach of malarious influence. The sickness diminished considerably almost immediately upon this change although fever still prevailed to an extent difficult to account for, considering the apparent salubrity of the spot ; the cases, however, were of a mild type, the patients generally being seldoai more than from six to ten days in hospital. The mortality during the last quarter has been inconsiderable; eight deaths only, or little over one per cent, of the total strength of the corps. , I am inchned to coincide in the opinion expressed by the Medical Board as to the cause of the unhealthiness of Kowloon, and I fear that until good barracks are built, trees planted the place thoroughly drained, and wholesome water obtained, sickness, to a certain extent' will continue to prevail among the troops stationed there ; it will therefore be desirable' under existing conditions, to reduce the number at that post to the lowest possible amount' I have enclosed, with the proceedings of the Board, the opinion of a medical gentleman ia tl ;s Colony of considerable experience in the climate of Southern China, which appears to to deserving of mature consideration. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Troops, China. [For reply, see No. 15, p. 197,] SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 189 Enclosure 1, in No. 9. The Medical Board convened under the authority nf paragraph 1, General Order, dated 3rd November 1864, to inquire into such matters as may be brought before it, and with reference to instructions of the same date from the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, has the honour to report for the information of the Major General Commanding. President : Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, Dr. Dick. Members : Staff Surgeon, F. W. Moore. Assistant Surgeon, R. A. Smith, k.a. The Board having assembled, and having considered their instructions, it appeared to it convenient that the question proposed for its investigation should be arranged as follows : — 1st. As regards tlie general sanitary condition of the military station at Kowloon. 2nd. As regards the recent outbreaks of disease which have occurred in the 99th Regi- ment since it has been stationed at Kowloon. 3rd. As regards the deatl^s of Private Sullivan and others of the 99th Regiment, and the circumstances attending them, as requested in the Commandant's letter of 29th October 1864. 1. With regard to the first question considerable difficulties present themselves with respect to the earlier medical history of Kowloon. The statistical reports emanating from that station may lead to a fallacious conclusion, inasmuch as they show only the stations at which diseases first manifest themselves uithout giving any clue to that at which they really originated. From the frequent interchange of detachments, for instance, many of the cases of fever whicli appeared in the Hong Kong returns may really have resulted from infection at Kowloon ; and, on the other hand, cases of this disease which appeared in the Kowloon returns may have originated at Hong Kong; and that until December 1863, when Kowloon was occupied by the 2nd Battalion 20th Regiment, no positive conclusion can be drawn from these returns without tracing the history of each separate case of disease (jccurring at either station from August 1860, when Kowloon was first occupied as a military post, to the date just mentioned. The other docun)entary evidence is still less conclusive, for while on the one hand Kowloon has been represented as superior in a sanitary point of view to the island of Hong Kong, it has been, on ths other hand, described as very far inferior to it. This apparent discrepancy might perhaps be reconciled if the circumstances under which each separate report was written could be properly ascertained, for it is very possible that even Kowloon might have been coraparativelv healthy at one period, and quite the reverse at another, which indeed has been the case even during the present year. The general effect of the evidence taken in the course of this inquiry will be considered by the Board, and the evidence itself will be attached to this report as an Appendix. But in the first place it is necessary to the objects of this investigation that a broad distinction should be drawn between the present and former sanitary condition of Hong Kong, and the evidence of Mr. Fisher, one of the oldest and most respectable inhabitanis of the Colony, shows what that condition was once, and what it now is. And had one of the questions proposed for the consideration of the Board been whether the actual sanitary condition of Kowloon is superior to the former sanitary condition of Hong Kong, there would have been no hesitation in giving an affirmative reply. Or had the question submitted been whether, in the opinion of the Board, Kowloon (possessing, as it does, the undoubted sanitary advantage of being open to the influence of the south-west monsoon, which prevails during the hot season), might not be rendered even more salubrious than Hong Kong is at present, the answer would be that, with efficient drainage, the protection from solar influence afforded by trees, the erection of good sub- stantial buildings, well ventilated, and a supply of wholesome water for drinking purposes, it would have every reason to anticipate the desirable and beneficial result indicated, but it is the duty of the Board to deal with matters as they are, and not as they have been, or may hereafter be. The 2nd Battalion 20th Regiment occupied Kov.loon from December 1863, and remained there until the end of June of the present year, about which time it embarked for Japan. During the first three months its sanitary condition was good; but in April some cases of fever appeared, and they gradually incieased until the 17th June, when the weekly per- centage of sick amounted to 14165, and the number of fever cases to 73. After this date the regiment was encamped on the Kowloon peninsula for some short period, and within the next two months no fewer than 20 deaths occurred in it, of which 12 were from cholera, five from diarrhoea, one from fever, and two from apoplexy, and there is only too much reason to fear that the germs of 18 of these fatal diseases were sown during the latter portion of the period the corps wa'* quarten d attlie station just named. The testimony of Surgeon Snell, 99th Regiment, and of Staff Assistant Surgeon Beath,M.D., shows that during the year 1863 the garrison of Kowlqon was principally furnished by 0.53. B B 4 the App. No.i, 190 APPENDIX TO KEPOET FROM THE J|sp. Ho. 1. the 99th Regiment, and that it was relieved several times by detachments of the same corps, anci that a considerable anciease of the general regimental sick list in each instance followed the return of these detachments to Hong Kong, the men having contracted fever and other diseases when stationp.d at Knwloon. Staff Assistant Surgeon Beath also states that while Dr. Home was principal medical officer in China he was employed by him to draw up a table of the per-centage of sick at Kowloon and Hong Kong, respectively, for a period of three years, and that, on the whole, those of the former exceeded the latter by about 33 per cent. The evidence of W. H. H.. Scott. Esq., acting barrack master, shows that the hutsoccu- piet) by the troops at Kowloon are most of them mat huts, which do not, in his opinion, aflbrd sufficient protection from ordinary vicissitudes of weather. The evidence of Major Brine, k.e., shows that extensive marshes and abandoned paddy- fields exist on two sides of the military station, tl]e dimensions of which can be ascertained from the enclosed tracing. The evidence of Staff Assistant Surgeon Curtis s-hows that he was employed by the principal medical officer to analyse the water used for drinking purposes by the troops at Kowloon, and that he found it of bad quality and unwholesome in its native condition. Taking all these circumstances into its mature and anxious consideration, the Board is of opinion that the sanitary condition of Kowloon is and has been unsatisfactory, and that , no proper means have been adopted to improve it. It is of importance to this pait of the investigation, that the Board should here refer to some of the most obvious causes of fever, and to the periods of time which observation has shown generally elapsed between the reception of the infection and the invasion of febrile diseases; these have been termed the periods of incubation. The ordinary existing causes of fever are cold, miasmatic influence from marshes, emana- tions from the ground, or from cesspools and other receptacles of filth, and from direct con- tagion, which, however, is believed to be confined chiefly to fevers of a putrid character, and to certain eruptive fevers, while the fever arising from cold is usually ephemeral, and quickly disappears. The predisposing causes of fever may be described generally as those which lower the general health, and among them may be classed, undue exposure to solar influence and night duties. The period of incubation is very uncertain, and may vary from a few hours to 42 days; but the ordinary period between the infection and the invasion may be stated at 7 to 21 days. The princi|jal facts, with reference to this part of the investigation, which appear in the evidence before the Board are as follows: — On the 6th September last. Her Majesty's troop-ship ''Adventure" arrived at Hong Kong from England, having on b'.ard the 8th Baitery, 2nd Brigade Royal Artillery, and a draft of 60 men of the 67ih Regiment ; and the evidence of Assistant Surgeon Smith b.a. shows, that op to that period, these two bodies of men had been very healthy. The battery of Royal Artillery disembarked at Hong Kong, where it is still quartered- the draft of the 67th Regiment at Kowloon, where it remained for a period of 10 days. When the 8th Battery, 2nd Brigade Royal Artillery, landed at Hong Kong, the 6tli Battery, 12th Brigade Royal Artillery, proceeded to Kowloon. Many of the men had previously served in China for a period of eight years, and some of them had never before been affected with fever. The evidence of Lieutenant Cane, the commanding officer, shows that up to the arrival of this battery at Kowloon, it had been very healthy. It remained there for eicht days when it returned to Hong Kong. The subsequent medical history of the draft of the 67th Regiment appears in the evidence of Surgeon Snell, 99th Regiment ; that of the 6th Battery, 12th Brigade Koyal Artillery, and 8th Battery, 2nd Brigade Royal Artillery, in the evidence of Assistant- Surgeon Smith, of that corps : the general effect of which is, that while the health of the two bodies of men stationed at Kowloon (the one having just arrived in the Colony the other having served in it for years) soon afterwards becamy very bad, and that much fever l^revailed amongst both, while the health of the 8th Battery, 2nd Brigade Royal Artillery which had been disembarked at Hong Kong, has been and continues to be very good. The obvious inference therefore is, that the bad health of the first, viz., the 6th Battery" 12th Brigade Royal Artillery, and draft of the 67th Regiment, was caused by residence at Kowloon. 1 he evidence of Assistant Surgeon Wheatley, 22nd Bombay Native Infantry, shows that a detachment of his regiment, 165 strong, was quartered at Kowloon from the 29th June to the 15th September last, and that the head-quarters, 465 men, were stationed at Hono- Kong; that previous to the first date, the men of that detachment had been healthy that w-liile there stationed, fever began to prevail among them ; and that after its return to Hong Kong, 162 cases of fever occurred in his corps, and of that number 117 cases were from the Kowloori detachment, being in the proportion to respective strengths of 78 ner cent, of the Kowloon detachment, and rather under 1 per cent, of the head-quarters The inh lence therefore is, that most of these 117 cases originated at Kowloon ' On the 15th September, the 99th Regiment was ordered to Kowloon. For a considerable period previously it had enjoyed good health. For two weeks after its arrival there the health of the corps does not appear to have been seriously affected, although the number of sick had increased. ° On SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 191 On the 7th October, there was a great increase in the number of sick, caused chiefly by App* No, i. fever. The number of fever cases continued to increase until the 14th of the month, when it — amounted to 81. It afterwards decreased, and went on decreasing until the 25th of Octo- ber; but about the 29th of the same month, a fresh invasion of fever occurred, and went on extending until the 19th of November, when the number of fever cases in hospital amounted toll?. The obvious inference therefore again is, that the health of the 99th Regiment has been greatly deteriorated and its (efficiency impaired, by influences existing at Kowloon. The evidence of Major Brine, r.e., and Lieutenant Williams of the same corps, shows that cuttings on an extensive scale were first commenced on 9th August 1864, at Kowloon, and continued until the 17th of September, and that these cuttings were in close proximity > to a portion of the barrack buildings. At the above date, they were discontinued, but new cuttings at a greater distance from the buildings were commenced about the same time; and the newly-turned earth from these second cuttings was brought to a point farther from the barracks than the first cuttings, but much nearer than the others, and used in the formation of a Government road just under them. That the original cuttings were recommenced on the 20th October, and were being then continued, and that some portion of these are within a few yards of the huts. It appears further, from the evidence of Mr. Thwaytes, that on the day following the removal of the 99th Regiment to Kowloon, and some time before any extraordinary sick- ness appeared among any portion of the troops, the attention of the commandant was specially directed to the danger likely to be caused to the health of that corps by the con- tinuance of the cuttings, and that the principal medical oflBcer pointed out in his letter that fever was likely to result therefrom ; that other letters were addressed to him, having reference to the same subject, on the 26th September and 6th October; and it certaiidy is a coincidence that disease in the particular form indicated by the official sanitary adviser of the military authorities appeared within a very short period from the date of his first letter. But the Board does not regard this circumstance as of itself conclusive testimony that the subsequent sickness of the 99th Regiment was caused by the cuttings then g'ling on, as other causes of fever might exist at Kowloon, but only as a connecting link in the chain of evidence. But there are other considerations : the amount of the sickness at Kowloon had never been before so great as it lately has been, while the cool and dry state of the weather has been unfavourable to the propagation of fever by ordinary miasmatic influences. No cesspools or other receptacles of filth exist at the station, with the exception, perhaps of a tank of foul water kept there for use in cases of fire ; and as regards the influence of cold, by far the greater number of the fever cases have not shown any of the characteristics of febrile affections arising from this cause alone. Notwithstanding the rather inconsistent testimony of Dr. Murray, the Colonial surgeon, who is not friendly to, though he does not ignore, the theory that the former prevalence of fever at Hong Kong resulted from exposure of fresh earth, a general opinion does exist, and has existed for many years, that the turning over of virgin soil had much to do with its production in the early days of the Colony; and the testimony of Mr. Fisher shows, as a matter of fact, that when what he calls the Hong Kong fever was at its worst, many years before Dr. Murray became a resident, much fresh earth was being turned up; and Major Brine, h.e., who has been some years in China, says in his evidence, that his impression is, that turning up of earth and excavations for public works, conduce to sickness among the Europeans; and Deputy Inspector General, Dr. Mackay, h.n., states, as a matter of fact, that since the cuttings at Kowloon had commenced, fever had been more prevalent on board Her Majesty's Hospital Ship "Melville," than it ever was before. The evidence of Dr. Shetely, who has had six years' experience in the Colony, shows that he has met with many cases of fever which, in his opinion, resulted solely from the turning over of fresh earth, and the exposure thereby of disintegrated granite, and he is of opinion, that it is at all times a fertile source of fever; and, as a matter of direct testimony, having a most important bearing on this question, the Board beg to refer to the very strong and decided statement of Mr. Rawlings, a man, perhaps, of as great practical experience in building operations as any person now in the Colony (having superintended the building of over 300 houses), which clearly shows that the natives of China themselves are not exempt from the injurious influences arising from the turning over of fresh earth. , It also results, from a comparison of dates, that extraordinary coincidences have existed between the progress and localities of the cuttings at Kowloon and some of the accessions of fever which have occurred lately at that station. The draft of the 67th Regiment and the 6th Battery 12th Brigade Royal Artillery arrived there when the cuttings were going on in the immediate vicinity of the barrack huts; the results were similar in both cases, and need only again be referred to in this place. The 99th Regiment arrived at Kowloon while the same cuttings were still in progress ; and though they were discontinued two days afterwards, much fresh earth was still exposed, and fever supervened, just about the period it might have been expected to appear, if it , resulted from the injurious influence of these cuttings. The evidence further shows that the *Cuttings nearest the military post, and almost in contact with some of the barrack buildings, were resumed on the 20th of October, at which date fever had greatly decreased in the 99th Regiment, and then again, a new accession of fever occurred, just at the period that might have been anticipated, if it could be demonstrated with the accuracy of a mathematical problem that the infection had been the result of the malarious influence of the newly turned 0.53. Co np 192 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE App. No. i; up earth; this second accession of fever went on increasinj^ from day to day, until it pre- dominated to an extent before unknown in ihe regiment. But if anything is still wanting to place the pernicious influence of these cuttings on the healti] of the 99th Reoiment beyond a. doubt, the Board has only to refer to the testimony of Assistant Surgeon Kerans, and Lieutenant and Adjutant Ffolliott of that corps, by which it appeaiis, that of 12 officers who lived in a ran^e of quarters immediately overlooking; the cuttings, nine had been more or less seriously affected with fever, and that of six officers quartered in another range of buildings at some distance from them, only one has been affected with fever. Major Brine, in his evidence, has suggested that the large proportion of fevers among the officers living in the first range of buildings may have resulted from fermentation taking place in the bamboo leaves entering into the composition of the huts through moisture and heat, but it must be i-emembered that the construction of both ranges is similar, that the weather has been comparatively dry and cool. Farther, it has been ascertained, by the personal inspection of the Board, that no apparent difference exists between the condition of these two ranges of huts. Moreover, Major Brine has himself stated that he considers both ranges of huts in tolerable repair. The Board, on review of the whole evidence affecting this question, is of opinion, that though the ordinary causes of disease existing at Kowloon may have operated in its pro- duction in an inferior degree, yet that the recent outbreaks of sickness in the 99th Regiment were mainly produced by the malarious influences of the cuttings which have recently been going on there ; and the Board is further of opinion, that had these cuttings been effectually stopped in the first instance, much of the sickness and moitality which has since ensued would not have occuired. 3rd. The Board having given its attention to the letter of the Commandant, dated the 29th October, and referring to the evidence of Lieutenant and Adjutant Ffolliott, Assistant Surgeon Kerans, and Serjeant Major Short, of the 99th Regiment, has not been able to discover any circumstance in the mode of life of Private Sullivan for some days previous to the accession of his fatal fever which can warrant it in coming to the conclusion that his death was hastened or his fever induced by any excess or imprudence on his part. The same observations apply to two other fatal cases of fever which have since occurred in the 99th Regiment, viz., to those of Serjeant Carter and Private Fagan; and the only opinion at which the Board can arrive, with reference to these cases, is, that death was the result of the malarious influences indicated in the previous conclusion. (signed) William Dick, m.d.. Deputy Inspector General, President. Frederick Moore, ■» Staff Surgeon. I -,, , ^ith (■ Members. Hong Kong, 26 November 1864. A. It. Smith. Assistant Surgeon, k.a. J ^True copy.) Geo. W. Thompson, a.d.c. Officiating Assistant Military Secretary. Enclosure 2, in No. 9. Medical Opinion on Kowloon. From an experience of the climate of the south of China during a residence of upwards of nine years at Macao and Hong Kong, I have no hesitation in giving as my opinion that the illness, which has occurred among Her Majesty's trooi)s at Kowloon has been the consequence of the disturbing of the surface of the soil from the excavations going on there. I unhesitatingly aver that I am certain, while the present condition of thinsjs there obtains, any persons who may be obliged to reside there will be subject to the same diseases, fever (intermittent and remittent), and bowel complnints ; but I also believe that, when proper habitations are built, tlie groimd allowed to settle, and the surface pro- tected by trees and herbage from the direct solar rays, proper drainage, and a supply of good water afforded, Kowloon will become, from its position and exposure to the south west monsoon, far more healthy as a station than Victoria, which has since my knowledge of it become as healthy a town as perhaps any within the tropics. (signed) William Kane, m.d. Hong Kong, 13 January 1865, P-S.-l ought to say that I have had the opportunity kindly afforded me of perusing the report of the medical Board, and the evidence on which that report was founded (Triae copy.) Geo. W. Thompson, a. d. c. Officiating Assistant Military Secretary. SELECT COMMITTEE ON JSIOETALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 193 — No, 10. — Major General Guy to the War Office. —(Received March 15.) App. No. Head Quarters, Hong Kong, My Lord, 28 Januaiy 1865. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter,* dated 3rd December 1864, • jyjo, g „_ jge. informing me that Her Majesty's GoTernment have decided th^it the time has arrived whea the troops may properly be withdrawn from Shanghae and Takii ; also that the two regi- ments of Bombay Native Ji-ifaiitry, now serving in this command, are to be sent back to India, and that no time ia to be lost in making the necessary arrangements for carrying these changes into effect. I beg to inform your Lordship in reply, that, in accordance with the above instructions, I have written to Admiral Sir A. Kuper to obtain shipping for tlie transport of the two native regiments to Bombay, as early as practicable. With respect to the 67th and 99th Regiments, I propose to make the following arrangements : On the arrival at Hong Kong of Her Majesty's ship " Tamar," with the 2nd Biittalion 9th RegiiBent from -Gibraltar, the 991-h Regimeni, now at Kowiodn, will embark fur the Cape of Good Hope, agreeably to the instructions on that head contained ia a letter dated Horse Guards, 26th August 1864. Such portion of the 67th Regiment, now at Hong Kong, as can be accommodated in the " Tamar" will also embark with the 99th Regiment. The head quarters of the 67th Regiment, now at Shanghae, will remain there until the return of the " Tamar " from the Cape of Good Hope, with the 11th Regiment, about the end of July next. By this arrangement there will be no additional expense incurred, as the buildings occupied by the 67th Regiment areengaged until the 14th November and October, and the witl-idrawal of the whole of the troops from Shanghae will have been effected ere this. H' brought at once to Hong Kong, it would be impossible to accommodate them without entailing considerable expense upon the Government for the hire of buildings, as the 9th Regiment will take up all the accoiumodation available here. The half battery of artillery at prtsent at Shanghae will be brought to Hong Kong. The 99tli Regiment has been selected to embark first, on accoutit of the great amount of sickness which has prevailed, and still continues in that corps. The health of the 67th Regiment, on the oiher band, is now in a very satisfactory state. For these reasons I have considered it necessary to alter the forruer arrangement of embarkinsj the 67th Regiment for the fiist trip to the Cape, and removing the 99tl.i to Shanghae. The earnest representa- tions of the medical officers as to the state of health of the latter corps have induced me to (comply with their recommendations, which will not, I presume, in any degree interfeie with the convenience of the service. I beg to enclose copy of a letter received from the principal medical officer on this subject. With respect to Japan, I can only repeat the opinion I have expresseid in former corre- spondence, that it will not, on any account, be advisable, for the present, to remove any portion of the 20th Regiment, or the half battery of artillery now at Yokohama. Previous to the receipt of your Lordship's instructions, the following changes had taken place in the command, none of which will in any way interfere wiih the contemplated reductions. The. detachirents •67th Regimeiitf and 2nd Belooch BattalionJ left Yokohama on the .20th ultimo, and arrived at Shanghae on the 31st Dectmber last. The detachment 2nd Belooch Battalion was disembar-ked at Shanghae, and arrangements were made for the embarkation of the head quarters and the remainder of the 67th Regiment, with a view to the entire corps proceeding to Hong Kong for embarkation for the Cape, on the arrival of Her Majesty's ship "Tamar." As the head quarters of the 67th Regiment were about to embark, two cases of small-'po'x were reported on board the "Adventure," and a medical Board pronounced it .unadvisable to proceed with the embarkation. The " Adventure" accordingly sailed with the Yokohama detachment of the 67th Regiment only, and reached this on the I3th instant. I would beg to request jour Lordship's consideration of my letter, No. 764, of the 12th November last, j)ointing out the impossibility, under existing circuinstances, of providing for the 2nd BattaTion 11th Regiment in China, at least until additional accommodation be prepared for a second regiment at Hong Kong, and request, therefore, further instructions on this head. 'I have, &c. (signed) P. M. A'. Guy, Major 'General Commanding Troops, China. [•For reply, see No. 12, p. 194.] - - 1 , - — — ^ ■ I ii < . I I — ■ ' ' ■ ■ ' ' - '- — --■ — — ■ • — — — t 8 officers, 248 non-commissioned officers and men. I 2 officers, 4 native loffi'cers, 151 non-commissiioned officers and men. 0.53. ' o-eS App. No. 1. 194 APPENDIX TO KBPOET FROM THE Enclosure 1, in No. 10. The Principal Medical Officer to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 10 January 1865. The intended departure of a portion of the 9i)th Regiment for Shanghae at this season of the year, has directed my special attention to the probable effects of great and sudden reduction of temperature, and more sudden and great variation of the same, on men already enfeebled by disease and exposure to malarious influences during a residence of nearly four months at Kowloon, and nearly five years in the south of China, and the conclusion I have arrived al, after mature consideration and anxious inquiry is, that while the change in question may be beneficial to a few, it will be very injurious to the others, more especially to those who have lately suffered from fevers and from bowel complaints, arid to those who have any tendency to affections of the liver or spleen; and indeed 1 have been informed by a medical gentleman of great local experience that the very worst cases of inflammation of the liver he has known of have been induced entirely by sudden exposure to severe cold, in persons who have resided for a considerable time in the south of China, proceeding to the noith during the winter season. I have the honour to request that you will be pleased to bring this communication under the notice of his Excellency the Major General Commanding. I have, &c. (signed) William Dick, m.d., Deputy Inspector General, Principal Medical Officer. (True copy.) Geo, W. Thompson, a.d.c. Officiating Assistant Military Secretary. — No. 11. — Major General Guy to the War Office. — (Received 1 May.) Head Quarters, Hong Kong, My Lord, 15 March 1865. I HAVE the honour to report the departure of the 2nd Belooch Battalion from Shanghae to Bombay, on the 10th and 14th instant, and the head quarters and 600 men of the 22nd Bombay Infantry from Hong Kong to Bombay this day. The remainder of the latter corps, one officer and 128 men, will embark in a few days for Bombay. Application has been made to the Navy for transport to India for the G Battery, 14th * No. 6, p. 187. Brigade, Royal Artillery, as directed in your letter* of the 6th January last. This battery, at present divided between Shanghae and Yokohama, will be concentrated at the former station, and forwarded fi om thence to India with the least possible delay. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Troops, China and Japan. — No. 12. — The War Office to Major General Guy. Sir, War Office, 23 March 1865. f No. 10, p. 193, I AM directed by Earl De Grey and Ripon to acknowledge the receipt of your letterf of the 28th of January last, in which you report that, in compliance with the instructions you bad received, you were about to send back to India the two battalions of native troops, and you explain the arrangements you proposed to make for carrying out the relief of the 67th and 99th Regiments. In reply, I am to signify to you Earl Grey's approval of these arrangements. With regard to the difficulty which you anticipate in providing sufficient accommodation for a second regiment at Hong Kong and Kowloon, I am 10 acquaint you that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have decided in withdrawing the Royal Marines now serving in Japan. There will, therefore, be no objection to your sending the 2nd Battalion 11th Foot on its arrival from the Cape, or i-uth portion of it as you may be unable to accommodate at Hong Kong, to Yokohama, where the climate is better suited than that of China to the European constitution. I have. See. (signed) Edward Lugard. [For reply, see No. 17, p. 198.) SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TBOOPS (CHINA). 195 — No. 13.— App.No. 1. The Quaiteimasler General to the War Office. Sir, Horse Guards, 6 April 1865. Advebting to the War Office letter of the 10th January last, No. 091-626, and to previous correspondence relative to the distribution and accommodation of the force serving in China, I am instructed by the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief to forward, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, the accompanying letter from the Major General Commanding in China, with its enclosures, on the subject of the sanitary condition of that part of Kowloon occupied by Her Majesty's troops ; also a letter from the Director General of the Army Medical Department, enclosing a report from the Deputy Inspector General, Dr. Dick, on this question, and also in regard to insufficient barrack accommoda- tion for a second European regiment at Hong Kong. I am to request that the enclosures may be returned to this office. I have, &c. (signed) H. H. Clifford, Colonel, Acting for Quartermaster General. [For reply, see No. 16, p. 197.] Enclosure 1, in No. 13. Major General Guy to the Mihtary Secretary. Hong Kong, 24 January 1865. [In the same words as No. 9 to the War Office, p. 188.] Enclosure 2, in No. 13. The Medical Department to the Military Secretary. Sir, Army Medical Department, 31 March 1865. Having perused your letter of the 28th instant, with its enclosures, I have the honour herewith to return them, and in continuation of the subject therein contained, beg to for- ward, for the information of liis Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, the accompanying letter, which 1 have just received from Deputy Inspector General, Dr. Dick, principal medical officer of the China command, the purport of which, I presume, has already been brought to the notice of his Koyal Highness by the local mihtary authorities. Dr. Dick further specially directs attention to the insufficiency of the barrack accommodation for a second European regiment at Hong Kong, and I would respectfully beg to observe that I cannot but concur in the views he has expressed. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General. Enclosure 3, in No, 13. Deputy Inspector General Dick to the Medical Department. Sir, Hong Kong, 27 January 1865. Adverting to the correspondence which has already taken place, more especially to my letter of 25th October, and its enclosures, and to that of the 30th November, and its enclosures, on the subject of the occupation of the peninsula of Kowloon by the 99th Regi- ment, I have now the honour to inform you that the corps has continued to suffer from the causes before alluded to ; that its efficiency is not only greatly impaired, but that its general health is so deteriorated by disease, and by exposure to the malarious influences of the station, as to render ii, in my opinion, perfectly unfit for general service; and though the mortality has not been very considerable, I have no doubt it will be found necessary to invalid a large portion of the regiment, within the next two or three years, solely on account of organic disease of some description, and from the further effects of intermittent and other levers, contracted within the last few months; but as it has been decided to dispatch this corps to the Cape of Good Hope, on the arrival of Her Majesty's ship " Tamar," now daily expected, it is unnecessary for me to enlarge further on this subject. There is a matter, however, to which I would beg to direct your particular attention. It has been decided by the Home Authorities to withdraw the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry from this station, and to replace it by a European regiment ; but as there is scarcely 0.53. C C 3 proper 1&6 APP.E~Nl!)9fX f<^ flfitOET 'I"EOM THE Add /No i proper barrack accommodation for one corps, the other must either occupy Kowloon, *^'_ " * Stanley, or the mat huts, which will be vacated by the 22nd Native Infantry. We have the recent experience of the 20th and 99th Regiments at Kowloon, and the former expe- rience of Stanley, to guide us with respect to them; and the rudo mat huts, though perhaps adapted foi native soldiers, are in my opinion perfectly unfit, in a sanitary point of view, for the occupation of£iiropean troops. Experience has shown that the health of European troops cannot be maintained in this Colony unless they are well housed in stone or brick buildings, and not even then without the aid of every practicable sanitary precaution. I very much fear, therefore, that if a second European regiment is sent to Hong Kong before proper provision is made for its .reception, that the measure will defeat its object, and that should a force be required for any emergency, after a residence of one hot season in the Colony, one of the regiments will he totally inefiicient as regards any active military service: and that should Hong Kong be agai'.i visited by another unhealthy season, the risk of very serious mortality among the troops will be greatly aggravated by the impossibility of adopting any efficient sanitary measures. I need scarcely refer to the alternative of hiring buildings for the occupation of troops, because suita'de ones could not, I believe, be obtained here at any cost. -Under these circumstances, I Would beg of you to exercise your influence with the military authorities to delay, if possible, the dispatch of a second English regiment to Hong Kong until proper barrack accommodation be provided for it. Of course it is not within my province to discuss the military necessities of China. If one European regiment at Hong Kong will suffice, there is just barely sujlfiuient proper barrack accommodation for it. If a second is to ba stationed in the Colony, I venture to suggest that one of the native regiments ordered to India would be more efficient, under existing circumstances, than it is at all probable a second regiment of Europeans would be. I have, Stc. (signed) William Dick, m.d.. Deputy Inspector General, Piincipal Medicsll Officer. — No. 14. — Major General Guy to the War Office. — (Received 1 June.) My Lord, Head Quarters, Hong Kong, 8 April 1865. I HAvfi the honour to transmit a report from Dr. Dick, Principal Medical Officer at this sitation, showing the influence of climate in China upon the health and efficiency of European troops and native troops cf India respectively. The details contained in the above report will be found both interesting and important, 'and tein'g taken from the recorded facts of a daily register, they afford matter for serious consideration both in a financial and a sanitary point of view, as to the expediency of Substitn'tiwg a tegiment of native infantry from India for one of the two regiments of the line in the 'China command. I am of opinion that many of the duties which soldiers are called upon to perform in this climate should be done by native troops, with a view to preserve, as far as possibl«, the health and efficiency of British soldiers, and, at the same time, diminish the great expense attendant upon replacing the casualties in a regiment of the line in such a climate as China. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Troops China. [For reply, see No, 18, p. 198.J Enclosure 1, in No. 14. Deputy Inspector General -Dick to the Assistant Military Secretary, Hong Kong. „. Princi|jal Medical Officer's Office, Hona: Kona. ^ ^'^l , 29 March 1865. In the course of a soniewhat laborious investigation into the sanitary statistics .of the .Z- r^'"?.!,'" ? '"'' ^°' ,*^' y^^'' ^^^^' ^^63' ^""^ 1864, the following facts were estabhshed with reference to the comparative efficiency of white and black troops dn thU rETci:^tt Majo'^Gentra^ ^"^ -" "^^ under thL.ot.ce of 61-m pl^VoOotlKm^yS."' ''^"^^ ^" "■""™ ^"''"^ ^^'^^ ''^^^^ ^^^ " ^^^ *« .r^i'^nn?'^'*'" ^T^^A ''"""^^ "O'-tality among the black troops has amotmted to 23-883 iper d.,000 men employed. Srii. That SELECT COMMITTEE Olif SlORTAMTTr QM IJUQCPS (cHINA). XQ'J 3rd. That the annual average invaliding among the white troops has amounted to 40'816 App. No. per 1,000. •' ■"■■' 4th. That the same average of invahding among the black iroops has amounted to 16'788 per 1,000 men employed'. 5th. That the daily average of sick among the white troops has amounted to 72"011 per 1,000 men employed. 6th. That the daily average of sick among the black troops has amounted to 45*632 per 1,000 men employed. 7th. That the average annual decrease of strength among the white troops, caused by deaths and invaliding, has been 97'265 per 1,000 men employed. 8th. That the average annual decrease of strength among the black troops from the same cause has been 40"700 per 1,000 hien employed. The facts indicated by the above figures (at the present time, when China is about to be garrisoned wholly by white troops) afford matter (or very serious reflection,, both in a financial and; sanitary point of view. It is not within my province to di«cuss the first, nor indeed am I in possession of sufficient data to enable me to do so with advantage ; but there cannot be any doubt that the expense of replacing casualties nt a station so diistant from England as Cliina is very great. But as regards the other point, there can he no question that little more than 10 years would be required to expend (if I may use the word) a force of white troops, and that 25 years would be required to expend a similai force of black troops by deaths and invaliding. Then as regards the difference between the daily averages of sick, among the white and black troops, it results, supposing the men to huve six nights in bed (and no soldier in this Colony ought to have less), that there have been 26 more men available daily fur garrison duty per 1,000 men among the black than among the white troops, or, in other words, that a force of 1,000 black troops has really represented a force of 1,166 white troops for all purposes of garrison duty, independent altogether of the protection they have afforded the white soldier, by rendering his exposure to solar influence during the hot season unnecessary, and the absence of which will no doubt contribute materially to the increase of disease. I have, &c. (signed) Wiliiam Dick, m.d.,. Deputy Tnspectoir Genera^, Principal Medical Officer. — No, 16. — The War Office to Major General Guy, c.B. Sir, War Office, 10 April 1885. I AM directed by Earl De Grey and Ripon to acknowledge the receipt of your letter,* * No. g, p. i88. dated the 23rd January last, enclosing the report of a Medical Board on the sanitary condition of Kowloon. With regard to the opinion expressed in the concluding paragraph of your letter, that it will be desirable to reduce the number of troops at Kowloun to the lowest possible amount, I need only refer you to the letter -f which I addressed to you on the 23rd ultimo, in which + No. 12 p. 104, you were authorised to remove to Japan such troops as you are unable to provide for at Hong Kong. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. — No. 16. — The War Office to the Quartermaster General. Sir, War Office, 11 April 1865. I HAVE received your letter* of the 6th instant, together with its enclosures, from the * No. 13, p. 195. ofiicer commanding the troops in China, on the subject of the sanitary state of that part of Kowloon which is occupied by her Majesty's troops. In reply, I am to request that you will acquaint the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief that Earl i)e Grey has received similar reports f from the officer commanding, and has "f" 9' P" ■^°°" caused them to be referred to the Army Sanitary Commission. With regard to the opinion expressed in the concluding paragraph of General Guy's letter, that it will be desirable to reduce the number of troops at Kowloon to the lowest possible amount, I am to state that Major General Guy has been authorised J to remove to t ^o- '2, p. 194; Japan such troops as he is unable to provide for at Hong Kong. ^^- ^Sj P- i97- The enclosures of your letter are returned as requested. I have, &c. (signed^ Edward Lugard. 0.53, c c 4 App. No. 1. 198 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE — No. 17. — Major General Guy to tlie War OflSce. — (Received 11 July.) Head Quarters, Hong Kong, My Lord, 11 May 1866. No. 12, p. 194. With reference to War Office letter,* No. 083 — 1479 of the 23rd March last, authorising me to forward the whole or a portion of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, to Yokohama, on the departure of the Royal Marine Battalion from that station, I have the honour to inform you that I shall only be able to detach for service in Japan two companies, about 150 in all, the withdrawal of the 22nd Regiment Bombay Native Infantry rendering it absolutely necessary to detain the remainder of the corps at Hong Kong and Kowloon for the performance of the garrison duties. As the families of the 2nd Battalion, 20th Regiment, 69 in number, have been separated from the regiment since June 1864, and are occupying accommodation at Stanley, which will be required for part of the families of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, llth Regiment, I purpose forwarding them to Yokohama, if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to detain the 2nd Battalion, 20th Regiment, in Japan for any lengthened period, and on this point I request the favour of your Lordship's instructions by return mail. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Troops, China and Japan. — No. 18 The War Office to Major General Guy. Sir, War Office, 30 June 1865. * No. 14, p. 196. I HAVE laid before the Secretary of State for War your letter* of the 8th April last, enclosing a report from Dr. Dick, the principal medical officer in China, showing the influence of the climate upon the health and efficiency of European and native troops of India respectively, serving in China. In reply, I am to acquaint you that Ltird De Grey, while concurring with you as regards the interest which attaches to the results exhibited in this report, is not prepared to sanction the substitution of native for European troops, as suggested. His Lordship relies with con6dence on the efficacy of the measures which have been authorised for improving the sanitary condition of the British soldier in China ; and there should be no relaxation of your effiarts, as there will be none on the part of Her Majesty's Government, in this direction. / I have, &c. (signed) Edicard Lugard. — No. 19. — Major General Guy to the War Office. — (Received 6 November.) Head Quarters, Yokohama, My Lord, 24 August 1865. I HAVE the honour to inform you that, in consequence oT the great amount of sickness prevalent amongst the troops at Hong Kong, the buildings appropriated as hospitals are quite insufficient to accommodate the number of sick. I enclose herewith a copy of a letter from the Officer Commanding Royal Engineers, and have to request that you will be good enough to authorise the immediate commencement of these works, in order to prevent the delay which must otherwise accrue if I await the approval and return of the usual annual estimate of the Royal Engineer Department. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding the Forces, China and Japan.' ■ [Reply to this Letter was rendered unnecessary by the receipt of No. 22, p. 200.1 SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OE TEOOPS (cHINA). 199 Enclosure l, in No. 19. The Commanding Royal Engineer to the Assistant Military Secretary (China, &c). Royal Engineers' Office, Yokohama, Sir, 24 August 1865. I HAVE the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency the Major General, that the approximate estimate for providing additional accommodation for ahout 80 patients, at Hong Kong, will be about 2,000 I., which I would expend in adding another ■story to the present hospital, as the cheapest plan of effecting the object. I have, &c. (signed) J. W. Lovell, Lieutenant Colonel and Commandant, Hoyal Engineers. (True copy.) W, Hartman, Deputy Asaistaut Quartermaster General. App. Nq. 1. — No. 20. — Surgeon Saunders totlie Medical Department. — Received 28 October.) Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 10 September 1865. I HAVE the honour to request that you will be pleased to send to this station, with the least possible delay, two assistant surgeons for the 2nd Battalion,. 11th Regiment, and, in addition, four staff assistant surgeons, for the duties specified in the accompanying retHrn. The duties of the medical officers at Hong Kong during the present sickly season continue to be most onerous, and it is most important that further medical aid be provided. I have, &c. (signed). Geo. Saunders, Surgeon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, for Principal Medical Officer in Japan. [For reply, see No. 34, p. 21 1 . J Enclosure 1, in No. 20. Distribution of Memcal Officeks Serving in China, 10th September 1865. Number Medical Officers reqxiired in Addition. ^j Sank. «■ Station. of Sick Men. Regimental. Staff. Remarks. Surgeon, 2nd Batta- George Saunders - Victoria, Charge of 2nd Battalion, 9th ISO Also attending Sick in Hospital of 2nd Battalion, lltli Regi- ment. lion, 9th Segiment. Hong Kong, Regiment, and Senior Medi- cal Officer. Surgeon, 2nd Batta- W.T. Black* - ditto Charge of 2nd Battalion, 11th 90 2 Assistant For Victoria, Hong • Now on Sick List, and not likely to be efficient. lion, 1 IthKegiment. Regiment. Surgeons for 2nd Bat- Kong — 1 Assistant Surgeon, for Staff Assistant Surgeon, A. R. Smith - - - ditto Charge of Royal Artillery, 90 talion, 11th and Depts. ; 1 As- ^RpyalArtiUery. Royal Engineers, and StaflF Corps, StafTand Depts., and Sick of 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, in quarters. Regiment, it being deficient that number. sistant Surgeon, for . Temporary Hospi- tal, Alexander's Buildings, one mile from General Hos- ) pital; 1 Assistant! f Surgeon, for Gene- \ Assistant Surgeon, C. C. Piper ,- ditto Wpmen and Children, part of - - 2nd Battalion, 9th Staff and Depts., Prisoners, Kegiment. &c. ral Duty. Ditto J.N. Stock - - Stanley, Hong Kong Charge of Detachments - 40 staff Assistant Sur- G. F. Adams t - ditto Sick - For Stanley— 1 As- t To proceed to England in geon. sistant Surgeon. charge of Invalids, if suffi- Ditto J. L. Curtis On Passage to Japan. Chajrge of Detachments pro- ceeding to Japan, Total— 4 Staff As- sistant Surgeons. ciently well. • Ditto W. H. B. Clapp, U.D. Takn Forts - Detachment, 2nd Battalion, 20th Regiment. 2 * Assistant Surgeon JElf adntyre, m.d., 2nd Battalion, llth Regiment, died at Victoria, Hong Kong, 5th September 1865. (signed) George Saunders, Surgeon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, Senior Medical Officer, 4. for Principal Medical Officer in Japan. 0.53. D D App. No. 1. 200 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE — No. 21.— Major General Guy to the War Office. — (Received 4 December.) Head Quarters, Yokohama, My Lord, 18 September 1865. I HAVE the honour to report that I have sanctioned transport having been taken up at Hong Kong for the conveyance of about 100 invalids of the garrison to England. I forward a copy herewith of a letter addressed by the Senior Medical Officer to the Commandant at Hong Kong, which will, I trust, show that this measure was imperatively called for. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Forces, China and Japan. [Approved in Letter dated 9 December 1865.J Enclosure 1, in No. 21. The Senior Medical Officer to the Commandant, Hong Kong. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 31 August 1865. Having been informed that my application for transport (•24th inst.) to convey 100 invalids to England, though marked " Immediate," has been referred to his Excellency the Major General Commanding at Japan, I have the honour most respectfully to acquaint you that the consequent delay (one month) ere his reply can be received is a most solemn responsibility; many of these men will have perished, whose lives might be otherwise saved. There are women and children also who will succumb to this climate, whose lives might be preserved by immediate removal ; and further, the hospital being frightfully overcrowded is a serious embarrassment, rendering the air of the wards impure, and bidding defiance in many instances to medical treatment, whereas the removal of about 100 invalids who are totally unfit for further service here would be a positive benefit to the sick who would remain. You will, I trust, bear with me, in making these remarks, as I am solely moved by a deep sense of duty and the cause of humanity. I have, &c. (signed) George Saunders, Surgeon, 2nd Battalion, 29th Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. (True copy.) W. Hartman, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General. — No. 22. — Major General Guy to the War Office. — (Received 4 December.) Head Quarters, Yokohama, My Lord, 18 September 1865. I HAVE the honour to report that I have found it necessary to direct that additional hospital accommodation should be taken up for the use of the garrison at Hong Kono-, and that two houses tendered by Mr. Alexander, at the monthly rental of 500 dollHrs for*' both have been engaged as a temporary hospital, and that I have authorised the expenditure of about 20 I. for kitchen arrangements. This additional accommodation was rendered necessary by the great amount of sickness prevalent at Hong Kong. On the 26th August there were 304 sick ; and of these 54 soldiers were treated in quarters, and 48 sleeping on the verandahs of the existing hostfttal which rendered it imperatively necessary that additional hospital accommodation should be provided. I enclose herewith the proceedings of a Board of Officers ordered to report on the subject. " , . I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Her Biitannic Majesty's Forces, t China and Japan. *^^ SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TKQOPS (cHINA). 201 Enclosure 1, in No. 22. Proceedings of a Board of Officers assembled at Hong Kong on the 19th August 1865, by order of Colonel Wyatt, Commanding Garrison, bearing date 18th August 1865, for the purpose of Eeporting-upon Two Houses, tendered by Mr. Alexander as a Temporary Military Hospital, in conformity with War Office Circular, No. 361. President : Mtijor Edwards, c.e.e. Members : Captain Roberts, d.a.q.m.g. J. Thomson, Esq., Purveyor. Surgeon Saunders, 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, Senior Medical Officer attending the Board. The Board having assembled pursuant to order, and having carefully inspected the buildings in question, beg to annex the following report : 1. Branch of the service for which accom- modation is required. App, No, 1. 2. Number and description of persons, &c>, &c. 3. Whether by re-arrangement of exist- ing accommodation, the additional accom- modation requisite could be provided. 4. Situation, extent, and description of buildings, &c., with reasons for its selection. 5. Precise use for which it is proposed to : appropriate it. 6. The time for which it is proposed to hire it. 7. Rent and conditions of hiring. 8. Name and address of landlord. 9. Present condition and state of repair, and any expenditure it may be intended to incur, to render it fitted for the object for iwhioh it is intended. The accommodation is required for hos- pital purposes. There is only room for 126 sick in the General Hospital ; 195 are at present treated in it, and 73 in barracks. About 60 patients. No ; in addition to the men treated in the General Hospital and in barracks, there are convalescents in the hospital at Stanley. Very well situated ; about 400 feet above sea level; detached, well built. The two houses can be thrown into one by arches in passage walls above and below stairs. Pro- prietor will do this. Sixty patients. For one year. Five hundred dollars per mensem for both houses, for one year certain. ^ W. H. Alexander, Esq., Acting Colonial Secretary, Hong Kons;. In first-rale condition. An expenditure of about 20 I. will be necessary to fit the kitchen foi- hospital cooking. (signed) J. Edwards, Major, Commanding Royal Engineers, President. W. Roberts, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General. John Thomson, Purveyor to the Forces. George Saunders, Surgeon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. (Approved.) P. M. N. Guy, Major General. — No. 23. — (Extract.) The Officer Commanding 2nd Battalion, llth Foot, to the Adjutant General. Sir, Hong Kong, China, 25 September 1865. 1 HAVE the honour to report, for the information of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that the battalion under my command in China is at the present time deficient of a surgeon and two assistant surgeons. In fact Assistant Surgeon Piper, 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, is in medical charge of ^;he corps. I have, &c. ■ (signed) Augustus Jenner, Colonel, Commanding 2nd Battalion, llth Regiment. A 0.53. ' D D 2 App. No. 1. 202 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FROM THE — No. 24. — The Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong, to the Medical Department. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, gj,, 26 September 1865. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith copies of correspondence which l^^s taken place on the subject of sending invalids to England from this station and to acquaint you that, as the result thereof, the ship, " Gresham " has been taken up for the conveyance of about 160 men, and a number of women and children, and will sail probably in the first week of October ; Staff Assistant Surgeon Adams proceeding m medical charge. „ ,. , ,-, ■ i. -u ■ I have also to acquaint you that Surgeon Black, 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, having been found unfit for service in this climate by a Medical Board, will proceed to Jingland by this opportunity. 1 have, &c. (signed) George Saunders, Surgeon, 2nd BattaUou, 9th Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. Enclosure 1, in No, 24. The Senior Medical Officer to the Commandant, Hong Kong. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir 24 August 1866. As there are about 100 men belonging to the different corps at this station, whose con- stitutions are greatly shattered by this climate, I have the honour to recommend that transport be taken up for their conveyance to England. I have, &c. (signed) George Saunders, Surgeon, 2nd Battalion, 9ih Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. Enclosure 2, in No. 24. The Senior Medical Officer to the Commandant, Hong Kong. [See Enclosure l, in No. 21, page 200.] Enclosure 3, in No. 24. The Commandant to the Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Garrison Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 31 August 1865. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your letter * of the 30th, relative to the removal of • Query 31st, see 100 invalids, women and children, to England; in reply thereto, I have the honour to state Enclosure 2. ' that I have this day given instructions to the Quartermaster General to provide the transport you require. I have to add that your statement is so forcible, and rendered in so humane a spirit, bearing in mind the great amount of sickness we have had among the troops this season, that I congratulate myself on its receipt, as it enables me to anticipate his Excellency the Major General's instructions on this subject. I have, &c. (signed) H. H. S. Wyatt, Colonel Commandant. — No. 25. — Major General Guy to the War Office. — (Received 4 December.) Head Quarters, Yokohama, My Lord, 27 September 1865. I HAVE the honour to report the arrival here on ihe 18th instant, on board Her Majesty's ship " Adventuie," of the detachments, strength as per margin.* The * 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment (o)— '2 captains, 1 lieutenant, 1 ensign, 8 seijeants, 7 corporals, 2 drummers, , 133 rank and file, 5 women, and 8 children. •■■.<• Z 2d Battalion, 20th Regiment (6) — 1 captain, 1 Serjeant, 1 coKporal,»l drummer, 19 rank and file, 65 women, and 78 children. ' .... (o) 1 man died during the passage. (6) Two men ^ied, daring ^e jia^aage ; ,3 9hp(li-en,born. , SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS (cHINA). 203 The Royal Marine Light Infantry Battalion having embarked for England, I was enabled ^p_ js(o. i. to carry out the instructions contained in the War Office Letter,* No. 083 — 1479, of the 23rd March, by transferring two companies of the 2nd Battalion, nth Regiment, from Hong Kong to Yokohama, and by ihis means I have diminished the amount of extra accommo- * No. 12, p 194. ' dation which it would have otiierwise been necessary to hire during the present unhealthy season. With a view also to aflFord additional accommodati(m to the overcrowded garrison of Hong Kong, and to utilise the huts vacated by the Royal Marine Battalion, 1 have also removed the women and children of the 2nd Battalion, 20th Regiment, from the Stanley Barracks at Hong Kong, to Yokohama. The length of time the married non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the 2nd Batta- lion, 20th Regiment, bad been separated from their families rendered this measure desirable, as previously communicated to your Lordship. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding Troops, China and Japan. — No. 26. — (No. 620.) Major General Guy to the War Office. — (Received 23 December.) My Lord, Head Quarters, Hong Kong, 31 October 186.5. It is with much regret I have to report to your Lordship the considerable amount of sickness and mortality which has prevailed in the -Ind Battalion, 11th Regiment, since their arrival at this station. The last summer has unfortunately been one of extreme unhealthiness, and has proved unusually fatal to Europeans, both among the civil and military communities; indeed, the prevalence and severity of what is termed the Hong Kong fever has been greater than at any other period during the last seven years. The enclosed return will show the number of deaths and admissions into hospital in the two battahons at Hong Kong. Although the other troops in this garrison have suffered severely, the condition of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, is far worse than that of any other corps ; this is to be accounted for by the following circumstances : — 1. The battalion arrived at Hong Kong on the 28th of May, the worst season for Euro- peans to encounter the climate of Southern China, more particularly as in the case of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, after having experienced a very hot passage from the Cape, which station it left at the termination of the summer. 2. The arrival of the battalion at Hong Kong a month earlier than was expected, and the unavoidable necessity of placing a portion of the corps at Kowloon until the buildinos which were in course of preparation were ready for the reception of the troops. The build- ings which were taken for the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, were the very best that could be procured, and no means were neglected to make them as suitable as possible in all respects, for the occupation of troops. Yet it is undeniable that buildings constructed as godowns are inferior in all respects to regular barracks, which are provided with spacious verandahs and other requisites for the health and comfort of the occupants. Another cause seriously affecting the health of the troops is the increased amount of duty unavoidably thrown upon the efficient portion of the garrison by the large number of sick, reducing the number of nights in bed to three. This fact necessitated the hiring of Chinese watchmen to replace some of the sentries, doubtless an expensive arrangement, but one without wliich it would have been impossible to carry on the duties, as the guards had been reduced to the utmost extent. The annexed extracts from a ittter addressed to me by the Principal Medical Officer in 'China, show the present condition of the 2nd B;ittalion, 9th Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, and I do not think that the statements therein contained are in any degree exaggerated. I comcide in the opinion that the removal of the latter battalion from China will he most desirable before the commencement of the next hot season. •^' I would, in conclusion, request your Lordship's attention to the often expressed opinion ofthe medical officers who have served in China, viz., that the presence of a native batta- lion, for the performance of garrison duty during the invariably unhealthy summer season at Hong Kong, is absolutely essential for the preservation of the lives and health of the European troops. '' I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, , Commanding Troops in China and Japan. P. $y — Ittnay be explained, that on the receipt at Hong Kong, on the 24th February 1865, of the War Office letter dated loth January, notifying that it had been decided to •send thfi 2iid Battalion,. 11th Regiment, to this station, immediate steps were taken to make thepecessaryarrangeairents for the hire gf suitable buildings for the occupation ofthe troops. The Board qf Officers had assembled withifa a week ofthe receipt of the letter ; and although 0.53. D D 3 considerable 204 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE App. No. 1. considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining these buildings, they were finally en- gaged on the 17th March; thus no delay, beyond what was absolutely unavoidable, had occurred in concluding the necessary arrangements. As considerable alterations were indispensable, viz., the adding of upper stories, constructing cooking-houses, latrines, &c., and various internal fittings, nearly four months had elapsed before the buildings could be got ready for occupation by the troops. ^ ^ (signed) P. M. N. Guy. Enclosure 1, in No. 26. Principal Medical Officer to the Assistant Military Secretary, Hong Kong. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 31 October 1865. In compliance with the request contained in your memorandum. No. 1058, of yesterday's date, I have the honour to transmit, for the information of his Excellency the Major General Commanding, a statement of the admissions into hospital, and deaths among the men, women, and children of the 2nd Battalion, 9th, and 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiments. Return showing the Admissions into Hospital, and Deaths among the Men, Women and Children of the 2nd Battalion, 9th, and 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiments, from 1st June to 20th October 1865. Regiment. Admissions. Deaths. 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment: Men ---_-- Women ------ Children ------ 2nd Battalion, Ilth Regiment: Men Women ------ Children 1,354 1,261 29 6 24 43 3 48 I have, &c. (signed) William Dick, m.d.. Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals. • Query 29th March, Enclosure No. 14, p. 196. Enclosure 2, in No. 26. (Extract.) Principal Medical Officer to the Assistant Military Secretary, Hong Kong. Sir, Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, 27 October 1865. In a letter* addressed to you, dated the 28th March 1865, for the information of his Excellency, it was shown that the average annual decrease of strength among the white^ troops serving in China, caused by deaths and invaliding, during the years 1862, 1863, and 1864, amounted to 97-265 per 1,000 men employed. By the calculations I have recently made, it appears that the decrease of strength in this garrison from the same causes has amounted to 166-669 per 1,000 men employed since the 1st of July last; and from what I know and have observed, I have too much reason to fear that it will be necessary to add largely to that amount before the end of the present year, already so near its termination. The casualties among the women and children have also been very oreat eioht of the former, from a strength of 101, and 71 of the latter, from a strength o^f 171, havino- died within almost the period specified above. ~ The casualties among the officers have also been considerable, four havino- died and seven havmg been mvalided, being in the ratio of 130-952 per 1,000 since the beeinnine of last quarter. ° = Having made this general statement, it is desirable that I should enter more into detail as the different corps formmg the garrison have not been all equally unhealthy. ■ ' . 2nd SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TKOOtS (CHINA). 205 2nd Battalion, 9th Eegiment.— During the quarter ending 30th Septemher last, 725 App. No. 1. cases of malarious fevers, and 59 cases of bowel complaint, besides other diseases, have — _ been treated ; and the loss of strength from deaths and invaliding together has amounted to 121"621 per 1,000 men. The general health of the battalion is very much shaken. 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment. — During the same quarter, 706 cases of malarious fevers and 64 cases of bowel complaints, besides other diseases, have been treated ; and the loss of strength from deaths and invahding has amounted to 228-898 per 1,000 men. This regiment has lost both its medical officers, one having died, and the other having been invalided. The general health of the men of this corps is in a far worse condition than that of the 2nd Battahon, 9th Regiment, and is, in fact, so deteriorated as to render its removal from the command inevitable. ****** I have, &c., (signed) William Dick, m.d.. Principal Medical OflScer, Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals. — No. 27. — The Medical Department to the Quartermaster General. Army Medical Department, Sir, 4 November 1865. I HAVE the honour to transmit, for the information of His Eoyal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, the enclosed proceedings of a Board of Officers, and accompanying papers, which I have received from the principal medical officer in China,, relative to the crowded state of the barracks and hospital at Hong Kong. I have, &c. (signed) J.^B. Gibson, Director General. Enclosure 1, in No. 27. The Senior Medical Officer to the Commandant, Hong Kong. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Sir, Hong Kong, 5 July 1865. I HAVE the honour to request that additional hospital accommodation be provided for 60 patients with the least possible delay. I have, &c. (signed) Geo. Saunders, Surgeon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. The above letter being referred by the commandant to the deputy assistant quarter- master general, the latter officer stated in a memorandum that the hospital hulk " Hercules " affijrded accommodation for 80 sick, and the hospital at Stanley 40 ; and the following memorandum was then written : — Principal Medical Officer's Office, 18 July 1865. The " Hercules" has been considered unsafe for occupation; there is at present accom- modation for only 28 sick at Stanley, one room in the hospital at that station being in the hands of the Royal Engineers, undergoing repairs, and will not be ready for five weeks. There are now upwards of 60 sick unaccommodated in hospital, the hospital itself being overcrowded. Unless additional hospital accommodation is provided, the sick fist wilt increase, and the sick will seriously suffer. I have, &c. (signed) Geo. Saunders, Surgeon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. (Memo.) 20 July 1865. A COPY of the correspondence will be forwarded by first mail to Dr. Dick, Deputy Inspector General at Japan, for further action. (signed) Geo. Saunders, Senior Medical Officer, Surgeon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, 0.53. D D 4 App. No. 1. 206 APPENDIX TO BEPOKT PROM THE Enclosure 2, in No. 27. The Senior Medical Officer to the Commandant, Hong Kong. Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, Sir 28 July 1865. With reference to the accompanying correspondence whicli you have handed to me directing you to accommodate ihe men of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, in Flelcher s- buildings elsewhere, I have the honour to observe that at present 375 men occupy these barracks, giving to each man about 725 cubic feet, being 275 cubic feet lesfi than the regulations allow for ihis cHmate as the minimum space. I have also to observe that cholera has been making ravages among the men of the regiment, and only yesterday two men were buried who fell victims to this awful disease. It was my intention this very diiy to advise y0!i to thin the rooms, in order to give each man more space. I would fail in the discharge of my duty as your sanitary officer, if I did not give the full expression of my conviction, that by overcrowding the men at this, and for the next two months, the most unhealthy period of the year, nothing short of considerable mortality can be expected. I have, &c. (signed) Geo. Saunders, Senior Medical Officer, Surgeon ^nd Battalion, 9th Regiment. Though this application was supported by the commanding officer 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, the result was that TO more men were put into the barracks. (signed) Geo. Saunders, Surgeon 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, Senior Medical Officer, For Principal Medical Officer, absent at Japan. Enclosure 3, in 'No. 27. The Commandant to the Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Garrison Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 1 1 August 1 865. I HAVE the honour to inform you that, in consequence of your report relative to the want of hospital accommodation, a Board of Officers, consisting of the commandant, the quarter- master general, and the principal medical officer, are requested to meet at the latter's office at 12 noon to-morrow, for the purpose of ascertaining whether, by some changes suggested by you, increased accommodation may be provided. I have, &c. (signed) B. L. Wyatt, Colonel Commandant. Enclosure 4, in No. 27. Proceedings of a Board of Officers, assembled by order of the Commandant, to consider-' the re-appropriation of certain Ponions of the Garrison Hospital Buildino-s with a view to increased Accommodation being affijrded for the Sick. Hong Kong, 12 August 1865. President : Colonel Wyatt, 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, Commandant. Members: Surgeon Geo. Saunders, 2nd Battalion, 9th Eegiraent. Captain Roberts, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General. The Board having examined the state of the hospital buildings, find that there is only accommodation for 126 s:ck in the Garrison Hospital, while at present the number amounts io 195, frightfully overcrowding the wards to the injury of the patients. We further find that 73 men are treated in barracks who should be in hospital ; aud SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 207 and as there is not the slightest expectation of the sick list diminishing, but, on the con- App. No, trary, there is a certainty of an increase, owing to the unhealthiness of the season, and particularly as the general health of the troops is indiflFerent, we therefore recommend that additional hospital accomniodation be provided immediately for at least 100 patients, allow- ing each from 1,200 to 1,500 cubic feet. ^signed) Lewis Wyatt, Colonel Commandant, President. Geo. Saunders, Surgeon 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, - Senior Medical OtBcer. ) Members. J. W. Roberts, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General. — No. 28.— The Medical Department to the Quartermaster General. Army Medical Department, Sir, 6 JSovember 1866. With reference to my letter to you, dated the 4th instant, I have the honour to transmit, for the information of His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, the accompanying papers which were attached to the Monthly General Sanitary Report of the senior medical officer in China, for July, received this morning. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General- [For reply, see No. 29, p. 208.J Enclosure 1, in No. 28. [See Enclosure 1, in No. 22, page 201. J Enclosure 2, in No. 28. The Senior Medical Officer to the Commandant, Hong Kong. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 22 .July 1865. Obsekving that the men have only 4§ nights in bed, I have„the honour to acquaint youi that it is the opinion of Dr. Dick, Deputy Inspector General'f)f Hospitals, as well as my own, that in order to maintain the health of the troops at this station, the men should have not less than six nights in bed. I therefore earnestly trust you will take this circumstance into your serious consider- ation in the " detail of guards." I have, &c. (signed) Geo. Saunders, Surgeon 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. Enclosure 3, in No. 28. The Senior Medical Officer to the Commandant, Hong Kong. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 12 August 1866. Observing that the men of 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, have only from one to three- nights in bed, and the men of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, about 3J, which does not allow sufficient rest at night to preserve the health of the troops, I have the honour lo recommend that steps be taken to ensure each man from five to six nights in bed. I beg to refer you to a former communication of mine on this subject, dated 22nd July last. I have, &c. (signed) Geo. Saunders, Surgeon 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, '■ Senior Medical Officer. 0.53. Ee 208 APfBNDIX TO KBPOET prom THE App. No. 1. Enclosure 4, in No. 28. The Senior Medical Officer to the Commandant, Hong Kong. Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, Sir, 8 August 1865. Having had the flooriu? of the men's rooms and the verandahs taken up in certain places, with the view of examining into the condition of the part underneath, where I apprehended noxious matter has been accumulating to the injury of the health of the troops, I have the honour to bring to your notice the following facts as revealed by that examination. 1st. C. Range, basement west. Colour-Serjeant Eeaside's room, occupied by himself, wife, and four children, beneath the floor three dead rats and one dead cat were found in an advanced stage of decomposition, also foul rags, tin plates, sardine boxes, old boots, bottles, leakage from adjoining bath-room, decomposed wood, and a quantify of most offensive matter yielding pestilential gases, which readily passed up through the numerous openings in the floor, thus rendering the air of the apartment most impure. The con- sequence has been that the Serjeant is dangerously ill, his wife (who has since died) and his four children have all suffered in health from the same cause.* 2nd. A quantity of decomposed matter was found beneath the floor of the schoolmaster Serjeant's room (the one which adjoins the schoolroom) where the whole family, consist-, ing of the serjeant, his wife, and two children, became seriously ill, and had to be invalided to England. 3rd. A quantity of offensive matter was likewise found beneath the floor of the guard room and verandahs; in the latter, cases of cholera have occurred, several proving fatal. I have therefore to recommend as follows : — 1st. That the flooring of the guard room, schoolmaster Serjeant's room, and that of all the verandahs, B. and C. ranges, be taken up, all foul matter removed, and dry lime freely used. 2nd. That all ventilators opening beneath floors be trapped. In the instance of Serjeant Reaside's room there was no such provision, and conse- quently cats, rats, &c., could readily enter. Being of opinion that closed verandahs on both sides of the men's rooms are decidedly objectionable as obstructing light and air, two primary elements for the preservation of health, — 3rd. I beg to recommend the removal of the screens of the back verandahs, and that the upper louvres and basement only remain ; removing, however, much of the woodwork of the latter. 4th. A louvred ventilator is required in the passage wall of the quartermaster Serjeant's room, canteen buildings. As cholera is likely to break out again next month (September), particularly as my appeal against the overcrowded state of the men's rooms has been disregarded, I earnestly trust that orders may be given for remedying the foregoing defects. I have, &c. (signed) Geo. Saunders, Surgeon 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment. — No. 29.— The Quartermaster General to the Medical Department. Sir, Horse Guards, 8 November 1865. No. 28, p. 207, With reference to your letter of the 6th instatit, enclosing papers which were attached to the Monthly General Sanitary Report of the senior medical officer in China, for July, I have the honour, by desire of the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, to acquaint you that the portion of the correspondence which relates to lightenint!; the guard duties at Hong Kong, has been referred to the Adjutant General as belonging to hie department. I have, &c. (signed) J. Hope Grant, Quartermaster General. * The defects of this room have been since remedied. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TSOOPS (cHINA). 209 — No. 30.— App. No. 1. The Medical Department to the Adjutant General. Army Medical Department, My Lord, 8 November 1865. I HAVE the honour to submit, for the approval of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that ihe officer named in the margin* who has been recommended ^"^ ^^' P* ^^^' for appointment to the 2nd Battalion, 11th Foot, vice Assistant Surgeon A. Macintyre, deceased, may be ordered to join the head quarters of that corps by the first opportunity. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General. — No. 31.— The Medical Department to the Military Secretaiy. Army Medical Department, Sir, 8 Movember 1865. 1 HAVE the honour to submit, for the approval of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that passage to China overland, by the first opportunity, may be provided for Staff Assistant Surgeon G. R. O'Toole, who proceeds to this station as successor to Staff Assistant Surgeon G. F. Adams, who is returning home on a Medical Board. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General. — No. 32. — Major General Guy to the War Office. — (Received 3 January 1866). Head Quarters, Hong Kong, Sir, 11 November 1865. Refeeking to my letter to your Lordship, No. 620, dated 31st October, I have now No. 26, p. 203. the honour to submit the result of a consultation with the senior medical officers in this command, on the subject of what measures appear to be absolutely necessary for the pre- servation of the lives and health of the European troops serving in Hong Kong ; the following recommendations are based upon the experience of the last 20 years of this most trying and too often fatal climate. It is considered : — 1st. That the presence of an Indian or other native regiment of the East, is indispensable for the performance of the garrison duties in Hong Kong during the hot season. 2nd. That no European regiment should, under any circumstances, remain longer than two years at Hong Kong. 3rd. That a sanatorium should be established in Japan, which would tend very materially to preserve the efficiency of the European corps in this command, and at the same time considerably diminish the heavy expense of sending all invalids home. 4th. That if it should be determined to keep a second European regiment in Hong Kong, it will be absolutely necessary to build good and commodious barracks, as well as a sufficient number of quarters for married soldiers, the present temporary arrangement of placing British troops in hired buildings being not only most unsatisfactory in a sanitary point of view, but at the same time enormously expensive ; a very large addition to the present hospital accommodation would also be indispensable. 5t^l. That it would be most desirable to effect, if possible, an annual, or at least a bi-annual relief of regiments, between Hong Kong and Japan. This arrangement would doubtless entail considerable expense, but it would, on the other hand, be the means of saving many lives, and of preserving the health and efficiency of the troops. 6th. Experience has shown that to garrison Hong Kong liy European troops alone is not only destructive to their general health and efficiency, but involves the question, as to whether it is not actually the most costly arrangement that could be made. The expense of * Assistant Surgeon J. W. Purefoy, M..p., at ])resent stationed at Portsmouth. 0.53. B E 2 210 APPENDIX TO KEPOET FROM THE App, No. 1. of sending home invalids, and of replacing the casualties caused by the effect of climate — ■ during the past summer will be enormous, and ihe extent can scarcely yet be determined, as many men now in the ranks will (in the 0[)inion of the medical officers) require change of climate in a very few months, or at all events before the commencement of another hot season. The cost for the hire of buildin;;s for one year, including those occupied as hospitals, amounts to 13,158/., and yet every measure has been adopted to carry out the service in the most economical manner consistent with the absolute requirements of the troops. I am aware of the difficulty that exists respecting the establishment of a permanent station in Japan ; but from the experience obtained during my recent visit to that country, I do not think it will be possible to withdraw British troops from it for a considerable time to come. I believe I am justified in stating that such is also the decided opinion of Her Majesty's Minister, Sir H. Parkes. This sentiment seems to be fully shared by the French Government, as every movement on their part has been to establish more firmly their footing in Japan ; and inspection of their substantial stone buildings, such as barracks, storehouses, hospital, &c, at Yokohama, as also the recent landing there of heavy guns and ammunition, clearly prove the permanent nature of their estabhshments in Japan. I take this opportunity of bringing to the notice of your Lordship the condition of the huts occupied by the 2nd Battalion, 20th Regiment, at Yokohama ; they were built in July 1864, by the Japanese Government, at tlie request of Sir R. Alcock, and were intended to last only from six to nine months; by frequent repairs, however, they have been kept in tolerably good condition, and may, by great care (it is considered), be preserved in a habi- table state for a longer period of from 12 to 18 months from the present date ; before the end of that time it will of course be necessary to decide in what manner the troops are to be put up, if it should be decided to retain them in Japan : the hire of buildings in Yoko- hama for that purpose would, I believe, be an impossibility, and even, if obtainable, the cost would be something fabulous ; it would, therefore, become a question of building new huts or barracks. In conclusion, I would again urge upon your Lordship the necessity of sending to Hong Kong, before the commencement of the next hot season, a native regiment of some description, and of removing the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, to another station before the 1st of April next. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding H. B. M. Troops in China and Japan. P. S. — ^The following is an approximate estimate, received from the Commandino- Royal Engineer, Lieutenant Colonel Lovell, c,B., for hutting a native infantry regiment, GOo'strong, allowing 600 cubic feet to each man : — The huts to be of brick, substantial and comfortable barracks for native troops, and even capable of being made available for European soldiers on an emergency. Nine pounds per man, or 5,400/. for 600 men, exclusive of European officers, who would not most probably exceed six. Should the recommendation contained in this letter be acceded to, it would be desirable to receive the earliest possible intimation by telegraph, to enable the engineers to commence work. The site upon which the temporary barracks of the 22nd Regiment Bombay Native Infantry were built is Government property, and would be admirably adapted for this purpose, P. M. N. Guy, Major General. — No. 33. — The Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong, to the Medical Department. — (Received, 3 January 1866.) Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong, Kong, Sir, 14 November 1865. I HAVE the honour to report for your information that sickness, chiefly fevers and bowel complaints, still prevails to a serious extent among the troops of this garrison ; but it affords me satisfaction, at the saine time, to mention that mortality seems to be on the decrease as only three fatal cases of disease have occurred since the beginning of this month. The cold season is now beginning to set in, and I trust the change will have a beneficial influence generally on the health of the garrison, though I do not anticipate that any very decided decrease m the ratio of sick will occur much before the end of the year when it usually happens at this station that sickness abates. ' I have, &c. (signed) William Dick, m.d.. Deputy Inspector GeneraL SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS (cHINA). 211 - No. 34. - ^ PP- ^°' '• The Medical Department to the Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Sir, Army Medical Department, 14 November 1865. In acknowledging the receipt of your letter* of the 10th September last, I have the * ^°- ^°> P* ^99- honour to inform you that assistant surgeons have ah^eady embarijed, or are under orders for embarkation, to complete the establishment of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, and the Staff in China ; and should you consider any augmentation necessary, you should make your representation to the General Officer commanding, who will forward the same, should he think it advisable, for the consideration of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Com- manding in Chief; and I have to request you will fully explain why the Deputy Inspector General and the Staff" Surgeon allowed for the China command are both in Japan, also a .staff assistant surgeon, as I do not see the necessity for such an arrangement. I have &c. (signed) J. B, Gibson, Director General. — No. 35. — The Medical Department to the Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong. Sir, Army Medical Department, 20 November 1865. Ik forwarding to you the enclosed letter and correspondence which I have received from Surgeon G. P. M. Woodward, 2nd Battalion, 20th Regiment Foot, which does not appear to have passed through your hands, I have the honour to request you will point out the irregularity which he has committed ; and I trust, in reply to this letter, you will be able to explain satisfactorily, for the information of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Com- manding in Chief, why either Staff' Surgeon Woolfreys or yourself are absent from Hong Kong during the sickly season, and at a time when there is such a serious amount of sick- ,ness amongst the troops; and are at a station where the climate is so good, the force so small and healthy, and for whose medical care the regimental officers are quite sufficient. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General. — No. 36. — The Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong, to the Medical Department. — (Received, 19 January 1866.) Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 30 November 1865. Referring to my letter* of the 14th instant, respecting the then state of health of the * No, 33, p. 210. 'garrison of Hong Kong, I have now the honour to report, for your information, that since the above date there has been a slight increase both in the per-centage of sick and in the number of fever cases and bowel complaints. I am happy, however, to have it in my power to state that there have been only three deaths among the troops since the departure of the last mail. The state of health of many of the men here is, however, such as to require their removal from the station for change of climate, and I have called upon the military authorities to ;furnish the means of sending such invalids to England. Their number will probably amount •to about 100. Adverting to paragraph 3 of my letter to you, dated head quarters, Yokohama, the 20th September last, in which I stated that I had turned my attention to the possibility of pro- viding a temporary sanatorium for the reception of invalids from Hong Kong at that station, I have the honour to enclose a set of meteorological observations for the years 1863-64, for 'which I am indebted to Dr. Hepburn, of the American Legation ; and it seems to me that it would neither be safe nor expedient to expose men suffering from organic disease to the flow temperature obtaining there during the months of December, January, February, and March; most of the men I propose to invalid do so suffer, and the cases of few of them would admit of so long a delay as would be requisite to enable us to send them there with safety. I may further add, as having an important bearing on this matter, that the buildings available at Yokohama for the purpose are in fact American or other deal huts, very imperfectly adapted for the protection of even healthy men from the effects of a low temperature. I have, &c. (signed) William Dick, m.d.. Deputy Inspector General. ■0.53. E B 3 App. No. I. 212 APPENDIX TO KEPOKT PROM THE — No. 37. — The War Office to the Military Secretary, Sir, War Office, 6 Deceraber 1865. I AM directed by Earl de Grey and Ripon to acquaint you, for the information of tbe Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that Her Majesty's Government have determined on reducing the force in the China command by one battalion of infantry. I am accordingly to request that you will move his Royal Highness to take the necessary steps for bringing away one battalion from Hong Kong, as the force in Japan is not to be reduced. I have, &c, (signed) Hartington. [For reply, see No.. 40, p. 214.J — No. 38. — The Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong, to the Medical Department. — (Received 3 February 1866.) Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 14 December 1865. * No. 36, p. 211. In continuation of my letter* of 30th ultimo, reporting on the state of health of the troops at this station, I have now the honour to report that a slight diminution in the daily average of sick and in the number of fever cases has taken place, and that there have been only two deaths (in' the 2nd Battalion, 1 1th Regiment) since the 1st instant, one from intermittent fever, and the other from diarrhoea. I have, &;c. (signed) William Dick, m.d. Deputy Inspector General. — No. 39 The Military Secretary to the War Office. Sir, Horse Guards, 15 December 1865. I AM directed by his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letter from the Director General, Army Medical De- partment, with its enclosures, respecting the unsatisfactory state of health of "the garrison at Hong Kong, and to request that you will lay the same before the Secretary of State for War, together with the copy of a further communication from Sir James Gibson on the subject of the medical staff allowed for China. I have, &c. {(signed) W, F. Forster. Enclosure 1, in No. 39. The Medical Department to the Military Secretary. Sir, Army Medical Department, 6 December 1865. I HAVE the honour herewith to forward, for the information of His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, copies of two letters which have been received at this department, one from the surgeon of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, and the other from the principal medical officer at Hong Kong ; and I have to express my regret that the health of the troops at that station continues to suffer so severely, and that such an unusual amount of invaliding has been necessary. I have, &c, (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General Enclosure 2, in No. 39. The Principal Medical Officer, Hong Kong, to the Medical Department. „. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kono- „,*="■' , , 14 October 1865. ^' With reference to ray letter, dated Head Quarters, Yokohama, 20th ultimo I have th^ honour to report that, m consequence of the information I received respecting the unsatis- factory SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TEOOPS (cHINA). 213 •factory state of the health of the garrison at Hong Kong, I proceeded immediately to this station. On my arrival here I found that previous arrangements had been made to dispatch 175 invalids to England, the far larger proportion of which belong to the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment. 1 have specially inspected all these men, and they appear to me to be cases of such urgency as to require immediate removal. I regret at the same time to state that, from what I have observed, it seems to me that further invaliding, on an extensive scale, will be still required ; but before giving any positive opinion, it may be well to watch the effects of the approaching change of season. It will be observed, that the 2nd Battalion, nth Regiment, is now without any medical officers of its own, in consequence of the death of Assistant Surgeon M'Intyre, and the necessity which has arisen of invaliding Surgeon Black, of that corps; and as I am of opinion that the latter will be unfit to serve again in the climate of South China I venture to hope that no time will be losi in replacing these two officers. The departure of Assistant Surgeons Beath and Adams to England, in charge of invalids, has reduced the medical establishment in the command by two, and as it will probably be necessary to detach another staff' medical officer, on a similar duty, at no very distant period I consider it necessary that at least three oiher medical officers should, without delay, be ordered to the command. I shall probably have occasion to address you again on the subject of the unhealthy con- dition of the garrison at Hong Kong, by the next or following mail. 1 have, &c. (signed) William Dick, m.d. Deputy Inspector General, Principal Medical Officer. A pp. No. 1. Enclosure 3, in No. 39. The Senior Medical Officer to the Commandant, Hong Kong. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 13 October 1866. Adverting to the large amount of sickness and mortality during the hot season, now over, which I am sure has deeply concerned yon, I deem it my duly briefly to point out the principal causes which, in my opinion, have led to such lamentable results. Table of Strength, Deaths, and Invaliding, from date of Arrival (7th February 1865) to 13th October 1865; Eight Months. 2nd Battalion, Qth. Regiment. Officers Men - Women Children Total Strength. 34 839 47 79 999 Died. 1 36 5 23 65 Invalided. 1 78 20 29 128 From 29th May to 13th October 1865 ; Four and a-half Months. 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment. Strength. Died. Invalided. Officers .-.-.. Men Women .-.-.. Children 25 704 54 92 2 49 3 48 , 3 124 16 14 Total - - - . 875 ]02 157 0.53. E E 4 214 APPENDIX TO BEPOKT FROM THE App^^No. 1. Causes op Sickness, &c. • 1. The Occupation of Kowloon. — Being devoid of all sanitary measures, the 2nd Bat- talion, 9th Kegiment, and 2nd Battalion, 11th Eegiment, suffered severely from malarious fever. 2. Insufficient and Defective Barrack and Hospital Accommodation. — On the arrival of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, from the Cape of Good Hope, no suitable accommoda- tion had been prepared for the regiment. The men, too, were ill-adapted to contend with the excessive heat at the time, in consequence of having just passed through a Cape summer. The godowns subsequently built were badly situated on the main street, low ground, having no verandahs, and without recreation rooms- The women and children have also been occupying vary defective quarters, except the upper rooms of St. Francis' Hospital, which are good, but the vicinity is unhealthy. The sick could not all be treated in hospital for want of room, though the verandahs were filled with patients. Many, therefore, had to remain in their barrack-rooms. 3. Overcrowding the men in their barrack-rooms, the cubic space to each man being from about 740 to 920 cubic feet. 4. Insufficient number of nights in bed, the average having been three or three and a- half, and in some instances less than three. 5. Intemperance, and want of in-door employment. Eecommendations. 1. Well-situated, well built, and well-ventilated barracks, affording to each man at least 1,200 cubic feet. 2. Every man to have not less than six nights in bed continuously. 3. Spacious and well-lighted recreation rooms. 4. Workshops. 6. Suitable accommodation for married soldiers and their families, but far better if women and children were not sent to China. 6. Regimental canteens to be always supplied with porter by the Commissariat Depart- ment, and no ardent spirits sold, which are decidedly injurious to health and their excessive; use fatal in China. 7. Hospital accommodation, affording to each patient 1,500 cubic feet. I have, &c. (signed) George Saunders, Surgeon, 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, Senior Medical Officer. Enclosure 4, in No. 39. The Medical Department to the Military Secretary. Sir, Army Medical Department, 12 December 1865. Advekting to your letter of the llth instant, I have the honour to state, for the infor- mation of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that the medical staff allowed for China, exclusive of the regimental medical officers, is one deputy inspector general, one staff surgeon, and four staff assistant surgeons, which I consider to be sufficient- for the strength of the garrison. Should it, however, be determined to establish a sanatorium at Yokohama, it would be necessary to send out an additional staff surgeon to take charge of the same. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General. — No. 40. — The Mihtary Secretary to the War Office. TVTn Q« n f' directed to request you will submit, for the consideration of the Secretary of State for War, whether, in order to meet the peculiar requirements of our position in that country, and to •relieve the European garrison of some of the duties which it appears almost impossible for them to perform without serious injury to their health, it might not be expedient and dcr sirable to raise a local corps for special duty at Hong Kong. The Field Marshal Commanding in Chief is aware of the objections, financial and other- wise,, to the employment of native iroops from India; but as it is evident from Major General Guy's recent reports on the state of health of the garrison, that some auxiliary aid to the European troops is an actual necessity, bis Royal Highness believes the course now suga;ested would prove feasible and efficacious, as the Chinese are, as was ascertained from Lieutenant General Sir Hope Grant, admirably adapted for the sort of duty which would be required of them. Adverting to the concluding paragraph of my letier above quoted, I am desired to state, that as the 2nd Battalion lllh Regiment is in a worse state of health, and requires change of climate more than the 2ndBatialion of the 9th, his Royal Highness proposes to send the former rtg-iment to Japan, in relief of the Snd Battalion 20th Regiment, instead of the latter, as originally intended. I have, &c. (signed) E. W. Johnson, Colonel, For Military Secretary. [For reply, see No. 4&, p. 220.J — No. 45. — The Military Secretary to the Medical Department. Sir, Horse Guards, 3 January 1866. With reference to your letters of the 6th and 12th ultimo, I am directed by his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a letter from Major General Guy, reporting that there are vacancies for three regimental and four stafif' medical officers in the China command, and requesting that they may be sent to Hong Kong as early as possible. I have, &c. (signed) E. B. Johnson, Colonel, [For reply, see No. 47, page 220. J For Mihtary Secretary. Enclosure 1, in No. 45. Major General Guy to the Military Secretary. — (Received 3 J.aauary 1866.) Sir, Head Quarters, Hong Kong, 14 November 1865. I HATE the honour to request you will bring to the notice of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, the insufficient number of medical officers in this command, there being at present vacancies for three regimental and four staff officers; and I beg to recommend that they may be sent to Hong Kong as early as possible, not only with a view of lightening the arduous duties now performed by the medical officers at present at Hong Kong, but also to provide for the numerous contingencies which so frequently occur in this very trying climate. 1 have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General Commanding Troops in China. 0.53. F F 2 218 APPENDIX TO BEPORT FROM THE App. No. 1, 1 — No. 46. — The Military Secretary to the War Office. Sir, Horse Guards, 4 January 1866. In continuation of lormer correspondence on the subject of the state of health of the troops in China, I am directed to transmit to you, for the early consideration of the Secre- tary of State for War, a copy of a letter of the 23rd ultimo, from the Director General, Army Medical Department, and of its enclosure, dated 27th October last, from the prm- cipal medical officer at Hong Kong, again bringing to notice the great amount of sickness which has prevailed among the troops in China, and urging the necessity of the garrison being reinforced by native troops, a measure which the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief considers of "the utmost importance, and on which his Royal Highness's views were * No. 40, p. 214; expressed in mv letters* of the 15th and 26ih ultimo. No. 44, p. 217. ' Ihave, &c. (signed) W. F. Forster. [For reply, sen No. 51, page 221. J Enclosure 1, in No. 46. The Medical Department to the Quartermaster General. Sir, Army Medical Department, 23 December 1865. I AM in9tructed by the Director General, Army Medical Department, to enclose, for the information of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, the accompanying copy of a letter addressed by Deputy Inspector General Dick, Principal medical officer in China, for the information of tiie Major General commanding at that station, in which is given a brief detail of the suggestions made by Dr. Dick in the sanitary interests of the command, and the amount of sickness which has prevailed in China during this year. I am desired by Sir James Gibson to express bis extreme regret at the excess of the latter. The Director General will feel obliged by Dr. Dick's letter being returned to him at the earliest period his Royal Highness can dispense with it. I have, &c. (signed) J. B, Gibson, Director General. Enclosure 2, in No. 46. The Principal Medical Officer to the Assistant Military Secretary, Hong Kong. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 27 October 1865. In reporting on the state of health of the garrison of Hong Kong, for the information of his Excellency ihe Major General commanding, I may be allowed to refer to a com- munication dated 27th January 1865, and addressed by me to the Director General of the Army Medical Department (a copy of which was forwarded for the perusal of his Excellency) in which the following passage occurs : — " If a second European regiment is sent to Hong Kong before proper provision is made for its reception, the measure will defeat its object, and should a force be required for any emergency, after a residence of one hot season in the Cnloay, one of the regiments stationed here will be totally inefficient as regards any active niilitaiy service." It is now my duty to show to what extent the fears t then ventured to express have since been realised. In a letter addressed to you, dated 28th March 1865 (for the information of his Excellency), it was shown that the average annual decrease of strength among the white troops serving in China, caused by deaths and invaliding during the years 1862, 1863, and 1864, amounted to 97"265 per 1,000 men employed. By the calculations I have recently made, it appears that the decrease of strength in this garrison from the same causes, has amounted to 166'669 per 1,000 men employed" since the 1st of July last, and from what I know, and have observed, I have too much reason to fear that it will be necessary to add largely to that amount before the end of the present year, already so near its termination. The casualties among the women and children have also been very great, eight of the former from a strength of 101, and 71 of the latter from a strength of 171 haviu"- died within almost the period stated above. ° The casualties among the officers have also been considerable, four having died and seven having been invalided, being in the ratio of 130-952 per 1,000 since the beginning of last quarter. , . Having SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OF TRCOPS (CHIKA). 219 Havlnfj; made this general statement, it is desirable I should enter more into detail, App. No. i. as the different corps forming the garrison have not been all equally unhealthy. , 2nd Battalion 9th Recfimenf.— 'Dm'mg the quarter ending the 30th September last, 725 cases of malarious fevers, and 59 cases of bowel complaints, besides other diseases, have been treated, and the loss of strength from deaths and invalidinsj together, have amounted to 121-621 per 1,000 men. The generrd health of the men of "this 'battalion is very much shaken. 2nd Battalion llth Regiment. — During the same quarter 706 cases of malarious fevers, and 64 cases of bowel complaints, besides other diseases, have been treated, and the loss of strength from deaths and invaliding has amounted to 220-898 per 1,000 men. The regiment has lost both its medical officers, one having died and the other haiving been invalided. Tiie general health of tlie men of this corps is in a far worse condition than that of the 2t\d Battalion 9th Regiment, and it is in fact so deteriorated as to render its removal from this command inevitable. '8th Brigade 2nd Battery Royal Artillery. — Twenty-nine cases of malarious fevers and nine cases of bowel complaints have been treated, and the loss of strength from deaths and inva- liding has amounted to 142-857 per 1,000 men. The general health of the men does not seem to have suffered seriously, the proportion of fevers having been comparatively small. Royal Engineers. — Fifteen cases of fever and nine of bowel complaints have been treated. The loss of strength, from deaths and invaliding, has been 94-34 per 1,000 men. The general health of the men has not suffered to anyserious extent. Staff and Departmental Corps.— These consist of the Commissariat Staff and Army Hospital Corps. There was no fatal case in either during the quarter, but four men have been invalided, being at ihe rate of 142-S57 per 1,000 men. The general health not seriously affected. In a former report I attributed the sickly condition of the garrison of Hong Kong to malarious and solur influences, and to unsuitable barrack accommodation: to these I beg now to add the excessive duties to which most of the soldiers of the garrison have been subjected. The influence of malaria is generally recognised in the south of China as the direct cause of various diseases. In the present case, however, there may still be a question as to its source. Had the amount of sickness been the same, or nearly so, in the 9th and llth Regiments, it might have been fairly assumed, from the result of former experience, that Kowluon had much to answer for, as detachments of both corps were quartered there almost in equal numbers ; but as the difference between them, with respect to sickness, has been so well marked, causes must be looked for beyond the immediate or remote influences of Kowloon, and without doubt they are to be found in the unsuitable character of the godowns or stores, hiied specially as barrack accommodation for the 2nd Battalion llth Regiment. As his Excellency is aware, theie are two blocks of these buildings: the one situated in a hollow at the bottom of a ravine, not far from the Murray Barracks ; the other is built on made soil, closely hemmed in on two sides by other buildings. The space between the different buildings of both blocks does not exceed 10 feet, so that free ventilation is thus impeded. Moreover, there is no protection in either case from solar influence without the buildings ; and if a soldier, from any cause, has to leave his barrack- room, he is immedi-titely exposed to the fierce rays of the sun; and there can be no question solar influence is of itself an effective predisposing cause of fever and other malarious diseases. Adverting; to excessive duty, the returns in my office show that, during a considerable portion of the quarter ending the 30th September, the men of the 9th and llth Regiments had only two nights in bed; and there can be no doubt that want of due rest at night, but more especially in a hot climate, is also of itself an effective predisposing cause of disease, and one that would seriously affect the finest and most healthy body of men in a very short time. I have taken some pains to ascertain the number of nights in bed enjoyed by the men of the garrison of Hong Kong during the corresponding quarter of 1864, when it was composed of ii mixed force of 683 white and 506 black troops, in all 1,189 men, and I find that the uverfige was four nights in bed. The strength of the 9tl) and llth Regiments, on the 1st of July last, was 1,513 men; and if, therefore, the nights in bed had continued uniform at two throughout (and they scarcely ever exceeded two and a half), it would have required nearly 1,500 additional European troops to have given the men the same number of nights in bed as was enjoyed by the mixed force of white and black troops which formed the garrison last year. I need not remind his Excellency, that until the month of March last, the duties of the garrison at Hong Kong were performed by a mixed force of white and black ti-oops. From a letter, dated Treasury Chambers, 17th September 1862, a copy of which is before me, I think I may fairly infer that economy was the object in substituting a while for a native regiment. I have only to say that the hospital expenses for the last quarter amounted to 1,925 /., and that the value of the quinine alone expended, during nearly the same period, has amounted, at London wholesale prices, to the enormous sum of 381 1. 10 s. It will be the duty of other departments to render accounts for hire of buildings, passages of invahds to England, &c., in connection with the presence of a second European regiment at this station ; but in justice to my own department, I have to say, as far as I am aware,, every principal medical oflicer who has served in China has beeii in favour of a mixed force of white and black troops, and that while such was its composition, the sanitary state of 0.53 F F 3 the 220' APKENDIX TO KEPOiKT FROM THE App. No. u Ae garrison was comparatively satisfactory; aiid I trust I do not travel beyond the strict limits of my duty when I further slate that, in my opinion,it would have been more humane, wise, and economical, to have left well alone, and to have retained the black troops in the Command. From what has been already written, it appears unnecessary for me to oiler any suggestion with regard to the Artillery, Engineers, and Staff Corps; but as respects the 2nd Battalion 9th Kegiment, it appears to me that it is .desirable, in every point of view, to remove it from Hong Kong. If a military force is to be retained in Japan, I think much advanlage would be gained by sending it there. As regards the 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment, I consider its general health so deteriorated that it is indispensable for the pre- servation of the corps to remove it to a still more genial climate; and, from personal expe- rience, I can strongly recommend any of the Australian Colonies, where good barracks are vacant. In conclusion, I have only earnestly to urge the pressing sanitary necessity of applying, with -ds little delay as possible, for another Indian regiment, as a substitute for one of the European regiments now in the command. I consider that a Belochee Corps is best adapted for this service. And, perhaps, I cannot do better than add a paragraph from an official letter of Dr. Currie, Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, with reference to a similar application made just three years ago, under precisely siiuilar circumstances to the present : — ." I consider it my duty to suggest to the General Officer Commandinir, the reduction, as far as may be safely practicable, of the European element of the force, and the substitution of Indian troops. " In conclusion, I have only to add that the Brigadier General at once acted upon my suggestion, and has applied to the Viceroy of India for a native corps to relieve the 31st Regiment." I have, &c. (signed) W. Dick, m.d., Deputy Inspector General, Principal Medical Officer. (Tiufi copy.) (signed) William Dick, m.d.. Deputy Inspector General and Principal Medical Officer. — No,. 47. — The Medical Department to the Military Secretary. igir Army Medical Department, 5 January 1866. No. 45, p. 2>7, In acknowledging the receipt of your letter* of the 3rd instant, and its enclosure, from the officer commanding the troops in China, on the subject of the paucity of medical officers in that command, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that the vacancies alluded to by Major General Guy have already been filled up. I have, 8cc. , (signed) J. B. Gibson,, Director General, — No. 48. — The War Office to the Military Secretary. Sii-j War Office, b January 1866. \ No. 44, p. 217. With reference to the concluding paragraph of your letteif of 26th ultimo, in which you state thai, as the 2nd Battalion 11th Foot at Hong Kong, is in a worse state of health, and requires change of climate more than the 2nd Battalion 9th Foot, Field Marshal Coni- maiiding in Chief proposes that the former regiment should be sent to Japan instead of the latter, as before arranged. I am desired to request that you will signify to his Royal Highness Earl de Grey's concurrence in this proposal. I am to add, that the question of the future garrison of Hong Kong will receive his Lordship's early consideration. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. ' {See further, No. 49.) — No. 49. — The Military Secretary to the War Office. Sir, Horse Guards, 11 January 1866. t No. 37, p. 212 ; , With reference to your letters| of the 6tb and 26th ultimo and 5th instant, I am directed No. 43, p. 216; by the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief to request that you will acquaint the Secretary No. 48, p. 220. of State for War, that in consequence of the representation of the sickly state of the "and ^Battalion 9th iFoot at Hong Kong, his Royal Highness proposes, with Earl de Grey's concurrence, SELECT COMMITTEE 03S- MORTAiLITT OT TROOf S (CHINA). 221' concurrence, that the following movements should take place in lieu of those previously ^pp. No. i. decided upon, viz : — t j ~^^^ ^ 2nd Battalion 11th Foot, from Hong Kong to Bengal. 2nd Battalion 9th Foot, „ „ „ Japan. 2nd Battalion 20th Foot, „ Japan „ Hong Kong. By the above ariangewient, the 2nd Battahon 11th Foot will form one of the five relieving regiments for India tins year, instead of the 2nd BattaUoai 20th Foot. I have, &e. (signed) W. F. Forsier. (For reply, see No. 60.) — No. 50. — The War Office to the Mihtary Secretary. Sir, War OfRce, 16 January 1866. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter* of the llth instant, stating * No. 49, p. 220. that in consequence of the sickly state of tlie 2nd Battalion 9tli Foot at Hong Kool', the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief recommends the following movements instead of those previously decided upon : 2nd Battalion llth Foot, fiom Hong Kong to Bengal. 2nd Battahon 9th Foot, „ „ „ „ Japan. 2nd Battalion 20th Foot, „ Japan „ Hong Kong. In reply, I am to acquaint you that Lord de Grey approves of the arrangement proposed by his Royal Highness, by which the 2nd Battalion llth Foot will form one of the five relieving regiments for India this year, instead of the 2nd Battalion 20th Foot. I have, &(!. (signed) Mdward htigatd, [See further, No, 52,.J — No. 51. — The War Office to the Military Secretary. Sir, War Office, 24 January 1866. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter f of the 4th instant, j- No. 4.6 p. 218. together with its enclosures, from the Director General of the Army, Medical Department, on the subject of the great amount of sickness which prevails amonujst the troops serving in China, and urging the expediency of the garrison being reinforced by native troops. In reply, I am to request that you will acquaint the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief that, regard being had to the objections which exist to stationing Indiiin troops in China, Earl de Grey is disposed to think that the readiest mode of supplying troops capable of withstanding the climate of Hong Kong, would be to send thithc-r a portion of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment. His Lordship understands that the Committee recently assembled to inquire into the mihtary expenditure of that Colony has recommended that a considerable reduction, both in men and officers, should be made in this corps ; and it occurs to his Lord- ship that, in the event of this proposal being adopted, the portion so to be reduced might be rendered available for duty in Hong Kong, leaving the question, of the kind of men to be hereafter recruited for the portion of the regiment thus transferred to Hong Kong, for future consideration. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. — No. 52. — The Military Secretary to the War Office. Sir, Horse Guards, 1 February 1866. Adverting to your letterj of the 6th December last, intimating that Her Majesty's j No. 37, p. 212. Government have determined on reducing the force in the China command by one battalion of infantry, I am directed by the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief to request you will inform the Secretary of State for War that it has been most strongly represented to his Royal Highness by the Director General, Army Medical Department, that if the men of ihe 2nd Battahon llth Regiment, which has suffered so severely from sickness, should be called upon to perform duty which will give them less than seven, or at the very least, six nights in bed, the most serious consequences may follow ; and as his Royal Highness most fnlly concurs in Sir James Gibson's opinion on this subject, not only as regards this regiment, but also any British force employed at Hong Kong, he proposes, with the concurrence of Earl de Grey, to send out immediate orders to Major General Guy, directing him to abstain from employing the troops at that station on any duty which will not permit of their having this amount of rest. ' In bringing this to the Secretary of State's notice, I am to request you will at the same time point out that the ordinary duties, of the station cannot possibly be carried out without ■ .0.53. F F 4 the' 222 APPENDIX TO REPORT EKOM THE App. No. 1, the aid of native troops of some description ; and his Royal Highness trusts his Lordship, will see the necessity for an early decision on this subject, with a view to instructions being sent to China by the first mail, and that Major General Guy may be empowered meanwhile to make such arrangements for the duties of the place as he may deem advisable and neces- sary under the circumstances. 1 am further directed to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, that having been in communication with the Director General, Army Medical Department, on the subject of the relief of the 2nd Battalion llth Regiment, it appears to his Royal High- No. 49, p. 320. ness that the proposal submitted in my letter* of the lltli ultimo, would insufficiently meet the extreme case of this battalion, and that it would be preferable that it should be sent back to the healthy and bracing climate of the Cape rather than to India, where it would arrive at a season of the year unfavourable to the health of the men, and where they might suffer also from heat on their journey to the Upper Provinces ; nor does it seem expedient or desirable to bring this regiment direct to England ; and I am to request, therefore, you will submit, for Earl de Grey's approval, the following arrangement, which his Royal Highness believes to be the best under the circumstances : — 2nd Battalion llth Regiment „ 9th „ 20th „ 67th Regiment - - - - A regiment direct from home to India. With reference to the mode proposed by Earl de Grey for supplying troops capable of t No. 51, p. 221. withstanding the climate of Hong Kong, as communicaled in your ietterf of the 24th ultimo I am desired to acquaint you, for his Lordship's inlbrmation, that in his Royal Highness's opinion the employment of a portion oFthe Ceylon Rifles in China is not desirable, for from inquiry his Royal Highness has reason to believe that the employment of a portion of this corps in China on a former occasion was very distasteful to the men, and that it had a very prejudicial and baneful effect on the recruiting of the regiment. His Royal Hio-hness would not be disposed, therefore, to recommend the measure. If, however, it shall be decided on reducinir the numiier of officers of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment, his Royal Highness suggests that those who may come under the operation of the reduction might be made available for appointment to any native force which it maybe determined on raising for service in China. I have, &c. (signed) W. F. Forster. (For reply, see No. 53.) From. To. China Cape of Good Hope. Honff Kons: Japan. Japun Hong Kong. Cape England. — No. 53. — The War Office to the Military Secretary. S"", War Office, 2 February 1866. I No. 52, p. 221. I HAVE laid before the Secretary of State for War your letterj of the 1st instant, on the subject of the reduction of the military force in the China command, by one battalion of infantry; and I am to acquaint you, in reply, for the information of tl'.e Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that Earl de Grey concurs in the orders which his Royal Highness proposes to give to Major General Guy, directing him to abstain from employino- the troops at Hong Kong on any duty which will prevent their having the amount of rest' considered- necessary by the medical authorities. Nor has his Lordship any objection to the 2nd Battalion llth Regiment being sent to the Cape of Good Hope instead of to India, or to the other movements of reo-iments recommended by his Royal Highness. ° With regard to the employment of a native force at Hung Kong, I am to state that this question is under the serious consideration of the Secretary of State, and that a further communication will be made to his Royal Highness on the subject. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. — No. 54. — The Principal Medical Officer, Portsm.mth, to the Medical Department. T ' ., , , , ■„ Portsmouth, 5 February 1866. I HAVE the honour to repoit that a Board of officers (on which I attended) was ordered by Ins Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, to ascertain whether the mortality on board the hired transport " Gresham," on her late vovage from Hone Kone to bpithead, is to be traced to any of the arrangements on beard that ship. The result of a careful and minute inquiry into all the circumstances was a unanimous findins in the negative. • > ° The accommodation for the troops was spacious, thoroughly ventilated : the supolies and medical comtorts good and abundant; the excre,ta from the sick were promp380 Ciinton Colonel Dunlop Gun Lascars ... . _ "_ I 12 s Hong Kong Captain Twiss - ditto . . - . 1 _ _ « _ 2 I 52 6 > 70 Canton Brevet Major Sohomberg - Marine Artillery - . 2 _ 1 7 -. 9 1 ' -i, 192 16 208 Canton Lieutenant Colonel Walsh 1st Battalion Royal Marine 8 2 9 15 .5 .«28 Honan Island Lieutenant Straghan - ditto - . « _ _ 1 _ 1 18 f >/ Canton Lieutenant Colonel Hocker 2d Battalion Royal Marine 8 1 8 15 4 38 7 572 43 V' Light Infantry. >63d Honan Island Lieutenant Terrante - ditto - _ _ _ 1 1 1 fi 1 ' *- Canton Lieutenant Colonel LeniOQ Provisional Battalion 6 1 6 18 4 38 20 • 593 98 |708 ' \572 Honan Island ..... - ditto - , _ _ _ 1 17 369 Canton Major Burmesler - 59th Regiment 6 3 7 15 3 ?? 9 30 Hong Kong Lieutenant Drage - . ditto - 2 n 3 145 9)it Canton , Dt. Gordon, g.b. Medical Staff Corps 4 _ _ _ 10 116 Hong koag Bengal .... . ditto . - ditto - - - 1 ■ - - 8 - ■- 56 3 4\ |l79 Canton ... Garrison Staff 1 1 - HoDg Kong . - ditto . _ ^ "* 1 ■'• Canton Field Train . _ 3 1 . ~ ~ Hong Kong - ditto - 1 " ~ ■* — Hong Kong ------ War Department - - - - - 4 - _ _ _ _ Hon. East India Company's Troops : Canton lath Regiment Madras Katlve _ 1 1 Infantry. ~ ~ 1 „.^ Hong Kong Captain Riach - ditto - . 4 2 3 1 1R 8 V262 Canton 29th Regiment M. N. I. ~ 259 % 1 Hong Kong Major Cazalet . ditto . 9. 2 X 7 3 ^ 1 - }.» Canlon tlong Kong Captain Buck, 38th Regiment M. N. I. 1 _ 1 1 — - ditto - Total . . - 48 8 46 91 22 238 65 2 13 c 1 56 3,532 342 3,874 ^H^H L» SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 225 ^?jSTEiBUTiON of the Troops servir g in China, 1st January 1859. Commanding Officer at 1 Corps or Detachments ' composing the O 1 EFFECTIVE STRENGTH. <»— . i 0) o Rank and File. "-, STATIONS. >. each Station. Garrisoij at eagh Station. ■a ^ la V 1 i 1 5Q i*3 a 'I So 2 ctl 1^ n S 53 k4 < Csiitou H9Iig Kong Colonel Crawford Captain Rottpn Royal Artillery Royal Artillery 2 1 1 2 2 6 ■2 1 1 12 6 1 1 ■ I, 165 89 8r 191 |.81 Canton Colonel Crawford Royiil Gun Lascars _ _ _ _ _ 1 _ - 32 13 'T Hong Eong Captain Rotton Royal Gun Lascars 1 - - - 2, ] - 33 _ 1 }™ Canton Lieutenant Colonel Schomberg. Royal Marine Artillery - 1 1 - 4 - 7- 2 - 67 »'■ ■70 Canlon Lieutenant Colonel Wynne. Royal Engineers - 2 1 1 5 - 9 4 - 165 is'' -> T88 Hong Kong Major Mann - Royal Engineers - - - " 1 - 2 - 2 - - 10 ~ r i Cftitou Colonel Lemon 1st Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry. 8 6 5 18 7 ,37 n - 569 43 €12 ! Canton Lieutenant Colonel Hooker. 2d Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry. 8 3 6^ •17 5 40 10 - 525 - 41 566 CjRton - Lieutenant Thompson 2d Battalion Royal Regiment - - -■ - 1 - 4 - - 102 _ t I 724 HmngKong Colonel HayJiomfi- - 2_d BAltalion Royal Regiment - 10 3 9 18 6 38 18 - 496 126 Hong Kong Dr. Dane, m.d. Medical Staff Corps 4 - - - - 6 - 70 11 Canton . Medical Staff Corps - - - - 2 - - 33 - > 116 India -■ . . - . Medical Staff Corps - -' - -■ -■ - - 2- r ■Hong Kong " - . Garrison Staff ... - - - - - 1 - - - - - "fjniutinx^ « ™ " . Garrison- Staff ... - - - - ■ - - 1 - 1 Canton . Eeld Train - - - . - - - 2 4 - - - - - Hong Kong- -. . - - War Department - . - - - - - - 1 - - - - - . Canton . . . - War Department - - - - - - - 1 — - - - ~ Hong Kong B East India. Company's Troops : I Captain Kiach 12th Regiment Madras Native Infantry. 4 -, 1 2 1 21 6, - 94 98 192 Canton '- . 12th Regiment Madras Native Infantry. - - 1 - - - - - - - Canton Lieutenant Colonel Pott, 4rth Regiment Bengal Native Infantry.- - 8 ■ 2 ' 2 6 2 "47 " 18 - 193 37 > 270- Stimley - Captain Lnca3 - 47ih Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. - - I - - 13 1 - 2 38 Canton Colp^iel Burney : goth Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. . 10 1 a 6 4. 88 15 - 613 125 738 Canton Colonel Kennedy 70th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. 10 1 2 4 3 73 16 - 504, 129 • 634 S»^ley - - 70th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. ToTAl - - - "• ~ ■ - ^ ~ ~ "" " 1 ' 69 20 34 91 32 415 104 1 3,766 704 4,470 ... a * TMr . ■ — 1— ■ 1 1 1 0.53, gg2 226 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE Distribution of the Troops serving in China, 1st January 1860. Commanding Officer at Corps or Detachments composing the I. o a. § o a EFFECTIVE STRENGTH. l» a « Rank and File. STATIONS. each Station. Garrison at each Station. i| C ■o 1 te- 1 = 'E =2 5. ■ti 1 Zo f- b Sj s s> ^P t^ iZa CO H Her Majesty's Troops : Canton . - - Colonel Crawford - Royal Artillery . - - 2 1 1 2 2 2 4 2 1 8 g 3 1 ~ 166 72 10 24 ) 272 Hong Kong - ■(>j,nton ^ . - Captain Twiss Colonel Crawford - - ditto . . . - Royal Gun Lascars - - 1 2 - 39 26 3 q 1 / i } } } 1 77 Hong Kong • Canton - - - Captain Twiss Lieutenant Williams - - ditto - . . - Royal Marine Artillery - 1 2 1 3 6 1 9 16 4 7 33 2 - 47 IRA 3 19 50 Canton ... Lieut. Colonel Mann - Royal Engineers ... 13 23 243.. Hong Kong - Canton . . - Lieutenant Bird Lieutenant Low - ditto .... 2d Battalion Royal Regiment - 10 10 4 4 3 11 6 16 74 426 3 65 568 Hong Kong - Canton . . - Colonel Haythorne Lieut, Colonel Ambrose - ditto . . . . 1st Battalion 3rd Buffs . 6 14 1 4 49 2 20 - 866 40 6 927 Hong Kong - Canton - - - Canton - - - Hong Kpng - Hong Kong - Canton . - - India - . - Hong Kong - . ditto Lieut. Ciilonel Hooker - Lieut. Colonel Knox - Dr. Muir, m.d. - . ditto Royal Marines Light Infantry erth Regiment - ditto .... Medical Staff Corps . ditto .... - ditto . . . - Commissariat Staff Corps Garrison Staff 9 10 4 7 4 9 7 28 18 6 5 64 48 X % 1 1 18 21 - 818 646 11 51 20 2 7 1 97 34 6 13 915- 697 86'^ 7 1 Canton . - - War Department - " ~ 3 Her Majesty' 3 Indian Troops : Hong Kong - Captain Lucas - 47th Regiment Bengal Native Infantiy. 8 - 1 5 2 46 17 - 221 5 226 Canton ... Colonel Buraey . 65th - ditto ... lu 2 i 4 3 68 16 - 525 31 } 626 Hong Kong - Lieutenant Coombes - - ditto .... - 1 - 7 - - 56 14 €;V"ton . - - Colonel Kennedy 70th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. Total ... 10 1 1 4 4 57 13 447 46 493 79 26 37 106 32 439 130 - 4,737 451 5,188 Distribution of the Troops serving in Southern China, Canton, 1st January 1861. STATIONS. Commanding Officer at each Station. Her Majesty's Forces : CantOW - Hong Kon'g - Hopg Kong - •Canton - Canton - Hong Kong - Hong Kong - Hong Kong - Cantdn - Hong Kong - C.inton - H.ing Kong - Cant'in - Hung Kong - Captain Twiss Captain Bedingfield - ditto Captain Twiss Colonel Reeves - Deputy Commissary Ge- neral Turner. - ditto . - . Dr. Mnir, D. I. G. H. . Surgeon Hanley - Dr. Muir, D.L G. H.- Surgeon Hanley - Lieul. Colonel Brown - Lieutenant Malcolm . Lieut. Colonel Mann • Her Majesty's Indian Forces: Cunton - Canton - Hong Kong - Major Richards - Major Stanley Lieut. Col. Saurmarez • Corps or Detachments composing the Garrison at each Station. EFFECTIVE STRENGTH. o Royal Artillery - ditto Gun Lascars - " ditto 99th Regiment Commissariat Staff Corps Garrison Staff Army Hospital Corps - ditto Medical Staff Corps - ditto 44th Regiment Royal Engineers . - ditto 3rd Bengal Native Infi>intry ■ 5th - ditto - 21st Madras Native Infantry • TOTJIL - - . 10 6 16 Attached to Police 5 S Department. and Commissariat 24 53 15 1 5 ; 7 52 21 Attached to Police 3 4 78 60 76 370 30 18 19 113 Rank and File. SQ 149 142 31 32 906 83 10 78 12 17 5 859 70 24 9 903 834 943 5,107 ' ^, 69 36 57 337 }■■ } 32] ri'" ,085 , 12 93 22 998 936 870 1,000 5,444 SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINA). 227 Distribution of tlie Troops serving in China, 1st January 1862. STATIONS. Commanding Officer at each Station. Corps or Detachments composing the Garrison at each Station, H £ ° EFFECTIVE STRENGTH. M Sea Rank and File. >> s Q i4 o H Hong-Kong Kowloon Tien Tsxn Taku Fekin . .1 Shanghai Capt. Govan, Brev. Major Ditto - ditto Ditto - ditto Lieut. Colonel Moody - Major Blamire Purveyor M'Donnell D. C. G. Home - Stanley, Japan, and on lioard Hos- \ pital ship, Her cules India, and Cape of Good Hope Major Stanley Captain Burton Captain French - Captain Gordon - Lieut. Col. Spence, c.b. Lieut. Col. Thomas, C.B Purveyor J. Johnston - Assist. Com.Gen.Thompson D. A. S. S. Moors Major R. Eager 3Ist Regiment 6/12 Brigade Royal Artillery 3/13 Brigade Royal Artillery - 8/14 Brigade Royal Artillery - 8th Company Royal Engineers 31st Regiment ... 67th Regiment ... 99lh Regiment ... Army Hospital Corps Commissariat Staff Corps Garrison Staff Gun I.ascars - - - Stii Regiment Bengal Native | Light Infantry - - J 99ih Regiment . - . Army Hospital Corps Commissariat Staff Corps 3/13 Brigade Royal Artillery - 8 Commissariat Royal Engineers 3 1st Regiment 67th Regiment ... Army Hospital Corps Commissariat Staff Corps Military Store Department Garrison Staff ... 3/13 Brigade Royal Artillery 8th Company Royal Engineers 31sl Regiment - - . Army Hospital Corps Commissariat Staff Corps Military Store Department 31st Regiment . - - 67th Regiment . - - Captain Bradshaw Major Stafford Lieutenant Applin Captain Desveeux 8/14 Brigade Royal Artillery - 22d Regiment Bengal Native"^ Infantry - - -J Commissariat Staff Corps Detachment Military Train 31st Regiment - - - 67ih Regiment ... Army Hospital Corps 5th Regiment Bengal Native") Light Infantry -J Commissariat Staff Corps 8/14 Brigade' Royal Artillery - Detachment Military Train 3ist Regiment 67th Regiment 99th Regiment Total - - f 3 E. 1l2N 25 2 2 11 16 2 / 9E ll3N. I 4N, ( TIE. i29N. I' 24 11 300 94 121 2 14 49 452 51 4 60 619 408 17 204 49 674 771 26 18 1 2 242 3 1 8 1 *110 518 11 2 2 13 195 1 10 42 52 4,655 131 2 16 49 27 498 54 4 60 6G1 460 17 3 210 54 708 806 29 19 1 2 2 242 3 1 S 1 ■117 528 II 2 2 13 195 1 344 3 19 22 18 4,939 0.53. * Fifty-three Rank and File of this number stationed at Taku. GG 3 228 APPENDIX TO EEPOKT FROM THE Distribution of the Troops serving in, China, 1st January 1863. STATIONS^. Commanding Officer at Each Station. Corps or Detachments composing the Gar,rlsoii at each Station. s = -2 5 EFFECTIVE STR.ENGTH. !a S.S si Rank and File. 3 P O El Shanghai Taktt LeiviKelang - i Pekin Fah M'ha Invalids to Hong Kong^ for change of air. Cape of Good Hope Brevet Major Govan ditto - . . - dlito - - - - ditto - - . Captain Gordon Lieutenant Colonel Ejgar Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Major Taylor ,, (attached) - Lieutenant Colonel Hough Assistant Commissariat General Thompson Deputy Purveyor Menzies Brevet Lieutenant. Colonel Hague. - ditto - . - - ditto - " diWo - . . Captaig Stack - ditto - - ditto - - . Captain Stack - ditto - - ditto - 6/12 Brigade, Royal Artillery ■ 3/13 „ „ ,, ■ G/I4 and 2/13 „ „ 2d Depot and 3/6 „ 8th Company Koyal Engineers 31st Regiment ., 67th „ ... 99th „ ... 6th Regiment Bengal Native"! Light Infantry/ 22d „ Bengal Native Infantry 29th or 2d Belooch Regiment . Commissariat Staff Corps Army Hospital Corps Military Staff CletkB G/14 Brigade Royal Artillery . '8tb Company Royal Engineers 67th Regiment ... Commissariat Staff Corpfti - Royal Artillery ... 31st Regiment . . - erth „ ' ... 67th „ ... Royal Artillery ... 22d Regiment Bengal Native f' Infantry - - . j Commissaiiat Staff Corps HoDg Kong Kowloon Stanley Canton - { Captain Porter . ditto . . . Lieutenant Colonel Moody Captain Gaynor D. J. G. Home 31st Regiment 67th 31st 67th 14 U 4 E 9 N 5 E 16 N ^( D. C. G. Home Major Beale - Brevet Major Kempson - ditto - . ditto . Japan : and on r board Hospi.J tal Ship, "Her-") cules" I Lieutenant Ellaby . ditto - Lieutenant Applin . ditto - Lieutenant Price Royal Artillery Gun Lascars ... Royal Engineers . 99th Regiment Army Hospital Corps Garrison Staff Commissariat Staff Corps 22d Regiment Bengal Native). Infantry / 99th Regiment ... Army Hospital Corps Commissariat Staff Corps Royal Artillery ... Guti Lascars - - . . 22d Hegiment Bengal Native Infantry. Royal Artillery 99th Regiment Detacluneiit Military Train Royal Artillery 67th Regiment Army Hospital Corps Total - . 3 E 6 N I 9 4 3 4 42 27 1 25 4 42 3 S 2 11 14 6 E 7 N 11 54 30 1 N 1 1 72 E 39 N 21 14 287 97 2 154 46 38 668 416 369 52 559 16 43 3 193 2 S 11 13 13 188 1 35 09 49 14 550 13 2 248 193 1 12 35 13 27 26 3 4,144 319 27 2- 2 14' 7 2 58 '164 49, 4W 718- 440 394\, 588' 18 « 43 3 198 2. 17 24 5 li 13 la 194 1 35 27 2 «-, 113 56 !». 608 li. 2. 255 217 3 I 12 35. 13 27 11 26 3 4,463 SELECT COJa'iaiTTEB ON MdRTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 229 Drs'TRiBtJtibN of the TfROOPS serving in China , 1st janiiiaf j 18-64. Coftimanding Officer Corps or Detachments Ph EFFECTIVE STRENGTH. Rank and File. ■;■ s'TAtlOSS. . at the [G«rrlson at each o ^ . >% Bach Station. Station. i a 16 o C 3 p. u 3 1 1 ID 4 E-< , .t;^ • ■ i-i- I:.ieutenant Caul - ditto - - "ditto ■- 6/12 Royal Artillery Gun Lasfcars -' - . - 1 1 ~ ~ 3 I 6 1 3 1 , 1 : 91 65 6 4 4 97 4 69 Lieutenant ColonelMooay 8th' Company Royal Engineers i 1 - 2 - 1 - - 15 1 16 Colooel Reeves, c.B. - ditto - 'ditlo - - ditto . - - 2/20th Hegimfent - - - Slsj „ . . - 67th ., ... 99lli „ - - 7 1 2 1 4 1 10 4 4 32 13 - 2 2 38 425 65 2 2 38 490 Hong Kong - f '"v Lieutenant Colonel Beale - - ditto - . - 22d RegimentYBengal Native^ 29th „ / Infantry -J 6 1 1 {-U 3 24 16 - 442 21 463 D. C. G. Maturin - Purveyor Pope A. S.S.Scott - Fort Adjutant' Commissariat Staff Corps Army- Hospital Corps Military Store Department Garrison Staff Military Staff Clerks Third Class Sdhoolmaster - - - - - 10 3 3 1 2 1 - — 21 9 — 21 9 4' Major Edwards . ditto - ditto - Gun Lascars . - - 8th Company Royal Engineers 22d Company ,. „ 1 - 1 1 2 - 3 6 2 _ 5 25 91 1 5 25 92 Kowloon - < ( Lieutenant Colonel Browne Captain Gaynor 2/28th Regiment . - - asth „ - . - 99th J, . . - Coinmiss'ariat 'Staff Corps Army Hospital Corps 3d iClass SchooUSSSI^' - 9 3 1 •7 1 19 4 5 1 4 12 1 2 1 18 3 — 608 20,'! 5 32 2 3 640 2 206 5 ■ Stinley - ■ < ' Native! Officer 99th Regiment - - - 22d Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. Civil Service Corps ~ — - 1 1 1 - : 1 38 ...1 38 Xfellet'S Island Gun LaScars . - - . - - ' - - - - - - 6 - 6 Shanghae Captain Murray - Ditto Lieutenant Lyster - Lieutenant Colone^ Young Captain Scott Colonel Hijzh 6/12th Royal Attillery - G/14 .... 8th Company Royal Engineers 2/I3th Regiment - 67th „ ... 99th „ ... 22d „ Bengal Native"! Infantry -J 29ih „ „ 8 3 8 3 1 2 1 5 2 1 2 8 (4) ,116/ . 4 3 S 28 11 40 11 4 16 - 1 174 6 ' 431 196 '685 9 13 26 1 183 6 444 196 711 '■-■ . Acting Commissariat Ge- neral Eichbaum. Civil SerViee Corps - - - i - 2 - - 5 - S » , ^ Deputy Purveyor Menzies Assistant Surgeon Purkis Army Hdspital Corps - Medical Service Department - 3d Class Schoolmaster - - - - I " - 1 2 1 - 4 - 4 Canton - - S Lieutenant Hatvey, 99th - - ditto - 6/12th Eoyal Artillery - 99th Regiment - - - 1 1 i 1 1 1 - - 10 17 - 10 17 Taku - - < Brevet Major Wood, 67th Regiinent. - ditto - ditto - diltA G/14 Royal Artillery - 67th Regiment _ . . Civil Service Corps Army Hospital Corps 2 - 1 ', 1 I 1 4 1 2 8 96 1 - 8 96 1 Pekia - - \ 67lh Regiment . - . 99th „ . . - - - - i 1 - 1 - 6 i ~ 6 Japan - - 1 •J *■ Lieutenant Applia - -^ Lieutenant Price 67th - | G/14 Royal Artillery - 'Military Train , - ■ - . - 8th Company Royal Engineers 67th Regiment . . - - - 1 1 1 1 _ 1 - 1 10 11 1 30 _ 10 11 1 30 FahWah -' - Dam Dum Lieutenant Cardew - CsiptainJohnstone - 67th Regiment' - '2f20th „ - - - TOTAt - - 1 61 9 1 29 1 1 - 6 3 - 3 108 - 3 108 m 23 269 90 1 3,895 187 4,082 0.53. gg4 230 APPENDIX TO REPOBT PKOM THE DiSTKiBTTTiON of the Troops Serving in China, 1st January 1865. STATIONS. Stanley Kowloon Canton Shanghae Hong Kong . ( -{ Japan Taku Tsimpoo Commanding Officer at Each Station. Corps or Detachments composing the Garrison at each Station. -{ Colonel Grant - ditto - ditto - ditto - ditto Major Brine • IWajor Dunne - - - - ditto - ditto - . . Colonel Beale- Purveyor Thomson - Deputy Commissary Gene- ral Maturin. W. H. H. Scott - ditto . . - Commanding §taff . - ditto . . - - ditto - . . Lieutenant Whiteford - ditto ... - ditto - - . - ditto . - - - ditto - - . Major Dunne . - - - ditto - - - - ditto . - • Lieutenant Stephens - ditto - . . - ditto ... Major Edwards - ditto . . - - ditto ... Colonel Yonge Colonel Hough Assistant Commissary Ge- neral Eichbaum. Purveyor Johnstone - ditto . . - Colonel Browne - ditto - - ditto - - ditto - . ditto - - ditto . '^ - - ditto - Captain Coates - ditto - ditto - Lieutenant Garden - ditto - 8/2d Brigade Royal Artillery - 12th „ 6/12th „ G/14 „ Gun Lascars - . . - 22d Company Royal Engineers 2/20th Regiment - 31st „ - - 55th „ . - 67th „ ... 99th „ . . - 22d Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. Army Hospital Corps Civil Service Corps Military Store Department Barrack Department Garrison Staff ... Military Staff Clerks Schoolmaster- ... 22d Company Royal Engineers 2/28th Regiment - 99th „ . . . 22d Regiment Bengal Native Infantry. Army Hospital Corps 22d Company Royal Engineers 99th Regiment ... Army Hospital Corps EFFECTIVE STRENGTH. o 8|2 Royal Artillery 6/12 „ - . 99th Elegiment 9/14 Royal Artillery 22d Company Royal Engineers 2/13ih Regiment • 67th „ . . . 39th Regiment Bomhay Native Infantry. Civil Service Corps Army Hospital Corps Schoolmaster - - - 7 V a 9/14tli Royal Artillery . 22d Company Royal Engineers Military Train 2/20th Regiment . Civil Service Corps Army Hospital Corps Schoo'master . . . 9/I4th Royal Artillery - 99th Regiment . . . Civil Service Corps 9/14th Royal Artillery 67tli Regiment Total 5 6 19 27 16 25 264 20 97 Non-commissioced Officers and Rank and File. 79 SO 77 39 3 I 55 28 561 4 7 3 32 4 20 8 407 2 2 7 18 71 8 580 633 86 24 10 648 5 2 8 50 1 3 2 3,579 11 10 4 4 6 34 106 24 23 37 61 325 98 98 4 84 48 4 1 94 151 B40 7 11 1 1 3 1 3 35 5 21 10 449 2 7 19 83 9 652 725 1 1 90 24 12 773 6 4 I 9 61 1 4,265 SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOBS (cHINa). 231 DiSTBiBUTiON of the Troops serving in China and Japan, 1st January 1866. STATIONS. Commanding Officer at Each Station. Corps or Detachments composing the Garrison at each Station. p. a EFFECTIVE STRENGTH. a: a O. a S § <• a HP Bank and File. i? f4 Victoria, Hong Kong. Colonel Wyatt Canton Kowloon - Stanley Foochow - hai - Lieutenant Dunn Colonel Wyatt Lieutenant Bruce Ensign Clogstone Japan Colonel Browne » War Office, 19 April 1866. 0.53. I 8/2d Royal Artillery and attached. 6|12ih Royal Artillery - G/14th „ „ - - Gun Lascars 22d Company Royal Engineers 2/9th Regiment . . - 2/Ilth „ 2/1 3th „ 2/20th „ - - . 31st „ 55th „ . . - 99tli Army Hospital Corps Civil Service Corps Military Store Department Garrison Staff JMilitary Staff Clerks Schoolmaster - , , 8/2d Royal Artillery 2/9tli Regiment 22d Company Royal Engineers 22d Company Royal Engineers 2/9th Regiment - 2/llth „ - - Army Hospital Corps 2/9th Regiment 8/2d Royal Artillery 8/2d Royal Artillery G/14th ., „ - - Military Train 22d Company Royal Engineers I/lOth Regiment - 2/llth „ ... 2/20th „ ... Civil Service Corps Army Hospital Corps Schoolmaster ... 54 2 69 36 485 270 Total 33 II 24 57 15 162 59 9 5 5 1 27 2 1 2 2 2 4 31 1 137 648 5 2 1,813 11 5 2 117 63 46 65 74 38 602 9 5 t 27 2 I 2 2 5 31 1 137 694 £ 2 246 2,059 H H 232 APPENDIX TO EEPORT FKOM THE Appendix, No. 3. App. No. 3. RETUEN of the Mean Annual Steength, Total Annual Sickness, Moktalitt, and Invaliding of the Teoops of each Arm, Officees and Men, at Hong Kong, from the Ye§f 1850 to 1865, both inclusive : — And, of the Number of Deaths Annually on the Voyage to England of the Troops Invalided. Date. CORPS. Mean Annual Strength. Average Number of Sick. Deaths. Invalided. Died on the Passage to England. 1850 Artillery Engineers Iniantry - . - European ... Colonial Corps 58 45 632 6 7 97 1 4 140 3 6 43 25 735 110 145 52 25 424 50 42 not known. — 1851 - Artillefy - - - Engineers - - . Infantry European Colonial Corps 53 33 616 6 5 86 5 1 39 1 6 53 2 13 607 97 45 60 15 406 30 31 not known. — 1852 - Anillery ... Engineers - . - Infantry European - - - Colonial Corps 64 40 550 7 3 42 5 5 18 10 15 4 654 52 28 25 4 378 26 37 not known. 1 — 1853 - Artillery Engineers Iniiantry European ... Colonial Corps 58 36 554 6 3 38 1 34 1 54 2 648 47 35 55 2 355 20 12 not known. — 1864 - Artillery ... Engineers ... Infantry ... European ... 63 18 477 7 2 48 6 23 1 4 120 4 27 658 57 29 125 31 Colonial Corps 86 7 2 not known. — p SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS (china). 233 Date. CORPS. Meao Annual Strength. Average Number of Sick. Deaths. Invalided. Died on the Passage to England. 1865 - Artillery Engineers Infantry ... European Colonial Corps 47 3 430 4 47 4 24 7 1 183 2 12 480 51 28 191 14 86 14 7 — — 1866 • Artillery . - - Engineers Infantry European Colonial Corps 59 2 530 6 50 4 1 20 7 28 1 3 591 56 25 35 4 81 5 8 — — 1867 - Artillery Engineers . . - Infantry European Colonial Corps and Indian Native Troops - 196 4 663 21 75 7 1 31 12 113 1 15 863 96 39 126 16 571 38 31 not known. — 1858 Artillery Engineers Infantry . . - Marines - - - - European Colonial Corps and Indian Native Troops- 370 224 725 1,915 46 25 90 173 18 14 64 101 65 24 39 189 9 4 1 not known. 3,234 334 197 317 14 - 1,812 278 152 not known. — 1859 - Artillery Engineers - - - Infantry Marines . - - - European . . - Colonial Corps and Indian Native Troops - 307 200 921 1,194 31 21 118 107 7 7 44 44 54 33 132 136 8 3 22 not known 2,622 277 102 355 33 2,045 238 101 not known. 1860 -. Ai'tillery Engineers ... Military Train Infantry Marines - European Colonial Corps and Indian Native Troops - 399 111 38 2,166 276 37 15 2 154 26 13 1 1 69 57 26 212 4 6 3 21 \l. - 2,989 234 84 299 30 ' 3,029 170 66 not known. — App. No. 3. 0.53. H h2 Af>p. Wo. 3. 234 APPENDIX TO EEPOKT FROM THE Date. CORPS. Mean Annual Strength. Average Number of Sick. Deaths. Invalided. Died on the Passage to England. 1861 - Artillery Engineers Infanti-y - . - European - - . Colonial Corps and Indian Native Troops - 323 70 2,062 37 6 172 9 1 42 42 20 ■ 220 7 -vr 1 11 2,455 204 52 282 19 2,381 92 37 not known. — 1862 - Artillery Engineers Infantry ... European - - . Colonial Corps and Indian Mative Troops - 135 18 971 11 2 75 46 9 56 1 , 1,124 88 48 65 1 559 96 28 not known. — 1863 - Artillery . - - Engineers . - . Infantry - - - European . . - Colonial Corps and Indian Native Troops 127 19 883 7 U 77 1 1 29 21 5 88 3 5 ;r 1,029 95 31 114 8 525 14 17 not known. — 1864 - Artillery - - - Engineers ... Infantry . . - European - - - Colonial Corps and Indian Native Troops - 147 105 745 9 8 58 11 9 27 26 60 92 1 5 997 75 47 168 6 -- 638 33 17 not known. — 186S - Aitillery Engineers ... Infantry ... European ... Colonial Corps and Indian Native Troops - 107 58 1,185 11 4 157 7 2 103 12 8 234 3 1 62 1,350 172 117 254 66 341 13 1 not known. — Adjutant General's Office, ^ J 7 February 1866. J W- Paulet, A. G. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEdoPS (cHINA). 235 Appendix, No. 4. 18 6 3. App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, EXTRACTS from the Sanitaey Report of the Principal Medical Officer „, . „ . , Principal Medical in China for the Year 1863. Officer. Si: To the General Officer Commanding the Troops in China. / ' I HAVE the honour to forward, for the information of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for War, the accompanying Sanitary Reports of the Troops at the different Military Stations in this Command during the Year, from 1st January 1863 to the 31st of December 1863, of which the following is an Abstract. From these Reports, as well as from a Return hereunto annexed (A), furnished to me by the Assistant Adjutant General, the average strength of these Troops, and the deaths from all causes among them during the above period, have been as under : — WHITE troops. Commissioned Officers, including Staff. BLACK TROOPS. i i V CO 15 O 1 3 O 1 < i a •1 u to 1 o u 5 CD £ a a 2 o J § Average Strength Total Deaths, both in) and out of Hospital - J 4 10 3 119 \ 135 93 - 40 1,451 1,584 Of Adipissions and Deaths, the number which took place at each of the subordinate . Military Stations, as well as the mean daily sick there, are stated in the Reports of the several Medical Officers to have been as follows : — While Troops. Commissioned Black Troops. Non-Commissioned Officers Officers. Non-Commissioned Officers CORPS. STATION. and Privates. and Privates. . . Admitted. Died. Daily Sick. Admit- ted. Died. Admit- ted. Died. Daily Sick. oyal Artillery Hong Kong and Shanghai. 628 21 14 13 1 - - oyal Engineers - - ditto - 89 5 2 2 _ ^ 20th Foot Kowloon 102 _ 37 4 _ _ _ 1st Shanghai 766 28 47 21 1 _ _ 'th „ - ditto 1,352 45 28 26 1 _ _ _ Ith Hong Kong 1,931 30 84 40 1 - _ - .H. C. ditto 36 3 — - _ — « _ .s. c. - ditto 5 _ - _ _ _ _ aff and Departments .Shanghai 49 3 1 10 2 - _ _ un Lascars - Hong Kong _ _ — _ 100 2 4 h Bombay Native Infantry Shanghai _ _ - 7 266 3 19 Ind „ Hong Kong and Shanghai. - - — 28 780 10 26 Ith „ Slianghai Total - - 29 2 696 16 29 4,958 135 - 180 8 1,842 31 - The Number of Troops Invalided, or Officers who have obtained Sick Leave from this Command during the past year, have been — Serjeants ----_-._ 12 Corporals -- - - - - - - 13 Drummers ________ 4 Privates _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 130 Officers 20 I have annexed Return (C), specifying the disease of each 'Invalid, the period he has resided in the China Command, how long he has been under treatment, and such other particulars as may serve to illustrate his case. 0.53. H H 3 236 APPENWX TO KEPOBT FROM THE App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1863 — continued. Principal Medical , Officer. Alleged Causes of Sickness and Mortality. Having been in the Command for a very short period and as I arrived here more than eight months ^fter the termination of the last official year, over .hich the Report extends, any remarks I might make would be of little or no value. William Dick, M.D., Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, and P. M. O. EXTRACTS from the Sanitaky Reports of Regiments serving at Hong Kong and Kowloon in the Year 1863. 6th Battery, 12th Brigade, of Royal Artillery at Victoria, Hong Kong. )OPS. -- ■ Boyal Artilleiy. WHITE TROOPS. Commissioned Officers, including Staff, BLACK TR( 4^ 15 5 a. t S a Q 1 OS > - < i 1 s CO 55 S n e 1 ij H ^ Average strength Total Deaths, both in and \^ out of Hospital -J Q2, =15 lis 107^ 3]i 3 4 1 71 2 ■ 79 2 .— M ETEO BOLOGY. 2. State your Remarks on the Climate of the Station during the year, and its Influence on Health and Disease. For six months in this year, as usual, the climate was temperate and agreeable, and for the remaining six, it was hot, moist, and disagreeable. It did not, however, appear to exercise to any extent an injurious effect upon the men of this battery. II.— Physical Geography. 1. Give a general Sketch of the Natural Features, Geology, Soils, Waters, Marshes, Vegetation, and Productions of the District. The town in which the battery was stationed is in a sheltered spot on the northern side of this island, which consists of a range of barren hills chiefly composed of trap granite and hornblende. The soil is composed chiefly of disintegrated granite, that of the parts where there are cultivated patches being artificial. There are no marshes, and the vege- tation and productions are scanty. . The water derived from a few springs and rivulets is of excellent quality. 2. Describe the Medical Topography and Diseases of the District. The principal features of this, are the exposed position of the place to the north-east monsoon during the cold season, and the deprivation of the benefit of the south-west by the high range of hills immediately behind the town during the hot. III. — Barracks. 1. Fill up the adjoining Table of Barrack Accommodation. Date of Monthly Average Num- ber of Men occupying Barrack Rooms. Average MonthlyCubic Feet per Man in Men's Rooms Huts. Tents. Name of Stations and Monthly Average Num- ber of Men in Huts. Average Monthly Cubic Feet per Man. Monthly .iverageNum- ber of Men in Tents. - none of Barracks during the past \ ear. Arrival at Barrack. Departure from Barrack. , Average Cubic Feet per Man. . North Murray Barracks,! Victoria, Hong Kong - / Nov. 1860 - none - 50 994 none - none - none. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOQPS (cHINA). 237 2. If the Regiment has been on the March or on Shipboard during the year, state the App. No. 4 Dates, with remarks. '.- ^ It has not. Sanitary Reports, XWS-— continued, 3. State the position of Barracks with regard to Aspect, Elevation, Neighbourhood, &c., Royal Artillery. and whether the position is healthy or otherwise. The barracks are situated on a flat piece of ground 60 yards from the sea, and about 10 feet above it. They face the north, and are between the naval dockyard and the parade ground. The position is as healthy as can be obtained in the town. 5. State whether the means of Ventilation and Warming for the men's barrack rooms, huts, guard-rooms, &c., have been sufficient to preserve the air pure and warm. Mention any Defects you have observed in Ventilation and Warming ; together with the steps you took in consequence, and the result. The ventilation was good. During the cold weather each room was warmed sufficiently by coal fires, and during the hot were kept cool by means of punkahs. No defects observed. 6. State whether the Walls and Ceilings of Barrack-rooms have been lime-washed twice during the past year, and whether you have found it necessary to make any representation on the subject, with the results. They were. No representations were considered necessary. 7. State whether the Ablution and Bath Accommodation has been sufficient and regu- larly used . by the men ; and how often there have been Bathing Parades ; also any defects in these points, with your representations and the results. The accommodation of both was sufficient, and were frequently used by the men. No bathing parades were considered necessary, as the men are of very clean habits, and bathe in the sea at early morning during the whole of the hot season. 8. Have the Cooking Arrangements been satisfactory, as regards varying the cooking of rations ? They have. The rations were boiled and baked according to the men's pleasure. 9. Has there been any Nuisance during the year from Latrines, Urinals, Ashpits, Manure Heaps, Drains, Cesspits, or want of Surface Cleansing. If so, state what steps you took to have the Nuisance removed, and the results. None except that a quantity of all kinds of filth is washed, into a large open drain, which runs alongside the barracks by every tide. It has been cleaned several times. 10. State what has been the condition of the Water Supply during the year, as to Source, Quality, and Amount, with any recommendations you have made on the subject, and the results. The water has been derived from a well and from a public reservoir ; the water has been of excellent quaKty. 11. State whether, on the whole, the Sanitary Arrangements in the Barracks have been properly attended to, and whether there are any Local Causes of Disease requiring removal. They have ; some means wiU, however, be required to be taken to keep the open drain mentioned in my reply to No, 9, as a disagreeable smell arises from it at low tide, increased during hot weather. IV.— Diet. 1. State what has been the composition of the Ration during the year, and what Varieties have been introduced. Whether the amount of Vegetables has been sufficient. ,Also, how often per week the Rations have been Boiled, and how often Roasted or Baked. During the week from 1st January to 31st December: — Bread ----- 11 lb. Fresh beef IJ lb. (Five times.) Salt pork - - - - - - l|lb. (Once.) Salt beef - - - - > lib. (Once.) ,0.53. H H -J Daily: — App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1 S63~conti7tued. Iloyal Aitaiery. 238 Daily :— Weekly : — APPENDIX TO EEPOBT FROM THE Fresh vegetables Sugar Tea - Wood Porter ilb. ^oz. i oz. 3 lbs. l-6tli gallon (Four times.) Rum l-64tli ditto (Three times.) 2. State whether, considering the Country, Climate, Season, and Duties, the Dieting of the Troops has been sufficiently nutritire and varied to preserve Health, together with any changes you may have advised, and the results of such advice. It has. 3. What Liquors have been used by the Soldiers, and whether they have been good, or the reverse. Ale and rum generally ; sometimes " Old Tom." Quality, good. 4. State the Number of Men who have been admitted to Hospital for Diseases occasioned (a) directly, (b) indirectly, by Intemperance. (a) Twenty-nine ; (b) six. v.— Clothing. 1. State whether the Clothing of the Troops has been sufficient, and adapted to the Climate ; and what changes, if any, you have recommended, and the results. It has ; in warm weather, serge clothing, flannel shirts, flannel belts, and woollen socks. In cold, English winter clothing, forage caps, flannel shirts, flannel belts, and woollen socks, covered wicker helmets, 2. State whether there has been Foot-soreness from Defective Boots, &c.; its extent, and what steps you took in consequence, with the results. There has not. 3. Has the Bedding been Clean and Wholesome, and properly Aired, in accordance with the Regulations? Clean ; blankets aired regularly ; bedding to be so in future. VI. — Duty and Exercises. 1. State what has been the Nature and Amount of Duty performed by the Troops, and its effects on Health. State also, the Average Number of Nights per Week the Men have had in Bed. Drills twice a day ; gun practice for 10 days in March ; employment in arsenal and magazine ; guards, &c. In bed three and four nights per week. 2. Drill. — State the dally amount of Drill, with the Hours at which Drills have taken place. The influence of Drills on Health, with the recommendations you have made^, and the results ? In warm weather from 7 to 8 a.m., and from 5 to 6 p.m. ; in cold weather from 7 to 8 a.m., and from 4 to 5 p.m. These do not exert any injurious influence on the health of the men. 3. Uxercises.—SiAte what provision in the way of Games, Gymnastic Exercises, &c., exist at the Station. Whether they have been used by the Troops in such a way as to conduce to Health, with any advice you may have given on the subiect, together with the results of such advice ? A gymnasium in which there are swings, quoits, clubs, shot for putting, &c. An institute and library ; the former, containing a billiard table, bagatelle boards, chess, drafts, &c.- the latter, a lair supijly of books and newspapers. The former during the year was little used by men belonging to the artiUery, as the men had to dress to go to it The latter was a good deal frequented. Cricket was played several times during the cold weather SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 239 VI. — Canteens. 1. Have the Canteen Tap-rooms been properly ventilated and warmed ? They have. 2. Have the Articles sold been good and wholesome ? If not, state any steps you may have taken, and the results. They have been excellent. App. No. 4, Sanitary Reports^ 1 863 — continued. Royal Artillery. VII.— Crime and Punishment. 1. Has the sanitary condition of Lock-up Rooms and Prison Cells been satisfactory as regards Cubic Space, Ventilation, Warming, and Cleanliness ? State any defects injurious to the Health of the Prisoners which have come under your notice, with your recommendations, and the results. The men have been confined in the garrison cells during the year, which have been considered satisfactory in all these points. VIII. — Vaccination. 1. What has been the state of Vaccination in the corps ? How many Cases and Deaths from Small-pox have occurred among men properly vaccinated ? Have you had occasion to revaccinate any of the corps ? If so, with what results. None vaccinated during the year ; no cases of small-pox occurred. IX. — Diseases. 1. Zymotic Diseases. — Should Zymotic Diseases, especially Fevers, Dysentery, Cholera, and Diarrhoea, have prevailed, to what causes do you attribute the occurrence, and what were their precise types and peculiarities ? Has there been any overcrowding or defective Ventilation ; have there been any defects in Drainage, Latrines, or Water Supply; any want of Cleanliness, any defects in Diet or Clothing, any extra Fatigue or Exposure, Climatic peculiarities. Intemperance, or anything in the vicinity of the Station ; or any other cause to which the occurrence of such diseases may be attributed ? If so, state the causes, and your recommendations in regard to them, with the results. None of these affected the men epidemically ; diarrhoea, venereal disease, and ebriositas were the chief, arising from climate, irregular habits, and intemperance, and not to any defective sanitary arrangement. 2. Phthisis JPulmonalis.—'ReteTi'mg to your annual return, to what do you attribute the occurrence of Phthisis Pulmonalis and other Chest Diseases ? Climate and exposure acting in the cases of Phthisis Pulmonalis on constitutions predisposed hereditarily to it. X. Hospitals. 1. Fill up this Form of Hospital Accommodation. NAME Average Number of Sick in Hospital Wards. Average Monthly Number ofCubie Feet per Patient. Huts. Hospital Tents or Marquees. OF hospital. Average Number of Sick in Huts. Average MonthlyNumber of Cubic Feet per Patient. Average Number of Sick. Average Cubic Space per Patient. The General Hos- pital "1 7-965 Ft. 1,329 none none none - none. 0.53. II 2. State 240 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE App. No. 4. Sanitary Heporte, 186S — eoniinutd, , Royal Artillery. 2. State what has been the condition of the Ventilation and Warming of the Hospital; also, any representations respecting them you have had to make, with tha results. The Ventilation and Warming has been satisfactory. 3. The same as to overcrowding of Hospital Wards. There has been ample room, 4. What has been the condition of the Drainage, AV ater-closets Katrines, &ca^d state' whether you have made any representations about any defects, and the result. Good. 5. i;he same as regards the Hospital Water Supply. Ample. 6. Has the Bath and Ablution accommodation been sufficient, and in a satisfactory state ? Will you mention any defects you have represented, and the results. It has. 7. Have the means of Cooking, and the Cooking of Hospital Diets, been satisfactory ? They have. 8. Have the Hospital Wards been properly Lime-washed, in accordance with the regu- lations ? They have. 9 Have any forms of Zymotic Disease broken out or spread in Hospital ; if so, to what do you attribute their occurrence, and what steps did you take to arrest their progress, with the results ? There has not. General Conclusions. From the replies to the foregoing questions, it will be seen that the men of this battery- have, during this year, been placed in as favourable circumstances for the prevention of , disease as possible. The men have been exceedingly healthy, the cases which occurred having arisen chiefly from climate, the effects of drink, and syphilitic affections. (signed) John K. Beath, m.d.. Staff Assistant Surgeon in Medical Charge. 99th Foot. The 99th Regiment of Foot at Hong Kong and Kowloon. WHITE TROOPS. BLACK TROOPS. 1 CO s o b O O a a s « > 3 o El Officers, including Staff. i o U S a i p t > 'I 3 o El Average Strength - - - - - - - - _ Total Deaths, hoth in and~l out of Hospital - -J - 1 - 27 , 28 I - - - 1 - SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINA). 241 I. — MBTEOROLOaY. App. No. 4. Sanitary Ueports, State your remarks on the Climate of the Station during the year, and its influence 1863 -continued. on Health and Disease. ■ There can be no doubt that the climate of Hong Kong has a debilitating effect upon the European constitution, although in many instances it may fail in producing disease. The circumstances which give rise to this are, in my opinion, — 1st, Its position within the tropics. 2ndly. The situation of the town of Victoria on the north side of the Island, which, during the summer, is the leeward side ; all the strength of the south-west wind being cut off by the high mountain ridge at the foot of which the town has been built. Srdly. Some peculiarity of the soil, from which, though neither swampy nor marshy within the vicinity of the town, the miasmatic poison of intermittent fever is given off. 4thly. From the very sudden and great changes of the temperature, often 10° to 12", to which, during the winter months, all are exposed. And, 5thly. I would add, with em- phasis, what applies specially to the soldier : exposure to the night air, the variations of temperature being greater at night, and the fever poison more active ; both fruitful sources of disease. I have, in the 99th Regiment, noticed the immunity from fever of all men who are not liable to night exposure ; viz. the band, orderlies, and messengers, staff Serjeants, privates in staff employ, also the prisoners in the garrison cells, who, although many undergo long terms of confinement, remain healthy and are free from fever. II. — Physical Geography. 1. Give a general sketch of the Natural Features, Geology, Soils, Waters, Marshes, Vegetation, and Productions of the District. The Island of Hong Kong is one of a series of islands situated near the mouth of the Canton River, within a mile of the mainland of China ; the position, of the town of Victoria is in latitude 114° 9' N., longitude 22° 16' E. The island is 26tVo miles in circumference, of irregular outline ; greatest length, say 12 miles, being from east to west; a series ot steep mountain ridges occupying a central position ; and over the town, one point, Victoria Peak, reaches an elevation of 1,774 feet. The adjacent mainland to the nortli is of a similar mountainous nature, except the Promontory of Kowlooii, which juts out, and is a series of low barren undulating rounded ridges, with alluvial deposits, in very low flat swampy valleys. To the southward, with exception of a few smaller islands intervening, the island is open to the sea, and to the full and uninterrupted breeze of the S. W. wind during the hottest months in summer. Except in the valleys the soil is exceedingly scanty, the formation of the island being a peculiar red yellowish clay mixed with disin- tegrated granite, and large boulders of fine grey granite crop out in all directions, and give the appearance of a rocky formation. The boulders are found also in great quantities beneath the surface, with here and there masses of basaltic trap. Removed from the town the alluvial deposits at the foot of the valleys are used for the cultivation of rice and siicculent vegetables, water being easily obtained from the numerous streams for the purposes of irrigation. 2. Describe the Medical Topography and Diseases of the District. As may be gathered from my remarks to Question 2, Section 1, — 1st. Intermittent fever is the prevailing disease, due to some unexplained unfathomable influence of the soil, as near the situation of the barracks in Hong Kong there is neither swamp, marsh, nor jungle land : that the predisposition to fever is mainly induced by night exposure, I have not, from my experience, the slightest doubt. It is most prevalent during the summer months. 2ndly. Continued fever, with prominent head symptoms, is an inevitable consequence of undue exposure to the sun's direct rays during summer ; and sunstroke, udder the same circumstances, is not uncommon. Srdly. Dysentery is the next and the most fatal, in proportion to the number attacked, of all the diseases ; its season is during the winter months, when the temperature ranges very low ; and (]|)ld, induced by sudden variations, seems to be the exciting cause. 4thly. Diarrhoea is preValent during all the year, and often of the raost intractable nature. 5thly. Bronchitis and chest affections are also the diseases of the winter season, cold the exciting cause; but they are by no means numerous. 6thly. Ophthalmia has also appeared in isolated cases; it is prevalent amongst the Chinese population, but with the soldier is not due to over crowding of barracks or neglect of other sanitary measures. 99fch Foot, 0.53. 112 242 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE App. No. 4. Sanitary Repoit 1863 — continued. 99th Foot. III. — Baeeacks. 1. Fill up the adjoining Table of Barrack Accommodation. !Name of Stations and of Barracks during the past year. Date of Monthly Average Number of Men occupying Barrack Rooms. Average Monthly Cubic Feet per Man in Men's Rooms. HUTS. TENTS. Arrival at Barrack. Departure from Barrack. Monthly Average Number of Men in Huts. Average Monthly Cubic Feet per Man. Monthly Average Number of Men in Tents. Average Cubic Feet per Man. Hong Kong, permanent"! Barracks - - - / Kowloon, Mat Huts - Canton Chinese Bnilding - 16 Oct. 1861 15 Oct. 1861 Nov. 1862 - 578J 651 800 246i 620 ^ — 2. If the Eegiment has been on the March or on Shipboard during the Year, state the Dates, with Remarks. Except the interchange of companies between Hong Kong and Kowloon, no change has taken place in the quarters of the regiment during the year. 3. State the position of Barracks with regard to Aspect, Elevation, Neighbourhood, &c. and whether the Position is Healthy or otherwise. The position of the Murray Barracks in Hong Kong, in a vaUey partially closed in by higher ground, both at the back and on either side, appears to have been ill chosen ; during the summer the heat is very great, and the circulation of air deficient. At Kowloon the bamboo and mat huts are in the highest degree objectionable. 4. State whether the Booms, as regards Height, Windows, Doors, and General Con- struction, are such as to be conducive to Health. Could not be better than in Murray Barracks, Hong Kong ; but in the construction of the buildings, all thought of accommodation for women and children seems to have been lost sight of. There are no quarters for married soldiers, and the limited space for the inen precludes a barrack-room being appropriated for that purpose. This is a serious con- sideration, and one which should be remedied. 5. State whether the means of Ventilation and Warming for the Men's Barract-rooms, Huts, Guard-rooms, &c., have been sufficient to preserve the Air pure and warm. Mention any defects you have observed in Ventilation and Warming ; together with the steps you took in consequence, and the result. Ventilation is generally good ; warming during the winter is by coal fires, in grates. During summer the men had punkahs pulled over their beds in both the barrack-rooms and guard-rooms at night, a source of great comfort, and an inducement for them not to sleep in the open air for coolness. The lighting in the staircases of the men's barracks by oil lamps is very defective ; the Chinese steal the oil, and the lamps generally burn only a few hours ; several accidents resulting in fractui-es have occurred from men tumbling down stairs in trying to find their way to the privies during the night. 6. State whether the Walls and Ceilings of Barrack-rooms have been Lime-washed twice during the past year, and whether you have found it necessary to make any representation on the subject, with the results. The walls have been regularly lime-washed. 7. State whether the Ablution and Bath Accommodation has been sufficient and regularly used by the Men. And how often there have been Bathing Parades ; also any defects in these points, with your representations and the results. The bath and ablution rooms are good and ample, throughout the year, twice a week. Bathing parades have been regular 8. Have the Cooking Arrangements been satisfactory as regards varying the Cookine- 01 Kations ? •' » & The cooking arrangements are good; the soldiers have the means of roasting their meat when they think necessary, but, whether from taste or force of habit, thef as a bodv prefer soup and boded meat. '^' """/» 9. Has To-fiio&pcLg& 241 0.5a._EEPOHl._MOR.TAmY OF TROOPS (CHIJ^a) H E E SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OE TROOPS (CHINa). 243 9. Has there been any Nuisance during the year from Latrines, Urinals, Ashpits, Manure Heaps, Drains, Cesspits, or want of Surface Cleansing ? If so, state what steps you took to have the Nuisance removed, and the results. The whole system of drainage and sewerage in connection with Murray Barracks is defective ; the position of both officers' and men's privies, shut in by and in close proximity to the quarters and barracks, is in the highest degree objectionable, and the direction of the drains for carrying off the soil running from east to west across the enclosure, and being on a higher level than the wells, from which a large supply of water is obtained, is a very serious evil. The diagram opposite will show the present position of the privies and the facility which existed and still exists in a large natural watercourse, with a fall of about one in 18 feet, and a never-failing supply of water, for a proposed suitable site, mai-ked C, for the privies, which would then be removed from the close proximity of the barracks. It is from this watercourse higher up that the supply of water is obtained to flow throuo-h the drains D, which now traverse the barrack enclosure. A on the diagram is a granite-paved large watercourse, emptying itself direct into the harbour, with a fall, say one foot in 18, through which, at all seasons, a never-failino- supply of water is carried off from the mountain stream to the sea, and from which, higher up, both the supplies of drinking water and for flushing drains are obtained. B are the present positions of the men's and officers' privies, both drains D open at the privies, with a supply of water running through, sufficient in the men's, but insufficient in the officers', to carry off the soil. CC proposed suitable sites for officers' and men's privies, soil to be carried off by a straight covered drain or large pipe, through which water would flow constantly, and drain or pipe to be continued beyond low-water mark. E are four wells from which a large supply of water is raised by pumps for the supply of the barracks. It will be observed that the drains D are on a higher level than the wells, so that a certain amount of percolation must take place into the wells, a fact proved by the water taken from them containing sulphuretted hydrogen. The stench arising from the officers' privies has been the subject of remark or report in each monthly sanitary report ; and latterly an attempt has been made to remedy their offensive condition by conducting wooden shafts from the drain through the roof of the buildings, so that the emanations from the drain are now carried to a greater heio-ht and to a level corresponding with the lower verandah of the officers' quarters. The evil, viz. the drain, stiU exists, and until it is arched over and no longer used to carry off soil it must continue a source of offensive emanations ; and I have recommended in my monthly sanitary report that this should be done. Chairs, with pans such as are used in private houses here, could be substituted, and the soil removed twice, thrice, or oftener durino' the day. Between the officers' quarters and the road, and on both sides of the officers' quarters, there has never been any attempt at surface drainage to carry off the enormous quantity of rain water which accumulates rapidly after heavy showers ; a large quantity runs off into the main road through the paths at each gate, rendering these paths small rivers during wet weather ; but the greater portion lodges in front of the quarters, where it has no means of escape, and is absorbed into the soil. As all this position is overshadowed with large trees, the ground, after wet weather, remains for days and weeks in a damp, sloppy state. ipp. Ko. 4. Sanitary Rt>p»Hs^ 1863 — conthraid. 99th. FouL 10. State what has been the condition of the Water Supply during the Year as to Source Quality, and Amount, with any recommendations you have made on the subject and the results. The main supply of water is conducted from a tank high up the vaUey behind the barracks, into which a portion of the mountain stream is directed ; it is laid on by pipes in the cook-houses, bath, and ablution-rooms. Water for cleaning purposes is mainly obtained from four weUs in different parts of the barrack enclosure ; but as they are all bebw the level of the privy drains, the water is undoubtedly unfit for cooking purposes. State whether, on the whole, the sanitary arrangements in the Barracks have been properly attended to, and whether there are any local causes of Disease requirino- removal. 11. As far as the cleanliness of the barracks is concerned, nothing could be better. The position of the privies and the emanations from the officers' privies, are subjects worthy of more attention. 0.53. 113 244 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE Ai^p. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1863 — continued. 99th Foot. IV.— Diet. 1. State what has been the composition of the Eation during the Year, and what varieties have been introduced ; whether the amount of Vegetables has been sufficient ; also, how often per Week the Eations have been boiled, and how often roasted or baked. Sunday . Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. Friday. Saturday. lb. oz. lb. oz. lb. oz. lb. oz. lb. oz. lb. oz. Ib.oz. BreaJ - 1 4 Brend 1 4 Bread 1 4 Bread 1 4 Bread 1 4 Bread 1 4 Bread Fresli meat 1 4 Salt pork 1 8 Fresh meat - 1 4 Fresh meat - 1 4 Fresb meat - I 4 Salt Beef 1 - Fresh meat - Vegetables - - 4 Vegetables - 4 Vegetables - - 4 Vegetables - - 4 Vegetables - - 4 Vegetables - ' - 4 Vegetables - - Tea - 4 Peas - 2 Tea ~i Tea --T Tea — -\ Peas - -■ — 2 Tea - Sugar - 14 Tea --} Sugar Sugar 1 -14 Sugar - li Tea - - Sugar Porter, 1\ pin t Sugar - ^ Rum - - H Porter, 1 J pt. - Rum - -24 Sugar - Rum - - Porter, IJpt. Limejuice - Sugar for do. - -i Limejuice - Sugar for do. - Porter Potatoes ^ - Potatoes 1 Potatoes 1 - Potatoes - ■/ - Potatoes i - Potatoes - i - Potatoes - ■1 - Vegetables - '4 Vegetables- - 4 Vegetables - 4 Vegetables - - 4 Vegetables - - 4 Vegetables - - 4 Vegetables - -4 Coffee - -h Coffee --i Coffee - -* Coffee --4 Coffee --i Coffee - -4 Coffee --i Sugar - ■! Sugar - 1 Sugar - ■I Sugar 1 Sugar - ^ Sugar - y Sugar - ^ Salt - -§ Salt - - -5 Salt - - -5 Salt --I Salt --i Salt - --i Salt - '-i Pepper " Pepper ■ Pepper Pepper Pepper ~ Pepper " Pepper ~ Breakfast, at 7.30 a.m. Bread Steak 8 oz. - 8 „ Bread - 8 oz. Fried pork - 4 „ Bread Steak 8 oz. - 8 „■ Bread Steak - 8 oz. - 8 „ Bread Steak 8 oz. - 8 „ Bread 8 oz. Bread - Steak 8 oz. 8 „ Coff'ee - Sugar - - 4 „ Coffee - J „ Sugar - i „ Coffee Sugar 4 ., 1 .. Coffee Sugar - 4 .. - ^ „ Coffee Sugar 4., Coffee Sugar - ^ ., Coffee - Sugar - Dinner, at 1 p.m. Fresh meat 12 02. Salt pork, 1 lb. 4oz. Fresh meat 12 oz. Fresh meat 12 oz. Fresh meat 12 oz. Salt beef . lib. Fresh meat - - Soup - 1 pint. Pea soup - 1 pint Soup - - 1 pint. Soup - - 1 pint. Soup - 1 pint. Pea soup 1 pint. Soup - - - ' Bread - - 4 oz. Peas - - 2 oz. Bread- - 4 oz. Bread - - 4 oz. Bread - - 4 oz. Peas - - Bread - Vegetables - 4 „ Bread - - 4 „ Vegetables 4 ,, Vegetables - 4 ,, Vegetables - 4 „ Bread - - Vegetables - - Porter - - IJpint Vegetables - 4 „ Rum ■ - 24 „ Porter IJ pint. Rum - - 2i „ Vegetables - Rum - Porter IJ pint Limejuice ^ „ Sugar - - i „ Limejuice -4m Sugar- ^ „ Porter — Vegetables - 4 oz. Vegetables - 4 oz. Vegetables - 4 oz. Vegetables - 4 oz. Vegetables - 4 oz. Vegetables 4 02. Vegetables ^ 4 oz. Potatoes - -f lb. Potatoes 1 lb. Potatoes 1 lb. Potatoes - 1 lb. Potatoes - 1 lb. Potatoes - 1 lb. Potatoes - 1 lb. Salt foz. Sail - - §02. Salt- - |oz. Salt 1 oz. Salt § oz. Salt loz. Salt § oz. Pepper - — Pepper Pepper - - Pepper - Pepper - - Pepper Pepper . - Tea, at 4.30 p.m. Tea i oz. Tea - |oz. Tea - - ioz. Tea i oz. Tea - - i oz. Tea - - ioz. Tea - - i«z," Sugar - - li „ Sugar - 14 „ Sugar - li,. Sugar - li „ Sugar - - li ji Sugar - 14 ., Sugar - - 14 „ Bread - 8 „ Bread - - 8 „ Bread - 8 „ Bread - - 8 „ Bread - 8 „ Bread - 8 „ Bread - - 8„ N.B. — Articles in this scale in Black ink constitute the Commissariat Ration, at a stoppage of 4J d. per day. articles purchased by Companies, at a stoppage of 2<2. a day. Those in Red ink (printed in italics), the About half the men provide themselves with a cup of coffee at their own expense, at daylight, the same being obtained from a Chinese contractor, and brought to the men's beds. Although a late evening meal is not provided by any regulation, still the majority of the men provide one for themselves, purchasing fried fish or eggs from a Chinese con- tractor, who lives in barracks. A late night, meal for men on guard is, , - 1 'V ~'=~- -"- "' — "" g,v.o^*^ i.=, as a custom, provided by the men themselves, who keep a portion of their day food to eat at night; their comrades in barracks always send a larger portion of the dinner ration to the men on guard. Besides the 4 a d. per diem stopped for rations, and 2 d. per day for companies messing, the generality of the men spend from 1 J rf. to 2 rf. a day for extras in the way of food; viz., eggs, butter, fish, cheese, &c. The amount of vegetables is sufficient, though any variation of cooking is left, aef a matter of taste, to the soldier's own inclination. 2. State whether, considering the Country, Climate, Season, and Duties, the Dieting of the Troops has been sufficiently nutritive and varied to preserve Health, together with any changes you may have advised, and the results of such advice. The rations issued tothe troops have been good, the scale of diet is sufficiently varied • but SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOP% (^CHIKA). 245 but I consider that the Issue of salt meat should cease, as unnutritive and unsuited for this -^PP- ^°- *- ellmate. The substitution of porter for daily issue in place of rum should be adopted; and — in addition to the above scale, I would recommend the addition of 2 oz. of rice daily, and Sanitary Reports, 8 oz. of fresh meat for men on guard only, to enable them to have a night meal. iS63— continued. These recommendations were given by me as evidence before a special committee ■ qqqTp t appointed to investigate the present diet of the soldier in China. *"* ' 3. What Liquors have been used by the Soldiers, and whether they have been good, or the reverse ? The liquors sold at the canteen jn barracks have been rum, porter and ale on draught, all of the best quality ._ _ The spirit sold in the town is of the most villainous description; a coarse, new, raw spirit, called " samshoo," intoxicating in the highest degree, can be obtained at as low a rate as 3^ d. per bottle. 4. State the Number of Men who have been admitted to Hospital for Diseases occasioned — (a) directly, (5) indirectly — by Intemperance. (ffl) Delirium tremens, 41 ; ebriositas, 52. (b) As a general remark, habits of intemperance are likely to induce disease in a climate like China ; but I cannot record any special cases not included under (a). V. — Clothing. 1. State whether the Clothing of the Troops has been sufficient and adapted to the Climate ; and what changes, if any, you have recommended, and the results. To suit the degrees of temperature and different seasons, the men have three descriptions of clothing : 1st. The English shell jacket, with cloth and serge trousers, and forage cap, for winter. 2d. A red serge loose tunic with serge trousers, and helmet, for warmer weather, 3d. A tunic and trousers of cotton karkee, with helmet, for hot season. During the coldest months the English cloth tunic is worn on guard, and at night the great-coats, both well suited to protect men exposed to the sudden changes of temperature at that season. 2. State whether there has been Foot-soreness from Defective Boots, &c., its extent, and what steps you took in consequence, with the results. No complaint of the boots ; but the regiment has had no marching, beyond drills. 3. Has the Bedding been Clean and Wholesome, and properly Aired in accordance with the regulations ? Yes, in every respect. VI. — Duty and Exercises. 1. State what has been the nature and amount of Duty performed by the Troops, and its effects on Health ; state also the average number of Nights per Week the Men have had in Bed. The only duties performed by the men of the 99th Kegiment have, throughout the year, been guards, garrison, and regimental ; the guard duties have been severe, and the average number of nights in bed have been, Serjeants five, corporals three, privates three, which, during the hot season, might be called excessive duty. Duties requiring labour, or exposure during the hot weather, should be thrown on native troops. 2. Brill. — State the daily amount of Drill, with the hours at which Drills have taken place ; the influence of Drills on Health, with the recommendations you have made, and the results. ' Two parades a day throughout the year ; in the summer before seven a.m. and after five p.m. ; in the winter, 10 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. Two drill days during the week at afternoon parades ; neither parades nor drills are excessive, and have had no injurious effect on the health of the men. :,' "S. Exercises. — State what provision in the way of Games, Gymnastic Exercises, &c., exist at the Station ; whether they have been used by the Troops in such a way as to conduce to Health, with any advice you may have given on the subject, together with the results of such advice. 1. Two covered-in skittle alleys. 2. One American bowling alley (covered in). 3. One ■ covered-in gymnasium, well equipped. ' 4. A cricket ground and .full complement of bats, , Oi53. 114 balls. 246 APPENDIX TO EKPOllT FEOM THE App. No. 4. baUs, &c., for the enjoyment of this game from about 1st November to 1st April. 5. Two ■ __ billiard tables, two bagatelle tables, drafts, chess, backgammon, and numerous games, m &m-.tary Reports, the Soldiers' Institute, where men can purchase tea, coffee, cheese, butter, bread, &c AU 1863-ioutinued. these means of recreation are eagerly sought after, and conduce m every way to health. 99th Foot. VI. — Canteens. 1. Have the Canteen Tap-rooms been properly Ventilated and Warmed? Yes. 2. Have the Articles sold been good and wholesome ; if not, state any steps you may have taken, and the results. All articles have been of the best quality, and no complaints have been made. VII. — Ceime and Punishment. 1. Has the Sanitary condition of Lock-up Rooms and Prison Cells been satisfactory as regards Cubic Space, Ventilation, Warming, and Cleanliness ? State any Defects injurious to the Health of the Prisoners which have come under your notice, with your Recommendations, and the results. The sanitary condition of the garrison prison cells has been most satisfactory, and the health of the prisoners, most of them drunkards, has been better than that of men at their duty ; I attribute this, and their immunity from fever, to the fact of their having no night exposure. , tp , ,,.,.,.. Their diet is less than men at duty, but the regular lile they must lead, with a judicious amount of exercise and every night in bed, have certainly a marked effect in keeping them free from disease. VIII. — Vaccination. 1. What has been the state of Vaccination in the Corps? How many Cases and Deaths from Stnall-pox have occurred an)ong men properly Vaccinated? Have you had occasion to Re-vaccinate any of the Corps ? If so, with what results. All men of the regiment were vaccinated in 1861 ; no case of small-pox has occurred, although it was prevalent amongst the native population. IX. — Diseases. 1. — Zymotic Diseases. — Should Zymotic Diseases, especially Fevers, Dysentery, Cholera, and Diarrhoea, have prevailed, to what causes do you attribute the occurrence, and what were their precise types and peculiarities ? Has there been any overcrowding or defective Ventilation; have there been any defects in Drainage, Latrines, or Water supply, any want of Cleanliness, any defects in Diet or Clothing, any extra Fatigue or Exposure, Climatic Peculiarities, Intemperance, or anything in the vicinity of the Station, or any other cause to which the occurrence of such Diseases may be attributed ? If so, state the causes, and your recommendations in regard to them, with the results. Fevers, chiefly of intermittent type, dysentery, and diarrhoea, have prevailed as the diseases of the country, and not attributable to any defect in sanitary arrangements, diet, clothing, extra and excessive duty, or unnecessary exposure. Six cases of cholera occurred during July and August ; they were isolated, at different periods, the disease appearing under different circumstances and from different localities in each man, and not attributable to any faulty sanitary condition. The high rate of fevers, compared with last year, I attribute to the cessation for seven months of the issue of quinine daily ; this was stopped on the 28th November 1862, and not resumed till July 1863, during which period the increase in cases of intermittent fever was most marked ; during the intermission all the exciting influences of a malarious climate were acting on the constitutions of the men, inducing debility, so that when direct causes of influence arose, such as extreme heat, direct rays of sun, or exposure, the poison of the fever, which had been contracted and remained unchecked in the system, produced its effects. The tendency to repeated recurring attacks of intermittent fever in the greater bulk of the men can be traced to their residence at Kowloon, which station, in its present state, I look upon as a most fruitful source of fever to the Europeanjconstitution, tbe emanations the SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TllOQPS (CHINA). 247 99th Foot, and exhalations from the low alluvial flats in all the valleys, 'constantly kept irrigated App. No. 4. to induce rapid growth of paddy and rank vegetables, being quite sufficient to account for the exciting cause of fever, if the peculiar fever-producing influences, well Sanitary Reports, known to exist in the ordinary soil (not under cultivation) of Hong Kong and Kowloon, "^S^S— continued, did not exist; Kowloon, till, 1st, all rank vegetation and irrigation has been stopped; 2nd, the low garden grounds and swamps drained and filled in ; 3rd, proper permanent barracks, well elevated from the ground, with broad verandahs, have been built, to enable men during the hot season to leave the actual barrack rooms without going into the direct rays of the sun ; and, 4th, all digging and breaking up of the virgin soil has ceased, and the new surface covered by buildings, roads, chunam, suitable grass, &c., and well planted with trees, — must continue an unhealthy station as regards fever for any Europeans stationed there ; the longer the residence the more liable will the soldier be to the attacks of intermittent fever. Hong Kong I look upon, in comparison to Kowloon in its present state, as a sanitarium, and the influence on the health of the men of the 99th Regiment by their lengthened period of service in China, I look upon as chiefly due to the debilitating effects of fever, contracted for the most part at Kowloon, in turns, by each company taking their tour of duty there. With regard to quinine as a prophylactic for intermittent fever, I have the greatest faith. Four grains have been issued daily to the men at Kowloon, and two grains to the men in Hong Kong ; but an extract from my communi- cation to Dr. Home, principal medical officer, on the subject, will show my views further with regard to the exhibition being made a compulsory matter. " I would point out the difficulty experienced during a period of six months to get the men of the 99th Regiment to come forward voluntarily to take the quinine mixtvire daily, and would strongly urge the necessity of adding a small quantity of common wine or rum, and thus make the issue an authorised ration, so that the matter be no longer left to the men's discretion, as I have found that many men either wiU not take the trouble, or have an objection to quinine mixture unless they are liable to attacks of fever ; the issue being made a compulsory measure would obviate any matter of inclination and make it one of certainty." This recommendation has not been acted upon, although I am aware the authority of the Major General Commanding has been obtained to the issue of a small ration of spirit for the purpose. 2. Phthisis Pulmonalis. — Referring to your Annual Return, to what do you attribute the occurrence of Phthisis Pulmonalis and other Chest Diseases ? The occurrence of phthisis pulmonalis has been due to constitutional predisposition, an hereditary tendency. The cases of bronchitis, comparatively few in number, have been due to cold contracted by the sudden variations of temperature during the winter months. X. — Hospitals. 1. Fill up this form of Hospital Accommodation : NAME Average Number of Sick in Hospital Wards. Average Monthly Number of Cubic Feet per Patient. Huts. Hospital Tents or Marquees. OF HOSPITAL. Average Number of Sick in Huts. Average Monthly Number of Cubic Feet per Patient. Average Number of Sick. Average Cubic Space per Patient. General Military Hospital, Hong Kong - Mat Huts at Kow- loon 57 i? 1,063 27 800 - none none - none - none. 2. State what has been the condition of the Ventilation and Warming of the Hospital; also any representations respecting them you have had to make, with the results. Satisfactory. 3. The same as to overcrowding of Hospital Wards. No overcrowding. 4. What has been the condition of the Drainage, Water-closets, Latrines, &c., and state whether you have made any representations about any defects, and the result. The drainage in the Hospital building. Hong Kong, is faulty; means have been taken from time to time to remedy this, but from the peculiarity of construction of drains or the want of traps, the emanations are often offensive. The water-closets on the upper storey are not used for this reason. ' 0.53. K K 5. The 248 APPENDIX TO KEPOET FROM THE 4 A No 4 ^- "^^^ ^^™® as, regards the Hospital Water Supply. Generally speaking the supply has been good. Sanitary Reports, ise»-cmtimed. q -rj^g ^j^^ ^^^^ ^^^ Ablution Accommodation been sufficient and in a satisfactory state ? 99tirioot. ^ill y^^ mention any defects you have represented, and the results. The waste pipes from the bath rooms were led untrapped into a _ drain, from which the stench was very offensive ; this was represented, and has been partially remedied. 7. Have the means of Cooking, and the Cooking of Hospital Diets been satisfactory ? Satisfactory. 8. Have the Hospital Wards been properly Lime-washed in accordance with the EiCgulations. Yes. 9. Have any forms of Zymotic. Disease broken out or spread in Hospital ? If so, to what do you attribute their occurrence, and what steps did you take to arrest their progrjess, with the results. No form of zymotic disease hasarisen or spread in hospital. GEiNEBAX CoNCLUSrOWS. In drawing any comparison between the average daily or monthly sick and the number of admissions to hospital of the men of the 99th regiment with other corps serving in the command, it must be borne in mind that in the '99th Regimeirtno system of convalescents is allowed ; every man not fit for duty from the slightest cause is in hospital, and" on diet, so that a large sick-list in. appearance may often represent numbers of trifling cases, and such as are treated out of hospital, and not recorded in other corps, but which in the 99th Kegiment swell the returns and give an increase to the average. That the health of the men of the regiment has suffered during a continued residence of more than three years between Canton, Hong Kong, and-Kowloon, cannot be denied, the debilitating effects of repeated attacks of intermittent fever being the chief cause ; but from all causes the rates of mortality and sickness have not been high, and far below what in former years gave to Hong Kong the unenviable reputation of being a most sickly station. The apparent change in the influences of the climate of Hong Kong on the European constitution are due, in my opinion, to, 1st, and mainly, that the virgin soil, except on the outskirts of the town, is now very little disturbed, all the building sites being nearly occupied ; for it was a well-certified fact that in former times where the surface of the ground was broken and excavations carried on, in that vicinity fever was sure to appear, and was attributed to the exhalations from the disintegrated granite soil ; 2nd, to the original surface of the soil being now- in the town covered by buildings, roads, gardens, and at all available places well planted with trees; Srdly, an improved system of drainage ; 4th, A liberal and ample supply of water, and 5thly, substantial and well-elevated dwelling-houses, and tke custom of no one sleeping on the ground floor ; but with all the improvements in the sanitary condition, I look upon a residence longer than three years as very trying to the European constitution, as fully proved by the number of men already invalided and to fee invalided from the 99th Regiment. If any consideration is given i'or the health of a corps, it would be sound policy on the part of the Government never to extend the detention of a Regiment in the South of China for more than three years, and as a matter of finance the heavy cost of invaliding would, to a certain extent, be curtailed, and risk of impair- ment of efficiency of a corps for service afterwards in any other climate be avoided. The so-called Sanitarium, established at Victoria Peak, say 1,670 feet above the sea level, proved last year (except in two surgical cases) an utter failure ; nearly every case sent was &,ttacked with diarrhoea of an intractable nature, and I attribute the acceleration of death in four cases to their residence there. ' 17 men were sent, mostly cases of debility after fever, the changes in all, except two (Bubo and Ulcus), as before stated, were foTr the_ worse, due, in my opinion, to the general insalubrity of the position, the sudden alter- nations of heat and_ cold, and the dampness from being generally immersed in clouds. Even at that elevation, cases of intermittent fever were liable to'ras regular attacks as when on a lower level. Erom my own experience, I would consider I was wantonly nskmg men's hves to recommend, at a future time, any medical case for change from Hong Kong or Kowloon to Victoria Pea^ Hospital. In concluding this Report, I cannot omita few observations on the increased mortality which has arisen, and the disheartenmg effects on the sick eoldier, whose health has been broken down by climate, produced by the delay and uncertainty in the dispatch of invalids. In SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOBS (CHINA). 249 In May 1863, an invaliding Board sat at Hong Kong, and 45 men of the 99th Kegiment were declared unfit to remain in the- country ; delay after delay occurred, through references having to be made to the Admiral then at Japan, and it vras not tilLlSth September, that these sick men were dispatched, three of them having died in the mean- time; the impaired health of the others had also deteriorated by their being kept through- out the hottest and most unhealthy months ; surely the responsibility and blame for delays - of this nature, amoimting. to inhumanity, must rest with some one. From an unhealthy, station like China, a. regular system of transport for invalids, at stated periods, say twice, thrice a-year, or oftener, should be established ; it would tend tb add an amount of cheer- ' fulness to the broken-down soldier, who, under the present uncertainty, despairs of recovery ; and though he pines for change, and is buoyed up by the prospect of getting to England, still he becomes disheartened by delays, and often sinks before an opportunity (seldom beyond once a year) offers for his removal. (signed) William Snell, Hong Kong, Surgeon, 99th Regiment. L5 April 1.864. App. No. 4". Sanitary. Reports, 1863 — continued. 99th Foot. Her Majesty's 22nd Regiment Native Infantty, of Bombay Army, at Victoria, Hong Kong. 22nd Bombay Native Infantry WHITE TROOPS. Commissioned' Officers, BhAGK, TROOPS.. . S m~ s K JS ■a o s a 1 including Staff. "S § S. a J as -< ¥ ' o s- ■?■■ g ¥ , ^ • 3^ ■l=- S ' m: O o "^ . H CO ! O n " 1 *^' Eh Average strength - - ] - ,' - - - '23-66, 23-68 15-75 38L- 424 Total, deaths, both in"! and out of hospital -J •1 - IL i 8t i ■1 9 ' i I. —Meteorology. ] . State your Remarks on the Climate of the Station during the year, and its influence on Health and Disease ? I have not resided long enough in tliia country to. be, able, to judge of the, climate. II. Physical Geography. 1. Give a General Sketch of the. Natural Features, Geolo^,^Soils, Waters, Marshes, Vegetation, and Productions, of the. District. Hong Kong, an island off the coast of China, east of the entrance of the Canton River, latitude 22°, longitude 1 14°. Victoria is situated on the north coast ; on the south the village called Stanley, now connected by a good road ; the climate is very variable and subject to violent^ hurricanes ;, the island does not produce anything, it being- mountainous and rocky, and. liiitle or no vegetation to be seen.. 2. Describe the Medical Topography and Diseases of the District. Intermittent fevers prevail in the damp weather, diarrhoea and dysentery. 0.53. kk2 250 Sanitary Beports, 1863 — oonlinued. APPENDIX TO REPORT PROM THE III. Barracks. 22nd Bombay Native Infantry. 1. Fill up the adjoining Table of Barrack Accommodation : Nagae of Stations and Date of Monthly Averaee Hats. Tents. ,^ Monthly Average Num- ber of Men in Huts. Average Monthly Cubic Feet per Man. Monthly Average Num- ber of Men in Tents. of Barracks dqripg the past Year. Arrival at Barrack. Departure from Barrack. ber of Men occupying Barrack Rooms. Feet per Man in Men's Rooms. Average Cubic Feet per Man. Victoria - - . . 4 Oct. 1862 - none - - none - - none - 402 551 none - - none. _ ^ t' 2. If the Kegiment has been on the March or on Shipboard during the year, state the dates, with remarks. Regiment has been stationary. 3. State the position of Barracks with regard to Aspect, Elevation, Neighbourhood, &c., and whether the position is Healthy or otherwise. Q'he position of the barrack huts is good and healthy ; the only fault is that they are built of bamboo and matting, making them too cold in winter and damp in the monsoon. 4. State whether the Rooms, as regards Height, Windows, Doors, and general construc- tion, are such as to be, conducive to Health. Yes, if built of stone or bricks. 5. State whether the means of Ventilation and Warming for the Men's Barrack Rooms, Huts, Guard Rooms, &c., have been sufficient to preserve the air pure and wai-m. Mention any defects you have observed in Ventilation and Warming ; together with the steps you took in consequence, and the result. Ventilation good. The barrack huts being of bamboo and mats, fires were not allowed in huts ; the men, taking everything into consideration, were comfortable in the winter weather. 6. State whether the Walls and Ceilings of Barrack Rooms have been Lime-washed twice during the past year, and whether you have found it necessary to make any repre- sentation on the subject, with the results. The hospital walls and ceilings were whitewashed twice during the year. 7. State whether the Ablution and Bath Accommodation has been sufficient and regu- larly used by the men. And how often there have been Bathing Parades ; also any defects in these points, with your representations, and the results. Not applicable to natives. 8. Have the Cooking Arrangements been satisfactory, as regards varying the Cookino- of Rations ? Not applicable to natives, 9. Has there been any Nuisance during the year from Latrines, Urinals, Ashpits, Manure Heaps, Drains, Cesspits, or want of Surface Cleansing. If so, state what steps you took to have the nuisance removed, and the results. None. 10. State what has been the condition of the Water Supply during the year as to' Source, Quality, and Amount, with any recommendations you have made on the subject, and the results. The supply of water was plentiful, and good quality ; its sources are the surroundino- hills. =" 11. State whether, on the whole, the Sanitary Arrangements in the Barracks have been properly attended to, and whether there are any Local Causes of Disease reauirinff removal. ^ ° Sanitary arrangements have been good; no local cause of disease about the barracks. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TKOOBS (CHINA). 251 IV.-DiET. App^No^. 1. State what has been the Composition of the Ration during the year, and what varieties Sanitary Reports, have been introduced. Whether the amount of Vegetables has been sufficient. 186S— continued. Also how often per week the Rations have been boiled, and how often roasted or baked. 22ndBombftyNative Infantry. Not applicable to native troops. 2. State whether, considering the country, climate, season, and duties, the Dieting of the Troops has been sufficiently nutritive and varied to preserve health, together with any changes you may have advised, and the results of such advice. Not applicable to native troops. 3. What Liquors have been used by the Soldiers, and whether they have been good or the reverse. Not applicable to native troops. . 4. State the number of Men who have been admitted to Hospital for Diseases occa- sioned, (a) directly, (5) indirectly, by Intemperance. None. Y. — Clothing. 1. State whether the Clothing of the Troops has been sufficient and adapted to the climate ; and what changes, if any, you have recommended, and the resiilts. The clothing has been sufficient, and adapted to the climate. ■2. State whether there has been Foot-soreness from Defective Boots, &c., its extent, and what steps you took in consequence, with the results. There has been none. 3. Has the Bedding been clean and wholesome, and properly aired in accordance with the regulations? Not adapted to native troops. VI.— Duty and Exercises. 1 . State what has been the nature and amount of Duty performed by the Troops, and its effects on Health. State also the average number of Nights per week the Men have in Bed. The duty of the troops has been light. The average number of nights per week, 4'5. _ 2. Drill. — State the daily amount of Drill, with the Hours at which Drills have takeir place ; the influence of Drills on Health ; with the recommendations you have made, and the results. Two drills per diem, between the hours of 7 and 8 a.m. and 4J and 5j p.m. The health of the troops has been good, so that the drills cannot have been too severe. 3. Uxercises.StaAe what provision in the way of Games, Gymnastic Exercises, &c.,- exists at the Station. Whether they have been used by the Troops in such a way as to conduce to Health, with any advice you may have given on the subject, together with the results of such advice. Not applicable to native troops. VII. — Canteens. 1. Have the Canteen Tap-rooms been properly ventilated and warmed? None. 2. Have the Articles sold been good and wholesome ? If not, state any steps you may have taken, and the results. Not applicable to native troops. 0.5.3. KK3 252_ APPENDIX TO EEPOKT FKOM THE App. No, 4; Sanitary Report^', 1863 — continuecl. 22iid Bombay Native Infantry. YIII. — Ceime and Punishment. 1. Ifas the sanitary condition of the lock-up Kooms and Prison Cells- been satisfactory as regards Cubic Space, Ventilation, Warming, and C eanlmess ? State any lefS 'njurious to the Health of the Prisoners which have come under your notice, with your recommendations, and the results. The sanitary condition of lock-up rooms and prison cells has been satisfactory in every respect. IX.— Vaccination. 1. What has been the state of Vaccination in the corps ? How many Cases and Deaths from Small-pox have occurred among men properly vaccinated. Have you had occasion to re-vaccinate any of the corps. If so, with what results. None of the sepoys in the regiment has had small-pox. Two officers were laid up with the disease of a very mild type ; they had been properly vaccinated. I re-vaccmated four of the officers ; in no case did the vaccine take. 1. X. — Diseases. Zymotic Biseases.Should Zymotic Diseases, especially Fevers, Dysentery, Cholera, and Dlarrhcea, have pre vailed,, to what causes do you attribute the occurrence, and what were their precise types and peculiarities ? Has there been any overcrowding or defective Ventilation ; have there been any defects in Drainage, Latrines, or Wa1«r Supply ; any want of Cleanliness, any defects in Diet or Clothing ; any extra Fatigue or Exposure, Climatic peculiarities. Intemperance, or anything in the vicinity of the Station ; or any other cause to which the occurrence of such Diseases may be attributed ? If so, state the causes, and your recommendations in regard to them, with,the resultsv We have had several cases of dysentery and intermittent fevers. None of the patients died from those diseases ; they were cured easily by treatment. The regiment on the whole has been healthy. 2. Phthisis Pulmonalis. — Referring to your annual, return, to what do you attribute the occurrence of Phthisis PtdinonaKs and" other Chest Diseases? Wehave had'no case of phthisis pulmonalis in hospital Xl. Hospitals. I. Fill up this Form of Hospital Accommodation : NAME Average Number of Sick in Hospital Wards. Average MonthlyNumber of Cubic Feet per Patient. Huts. Hospital Tents or Marquees. OF HOSPITAL. Average Number of Siot in Huts. i Average MonthlyNumber of Cubic Feet per Patient. Average Number of Sick. Average Cubic Space per Patient. H. M.'s 22d Regi- ment Bombay N. I. Hospital - ' 10-9 Ft. 3,933 none none - none none. 2. State what has been the condition of the Ventilation and Warming of the Hospital' also, any representations respecting them yon have had to make, with the results. The ventilation and warming of hospital has been very good* 3. The same as to overcrowding of Hospital Wards. Not overcrowded. 4. What has been the condition of the Drainage, Waterrclosets, Latrines,, &c..? and state whether you have made any representation about any defects, and the result.' | Has been good. 5. The SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 253 5. The same as regards the Hospital Water supply. Water supply plentiful, and good quality. ■6. Has the Bath and Ablution accommodation been sufficient, and in a satisfactory state? Will you mention any defects you have represented, and the results ? Yes. 7. Have the means of Cooking, and the Cooking of Hospital Diet been satisfactory ? Not applicable to native iro9ps. 8. Have the IHospital Wards been properly Lime-washed, in accordance with the regulations ? Yes. 9. Have any forms of Zymotic Disease broken out or spread in Hospital ? If so, to what do you attribute their loccurrence, and what steps did you take to arrest their progress, with the results. No zymotic disease has broken out in the regiment. App. No. 4- Sanitary Reports, 1863-^continued. 22nd Bombay Native Infantry. General Conclifsions. The health of the sepoys for the past year has been good. We lost 11 men, not from ainy special disease, but from a broken-down constitution ; the climate had nothing to do withi their death; they would in all probability have died in India as soon as here. The recommendation which I should like to make for the keeping of the health of the native troops, would be for them to have huts built like they have in India, and for them to have their families with them, so that they might be happy and comfortable. Victoria, Hong Kong, 31 March 1864. (signed) K T.Wheatley, Assistant Surgeon, Her Majesty's 22nd Kegiment, N.I. 18 6 4. EXTRACTS from the Sanitary Report of the Principal Medical Officer in CMna,^or the Year 1864. To the Greneral Officer JCommanding the Troops in China. Sir, I HAVE the honour to forward, for the information of the Right Honourable the Secre- Principal Medical tary of State for War, the accompanying Sanitary Reports of the troops at the oifferent Officer, mifitary stations in this command during the year from 1st January 1864, to the 31st of December 1864, of which the following is an abstract. From these Reports, as weU as from a return hereunto annexed (A), furnished to me by the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, the average strength of these troops, and the deaths from all causes among them, during the above period, have been as under : — WHITE TROOPS. Commissioned Officers, including StaflF. BLACK troops. 1 CD ■a 1 o 1 i 1- -o '■ in OS o ,5 g -3 it Q 1 1 Average Strength. Total Deaths, both m\ and outief So^pUal -j' 7 4 - 73 ' 84 1 4 3 1 32 40 0.53. KK 4 254 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE Sanitary Reports, 1 864 — continued. Principal Medical Officer. Of admissions and deaths, the number which took place at each of the subordinate military stations, as well as the mean daily sick there, are stated in the Reports of the several medical officers to have been as follows : — ^%- CORPS. STATION. White Troops. Non-Commissioned OflScers and Privates. Commissioned Officers. Black Troops. Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates. Admitted. Died. Daily Sick. Admit- ted. Died. Admit- ted. Died. DaUy Sick. Royal Artillery - - Ditto - - - - - Royal Engineers - - - Ditto- . . . . 2/20th Regiment - - - - Ditto- ■ 67th Regiment 99th „ - Departmental Corps Gun Lascars 22nd Bengal Native Infantry - 29th „ „ - - Hong Kong Shanghai - Hong Kong - Shanghai - Kowloon - - - Stanley Shanghai Hong Kong and Kow- loon ... China Hong Kong Hong Kong 337 276 151 20 745 67 1,127 1,371 25 7 3 5 1 6 4 25 26 7 12 8 5 39 3 46 70 1 - 1 177 1,102 404 2 17 21 7 39 34 Total 4,119 84 185 - 1 1,683 40 . 80 The Number of Troops Invalided, or Officers who have obtained Sick Leave from this Command, during the past Year, have been : — Sergeants. Corporals. Drummers. Privates. OfScers. White TroopB - Black Troops 4 5 6 9 1 99 32 14 4 Alleged Causes of Sickness and Mortality. Referring to Sanitary Eeport, 99th Eegiment, article "Barracks," I would beg to direct attention to diiFerent outbreaks of fevers and other diseases, which occurred in that corps during a part of the period it was quartered at Kowloon, viz., from the 15th September to 31st December. A medical board, of which I was president, convened under the authority of the Major General commanding, after protracted inquiry and due considerar tion, reported as follows -with reference thereto : — 1st. Taking all these circumstances into mature and anxious consideration, the Board is of opinion that the sanitary condition of Kowloon has been unsatisfactory, and that no proper means have been adopted to improve it. 2nd. The Board on review of the whole evidence affecting this question, is of opinion, that though the ordinary causes of disease existing at Kowloon may have operated in its production in an inferior degree, yet that the recent outbreaks of sickness in the 99th Eegiment were mainly produced by the malarious influence of the cuttings which have recently been going on there ; and the Board is further of opinion, that had these cuttings been effectually stopped in the first instance, much of the sickness and mortality which have since ensued, would not haA'e occurred. 3rd. The Board having given its attention to the letter of the Commandant, dated the 29th of October, and referring to the evidence of Lieutenant and Adjutant Ffolliott, Assistant Surgeon Kerans, and Sergeant Major Short, 99th Eegiment, has not been able to discover any circumstances m the mode of life of Private Sullivan, for some days previous to the accession of his fatal fever, which can warrant it in coming to the conclusion that his death was hastened, or his fever induced, by any excess or imprudence on his part. The same observations apply to two other fatal cases of fever, which have since occurred in the 99th Eegiment, viz., to those of Sergeant Carter and Private Fagan, and the only opinion at" which the Board can arrive, with reference to these cases is, that death was the result of the malarious influence indicated in the previous conclusion. . The SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOKTALITY OF TEOO?PS (CHINA). 255 The only suggestions I have to offer under this head, are : — 1st. That until the necessary cuttings have ceased for a period of at least six months, no troops ought to be quartered at Kowloon. 2d. That until efficient drainage, good substantial stone or brick barracks are erected, and every possible protection from solar influence be afforded by spacious verandahs and the shade of trees, troops ought not to be quartered at Kowloon. (signed) William Dick, M.D. Deputy Inspector General, and Principal Medical Officer. App, No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1864 — continued. Principal Medical Office!-. EXTRACTS from the Sanitary Report's of Reqiments serving at Hong Kong and Kowloon in the Year 1864. 6th Battery, 12th Brigade, and 8th Battery, 2d Biigade, Royal Artillery, at Victoria, Hong Kong. Royal Artillery, White Troops. Commissioned Officers, including Staff. Black Troops. S i 6 Drummers or Trumpeters. 1 •4 1 1 OQ o a* a m a a s o 1 >4 1 Average strength . - - - 8 10 1-5 117 137 4 2 3 1 75 81 Total Deaths, both in and out of Hospital - - - - - 5 5 2 2 I. — Meteokologt. ■2. State your Remarks on the Climate of the Station during the Year, and its influence on Health and Disease. From my short experience of Hong Kong am unable to give a decided opinion. From the records of the meteorological observations, the past season has been more than usually cool, and the climate does not seem to have induced more than the usual average of disease ia. the tropics. ' II. — Physical Geography. 1. Give a general Sketch of the Natural Features, Geology, Soils, Waters, Marshes, Vegetation, and Productions of the District. The town of Victoria is situated on the north side of the island of Hong Kong, and extends along the seacoast and on the slope of the hills, beyond. Extending along its whole length on the southern side is a range of rocky hills composed of granite and trap rocks, all evidently of volcanic origin. This town is quite open to the north-east monsoon pre- vailino- in the cold weather ; but the range of hills mentioned interrupts the south-west monsoon, rendering the place very hot in summer. Very little cultivation except in some patches in the valleys. Watercourses from the hills. No marshes. Both animal and vegetable productions scanty. Supplies procured from Canton, &c. 2. Describe'the Medical Topography and Diseases of the District. Victoria, from having. been one of the most unhealthy stations in China, has now ad- vanced to be considered the most salubrious. Paroxysmal fevers are the chief forms of fever ; remittent often, of a very bad type, and a form of this, very rapid and fatal in its course, was well known as the Hong Kong Fever. Troops fresh from England generally have continued fevers at first. Epidemics of cholera, I believe, visit the island. Diarrhoea, dysentery, and bowel affections prevalent in the cold season. Small-pox generally occurs every cold season amongst the native community. 0.53. Ll 256 APPENDIX. TO REPORT' PROM THE A]ip. No, 4, Sanitary' Reports, 1 864 — continued. Royal Artillery. III. — Barracks. 1. Fill up the adjoining Table of Barrack Accommodation., Name of Stations Date of Monthly Average Number of Men occupying Barrack Rooms. Average Monthly Cubic Feet per Man in Blen's Rooms. Huts. Tents. aqd of Barracks during the past Year. Arrival at Barrack. Departure from Barrack. Monthly Average Number of Men in- Huts. Average Monthly Cubic Feet per Man. Monthly Average Number of Men in Tents. Average Cubic Feet per Man. No. 6 Battery, Mur- ray Barrack No. 6 Battery, Kow- loon - . - No. 6 Battery, Mur- ray and North - No. 8 Battery, Mur- ray and North - 6 Sept. 17 Sept. 6 Sept. 6 Sept. 17 Sept. 100, 60 800 800 i — ■ 'i — 2. If the Regiment has been on the March or on Shipboard during the Year, state the Dates, with Remarks. No. 8 Battery, 2nd Brigade, embarked at Dover, in Her Majesty's ship " Adventure," on the April 1864, and disembarked at Victoria, Hong Kong, on the 7th September 1864. Voyage already reported. 3. State the position of Barracks with regard toi A&pect,, Elevation, Neighbourho.od, &c.j and whether the Positidn is Healthy or otherwise. The North Barracks are immediately adjoining the sea, having a clear frontage, while the Murray Barracks are on the rising ground, immediately in rear of them, the chief road of the town passing between the two. The position of both is considered good and healthy. 4. State whether the Rooms, as regards Height, Windows, Doors, and general Con- struction, are such as to be conducive to Health. They are. The height of the rooms in Murray Barracks is 14 feet, and in the North Barracks 14 feet; a broad verandah extends the whole length of the barrack on; either sidfe in the Murray, and continued round the ends in the North,, 5. State whether the Means of Ventilation and Warming for the Men's, Barrack-roonigj^ Huts, Guard-rooms, &c., have been sufficient to preserve the Air pure and warm^ Mention any Defects you have observed iii Ventilation and Warming, toge,thes with the Steps you took in consequence, and the Result. The ventilation, throughout the whole of the barracks, is good. During the cold weather 20 lbs. of coal daily is issued for each fire-place in the barrack and guard-rooms ; issued from 1st January to 31st March, and from 1st to 31st December; and in the hot season punkahs were in use during the night : they were discontinued on the 31st October. 6. State whether the Walls and Ceilings of Barrack-rooms have been Lime-washed twice during the past Year, and whether you have found it necessary to make any Representation on the subject, with the Results; They have. No representation made. 7. State whether the Ablution and Bath Accommodation has been sufficient, and regu- larly used by the Men ; and how often there have been Bathing Parades ; also, any Defects m these points, with your Representations, and the Results, There are ablution and bath-rooms for each barrack ; slate baths are furnished, with gratmgs for the feet. Metal moveable basins in use in the ablution-rooms. They have all undergone repairs lately. The men bathe daily during the summer months, either in the morning or evening. ^' "^Rltiras ?^°°^'°^ Arrangements been satisfactory, as regard's varying the cooking of The kitchen at the Murray Barracks has lately undergone repair; those, at the North, Barracks are not m so good order. The rations are generally either boiled and made into 3n ""^ allowance of fuel for the ovens is insufficient for roasting or 9. Has SELECT COMMITTEE 'ON MOETAXITT OF TEOOf S (CHINA). 257 9. Has there been any Nuisance during the Year from Latrines, Urinals, Ashpits, App. No. 4. Manure Heaps, .Drains, Cesspits, or want of surface cleansing ? If so, state what steps you took to have the Nuisance removed, and the Results. Sanitary Reports The officers' privies in rear of their quarters at Murray Barracks are not in a satis- 'i^SSi— continued. factory condition, and have been several times reported, but as yet are not much Roval"Artillerv - improved. 10. State what has been the xiondition of the Water Supply during the year as to Source, Quality, and Amount, with any Recommendations you have made on the subject, and the Results. Water supply abundant ; it is furnished from tanks on the hills beyond the barracks, wTiere it is collected from the streams running down from the higher part of the range of Julls. A porous stone filter is in use for every barrack-room. .11. State whether, on the whole, the Sanitary Arrangements in the Barracks have been properly attended to, and whether there are any Local Causes of Disease requiring Removal. They have. IV.— Diet. 1. State what has been the Composition of the Ration during the Year, and what Varieties have been Introduced. Whether the amount of Vegetables has been sufficient. Also how often per week the Rations have been BoUed, and how often Roasted or Baked. ' ■One pound and a quarter beef ; 1^ lb. bread ; IJoz. sugar; ^oz. tea; l-6th gallon of porter or 1- 64th gallon of rum.; 4 oz. fresh vegetables, constituted the daily ration. The amount of vegetables has been sufficient and varied. As already stated (No. 8) the fuel allowance does not admit of proper roasting or baking. Soup, stew, curry, &c., is generally preferred by the men. 2. State whether, considering the Country, Climate, Season, and Duties, the Dieting of the Troops has been sufficiently Nutritive and Varied to preserve Health, together with any Changes you may have advised, and the Results of such Advice. It has. No change advised. 3. What Liquors have been used by the Soldiers, and whether they have been Good ; or the Reverse. All the canteen liquors have been good ; draught ale and porter chiefly preferred. When porter was not procurable from the commissariat it was purchased in the town. The Chinese shops give great facility for obtaining cheap and bad spirits. 4. State the number of Men who have been Admitted to Hospital for Diseases occasioned — (.a) Directly, (b) Indirectly, by Intemperance. (a) Directly, 22. (b) Indirectly, 10. V. — Clothing. 1. State whether the Clothing of the Troops has been Sufficient and Adapted to the Climate. And what Changes, if any, you have recommended, and the Results. During the cold weather in the early and latter part of the year, cloth clothing, as worn in England during the summer, with a wickerwork helmet, covered with white, and encircled by a red turban. No. 6 Battery wore thin serge during the hot weather, while No. 8 Battery on arrival had khakee clothing, as in use in India, with also a wicker helmet, white cover, and red turban. A cholera belt is in the possession of each man. 2. State whether there haB been FootsoTeness from defective Boots, &c., its Extent, and what Steps you took in consequence, with the Results. None. 3. .Has, , the Bedding been Clean and Wholesome, and properly Aired, in accordance wilii the .RegijlatioBfi ? Yes. 0.53. L L 2 258 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FROM THE VI. — Duty and Exercises. App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, ~'"'" ""^ * 1. State what has been the nature and amount of Duty performed by the Troops, and Royal Artillery. its Effects on Health. State also the average number of Nights per Week the Men have had in Bed. No. 8 Battery employed in watches on board ship from the 26th April until the 6th September 1864, and from that date until the end of the year, in usual garrison duties at Victoria, Hong Kong, with working party weekly at the magazine. No. 6 Battery em- ployed during whole year in garrison duties and working party at magazine. [The garrison duties from 18th September to 8th January were unusually severe owing to the ini'antry regiment (99th) being sent to Kowloon, and all the guard except those fur- nished by 22nd Native Infantry being supplied by the two batteries of Artillery. The men had not, as a rule, three nights in bed, and individuals frequently but one. iV. B. — The intemperance during the above period was very great, far more so than at present. — W. W. Grant, Lieutenant Colonel Commanding Eoyal Artillery, China.] The average number of nights in bed of No. 6 Battery from 1st January to 6th September, three. Average for both batteries from that date, about three. Health of the men of No. 6 Battery impaired by residence at Kowloon. 2. Drill. — State the Daily Amount of Drill, with the Hours at which Drills have taken place. The Influence of Drills on Health, with the Kecommendations you have made, and the Results. During summer months from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. ; during summer months from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ; during winter months from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. ; during winter months from 4 p.m. to 5 p. m. At one time the guard duties were too heavy, and were reduced as much as possible, on representation. In consequence of the large number of sick in the last week of September in No. 6 Battery the morning drills were discontinued for a time. 3. Exercises. — State what Provision in the way of Games, Gymnastic Exercises &c. exist at the Station. Whether they have been used by the Troops in ■ such a way as to conduce to Health, with any Advice you may have given on the Subiect together with the Results of such Advice. ' Quoits, cricket, football, a ball court, a gymnasium in rear of the barracks, afford out- door amusement. Boating is also a favourite occupation of the men. An institute and library is attached to the barracks, having billiard and bagatelle tables and an American bowling-alley. VI. — Canteens. 1. Have the Canteen Tap-rooms been properly Ventilated and Warmed? They have. 2. Have the Articles sold been Good and Wholesome? If not, state any Steps you mav have taken, and the Results. J tf J j All of very good quality. 1 VII. — Crime and Punishment. Has the Sanitary Condition of Lock-up Rooms and Prison CeUs been satisfactory as regards Cubic Space Ventilation, W^arming and CleanHness ? State any defects injurious to the Health of the Prisoners which have come under your notice ;whh your Recommendations, and the Results. """i^e , wim It has. None. VIII. — Vaccination. 1. What has been the state of Vaccination in the Corps? How many cases and deaths Irom bmaU-pox have occurred among Men properly Vaccinated7Svryou had occasion to Re-Vaccinate any of the Corps? If so, with what EesuSsT ^ No men have betm re-vaccinated. No small-pox case has occurred. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OF TB00B8 (cHINA). 259 IX. — Diseases. 1. Zymotic Diseases. — Should Zymotic Diseases, especially Fevers, Dysentery, Cholera^ and Diarrhoea, have prevailed, to what causes do you attribute the occurrence, and what were their precise types and peculiarities ? Has there been any Over- crowding or Defective Ventilation ; have there been any Defects in Drainage, Latrines, or Water Supply, any want of Cleanliness, any Defects in Diet or Clothing, any extra Fatigue or Exposure, Climatic peculiarities, Intemperance, or anything in the vicinity of the Station, or any other cause to which the occurrence of such Diseases may be attributed. If so, state the causes and your recommendations in regard to them, with the results. Two-thirds of the whole admissions of the Royal Artillery from zymotic diseases alone ; of these a very large proportion from miasmatic diseases, in fact, more than one-half of the total admissions for the year. Intermittent fever has furnished the greatest number of these, and in order to show a fair comparison of the health of the two batteries the ad- missions in each must be compared after the date of arrival (6th September), and it will be seen by the following statistics that the largest number of admissions took place between the last week of September and the end of the year. ADMISSIONS TO HOSPITAL. Febris Continued. Febris Intermittent. Bowel Affections. From 6th September to 31st December : No. 8 Battery, 2d Brigade 14 15 9 No. 6 Battery, 12th Brigade 1 91 8 From 1st January to 6th September : No. 6 Battery, 12th Brigade 5 7 22 The admissions of No. 6 Battery prior to 6th September show very few fevers, and several of the bowel affections were men invalided from Shanghai and attached to the battery for a time. On the arrival of No. 8 Battery, No. 6 was moved from Victoria to occupy the huts on the Kowloon peninsula, there being no accommodation for them in the former place: in about 10 or 12 days the battery returned to Victoria, and in a few days more intermittent fever was rapidly developed among the men of this battery, while No. 8 enjoyed a perfect immunity. As many as 10 and 12 men were admitted in one day with " shakes," and unfit for any duty. It was evident that some exciting cause was in existence amongst the men of one battery, which was absent in the other ; this was too evident on examining the position of the huts at Kowloon ; there the men had been quartered in the immediate vicinity of extensive excavations and cuttings, where virgin soil was upturned jfrom a depth of several feet and exposed in a much larger surface, in the construction of roads, &c. This exposed soil apparently consists of disintegrated granite, exactly the same as that of Hong Kong, and in this island it is a fact well established by experience that the moving of fresh soil has always induced fever; indeed, in the earlier days of this colony, when ground was being turned up in the process of building and drainage, intermittent fevers and remittent (of a very bad type) were the chief diseases of the European com- munity. The appearance of this fever among the men corresponded to a period of in- cubation equal to their stay in Kowloon and a week after their return to Victoria. The water at Kowloon is of very inferior quality, but had it been the operating cause, a large proportion of bowel complaints would have followed. Several of the men have been in hospital three or four times with fever, and in many their health has been materially impaired, and were it not that the battery (No. 6) is about to embark for England, would require to be invalided. Two deaths in January, one from dysentery and the other from asthenia, are those of invalids from Shanghai attached to No. 6 Battery. 2. Phthisis Pulmonalis. — Eeferring to your Annual Eeturn, to what do you attribute the Occurrence of Phthisis Puhnonalis and other Chest Diseases ? I am unable to speak as to the Europeans, but in the Lascars the continued moist state of the atmosphere no doubt conduces to excite the disease in men accustomed to a wai-m dry atmosphere. App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1864 — continued. Royal Artillery. 0.53. ll3 260 JtPPIENT>IX TO REPORT TUOM iTHE App. No. -4. Sanitary Reports, ] SSir-icantinued, Royal Artillery. X. — Hospitals, 1. Fill up this form of Hospital Accommodation. Average Number of jSick in Hospital Wards. ; Average MonthlyNumber of Cubic Feet per Patient. Huts. Hospital Tents. or Marquees. 'NAME OF HOSPITAL. Average Number of Sick in Huts. Average Monthly Number of Cubic Feet per Patient. , 'Average Number of | Sick. ) Average Cubic Space per , Patient. General .Hospital, Victoria, 'HongJKong. 19-7 1 Uncertain; lat- terly over' •■i;200 feet. - None - !_ - None - - None - 1 - None. 2. State what has been the Condition of the Ventilation and Warming of the Hos- pital ; -also any representations respecting them you have had to make, -with the results. The ventilation has been very good, as the wards are freely exposed towards the sea, and are situated in the first landing of the stairs. Coals at the rate of 20 lbs. per fire-place, with an extra allowance of lOlbs., are issued during the cold season, and I have found this sufficient ; no reference has been' made on this point. 3. The same as to Overcrowding of Hospital "Wards. During the latter week of September the admissions were so numerous that it was found necessary to take an extra ward into use, and even then occasional over-crowding could not be avoided, there being no more room available. 4. What has been the condition of the Drainage, Water-closets, Latrines, &c., and state wliether you have made any representations about any defects, and the Jesuit? The drainage, as far as I have yet seen, is very good, and there is a plentiful supply ai waterfor the closets and latrines. A proportion of night-chairs is always in use up- stairs for men .unable ito get down to the privies or water-closet. 5. The same as regards the Hospital Water Supply. A -jjlentiful supply of very good water from the tanks or reservoirs, on the hill side, and from the height of these above the hospital grounds a considerable pressure can at any time be used in case of fire. A smaU fountain, just by the entrance-gate, constantly flaying, gives a cool and pleasant appearance to the place. 6. Has th-e Bath and Ablution accommodation been sufficient and in a satisfactory state ? Will you mention any defects you have represented, and the results? Two ablution-rooms in the wing adjoining the wards have been in use ; these are fur- jiished with moveable metal basins. A shower-bath is also in use, and frequently used M ;ij>' - 'g *» o rt . « pi •« g> ' es. ■•3 « 13 ' >, I ei o . o ;^ c3 ^ •n % v fl o ei o o o a .. C3 ,15 • • ■*J •\ 53 C3 y^ 'i io H 4 -< •P'iC '(i" ^ 1 CI CO « 1 r 1 1 N 1 ■ "11 IN « 1 1 ■* to 1 B^ •paHimpv o ■* X ^ CO ■*w TO 1 1 1 1 •p'ia ^ 1 1 ) 1 -^ 1 1 1 1 II llll 1 llll IN •poniHipv C\ I-i W -H CO in 1 mill TO B 02 'sSamiBmajj Xpiaa^y^ jo aSejaAy CT n 1 Tt (N F^ CO CO «-^ ... I-I n r. 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MM 3 268 APPENDIX TO tEiEEOJRfr KEOM TJHE Having thus detailed the extent of mortality and sickness, I shall next proceed to state how far these may' ' probably have ;been influenced by the following agencies : — ^ , L^-Meteokologx. I. Where Meteorological Instruments have been provided, this annual Table is to be filled up from thai Records kept at each Station, or from Observations kept by the Regimental Medical Officer. METEOROI.OGICAL OBSERVATIONS, noticing the Pressure of the Atmosphere, the Teinperature and Humidity ,, of the Air, the Fall of Eain, the Amount of Ozone and Cloud, the prevailing Winds, and the Variations in the Weather, a o ■■S 1 ■■s ■3 ■ s || ll Reading of Barometei- No. Temperature of Air. Dry and Wfit, Bulb. c: & s e s T3 O a o 2 -c _l_ Raiq. Q?Qne. Wind. Cioud. Year and Muntb. I a i 1 1 o i § .a; In. ■2 sa o a i o 1 .s o hJ G - JS c 1 n 1 o Ins i 5 a S o tnime o o a 1 nts SI 1 a CIS B O ipplie 1 s •s . s-s a. a O Ifor 1 m o 1 ,0 ;his p 3 PQ 1 ■s 1 o urpos i Q 1 r J? 1 3 O e < a rt S s 1 - a o f Q a 6 i. 1 1 d o S ■4 6 7 o Remarks. Jinuary February March 4 April - May June - July - August September October November December - , - In. In. In. Mean - - w. 2. State your Eemarks on the CHmate of the Station during the Year, and its Influence on Health and Disease. The :99th Regiment, with the exception of a small detachment at Kowloon till June 1864, continued to occupy the Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, from 1st January to 15th September 1864, on which date the whole regiment was removed to Kowloon. I have no reason to alter my remarks on the climate of Hong Kong expressed in the annual Sanitary Keport of 1863 ; but with regard to Kowloon, in its present state, as a station, the mfluences of its climate, m bringing deterioration of health, disease, and death to the ranks of the 99th Regiment since 15th September 1864, cannot be too strondv commented upon. ° •' • ,.v II. Physical Geography. 1. Give a general Sketch of the Natural Features, Geology, Soils, Waters, Marshes, .'; Se Station ^'■'''^'"'*"'''' ""^ *^^ District, with brief Topographical Description ^ , Havmg, in Sanitary Report of 1863, given a topographical description of the island of ' *' Hong Kong, I shall confine my remarks to the adjacent peninsula of Kowloon _ The promontory of Kowloon, jutting out from the mainland of China, and stretching - - | into the harbour of Hong Kong, is situated to the north of that island, from which ite '*'* nearest point is separated by about one mile and a half of water AnV'^TnT^l ^r*"""!^ ^f a succession of undulating ridges and mounds, averaging from 40 to 120 feet above the level of the sea, the surface soil of which is composed ff fpecT- - liar red-yellowish clay, mixed with disintegrated, decomposed, and broken-down grS ~ges ^"' ^''^ ^''"*' '""PP"^ '"* ^° ^°"^^^^^ °^ *^^ *°P^ of mounds aKdes The vaUeys which intersect and divide these ridges and mounds are very extensive flat plains at a very low level, covered with a rich thick deposit of aUuvial soil !^d ?,. +« August 1864, when taken possession of by Colonial Gove'^rnment, wer^tpt In the higLst state SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TKOOP^ (CHINA). 269 state of Chinese cultivation and constant irrigation, for the rapid growth of rice and suc- •culent vegetables. A certain portion of the flat land in close proximity to the north boundary of military ground too low for drainage is in the condition of swampy marsh. 2. Describe the Medical Topography and Diseases of the District. The promontory of Kowloon is in the form of two hofns, the naval, military, and civil settlements haying been decided to be placed on the neck of land the more westerly, from its natural facilities and its closer proximity to Hong Kong. As regards the natural position of the promontory, nothing could be more apparently favourable, the prevailing winds at both seasons N. E. and S. W. blowing from the sea or over its waters before reaching the peninsula; the temperature during the night being at all seasons less tha;n in Hong Kong. Since the first establishment of Kowloon, however, as a station in 1860, a much higher rate of miasmatic disease, especially fever, has been found to prevail amongst troops the':^e than those quartered in Murray Barracks, Hong Kong ; and this, from my then some- what limited experience, I specially pointed out in the annual Sanitlary Eeport of 1863i at page 10,_ under paragraph " IX. Diseases ; " but the unprecedented rate of sickness and mortality which has unfortunately occurred in the 99tfa Keglment since the corps Was sent to Kowloon m September 1864, is to be looked for in other than the ordinary influences (still existing) which formerly characterised Kowloon. The commencement of extensive excavations and cuttings, to carry out the contem- plated levelling of ground in close proximity to the huts, cannot be looked upon otherwise than as the exciting influence of the very high rates of disease, especially fever and dysen- tery, which have since October 1864 pervaded the ranks of the 29th Regiment. 1st. Till all cuttings and excavations have ceased for at least one yeaa", and the nattiy&i soil thus exposed is covered with herbage, ttees, &c., roads, buildings, or chunamed sites for buildings; 2nd. Till proper drainage exists; 3rd. Till the water supply is improved, or more extensive means exist of purifying it; 4th. TU! proper suitable barracks with' broad verandahs are built, and covered ways are constructed' to protect men in paissing from one part of barrack inclosure to another, Kowloon cannot be considered as in any w&.y a flt station for European or even, with the experience of 1864, for native troops. Fever' and bowel complaints, with greater tendency to cholera (as shown in 2ild-20th, and 99th), will prevail, and any body of men sent there in a healthy state will speedily become liable to miasmatic disease, and be soon rendered ineflScient. App. No. 4. S&liitaty Report's; 99th Reginittit. III. Bakkacks. 1. Fill up the adjoining Table of Barrack Accommodation. Name of Stations and Date of Monthly- Average Num- ber of Men occupying Barrack Rooms. Average' Monthly Cubic Feet per Man in Men's Rooms. Huts. Tents. of Barracks during the past Year. Arrival at Barrack. Departure from Barrack. Monthly Average Num- ber of Men in Huts. Average Monthly Cubic Feet per Man. Monthly Average Num- ber of Men in Tents. Average Cubic Feet per Man. Head Quarters, Hong Kong Detachment, Kowloon ,, Canton Head Quarters, Hong Kong Detachment, Kowloon „ Canton Head Quarters, Hong Kong Detachment, Kowloon ,, Canton Head Quarters, Hong Kong Detachment, Kowloon ,, Canton Head Quarters, Kowloon - Detachment, Hoog Kong - „ Canton Head Quarters, Kowloon * Detachment, Hong Kong „ Canton „ Taku - - Head Quarters, Kowloon - 15 Oct. 1861 15 Oct. „ 12 Nov. 1862 15 Mar. 1864 15 Mar. „ 15 Mar. ,, 24 Apr. 1864 24 Apr. „ 24 Apr. „ 30 June 1864 30 June „ 30 June „ 16 Sep. 1864 16 Sep. „ 16 Sep. „ 8 Oct. 8 Oct. 8 Oct. 8 Oct. 17 Nov. 1864 14 Mar. 1864 14 Mar. „ 14 Mar. „ 24 Apr. 1864 24 Apr. „ 24 Apr. „ ^29 June 1864 '29 June „ 29 June „ 15 Sep. 1864 15 Sep. „ 15 Sep. ,, 8 Oct. 1864 8 Oct. „ 8 Oct. „ 17 Nov. "1 Remaining f } 3-/ Dec. J. J iS64. I 31 Dec. 1864 536 12 616 18 660 18 658 18 40 17 46 17 700 1,200 700 1,200 700 1,200 669 1,200 800 1,200 800 1,200 222 137 63 None. 499 518 830 830 830 None. 600 600 ISO 50 568 568 — 2. If the Regiment has been on the March, or on Shipboard during the Year, state the dates, with Remarks. A detachment of two officers and 60 men embarked on 8th October for South Taku Ports, mouth of Peiho river, there to be stationed. 0.53. MM 4 3. State 270 APPENDIX TO REPOET FROM THE App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1864:— continued. 99th Regiment. 3. State the position of Barracks with regard to Aspect, Elevation, Neighbourhood, and whether the Position is healthy or otherwise ; describe the Construction and Arrange- ment of the Barracks, internal and external. The position of Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, might have been better chosen, but the statistics of each succeeding year prove that from whatever cause or causes due, troops quartered in them are yearly becoming less liable to disease, and from my last experience in 1864 I should now call the position a healthy one. The mat huts which afforded accommodation for the regiment at Kowloon are con- structed of mats on bamboo frames ; the position of the huts to each other has been fixed by the contour of the ground, and they are dotted about irregularly over the whole camp- ing ground ; there are no galleries or covered ways from them to the cook-houses or wash- houses : from this it will be seen that to proceed from one hut to another, or even to leave the hut for any purpose, men must be exposed to the direct influence of the sun's rays, always a fruitful source of disease in a tropical climate. On the 18th November the regi- ment was removed from the huts just described, and encamped in Indian hill tents on a locality to windward, and about a mile N. E. of military ground ; this doubt&l measure, incurring double risks of exposure, was carried out to remove the men from the malarious effects of the extensive excavations, to which the exceedingly high rate of miasmatic disease prevailing at the time was considered due. 4. State whether the Kooms, as'regards Height, Windows, Doors, and general Construc- tion, are such as to be conducive to Health. The general construction of Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, could not be better. The position of the privies, to be hereafter mentioned, is bad. There is, however, no accom- modation for women or children, although ample space for suitable cottages exists in the barrack inclosure. The principle of construction of the mat huts at Kowloon is in the highest decree faulty ; the thickness of roofing material in itself is hardly sufficient to keep out the scorch- ing direct rays of the summer sun, nor the heavy summer's rain, and the apologies for verandahs, eaves of about four feet in width, are totally inadequate to afford at any season proper protection, as men must step directly into the open air at all times they have to leave their barrack-rooms. The mat materials of the sides is neither windproof nor, during the rainy season, waterproof; and taking the general condition of such style of huts into consideration in a sanitary point, they are not to be considered fit or suitable barrack accommodation for a tropical climate, nor can they be conducive to the pre- servation of health of troops occupying them, but, on the contrary, likely to have a highly injurious effect. 5. State whether the means of Ventilation and Warming for the Men's Barrack-rooms, Huts, Guard -rooms, &c., have been sufficient to preserve the Air pure and warm. Mention any defects you have observed in Ventilation and Warming, together with the steps you took in consequence, and the result. The ventilation in Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, is generally good ; the warming in cold seasons is by means of coal fires in ordinary open grates. Barrack-rooms and guard-rooms were fitted with punkahs during the summer which were kept in motion throughout the whole night. Ligliting by oil lamps, very bad ; now that a gas company exists it is to be hoped oil will no longer be used. At Kowloon no means exist of warming huts during the cold weather. No special ventilators are necessary, as every joining of the floor-boards and leaf of mattino- is a ven- tilating medium ; the cold is much complained of in these huts when the thermometer falls low. 6. State whether the Walls and Ceilings of Barrack -rooms have been Lime-washed twice during the past year, and whether you have found it necessary to make any repre- sentation on the subject, with the results. At Hong Kong the wa,lls and ceilings of barrack-room <3 were regularly lime-washed. At Kowloon the material of the huts does not admit of such an operation. 7. Describe the ablution and bath accommodation, and whether it has been sufficient and regularly used by the men ; and how often there have been bathing parades • also any defects m these points, with your representations, and the results ' In Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, the bath and ablution-rooms are good and ample At Kowloon no bath accommodation exists, and the ablution-rooms are merely offshoots of cookmg sheds, and insufficient for number of men. The close proximity of the sea affords means for frequent bathing. There have been two bathing parades a week resu- larly throughout the year. = 8. Have the Cooking arrangements been satisfactory, as regards varyino- the Cookino- ofEations? Describe the Culinary means. * ° _Thecooking_ arrangements in Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, were good, aad means existed of varymg the diets by roasting. The cook-house was connected with the different barrack SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OP TEOOI'S (cHINA). 271 barrack buildings by covered and granite paved ways, so that at no season of the year App. No. 4 could men be exposed to the sun or rain in passing to and from their barrack rooms. At Kowloon the cooking huts (wooden) are detached as far as possible to avoid risk of g ., fire, so that men at all times and at any season must undergo open air exposure in passing lS6i-H:ontmued' from their huts to cooking huts : one cooking hut was burned down on 13th November. . 99th Regiment. 9. Has there been any Nuisance during the year from Latrines, Urinals, Ashpits, Manure Heaps, Drains, Cesspits, or want of Surface Cleansing ? If so, state what steps you took to have the Nuisance removed, and the results. State the system of Conservancy. The defect of system and direction of drains, with the objectionable position of mens' privies in Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, shut in and surrounded by the two main blocks of buildings, as represented in Annual Sanitary Keport of 1863, still continue as then. During the period in 1864 the regiment occupied these barracks, the objectionable position also of the officers' privies was pointed out in each monthly sanitary report, and the offensive emanations, the result of the continued use of an almost open drain to carry off the soil, which from its shape and construction required a volume of water three times greater than could be supplied to flush it, were brought to monthly notice in the same manner ; no results have followed any representation. The surface drainage complained of in Annual Report of 1863 round the officers' quarters has been remedied, and drains formed to carry off the enormous quantities of water which fall during the rainy season. At Kowloon the latrines are sheds, with tubs emptied twice a day ; there are no drains except small surface ones for the ablution sheds, which are on the steep slopes of hills ; and sufficient surface, both in vicinity of huts and camping ground, has been kept unexceptionally clean. 10. State what has been the condition of the Water Supply during the year, as to Source, Quality, and Amount, with any recommendations you have made on the subject, and the results. The water supply in Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, remains as last year, viz., the main supply of water is conducted from a tank high up the valley behind the barracks, into which a portion of the mountain stream is directed ; it is laid on by pipes in the cook houses, bath and ablution rooms. Water for cleaning purposes is mainly obtained from four wells in different parts of the barrack enclosure, but as they are all below the level of the privy drains, the water is undoubtedly unfit for cooking purposes. At Kowloon the water supply is scanty, and not of good quality ; it has been drawn from three open wells in low situations, in three separate swampy ravines, one northward, one southward, and the other eastward of military ground ; it has always been complained of, and the following qualitative analysis, by Staff Assistant Surgeon Curtis, shows its properties and impurities. " Kowloon, 8 October 1864. " Qualitative analysis of water from a spring at the south-east extremity of Kowloon camp, from which a large supply for use of troops is drawn : — " Physical Qualities. — It has a milky appearance, due in part to the presence of finely divided clay in a state of suspension, also to suspended organic matter ; it has a heavy smell, and a mawkish disagreeable taste ; when allowed to stand for a short time it deposits a copious sediment composed, chiefly of vegetable organic matter. "The chief chemical constituents are the following: — Chlorides in abundance, as chloride of magnesia, lime, and possibly soda : of these salts, there are considerably over 10 grains per gallon. Sulphates of lime and magnesia, carbonates of the same ; the amount of lime salts are so small that it requires concentration of the water to prove their presence . . by the usual tests. There is no trace of iron or nitric acid. Vegetable organic matter is present in large amounts; whether it exceeds four grains per gallon, a quantity that proves injurious to health, I cannot say, not having the suitable apparatus and re-agents ; but to „ ■ . it and the chlorides, I think, must be attributed those injurious effects which are said to result to those drinking this water. " The quality of the water would be considerably improved by the mixture with it of six grains of alum t6 a gallon, and by filtration (through animal charcoal, if possible). The water from a spring near the commissariat stores to north-west of camp, also largely used by the troops, has the same qualities in a less proportion, and is therefore purer. " From the date of above Eeport, alum has been used as recommended, and all drinking water thrown into vessels containing powdered wood charcoal (no animal charcoal being obtainable), and then filtered through patent filters supplied by Barrack Department." 11. State -whether, on the whole, the Sanitary Arrangements in the Barracks have been properly attended to, and whether there are any local causes of Disease requiring removal. Cleanliness both in Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, and huts and tents at Kowloon, has been mo§t rigorously attended to. The local causes of disease at Kowloon are — 1st. Ordinary malaria arising from the natural soil, and from undrained and now unused low 0.53. N N alluvial App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1864 — conUnusd. 99th K^roeui. 272 APPENDIX TO EEPOET rUOM THE alluvial paddy swamps, produeing ordinary malarious fever. 2nd. The- exbalations from the extensive cuttings carried on there can be no doubt increased the ordinary miasmatic influences, and, by the virulence of the fever poison which, they contained, rendered nearly every one who lived in proximity subject to intermittent fever, tius form running into^a low remittent type, proving unfortunately rapidly fatal in many cases 3rd The imperfect protection from exposure afforded by the mat huts, rendering men hable at all seasons to be in the sun and in the rainy season to the wet, and m the cold season to be chilled, especially at night. 4th. The impure and bad quaHty of the water. AH excitmg causes of miasmatic diseases likely to operate unfavourably, as unfortunately they have aone on a body of men such as the 99th Eegiment, when exposed to their mfluenae, debilitated by 4^ years' previous service in China. IV.— Diet. State what has been the composition of the Ration during- the Year,, and what varieties have been introduced. Whether the amount of Vegetables has been suffi- cient. Also, how often per Week the Rations have been Boil'ed, and how often Roasted or Baked. Sunday. Mondav- Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. Friday. Saturday. V lb. oz. \ llr.oz. lb. oz. \ 'Ib.oz. lb. oz.. 1 lb. oz. li-ez. Bread - 1 4 ■ Bread i 4 Bread 1 4 Bread 1 4 Bread I 4 Bread 1 4 Bread 1 4 Fresh meat - 1 4 Salt pork - I 4 Fresh meat- 1 4 Fresh meat - 1 4 Fresh meat - 1 4 Salt beef- - 1 -' Fresh meat - 1 4 Vegetables - - 4 Vegetables - - 4 Vegetables - - 4 Vegetables - 4 Vegetables - 4 Vegetables - - 4 Vegetables - - 4 Tea - -4 . Peas - - 2 Tea - J Tea - :--i Tea. - --i. Peas J - 2 Tea - :1 Sugar - -4 Tea - --i Sugar Sugar .--i- Sugar --i Tea - --f Sugar Porter, J gal. Sugar --i Limejuice - h Porter, J ffflt - Limejuice - '--k Sugar --* Hum - -H Porter, \gal. Sugar for do. Rum - --i - 24 Sugar for do. Rum - -24 Porter, f-^irf. Potatoes ■/ - Potatoes ' / - Potatoes - 1 - Potatoes - 1 - Potatoes - f- Potatoes. - -1 Potatoes - i - Vegetables - -4 '■ Vegetables - 4 '- Vegetables - ' - 4 Vegetables- -4 Vegetables - -4 Vegetables - -4 Vegetables - - 4 Coffee - --i- Coffee • --h Coffee --h Coffee --4 Coffee --i Coffee- --i Coffee --* Sugar - 1 Sugar - i Sugar - 1 Sugar / Sugar .-. V Sugar - 1 Sugar - 1' Salt - -^ Salt . --^ Salt - _ _2 Salt - -| Salt - --i ' Salt ■■ L " -§ Salt - -A- Pepper -=!■ Pepper ' Pepper Pepper Pepper ~ Pepper ** Pepper Breakfast, at 7.30 a.m. Bread - - 8 oz. Bread - 8 oz. Bread 8 oz. Bread - 8 oz. Bread - 8 oz. Bread - 8 oz. Bread - 8 oz. Steak - • 8 „ Fried pork - 4 „ Steak - s „ Steak- - 8 „ Steak- - 8 „ Sleak- - 8 „ Coffee- - h „ Coffee - i „ Coffee 4.. Coffee \ „ Coffee - 4 „ Coffee - \„ Coffee . J „ Sugar - - ■> „ Sugar - i „ Sugar ^ ,. Sugar - 1 „ Sugar - -1 „ Sugar - ^ „ Sugar - 1 „ , Dinner, at 1 p.m. f rest meat 1 2 oz. Salt pork - 1 lb. Fresh meat ] 2oz. Fresh meat 1-2 oz. Fresh meat 12 oz. Salt beet - 1 lb. Bp«ad - 4 oz. Soup - 1 pint. Pea soup - 1 pint. Soup L pint. Soup - 1 pint. Soup - 1 pint. Pea soup. - 1 ,, Fresh meat 12 „ Biead - 4 oz. Bread - 4 oz. Bread - ' I oz. Bread - A oz. Bread - 4 oz. Bread ~ 4 oz. , Vegetables 4 „■ , Vegetables - 4 „ Vegetables 4 „ Vegetables 1 „ Vegetables 4 „ Vegetables 4 ,, Vegetables 4„ ; Rum - 2J „• ■ Porte* , - igal. Porter - J gal. Rum Limejuice - ii,. Porter - J gal. Rum - 2J „ Limejuice - — Porter - J gal. Soup - 1 pint Sugar Sugar — Vegetables 4 oz. Vegetables 4 oz. Vegetables i 'toz. Vegetables 4 oz. Vegetables 4 oz^ Vegetables 4 oz. Vegetables 4 oz. Potatoes - 1 lb. Potatoes - 1 lb. Potatoes lib. Potatoes - -1 lb. Potatoes - i m. Potatoes - 1 lb. Potatoes - 1 H. -^ Salt - . 3| 02. Salt- - - Salt - 3 \oz. Salt - - ^ oz. Salt- - ^oz. Salt- . - Salt- - ^og. Pepper • v Pepper - - Pepper - - Pepper Pepper - - , Pepper - - Peppet - - Tea, at 4.30. p.m. *. ;, Tea - - loz. Sugar - l| „ Bread - - 8 „ Tea - - i oz. Sugar - 1^ ,, Broad - 8 „ Tea - Sugar Bread ioz. 1^ „ 8 ,. Tea - - 1 oz. Sugar l| „ Bread 8, „ Tea i oz. Sugar - li „ Bread - 8 „ Tea - - J oz. ' Sigar - 1| „ Bread - 8 „ Tea - -J oz. Sugar - IJ „ Bread - 8 ^ N.B. — Articles in this scale in Black ink constitute the Commissariat Ration, at a stoppage of 4 J d. a day. articles purchased by C^ompanies at a stoppage of 2 (f. a day. Those in Red ink (printed in italics, the Z^' The issue of salt meat was stopped in May 1864, and the usual ration of fresh meat (lij lb.) substituted. About the half of the men provide themselves with a cup of coffee at their own expense at daylight, the same being obtained from a Chinese contractor, and brought to the men's beds Although a late evening meal is not provided by any regulation,. sSll the maiorit^ of the men provide one for themselves, purchasing, fried fish or eggs. froi» a Chinese contractor. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOHTALITY OiP TE.OOPS (cHINA). 273 contractor, who lives in barracks. A late night meal for men on guard is, as a custom, App. No. 4. provided by the men themselves, who keep a portion of tlieir day food to eat at night ; " their comrades in barracks always send a larger proportion of the dinner ration to the Sanitary Reports, men on guard. Besides the 4^ c?. a day stopped for rations, and 2 d. per diem for com- ls64r^continueil'. panics messing, the generality of the men spend from l^ d. to 2d. & day for extras in the — : way of food, viz., eggs, butter, fish, cheese, &c. ^^*^ Recent. The amount of vegetables is sufficient, though any variation of cooking is left, as a matter of taste, to the soldier's own inclination. 2. State whether, considering the Country, Climate, Season, and Duties, the Dieting of the Troops has been sufficiently nutritive and varied to preserve Health, together with any changes you may have advised, and the result of such advice. The committee of officers appointed by order of the Secretary of State for War, which sat at Hong Kong in April 1864, to consider the constitution of the soldiers' rations, and of which committee I was a member, made the following recommendations : — 1st, that 2 oz. rice be added to the present ration, to be given to the soldier free of further charge ; 2ndj that the issue of rum should cease^ and a ration of porter daily be substituted; 3rd, that all issue of salt meat be abolished. These important changes have been approved of, and on the 1st January 1865 the new scale came into use; the issue of rum, however, still continuing, as the supply of porter on the station was not sufficient for the present to meet the demands of the increased issue. Nothing could be recommended to improve this dietary, which is varied and sufficiently nutritive. 3. "What Liquors have been used by the Soldiers, and whether they have been good, or the reverse ? The liquors sold in the regimental canteen have been English porter and ale, on draughts all of the best quality ; also rum of the best quality, procured from the commissariat stores, on payment. The grog shops in the town of Hong Kong retail liquors of the most villainous description, the charge by the Colonial Government for a spirit license is so high, about % 300 annually, 'that the most extensive adulteration is necessary to enable the keepers of these taverns to make adequate and proportionable profits ; a coarse, raw native spirit, called " samshoo," intoxicating in the highest degree, and almost poisonous in its effects, is used as the adulterating medium. This spirit can also be easily obtained from the Chinese, at as cheap a rate as 3 rf. to 4 tic diseases. There was no extra fatigue entailed at any time on the troops at Kowloon ; there was considerably less intemperance than when the regiment was in Hong Kong; the clothing was suitable. The water has already been treated of as impure, and to its use, coupled with the general miasmatic influence of the locality, in some degree, may be attributed the verp great prevalence of dysentery, diarrhoea, and, perchance, cholera. _ The weather, I may remark, since 15th September to end of 1864, has been most pro- pitious, only one day's rain, and the temperature has been most genial. It may also be remarked that, from the day the regiment was ordered to Kowloon, quinine (four grains) was given daily to every mfan as a prophylactic, but with such exciting and fever-producing influences there existing, even the exiiibition of such a large dose had little effect; for by a return completed from 1st October 1864 up to 23d January 1865, it was found that only 91 men of the regiment, out of the strength (568) stationed therel had not been attacked with some miasmatic disease during that period. 2. Phthisis PulmonaMs.-—RefeTTmg to you^r Annual Return, to what do you attriibjite the occurrence of Phthisis Pmlmonalis. and other Chest Diseases. The occurrence of phthisis pulmonalis has exceeded in 1864 the number of cases- id Annual Eeturn of 1863 ; this is no doubt attributable to the increased debilitating effects produced by an additional year's residence in this climate, favouring the development of Ifcg disease in those in whom a comstitutional predisposiliQB or hereditary teiwiency SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITTT OF TROOPS (CHINA). X. HoSPIf ALS. 1. Eill up this Form of Hospital Accommodation. 3T7 NAME Average Number of Sick in Hospital Wards. Av«rsge Monthly Number of Cubic Peet per Patient. Huts, Hospital Tents or Marqiiggs. OF HOSPITAL. Average Number of Sick in Huts. Average Monthly Number of Cubic Feet per Patient. Average Number of Sick. Average Cubic Space per Patienk Hong Kong Gar- rison Hospital - Hospital Ship " Hetcttles," from 14tb Oc- tober 70 ; 1,060 none -. none none none< 2. State wbat has been the condition of the Ventilation and Warming of the Hospital ; also, any representations respecting them you have had to makej with the resultjg ; describe its position in relation to the Barracks. Satisfactory. 3. The same as to overcrowding of Hospital Wards ; state the number ofWardsj, and give their Dimensions. No overcrowding. 4. What has been the condition of the Drainage, Water-closets', Latrines, &c., and state whether you have made any representations about any defects, and the result. The drainage in the hospital building. Hong Kong, is faulty ; means hsve beeii takeil, from time to time, to remedy this ; but from the peculiarity of construction of drains, or the want of traps, the emanations are often offensive.- Tlie water-closets on thie upper stories are not used for this reason. 5. The same as regards the Hospital Water Supply. Generally speaking, the water supply has been good. 6. Describe the Bath and Ablution accommodation, and whether it has been sufficie^at and in a satisfactory state ; mention any defects you have represented,, and the results. The waste pipes from the bath rooms were led untrapped into a drain, fr'offii which the stench was very offensive ; this was represented, and was remedied. 7. Have the means of Cooking, and the Cooking of Hospital Dietsj. been satisfactory ? describe the culinary means. Satisfactory. 8. Have the Hospital Wards been properly lime washed in accordance with the regu- lations ? Yes. 9. Have any forms of Zymotic Disease broken out or spread in Hospital ; if so, to what do you attribute their occurrence, and what steps did you take to arrest their progress, with the results ? No form of zymotic diseases has arisen or spread in hospital. App. No. 4. Sanitary Ret)orts, W6i^ continued. 99th Regiment. General Conclttsions. In referring in the body of this report to the stations of the 99th Eegiment, divided in periods of residence and different strengths between Hong Kong and Kowloon, and the average of sick during these periods, the healthiness of Hong Kong over Kowloon, in its present state, cannot for a moment be gainsayed. I have fully, under the different headings, entered into the causes of the present insalubrity of Kowloon, which are identical and similar (with the exception of the quality of the water) to those which existed when the Island of Hong Kong was first taken possession of, and which, up to the last seven or eight years, gave to Hong Kong a reputation for specific unhealthiness, from the peculiar low and fatal type of fever then prevailing. This form of disease has now happily dis- appeared from Hong Kong, but that the same influences which produced it there in the former state of the settlement have been the exciting causes of the same form of disease 0.53, N N 4 and 278 APPENDIX TO EEPOKT FKOM THE App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1 864 — continued. 99th Regiment. and type of fever amongst the men of the 99th Regiment at Kowloon there can be little doubt. I will now quote my remarks in Sanitary Report of 99th Regiment for ISfes. on the increased and increasing healthiness] of Hong Kong and the causes which have led to such an effect. " The apparent changes in the influence of the climate of Hong Kong on the European constitution are due, in my opinion, to first, and mainly, that the virgin soil, except on the outskirts of the town, is now very little disturbed, all the buUdmg sites being nearly occupied, for it was a well certified fact that in former limes, where the surface of the ground was broken and excavations carried on in that vicinity, fever was sure to appear, and was attributed to the exhalations from the disintegrated granite soil ; secondly, to the original surface of the soil, being now, in the town, covered by buildings, roads, gardens, and all available places, well planted with trees ; thirdly, an improved system of drainage ; fourthly, a liberal and ample supply of water ; and, fifthly, the substantial and well elevated dwelling-houses, and the custom of no one sleeping on the ground floor." The same remarks, with the accumulated experience of 20 years, apply with more than double force to the question of residence for some time to come of Europeans at Kowloon, for nearly every square yard of surface soil has to be disturbed to level and lay out the ground to render it available for a settlement ; and it is sincerely to be hoped that, after the sad example of sickness and mortality in the 99th Regiment, till the conditions pointed out in page 35 (under Medical Topography, No. 2 of this Report) have been fulfilled, no troops will ever be stationed there. With these conditions fulfilled, and a few years allowed for the growth of trees, &c., there can be little doubt Kowloon will then rival Hong Kong in healthiness. The question of the term of service of a regiment in China is one of more importance, both humanely and financially, than may be thought so at a glance. The 99th Regiment on their departure for the Cape of Good Hope, for which station they are under orders will have completed five years' service in China, during which period they have lost up to 28th February 1865, by deaths, 134; by invaliding, 212; by time-expired men,' 120 (most of whom could not be re-enlisted from loss of health and tendency to disease con- tracted in China); and the men who still remain with the regiment cannot be considered in a proper state of efficiency, the general health of all being more or less impaired by lengthened residence in this climate. The heavy cost of invaliding, coupled with the expense consequent on filling up casualties by death, and the amounts paid for the pas- sages of time-expired men, willing but unfit to be re-enlisted, to say nothing of the impaired eflSciency of the regiment as it stands at present, would, when turned into an equivalent of pounds, shillings, and pence, I imagine, be fully equal to, if not more than, the expenses likely to be incurred by the regular relief of a regiment every two or two and a half or at the very most, three years. A regular system of invaliding also at stated intervals, as pointed out in last year's report, would help to decrease the .mortality and obviate the disheartening efltect which the uncertainty of delay has on the sick soldier, whose health has been broken down by climate, and to whom further detention is cruel and dangerous. In the new establishment of invalid transports, and for the regular conveyance of relief to and from India, contemplated for that country, via "Isthmus of Suez," it is to be hoped arrangements to include China will not be overlooked. The authority granted by the Secretary of State for War to use the overland mail steamers to the extent of four invalids at one time, has, in the case of the 99th Regiment been made available for U men; a great boon, and one which has been the means of saving life, although the deaths of two of the 11 cases sent by this route have been alreadv reported. •' 00 -F-. 1. ,r.„. William Snell, Surgeon, 28 February 1865. 99th Regiment. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS (cHINA). 279 App. No. 4. To tte Officer commanding the 99th Eegiment at Kowloon. (A.) Keturjst of the Strength and Deaths among the 99th Eegiment serving at the Station of Hong Kong and Kowloon, China, with a Detail of the Duty performed, application of the Soldier's Pay, and extent of Crimes and Punishments during the Year, from 1st January 18,64 to 31st December 1864. 1. The strength of the Regiment under my command at this station, including outposts and detachments to which no separate medical officer is attached, has been, during the past year, as under : — WHITE TROOPS. Serjeants. Corporals. Drummers. Privates. Total. Officers. January - 1 - 46 35 16 679 776 38 February 1 - - 47 35 18 670 770 37 March - 1 - 47 35 18 669 769 36 April - 1 - 47 35 18 669 769 35 May - 1 - 47 35 15 671 768 35 June - 1 47 35 14 672 768 35 July - 1 - 45 35 14 589 683 35 August - 1 - 45 37 16 579 677 34 September 1 - - 45 36 16 678 676 34 October - 1 - 46 40 19 599 704 34 November 1 - - 46 40 20 695 701 36 December 1 - - 46 40 20 583 689 34 Totals - - 654 438 204 7,553 8,749 424 Average - - 46| 36| 17 629-rV 729| 35J Sanitary Reports, 1864 — continued. 99th Regiment. 2. Of the above strength the casualties which have occurred by death at this station, ■during the above period, have been: — Serjeants. Corporals. Drummers. Privates. Total. Officers, including Staff. Of white troops 2 - - 24 26 1 The detail of duty generally performed daily at this station, by the 99th Regiment under my command, has been as under : — WHITE TROOPS. Serjeants. Corporals. Drummers. Privates. Sentries. By Day. By Night. Officers. Guard at Kowloon - Pic^uet at Kowloon - 3 1 6 - 60 6 12 20 1 Total on Duty - - 4 6 - 66 12 20 1 0.53. 00 280 APPENDIX TO EEPOKT PEOM THE App No 4 ^' -^^^ weekly surplus of pay available to each rank for personal expenditure may be J_ ^ ' taken at the following average, exclusive of additional allowances for good conduct or „ . . 1-, ^ length of service : — Sanitary Reports, ° 1864 — continued. 99th Regiment. Stoppage for messing Ditto - for washing Ditto - for necessaries - Other stoppages Total dedtictions from pay Pay of each rank, less stoppage for rations . - - . Remains for personal expenditure WHITE TROOPS. Serjeants. '} s. d. 3 2i - 7 1 9 - 5 Corporals. s. d, 1 3 - 3i 1 5 - 3 Dmmmere. Privates. 5 11 J 12 7 4 6 8 3 li 7 iih 4 10 s. d. 1 2 - 3i 1 2 - 2 s. d. 1 2 1 2 - 2 2 9| 6 2i 3 5 2 9J 5 7 J 2 10 5. The number of soldiers convicted by courts martial at during the past year, with the nature of their crimes and sentences, have been as follows : — WHITE TROOPS — SENTENCES. CRIMES. to 1 3 1 p d o s 1 1 s ■a 1 1 1 1 Ah o 1 ■B \ ■a !.&■ 1% Forfeiture of Pay or Beer Monfey. a- 1 C o a. .a a-- 1 Desertion . . . - - Violence to a superior,'and insubordi- ' nation - - ' - - -J Disobedience . - . - . Quitting or sleeping on post - Drunk on duty under arms Habitual drunkenness ... Disgraceful conduct Al)sence without leave - - . Making away with necessaries Miscellaneous (see Art. of War, 70) - _ - 1 1 8 1 1 4 29 - 4 8' 3 1 4 29 2 3 9 12 4 9 3 1 9 59 2 4 9 20 Total - - - - - 10 1 - 1 33 - 75 120 Eleven men tried by civil power for riot,, and acquitted. The number of soldiers tried during the year is 57. (signed) J". W. Dunne, Major, Officer Commanding 99th Regiment. SELECT COMMITTEE GS MQETALITT OP TUOOPS (cHINA). 281 (B.) Return showing the Specific Diseases by which the Admissions into Hospital and Deaths have been occasioned among the 99th Kegiment serving at Kowloon, from 1st January 1864 to 31st December 1864, arranged according to the following Clashes : SPECIFIC DISEASES. I. Zymotic Diseases r 1. Miasmatic Diseases.: Tonsillitis - - . - Influenza - . - - Dysenteria Acuta - - - Dysenteria Chronica Diarrhoea " - " " Cholera Spasmodica Pebris Intermittens Febris Remittens - - - Febris Continua* . - - Furunculus - - - - Ophthalmia - - - - Rheumatismus Acutus - Rheumatismus Chronicus 2. Enthetic Diseases : Syphilis Primaria - - - Syphilis Secundaria Iritis Syphilitica - - - Gonorrhoea - Phymosis, &c; Orchitis (Gonorrhoeal) - Bubo - . 3. Dietic Diseases : , Ebriositas - - - - 4. Parasitic Diseases ; Scabies - - II. Constitutional Diseases; 1. Diathetic Diseases : Lumbago . . - - 2. Tubercular Diseases; Phthisis Pulmonahs 'III. Local Diseases: Diseases of the Nervous System : Ceph-alsea - - - - Paralysis - • " " Epilepsia : - - - Convulsio . - - - Neuralgia . - - - Otitis - - "- - " - Caecitas Circulatory S^stemt Hypertophia Gordi*— - Respiratory System; ' Bronchitis Acuta - - - Bronchitis Chronica TleiiritJs -■ Pneumonia - - - - Asthma . - - - WHITE TROOPS. Noii-Commissioned Officers and Privates. By each Disease. Admitted', 10 2 28 13 89 10 , 539 84 250 8 16 i 6 25 6 2 36 2 3 8 12. Died. Average Numbers remaining in Hospital at the end of each Week. 10 12 2 6 2' 7- 5 4 1 2 2 6 4 1 29/52 3/52 37/52 37/52 7/25 5/26 25/26 3/31 41/52 9/26 19/52 13/26 27/52 19/26 8/52 7/52. 41/52 4/51 6/51 21/52 5/26 4/52 7/52 39/52 8/26 14/26 17/53 3/53 2/13 15/52 4/13 6/13 35,/52 41/52 1/52 3/52 18/52 OFFICERS ONLY. By each Disease. Adniitted. Died. 2 10 5 1 10 Average Numbers remaining Sick at the end of each Week. 7/52 15/52 6/52 1/26 15/52 4/52 1/26 0.53. * Cases of fever arising from intemperance are not to be entered under this head, but under Ebriositas, Class I., Order 3. 002 282 APPENDIX TO BEPOKT FROM THE WHITE TROOPS. SPECIFIC DISEASES. Non-commissioned Officers and Privates. Hj each Disease. Average Numbers remaining in Hospital at the End of each Week. By each Disease. Average Numbers remaining Admitted. Died. Admitted. Died. Sick at the End of each Week. III. Local T)ist.ases— continued. 4. Diseases of the Digestive System : Gastritis ------ Obstipatio ------ Dyspepsia ------ Colica ------- flaemorrhois ----- Splenitis ------ Hepatitis Acuta - - - - - Hepatitis Clironica . - - - Icterus ------ 4 6 17 , 3 1 3 11 3 1 4/52 21/26 11/52 15/52 1/52 3/26 19/13 2/13 I 1 1 — 3/52 3/52 3/52 5. Of the Urinary System : Enuresis -.--.. Cystitis 1 2 - 1/52 1/13 — - ^^ -_ 6. Of the Reproductive System : Hydrocele --..-. Orchitis (not gonorrhoeal) - - - Fungus Testis - - - . - 1 10 1 ■™ 7/52 41/52 7/26 — — — 7. Of the Locomotive System : ' Ostitis ------- 2 - 5/26 — — — 8. Of the Integumentary System : Herpes ------- Psoriasis ------ Mentagra ------ Phlegmon - - - - Abscessus ------ Paronychia ------ Ulcus ------- 1 4 1 34 2 2 9 mm 1/26 6/13 23/52 11/26 11/26 3/52 29/52 2 1 — 1/26 ; 1/52 IV. Developmestal Diseases: Asthenia - ---... 25 2 27/52 1 - 1/26 V. — ^Violence, Deaths, oe Diseases: 1. Accidental: Ambustio ---... Insolatio ------ Submersio ------ Practura --.--. Contusio -...-. Vulnus Sciopetarium - . - - Vulnus Incisum - - . . - Luxatura .-.--. gubluxatio 2 1 6 20 3 1 12 2 1 1/13 11/26 13/26 4/13 1/13 1/13 17/52 1 , ~-. 1/52 3, JXomicidal: • Vulnus Sciopetarium . . - - Vulnus Incisum 2 1 1 4/13 — — — 6. Pnnitus .--•--- 1 - 1/26 — — — . Total - - - 1,370 26 - 41 1 — William Snell, Surgeon, 99th Regiment. SELECT COMMITTEE OK MORTALITY OP TROOPS (CHIKA). 283 (c.) State of the Daily Sick in Hospital of the 99th Regiment at the Station of Hong Kong and Kowloon, from 1 January 1864, to 31 December 1864. Days of the Month. 1st • 2nd ■ 3rd ■ 4th ■ 5th ■ 6th ■ 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th 30th 31st Total Number dieted in Hospital on each Day of the following Months. Total Average Jan. 74 77 79 81 84 90 80 80 84 86 86 92 90 88 88 86 84 78 79 81 81 81 75 70 72 72 70 69 70 66 64 3,457 Feb. 7811- 67 68 69 73 74 74 73 75 73 73 72 73 71 72 72 74 74 72 75 76 78 78 78 78 83 83 77 77 72 March. 2,144 'xK 73 75 80 81 81 83 82 90 82 81 78 75 69 64 67 69 70 74 75 77 78 77 78 77 81 79 79 78 76 74 69 April. 66 69 66 65 66 70 70 73 68 66 66 67 76|t May. 1,891 53 55 54 57 54 56 57 62 61 62 68 63 63 63 58 64 61 64 60 60 61 60 57 62 61 64 65 64 65 63 65 63 69 63 65 62 64 59 66 58 69 55 71 54 67 53 61 — 60 June. 1,910 Q\\\ 61 60 61 62 60 60 61 57 57 21 24 23 23 27 27 30 33 31 33 34 32 31 29 26 27 24 23 27 29 31 1,144 July. 38, 29 30 32 28 32 34 38 36 37 39 40 34 31 32 33 33 31 31 36 35 37 38 38 42 41 41 42 41 43 42 42 Aug. 1,168 38i 40 41 39 39 41 39 40 41 42 41 42 39 39 39 41 43 41 46 42 43 45 44 44 43 39 38 37 37 35 38 38 1,256 Sept. 4014 39 39 37 37 39 42 45 44 44 40 38 37 33 35 33 31 33 35 37 35 36 36 38 38 39 37 33 35 36 41 Oct. 1,122 44 46 52 55 61 68 86 91 98 111 120 126 127 132 133 111 110 105 100 93 96 98 87 89 78 82 82 80 83 83 81 Nov. 2,807 90f^ 81 89 90 87 96 102 108 121 133 137 152 152 155 169 171 156 155 157 160 165 162 140 149 143 149 144 122 125 127 131 4,029 Dec. 134^5- 134 138 132 118 122 122 115 110 110 103 94 97 98 104 100 104 107 94 90 93 94 93 93 102 98 102 108 108 109 116 122 3,330 107J Average sick in January „ „ February March April - May - June - Jnly - August >} J' 7> }' 5» » J( )} » n » n 78jf 73|i 7614 63t% 61i| 38^ 38| 40|f Average sick in September October November December » 5' Total - Which, divided by 12, gives GeneraD Average for the v»fhole Period - -J 37f 90ff 134^\ 107J4 840 70 William Snell, Surgeon, 99th Regiment. 0.53, 003 284 APPENDIX TO EEPORT FROM THE App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1864 — continued. 22ndBombayNatiTe Infantry. Her Majesty's 22nd Regiment, Native Infantry, of Bombay Array, at Hong Kong. White Troops. Black Troops. 1 ■ to I o [-1 a 1 u Q 1 >4 Commissionec Officers, inolii Staff. o2 'r-,0 i ■f o &• o S a S o DO 1 1' Average strength - - - :- - - - 15i 37j 37 19i 617| 727i. Total deaths, both in and out of hospital ... - - - - - 1 2 2 _ ■ 13 18 I. — Meteoeology. 2. State your Eemarks on the Climate of the Station during the Year, and its Influence on. Health and Disease. In summer it is very hot, and the air is generally saturated with moisture ; there is a heavy fall of rain nearly every day, and very often thunder storms and hurricanes. '^^- moist heat is very unpleasant, and certainly produces languor and debility, weather is mild and agreeable. The In winter the IL — Physical Geogkaphy. 1. Give a General Sketch of the Natural Features, Geology, Soils, Waters, Marshes, Vegetation, and Productions of the District. Hono- Kong, an island off the south coast of China, about one mile from the main land, east of the entrance to the Canton Eiver ; latitude, 22° north ; longitude, 114' east. Its chief town, the city of Victoria, is on the north side, opposite the main land. The island is very mountainous, and composed chiefly of decaying granite. The highest point is just over the city, and is 1,780 feet high; this is objectionable, as it serves to keep off the sea breeze, and leaves the city in a sort of vapour bath in summer. Vegetation, none. 2. Describe the Medical Topography and Diseases of the District. Intermittent fever, diarrhoea, and dysentery are the prevailing diseases. III. — Baekacks. 1. Fill up the adjoining Table of Barrack Accommodation. Name of Stations Date of Monthly Average Number of Men occupying Barrack Rooms. Average Monthly Cubic Feet per Man in Men's Booms. Huts. Tents. and of Barracks during the past Year. Arrival at Barrack. Departure from Barrack. Monthly Average Number of Men in Huts. Average Monthly Cubic Feet per Man. Monthly Average Number of Men in Tents. Average Cubic Feet per Man. Victoria, Hong Kong 4 Oct. 1862 None - None None 541 474 None - None. 2. If the Eegiment has been on the March or on Shipboard during the Year, state the Dates, with remarks. Regiment has been stationary. 3. State the position of Barracks with regard to Aspect, Elevation, Neighbourhood, &c., and whether the Position is Healthy or otherwise. The position of the huts is good and healthy. 4. State' SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 285 4. State whether the Rooms, as regards Height, Windows, Doors, and general Con" -App. No. 4. struction, are such as to be conducive to Health. The huts are buUt of bamboo and matting, and are too cold in winter, and damp during ^^^JJ.^^^ Reports, the monsoons. 22ndBombayNative 5. State whether the means of Ventilation and Warming for the Men's Barrack Booms, Infantry. Huts, Guard Rooms, &c., have been sufficient to preserve the Air pure and warm. Mention any Defects you have observed in Ventilation and Warming ; together with the Steps you took in consequence, and the result. The ventilation is good; but the huts being built of bamboo and matting, no fires are allowed in them. 6. State whether the Walls and Ceilings of Barrack Rooms have been Lime-washed twice during the past Year, and whether you have found it necessary to make any representation on the Subject, with the results. No barrack rooms. 7. State whether the Ablution and Bath Accommodation has been sufficient and regu- larly used by the Men. And how often there have been Bathing Parades ; also any Defects in these Points, with your Representations, and the results. Not applicable to native troops. 8. Have the Cooking Arrangements been satisfactory, as regards varying the Cooking of Rations. Not applicable to native troops. 9. Has there been any Nuisance during the Year from Latrines, Urinals, Ashpits, Manure Heaps, Drains, Cesspits, or want of Surface Cleansing ? If so, state what steps you took to have the Nuisance removed, and the results. None. 10. State what has been the Condition of the Water Supply during the Year as to Source, Quality, and Amount, with any Recommendations you have made on the Subject, and the results. Supply of water, plentiful ; quality, good ; source, the surrounding Mils. 11. State whether, on the whole, the Sanitary Arrangements in the Barracks have been properly attended to, and whether there are any local causes of Disease requiring removal. Sanitary arrangements good. No cause of disease about the barracks. The turning up and disturbing decaying granite on the island, and on the adjacent main land, is, I think, a cause of disease. IV.— Diet. 1. State what has been the composition of the Ration during the Year, and what varieties have been introduced. Whether the amount of Vegetables has been suffi- cient. Also, how often per Week the Rations have been Boiled, and how often Roasted or Baked. Not applicable to native troops. 2. State whether, considering the Country, Climate, Season, and Duties, the Dieting of the Troops has been sufficiently nutritive and varied to preserve Health, together with any changes you may have advised, and the results of such advice. Not applicable to native troops. 3. What Liquors have Jbeen used by the Soldiers, and whether they have been good or the reverse. Not applicable to native troops. 4. State the Number of Men who have been admitted to Hospital for Diseases occa- sioned — (a) directly, (J>) indirectly, by Intemperance, (a) One admitted with delirium tremens. 0.53. 4 App. No. 4. 286 APPENDIX TO EEPOET TEOM THE V. — Clothing, Sanitary Reports, 18QA— continued. 1. State whether the Clothing of the Troops has been sufficient and adapted to the „„ ,„ ~7~ „ . Climate ; and what changes, if any, you have recommended, and the results. 22ndBoinbayNatiTe ' ,. Infantry. Clothing sufficient, and adapted to clunate. 2. State whether there has been Foot-soreness from defective Boots, &c., its Extent, and what Steps you took in consequence, with the results. There has been none. 3. Has the Bedding been clean and wholesome, and properly aired in accordance with the Regulations ? l^ot applicable to native troops. VI. — Duty and Exeecises. 1. State what has been the Nature and Amount of Duty performed by the Troops, and its Effects on Health. State, also, the Average Number of Nights per "Week the Men have had in Bed. The duty of the troops has been light. Average number of nights in bed per week, five. 2. Deill. — State the Daily Amount of Drill, with the Hours at which Drills have taken place. The influence of Drills on Health, with the recommendations you have made^ and the results. Two drills per diem, between the hours of seven and eight a.m., and half-past four and half-past five p.m. The drills have not been too severe. 3. Exeecises. — State what provision in the way of Games, Grymnastic Exercises, &c., exist at the station. Whether they have been used by the Troops in such a way as to conduce to health, with any advice you may have given on the subject, together with the results of such advice. Not applicable to native troops. VI a. — Canteens. 1. Have the Canteen Tap-rooms been properly Ventilated and Warmed? None. 2. Have the Articles sold been Good and Wholesome ? If not, state any steps you may have taken, and the results. Not applicable to native troops. VII. — Ceime and Punishment. 1. Has the Sanitary condition of Lock-up Booms and Prison Cells being satisfac- tory as regards Cubic Space, Ventilation, Warming, and Cleanliness ? State any defects injurious to the health of the Prisoners which have come under your notice, with your recommendations, and the results.' Sanitary condition of lock-up rooms and prison cells has been satisfactory. VIII. — Vaccination. 1. What has been the state of Vaccination in the Corps ? How many Cases and Deaths from Small-pox have occurred among men properly Vaccinated? Have you had occasion to re-vaccinate any of the Corps ? If so, with what results. All the officers and men have been vaccinated. Two officers (European) had a very mild form of small-pox. There was no occasion to re-vaccinate any of the corps. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TKOOPS (cHINA). 287 IX. — Diseases. 1. Zymotic Diseases. — Should Zymotic Diseases, especially Fevers, Dysentery, Cholera, and Diarrhoea, have prevailed ; to what causes do you attribute the occurrence, and what were their precise types and peculiarities ? Has there been any over- crowding or defective Ventilation ; have there been any defects in Drainage, Latrines, or Water Supply, any Avant of Cleanliness, any defects in Diet or Clothing, any extra Fatigue or Exposure, Climatic Peculiarities, Intemperance, or anything in the Vicinity of the Station, or any other cause to which the occur- rence of such diseases may be attributed ? If so, state the causes, and your recom- mendations in regard to them, with the results. Intermittent fever, dysentery, diarrhoea, and rheumatism, have been the prevailing ■diseases. The first three easily yielded to treatment (with the exception of three cases of diarrhoea), and were caused chiefly by malarious emanations from decaying granite, of which the island is composed, sudden changes of temperature in winter, and great heat in summer. The nature of the huts in which the men were quartered may have con- tributed to the production of rheumatism. During the wet season the sewers of the town are kept clean by the quantity of throuffh them ; but in the dry season, as they are not flushed, noxious rain flowing •gases issue from them, trapped. X. — Hospitals. 1. Fill up this Form of Hospital Accommodation. NAME Average Number of Sick in Hospital Wards. Average Monthly Number of Cubic Feet per Patient. Huts. Hospital Tents or Marquees. OP HOSPITAL. Average Number of Sick in Huts. Average Monthly JIumber of Cubic Feet per Patient. Average Number of Sick. Average Cubic Space per Patient. Her Ma,iesty's "1 22nd Regiment Bombay Native Infantry Hos- pital - -J 30-9 1,313 none none none none. App. No. 4- Sanitary Rpport?, 1 8C4 — con tin ued. 22ndBombayNative Infantry. This source of disease might be remedied by having the sewers 2. Phthisis Pulmonalis. — Referring to your Annual Return, to what do you attribute the occurrence of Phthisis Pulmonalis and other Chest Diseases. Ko phthisis pulmonalis. The other chest diseases were caused by the changeable state of the weather. 2. State what has been the condition of the Ventilation and "Warming of the Hospital ; also any representations respecting them you have had to make, with the results. Ventilation and warming of hospital have been very good. 3. The same as to overcrowding of Hospital Wards. No overcrowding. 4. What has been the condition of the Drainage, Water-closets, Latrines, &c. ? And state whether you have made any representations about any defects, and the result. Good. 5. The same as regards the Hospital Water Supply. Good and sufficient. 6. Has the Bath and Ablution accommodation been sufficient and in "a satisfactory state ? Will you mention any defects you have represented, and the results ? Yes. 7. Have the means of Cooking, and the Cooking of Hospital Diets, been satisfactory ? Not applicable to native troops. 0.53. P p 8. Have 288 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1 864— continued. 22nclBoinbayNatiTe Infantry. 8. Have the Hospital Wards been properly Lime-waslied in accordance with the Regu- lations ? Yes. 9. Have any forms of Zymotic Disease broken out or spread in Hospital ; if so, to what do you attribute their occurrence, and what steps did you take to arrest their progress, with the results. No. General Conclusions. Although the number of admissions into hospital was large, yet the mortality was not great. Had the men proper barracks to live in the sickness might not have been so much. Thos. Murtagh, Staff Assistant Surgeon, In Medical Charge of Her Majesty's 22nd Bombay Native Infantry. Hong Kong, 1st January 1865. 1865. ExTKACT from the Sanitary Report of the 8th Battery, 2nd Brigade Royal Artillery, serving at Hong Kong, for the Year 1865. \_N.B. — This is the only Sanitary Report for 1865 yet received from China.J Royal Artillery. To the Officer Commanding the 8th Battery 2nd Brigade of Royal Artillery, Victoria, Hong Kong. White Troops. Commissioned Officers, including Staff. "Black "Troops. i i ¥ 1 1 a 5 Pi < Eh 1 ¥ CO 1 i a i 0) '' 1 Average strength . - - - Total deaths both in and out of hospital - - . - . 7 1 9 1 2 87 5 105 7 7 2 4 1 73 S 80 5 I. — Meteorology. 2. State your remarks on the Climate of the Station during the year, audits influence on health and disease. In the early part of the year the climate was agreeable and tolerably healthy, but the past hot weather has been very dry and oppressive. The prevailing monsoon in the cold months (from October to March) is from the north-east, but the direction of the wind is altered very much by the high ground of Hong Kong and the main land. The south-west monsoon which prevails m the other months is here more in a south-easterly direction and affected in the same manner. The climate during the past hot weather has been especially trying to the European troops, in combination with excessive night duties The amount of sickness in the Lascar company is greater during the cold weather especially chest atteotions. ' II-— Physical Geography. 1. Give a general sketch of the Natural Features, Geology, Soils, Waters Marshes Vegetation, and Productions of the District. ' marsnes. Remarks of last year's report applicable. 2. Describe the Medical Topography and Diseases of the District. Remark s of last year's report applicable. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OP TROOPS (CHINA). III. — Barracks. 1. Fill up the adjoining table of Barrack Accommodation. 289 Name of Stations Date of Monthly Average Number of Men occupying Barrack Rooms. Average Monthly Cubic Feet per Man in Men's Rooms. Huts. Tents. and of Barracks during the past Year. Arrival at Barrack. Departure from Barrack. Monthly Average Number of Men in Huts. Average Monthly Cubic Feet per Man. Monthly Average Number of Men in Tents. Average Cubic Feet per Man. North Barracks - < Mat Sheds Remaining in Barracks last Year Ditto - }- 65 1,190 50 750 — — 2. If the Kegiment has been on the march or on shipboard during the year, state the dates, with remarks. No. 6 Battery, 12th Brigade, embarked for England on 23rd January 1865. Battery, 2nd Brigade, remaining in quarters. Gun Lascars in huts all the time. 3. No. 8 State the Position of Barracks with regard to Aspect, Elevation, Neighbourhood, &c., and whether the Position is healthy or otherwise. North barracks are immediately fronting the sea (plan forwarded with Keport for 1864), with a large nullah or watercourse separating them from the dockyard. At the mouth of the latter, sand, debris from the hills, &c. are being laid down, so that the harbour here is becoming shallow, and at low water a large surface is exposed to the sun, from which disagreeable effluvia emanate. The whole of this exposed surface could be reclaimed. 4. State whether the Rooms, as regards height, Windows, Doors, and general construc- tion, are such as to be conducive to Health. There are only two rooms occupied in the east wing, both on the upper floor, and well surrounded by verandahs, in which the men have all their meals. One room faces the sea and runs parallel to the shore, while the other extends backwards at right angles to it, freely exposed both to the east, west, and south. Construction the same as the other barrack rooms ; of good height, well ventilated, but too large for one or two fireplaces to warm thoroughly. 5. State whether the Means of Ventilation and Warming for the Men's Barrack Booms, Huts, Guard Booms, &c., have been sufficient to preserve the Air pure and warm. Mention any defects you have observed in Ventilation and Warming ; together with the steps you took in consequence, and the result. The ventilation of the rooms is entirely by doors and windows, and is very free. For the three first months and the last month of the year coals have been issued, but the rooms are so large that the allowance granted (20 lbs. per fireplace) is insufficient to heat the whole. Fires, however, are seldom required throughout the whole day, generally only in the mornings and evenings. During the hot weather punkahs were in use in the rooms every night, and discon- tinued at the beginning of November. The guard room is a wretched little place without any fireplace, all in bad order, and has been several times reported, but no other has been provided. As there are no fireplaces in the huts occupied by the Lascars, an extra blanket is issued to each of them. App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1865 — continued. Royal Artillery. 6. State whether the Walls and Ceilings of Barrack Booms have been Lime-washed twice during the past year; and whether you have found it necessary to make any representation on the subject, with the results. They have. No representation made. 7. State whether the Ablution and Bath Accomodation has been sufficient and regularly used by the men. And how often there have been Bathing Parades ; also any defects in these points, with your representations and the results. The ablution and bath rooms are immediately adjoining the barracks and close to the sea. A covered way leads to them from the north verandah of the barrack. Metal basins are in use and slate baths, all regularly used. The men bathe every morning or evening during the hot weather. 0.53. p p 2 8. Have 290 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FEOM THE App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1S65 — continued. Boyal Artillery. 8. Have the Cooking Arrangements been satisfactory, as regards varying the Cooking of Kations ? The kitchens have undergone several repairs and are in tolerable order. The ovens have been repaired, but the allowance of fuel is insufficient for roasting. The cooking of the rations is varied — stewed, boiled, soup, curry, &c. Each caste among the Lascars has its own kitchen, and they cook for themselves accordingly. 9. Has there been any Nuisance during the year from Latrines, Urinals, Ashpits, Manure Heaps, Drains, Cesspits, or Want of Surface Cleansing? If so, state what steps you took to have the Nuisance removed, and the results. In the North Barracks there has been occasionally slight nuisance from the urinals, but always remedied by increased attention on the part of the coolies and a free use of lime. The surface drains at the huts have several times given way, being made only of chunam, especially those leading from the cook-houses ; on my representations these have been repaired when necessary. 10. State what has been the condition of the "Water Supply during the year, as to Source, Quality, and Amount, with any recommendations you have made on the subject, and the results. "Water supply abundant, same as reported last year ; filters in use in the barrack- rooms. 11. State whether, on the whole, the Sanitary Arrangements in the Barracks have been properly attended to, and whether there are any local Causes of Disease requiring removal. They have. The dirty state of a nullah adjoining the married quarters, in the Queen's-road, had to be reported, and brought under the notice of the Colonial authorities ; it has been improved, but cannot be considered altogether satisfactory. IV.— Diet. 1. State what has been the composition of the Eation during the year, and what Varie- ties have been introduced ; whether the Amount of Vegetables has been sufficient ; also how often per week the Eations have been boiled, and how often roasted or baked. The daily ration consists of l;i lb. of beef 1^- lb. of bread, li oz. of sugar, ^ oz. of tea ; fresh vegetables (varied; 4 oz., i gallon of porter. Since 1st January, 2 oz. rice have been added to the ration ; lime-juice, | oz. three days a-week, vfith J oz. sugar. No rum has been issued. Vegetables sufficient. The allowance of coal, 70 lbs. for the cook-house, will not admit of roasting ; but the rations are varied in cooking according to the taste of each mess. Many of the men have a preference for curry. Gun Lascars. — Daily ration, 2 lbs. rice, 2 oz. ghee, 3 oz. dhoU, 1 dr. salt, | dr. tur- meric, and 2 oz. mutton ; the latter issued once every 10 days. 2. State whether, considering the Country, Climate, Season, and Duties, the Dieting of the Troops has been sufficiently nutritive and varied to preserve Health together with any Changes you may have advised, and the results of such advice. ' The diet has been nutritive and varied ; no change advised. _ The men on guard at night have a supper meal of beef steak, bread, and coffee at eight p. m. ' Each man pays into mess 2hd. a-day, which is expended in adding eggs for breakfast potatoes, &c. o 00 , 3. What Liquors have been used by the Soldiers ? and whether they have been good or the reverse. ° The liquors supplied by the canteen are all of very good quality; draught ale and porter, especially the latter, are chiefly drunk, and during ihe hot weather a mixture of porter and lemonade, or beer and ginger beer, gin, rum, whisky, and port wine. I recom- mended several ot the men to take port wine instead of porter, occasionally. 4. State the number of Menwho have been admitted to Hospital for Diseases occa- sioned— (a) directly, (6) indirectly— by intemperance, (a) Four; (b) eight. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOBTALITT OF TEOOPS (cHINA). 291 V. — Clothing. App. No. 4. Sanitary Reportsj 1865 — continued. 1. State whether the Clothing of the Troops has been suffioientj and adapted to the climate ; and what changes, if any, you have recommended, and the results. Royal ArtiJlery. As last year. Serge and cloth clothing in cold weather months, and khakee clothing in summer. In the hot weather I found, on examination, that several of the puggeries or turbans were much too thin, and that the wicker helmets were not lined. I recommended the puggeries to be increased, and white inside lining for the helmets ; this was done, at a very trifling expense to each man. Gun Lascars always wear serge clothing. 2. State whether there has been Foot-soreness from defective Boots, &c., its Extent, and what steps you took in consequence, with the results. None. 3. Has the Bedding been clean and wholesome, and properly aired, in accordance with the B,egulations ? Yes. VI. — Duty and Exercises. 1. State what has been the nature and amount of Duty performed by the Troops, and its eiFects on Health. State also the average Number of Nights per Week the men have had in bed. Several men are employed on duty in the Arsenal and Military Store Department, regimental guards, and usual artillery duties. The non-commissioned officers have had a few more nights in bed than the men ; generally, on an average, about five to six, while the men seldom have had more than three, and very seldom four. The night duty in this climate is, in my opinion, prejudicial to the health of the men ; and the few nights in bed tells against them, as they suffer from intermittent fevers in consequence. Gun Lascars employed in orderly and police duties with guards, &c. ; on an average, they have not had more than three nights in bed. Health good in the hot weather, but indifferent in the cold. 2. Drill. — State the Daily Amount of Drill, with the Hours at which Drills have taken place. The Influence of Drills on Health ; with the Kecommendations you have made, and the results. Drill, in summer months, from. 6 to 7 a.m., and from 5 to 6 p.m. ; in winter months, from 7 to 8 a.m., and from 4 to 5 p.m. During the annual Artillery course, extra drill from 9.45 a.m. until 10.30, under cover. Gun Lascar drill similar. 3. Exercises. — State what provision in the way of Games, Gymnastic Exercises, &c., exist at the Station, Whether they have been used by the Troops in such a way as to conduce to Health, with any Advice you may have given on the subject, together with the results of such Advice. Quoits, cricket, football, and boating are the chief out-door games and amusements ; five boats are owned by the^rjeants and men of the battery. There is also a recreation room for the garrison, ijgea by all the men, having billiard and bagatelle tables, and a variety of other VI. — Canteens. 1. Have the Canteen Tap-rooms been properly ventilated and warmed ? So far as can be done. 2. Have the Articles sold been good and wholesome ? If not, state any steps you many have taken, and the results. There is now scarcely anything but liquors sold at the canteen ; they are obtainable from the Garrison Institute, &c. in the barracks. 0.53. P p 3 292 App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1865 — continued. Royal Artillery. APPENDIX TO EEPOET FROM THE YII._Crime and Punishment. 1. Has the Sanitary Condition of Lock-up Kooms and Prison Cells been satisfactory as regards Cubic Space, Ventilation, Warming, and Cleanliness. State any Defects injurious to the Health of the Prisoners which hare come under your notice ; with your Recommendations, and the results ? The lock-up room attached to the guard-room in North Barracks is of small size, and of bad construction ; too low in the roof. This and the guard-room_ have been frequently reported, but no other one provided. The prison cells are the garrison cells ; kept clean, well ventilated, and in good order. VIII. — Vaccination. 1. What has been the state of Vaccination in the Corps ? How many Cases and Deaths from Small-pox have occurred among Men properly vaccinated ? Have you had occasion to re-vaccinate any of the Corps ? If so, with what results. No man re-vaccinated ; all bear marks of either small-pox or vaccination. One man of the Gun Lascars died from small-pox, having marks of vaccination. I re- vaccinated 18 men whose marks of vaccination were unsatisfactory ; 12 succeeded, and the other six were only modified. IX.—DlSEASES. 1. Zymotic Diseases. — Should Zymotic Diseases, especially Fevers, Dysentery, Cholera, and Diarrhoea, have prevailed, to what causes do you attribute the occurrence, and what were their precise types and peculiarities. Has there been any Over- crowding or Defective Ventilation ; have there been any defects in Drainage, Latrines, or Water Supply, any want of Cleanliness, any defects in Diet or Clothing, any extra Fatigue or Exposure, Climatic Peculiarities, Intemperance, or anything in the vicinity of the Station ; or any other cause to which the occur- rence of such Diseases may be attributed. If so, state the Causes, and your recommendations in regard to them, with the results. The chief zymotic diseases admitted have been fevers, dysentery, and diarrhoea, giving nearly two-thirds of the whole admissions for the year, and in this class six out of the seven deaths have occurred ; one dysentery in No. 6 Battery, 12th Brigade, which remained from last year, died immediately before the embarkation of the battery for England ; all the other deaths occurred in No. 8 Battery of the 2nd Brigade. The prevalence of mias- matic disease is no doubt attributable to climatic influence ; but this is aggravated by the excessive night duties, as at this time malarious exhalations are more injurious than during the day ; men employed, and not mounting guard, have been very much less liable to fevers, &c. than those doing regular duty. The men who last year suffered chiefly from continued fever, have, since the climate has had time to affect them, had intermittent and remittent fevers; the former generally tertian ague, and often recurring on the least exposure, complicated in many instances with congestion of the liver and spleen ; while in every case of remittent fever the liver was invariably affected, and accompanied with great prostration of strength. In the beginning of January, notwithstanding all the unfavourable reports made relative to Kowloon, No. 6 Battery, 12th Brigade, was ordered there. I immediately pointed out to the officer commanding, that if the men were allowed to remain there any time, another outbreak of fever might be expected similar to what followed on their last being quartered there. The men were at once withdrawn. In the Lascar Company it cannot be said that there has been any prevalence of zymotic disease ; all the cases of fever were slight. One case of small-pox proved fatal ; the other two deaths in this class being from dysentery and diarrhoea. 2. Phthisis Pulmonalis. —B.efervmg to your Annual Return, to what do you attribute the occurrence of Phthisis Pulmonalis and other Chest Diseases ? Only one case of phthisis in the Battery, and that arose from constitutional pre- disposition. ^ During cold or damp weather the Lascars suffer from chest affections ; they are mostly all men of small capacity of chest, and in their own country are not exposed to the sudden changes of temperature common here. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOKTALITY OF TROOPS, (CHINa). X. — Hospitals. 1. Fill up this Form of Hospital Accommodation. 293 Average Number of Sick in Hospital Wards. Average Monthly- Number of Cubic Feet per Patient. Huts. Hospital Tents or Marquees. Name of Hospital. Average Number of Sick in Huts. Average Monthly Number of Cubic Feet per Patient. Average Number of Sick. Average Cubic Space per Patient. General Hospital, Hong Kong Ditto - - - ditto 10-109 4-436 2,200 1,200 none none none none none none - none, none. 2. State what has been the Condition of the Ventilation and Warming of the Hospital ; also any Kepresentations respecting them you hare had to make, with the results. From the 1st of January up to the 31st of May the same wards occupied as reported last year. Ventilation and warming good. After this date, the wards in general hospital, known as E house, were handed over ; here the ventilation for a time was impeded by the purveyor keeping two Serjeants occupying part of the verandahs as quarters, which I had to represent and request their removal, and this was only carried out after a great deal of trouble and opposition on the part of the purveyor. Coals issued in cold weather, and punkahs in use at night during hot weather, the same as last year. Gun Lascar Hospital as last year. Ventilation good. 3. The same as to overcrowding of Hospital Wards. There has been none. Ditto in Lascar Hospital. 4. What has been the Condition of the Drainage, Water-closets, Latrines, &c. ? And state whether you have made any Representations about any Defects, and the result. The drainage at the west wing of the hospital is bad ; a large drain runs into the sea immediately in front of the building, and as it is not carried out away from the wall, is always exposed at low water, and the effluvia therefrom is at all times very offensive. Water-closets have required repair, and cannot be said to be in good condition. All this has several times been reported, without any improvement having oeen made. 5. The same as regards the Hospital Water supply. Abundant and very good ; the same as reported last year. 6. Has the Bath and Ablution Accommodation been sufficient, and in a satisfactory state ? Will you mention any Defects you have represented, and the results. Only one ablution room in the E house in use for the sick, and also the men of the Army Hospital Corps. Cannot be called satisfactory. Is undergoing repair at the present time. 7. Have the Means of Cooking and the Cooking of Hospital Diets been satisfactory ? As last year. One general kitchen for the whole hospital. No cause for complaint. Lascars not dieted. Cook their own rations. 8. Have the Hospital Wards been properly Lime-washed, in accordance with the Re- gulations ? They have. 9. Have any Forms of Zymotic Disease broken out or spread in Hospital ; if so, to what do you attribute their Occurrence, and what Steps did you take to arrest their Progress, with the results ? Many of the cases of intermittent fever have been of an intractable form in hospital. One corporal, acting hospital serjeant, always enjoyed good health until E house was occupied ; he died from dysentery. The other acting serjeant and both th^ orderlies have suffered from fever, one of the latter requiring to be invalided. Also several men, who had been some time under treatment for other diseases, were attacked with fever in hospital ; this I attribute to the state of the drainage in the neighbourhood, and, as I have already mentioned, this has been reported several times. App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, 1 865— continued. Royal Artillery. 0.53. p p 4 294 APPENDIX TO EEPOET PEOM THE App. No. 4. Sanitary Reports, , 1865 — continued. Royal Artillery. General Conclusions. No 6 Battery, 12tli Brigade, from its short period in this year,_may be dismissed from remark, so that any other refers entirely to No. 8 Battery, 2nd Brigade. As seen by the return of strength, 105 is given as the average strength ; but the latter battery averaged only 87, inclusive of some 10 or 11 men at Canton and Japan, and as the deaths in this are six, this gives a death per-centage of seven, and deductmg the case of suicide, leaves as near as possible 5-76 died from disease. _ „, t^ ^ Eio-hty-four admissions from fevers gives four deaths, ot one m every 21. _ Dysentery and diarrhoea 22, with two deaths (including one in No. 6 Battery), or one m every 11 admissions. It is a fact worthy of notice, the immunity from fevers of men employed, and who do not perform any night duty ; only one of these men has been admitted, and that for fever of a very slight type. Several of the men have been admitted tliree and four different times with intermittent fever. _ The Lascar Company enjoy better health in the hot season than m the cpld ; there are, however, a number of men amongst them that ought never to have been enlisted, small and weakly, and very inferior in muscular development ; and I do not consider Cingalese or Madras men well suited for this climate, as sudden alterations of temperature aflect them very much, and to which they have never been accustomed in their native country. Natives of the northern provinces of Bengal would be better able to stand the cold season here. . . r, c< r (signed) A. JR. Smith, February 1866. Assistant Surgeon, E. A, General Report, 1863. Principal Medical Officer. GENERAL EEPORT of the Peinoipal Medical Opeicer in China, for the Year 1863. Distribution of troops. , Arrival of troops. Departure of troops. Average strength of white troops. Average strength of black troops. Eemaeks to accompany the General Annual Eeturn of Sick and Wounded of the Troops serving in China, from 1 January to 31 December 1863. DUEING the early part of the year the European troops in the command were, Eoyal Artillery and Engineers, 31st, 67th, and 99th Eegiments, Commissariat Staff and Army Hospital Corps. The 3 IstEegiment embarked for England in July last, and were not replaced until the end of December, by the 2nd Battalion 20th Eegiment from India, which, on land- ing, were stationed at Kowloon. The black troops consisted of Gun Lascars, 22nd Bombay Native Infantry, 2ndBelooch Eegiment, and detachment of the 5th Bombay Native Infantry. In the north, the stations were Shanghai, including Taku ; in the south Hong Kong, and on the mainland, opposite Kowloon, a distance of about a mile from the former. The distribution of the troops was as follows : — In the early part of the year Shanghai was occupied by Eoyal Artillery and Engineers, 31st and 67th Eegiments ; a detachment of the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry and 2d Belooch Eegiment. As previously stated, the strength was reduced by the embarkation of the 31st Eegiment for England. The South Taku Fort was garrisoned by a few of the Eoyal Artillery and a detachment of the 67th Eegiment. Hong Kong was garrisoned by Eoyal Artillery and Engineers, 99th Eegi- ment, Gun Lascars ; and the head quarters of the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry, Kowloon, by detachments of Eoyal Engineers and 99th Eegiment ; and in December last, by the 2nd Battalion 2 0th Eegiment. During the period embraced in these remarks, the arrivals in the command consisted in detachments Eoyal Artillery and Engineers, Commissariat Staff Corps, and the 2nd Battalion 20th Eegiment from Calcutta. The departures were the 3rd Battery 13th Brigade Eoyal Artillery, 31st Eegiment, and 126 invalids to England, and the remaining portion of the 5th Bombay Native Infantry to India. During the past year the average strength of the white troops has been 2,473. The admissions into hospital, 4,958; and the entire number of dcatlis 135. The average strength of black troops has been 1,584; the admissions into hospital 1,842 ; and the number of deaths 31. The subjoined table will show the relative proportion of sickness and mortality of the white and black troops. Strength. Admitted. Died. Uatio per 1,000 of Strength Admissions. DeathSj, ; White . - Black , - - 2,473 1,584 4,908 1,842 135 31 2,004-8 1,162-S' 54-5 19-5 SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TEOO^S (CHINA). 295 Of the invalids, 126 white were sent to England, or 51*3 per 1,000 men, which, with the deaths added, will give a reduction of 105-8 per 1,000 men. The invaliding and deaths amongst the black soldiers were comparatively few; 31 of the former and 31 of the latter, which is in the ratio of 39'0 per 1,000 men. The sickness and mortality amongst the troops, both white and black, at the different stations, are given separately in a tabular form. As regards the health of the troops, there can be no doubt that it has greatly improved within the last year or two, more" especially in Hong Kong. This, doubtless, is in a great measure owing to the care taken to prevent overcrowding in the different barracks, the use of punkahs during the hot season, and improvement in drainage. The clothing, both winter and summer, more adapted to the wants of the climate, has also, in a great measure, con- tributed to the personal comforts of the men. The period which regiments are liable to serve in China, though much shorter than formerly, is still too long. It is beyond a doubt that men who have served even for a couple of years, generally become anasmic and unfit for the active duties of a soldier. This condition arises principally from the effects of climate, diet imsuitable, or at all events insufficient, and the want of proper rest, occasioned by the necessities of the station, where frequently the men have only three and four nights in bed. These are situated to the east of the town, and on the northern slope of a ridge of hills that intersect the island ; this site is objectionable during the winter and spring months ; it is exposed to the full force of the north-east monsoon, and in the summer excluded from the south west, which renders the rooms hot and oppressive, though the temperature is not so high as in tropical countries, still, from the excessive humidity of the atmosphere, it is more keenly felt. Vegetation throughout the island is exceedingly sparse, the soil being composed chiefly of granite in a disintegrated state. There are, however, a considerable number of places in a high state of cultivation, which, with the absence of marshy ground, has contributed in rendering the island more healthy than when first occupied as an English settlement. The drainage both of the barracks and hospital, though considerably improved, is still faulty ; this, from the nature of the ground, and from their proximity to the sea, could be remedied at comparatively little cost. The ventilation both of the Murray Barracks and hospital is good ; the accommodation of the latter equally so. The cubic space per man in hospital is generally over 1,100 feet, and in the north and south barracks from 600 to 700 feet respectively. The barracks occupied by the black troops consist of comfortable mat sheds, perfectly water-tight, and erected on a ridge opposite the Military Hospital, and well adapted for every comfort. During the excessive heat of summer, punkahs are not only allowed in the barracks and hospital, but in the detached quarters occupied by garrison and staff Serjeants. The rations are generally good, but the beef issued is hard, stringy, and devoid of fat, which necessitates the general adoption of boiling ; if even it were otherwise, the allowance of fuel is inadequate for frequent roasting, though the kitchen accommodation is ample. The following is the scale of rations: — Bread, l^lb. ; beef, l^lb. ; vegetables, ;| lb. ; tea, Joz. ; sugar, IJoz. ; salt, beef, lib.; salt pork, IJlb. (in lieu of fresh meat two days a week). Peas, with salt meat, 2 ozs. ; rum, ^ gill ; beer or porter, 1 g pint. On Monday of each week the salt pork is issued, and the salt beef on Fridays ; rum on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the remaining days beer or porter : for which the soldier pays 4J d. a day. The above scale appears liberal, but if the nature of the climate be taken into considera- tion, and the consequent anaemic condition of the men, it is neither sufficient nor nourishing. It is therefore to be regretted that the recent suggestions of Dr. Home, respecting a more liberal scale of diet, were not attended to ; further, that a better system of diet should be adopted, and a better quality of tea and sugar issued, the latter being generally black, necessarily containing large quantities of impurities. Dr. Home further recommended an evening meal for men on guard, and an improvement in the usual breakfast, by adding fish, chops, or eggs ; these are easily procurable at little cost, and can be easily afforded by the men. For some time past a system has been adopted of giving the men a few grains of quinine in solution daily, as a prophylactic against febrile diseases ; but without a more generous diet and a better system of cooking, the utility of quinine becomes doubtful, and when used as at present, must necessarily cost a considerable sum, more especially where the benefits are involved in doubt. The duties throughout the command are similar ; parades, guards, fatigues, and in the winter months drills, to which, at Shanghai, "marching out" is added. The number of nights in bed necessarily vary at the different stations ; at Hong Kong and Kowloon it is three and four, and for the native corps officers two and three. At Shanghai the average is five nights in bed ; the latter is a great improvement, but hardly sufficient to keep the men in health. The clothing in the winter months, especially in the north, is similar to that worn in .England; in the summer, light cotton is used throughout the day; a loose scarlet tunic and blue serge trousers for guard and other night duties, a preferable and more soldier- like dress than any that can be made of a cotton fabric. The diseases that may be termed prevalent at Hong Kong and Kowloon in the spring and summer months are fevers and cholera ; the same will apply to the stations in the north of China, especially Shanghai, where, in the spring and summer months, febrile {■j^ 0.53. Q Q diseases General Report, 1863 — continued. Principal Medical OiRcer. Invaliding and deaths, white and black troops. Health of the troops. Murray Barracks. Drainage. Ventilation and cubic space. Rations. Duties. Clothinjc. Diseases, 296 APPENDIX TO EEPORT FBOM THE App. No. 4, General Report, 1 863 — continued. Principal Medical Officer. diseases and cholera predominate; the latter, however, varies almost every season In its mode of attack ; generally, the native population suffers most ; this season, however, Europeans were the victims, and those resident In the spacious hongs on the river side were more subject to attack than their less fortunate brethren who live in indifferent localities In the immediate vicinity of Chinese houses. The following table gives the number of admissions both of white and black troops serving in Hong Kong. Black troops. KffwlooB. White Black Ratio per 1,000 of Strength. Died. 22 11 ! J Admissions. Deaths. 1,553'5 1,020-9 22-8 23-0 Of the deaths, were amongst the Invalids from Shanghai. If these be deducted, the ratio per 1,000 men, will be 22-8 for Hong Kong, and 60*0 for Kowloon. The principal cause of admissions Into hospital, Kowloon Included, was from diseases of the miasmatic order, and the mortality equally so. The number admitted from fever generally, were 1,898, dysentery 180, cholera 64 ; the mortality 8-26 and -39 respectively. In the treatment of these diseases the ordinary- method was adopted ; large doses of quinine In fever ; ipecacuanha, combined with the extract of gentian. In dysentery, and In the latter disease various stimulants. The admissions from enthetic diseases were as follows ; syphilis primaria 152, and of the secondary description 43, bubo 82, gonorrhoea 180, orchitis 85. _ The treatment consisted in the use of mercurials, where, from the nature of the disease, it was considered necessary ; under ordinary circumstances the treatment was similar to what would be used In common ulcers. Of the admissions from dietic diseases, 167 were admitted from intemperance, proved fatal. The frequency of this disease Is not to be wondered at, from the facility In which spirits can be obtained, and Its deleterious quality, to which may be added the monotony and depressing effects of the climate. Diseases of the respiratory organs have been comparatively rare ; 187 were under treat- ment, and five died. This class of diseases In the south of China are for the most part mild, though in the more northern portions of the empire they are equally as severe and fatal as in England. The admissions from diseases of the digestive organs were 309, and eight deaths; they were of the description Incidental to the tropics, and ahnost invariably complicated with dysentery. •' ^ Diseases of the miasmatic form were the principal cause of admissions among the black troops. ° The fatal cases were as follows : — Febris, continua -------___ Febris, remlttens -----____i Syphilis secun ---------__ Phthisis pulmonalis -----_--_2 Bronchitis ------__-__2 Hepatitis -------.____ Kowloon on the mainland, opposite to the town of Victoria, and about one mile distant its appearance is bare, sterile, and uneven. In a northerly and westerly direction it is surrounded by a range of hills of about 1,000 feet above the sea level, and open to the south and east. Beyond a few rice fields, vegetation is exceedingly limited; and the supply ot water, though abundant, is indifferent in quality. ^ The barracks are composed of mat huts, placed on spurs of low hills, wherever suitable, with a south-westerly aspect, having the full benefit, in the summer, of the south-west mon- soon Ihe huts adjacent to the rice fields are the most unhealthy, which the admissions mto hospital from miasmatic diseases fully bear out. The hospital, placed on a spur of a low hill overlooks the sea with a south-westerly aspect, is built of similar materials as the huts, with a verandah on either side. The ground on which the huts are built is composed entirely of aismtegrated granite, and Is very badly drained ; or, perhaps what better beyond a few surface drains, is not drained at aU. ^ ' The cubic space, both in huts and hospital, is 700 feet per man Very little doubt can be entertained as regards the unhealthlness of Kowloon as a military station. This anses from the Imperfect state of drainage; the proxS of Jhe huts to the rice fields, and in a great measure, to the huts themselves ; ^suffiS to st thf iitenStLTt;?^" '' ^'' ^'"^*^^^^^ *^"* ^° ""* '''^' from fever of The SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OP TEOOES (CHINA). 297 The following table gives the strength, admissions, deaths, and ratio per 1,000 men of App. No. 4. admissions and deaths. strength. Admitted. Died. Ratio per 1,000 of Strength. Admissions. Deaths. White 250 808 15 3,332-0 60-0 General Report, 1863 — continued. Principal Medical OfBcer. Of the admissions into hospital at Kowloon, miasmatic diseases predominated ; thus, — Febris, intermittens --------- 225 Febris, continua --------- 184 Ophthalmia --.--__--- 14 Dysenteria, acuta --- -_.. _-2 Dysenteria, chronica --------3 Diarrhoea ._- ._-.__ 27 Cholera -------- _ — The sanatorium placed on Victoria Peak at an elevation of 1,700 feet above the level of the sea, being a portion of a range of hills running east and west through the entire island, has been discontinued for some time, in consequence of not being suited for the majority of convalescents from diseases incidental to Hong Kong. During the south-west monsoon the peak is generally enveloped in clouds, and subject to heavy falls of rain; and during the north-east it is bleak and extremely cold, and the only class of patients that might possibly be benefited, are those recovering from fever, and the debility consequent thereon. From the nature of the climate, it can be easily understood that rheumatism and visceral diseases are aggravated, and in no instance has permanent benefit been observed in those men sent there for change of air, especially in the diseases alluded to. (signed) D. S. E. Baring, Hong Kong, 28 January 1866. " StajfF Surgeon. GENERAL EEPOET of the Principal Medical Officer in China, for the Year 1864. REMARKS to accompany the General Annual Return of Sick and Wounded of the Troops serving in China, &c., from 1st January to 31st December 1864. 1. This year has been distinguished by numerous changes in the distribution of the troops within the China command, caused chiefly by political considerations, either foreign or domestic, and to some extent by sanitary considerations, and by the routine of ordinary reliefs. The strength and distribution of Her Majesty's Forces in China, as shown by the averages for the month of December 1863, were as follows : — General Report, 1864. Principal Medica Officer. Hong Kong. White troops : Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, 99th Regiment Black troops : 22nd Bombay Native Infantry and Gun Lascars - Kowloon. White troops : 2nd 20th, and detachment 99th Regiment Canton. White troops : Royal Artillery, and detachment 99th Regiment - Shanghai. White troops : Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, and 67th Regiment Black troops': 29th Bombay Native Infantry - - . . 646 584 1,230 926 32 772 982 1,754 0.53. Q Q 2 29,8 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FKOM THE App. ^o> 4. General Report, Taku Forts- fsTZ-tS White Troops : Eoyal Artillery, and detachment 67th Eegiment - Principal Medical Officer. The Total Force employed at that period having been- White troops Black troops 138 2,514 1,566 4,080 The strength and distribution of the Forces serving in China, on the 31st December 1864, were as follows : — Hong Kong. White Troops : Eoyal Artillery, Eoyal Engineers, detachment 67th Eegiment - - - - - ^ ~ "t^'t" Black troops : 22nd Bombay Native Infantry, and Gun Lascars - KOWLOON. White troops : 99th Eegiment - 380 753 1,133 610 Stanley. White troops : detachment 2nd 20th, 67th, and 99th Eegiments - - 50 Shanghai. White troops : Eoyal Artillery, Eoyal Engineers, and 67th Eegiment - 499 Black troops : 29th Bombay Native Infantry ^^y 1,218 Taku Foets. White troops : Eoyal Artillery and detachment 99th Eegiment - Yokohama, Japan. White troops : Eoyal Artillery, Eoyal Engineers, and 2nd 20th Eegi- ment -.-----""""" Canton. White troops : Eoyal Artillery and detachment 99th Eegiment - At Sea, on passage from Yokohama to Shanghai. White troops : Detachment 67th Eegiment 68 906 28 249 Giving a Total Force employed in the command, at the end of the official year, of: — White troops 2,790 Black troops --------- -- 1,472 4,262 During the year detachments of the 67 th Eegiment and of the 29th Bombay Native Infantry had been stationed at Yokohama, Japan, and a detachment of the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry replaced, for a time, the detachment of the 29th Bombay Native Infantry at Shanghai ; but it already appears that, at the end of the year, the detachment 67th Eegiment was on its Eeturn passage to Shanghai, while the detachments of the other regiments had returned to their original stations a short time previously. The head quarters of the 2nd 20th Eegiment embarked for Japan on the 30th June last, and detachments of the 67th Eegiment and 29th Bombay Native Infantry followed in August, and a small detachment of Eoyal Artillery and Eoyal Engineers embarked for the same destination in September. It SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINA). 299 Is is of consequence that the movements of these portions of the Force in the command should be noticed, as instructions were received from the Director General, dated 20th -August, which directed that the medical and sanitary returns of the 2nd 20th Eegiment which might become due after its embarkation for Japan, shall not be included in those of the principal medical officer, but that they should be forwarded direct to their destination from the period specified. The spirit of these instructions was considered to apply to detachments of other corps serving in Japan, and consequently the sick of these were not included in the quarterly returns forwarded from this office : they have, however, been included in the annual returns of sick of the 67th Regiment, 29th Bombay Native Infantry, Koyal Artillery, and Royal Engineers, and will therefore be included in the general annual sick return of the command, which will cause a discrepancy between the diflferent quarterly and annual returns. Respecting the various climates in which our troops serving in China have been quar- tered during the year, I am unable to speak fiom personal observation, as my recent arrival in the Colony, and other calls of duty, have prevented me as yet making myself acquainted with the different stations in the command ; and I regret to say that even the meteorological observations for Hong Kong are incomplete, owing to circumstances already explained. The island of Hong Kong has been so frequently described that it is unnecessary for me to do more than allude to one or two points in its geological formation. It is formed chiefly of granite and syenite ; the former is disintegrated in different parts of the island, and the disintegrated granite enters largely into the composition of the soil in many of these localities. This is especially the case as regards the soil found on the site of the town of Victoria and in its immediate vicinity, and also throughout a large extent of the peninsula of Kowloon (which came into our possession in 1860). The soil is moreover in all these localities highly ferruginous, and coloured red by the oxide of iron ; and I think it has been satisfactorily shown that fevers of different types have frequently followed the turning over and exposure of this soil by excavations and cuttings for building and other purposes, and it is certain that when the worst type of fever prevailed at Hong Kong much fresh earth was being turned up. Whether this result was due to the presence in the soil of disintegrated granite, or the oxide of iron, or to the malarious influences of a combination of the two, or to other agencies (such as decayed organic matter), I do not pretend to determine. It may, however, be remarked that Sir Ranald Martin has shown that in other parts of the world where malignant fevers prevail, the soils are remarkable for the large proportions of the oxide of iron they contain. But having referred to the agency of the turning over and exposure of fresh soil in the pro- duction of fevers in this neighbourhood, I may here conveniently state that in consequence of recent serious outbreaks of fever in the 99th Regiment when stationed at Kowloon, a medical Board was convened under the authority of the Major General Commanding, to investigate and report on the causes of the same, among other questions submitted to it. The evidence taken on the occasion comprised that of three civil medical practitioners of very considerable local experience, of the Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals and Fleets, of several medical officers, of two officers of the Royal Engineers, of a builder of great experience in the Colony, of commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the 99th Regiment, of one of the oldest and most respectable inhabitants of the colony, and of various other persons, including the barrack-master. The conclusion arrived at by that Board, and I venture to say the only conclusion it could have arrived at consistently with the facts before it, was as follows : " The Board, on review of the whole evidence before it affecting this question, is of opinion that though the ordinary causes of disease existing at Kowloon have operated in its production in an inferior degree, yet that the recent outbreaks of sickness in the 99th Regiment were mainly produced by the malarious influences of the cuttings which have recently been going on there, and the Board is further of opinion that had these cuttings been effectually stopped in the first instance, much of the sickness and mortality which have since ensued would not have occurred." 2. Barrack and Hospital Accommodation : Hong Kong. The barrack accommodation (for white troops) existing at this station consists of the Murray and North Barracks, aflbrding space for 875 Serjeants, rank and file, and the number actually occupying them on the 1st of April was 813 ; but to that number must be added 70 families of non-commissioned officers and soldiers, for whom no other provision is made, so that there is in fact a deficiency of barrack accommodation at the station. But as another European regiment may be expected to arrive in the Colony in the course of the month of June, it may well be inquired how barrack accommodation is to be provided for that corps ; and feeling the difficulty of the question, I considered it necessary to address the Director General on the subject in the following letter (a copy of which was forwarded to the Major General Commanding) : « Sir, " Hong Kong, 27 January 1865. " Adverting to the correspondence which has already taken place, more especially to my letter of the 25th October and its enclosures, and to that of the 30th November last, 0.53. Q Q 3 and A pp. No. 4. General Report, 1 864 — continued. Principal Medical Officer. 300 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE App. No. 4. General Report, 1864-^ continued. Priucipal Medical Officer, and its enclosures, on the subject of the occupation of the Peninsula of Kowloon by the- 99th Eegiment, I have the honour to Inform you that the corps has continued to suffer from the causes before alluded to, and that its efficiency is not only greatly impaired, but that its general health is so deteriorated by disease, and by exposure to the malarious influences of the station, as to render it, in my opinion, perfectly unfit for general service ; and though the mortality has not been very considerable, I have no doubt it will be found necessary to invalid a large portion of the regiment within the next two or three years, solely on account of organic disease of some description, and from the further effects o£ . intermittent and other fevers contracted within the last few months. " But as it has been decided to despatch this corps to the Cape of Good Hope on the- arrival of Her Majesty's ship * Tamar,' now daily expected, it is unnecessary to enlarge;, further on this subject. " There is a matter, however, to which I would beg to direct your particular attention. It has been decided by the home authorities to withdraw the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry from the station, and to replace it by a European regiment. But as there is scarcely proper barrack accommodation for one corps, the others must either occupy Kowloon, Stanley, or the mat huts, which will be vacated by the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry, We have had the recent experience of the 2nd 20th, and 99th Begiments at Kowloon, and the former's exi^erience of Stanley, to guide us with regard to them ; and the rude mat huts, though perhaps adapted for native soldiers, are, in my opinion, perfectly unfit, in a sanitary point of view, for the occupation of European troops. " Experience has shown that the health of European troops cannot be maintained in this Colony unless they are well housed in stone or brick buildings, and not even then vnthout the aid of every practical sanitary precaution. I very much fear, therefore, that if a second European regiment arrives before proper provision is made for its reception,, the measure will defeat its object, and that should a force be required for any emergency after a residence of one hot season in the Colony, one of the regiments stationed here will be inefficient as regards any active military service ; and should Hong Kong be again visited by another unhealthy season, the risk of very serious mortality among the troops will be greatly aggravated by the impossibility of adopting any efficient sanitary measures. " Under these circumstances, I would beg of you to exercise your influence with the military authorities to delay, if possible, the despatch of a second English regiment to Hong Kong until proper barrack accommodation be provided for it. " CJf course, it is not within my province to discuss the military necessities of China. " If one European regiment at Hong Kong will suffice, there is just barely proper barrack accommodation for it ; if a second regiment is to be stationed in the Colony, I venture to suggest that one of the native regiments ordered to India would be more efficient, under existing circumstances, than it is at aU probable a second regiment of Europeans would be. " I have, &c. &c." Should it be determined by the authorities to retain two regiments of white troops at Hong _Kong permanently, I cannot press too strongly on their consideration the absolute necessity which will exisib of providing without delay proper barrack accommodation, either in the town or in its vicinity. Kowloon. The only accommodation for troops at this station is rude mat huts, raised from two to four feet above the ground. The peninsula, though now in our possession for several years, may be said to be still in a state of nature as regards sanitary arrangements. The paddy fields and marshes are still undrained ; there have been no trees planted, which might ere now have afforded ample protection from solar influences ; and possess- ing as it does the undoubted sanitary advantage of. being open to the influence of the south-west monsoon, which prevails during the hot season, no attempt seems to have been made to improve its salubrity, though troops have been stationed on it since 1860. As there has been some diversity of opinion (or perhaps I might rather say confusion of opmion) among medical officers who have served in the South of China, respecting the sanitary capabilities of Kowloon, I have caused an abstract to be made from the records of this office relating thereto, by Staff Assistant Surgeon Beath, which I purpose append- ing to this report, and it appears to me that the balance does not incline as yet towards the side of sanitary perfection. Stanley. The military post of Stanley has existed for a good many years, but was abandoned in I }^^1 ^°*'°" °A'*'- ^^^'^^"^^^^ and it continued unoccupied until last year. The 2nd 20th Kegiment having proceeded on service to Japan, it was decided by the military authorities that the post should be agam occupied by the women and children of that corps, and I regret to say that the mortality among the latter has amounted to 28 per cent, in less than six months. ^ It does not appear that the medical authorities were even consulted with reference to this SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 301 'thiB arrangement, and there was a large sacrifice of life resulting ; nevertheless, having made myself acquainted with the station, I have been unable to discover any special reasons for its unhealthiness beyond those noticed in the following letter, addressed by me to the commandant. Stanley seems to me to possess all the natural sanitary advan- tages desirable in a tropical climate; it is open to the influence of the south-west mon- soon; its position is elevated; the water is good; the scenery is picturesque; and I believe very little attention to its sanitary state would suffice to render it far more healthy than it hitherto has been. " Sir, - « P. M. O. Office, 6 October 1864. " Having visited the post of Stanley yesterday, I have the honour to report that I consider its sanitary state would be very greatly improved if ample shade were afforded by planting the barrack-ground with trees, and by screening the present barrack build- ings towards the north by a thick belt of bamboos, or some other fast-growing wood, and by making such other improvements as might be effected by fatigue parties, in the morn- ings and evenings. " The post has been, as a general rule, very healthy for at least nine months in the year, and it is chiefly at the change of the monsoon in September or October that its sanitary state becomes unsatisfactory ; and the reason of this seems to me obvious enough, for at this season of the year the south-west changes into the north-west monsoon, and the temperature of the wind changes from hot to cold, while the sun still retains almost its full power ; the effect of which is that the troops stationed there are at the same time «xposed to a burning sun and a cold wind without any protection from either, and these two conditions together are precisely those likely to induce disease, the more especially when the general health of the men has been enfeebled by a previous exposure of 'some •months to a high temperature. " I have, &c." " To the Honourable the Commandant, Hong Kong." Having referred to the protection from solar influence afforded by the shade of trees, as an effective sanitary precaution in this climate, it doubtless has frequently happened that men have been struck down by the fierce rays of the sun, who might now have been alive had such shade existed ; but I find also that an impression exists among experienced medical practitioners in this part of China, among a large proportion of the old European settlers who have resided many years in the colony, among the educated and intelligent of the Chinese population in the south of China, that trees exert a highly beneficial - influence on the public health in another way. They are believed to possess the property of decomposing the malaria existing in their vicinity, and so contributing to the salubrity of the localities where they grow ; and, strange as it may seem, the very small sum of 501. a year inserted in the Annual Estimates, and intended to cover the expense of planting trees in the localities requiring shade, has been struck out by the Home authorities. I, however, observe with pleasure, that the local government seems to be fully impressed with the sanitary utility of trees, as they are now planting them in every locality where protection from the sun's rays is most desirable. Shanghai. The buildings now occupied by the troops are godowns or stores, originally constructed for commercial purposes, and which are situated in the English and American settlements, and are furnished with the requisite fitments ; there is ample cubic space, and they are stated by Dr. Lamprey, 67th Kegiment (the senior medical officer), to afford accommoda- tion far superior to those formerly occupied in the Chinese settlements. (^See Annual Report, 67th Regiment.) Canton. The small military force at this station, employed in instructing a Chinese force in military exercise, is quartered in a temple on the heights of Canton, which was formerly the property of Commissioner Yeh, whose name is so well known in connection with a former war in China ; it is spacious, and well ventilated, and every attention is paid to the health and comfort of the troops by the English consul and by the Chinese local authorities. South Taku Fort. I have no personal knowledge of the amount or description of accommodation this fort affords. The garrison, however, it is stated, is quartered in well-built mud casemates within the fort, and no complaint has been made respecting the accommodation. On account of the Peiho being a tidal river, the water is at high tides impregnated with salt for several miles higher up than this fort, which renders it necessary to carry the water required for drinking purposes from a still greater distance up the river. The summer heat is said to be " modified by the free current of the sea breeze," and Dr. Lamprey states in his report, that during the last year, or rather during the last hot season, ] 8 men of his regiment, suffering from different diseases, were removed from Shanghai to the South Taku Fort for change of climate, and that they all recovered their health with the exception of a man suffering from phthisis, whose case terminated fatally. App. No. 4. General Report, 1864 — continued. Principal Medical Officer. 0.53. Q q4 In App. No. 4. 302 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE Oeneral Report, 1S64 — continued. Principal Medical Officer. Baths, latrines, &c. Accommodation for "Women and children. Officers' accommo- dation. Hospitals, &c. Ventilation. Means of warming and lighting In the Murray Barracks there are 16 baths for the men, and nine in the North Barracks, so that ample provision is made for personal cleanliness in both, the layatories being also ample ; and as regards the garrison of Hong Kong, there have been three bathing parades per week during the summer months. At the out-stations of Kowloon and Stanley, from the greater facilities they afford, bathing parades have been more fre4uent, and have ex- tended throughout the year. The latrines in the Murray Barracks are flushed ; those m the other barracks are emptied daily by hand. Before concluding this part of my report, I have to mention, that though many of the wives and children of soldiers have been permitted to accompany the different corps to which they belong, no special or adequate accommodation has as yet been provided for them. This is a matter of special hardship to some of them, as house accommodation can only be obtained at a cost far above the means of soldiers. I have reason to suppose, however, that measures are in contemplation which, if ap- proved of by the Home authorities, will meet the difiSculties. The barrack accommodation for officers is also very inadequate ; at the present time I am informed that as many as three officers are living in the same room in Murray Bar- racks. Surely this is, not a state of things that ought to be allowed to exist in a tropical or any other climate, and the major general commanding, being fully impressed with the inadequacy of the accommodation, has sanctioned such private houses being hired as will meet the necessary requirements of the service. The Military Hospital at Hong Kong consists of a centre building and two wings, placed at right angles to the main building, in each of which there are quarters for medical officers. All the buildings are furnished with suitable verandahs on all sides. There are detached outbuildings, including kitchens, washhouses, &c., which are all in good repair. The main buildings are of three storeys ; the lowest or basement is appropriated as stores, surgery, purveyor's office, &c. &c., but as it is very damp, and records are soon injured or destroyed, it seems to me unsuitable for any office. The two upper storeys only are occupied as wards, and there are 13 in all, the aggregate capacity of which amounts to 200,877 cubic feet, and thus affords regulation space for 127 sick. There is besides the hospital hulk " Hercules," which has been used for hospital purposes in emergencies ; but as this vessel is not only unseaworthy, but also occasionally very leaky on account of decay in her lower timbers, it has been found expedient by the naval authorities on the spot to moor her in shallow water to meet the very possible danger to the persons on board of her filling and going down; and as her sanitary condition can scarcely be improved by more or less leakage, or the comfort of the sick on board much enhanced by the noise occasioned by the working the pumps 24 hours together, as has occurred from time to time, I do not think she ought to be employed for hospital purposes where it can be possibly avoided ; but when it was found necessary to send sick on board during a recent extraordinary outbreak of sickness in the 99th Kegiment, the convalescents only were sent. In a climate, however, such as Hong Kong, where extraordinary sickness may at any time prevail, there can be no doubt but a hulk in good repair, moored in the harbour, might prove most useful as a supplementary hospital for the troops, and application has accordingly been made to the authorities in England for such a vessel, as also for an old three-decker to be used as a supplementary barrack when occasion may require, by the Major G-eneral Commanding ; and as it is believed that both can be supplied from the numerous ships of war in ordinary now lying useless in English waters, at no great cost to the public, it is hoped that due attention will be paid to his Excellency's appli- cation. The mat hut hospital which formerly existed at Kowloon was destroyed by fire In March 1864, and previous to my arrival in the Colony. But as it was altogether, unsuit- able for hospital purposes, I do not think its accidental destruction is much to be regretted. The sick from that station were, in the first instance, treated on board the " Hercules," but have since been sent to the garrison hospital here. There is a military hospital at Stanley sufficiently capacious for 30 sick ; of late it has been iised only for the sick of a small detachment quartered there more for the purpose of looking after Government property than for any other. The new hospital at Shanghai seems to be a very great improvement on the former one. The buildmg, it appears, was originally constructed for a private dwelling, and is situated m an open portion of the English settlement at an angle formed by two roads, and at a short distance from a creek. The wards are reported to be cheerful and airy ; there ' IS a neatly executed small ground-plan of this building attached to Dr. Lamprey's report from which detailed information respecting it can be obtained. Considerable attention has been paid to ventilation by the Public Departments at Hong Jvong ; and that of the permanent buildings generaUy is effective, and the utmost cleanli- ness has been observed both without and within the barracks and hospitals. Very little warming is required in the barracks and hospitals in the south of China. Ihe cold, however, is often very severe in the north ; and at Shanghai the thermometer ■ often sinks many degrees below the freezing point, and has been observed, I have been informed, nearly as low as zero. Coal is used for heating purposes in the Hong Kong district SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 303 district, and I believe coal and wood In the north ; and no complaint has been made with respect to any deficiency of fuel. The lighting has hitherto been by oil, and has generally proved unsatisfactory on account of the defective construction of the lamps. A gas work has been established at Hong Kong. The gas manufactured is very good, and It is very desirable to Introduce It Principal Medical into the barracks and hospital. OlScer. The kitchens generally are In good order, but the utensils supplied are InsufBcient for great variety of cooking ; there seems also to be some difiiculty as regards frequency of baking, on account of the rather small allowance of fuel for the size of the ovens. American stoves I have found to answer all the purposes of ovens, and with them economy of fuel may be practised. The ration now in use at the station is as follows : — App. No. 4. Genei'al Report, 1 8S4 — continued. Kitchen and cook- iuff utensils. Bread Meat Vegetables Rice Tea- \\ lbs. II lbs. 4 oz. 2 oz. 4 oz. Sugar - - - - 1^ oz. Porter or"! Rum -J - _ Lime-julcel 3 timesr - ^ oz. Sugar -j a week\ - \ oz. Rations, hospital diets, &c. gth gallon. 55 th „ Gymnastics, amusements, and recreations. The only objection that I can perceive to this ration is, that on account of the high price of mutton, and other descriptions of butcher's meat in this part of China, beef Is the most invariably served out with the ration during the entire year ; but as mutton Is about four times as expensive as beef, the expense of substituting the one for the other would be very serious ; it has occurred to me that fish, which Is here both good and plentiful, might with advantage be substituted for the meat once, or perhaps twice, a week during the hot season, though there may be a difloiculty in doing so on account of the Commissariat con- tracts, and the measure would of course necessitate some minor alterations in the ration. The quality of the provisions furnished has been generally good. Attempts, have, how- ever, been made here, as elsewhere, from time to time, to pass off inferior articles, and some degree of vigilance is always necessary to defeat the intention. The supply of vegetables both for barrack and hospital has been good and ample during the greater part of the year. The clothing of the troops has been suitable to the climate and the seasons ; during the Clothing, cold season, such woollen clothing Is used as Is suited to the particular station ; and during the hot season, cotton and linen clothing is taken into wear. The men also wear flannel shirts or belts during the entire year. I have no detailed information as to the particular description of clothing worn by the troops in the north during the winter months, where, as has been already stated, the cold Is occasionally very severe. The reports, however, state that it was suitable. There can be no doubt that the duty, especially at Hong Kong, has been more severe Duty, amount of. than it ought to have been (taking Into account the peculiar nature of the climate). It was suggested, several years ago,:by Deputy Inspector General Dr. Rutherford, that the men ought at least to have seven nights In bed, but at no station In the command have they, as a rule, had more than four nights In bed, and frequently not more than three. A gymnasium has been established at Hong Kong, but at no other station, which is a good deal frequented by the men during the cold season. There is also a large garrison recrea- tion-room in the north barracks, in which there is a billiard-table, two large bagatelle- tables, backgammon, and chessmen, &c. But it can easily be perceived that this establish- ment has been much neglected of late. The tables are out of order, the backgammon and chessmen are Incomplete. There are also several skittle and American bowling-alleys, all in good order. The men play a good deal at cricket and football during the cold season. There Is also a good garrison library at Hong Kong. There are two canteens at Hong Kong, one of rather small dimensions, for the battery Canteens of Royal Artillery ; another of large dimensions, 52 feet In length, for the regiment of the line quartered there. They are both managed by committees of officers, and any profits that may accrue on the sale of the articles are expended for the amusement, comfort, and advantage of the men. I have no complaints respecting the quality of the liquors or other articles supplied, and having personally visited these establislunents from time to tirile, I have found the quality of the different articles good. In directing attention to the subject of Intemperance and crime, I cannot avoid noticing the very marked difference between the black and white troops, serving In the command, with reference thereto. . Referring to the Sanitary Reports of the 67th and 99th Regiments, it appears that 294 men of these corps were tried by courts martial during the year 1864, and various punish- ments awarded to them ; while the Sanitary Reports of the 22d and 29th Bombay Native Infantry show that only 24 men of these regiments were tried by courts martial during the same period; and It further appears that while the crime of habitual drunkenness has been unknown among the native troops, no fewer than 180 cases of this offence occurred in the two regiments of white troops. I had occasion some time ago to bring under the notice of the local military authorities, certain facts tending to show the vast superiority of black troops over white for ordinary purposes gf garrison duty, but no account was then taken of loss of service entailed by crime and its punishment ; but it can now be shown that the superior efficiency of the first is no less well marked in the walk of crime and punishment ; that It has been during the last three years in the comparative lower ratio of the daily 0.53. R R average Intemperant!e and crime. 304 APPENDIX TO EEPOKT FROM THE App. No. 4. General Report, 1864 — continued. Principal Medical OfiBeer, Vaccination and small-poz. Changes in com- position of force. average of sick, and in the decrease of force causted by deaths and invaliding, and con- sequent loss of service arising therefrom. Nor can it be doubted that loss of service, from whatever cause, is a matter of much importance in a financial point of view. Eight cases of smaU-pox have occurred during the year, of which three occurred at Hong Kong, and five at Shanghai. The three first were slight, and terminated favourably ; but two of the others terminated fatally. The cases occurring at Hong Kong were those of officers, two of the Bombay (22nd) Native Infantry, and one of the Koyal Engineers, and the five cases at Shanghai occurred in the 67th Regiment. Vaccination has been generally practised in the command ; and though smaU-pox is very prevalent throughout China, and few or no precautions are taken to prevent its intro- duction into the English settlements, the small number of cases of this disease which have occurred among the troops may be taken as a test of the efficacy of vaccination as a pre- servative. In a former part of this Ileport the strength and distribution of the force serving in China were detailed. The strength was taken from the averages for the month of De- cember of each year. It so happens, however, that the 2nd/20th Regiment, and a draft of 134 men, the former from India, and the latter from England, arrived in the command, and that a further draft of black troops arrived from India in the course of December 1863 ; and it results, therefore, that the average strength of the force was considerably under that actually present in the command on the 1st day of January 1864, as shown in the following table. It is necessary for me to oiFer this explanation in order to, account for the apparent discrepancy between the two details; and I may state further, that the numbers previously shown as remaining at each station were the average for the month, which causes a discrepancy of three only ; showing as remaining in the command on the 30th December 1864 : — Serjeants, Drummers, Rank and File. White Troops, Strength. Black Troops, Strength. Remaining on 1st January 1864 . . . - Increase during the Year - 2,836 379 1,604 17 Total - - - Decrease during the Year ------ 3,215 420 1,621 151 Remaining 31st December 1864 2,795 1,470 White Troops. The increase among the white troops is thus shown : — Joined from England - - _ - Recruited --____ Rejoined from desertion - - _ Transfers received _ _ _ _ Joined from other stations . - - 306 33 5 7 28 379 The decrease of the same troops is thus accounted for: — Deaths- ----_____ w^ Discharged from the service ----__ 32 Deserted -----_-__ 23 Transferred to other corps ------ 32 Invalided ---_.____ -^qq Limited service men discharged - - - _ _ 40 To join depot companies ---___ 28 Left command on relief -----,.49 Black Troops. The increase among the black troops is thus shown: Recruited - _ _ _ , _ Joined from Ceylon - - - 420 11 6 17 SELECT COMMITTEE ON MQETALITY OF TROOPS, (cHINA). The decrease among the same troops is thus accounted for : — Deaths _--_-. ..40 Invalided ---------46 Discharged ---------12 Deserted ---_---_. 1 Dep6t companies --------50 Transferred ---------2 T5T 305 App. No. 4. General Report, 1864 — contirmed. Principal Medical 0£Scer, The decrease among the white and black troops in China, including Japan, from all causes, as shown above, amounts to 150'26 among the former, and 102'72 among the latter, per 1,000 men ; if the result proved to be similar over a series of years, it would of itself be an important element in calculating the comparative expense and efficiency of white and black troops. Tables A. and B. hereunto annexed, show the extent and proportions of the admissions Mortality, admis- and deaths, arranged under the orders of each class of disease, among the white and black 'io"^' deaths, &c. troops serving in China, for the year ending 31st December 1864. A departure from former practice has, in the present instance, been adopted, inasmuch as the present arrangement is by corps, and not by stations,, as formerly. The movements of troops have been so frequent and extensive in the command during the year that the latter arrangement must inevitably have led to fallacious conclusions, because it would have shown only the stations at which diseases manifested themselves, and not those at which they really origina|ted. In illustration of this, I may state that serious outbreaks of fever occurred among the men of detachments of the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry, the 6th battery, 12th brigade. Royal Artillery, and the 67th Regiment, that had been stationed at Kowloon, soon after their return to Hong Kong from that station, while the remaining portion of the garrison were comparatively free from all febrile diseases. And if the former arrangement had not been departed from, these outbreaks of fever would have been shown in the table as if they had originated at Hong Kong, when, in fact, they originated at Kowloon. As regards the white troops, it will be observed that the total number of admissions has amounted to 4,119, and the total number of deaths to 84, the latter being at the rate of 38'4 per 1.000. That the admissions from zymotic diseases were 3,129, and the deaths 45, being at the rate of 14"30 of the first, and 20'5 of the other, per 1,000 men employed; and it will be further observed, that the whole amount of mortality in this class has occurred from miasmatic diseases alone. Royal Artillery. The average number of Royal Artillery quartered in the command during the year has been 300, of which 165 were quartered at Shanghai, and the remainder at Hong Kong. The number of admissions has amounted to 615 in all, and the dealhs to iO, being at the rate of 20*50 of the first, and of 33*333 per 1,000 men employed. Of the fatal cases, five occurred in the hospital at Hong Kong, four in, and one out of hospital at Shanghai. Rather more than two-thirds of the admissions and half the deaths resulted from zymotic diseases, principally miasmatic. Of the fevers there were 133 admissions at Hong Kong, and only 42 at Shanghai ; and of the first a large proportion of them occurred in the 6th battery, 12th brigade, which had been quartered for a short time at Kowloon, and which had previously been in a healthy state. Royal Engineers. The average number of Royal Engineers in the command during the year has been 91 men, and of that number 75 have been quartered in the Hong Kong district, and the remainder at Shanghai and elsewhere. The number of admissions has been 171, and the deaths 6, being at the rate of 1879'2 of the first and 65"604 of the other per 1,000 men employed. To account for the very great ratio of mortality in the corps, it is necessary for me to state that five of the fatal cases occurred at Hong Kong, two of them being cholera. A considerable proportion of the men of this corps were quartered during different periods of the year at Kowloon, and it was invariably observed that these men were unhealthy, fevers and bowel complaints having been very prevalent among them. 2nd/20th Regiment. JFrom the 1st of January to the end of June the regiment was stationed at Kowloon, when the head quarters proceeded on service to Japan, leaving a small detachment behind, and most of the women and children of the corps ; and the annexed table includes only the sick of the head quarters of the regiment during the first six months of the year, and of the detachments during the other six months. The men of this corps, when stationed at Kowloon, were very healthy during the first .quarter of the year. I find, for instance, that on the 27th March the per-centage of sick was as low as 2"9- In the early part of April, however, sickness began gradually to increase, the chief complaints having been bowel and catarrhal affections ; and about the middle of May malarious fevers were added to the other diseases ; the number of these last affections went on increasing until the 16th of June, after which period a slight decrease occurred ; on the departure of the regiment it was stiU iii an unhealthy condition. Previous to its departure the deaths had amounted to 10, but in a few weeks after 20 other fatal cases had occurred, chiefly from cholera and fever. 0.53, R K 2 306 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE App. No, 4. General Report, 1864 — continued. 3Jpi 01 fficer. 67th Regiment. The head quarters of this regiment were stationed at Shanghai throughout _ the year. In September, however, a wing of the regiment proceeded to Japan, and remained^ there until December ; and at the end of the year this detachment was still at sea, returning to head quarters. As compared with former years, this corps^ has_ been, on the whole, . tolerably healthy. The admissions into hospital from zymotic disease have been con- siderably less in proportion than those in other corps, and the mortality has only slightly exceeded 3J per cent. Dr. Lamprey attributes the improved health of his regiment to the superior accommo- dation afforded by the buildings now occupied by it in the English and American settle- ment, to that formerly afforded by the buildings in the Chinese settlement, in which it was before quartered, and to the comparative coolness of the last hot season. 99f/j Regiment. The head quarters of this regiment occupied the Murray and North Barracks, Hong Kong, from the beginning of the year until the 15th September, when, in consequence of the unfortunate circumstances detailed in Surgeon Snell's annual report, the corps was ordered to Kowloon, on the requisition of his Excellency the Governor, where it remained up to the end of the year, and, in fact, until its departure for the Cape on the 1st of March of the present year. The regiment had been rather unhealthy during the early part of 1864, malarious fevers having been pretty prevalent, though the average daily sick had only on a few occasions exceeded 10 per cent. ; but, from the early part of June to the 15th September, the date of its arrival at Kowloon, its sanitary state had been most satisfac- tory. I find, that on the 8th of that month, for instance, its per centage of sick was 2*4 only ; and, up to its departure, it had seldom exceeded 5 per cent. I have now before me the state of sick for the 15th of September, and I find that the total number of sick of the corps was 31, of which three only were fever cases; but, on turning to the daily state of sick of the 15th of October, just one month later, I find that the total number of sick in this regiment amounted to 107, of which no fewer than 61 were fever cases. There was a decrease afterwards in the number of admissions from fever. But the 5th of November was the commencement of a marked increase, which continued from day to day until the 19th of that month, when the sick under hospital treatment amounted to 160, and the number of fever cases to 117. After this, the number of sick and fever cases fluctuated, but on the whole decreased, though, up to the end of the year, the ratio of sick was at no time under 14 per cent. The annual return shows that the total admissions from fevers — intermittent, remittent, and continued — in this corps, amounted to 823 cases ; but it does not show that only 307 were admitted during the first nine months of the year, or that 516 were admitted during the last quarter. Notwithstanding the difference in the type of these fevers, there is much reason to believe that they in general owe their origin to the same causes, for it was no uncommon occurrence for one form to run into another, for a continued fever to pass into an intermittent form, or for an intermittent to run into a remittent form. I have been particular in noting the dates at which the fever cases increased in number in the corps, because it will be observed in the following extract from the report of the Medical Board, already alluded to, that, in the opinion of that Board, they have an important connection with other dates in tracing the cause of these serious accessions of lever. It also results from a comparison of dates that extraordinary coincidences have existed between the progress and locality of the cuttings of Kowloon, and some of the accessions of fever which have occurred lately at that station. The draft of the 67th Regiment, and the 6th battery, 12th brigade of the Eoyal Artillery, arrived there when the cuttings were going on, in the immediate vicinity of the barrack huts ; the results were similar in both cases, and need only be again referred to in this place. The 99th Regiment arrived at Kowloon when these cuttings were still in progress, and though they were discontinued a few days afterwards, much fresh earth was still exposed, and fever supervened just about the period it might have been expected to appear, if it resulted from the injurious influence of these cuttings. The evidence further shows, that the cuttings nearest the military post, and almost in contact with some of the barrack buildings, were resumed on the 20th October, at which date fever had greatly decreased in the 99th Regiment; and then again a new accession of fever occurred just at the period that might have been anticipated, if it could be demonstrated with the accuracy of a mathematical problem, that the infection had been the result of the malarious influences of the newly turned up earth. In dismissing this subject I cannot help remarking, that if an entire regiment can in future be removed from good and healthy barracks to wretched mat huts in a malarious locality, rendered doubly so, as it was in this instance, by artificial means in the shape of extensive cuttings, on account of the misconduct of a few of its members, who were after- wards legally exonerated by the decision of a court of justice, then an additional very serious obstacle will be placed in the way of all sanitary measures intended for the benefit of the soldier and the advantage of the public service. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITT OF TROOPS , (cHINA). 307 Departmental Corps. The average strength of the Army Hospital Corps and Commissariat Staff Corps has been 38. The men of these corps have been scattered over the command, having been stationed at Hong Kong, Kowloon, Shanghai, South Tabu Fort, and Yokohama ; but while the admissions from these corps into hospital have amounted to 25 only, the number of deaths have been 7, or at the rate of 657'8 of the former, and 184" of the other, per 1,000 men. Three .of these deaths occurred at Shanghai, from Cholera ; two at Hong Kong, from delirium tremens ; one from drowning, and one from sun-stroke. I fear, as a general rule, that the men of our departmental corps being relieved to a great extent from the constant supervision of military discipline, take advantage of its necessary relaxation with respect to them, to indulge in habits of drinking ; and the fact that we have two deaths from delirium tremens from so small a strength, only confirms an impression previously derived from personal observation. As regards the black troops, it will be observed that the total number of admissions amounted to 1,683, and the total number of deaths to 40, the former being at the rate of 1,084, and the other at the rate of 25'7 per 1,000 men; and that the admissions from zymotic disease were 1,279, and the deaths 18, being at the rate of 824*8 of the former, and 11 '5 of the other, per 1,000 men employed. It thus appears that the proportions of deaths from zymotic disease among the black troops amount to very little more than half of that which occurred among the white troops from the same class of diseases. Gun Lascars. The average strength of this corps has been 83 ; the men are in general natives of India, and have been stationed at Hong Kong ; it is under the command of a subaltern oflScer of the Boyal Artillery, and the admissions into hospital and the deaths have been in the proportion of 2132*5 of the former, and 24* of the other, per 1,000 men. To account in some degree for the large proportion of admissions into hospital, as compared with other corps of black troops, I may mention that many of these men are said to have forsaken the temperate habits of their countrymen, and have so far acquired the habits of European soldiers as to indulge from time to time in spirituous and other strong liquors. 22nd Bombay Native Infantry. The head quarters of this regiment has been stationed throughout the year at Hong Kong ; for several months a wing of it did duty at Shanghai, replacing for a time a wing of the 29th Bombay Native Infantry, ordered to Yokohama, Japan. The total number of admissions into hospital and deaths from all causes has amounted to 1397* of the former, and 23*7 of the other, per 1,000 men employed. The very large proportionate number of admissions from miasmatic disease in the corps is a remarkable feature in the table. This is in some measure, however, accounted for by the fact referred to in a former part of the report, viz., to a detachment of the corps having been exposed for some time to the malarious influences of Kowloon. 29th Bombay Native Infantry. The head quarters of this corps has been stationed at Shanghai throughout the year, but in September a wing of it proceeded on service to Yokohama, Japan, and continued there until December. The regiment has been very healthy and efficient, the number of admissions and deaths having been in the proportion of 523*9 of the former, and 27*8 of the other, per 1,000 men. But it is remarkable, that while the admissions from miasmatic disease amounted only to 261*9, the deaths from the same diseases should have amounted to 14*6 per 1,000 men. Five of these fatal cases resulted from cholera, three from typhoid fever, one from continued fever, and one from diarrhcea. Of the other causes of mortality in this corps, the only, and with two exceptions, the sole cause, were diseases of the respiratory organs, acute and chronic bronchitis, from the first of which seven deaths resulted, and from the other one. All of these fatal cases occurred in the winter months, during which the climate of Shanghai is often very rigorous. In concluding this report, I have to observe, that having arrived at Hong Kong in September last, I found the returns very much in arrear ; that in consequence of the want of a system of cheeks many of the returns from medical officers could not be relied on, and were, in fact, inaccurate in several respects ; that many difficulties have occurred in consequence, as well as from the great extent of the command, and the frequent changes in the distribution of the troops, in making up the different returns. The arrears^ I am now happy to say, have all been disposed of, and I now venture to believe that after much pains and labour the accompanying Return is very nearly, if not ■entirely, accurate in all its details. William Dick, M. D., Deputy Inspector General, and P. M. O. App. No. 4. General Report, 1864 — continued. PTincipal Medical Officer. 0.53. kr3 308 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE GENERAL REPORT for 1864 : 99th Regiment. ANNUAL EETURN of Sick and Wounded of 99tli Regiment, from 1 January to 31 Decemlier 1864. - -^ Present Stati6n7%^ Average Aunual Streng th of Non-commissioned Officers and Men during the above period. 729*. - i a •3 a 1 J 1 1 a § 3 s 1 O 1 I a 1 Q i a. m i 1 1 3 1 O 1 a •s A 1 ^ .3 1 1 f. O A 1 1 i 1 1 1 a a. d ■3 a d 1 o ■ f ■ a, 2 12' 7 7 4 4 5 5 3 3 1 9 10 1 a 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 6 17 3 1 3 3 11 3 I ^ 1 10 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 4 34 1 2 2 1 9 2 85 3 1 1 12 2 6 20 2 3 1 60 1,370 4 7 17 3 1 ^ 14 3 1 2 11 1 1 2 2 2i4 34 8 2 JO 27 2 1 - 1 12 8 20 2 3 1 1,430 1':: 'v. 2 12 6 1 4 5 3 1 10 10 1 1 1 4 7 17 3 1 3 12 1 1 2 1 1 I 1 11 1 1 2 ' 2 1 2 4 - 33 1 3 1 - 1 10 25 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 12 6 2 19 1 2 1 3 1 1 1,288 21 5 120 *" - 2 — 1 ~ - - 1 " ~ 1 " - - 1 1 1 - - ~ ~ — 1 - 1 - 1 ■" - - - 4 - — - 1 - •" - - - 16 41 \« CeJ*£i>?ca^e— I certify that Health Inspections have been ma 16 September 9 October To 14 March 24 April 29 June 15 September - 8 October - 31 December • Total Strength. 770 767 741 676 706 691 310 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FBOM THE No. 1.— Annual Eettjen of Officers, from 1 January to 31 December 1S64. (Average Strength , 35A.) Diseases. 1 ■§ OS O d 8 d s 1 B4 03 CO s i ^ d •s J ^ 1 s E R a & " CD 3 Q -£ u g 1 ■5 < 3 Hemained last Return - - - - 1 _ 1 _■ 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ . 3 Admitted ....-- 5 1 10 2 - 10 3 1 — 1 1 1 1 2 i - 1 1 41 . Total treated - - 6 1 10 2 - 10 4 I 1 1 1 I 1 2 1 - 1 1 44 Discharged . . - - 6 1 10 1 _ 10 4 . 1 1 1 _ 1 2 1 _ 1 1 41 /With the Corps - •"'™ ' "t Absent from the Corps - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bemaining . - - - - 1 1 2 No. 2. — Annual Eetuen of Women, from 1 January to 31 December 1864. (Average Strength, 26.) Diseases. ^ CD '3 J a 8 C8 4 « t ce CB 'o til a 5 IS 3 >4 ■< ^ fi ^ < l> H Remained last Return _ _ Admitted 3 2 2 6 4 6 2 1 26 Total treated - - 3 2 2 6 4 6 2 1 26 Discharged . - - 3 2 2 5 4 6 2 1 2S Died - - . . - - — 1 - — — — ] Remaining . . - - ■*- — — ^ "• ~ — No. 3. — Annual Eetuen of Children, from 1 January to 31 December 1864. (Average Strength, 24.) Diseases. Feb. Inter. Feb. C. C. Diarrhoea. Total. Remained last Return Admitted ------ 1 4 2 7 Total treated - - - 1 4 2 7 Discharged - - » - Died Remainii^ .,--.- 1 4 2 7 SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OF TBOOPS (CHIlSrA). 311 No. 4. — Annual Return of Maniacal Patients, from 1 January to 31 December 1864. NAME. Regiment. Species of Disease. Probable Cause. Treatment. Result and Destination. Private William Stanton 99th Dementia Sequela of fever Tonics, 8tc. ( Recovery of mental faculties >; Discharfjed to duty, and after- l_ wards invalided as asthenia. No. 5. — Annual Return of Men of the 99th Regiment of Foot who were Vaccinated from 1 January 1864 to 31 December 1864, stating Result of Operation. , Vaccinated dui ing the Period. In those who In those In those who who bore no 4 .e 1 £ bore Marks who bore good bore doubtful Marks l.rS*J a.-3 s RESULTS. of Marks Marks of of previous Total. > T3 e E-' 5'9 ° Remauks. previous of previous previous Vaccination s e1^ ^1^ Total. Small Pox. Vaccination. Vaccination. or Small Pox. 1 From preser lary C ills b, S.O'S A perfect vaccine pus- 1 . . 1 _ 1 I tule. A modified ditto - - 4 - - 4 - - 4 4 A failure - 5 - 5 - - 5 5 Total 10 - 10 - 10 10 No. 6. — Annual Return of Variola in 99th Regiment, from 1 January to 31 December 1864. Men - Women Children Tot;il Number of Cases. Coniluent. Severe. Mild. Number of Deaths. Of those previously Vaccinated. Confluent. Severe. None. Mild. Number of Deaths. Of those who had previously had Small Pox, were Confluent. iVIild. Number of Deaths. No. 7. — Annual Return, showing the Strength and Deaths of the Men at each Age, in Quinquennial Periods. Under 40 20 Years. 20 to 24. 25 to 29. 30 to 34. 35 to 39. and Upivards. Total. Strength on 1 St January 1864 . . - - 9 245 435 90 33 3 815 Deaths from 1st January to Slst December : In Hospital . . . . - 5 13 2 I - 21 Out of Hospital . . - . . - 2 2 -# - - 4 0.53. Ss App. No. 4. Geneial Beport, 1864 — conttnmea. 99th Foot, 312 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FROM THE No. 8.— Annual Return of Registers and Records in 99th Regiment from 1 January to 31 December 1864. Number of Cases fully recorded for the ^ m Period by 1 1 h 4 o m f4 M o o 03 a 1 hi , a 1 i '5 o 1 1 1 1 1 S .2 i 1 a 1 1 S < 1 'i < CO Remarks as to the Records, Filled up - - - - 3 1 - - - - - - 1 In use - - - - 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Total - 30 72 129 - 6 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 o No. 9. — Return of Circulars and Circular Memoranda received from the Army Medical Department during the Year. Date. Number. Subject. Date of Receipt. 10th June 1864 - 5:i ST Weekly States when on Active Service. 6 September 1864. No. 10. — Meteorological Observations, noticing the Pressure of the Atmosphere, the Temperature and Humidity of the Air, the Fall of Rain, the Amount of Ozone and Cloud, the prevailing Winds, and the Variations in the Weather. 09 g Reading of Barometer No. Temperature of Air. Dry and Wet Rain. Ozone. Wind. aoud. ■^ Bulb. J '3 .^ Year IS and Month. o 1 o fe ^ 1 o U .2 1 .a c 1 a 1 ■2 a o IS a s o (K 1 a ■1 is .4 g i 2 a o a i' CO 1 % .2 1 Q a 1 1 g .a p. s > Q 1 1 M 1 o 1 Q W s c 1 1 ■s c 1 i. o E3 ■i s 1 S o a s 1 < a B 1 S 1 1 4 I 1 I d I In. In. In. In. o O o ' 7». January - February - March - AprU - May June July - - - No Instruments supplied for this purpose August - September October - November December - ■ V, ^ Mean - - __ ^BSa . William Snell, Surgeon, 99th Regiment .<#) SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS (^CHINA). 313 REPORT to accompany the Annual Return of Sick and Wounded of the 99th Regiment for the Year 1864. The medical history of the 99th Regiment for the year 1864, is an exceedingly inte- resting one, as showing the altered condition of the corps from a comparatively healthy state to one of depreciated health, disease, and consequent mortality, brought about in the first instance for " reasons of policy," by a change being ordered from good barracks and healthy quarters to a station, by previous reports and statistics known in its then and present state, from natural causes and the absence of proper barrack accommodation to afford adequate protection to troops, to be unhealthy, objectionable ia every sanitary point of view, and unfit for occupation by Europeans; but although medical remonstrances were made, they were in vain ; a continued occupation of the same site was enforced, the position of the regiment being rendered more unhealthy by local and remediable causes of disease, against which medical protests, pointing out their danger, were not wanting ; but the precautionary sanitary suggestions were never acted upon, nor were the evUs abated. App. No. 4. GeneialKepoiti 1864 — cotainued, 99th Foot. The Stations of the 99th Regiment for the year 1864 have been as follows: — Distribution. Strength. Periods total Strength. 1 From To Head Quarters at Jlong Kong Detachment at Kowloon - - - . Detachment at Canton - - 536 ■ 12 list Jan. 1 4th Mar. 770 Head Quarters at Hong Kong - - - Detachment at Kowloon Detachment at Canton - - . - 616 137 14 loth Mar. 24th Apr. 767 Head Quarters at Hong Kong Detachment at Kowloon - - . - Detachment at Canton . . - . 660 63 18 , 25th Apr. 29th June 741 Head Quarters at Hong Kong Detachment at Kowloon Detachment at Canton 658 none 18 30th June 15th Sep. 676 Head Qaarters, Kowloon - . - - Detachment, Hong Kong - . - - Detachment, Canton . - - - - 649 40 17 M 6th Sep. 8 th Oct. 706 Head Quarters, Kowloon - - - Detachment at Hong Kong Detachment iit Canton Taku Forts, North of China - 568 46 17 60 , .9th Oct. 31st Dec. 691 In the Annual Sanitary Report (W. O. Form 517) of the 99th Regiment for 1863, full particulars as regards barracks, duties, food, exercise, amusements,, &c. for troops at Hong Kong will be found td have been minutely detailed ; and in the Annual Sanitary Report (W. O. Form 511) of the regiment for 1864, a copy of which accompanies this, all due and requisite similar particulars with regard to Kowloon are also fully entered into ; but in the course of the medical narrative of the 99th Regiment, which the events of 1864 do not seem unworthy of, many of the main sanitary or unsanitary points regarding the occupation of Kowloon by the 99th Regiment, will have to be recapitulated. By reference to the Table of Stations it will be seen that on the 29th June, all detachments were withdrawn from Kowloon, and the whole regiment (Canton Detach- ment excepted) were on that date quartered in good and suitable barracks in Hong Kong. From my further experience of the comparative unhealthiness of Kowloon to Hong Kong, which subject I clearly pointed to in medical report of 99th Regiment for 1863, suggestions of removal of all men from that station were offered to the Officer Commanding 99th Regiment in two letters from me, one of 19th June as follows :— " The insalubrity of Kowloon for Europeans, in its present state, during the summer months, is a matter Which unfortunately admits of no doubt • and I would offer, as a suggestion worthy of serious consideration, that the duties there during the summer be performed by patJve troops." In the other letter of 27th June, the foUowing detailed reasons were given, " to give the European soldier the protection of good barracks, with less risk of exposure, and remove him from the fever-producing influences of Kowloon." _ .'The statistics will show the most marked salutary results Vv-hich followed this change, and on the 6th September, when a company of the regiment was p,ut under orders by the commandant of the garrison (Lieutenant Colonel Moody, r. e.) to remove to Kowloon, 0.53. ' ' ' s s 2 ' to 314 APPENDIX TO KEPOET FEOM THE App. No. 4. to give additional quarters to officers, I pointed out the good results that had already followed the entire removal from, and protested against any change back to, Kowloon ; General Report, first, in letter to officer commanding 99th Eegiment, 6th September : 1864^- c •2 s. a s c I 2 OS 7 3 11 El i 1 IB 1 37 2 39 1 _ 38 7 6 2 _ 2 38 683 2 38 1 39 3 _ 36 7 5 2 - 2 2 7 10 36 '683 3 36 1 37 1 - 36 7 5 2 - 2 2 6 11 36 683 4 36 1 37 _ _ ~ 37 8 5 2 - 2 - 2 6 11 37 683 5 37 2 39 - _ - 39 8 5 2 - 2 - 3 7 11 39 683 6 39 3 42 - - 42 8 5 2 - 2 - 5 7 12 42 683 7 42 3 45 2 - 43 7 6 2 - 2 - 5 8 12 43 683 8 43 1 44 3 _ 41 7 5 2 - 2 - 5 8 IJ 41 683 9 41 3 44 6 _ - 38 7 4 2 2 - 5 8 9 38 683 10 38 2 40 2 _ - 38 6 4 2 - 2 - 5 9 9 38 683 11 38 _ 38 1 _ - 37 5 4 2 2 5 9 9 37 683 12 37 _ 37 5 1 a - 32 3 2 2 - 2 4 9 9 •32 683 13 32 1 33 1 14 32 4 2 2 - 2 - 4 8 9 32 6S3 14 32 3 35 4 _ - 31 3 2 2 - 2 - 3 8 10 31 683 15 31 2 33 2 Ic - 31 3 3 2 - 2 - 3 8 10 31 ■683 16 31 _ 31 1 - 30 3 3 2 - 2 - 3 8 9 30 -683 17 30 3 33 1 _ - 32 3 5 2 - 2 - 3 9 8 32 683 18 32 3 35 _ _ - 35 5 6 2 2 - 3 9 7 35 683 19 35 2 37 3 _ - 34 5 6 2 - 2 - 2 9 7 34 683 20 34 1 35 2 _ - 33 6 4 2 - 2 - 2 9 7 33 683 21 33 3 36 1 _ - 35 6 4 3 - 2 - 3 ' 9 7 35 683 , , 22 35 1 36 1 - - 35 6 3 3 - 2 3 9 8 35 683 23 35 3 38 , — _ - 38 7 3 3 - 2 - 4 10 8 38 683 24 38 38 1 _ _ 37 7 3 3 - 2 - 4 10 7 37 683 S5 37 1 38 3 - - 35 6 6 - 2 3 9 7 35 683 26 35 2 37 5 - 32 5 6 - 2 - 3 8 6 32 683 •:"•: 27 32 1 33 1 _ _ 32 5 6 2 3 8 6 32 683 28 32 3 35 1 _ 34 6 6 - 2 - 2 9 7 34 683 .■«''29- 34 3 37 1 - _ 36 6 5 - 2 - 2 11 8 36 683 , 30 36 5 41 - - - 41 8 3 5 ~- 2 "^ 2 11 9 41 683 ftT.B. AU the deatha in September were out of bospital, and do not appear in the admission colamn. a Stabbed in streets of Hong Kong, and- died in Civil Hospita!. S Shot dead by Hong Kong Police. c Died of Sunstroke at Kowloon. 0.53. Tt 320 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FKOM THiE Table {A)^-contimied, OOTOBEE 1864. '^ DISEASES. a U-, 1 1 < ea •s .s 1 1 .9 1 I' (5 1 1 »• if s . s s q;3 1 ►5 1 1 3 ■s o < t a ■B 1 41 3 44 3 la 40 8 3 5 2 1. _ 2 10 9 40 683 2 40 6 46 _ _ 46 10 3 5 _ 2 1 - 3 12 10 46 683 3 46 6 52 2 _ _ 50 11 6 4 _ 2 _ - 3 14 10 50 683 4 50 7 57 , 2 _ _ 55 15 4 4 2 2 - - 4 14 10 55 683 5 55 6 61 4 ™ _ 57 15 5 4 2 2 ■ _ - 4 IS 10 57 683 6 57 11 68 2 _ _ 66 21 6 5 2 2 - 4 15 10 66 683 7 66 19 85 a - -. 82 38 7 4 2 2 - 5 14 9 82 683 8 82 9 91 2 - - 89 46 8 4 2 2 - 4 13 9 89 683 9 89 9 98 3 _ _ 95 63 8 4: 2 - 4 13 9 95 683 10 95 16 111 1 - 110 67 9 4; 2 - 4 13 9 1)0 683 11 110 10 120 3 «„ - 117 74 9 4 3 - 3 13 9 117 .683 12 117 9 126 3 _ - 123 ■ 77 11 4 3 - 3 13 10 123 623 c 13 123 4 127 3 _ _ 124 79 n 4. 3 - 3 13 9 124 623 14 124 8 132 4 _ _ 128 81 13 4 3 - 3 13 9 128 623 15 128 5 133 26 _ - 107 61 13 4 3 - 4 11 9 107 623 16 107 4 111 5 _ - 106 60 14 4 - 3 - 4 11 9 106 623 17 106 4 110 14 - - 96 51 13 4 3 - 4 11 9 96 623 18 96 9 105 7 _ - 98 49 15 4 - 3 - 4 13 9 98 623 19 98 2 100 10 - - 90 44 14 4 - 3 - 3 13 8 90 623 20 90 2 92 - - - 92 45 15 -4 - 3 - 3 13 8 92 623 21 92 4 96 2 U - 93 47 14 4 - 3 - 3 13 8 93 623 22 93 5 98 14 _ - 84 37 15 4 - 3 - 2 12 10 84 622 23 84 3 87 - - - 87 40 15 4 - '3 - 2 12 10 87 622 24 87 2 89 13 76 35 15 3 - 3 - 1 10 8 76 622 25 76 6 82 7 - 75 34 11 7 - 3 - 1 10 8 75 622 26 75 7 82 6 _ 76 32 15 7 - 3 - 10 8 76 622 27 76 6 82 7 - - 75 30 14 7 - 3 - - 10 10 75 622 28' 75 5 80 4 - 76 30 14 7 - 3 ' r- ■ - ID 11 76 622 * 29 76 7 83 4 - - 79 34 14 6 - 3 - - 10 11 79 622 30 79 11 90 10 - _ 80 35 7 13 3 ■ - - 9 12 80 622 31 80 1 81 3 — — 78 33 8 13 ~" 3 ~ 8 12 78 622 a Died of Cholera. b Died of Remittent Fever. c Sixty men embarked for South Taku Fort. NOVEMBEB 1864. 1 1 ■g hS < 1 i 1 s .1 1 1 bo 1 DISEASE S. 1 1 8 Q a Q i 33 a; 53 s s s a CO H ■ g 1 73 12 85 1 Iffl 44 79 34 7 13 . 3 _ 9 12 79 622 2 79 10 89 1 - 88 40 9 13 3 - - 10 12 88 621 3 88 2 90 8 - - - 82 39 9 9 - 3 7- ■ _ 9 12 82 621 4 82 5 87 3 Ic - 83 38 10 9 - 3 _ 9 13 82 621 6 83 13 96 1 - ' 95 47 10 12 - 3 _ - 9 13 95 620 6 95 8 103 1 - - 102 53 10 12 1 3 - _ 9 13 102 620 7 102 7 109 2 Id - 106 68 12 10 3 - 9 13 106 620 8 106 15 121 3 - - 118 71 12 10 - 3 _ _ 9 I 12 118 619 9 118 15 133 14 - - 119 72 11 11 _ 3 _ _ 10 11 119 619 10 119 18 137 1 - - 136 86 12 11 _ 3 1 _ ' _ 11 12 136 619 11 136 16 152 10 - - 142 91 13 10 - 3 _ _ 11 13 142 619 12 142 10 152 1 - - 151 98 14 11 - 3 _ 10 13 151 619 13 157 11 162 7 - 155 109 14 9 _ 3 ^ 10 8 155 619 14 155 14 169 8 - - 161 113 16 9 - 3 _ 10 8 161 619 15 161 10 171 24 - - 147 101 15 7 _ 3 10 9 147 149 619 619 615 16 147 9 156 3 - if 149 106 16 4 „ 3 10 g 17 149 6 ' 155 7 le - 147 104 15 4 _ 3 _ 10 9 147 13 147 10 157 4 - - 153 111 15 4 - 3 _ 10; 8 163 614 19 20 153 160 7 5 160 165 11 _ _ 160 154 117 109 16 17 4 4 - 3 3 - 10 11 8 8 160 154 614 614 614 '614 614 614 614 614 614 614 614 614 m 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 154 135 139 138 135 139 118 119 118 126 8 5 10 5 14 5 4 6 9 6 162 140 149 143 149 144 122 125 127' 131 27 1 11 8 10 26 3 7 1 5 - - 135 139 138 135, 139 118 119 118 126 126 92 94 93 89 89 72 74 , 74 79 78 16 17 16 15 17 17 17 16 18 19 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 - 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 - 11 11 11 11 12 11 11 11 11 11 7 8 9 10 11 10 9 9 10 10 135 139 138 135 139 lis 119 118 126 126 a Died from Diarrhcea and after FeTen d Died from Cholera. b Invalided from Dysentery, e Died from Remittent Fever* c Died from Remittent Fever. / Three invalided from Dysentery and one Remittent Fever. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TEKDOPS (cHINA). 321 Table (A) — continued. Decembe'e 1864. ■i a e 1 i 1 i -i 1 s 'a DISEASES. 1 i S i ■z S 1 i 1 ^ to s e6 V P. 1 "3 i 1 i 4 < g s §, ? ^ Q a (—1 rt (S Q q 6 pi "5^3 a ■!> SI CO o ^ ■' 1 126 8 134 la _ 133 84 20 3 3 1 11 10 133 614 ■ 2 133 6 138 10 16 - 127 78 21 3 _ 2 - 1 10 127 613 3 127 5 132 19 - - 113 67 21 3 _ 2 - ! ;■ 8 113 613 4 il23 5 ; 118 1 -. - 117 70 21 3 -, 3 - .8 117 612 • 5 117 5 1 122 8 ' _ '■ ' ' - 114 66 21 5 - 3 - - 8 114 612 6 Hi 8 1 122 7 - - 116 67 20 5 - 3 - _ 8 115 612 ' 7 1X5 _ ' 116 7 ^. .- ■ _ lOP 60 20 6 _ 3 _ - 8 108 612 8 108 2 110 3 _ _ 107 69 20 6 _ 3 - - 8 107 612 - 9 107 3 110 10 - - 100 53 20 4 - 3 - - 8 100 612 10 100 3 103 14 - _ 89 49 19 4 - 3 - - - 6 8 89 612 11 69 5 94 3 - - 91 64 16 4 - 3 - - - 6 8 91' 612 12 91 6 97 4 _ 93 68 14 4 - 3 - - 6 8 93 612 13 93 6 98 1 _ _ 97 61 13 6 3 - - 6 8 97 612 14 97 7 104 7 - - 97 62 12 6 - 3 - ■ - - 7 7 97 612 15 97 3 100 _ - - 100 63 12 7 - 3 - - 1 7 7 100 612 16 100 4 104 ^ - - 104 67 12 7 - 3 - - 1 7 7 104 612 17 104 3 107 16 - 3c 89 53 12 8 3 - - 7 6 89 612 18 89 6 94 9 _ - 85 51 12 7 3 - - 6 6 85 612 19 86 5 90 - - 90 65 12 7 3 - 1 6 6 90, 612 20 90 3 93 2 _ - 91 65 12 7 3 - - 2 6 5 91 ' 612 21 91 3 94 3 - - 91 64 13 7 ,1 3 - - 2 6 5 91 612 22 91 2 93 4 _ _ 89 63 12 7 3 - - 2 6 5 89 609 23 89 4 «3 2 :- - 91 63 12 8 3 - 1 2 6 5 91 609 24 91 11 102 9 - 93 65 12 8 3 - 1 2 6 5 93 609 25 93 5 98 _ _ - 98 69 12 9 1 3 - 1 2 6 5 98 609 26 98 4 102 2 _ - 100 61 11 9 ^ 3 - 1 2 6 6 100 609 27 100 8 108 12 - - 96 57 11 10 3 - - 3 6 5 96 609 28 96 12 108 11 -r - 97 61 10 9 3 - - 3 6 4 97 609 29 97 12 109 2 _' - 107 68 11 10 3 - - 3 7 4 107 609 30 107 9 116 1 «. - 115 77 U 10 3 - - 3 6 4 116 609 31 116 7 122 12 ~ ~ 110 74 ' 10 9 3 " ~ 3 6 4 110 609 a Died from Remittent Fever. i Died' from Phthisis Pulmonalis. c Two Invalided from Dysentery, and one Invalided from Remittent Fever. With these prelimmary remarks on the causes of increased sickness and mortality for the year 1864-, I shall proceed -to discuss the nature of disease under the separate classes and orders. Table (B) shows the Causes of Mortality and Arrangement into Class and Order. Table (B). Class. Order. DISEASES. Average Strength T — — Numher of Deaths. TOTllL Deaths to Strength, calculated at the Rate of 1,000 per Annum. I. J> J> ?j >» n II. III. IV. V. 1 - w ; 2 4 4 i 1 Feb. remitteng - - - - „ common, continued - Bysenteria acuta - - ■' „ chronica - - - PiarrhoBa . - - - Cholera - - - - - , Phthisis puhnonalis . - - Hepatitis chronica Asthenia - - - - - Insolatio - - - - ' . 729'^ ' 4 1 1 2 2 6 2 1 2 I 6-48 1-37 1-37 2-74 2-74 8-23 2-74 1-37 2*74 1-37 0.53. T T 2 322 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE Table (C), Shows Proportion of Admissions and Deaths from Zymotic Diseases to Total Admissions and Deaths from all Causes during the Year. Class. Order. Zymotic Diseases. Admissions. Deaths. Class. Order. Zymotic Diseases. Admissions. JDeaths. I. 1 Tonsillitis 10 I. 2 Syphilis, prim. 25 • > i> 5? Intermittent fever - 539 — ?j „ second 6 ••- !> 3J Remittent „ 34 4 JJ „ iritis - 2 _ j; ?» Common cont". fever 250 1 ;? Gonorrhoea 36 _ ?j J> Ophthalmia 16 - 3J 9} Bubo - 8 ._ » JJ Furunculus 8 - Orchitis - 3 — >} 77 Influenza a _ !» J» Dysehteria, ac. 28 1 I. 3 Ebriositas 12 _ }> ;> „ ch. 13 2 » 5> Diarrhoea 89 2 I. 4 Scabies - - - 3 _ 5J 7' Choliera - 10 6 » 3J Rheumatism ac. 4 - ! n » „ ch. 6 — 1 Total - 1,104 16 '■ Admissions from Zymotic Diseases. 1,104 Deaths from Zymotic Diseases. 16 Proportion of Deaths from Zymotic Diseases to Admissions. 14 to 1,000 Proportion of Zymotic Diseases to Total Admissions. 7-9ths Proportion of Deaths from Zymotic to Deaths from other Diseases. 5-8 ths Class I. Zymotic Diseases. — From Table (C) it will be seen that zymotic diseases bear the pro- portion of seven-ninths to all other admissions, and that death resulted therefrom in the proportion, of five-eighths to deaths from other diseases. N.B. Deaths from other diseases do not include fom- deaths by accident and out of hospital, viz., one drowned, one shot dead, one vulnus incisum, and one insolatio (died out of hospital). The insalubrity of Kowloon, with the general causes which have led to the prevalence of the very high rate of zymotic diseases, has, in the introductory remarks, been freely discussed ; but the subject of the water supply at that station is weU. worthy of report, with a view to some means being adopted for obtaining good water from other sources or for extended means of purifying and improving the present supplies of the water in use, which cannot be altogether called pure and wholesome. I beg to submit an analysis of the water in question made by Staff Assistant Surgeon Curtis — " Kowloon, 8 October 1864. " Qualitative analysis of water from a spring at the south-east extremity of Kowloon Camp, from which a large supply for use of troops is drawn. " Physical^ Qualities. — It has a milky appearance, due in part to the presence of a finely- divided clay in a state of supension, also to suspended organic matter ; it has a heavy smell, and a mawkish disagreeable taste ; when allowed to stand for a short time it deposits a copious sediment composed chiefly of vegetable organic matter. " The chief chemical constituents are the following : chlorides in abundance, as chloride of magnesia, lime and possibly sodas ; of these salts there are considerably over 10 grains per gallon. Sulphates of lime and magnesia, carbonates of the same ; the amount of lime salts are so small that it requires concentration of the water to prove their presence bv the usual tests. ^ ' •' " There is no trace of iron or nitric acid. Vegetable organic matter is present in large amounts, whether it exceeds four grains per gaUon, a quantity that proves inim-ious to health i cannot say, not having the suitable apparatus and reagents, but to it and the chlorides I thmk must be attributed those injurious effects which are said to result to those drmkmg this water. " The quality of the water would be considerably improved by the mixture with it of grs. VI. alum to a gallon, and by filtration (through animal charcoal, if possible ). The water from a spring near the commissariat stores to north west of camp, also largely used by the troops, has the same qualities in a less proportion, and is therefore purer." From SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS «(cHINA). 323 From the date of above report aium has been used as recommended, and all drinking water thrown into vessels containing powdered wood charcoal (no animal charcoal being obtainable), and then filtered through patent filters supplied by barrack department. The weather from 15th September to end of 1864 was most propitious, it only rained one day during all that period, and the temperature was most genial. There was no extra fatigue entailed at any time on the troops at Kowloon ; there was considerably less intemperance than when the regiment was in Hong Kong ; and the clothing was suitable in every way. Cleanliness in huts and tents, and in neighbourhood of camp, was most rigorously attended to. Rations were of the best description, no nui- sance or defeative drainage, except from general defects of position of station in present state, having in its neighbourhood low marshy ground requiring extensive drainage. By Table (D) it will be seen the extent to which zymotic diseases have prevailed in 99th Regiment ; it is compiled to ^5th January 1865, and shows the exemptions in the regiment with the stations. Table (D). Return of Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the 99th Regiment serving in South of China who have not been liable to, and who have not been under treatment for. Zymotic Diseases since 1st October 1864. App. No. 4. General Report, 1864 — continued. 99th Poet. Total Strength of Re giment, 638.— 25 January 1865. Number olf Non-Commissioned Officers and Men wlio have not suffered from Zymotic Diseases since 1st October 1864. distribution. Remarks. ^ •s -a 'o e s & S? § Ji a o CO & ai^ n ^ H Head Quarters, Kowloon 523 5 84 1 1 91 Detachment at Hong Kong,' including Hospital Establish- ^ ment - - - - -J 29 4 16 - - 20 Hospital Establishment Ship"! "Hercules" - - -J 3 - 2 - - 2 Detachment at Canton - J8 - 5 - - 5 Detachment at Stanley - 5 1 2 - - 3 Detachment at Taku, North of\ China - ■ -J 60 - - - - - No Records for Detach- Total - - - 638 10 109 1 1 121 ment at Taku Forts. Miasmatic Diseases. — Under this order are classed all the diseases that have proved most fatal in their issue ; the mortality in this order alone being in the proportion of five to eight of all other deaths from disease (accidents excluded) during the year. Fevers. — It is to fevers of the continued, intermittent, and remittent type, contracted at Kowloon, that the high rate of sickness in the 99th Regiment is chiefly due. The ordinary fever to which the men" of the 99th Regiment were liable in Hong Kong previous to October 1864, was of the intermittent type, being genuine, well-marked ague, and, as quoted in my remarks in the Annual Medical Report for 1863, " contracted for the most part at Kowloon in turn by each company taking their tour of duty there." i The medical events of 1864 tend still more strongly to confirm beyond doubt the opinions I then expressed; and if any convincing proof is necessary of the diminution and gradual subsidence of fever in the regiment, when all men were removed from the in- ^uences of Kowloon, and its increase on a return to that station, I beg to submit in a tabular form, " Table (E)," showing the number of cases of fever daily, with total sick of regiment from 1st June 1864 to 31st December. Class I. Older 1. 0.53. T T 3 324 APPEKDIX TO BEPOET PEOM THE Table (E). 99.th B/BGiMENT. — Eetuen showing the Daily Sick in Hospital at Hong 'Kong , asaA. specif jing the Number of Cases of Fever remaining each Day from 1st June 1864 to 31st December 1864. June. July. August. September. October. November. December, Strength, Strength, Stiength t Strength, Strength, Strength, Strength, 616. 657. 654. 685. 637. 620. 612. ■i ■i ,% i 4 4 4 K M CO t« . m tZ '£ -o5 'A OJ s rt _s 2 ■rt 0} S "{3 a! nl « 0} 13 aj u v 3 s S3 ■3 a 1 o 6- 1 1 Q > |4 o 6i 13 Q ,e3 1 a 1 e5 a ^ 1 21 54 1. 8 28 1 14 35 1 7 38 1 8 40 1 34 79 1 84 133 2 20 S3 ■2 8 30 2 14 ' 38 2 7 ■ 36 ■' ■ -2 10 46 2 40 88 2 78 127 3 20 54 3 5 26 3 15 38 • 3 7 • 36 ; 3 11 50 3 39 82 3 66 113 4 20 54 4 4 27 4 13 37 4 8 37 4i 15 55 4 38 S3 4 70 iir 5 20 53 5 5 30 5 15 38 6 8 39 5 15 57 6 47 95 5 65 114 6 20 54 6 6 34 . 6 16 38 6 8 42 6 22 67 6 53 101 6 67 lis 7 15 51 7 6 34 7 16 39 7 7 43 , .■ '7 38 ,82 7 69 106 7 60 108 8 16 52 8 6 35 8 13 38 8 7 41 8 46 89 8 71 118 8 59 107 9 3 17 9 7 37 9 13 40 9 7 38 9 53 95 9 72 119 9 63 100 10 4 20 10 9 37 10 11 .40. , 10 6 38 10 67 110 10 86 136 10 49 89 11 6 22 11 10 34 11 10 37 11 .5 , 37 11 74 117 11 91 142 11 54 91 12 5 18 12 8 29 12 9 36 , . 12 3 32 12 77 123 12 98 161 12 58 93 13 7 20 13 8 30 13 10 38 13 4 , 32 13 79 124 13 109 156 13 61 97 14 9 24 14 8 30 14 10 39 14 3 31 14 81 128 14 113 161 14 62 97 15 9 25 15 10 33 15 10 39 *15 3 31 15 61 107 16 101 147 16 63 lOO 16 11 27 16 9 31 16 10 40 16 '3 30 16 60 106 16 106 149 16 67 104 17 12 27 17 9 30 17 10 41 17 3 32 17 61 96 17 104 147 17 53 89 18 12 29 18 9 30 • 18 10 41 18 5 35 18 ; 49 98 18 111 153 18 51 86 19 13 30 19 11 33 19 9 41 19 5 34 19, 44 90 19 117 160 19 65 90 20 13 29 20 12 34 20 10 43 - 90 6 33 20 46 92 20 109 164 20 55 91 21 11 27 21 14 36 21 9 43 21 6 35 21 47 93 21 92 136 21 54 91 22 12 26 22 13 35 22 9 43 22 6 35 22 37 84 22 94 139 22 63 89 23 29 23 23 14 36 ' 23 6 41 23 7 38 23 40 87 23 93 138 23 '63 91 24 9 24 24 14 37 24' 5 39 24 7 37 24 35 76 24 69 136 24 i>& 93 26 11 22 25 13 36 25 5 37 25 6 35 25 34 75 25 89 139 25 '59 98 26 10 21 26 14 39 26 5 36 26 5 32 26 32 76 26 72 118 26 61 100 27 7 21 27 15 4! 27 5 37 27 6 32 27 30 ! - 75 27 74 119 27 , 57 96 28 9 26 28 15 40 28 3 34 28 6 34 28 30 76 28 74 118 28 61 97 29 9 28 29 17 41 29 3 33 29 6 36 29 34 1 79 29 79 126 29 68 107 30 6 27 30 17 42 30 7 37 30 8 41 30 36 i 80 30 78 126 , 30 77 115 31 13 37 31 7 37 31 33 78 31 74 110 * Regiment changed stations from Hong Kong to Kowlooajon 15th September. Class 1. A® ^^^'^ ^y " Table (E)," about the 6th Qetober, or after a period of infection andincu- Orderl. bation at Kowloon of about 21 days, the cases of fever began to multiply tenfold. The influence of the malarious poison first showed its action in producing fever of the con- tinued type, in duration about three days ; this, in nearly all the cases, was the form of first attack, but in those who had at former periods suffered from ague, the fever resumed its former intermittent type. The continued fbrm of fever, in those who became liable, gradually submerged into the intermittent type with enlargement of spleen, and after repeated and oft-recurring paroxysms in the most weakly, a remittent type of low typhoid fever supervened, which was highly fatal in its results. This form of fever was identical with the fatal malarious " Hong Kong fever," which for many years gave to the island its, then unenviable notoriety for insalubrity, but which form of fever has, not been known in Hong Kong for the last seven or eight years, as, by improved sanitary arrangements, the absence of any overturning of earth by excavation, and the whole surface of the original soil being covered by houses, roads, gardens, &c., and well planted, a complete revolution in the health statistics of the town of Victoria has taken place, atid it may now rank in health with any city in the tropical east. A T&MMfi of the admissions of fever from 1st October to 31st December -will sh'ow Hi© extent to which the influence of malaribus fevet affected the men of the 9«th Regiment. SELECT COMMITTEE OiN MOKTALITY OF TBOOPS j(chINa). 325 Table (F), 'Showing the Number of Cases of Fevee admitted to Hospital during the Months of ■October, November, and to Slst'December 1864, from Men stationed at Kowloon, and specifying the Number of Times during this Period individual Cases have been admitted. App, No. 4. General Report, 1864 — continued. 99th Foot. Class I. Order 1, Causes of Number of Times admitted during Period. Remarks. Adroissipn. Once. Twice. Thrice.. ; Four Times. Fevers - 201 103 27 7 'These figures are compiled from statistics of men with the regiment on 31st December 1864, and do not include four deaths which resulted from fever during the period, and two cases of men invalided to save life, by . Overland Route, for " febris remittens." Total - - 201 206 81 28 = 516 cases out of an average strength of 5.70 at Kowloon. It must,, however, be borne in mind that these figures only represent the cases of men wivo have been actually admitted into and dieted in hospital, and do not include any of the dight cases which from time to time have been kept in for the day or night, and a. still stronger fact of the much more extensive prevalence of intermittent fever than could appear in any return, is that a very large proportion of the men of the 99th Regiment have paroxysms of intermittent fever whilst at their duty, for which attacks they do not report themiselves sick, unlfess during the paroxysms they are called ujion for some dwty of parade or gtiard j these attacks multiply till from sheer debility the suffer^t is compelled' to report himself sick, and then he acknowledges he hfts been " trying to throw off the shukes" for one, two, or three weeks. The exhibition of quinine (grs. iv.) daily since: the first day the Regiment went to Eowloon has been regularly Continued, but its prophylactic efl?ects were completely neutralised by the fever-producing influences of the locality. Of the cases in hospital under treatment* for other- diseases, and not returned as fever, at least seven-eighths were and' are found to be subject to periodic attacks of intermittent fever, which still further shows the greater extent of the malarious influences and fever- producimg poison absorbed into the system at Kowloon not manifesting themselves until, itt many mstantjes, long after removal from the locality where the seeds of disease had been contracted. OpMhahnva. — As noted in the remarks of 1863, vesicular gramilations are found to exist in the lids of a large proportion of the men of the 99th Regiment, but no exciting carasft; has. led. to any appearance of the disease beyond a few trifling cases; one man was invalided from, vesicular granulations and opacity of cornea. Dysenteria Acuta. — From " Table (A)" will be seen the rapid increase in the number of all forms of bowel complaint which followed the change of the regiment to Kowloon. The adtaiissions from dysenteria acuta alone amounting to 28 compared with 11 of the previous year; the type of the disease was most inflammatory, followed by a tedious and unsatisfactory convalescence, generally running into — JXysewteria Chronica — the admissions from which were 13 compared to six for 1863 : from both forms of disease the number of men invalided'was 11, nine of whom were sent by the. Overland Route, to save if possible a fatal termination in this country ; the death of two of the cases en route has been already recorded. The treatment by ipecacuanha in large doses was, in some cases, a signal success, but m the generality the iTritability of stomach could not be overcome. I have found opium in large and frequent doses as satisfactory as any other treatment. The most extensive ulceration and. disintegration of the mucous membrane of large in- testines was found in all post-mortem examinations from bowel affections. A thickened, corrugated, congested, and sometimes ulcerated condition of the same was also found after fetal eases from; othe-r diseases where boiwel symptoms have never been complained of. DiarrhoBa. — With the complications of hepatic affections and- former attacks of bowel complaints, dysenteric in their nature, the diagnosis of diarrhoea in most of the- cases is doubtful, and should more correctly be dysenteria chronica. « Table 0.53. • N.B. — All sick were treated in Gajuison: Hospital, Hong Kong. T T 4 326 APPENDIX TO EEPOKT FKOM THE App. No. 4. General Report, 1 864 — continued. BDth Foot. Class I. Order 1. " Table ( Gr)" will show the number of cases of all bowel complaints which occurred from 1st October to 31st December 1864; specifying the number of times attacked during that period. Table (G). Cause of Admission. Number of Times under Treatment during Period. Kemarks. Once. Twice. Bowel complaints 64 8 These figures only represent the men present with flie regiment on 31st December 1864, and do not include one death, and nine men invalided by Overland Route, to save life during the period. Total - - - 64 16 = 80 cases out of an average of 670 at Kow- loon. Class I. Order 2. Class I. Order 3. Class II. Order 2. Class III. Order 1. f Class III. Order 8. Order 4. This table speaks for itself ; and, in conjunction with " Table (F)," points to the havoc from zymotic diseases which unfortunately occurred in the 99th Regiment after 1st October 1864. Cholera. — Ten cases of this disease appeared during the year, six of which unfortunately proved fatal ;• four of these cases occurred at Kowloon after 1st October, a most unusual season of the year ; the precautionary sanitary measures pointed out, and recommended, with the unsatisfactory results, have been already recorded. ( Vide No. 14 of this Report.) Syphilis. — The admissions from all diseases of a venereal nature, gonorrhoea included, only amount to 77 for 1864, compared with 182 for 1863. This decrease may, to a certain extent, be accounted for : 1st. From decreased strength of regiment. 2nd. By the regi- ment being stationed at Kowloon for three months and a half, where the facilities of pros- titution are diflScult. 3rd. To the large per-centage of men of the regiment in hospital during the period, removing them from any opportunity of contracting disease. 4th. To the weakly and fever-stricken condition of the men at duty, acting mentally and consti- tuting a check to all desire ; or, 5th. To the vitality of the system of those who gratified their passion being at so low an ebb that the venereal poison became innocuous. Ehriositas. — The very marked decrease in the cases of this disease, with the absence of any case of delirium tremens for 1864, contrasts very favourably with 1863. The regi- mental canteen, the superintendence of which was under a body of officers, was made as attractive as possible to the men, where the best liquors were sold at the cheapest rate, and every inducement was offered, with success, by games and otherwise, to keep the men from the low grog shops. In no way can the causes of the remarkable increase of sickness and mortality in the 99th Regiment, since October 1864, be connected, directly or indirectly, with intemperance amongst the men, either collectively or individually. Phthisis Pulmonalis. — The number (10) of cases of this disease which have manifested themselves in 1864, exceeds by three those recorded for 1863 ; this is attributable gene- rally to the increased debilitating effects produced by an additional year's residence in this climate in those in whom a constitutional predisposition or hereditary tendency existed • and the development of the disease has been specifically induced by the further debilitated and anscmic condition into which the men of the 99th Regiment have latterly fallen by general loss of health from zymotic diseases favouring the manifestation of those of a constitutional nature. JDemcntia.— The one case recorded, arose from debility after a severe attack of fever in which head symptoms had been prominent ; as strength returned, mental vigour increased, delusions ceased, and all traces of mental derangement disappeared. The patient was' however, invalided some months afterwards under "Asthenia after fever." ' C(scifas.— Your cases appear as having shown themselves, but they only represent two men, brought under observation from inability to go through rifle practice, one from myopia, the other from hypermetropia ; both were sent to England to be discharged the service.' ° Chest Affections.— Rave been of rare occurrence and few in number, requiring no comment. Splenitis.— In two-thirds of the men of 99th Regiment the spleen is very considerably enlarged, but acute splenitis, per se, is of unusual occurrence. Hepatitis. — SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS ( CHINA). 327 Hepatitis. — The liver is found to be enlarged in a fair proportion of men of the regiment j attacks of acute and sub-acute hepatitis are apt to supervene, and in nearly all cases of chronic dysentery there is hepatic complication. In one case invalided overland for the two causes an hepatic abscess had twice opened into some portion of intestine and been discharged by the bowels ; the patient died about 14 days after leaving Hong Kong. Fungus Testis. — The record of the case of this disease, with description of operation and removal of both testicles, will be found in detail in remarks for 1863 ; the subject of the case embarked for England with other invalids on 9th June 1863, in Her Majesty's ship " Vulcan." Asthenia. — Indicating a general anaemic, debilitated, cachectic condition into which men fall who have become subject to repeated attacks of fever. This state appears to be induced by the impairment of nutrition consequent on irritability of stomach, no doubt induced or resulting from the enlarged condition of spleen (always present), with an occasional similar condition of liver. The cases admitted under this head present a pale, pasty, general cachectic and emaciated appearance, complaining of no pain but of sheer debility, with depression of mental powers. By rest and tonics some improvement is often produced, but change of climate is the only sure means of restoring this general impaired condition of health. Insolatio. — Two fatal cases occurred, the result of direct exposure to the sun's rays ; one at Canton in hospital, on 25th July, the other out of hospital, on 15th September, in a pioneer, in the execution of his duty, packing baggage, he, -when the regiment was sud- denly ordered to Kowloon. Luxatura. — One case of recurrence of dislocation of hea!d of left humerus into axilla, the first accident mentioned in Report of 1863 ; the man was invalided for discharge. Submersio. — One death out of hospital, the subject being a sergeant under arrest and a patient in hospital for gonorrhoea ; he was missed one night and next afternoon found drowned close to the hospital pier. "^^ ' "'''''* "T?-,.--! a^^^^^a " App. No. 4. Fractura.- The coroner's verdict, " Found drowned." -Six cases, but only four men. Right, Left. Number of Cases. Caused by Clavicle _ 1 1 A fall, accident. Humerus - -■ 1 1 / From no direct violence, but apparently due \to some disease of bone. Radius 1 - 1* Accident. Ribs - 1 - 1 Accident, fall. Patella - 2 2* r 1st. Fall with knee bent, patella string, edge J of a 56 lb. weight ; 2nd. Laceration of ligamen- 1 tous union which had resulted from first frac- Uure, caused by sudden twist of leg. Total • - 2 4 6 Vulnus Sclopetarium. — Two admissions, and one death out of hospital, resulted from gun-shot wounds, inflicted by the Hong Kong police as already described. A detailed account of each case may not be uninteresting. Detailed Medical History of the case of No. 1353, Private "William Lonsdale, 99th Eegiment, age 26 years. — Station, Hong Kong. General Repoi-t, 1 864 — continued, 99th Foot. Class III. Order C. Class IV. Order 4. Class V. Order 1. Class V Order 3. Service, 8 Years. Places. Periods. From To Home ... India . - - China . . - September 1856 December 1858 March 1860 - - December 1858. March 1860. September 1864. Vulnus * One man (Private Cowison) was the unfortunate subject of three of the cases ; first, from fracture of light radius by accident; and secondly, a few months afterwards, from fracture of left patella; third, from laceration of ligamentous union which had united the fragments of patella, caused by a sudden twist of the leg, about three and a half months after primary fracture. * 0.5K U TJ 328 APPENDIX TO EEPORT FROM THE I App. No. 4. -^^ J r, , . Vulnus Sclopetarium. im^ontml^l On the evening of 13th September, this man with other soldiers of the 99th Regiment. • proceeded to the streets in Taipingshan, where their comrade, Pri-wate HowgiLL, had, on S9th Foot. the previous night, met his death by being stabbed by a Malay., Taking the law into Class v. their own hands, they commenced, assisted by a body, of European sailors, to gut several Order 3. Malay sailors' boarding houses, throwing the furniture, &c, out of the windows. Some intimation, of these men's riotous intention havinsr become known in barracks, a picquet under an officer was despatched after them ; the picquet arrived on the scene about the same time as a special body of police, each appearing at opposite ends of the street, so that the rioters were hemmed in ; they, however, made a rush to break through their own picquet, and most of them succeeded ; immediately upon this three shots were fired from amongst the police, near whom the soldiers had never been, and from whose directionthey were running. These shots were aimed indiscriminately at the men running away, at the ■picquet, and at those men in custody of the picquet. Private Lonsdale running down some steps was shot dead by amusket-ball penetrating the chest from behind, and lacerating pulmonary artery. The sectio cadaveris, 19 hours after death,, gave the following results : General appearances. — Body muscular and well nou'rished. Position of "Wound. — Circular wound discovered, as if made by a musket-bullef, over left scapula, on a line with and three inches to the right of axilla ; from position of body, being laid on back, a considerable exudation of bloody serum had taken place during the night. ' Thorax. — Direction of wound being evidently through chest,, but no probe could be passed further than through scapula. The thorax was opened, and, raising sternum, a denuded spot on the inner aspect of that bone, a, little to the left of mesial linie, and at junction of cartilage of third rib, was discovered ; this had evidently been caused by contact with the bullet. Left side of chest was found to contain at least three quarts of dark blood-like fluid, and bullet was found lying loose in cavity of left pleura^, where it had evidently dropped after striking sternum. ' Lungs and heart were removed from thorax, in situ, and on severing pericardium from diaphragm a large blood clot escaped. Bullet, and Direction of "Wound. — Bullet, a musket one, imperfect and flattened on one face from bad casting, was found to have entered chest through left scapula, perforating that bone about two inches above inferior angle, and close to inferior margin ; shape of opening corresponding to that of bullet, circular for five-sevenths, and then showings flat base ; the opening into chest was at the angle of ribs, at which part, fifth rib had been hit and was found fractured ; bullet then passed directly forwards through the middle lobule of left lung, penetrated the pericardium and lacerating the pulmonary artery close to its junction to base of heart, passed out of pericardium and struck sternum at junction of cartilage of third rib, and a little to the left of mesial line ; being then spent it dropt into cavity of left pleura where it was found. In moving arm and scapula to bring opening through scapula and that into chest into ' juxtaposition, the scapula had to be raised and arm thrown back, which must have been their position when the wound was received. The evidence at the coroner's inquest proved that he was rushing down a flight of steps when the shot was fired from a position about 20 yards behind, and to the right, and a little above him. A man rushing down steps hur- riedly would have his body somewhat bent forward, and would naturally descend two or three steps at one stride, in doing which the whole body, the arms participating in the motion, would be alternately swayed to the right or left, as the leg of that side was taking the stride. There can be no doubt he received his death wound whilst taking the downward stride with the right leg, which would cause the slightly bent forward body, with left arm thrown behind, to be turned directly towards the point from which the shot was fired, the direc- tion of the wound, and the circumstances under which it was received^ being thereby fullv accounted for. From the nature of the wound opening the pulmonary artery, death must have been almost instantaneous. '*^ A coroner's jury returned a verdict of "wilful murder" against an Indian police constable, unknown, with a remark of regret and censure, that from the want of, organisation in the constitution of the Hong Kong police force, no steps were taken to ascertain who fired the shots. From the same cause it was also noted, that no means existed of ascertaining when police constables thought fit, from their own discretion, to , use their muskets, generally loaded with ball-cartridge. Detailed SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TEOOPS (chINA). 329 Detailed Medical History of tloe case of No. 916, Private James Dalton, 99th Eegiment, age 28 years. — ^Statlon, Hong Kong. Service, 5 Years. App. No. 4, Places. Periods. From To Home - - . China ... August 1859 - November 1860. November J 860. Vulnus Sclopetarium. One of the picquet under an officer sent, on evening of 13th September, to bring back to barracks several men already described as breaking into some Malay houses, was struck when the three shots were fired by the police, and brought to hospital immediately, when the following appearances were noted. Bullet, supposed to be an ordinary musket one,, was found to have entered over right scapula below its spine, and at a point which will be best described by stating, that a line drawn horizontally, and carried outwards from a point where spine of scapula verges into inferior border, would cut across centre of wound, and if another line were drawn from point of acromion to intersect first line over wound, the distances from both points would be found to be equal ; the direction of bullet was then transversely, with a slight downward tendency across back, passing over line of spinal column on a line with 4th dorsal vertebra, through the muscles superficial to left scapula, and making, its exit over that bone in a position about one inch above, and in a direct line over fold of left asilla ; the direction from which the shot was fired was from the mail's right, and, if anything, a little behind ; the distance was from 30 to 40 yards ; the wound of entrance was circular, about seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, the bullet had ploughed up the skin for some little distance to the right before entering i the wound of exit was irregular in shape and smaller than wound of entrance, as if the force of bullet had been nearly expended, and it had not sufficient velocity to carry any soft parts with ^ it, but merely to- tear through them, leaving ragged edges to the wound. When hit he had on a thick serge tunic, with thick and new flannel shirt ; a considerable portion of the fibre of both tunic and shirt were wanting, and must have been carried with the bullet into the wound. Over the wound of exit, the tears in both tunic and flannel shirt were "merely displacement of fibre outwards, with no loss of substance. At first glance externally, in the line of direction of wound, there was ^ spot discoloured by ecchymosis, and contused in appearance, over the line of vertebral column ; this spot was exceedingly painful to the touch, and suspicion of fracture of 4th dorsal vertebra was entertained. Had free use of arms, and enjoyed all voluntary motion in upper ex- tremities. Eight days afterwards some long shreds of woollen fibre came a,way from wound of entrance. On the 11th day a email spicula of bone was found loose in entrance of right wound and removed. The case proceeded satisfactorily, ,but for some time any motion of scapula caused much uneasiness. Great pain and stiffness were at all times complained of over spinal column ; but by passive exercise a very satisfactory termination of case resulted, and the man was discharged to duty with no impairment of any motion. The general conclusions arrived at on the man's discharge were — " From all the appearances, &c. presented in this case, there can be little doubt that At the time of being hit both arms were hanging by the sides and in a line with body, that the bullet just after entering struck edge of spine of right scapula, from which it broke off the small spicula of bone, detected in wound on 24th September, eleven days a^ter the injury ; a small notch can now be felt in spine of scapula, coiTesponding to this Ipss of bone ; the course of the bullet was then transversely across back, ploughing through the muscles superficial to right scapula, and In crossing line of spinal column some injury of 4th dorsal vertebra was sustained, either a fracture or a severe contusion^ impossible to ascertain,; first from swelling, now from muscular development and a dipose tissue; passing on, the course of the bullet was then through the muscles superficial to left scapula, and no injury was sustained by that bone." The third case of gunshot wound was a superficial flesh wound of left arm received at same time. General Report, 1864.— ^continued. 99th Foot. Class V. Order 3. 0.53. ,r u 2.. 330 APPENDIX TO EEPOKT TKOM THE App. No. 4. A few remarks on a residence of only eight days at Kowloon during the period of the excavations, and the effects produced by exposure at that station, on a draft of 60 young General Report soldiers, 67th Regiment, just arrived from England, may not be out of place, as tending ISGi—omtinued. by statistics to show the identical results which followed in the 99th Regiment. — — On 6th September, Her Majesty's Ship " Adventure " arrived at IJong Kong, with «9thFoot. tiie gtij Battalion 2d Battery Royal Artillery, and drafts for 67th and 99th Regiments; . the former, being 60 strong, was attached for medical treatment to 99th Regiment ; there Malarious influences ^3,3 no barrack accommodation at Hong Kong, so the 67th draft were sent to occupy huts at Kowloon, in close proximity to which excavations were going oni On 15th September, this draft was brought to Hong Kong, to do duty in jjlace of 99th Regiment sent to Kowloon. A few days after this, fever began to develop itself, and on the 26th September, I called the attention of the principal medical officer to the subject, in the following letter : — " Hong Kong, 26 September 1864, " I have the honour to bring to your notice the rapidly increasing spread of fever amongst the men of the detachment, 67th Regiment, recently arrived in this country in Her Majesty's Ship " Adventure ;" the admissions from this cause were on the 23rd instant, six ; on the 24th, five ; and yesterday, six ; the strength of the detachment is 60, out of which 25 men are at present in hospital, and of these 22 are cases of fever. " I attribute this large proportion of sick to a variety of causes. " 1st. To the youthful material of the draft, composed chiefly of growing lads, and their recent arrival in a tropical climate. " 2nd. To the fact of a draft of such susceptible materials being stationed at Kowloon for about eight days on first arrival, where, in my opinion, the seeds of fever, now developed, were contracted. " I am further strengthened in this opinion by the present similar condition of the men, 6-12th Battery Royal Artillery, who, during a lengthened residence in Hong Kong, were free from fever ; but, after a short stay at Kowloon, of the same duration as the men of 67th, fever has appeared amongst them since their return to Hong Kong, and there are now 19 cases of that disease in their hospital; whereas in the 8-2d Battery Royal Artillery, which landed the same day as the 67th, and have been stationed in Hong Kong, not a single case of fever has occurred. " 3rd. To the want of proper and sufficient protection for the head from the sun's direct rays, a forage cap, sometimes without a cover, being the only head-dress they have to wear ; and although application has twice been made, no umbrellas have been supplied to those necessitated to leave barracks during the day. " 4th. To increased exposure, induced by ignorance of its effects, so common with young troops, doubly dangerous with the totally inadequate protection for the head. " 5th. To the excessive duties which young troops on first arrival in a tropical clunate should always be spared, they have been called upon to perform, having at first in Hong Kong had only three and four nights in bed, and now, from the number knocked up, only two and three. " Taking all these conditions into consideration, from my personal knowledge of the physique of the men, unless the causes referred to are remedied, I do not see where the spread of fever will cease ; and as the only course to arrest further development, I have strongly and urgently to recommend that the remainder of this draft be at once relieved from all duty, strictly confined to their barrack room and galleries from 7 a.m. till 5pm for the next week, when, as the medical officer responsible for their healths I will so arrange that quinine in suitable doses be administered to them at least twice a day • d'iiring this time, some arrangement could be made for a supply of helmets, and the subiect of the danger of exposure more fully impressed on them." A further development of fever took place, and on 30th September 37 cases of fever in this small draft were under treatment = 61-66 of sick to well. The 8 -2d Battery Royal Artillery, which arrived the same day, and had occupied good barracks m Hong Kong, had not a single case. The effect on the young material of this draft has been marked ; more than half of the lads are now subject to attacks of periodic ague, have enlarged spleen, and are pale pastv and ansemic m appearance. ^ ' ^ '^ I regret that the pressure of work, consequent on the speedy departure of the 99th Re- giment for the Cape, prevents me preparing and attaching to this a diagram of Kowloon showmg that every occupant of huts over and near excavations were attacked with fever; and also showmg position of tank (to huts and tents), supposed to be exciting cause 01 cholera. ^ a These minutiae were given in evidence by me before Medical Board of 3rd November. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (cHINA). 331 General Eemarks, ^^' The subject of excessive duty is one which is too lightly considered ; Dr. Rutherford, General Report, Deputy Inspector General of ITospitals, in his Report of Hong Kong, in 1860, writes 1864--co«f«n«erf. " Let each man have fully seven nights or more in bed." 99tji poot. The men of the 99th Regiment have never had half that ; but with the number of guards and sentries, it is said to be impossible to reduce the duties. The ordered withdrawal of Native Indian troops will, before long, bring this matter strongly forward ; also the unsanitary condition of some of the garrison guard rooms, only suited for natives. The subject of transport for speedy removal of invalids is a matter well worthy of Invalid Transport, important consideration; the overland route is unexceptionable, as affording the most rapid change, but the limit of numbers, and trusting the men sent as individually respon- sible for their own care, may not be always found conducive to results expected. In the new and intended establishment of Invalid Transports, and for the regular con- veyance of reliefs to and from India, via " Isthmus of Suez," it is to be hoped arrange- ments to include China may not be overlooked. In concluding this Report, I may add that, in the Column in the Return of Invalids, only 11 men, sent overland since 1st October, are shown, but on the 31st December 1864, 23 other men had passed an Invaliding Board, and were waiting passage to England, making a total of 34 invalids and 13 deaths in the last three months of the year, a rate of mortality and depreciation of health which it is to be hoped may not again figure in the annals of any regiment. The present condition of the men remaining with and comprising the Regiment is the reverse of satisfactory ;. they are pale, anaemic, cachectic and asthenic; the generality of them subject to periodic attacks of intermittent fever, with consequent enlargement of the spleen ; in others, some hepatic lesion or chronic affection of the bowels exists, and, with very few exceptions, nearly every man's health is in a depreciated state ; rendering the corps, as it stands at present, in a condition the opposite of efficient. For my remarks on the comparative healthiness of Hong Kong over Kowloon, and the conditions which are requisite to render the latter station at all fit for occupation by troops, I beg to refer to Sanitary Report, No. 1 (W. O., Form £il7), 99th Regiment for 1864, in which, at page 5 ' (under Medical Topography, No. 2), and at page 12 (General Conclusions), the subject is fully entered into, and opinions and recommendations recorded. Hong Kong, William Snell, 25 February 1865. Surgeon, 99th Regiment. 0.53. U U 3 332 A*"**!-??!)!* t6 e^e!**)** i^Eoar Vat Appendix, No. 5. RETURN showing the Accommodation for the Troops of ah Arms at Hong Kong and Kowldon, at thie Time of the Arriyal of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment; specifying the Nature of the Accommok ' dation and tlie Nunaber of Cubic Feet allowed per Man. , Gubid Accdmmbdation as per Construction. Actual Accommodation. Nature of »'' '\{: Accommodation. Feet per Maoi 1 i o s .0) ¥ CD 03 i3 ■ ■II 1 i 2 a o i % i S CO Boa s ■g- I'; REMARKS. 1 Sarraclis and Huta : ' Murray Barracks - 700 '2 16 4 ,16 - 440 - 2 16 4 16 - 440 - , North Barracks 670 -■ ■- - 7 409 - - - - - 7 - 409 *Stanley Barracks 900 1 5 - 6 - 400 - ' 1 5 6 ^ *150 - Hospitals : Stanley Barracks - 900 - ■ - ^' - - 88 - ■- - - - •- 88 General Hospital - 1,060 - - - - - - 120. - - ■ - - ' - 120 Mat Sheds - - - ■not known - - - - 700 -■; ', ■'-■ - - - 700 - Kowloon : , ^ Huts - not known - 9 - - 20 402 ■ - 9 - 20 402 - Total - - t' Deduct : 3 30 4 29 20 2,351 208 3 30 4 29 20 . 2,101 208. Accommodation on ar- rival Of 2nd Battalion, Oth Regiment. Mat Sheds - 3 - - - - 1303 - - - - - - t560 - Total % Hired Houses : 30 4 29 20 2,048 208 3 30 4 29 20 1,541 208 Accommodatiim on ar- rival of 2nd Battalion, * 11th Regiment. *' United States Dep6t - - — — - - - 8 - _ „ _ -, , , . Messrs. Pletcher's pre- mises Messrs. M'Gregor's pre- " ^:, xnises " - - - - - - - - - - 8 - - - 500 200 Hired for the accom- 1 modation of the 2nd Battalion, 1 1th Regi- ment. •St. Francis'; Hospital - - — - - - - - - - Mar riedS oldiers - - §H. M, Ship " Princess Charlotte" - - ' - - - - - - _ _ _ _ _ _ §H. M. Ship " Hercules '■ - - - - -■ - - - ■_■• ■ - -'"' _ _ _ ■.^ ■ r- .} REMARKS. * So dilapidated as not to afford accommodation for more than 150 men. t Sheds, for 303 men, blown down by the typhoon, and, for 257 men, so dilapidated in consequence as not to be habitable, leaving available onlv accom- modation for 140 men. ° / i Hired to accommodate the 2nd Battalion, lltb Regiment, on arrival. § The "Hercules," in consequence of being in an unsafe state from age, was sold j 4 officers and 143 men accommodated on board the " Princes. Charlotte " as a temporary measure. T^lt SELECT co3m:m:ixtee ON; MjOif.TMi'iJ'S, OF T,BOOPS (china). 333 Appendix, No. 6. EETURN of the Baeeacks in HoiirG Kong Baeeack Disteict, 1st January 1865. >' ; Construction. Occupation. Horses. Married Soldiers. i > Horses, I ' Corps 0,- yr-'-*- (each ■a In Barrack 1 'O t.' NAME Corps to be • 1 o 1 2 01 ' o Hoozrts. CO i si Remarks, showing of u Temporary B A R B A C K. shown f. P a O i c ■ «" .-, 'O (ft o Appropriation. ■,< •epa. rately). i .o £ a g- CO .a a 0) o (-• cd g § 'to s d. g 3 i "3 c CO 1 .3 p a la I . i s a Number of Men' Quarters occupie W. 0. Circular 1 a ■i a a ' o O o ^ a. o p I 3 1 ■\ ■S O CO M S izirt o H s CL, O^ 03 « « 1^ O H :W '. '.1 B. A. - ' 6 2 2 2 80 Murray Barracks - k R. E. - 99th 2 16 4 16 - 440 6 ^ : 1 1 4 — _ _, _ 38 "■ ~* , L 67th - - - - - - - - - - '- -7 1 1 2i - 76 -;■ - ^ r R. A. - - - - - - - - - " - •- - - 6 - 85 - - - 1 room, 56 men, In- stitute, North B»»yftek» - < R.E. - -. - 1< . - 4P9 - - - - - - 2 - 36 - - J room, 19 men, Li- brary. - C. S. C. - - - - ~ -. - - - - - - -■ - -' -■ - 7 - - '- r B.E. r- „ _ _, _ „ _ _ _ 1 _ _ _ 1 - 9 - ™ Kowlooiv - - s 99th 1 26 - - 20 402 - - - 1 17 ,4 - - - 429 - - , I C.S.C- - - - - - - - - — — — — — — — ~ 1 — ~ ~ , E. E. - ■■'_ 1 - _ _ _ .. _ [_ — 1 _ _, i_ , 3 _ _^ ' 2nd.20th ^ _ _ _ „ _ _ _ _ 2 3 1 - 81 - 67 - - _ Stanley* - -< 99th 1 1 5 6 _ 400 10 - _ - - - - - - - 5 - - - * In a dilapidated i^m- 22d - ' - - _ ,, - - - - - - It - - - - - ' 2l! - - - dition; itwoul^ not C. S. C. - " ~ 1 accommodate more than 150 men. f Native.. ' '.Mons^ Kong, Mat f Sheds. - - I Lascars m. ^, _ _ _ ^ rr. .. _ _ _ _ _ _ 5 - , 73 - _ „ 22nd - - - - 700 - - - I4t 1 - — ■" ~ 613 - — \ Native. Lascars' Married . Quarters ' - Lascars - — "" - •* 5 - ~ ~ ~ — — " ' b "' a •1 Accessories. NAME n a. Oh 1. i cu f to "3 ' 4 Rifle Instruction. Cells. ■■ . 1: S Magazine. O' a. s- ■ *■, 1 of o S 1 t llj^B ARRACKS. CO o -5 2 3 ■ fi ■3 o MO .sS 3 s as Extent of Exerci Ground, and Dis Head .Quarters. Extent of Rang and Distance fro Head Quarters, 1 1 g o p i s 1 6 '1 03 -'o o a 3 1 T3 o a a & o 1 .9 11 yd I - B o 0. 1 a cd 9 a o 1 1" CO "fc. 0) 3 1 < ,J5 03 'S .a .a Ml i o TO ^ ■ • ' Murray Barracks - 700 - - 26,525 sq^. yds. adjoining - - 3 24 1 1 - 2 ■- 1 - 1 1 124,600 2 2 - 2 - - 1 North Barracks 670 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - 1 » k- - ■ ■/■■ Stanley barracks 700 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . Stanley Hospital 900 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ — - - - - ' '"General Hospital - 1,063 - — — - - — - - ~ "" — ~ ■■ _: " " ^^^^ ij^^ " _ _ ^" W. H. H. Scott, Barrack Master. J. T. Roberts, u. a. a. m. g. 0.53. u it4 334 APPENDIX TO REPORT PROM THE EETUEN of the Barracks in Hong Kong Barrack District, 1st April 1865. Construction. Occupation. Corps (each ' Corps to be shown separately) IE s o 1 si o i i to CO .9 S c 1" f s Of 1 CO -s ,1 ■3 PS -a i s O ■3 g 's l1 Horses. i □ .2 I 1 o X sl o 1 £ S o a CO is S CO a .to c CO Married Soldiers. 1 s ! ES O 1 1 Houses. s 1 / NAME , > O P. o 1 a In Barrack Rooms. 1 Remarks, ibowing of barrack.' 1 Number of Men's Quarters occupied under W. O. Circular 631. Temporary AppropriatioQt • Murray Barracks North Barracks r Xowloon Huts -4 Stanley Barracks -i I Hong Kong, Mat/ Sheds - -1 Married Quarters, Gun Lascars 2nd-9th - 2nd-9th - R. A. - R. E. . C. S. C. - 2n;l-9th - C. S. C. - R. E. - C. S. C. - R. E. - 2nd-20th 2nd-9th - Lascars - Lascars - 2 1 16 9 5 4 16 7 6 20 5 440 409 402 400* 700 6 10 - - 3 22 6 1 2 - 8 1 1 2 7 2 3 1 1 1 3 1 6 12 3 5 1 12 1 2 23 5 4 - 447 127 68 34 8 153 9 3 26 63 3 3 - - I room ; 56 men recreation room. • In a state bf partial dilapidation, anc would not at pre sent accommodati more than aboui 180 men. Unfit for Europeai occupation ; latelj occupied by 22nd Regiment Bengal Native Xnfantiy. Total ... 3 30 4 29 25 2,351 16 - - 3 31 12 19 6 68 - 938 ■• V s •1 o 1 s ■I u 3 i s -a 2 o o X "i c5 13 c 1 g O 1 S Magazine. i 1 1 s 1 i g o m CO I of BARRACKS. Extent of Kange, and Distance from Head Quarters. E o £ S J 5 C s i a >. . 005 1 g 1 CO a 3 § -■>!■ II Murray Barracks North Barracks Stanley Barracks Konloon 700 670 700 - 26,525 sq. yds. - - 3 24 1 1 - 2 - - 1 1 124,600 - 2 2 1 2 - - £.20 li £.10 1 1 £.20 1 W. H. H. Scott, Barrack Master. a.53. Xx 336 APPENDIX TO KEPOET FROM THE Appendix, No. 7- 186 4-5. App. N0.7. STATEMENTS of Requikements proposed by the Heads of Departments at ^ ^~ : Hong Kong, in 1863, to the Commanding Royal Engineer, for insertion in 1864-5. that Officer's Barrack Estimate in 1864-65. (No. 561.) Sir, Garrison Ofl&ce, Hong Kong, 27 August. I AM directed by the commandant to forward, for your information, the enclosed letters, and to inform you that at present he has no further observations to make as to the quar- ters, &c. occupied by the troops stationed at Victoria, Hong Kong. I have, &c. (signed) P. H.ffolliatt, Lieutenant, The Officer Commanding Eoyal Fort Adjutant. Engineers, Hong Kong. Sir, Hopg Kong, 24 August 1863. In compliance with Garrison Orders, I have the honour to inform you that the present accommodation is sufficient for the men of tie Eoyal Artillery under my command at present, or likely to be, in Hong Kong for the year 1864-65 ; and further, that I do not consider any alterations necessary. I I have, &c. (signed) H. L. Elldby, Lieutenant, The Fort Adjutant, &c. &c. &c., Commandiag Royal Ajrtillery, Hong Kong. Hong Kong. (No. 86, of 1863.) From the Officer Commanding 22nd Regiment Native Infantry to the Fort Adjutant, Hong Kong. Sir, _ Hong Kong, 22 August 1863. With reference to para. 3 of Garrison Orders of the 19th instant, I have the honour to observe that the space allotted in the mat sheds occupied by the men of the regiment under my command, namely, three feet by seven feet per man, appears to me insufficient, more especially in the event of any extraordinary sickness happening at this place. I have, &c. (signed) E. Beale, Lieutenant Qolonel, Commanding 22nd Regiment Native Infantry. This is a merely temporary hut barracks, and from the late distribution of the corps at Shanghai and here, there does not appear to be any present necessity for this service. (signed) H. W.Moody, , Lieutenant Coloiiel, C. R. E. SELECT COMMITTBE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 337 Her Majesty's 99th EegIment. RETURiir showing Occupation Size, with IN umber of Cubic Feet per Man, in Barracks occupied by iiie above Corps; Hong Kong, 22nd August 1863. ROOMS. Leug th. Breadth. Height. Number of Men. Number of Cubic Feet per Man. remarks. Ft. Ft. in. Ft. in. A Serjeant's bunk, 9 x 9 X 14 Murray Barracls;, No. 1 Room Murray Barrack, No. -2 Room •55 o6 7 3 -2 22 14 14 26 , 29 628 5801 deducted. All rooms in Murray Barracks equal to Nos. 1 and 2. (a) North Barrack, No. 7 Room 109 ■24 6 14 1 52 723 North Bari'ack, No. 6 Room 77 6 24 6 13 8 31 837 No projections deducted. North Barrack, No. 8 Room 75 9 25 7 13 8 38 690 ' (6) N. B. — Accoutrement pegs are required in corners of rooms occupied by men in Murray Barracks. All cast-iron shelves require refixing, the holders being much too large. G. M. Reeves, Colonel, Commanding 99th Regiment. (a) These dimensions, and their results, do not appear correct witli reference to Murray Barracks. The only remedy at present recommended is to reduce the number of men per room, until they reach 700 cubic feet per man, and arrange the same throughout the North and Murray Barracks. Under the consideration of the erection of permanent barracks at BLowloon, I would not recommend further permanent accommodation for soldiers to be built at Victoria ; temporary hut accommodation could be provided until the proposed permanent accommodation is afforded. (6) The remarks in the note are simply incidental services, and can lie attended to after any barrack inspection. H. W. Moody, Lieutenant Colonel, C. R. £. (No. 993.) Sir, Commissariat, Hong Kong, 16 July 1863. With reference to your letter, dated 14th July 1863, requiring me to send in to the Royal Engineer Department any observations I might have to offer with reference to the commissariat buildings, in order that you might include the cost of any necessary repairs in your annual Estimate fdr 1864-65, I have the honour to forward herewith a statement of the repairs and alterations which I think ought to be effected. The Commanding Royal Engineer, &c. &c. &c., Hong Kong. I have, &c. (signed) George Home, D. C. G. 1. The side mat sheds of the stores near the wharf to be removed, and the roofs of the stores to be carried on to the same dis- tance as the mat sheds extend. This is necessary, as the danger to the stores from fire is very great. 2. The roof of the whole building to be thoroughly examined, as, when it rains, all the rooms in the house are inundated with water, and the paint washed off the walls. 3. Some new door and window frames required, and also some Venetian shutters to replace two or three which have been blown away. Commissariat, Hong Kong, 16th July 1863. (siened) John B. Bar lee, D. A. C. G., Ill charge of Commissariat Stores - and Buildings. 1. Recommended and provided for under item 33. 2. This service was provided for in A. E., 1863-64, and is now in progress. 3. These repairs can be executed under the incidental item. (signed) H. W. Moody, Lieutenant Colonel, C. R. E. 0.53. xx2 338 APPENDIX TO BEPOBT FKOM THE App. No. 7. Works required, 1864-6. gir, Hong Kong, 17 July 1863. With reference to your letter of l4tli instant, I have the honour to state that the store- houses under my charge are in good order, and that no alterations or repairs will be.; wanted for the year 1864-65. I have, &c. The Commanding Eoyal Engineer, (signed) H. L. Ellaby, &c. &c. &c.. Lieutenant Commanding Royal Artillery, ' Hong Kong. Hong Kong. Sir, Hong Kong, 17 July 1863. In answer to your letter of 14th instant, I have the honour to inform you that the present accommodation is amply sufficient for the men of the Royal Artillery under my commands, at present, or likely to be, in Hong Hong, for the year 1864-65. I have, &c. The Commanding Royal Engineer, (signed) H. L. Ellaby, &c. &c. &c.. Lieutenant Commanding Royal Artillery, Hong Kong. Hong Kong. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, Sir, 21 July 1863. In reply to your letter of the 14th instant, calling for any observations I have to offer, as to the sanitary arrangements of the hos- pital or barracks, I beg, as regards the for- mer, to suggest, — 1. That a small lodge of two apartments be erected at the entrance gate of the hos- pital for the accommodation of an intelligent porter, whose duty it would be to exercise a supervision on all who pass the gate, as well as everything brought into or taken out of the hospital by night or day. This duty at present devolves on a sentry, who often, from his inability to read, can exercise no proper check on the validity of the num- berless passes presented by the Chinese, 2. That a sea-water plunge-bath be con- structed in one of the basement apartments of the hospital, together with a pump and pipes communicating with the sea, whereby salt-water bathing could be at any time con- veniently enjoyed by the sick, and not as at present, at daybreak alone, with considerable discomfort, and then only when the tide suits. 3. That the forge in the west wing of the hospital be enlarged and converted into a godown of sufficient capacity to afford stor- age room for the necessary amount of hos- pital supplies. I have, &c. (signed) W. Home, m.d.. Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals. The Commanding Royal Engineer, Hong' Kong. 1. Recommended and provided for under item 21. 2. Recommended and provided for under item 22. It is suggested that the bath-room be a detached building, and nearer the water than the existing buildings. 3. This is the only smith's and plumber's workshop belonging to the Royal Engineer Department ; it is a detached building, and was erected for the purposes to which it is applied, and cannot be spared, Provision has been made under item 23 for the erec- tion of a purveyor's store. (signed) H. W. Moody, Lieutenant Colonel, C. R. E. Sir, Barrack Office, Hong Kong, 28 July 1863. Adteeting to your letter, dated 14th instant, I have the honour to enclose herewith a Return, showing the services required to be performed for the department under my charge during the year 1864-65, and to request the favour of a reference to the sugges- tion contained in my letter dated 1st July 1862. I have, &c. The Commanding Royal Engineer, (signed) W. H. H. Scott, &c. &c. &c.. Barrack Master. Hong Kong. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS (cHINA). 339 STATEMENT of Services required to be introduced in the Annual Estimate for 1864-65. Service Required, Hong Kokg : 1 Barrack furniture store (l) 1 Ditto bedding ditto - (2) 1 Ditto unserviceable store - - - (3) 1 Ditto shaving store - (4) 1 Engine-house - - (5) 1 Office bari-ack-master, Serjeants, and clerk (6) KowLOON : 1 Barrack-serjeant quar-T ters - - - 1 'y\ 1 Barrack-seijeant office I ^ ' 1 Barrack expense store J 300 Barrack bedsteads re- (luh-ing painting - (8) Reasons. Dimensions. The exchange of bedding, &c., and other similar duties, are necessarily attended by fatigue parties and Chinese not belonging- to the establishment, whose exclusion from the military store pre- mises would not only be very desir- able, but is essential to the due security of public property. 'An additional regiment being about to be stationed at Kowloon, it will be necessary to make arrangements for carrying on the duties without in- curring the constant expense of trans- port to and from Hong Kong. Remarks Commanding Royal Engineer. 50 by 50 by 25 15 by 25 35 by 25 35 by 60 (1) Not recommended, as it can be met in proposed future barrack establish- ment, at Kowloon. (2) Ditto ditto. (3) Ditto - ditto. (4) Ditto - ditto. (5) Already existing, but at present otherwise appro- priated, and could be re- appropriated on reduc- tion of garrison, when Kowloon is permanently occupied. (6) Already provided in the Military Store Depart- ment. (7) Barrack store and Ser- jeants' quarters andoffices have been provided in the huts recently erected at Kowloon. (8) Recommended and pro- vided for iti item 29 . H. W. Moody, Lieut-Colonel, C. R. E. W. H. JEL. Scott, Barrrack Master. Sir, Purveyor's Office, Hong Kong, 14 August 1863. In reply to your letter of 14th ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that I am not aware of any item connected with the buildings under my charge, for the annual Estimate, unless permanent stores could be erected in the vacant place (in the hospital grounds") lately occupied by mat sheds, which would not only be a great convenience for storing medical comforts, hospital equipment, &c., but would save the expense of hiring stores for the purpose, as at present. I have, &c. The Commanding Eoyal Engineer, (signed) Alfred Pope, &c. &c. &c.. Purveyor to the Forces. Hong Kong. Recommended and provided for under item 23. (signed) H. W. Moody, Lieutenant Colonel, C. K. E. 0.53. XX 3 340 APPENDIX TO EEPORT FROM THE App. No. 7. 18 6 5-6. Works required, 1865-6 STATEMENTS of Requirements proposed by the Heads of Departments at Hong Kong, in 1864, to the Commanding Royal Engineer, for insertion in that Officer's Barrack Estimate for 1865-6. Sir, In reply to your letter of the 7th inst., relative to store house accommodation for the Royal Artillery at this station, I have the honour to state — Hong Kong, 13 June 1864. 1. That a quartermaster's store for the battery stationed here is much needed, there being at present no place suitable for the purpose, and stores being lodged in a building appropriated to several other purposes as well, damp, and infested with white ants. 2. A small expense magazine and garri- son gunner's store room would be very desirable at the North Barracks, but I do not consider it actually indispensable at present. 3. The Royal Artillery store room at -Murray Battery is infested with white ants in the timber work, but as the battery is now of little use, except for drill pur- poses, it might not be desirable to go to any serious expense in refitting it. The wooden bars in front would be advan- tageously replaced by stone or iron work, if it is intended to keep up the battery for use. &c. I am, (signed) R. E. Cane, Lieut. R.A., Commanding Royal Artillery, Hong Kong. Col. Moody, Commanding Royal Engineer, Hong Kong. 1. Proposed to be postponed to be con- sidered in the future report embodying the general re-appropriation, &c. for Hong Kong. Yide C. R. E.'s confidential letters to I. G. E. and Major General Command- ing, of 20th and ,23d April 1863, respec- tively. 2. Postponed. 3. Incidental service can keep this up for present use. H. W. Moody, Lieut. Col., C. R. E., h China. 10 Oct. 1864. Principal Medical Officer's Office, Hong Kong, ^ Sir, 30 June 1864. In reply to your letter of the 7th inst., calling for any observations I have to offer as to the sanitary arrangements of the hospital or barracks, I beg, as regards the former, to suggest, — 1. That a small lodge of two apartments be erected at the entrance gate of the hospital for the accommodation of an intelli- gent porter, whose duty it would be to exercise a supervision on all who pass the gate, as well as everything brought into or taken out of the hospital by night or day. This duty at present devolves on a sentry, who often, from his inability to read, can exercise no proper check on the validity of the numberless passes presented by the Chinese. 1, Provided for under item 19. 2. That SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS, (CHINA). 341 2. That a sea-water plunge-bath be constructed in one of the basement apart- ments of the hospital, together mth a pump and pipes communicating with the sea, whereby salt-water bathing could be at any time conveniently enjoyed by the sick, and not, as at present, at daybreak alone, with considerable discomfort, and then only when the tide suits. I have, &c. (signed) W. .Home, m.d.. Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, and P. M. 0. The Commanding Royal Engineer, Hong Kong. 2. Provided for under Item 20. H. W. Moody, Lieut. Col., C. E. E., in China. 10 Oct. 1864. Ai^p. No. 7. Works required, 1865-6. Sir, Purveyor's Office, Hong Kong, 15 June 1864. In reply to your letter of the 7th inst., I have the honour to inform you that I have no observations to offer with refer- ence to alterations in the buildings under my charge, further than that stated in my letter of the 14th August last ; the stores therein alluded to are much required, and there is space in the hospital grounds, where the building could be erected. I have, &c. (signed) Alfred Pope, Purveyor to the Forces. The Commanding Eoyal Engineer, Hong Kong. Recommended and provided for in item 21. 10 Oct. Lieut. 1864. H. W. Moody, Col., C. R. E., in China. STATEMENT of Services required to be introduced in the Annual Estimate for 1865-66. Sebvices Reqtjiked. Reasons. Dimensions. Remarks by Commanding Royal Engineer. Hong Kong : 1 Barrack furniture store 1 Ditto - bedding store 1 Ditto - unserviceable store 1 Curled hair store 1 Engine-house - - - 1 Office barrack master,clerk, and Serjeants - - - Barrack-serjeant's quarters K.OWI.OON ; 1 Barrack-serjeant's quarters 1 Barrack-serjeant's office - 1 Barrack-expense store and hair store - - - 300 Iron bedsteads to be painted - - - - The necessity for an establishment of this nature is becoming very great; the barrack bedding and utensils being now temporarily very inadequately provided for in the late pack store, General Hospital, which is much too small ; and consequently portions of the stores are divided between Kow- loon, Spring Gardens, and the General Hospital, which renders the efficient working of the department imprac- ticable - - - There are no arrangements at this station for accommodating a barrack-serjeant, and the quarter recently temporarily appropriated as such at Head Quarter House has reverted to its original use, the Major General Commanding re- quiring the same To replace similar huts about to be razed, being upon colonial property I I . 50 by 25 50 by 25 15 by 25 35 by 25 Recommended to be pro- vided for tmder item 11. } 35' by 60' Ditto - ditto. Barrack Office, Hong Kong, 9 June 1864. W. H. H. Scott, Barrack Master. fNot an engineer service. i Vide Mem., 7th Dec. 1 863. [ General, No. 2—3458. H. W. Moody, Lieut. Col., C. R. E., in China. 10 Oct: 1864. 0.53. X x4 342 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FROM THE App. No. 7. Works required^ 1865-e. ^ Sir, Commissariat, China, Hong Kong, 16 June 1864. In reply to your letter of the 7th June, I have the honour to transmit a memorandum of the repairs and alterations required in the commissariat buildings here in 1865-66. Lieut Colonel Moody, E. E., Comrnanding Uoyal Engineer, China. I have, &c. (signed) W. H. Maturin. Memoeandum showing the Repairs and Alterations required in the Commissariat Buildings, Hong Kong, the Expense of which is to be chargeable to the Estimates for 1865-66. Remauks. Remarks by Commanding Royal Engineer. Covered way from the house to the stores, and also to the baths, water-closets, right and left. Yard to be chiinamed afresh Open store on right hand by guard-room to be converted into a flour store, by making a raised boarded floor, open- ing two windows at the back (ventilation and light), and closing the front by pal- lisades. Commissariat, Hong Kong, 16 June 1864. This is necessary, as during the rainy season it is impossible to pass to and fro without being almostwet through; and stores also are liable to damage. The old chunam is worn into hollows, and there are pools of standing water where it ought all to be quite dry. This is most important, as the Commissariat, although hav- ing space enough, do not pos- sess a place capable of storing flour, and are consequently compelled to liire a godown. Commissariat bakeries having been established, a flour store will always be required. Recommended as necessary, and provided for under item 40- Recommended as necessary, and provided for under item 39. Recommended as necessary, and provided for imder item 41. M. W. Moody, Lieut. Col., C. R. E., in China. 10 Oct. 1864. (Countersigned.) John B. Barlee, D. A. C. G., District Officer. W. H. Maturin. (No. 171—1864.) Sir, In reply to your letter of the 7th instant, relative to the barrack accommodation of the Royal Artillery here, I have the honour to submit the following remarks : — 1. There is no regular barrack at Hong Kong for the artillery. The men are at present quartered in two rooms of the North Barracks, one upstairs at the west end, the other downstairs at the east ; the remainder of the barracks being occupied by the Boyal Engineers, 99th Regiment, &c. I venture to think that the erection of a permanent barrack for the Royal Artillery, or at least the permanent assignment of a portion of the barrack to that corps, so as to have the men together, and their barrack arrange- ments completely under the control of their own commanding officer, is a matter of pressing necessity. The present system is certainly not advantageous to support, of esprit-de-corps, or preservation of discip- line. I feel justified in saying that the crime in the battery now here could be much Hong Kong, 10 June 1864. 1. Intended to be provided for in a future report embodying the general re-approprla- tion, &c., for Hong Kong. Vide C. R. E.'s confidential letters to I. G. E. and Major General Commanding, of 20th and 2.3rd April 1863, respectively. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (QHINA). 343 much reduced if a barrack was apportioned to the artillery only, without admixture of other troops, and was under the effective control of the regimental commanding officer. There are minor inconveniences in the present arrangement, such as the proxi- mity of the infantry hand room, with its perpetual practice, to the office and non- commissioned officers' rooms. Royal Artil- lery, not requiring special mention. 2. There are no officers' quarters for the Koyal Artillery ; one officer is in lodgings at " Wardley House," and two at " Spring Gardens." Both points are too far from the men's barracks, the latter so much so as to give rise to great and constant inconve- nience. The mess is at Spring Gardens, and from its distance the artillery officers are not able to make much use of it, and one of the great objects of a mess is alto- gether lost, viz., promotion of esprit-de- cor'ps, and of friendly relations with other branches of the service. 3. There are no non-commissioned offi- cers' quarters. The Serjeants are living in bunks, which are merely portions of the rooms occupied by the men, screened off by open wood-work ; these are, in my opinion, not fit quarters for non-commissioned offi- cers. There are no married quarters. 4. The building now made use of as can- teen, office, guard-room, prisoners' room, store, &c., was not originally intended for these purposes, and is but a makeshift, badly adapted for any of them, being also very old, and infested with white ants. It cannot last long, but is indispensable at present. 5. A permanent gun and drill shed is much required. A good mat gun-shed •exists, but the proximity of so much mat- ting to the barracks, and their wooden verandahs, is, in the event of fire, most dangerous ; and a mat shed is not a proper place in which to keep filled limbers, &c., for which there is, however, no other pro- tection from the weather available.' 6. The Gun Lascar Company's quarters are two mat huts, at a considerable distance from the Koyal Artillery barracks, and are in every way objectionable. A permanent brick building was formerly assigned as barracks to this company, but has since been given over as a hospital to the regi- ment of native infantry here. These huts are not properly weather proof; this, ac- cording to the report of the medical officer in charge, is the cause of the large propor- tion of sickness among the men, which has been for some time greater than amongst the Europeans. They are also very dan- gerous in cases of fire, especially from their proximity to the magazines, and give rise to much dissatisfaction among the men, who at each inspection comi^lain that their huts are not fit for men who have enlisted to serve in Hong Kong for seven years. I consider that a permanent barracks for this company (about 100 strong) is urgently required, and I would strongly recommend, for many reasons, their being quartered in 0.53. ' App. No. 7. Works required, 1865-6. 2. Intended to be provided for in a future report embodying the general re-appropria- tion, &c., for Hong Kong. Vide C. R. E.'s confidential letter to I. G. E., and Major General Commanding, of 20th and 23rd April 1863, respectively. 3. Ditto - - ditto. 4. Ditto - ditto. 5, Ditto - ditto. 6. Ditto ditto. Yt 344 APPENDIX TO EEPOET I'KOM THE App. NPj 7. Works reqojired, 1865-6. in the same barracks with the Eoyal Artil- lery. 7. In conclusion, it is right to state that (with the exception of the Royal Artillery not being quartered together in the same end of the barrack, and having a portion of it regularly assigned to them) I con- sider the men are as well put up as is possible, considering the limited barrack accommodation at the station. At the same time I think a new barrack and officers' quarters are a pressing necessity in the in- terest of the service. Most of the disad- vantages I have referred to, as regards the non-commissioned officers and men, could be remedied, if it was possible to assign and enclose half the North Barracks as a re- gular and permanent quarter for the Royal Artillery and Gun Lascar Company. I am, &c. (signed) B. E. Cane, Lieut., R. A., Commanding Royal Artillery, Hong Kong. Colonel Moody, Conunanding Royal Engineers, Hong Kong. 7. Intended to be provided for in a future report embodying the general re-appropria- tion, &c., for Hong Kong, Vide C. R. E.'s confidential letter to I. G. E., and Major General Commanding, of 20th and 23rd April 1863, respectively. (signed) H- W. Moody, Lieutena:at Colonel, R, E., in China, 10 October 1864. (No. 93—1864.) From the Commandant, 22nd Regiment, Bombay Native Infantry, to the Fort Adjutant, Hong Kong. Sir, 1. With reference to Memorandum from Garrison Office, dated 12th July, I have the honour to inform you that the sheds in which the men of my regiment have been quartered for nearly two years are,_ I consider, only suited to Native Indian troops as a temporary accommoda- tion. 2. The space allotted to the men, viz., 3 feet broad by about 8 feet long per man, is so limited as to have caused, during a prolonged residence in these sheds, espe- cially during the very sultry weather at times experienced at Hong Kong, intense discomfort to the men at night, when as many as 115 men have constantly slept in a shed about 220 feet in length. 3. The flooring of the sheds consists of a quantity of loose planking, bound by strips of bamboo only, and it is consequently moveable at every step on it. 4. The height of the flooring from the ground is quite insufficient; the damp earth below of necessity impregnates the air passing upwards through the interstices of the flooring, and, added to the unavoid^ able foul atmosphere, often stagnant, pre- vailing above, while upwards of 100 men have been sleeping in a shed, has certainly been calculated to produce sickness, and I can only attribute the comparative healthful state of the men to their peculiar temperate mode of living. 15 July 1864. 2, A new mat-shed has been lately com- pleted, capable of accommodating 77 men and remedying this complaint. ' 3. Will be taken up from time to time, as these huts require rebuilding, which is anticipated before long. 4. Vide remarks to para. 3. 5. These SELECT COMMITTEE ON MCKKTALITT OP TEOOPS J^CHINA). 5. For permanent quarters, I deem these in every respect totally unfit. I have, &c. (signed) E. C. Beale, Lieut. Colonel, Commandant, 22nd Regiment, Bombay Native Infantry. 5. These are not permanent quarters, but are stated to be superior to those the men are accustomed to and occupy in India, but as they are rebuilt from time to time, superior huts will be constructed as a final economy. (signed) H. W. Moody, Lieutenant Colonel Commanding Royal Engineers in China. 10 October 1864. App. No. 7. Works required, 186(5-6. Sir, In compliance with your memorandum of the 12th instant, I have the honour to make the following observations and sug- gestions relative to the accommodation of the regiment under my command : 1. I would suggest that the ground in front of the officers' barrack in the Murray Barracks should be thoroughly drained, as a large quantity of water collects there during the heavy rains and soaks into the ground, which is excessively unwhole- some, and has been already reported on by the medical authorities. In furtherance of this purpose, it would be advisable that the present garden in front of the barracks, in which no plants will grow, should be done away with, and a gravel road made there instead. 2. The accommodation for staff Serjeants in Murray Barracks is insufficient ; four of them at present are living on the basement in condemned quarters. 3. The verandahs in Murray and North Barracks require thorough repair. 4. Small urinals are very much required in officers' latrines. 5. The men's urinal is defective, as the urine soaks through the outside wall, and is a source of offensive smell. 6. The surgeon of the regiment suggests that the drain, which is at present open and is supposed to carry off the soil from the officers' privies, be arched over, and not used for the future ; the emanations are so offensive as to render the officers' quarters facing to the south on the lower verandah almost uninhabitable. To provide the accommodation of the officers he would propose that patent night- stools (Fyfe's), suchas in use in the hospitals, should be placed in the privies, and the soil removed twice or thrice a day or oftener, by coolies. I have, &c. (signed) J. H. Dunne, Major, Commanding 99th Regiment. The Fort Adjutant, Hong Kong. Hong Kong, 14 July 1864. 1. This has been done under the Inci- dental Item. 2. Recommended and provided for under Item 10. 3. Recommended and provided for under Items 12 and 13. 4. Provided for under Item 7. 5. This is an incidental service, and has already been attended to. 6. Provided for under Item 7 (signed) H. W. Moody, Lieutenant Colonel Commanding Royal Engineers in China. 0.53. T y2 App. No. 7. Works required, 1866-7. .346 APPENDIX TO REPORT PROM THE 18 6 6-7. STATEMENTS of Requirements proposed by the Heads of Departments at Hong Kong in 1865, to the Commanding Eoyal Engineer, for Insertion in that Officer's Barrack Estimate for 1866-67. (No. D— 284.) Sir, Commissariat, China, Hong Kong, 3 June 1865. In conformity with the request conveyed in a letter from your office, under date 19th ult., I have the honour to enclose a memorandum with reference to Commissariat build- ing's, the expense of the alterations and repairs to which require to be provided for in the Estimates of 1866-67. I beg at the same time to enclose for your information some correspondence relative to the surrender to this department of a strip of War Department property at present enclosed in the Naval Yard, and shall feel obliged if I may be informed when possession thereof can be obtained, as it is not only required for temporary purposes, but as it is on the land in question that I would suggest the accommodation be provided for the non-commissioned officers and men of the Commissariat Staff Corps, there being a deficiency of barrack accommodation in the garrison; as also that for the coolies, which is required as soon as it can be allowed, as we have no room for the boat coolies (26) to sleep in, where attendance on the premises is required by night as well as by day. I have, &c. Colonel Lovell, c.b., (signed) Henry Robinson, Commanding Royal Engineer, A. C. G. &c. &c. &c. Memorandum relative to Alterations and Additions to Commissariat Buildings, for Estimates of 1866-67. Quarters. Bamboo shade to verandah of officers' quarters at back of the house. Offices. — NU.— Buildings. Treasury vault. — Floor to be made secure, to prevent robberies through drains. Palisade fence to be replaced from bakery to guard-house, and footway continued past guard-house to side passage, to prevent coolies having to pass through the stores. Drains east and west to be continued below low-water mark. New pile wharf. Traffic too great for the present one, which is out of repair and not sufficiently strong, and to be lengthened by 80 feet, the same distance as the adjoining merchants' private wharves. Sleeping accommodation for 60 coolies, boatmen, public coolies, and officers' servants obliged to live on the premises, as also for two staff Serjeants and 12 non-commissioned officers and privates Commissariat Staff Corps, who should live on the premises, their ser- vices being required as late as 10 p.m., and as early as 4 a.m., for issuing rations. Latrine and urinal for Commissariat Staff Corps and guard. n . n ' n«! n^.■ ti it (signed) Henry Robinson, Controller s Umce, Chma, Hong Kong, A C f}- 3 June 1865. (No. 384.) Sir, Commissariat, China, Hong Kong, 8 June 1863. With reference to your letter (No. 64) of 17th November last, enclosing cOpy of one from the Secretary to the Admiralty, relative to a boundary waU to be erected by the Navy in their yard adjoining the Commissariat premises at this station, and stating that the cost of the same would be included in their estimate for the present year, and the wall built as soon as possible, I have the honour to inform you, that up to this time no steus appear to have been taken by the Navy for carrying out this -desirable object, and I there- tore request of you to ascertain from the Admiralty if instructions have not been sent for carrying out this work, that authority may be obtained for the Royal Engineers to per- form SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS (CHINA). 347 form the same without delay, at a cost not exceeding that estimated for by the Navy, and App. No. 7. which can be settled by the authorities in England. I look anxiously for the completion of this work, with a view to the reduction to some Works required, extent of the large sum paid for rent, as, from the space that will be recovered, we shall 1866-7- be enabled to store a large quantity of stores. I have, &c. The Under Secretary of State, &c. &c. &c. (signed) George Home, Commissariat General in Chief. D. C. G. (No. 53— Hong Kong— 2601.) Sb, War Office, 10 September 1863. "With reference to Deputy Commissary General Home's letter of the 8th June last, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit for your information a copy of a further letter from the Board of Admiralty, dated 7th instant, respecting the erection of a boundary wall to the Naval Yard at Hong Kong, adjoining the Commissariat premises. I have, &c. Deputy Commissary General Maturin, (signed) John W. Smith, China. Commissary General in Chief. (No. 53— Hong Kong— 2601.) . Sir, Admiralty, 7 September 1863. In reply to your letter of the 13th ult. (No. 53 — Hong Kong — 2555), respecting the erection of a boundary wall to the Naval Yard at Hong Kong, adjoining the Commissariat premises, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, that 300 1, will be provided in the ensuing year's Navy Estimates for the construction of the waU, and the Commander in Chief on the station has been instructed in the meantime to cause the alignment of the intended wall to be marked out by a bamboo fence, so that the space, about 24 feet in width, claimed by the Commissariat Department may be at once entered upon and occu- pied by that department. I have, &c. The Under Secretary of State, (signed) W. G. Romaine. War Office. (No. D— 170.) Sir, Commissariat, China, Hong Kong, II December 1863. In forwarding to you the enclosed copy of an Admiralty letter of the 7th September last, transmitted to me from the War Office, I have the honour to, request you will be good enough to inform me when the bamboo fence therein referred to will be put up, as I am about to make an addition to the Commissariat premises on the space within it. I take this opportunity of bringing under your notice that a bamboo jetty is now being constructed, apparently for naval purposes, on the War Office Department property. I have, &c. The Senior Naval Officer, &c. &c. &c. (signed) W. H. Maturin, Hong Kong. D. C. G. (E.— 4518.) H.M.S. " Princess Charlotte," Hong Kong, Sir, 12 December 1863. In reply to your letter of the 11th Instant, relative to the ground to be given up to the Commissariat Department, I have the honour to inform you that directions have been given to Mr. Taffs, clerk of works, to proceed at once in the execution of the orders which I have received from the Admiralty on the subject ; and in order that the arrangements most convenient to both Naval and Commissariat Departments may be adopted, I have desired Mr. Taffs to call upon you with a plan of the ground in question, and to explain the proposition which he has made to me, and of which I approve. I have, &c. Deputy Commissary General Maturin, (signed) M. S, Nolleth, Hong Kong. Captain and Senior Officer. 0.53. T T 3 343 APPENDIX TO EEPOB.T FEOM THE App. No. 7. i^ir, Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, 23 June 1865. Works required, rpHE improvements that I would suggest for these barracks are,— 1866-7. ^ 1. To alter the curbstone in front of E. range ; in wet weather it is so slippery that the men frequently fall. 2. A door for women's privy. 3. To take the glass window out of the lock-up room, and to put glass in the lock-up rooms which are occupied by married soldiers. 4. To put wire over the windows of the cells, to prevent the introduction of tobacco, &c. 5. To erect a bathing stage in the North Barracks. I have, &c. (signed) Tho. E. Knox, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel Lovell, C.B., Lieutenant Colonel Commanding 2nd Battalion Commanding Eoyal Engineer. 9th Eegunent. Principal Medical Officer's Office, gir. Hong Kong, 23 May 1865. In reply to your letter of 19th instant, I have the honour to offer the following obserya>- tions on the sanitary arrangements of the hospital and barrack buildings, with reference to the framing of the Annual Estimates for the year 1866-67 : Hong Kong.— If two European Regiments are to be quartered in Hong Kong, the hospital accommodation is insufficient; the additional ward accommodation required would be 82,500 cubic feet. . t. -, ■ The drain connected with the west wing of the hospital is m very bad sanitary condi- tion ; it apparently requires to be remade. The drainage in the vicinity of the cook-houses of the Gun Lascars requires to be improved. . „ , Stanleg.— Greater shade from the solar influence, and protection from the north-west monsoon are required, and trees should be planted. KowIoo}i.—T\ie present huts at Kowloon are altogether unsuited for European troops, and the drainage is capable of much improvement. I have, &c. (signed) fVm. Dick, M.c, The Commanding Eoyal Engineer, Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, &c. &c. &CL Principal Medical Officer. Hong Kong. (No. 107, P.— 1865.) Head Quarters, Eoyal Artillery in China, • Sir, Hong Kong, 26 May 1865. With reference to your letter, dated 19th May 1865, 1 have the honour to inform you that the distance (three-quarters of a mile) between the barracks and the officers' quarters is detrimental to the discipline and well-being of the Eoyal Artillery under my command. That there is no accommodation for married men, of whom there are 12 belonging to the battery. And that no accommodation for canteen, guard-room, and quartermaster's store has been detailed for the Eoyal Artillery at this station ; and I would beg to suggest that the erection of the latter named building is urgently required for the better preservation of the clothing and other material on charge of the quartermaster, and which, owing to the damp and decayed state of the room now occupied as a store, has consequently sustained much damage. I have, &c. (signed) F. Carey, Captain Eoyal Artillery, Commanding Eoyal Artillery in China. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OF TROOPS .(cHINA). 349'" (No. 108, P.— 1865.) App. No. 7. Head Quarters, Eoyal Artillery, in China, w®""' r . .X. J . ^ , Hong Kong, 26 May 1865. Works required, With reierence to the second part oi our letter, dated 19th May 1865, I have the 1866-7. honour to inform you that the storehouse and magazine accommodation is at present suffi- cient for the district ; but that a new gun shed in the North Barracks is desirable, the present being insufficient shelter, and constructed of dangerous and inflammable material. I have, &c. (signed) F. Carey, Captain, Royal Artillery, The Officer Commanding Commanding Royal Artillery in China. Royal Engineers, Hong Kong. Sir, _ _ Purveyor's Office, Hong Kong, 25 May 1865. As directed in Article 278 of the Purveyor's Regulations, and as requested in your letter of the 19th instant, I have the honour to forward herewith a list of alterations and improvements in the military hospitals at this station, for which it is submitted provision should be made in the Estimates for 1866-67. I have, &c. (signed) John. Thomson, The Commanding Royal Engineer, Purveyor, Hong, Kong. Hong Kong, 23 May 1865. Statement of Alterations and Improvements in the Military Hospital at Hong Kong required, by Article 278 of the Purveyor's Regulations. General Hospital, Yictoeia. Outlets of Main Drains.—^lHo be carried beyond low-water mark, to prevent, as now often happens, a cesspool being formed in the sand, close to the. walls of the hospital, by the drainage accumulating there, and which cannot be removed till flood-tide. At present the smell is often offensive in the extreme. West Wing of H. Building. — The foundation appears to have sunk considerably, rendering the building insecure, and it is supposed interfering with the proper working of the drains. Wood-work generally. — It is suggested that the whole wood-work of the hospital be surveyed, with a view of its being removed ; it would be useless to paint most of it in its present state. Kitchen. — A Flavcl's or other cooking range to be supplied, as in all hospitals now at home, capable of cooking from 150 to 180 diets. The present cooking arrangements are very defective and costly in fuel. Stanley Hospital. Kitchen. — Should this hospital be ever used for a number of sick, an improved cooking range would be required, capable of cooking about 60 diets. Sanitakitjm at the Peak. Medical Officers' Quarters. — If the sanitarium is again used, the medical officers' quarters will have to be rebuilt. Hospital Ship " Hekcules." As it is understood that this vessel has been condemned, no suggestions are made in r,egard to it. ■ N.B. — It is understood that provision has been made for the external painting of the general hospital in this year's estimate. As the time for the internal painting has long since expired, it having been last done in 1859, it is submitted that provision be made for this service in the next year's estimates. (signed) John Thomson, Purveyor. (Approved.) (signed) William Dick, u.p.. Deputy Inspector General and P. M. O. 0.53. T T 4 350 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FKOM THE Appendix, No. 8. App. No. 8. Journals of Quarter- EXTRACTS from JOURNALS of QUARTERMASTER GeNERAl's DEPARTMENT master General. j^ ^^-^^^ Sunday, 1 January 1865. Hong Kong. Mail steamer left at 9 a. m. The following officers and men were provided with passages by this opportunity : — England— Purveyor Pope; Lieutenant Greig 22nd Bombay Native Infantry, on medical certificate. Bombay — ^Two discharged sepoys 22nd Bengal Native Infantry. Galle — One discharged gun lascar. Visited steamer. The following officers arrived from England by last mail steamer and sailing vessel : — Staff Siireeon Wolfries, Assistant Comm. General Long, Deputy Assistant Comm. General Hutches, on 24th ultimo in mail steamer; Ensign Pinching 2nd-20th Regiment, on 31st ultimo, in sailing vessel. Thermometer, noon, 63°. Thursday, 26 January 1855. Hong Kong. War Office letter No. 083 — 1402 of 3rd December 1864, relative to the withdrawal of troops from Shanghai and Taku, and despatch of native troops to India received. The arrangements for carrying out the instructions conveyed in this letter will be reported to War Office and Horse Guards by this mail. Application has been made to the Navy for transport for the 2nd Belooch Battalion and 22nd Regiment Bombay Native Infantry to Bombay. Thermometer, noon, 64. Hong Kong. About 36 officers and 838 men, most probably 100 women (with children in proportion) in addi- tion to above. 11-5. 7-5. Hong Kong. Tuesday, 31 January 1865. The per-centage of sick for last fortnight: — Europeans _ - _ Native troops - - - In hospital to-day, 99th Regiment, 64 men. Thermometer, noon, 67°. Friday, 3 February 1865. The following memorandum from this office, detailing the arrangements for quartering the 2nd-9th Regiment, &c., has been sent to the commandant : — " Quartermaster General's Office, " Memorandum 3078. « fjead Quarters, Hong Kong, 1 February 1865. " Tlie following are the arrangements for quartering the troops in garrison, to take effect on the arrival of the 2nd-9th Regiment (strength as per margin), daily expected. " The detachment 67th Regiment will move under canvas at Kowloon, on the site ad- joining 99th camp. " The Deputy Storekeeper of stores has been instructed to hold the necessary camp equipage in readiness ; and it is requested that the officer commanding the 67th detachment may be directed to place himself in communication with that officer relative to his require- ments in this respect. " The 9th Regiment will be accommodated, as far as possible, in Murray and North Barracks. The married men of this regiment with their families, and the balance of the regiment that cannot be provided for at Hong Kong, will be quartered in the huts at Kowloon, " It is requested that the barrack-master may be informed of these arrangements as soon as possible, and instructed to have the quarters for officers and men in readiness. "The necessary barrack furniture, if not already at Kowloon, should be sent over immediately the " Tamar " arrives. " If necessary, the officers of the 9th Regiment must be doubled up in Murray Barracks, till the departure of the 22nd Bombay Native Infantry, when St. Francis' Hospital will be available. " By Order, " The Commandant, Hong Kong. (signed) " T. L. Roberts, D. A. Q. M. G.» Thermometer, noon, 68°. SELECT COMMITTEE OX MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). 351 Monday, 6 February 1865. Hong Kong. App^^. 8. A Board, compofsed of the C. R. E., Purveyor, a Staff Surgeon, and the D. A. Q. M. G. jouj.„alsof O assernbled at the General Hospital at noon, lo report upon the original appropriation of tliis mastw GeneraL^ "' building, with a view to re-arranging the accommodation, which is not at piesent distributed in the manner most likely lo meet the requirements of the European regiments. The proceedings will be duly forwarded to War Office. Thermometer, noon, 70°. Tuesday, 7 February X865. Hong Kong. H. M. S. "Tamar" arrived at 2 p. m. with 2nd-9th Regiment, &c. Visited ship, and arranged for disembarkation of troops to-morrow. The following is a copy of the memorandum detailing the arrangements for the dis- embarkation. " Memorandum 3091. " Quartermaster General's Office, " Head Quarters, Hong Kong, 7 February 1865. *' The 9th Regiment will disembark to-morrow, the 8th instant, in the following order: " Baggage at Esplanade wharf as soon after 8 o'clock a.m. as possible. Boats and 50 coolies will be alongside H. M. S. ' Tamar ' at 7i o'clock a.m. for this service. " Head quarters, 650 non-commissioned officers and men, with a proportion of officers at Esplanade wharf at 3 o'clock p.m. Boats will be at the ''Tamar' at 2 o'clock p.m. for this service. " This portion of the regiment will be quartered in the Murray and North Barracks, Hong Kong, 600 in the former, 150 in the latter. " The married soldiers with their fiimilies, and the balance of the regiment, will disembark at the Commissariat Pier, Kowloon, at 3 p.m., and occupy the huts prepared for their accommodation. " Ten families of non-commissioned officers can be accommodated, in the Murray and North Barracks." " By Order, "The Officer Commanding 2nd-9th Regiment, (signed) " T.L.Roberts, " Her Majesty's Ship • Tamar.' " D. A. Q. M. G." Wednesday, 8 February 1865. Hong Kong. Disembarked 2nd-9th Regiment and details in " Tamar," as arranged yesterday. Visited ship at 1 p.m., and Kowloon at 4 p.m. Thermometer, noon, 74*. Thursday, 9 February 1865. Hong Kong. Sent the following letter to commandant Shanghai, relative to despatch of 2nd Belooch Battalion to Iiwlia — " No. 847. " Quartermaster General's Office, Head Quaiters, " Sir, " Hong Kong, 8 February 1865. "The instructions received from England, relative to the withdrawal of the Indian troops from China, being urgent, I have the honour, by direction of His Excellency the Major General commanding, to request that, with reference to my letter No. 842 of the 4th instant, you will lose no time in applying to the senior naval officer at Shanghai for the necessary transport, pointing out to him that Her Majesty's Government have not included the Indian troops in the Annual Estimates dated from the 1st April next. " It is most desirable that the 2nd Belooch Battalion should leave China for India, by the 1st proximo. " 1 have, &c. " The Commandant, Shanghai. (signed) " T. L. Roberts, " D. A. Q. M. G." Friday, 10 February 1865. Hong Kong. Board, on appropriation of hospital, reassembled at noon, and closed its proceedings at 3 p.m. Thermometer, noon, 73°. Saturday, 11 February 1865. Hong Kong, It has been found necessary to increase the transport between Hong Kong and Kowloon, consequent upon the arrival of the 2nd-9th, and quartering, at the latter place, 2 companies 9th Regiment, and detachment 67th ; 1 hospital boat for both detachments ; 1 boat for officers of both detachments ; 1 ferry boat for non-commissioned officers and men of both detachments. Thermometer, noon, 60°. 0^3. Z z Tuesday, 352 APPENDIX TO EKPOET FROM THE App. No. 8. Tuesday, 14 FebruaFy 186&. Hong Kong. Journals of Quarter- The 99th Regiment, and deiachment 67th Reghnent, embark in Her Majesty's ship niasterGen»aU "Tamar" for the Ca[.e, on the 28th instant, 1,070 m all. The health of the former regiment has greatly improved. Average of sick for past fortnight :— Europeans, 7-40 ; Natives, 4-00. A sudden change to cold weather has taken place since the 12ih instant. Thermometer, noon, 54°. Monday, 27 February 1865. Hong Koiig. Embarked baggage 67th and 99th Regiments in Her Majesty's ship " Tamar," at 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. Thermometer, noon, 78°. Tuesday, 28 February 1866. Hong Kong. Embarked 67th detachment and 99th Regiment in " Tamar" at 2 p.m. Embarkation returns will be duly forwarded. . u • The health of the troops has improved greatly, only 25 men of the 99th Regiment in hospital. Thermometer, noon, 72°. Friday, 3 March lb65. Hong Kong. The Major General Commanding has approved of a door of communication being made between the quarters in Murray Barracks occupied by Major Darling, 9th Regiment. This arrangement will very much improve the quarters, and render them suitable for field ofEcersf quarters, of which there are only two in Murray Barracks, whereas four will be required. Saturday, 4 March 1865. Hong Kong. A Board, composed of the Commandant, C. E. Engineer, P. M. Officer, Barrack Master, and D. A. Q. M. General, assembled at Wardley Hoose, at noon, to report upon the arrangements necessary to be made, with a view of providing accommodation for the 2d-llth Regiment, expected in Jiuly next. Thermometer, noon, 74°. Monday, 6 March 1865. Hong Kong,, The Board upon accommodation of 2nd-llth Regiment re-assembled at noon. Notified to the Departments that an opportunity of forwarding officers, invalids, and stores to England, on favourable terms, will occur within a fortnight, in the ship " Sovereign of India," taken up by the Navy for the conveyance of their invalids. Called for returns of above. Thermometer, noon, 76°. Tuesday, 7 March 1865. Hong Kong. The Board upon accommodation for 2nd-llth Regiment re-assembled at noon. The Major General Commanding visited the General Hospital, and inspected the arrange- ments proposed for its appropriation by the Board recently assembled for this purpose. The proceedings will be forwarded by this mail to War Office and Horse Guards. Thermometer, noon, 73°. Wednesday, 8 March 1865. Hong Kong. Visited transport " Oasis," taken up for 22d Regiment Bombay Native Infantry. The following are the proceedings of the Board assembled to report upon the best means of accommodating the 2nd-l 1th Regiment, up to this dale. The Board adjourns to await the receipt, by the Commissariat, of the tenders for buildings which have been advertised for. The buildings tendered will be duly inspected by the Board, whose proceedings, when complete, will be forwarded to War Office and Horse Guards. A copy of the Commissariat advertisement is also annexed. " Proceedings of a Board of Officers, assembled at Hong Kong, on the 4th March 1865 by order of Major General Guy, c.b.. Commanding the Forces in China, bearing date the 3d March 1865, to consider and report upon the most desirnble and convenient" place for providing accommodation for the officers and men of the 2nd battalion 11th Regiment expected to arrive at Hong Kong about July 1865. * " President, Colonel Sankey, Commandant. Members: Colonel Moody, C. R. Engineer- Dr. Dick, M.n., D. I. G. of Hospitals; Captain Roberts, D. A. Q. M. General ; W, H. h! Scott, Esq., Barrack Master. " The SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OP TROOPS ^CHINA). 353 "The Board having assembJed, pursuant to order, proceeded to visit the 22d Native App. No, 8, Infantry lines, and found that none of the existing huts were fit for European occupation ; they therefore suggest that these should be removed, and huts of a more permanent nature, j^ i fn or barracks, be erected on such of the existing sites as may be eventunlly selected. masterGeneraf ' " The present Native Hospital, being of a more permanent nature, might be adapted for the occupation of one company of Europeans, or the company of Gun Lascars. " St. Francis' Hospital, a hired building at present used as a mess by the 22d Regiment, Bombay Native Infantry, could be innde available as a mess and ante-room for the head- -quarters of a regiment, and quarters for eight officers, •' As the erection of the huts suggested could not, even if commenced at once, be com- pleted in time for the accommodation of the 11th Regiment, expected in July next, the Board strons^ly urge the riecessity of hiring buildings to accommodate the head quarters and wing of this regiment, " As it is intemled to quarter one wing of the 2nd-llth at Kowloon, it will be necessary to withdraw ihe two companies 2Tid-9tli Regiment, and all the married people, and provide accommodation for the same at Hong Kong, by iiiring; and to increase the accommodation for officers, men, &c., at the former station. "Murray Barracks, being constructed for two field officers and 16 other officers, is not, by half, sufficient for the officers 2nd-9th Regiment, who are now, for the most part, two in a room, a mo*t objectionable arrangement especially in this climate. " Accommodation must also be hired for the staff Serjeants at present located in Wimiiberg's Hotrse, to be given up on the 1st of May next, as unsuitable for occupation during the summer." Copy of the Commissariat Advertisement. " Sealed tenders, marked on the outside, ' Tender for Buildings,' will be received by the undersigned, until noon on Monday the 20th instant, for the accommodation in Hong Kong, of the undermentioned troops : — " 2d Battalion, 11th Regimeut: — 7 officers, 600 men, 25 women, and proportion of children. " 2d Battalion, 9th Regiment: — 15 officers, 170 men, 33 women, 50 children; also 4 staff Serjeants and their families. "The accommodation for the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment, will be preferred in the neighbourhood of Spring-gardens, -or St. Francis' Hospital. " That for the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, as near Murray Barracks fis possible. " The quarters for the four staff seijeants and their families will also be preferred as near Murray Barracks as possible, and will reqaire to be entered upon on the 1st May next. " Any fiWiii^s that may be specially required will be put up at the expense of Government, " Further information may be obtained on application to Captain Roberts, D,A. Q, M, Gr., at Ward ley House. " The tenders to state the rent, including all rates and taxes, and the periods for which the buildings can be hired." " Controller's Office, China. (signed) " Henry Robinson." Monday, 13 March 1865. Hong Kong, Embarked head quarters, 8 officers and 600 men, 22nd Regiment Bombay Native Infantry, in " Oasis," at 2 p.m. The Maj'or General Commanding inspected the regiment at 1.30 p.m. The " Oasis " was engaged for the conveyance of the whole regiment, 730 strong, and could have taken this number, at the space for each man laid down in the " Indian Regala- tions." The P. M. 0. objected, and a medical board was assembled. The result is that the balance of the regiment,, l officer and 128 men, must be forwarded by another opportunity. The protest of the P. M. O. and the proceedings of the Medical Board will be duly forwarded to War Office and Horse Guards, with explanatory letter, &c. Thermometer, noon, 75°. Tuesday, 14 March 1865. Hong Kong. Visited " Oasis." The following is the per-eentage of sick for tbe last fortnight: — White troops, 6"00 ; Native troops, 4'20. Thermometer, norm, 75". Thursday, 16 March 1865. Hong Kong* Hir«d troopship " Oasis," left at daylight for Bombay, with head quartera, and 60O meB, 22iid Bombay Native hifentry. Thermometer, noon, 64°. 0.53. z z 2 Friday, 354 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE AppJ\o. 8. Friday, 17 March 1865. Hong Kong. Jomnals of Quarter- The Board upon the accommodation for the 2nd-llth Regiment, &c., composed of the master General. Commandant as President, the C. R. E., P. M. O., D. A. Q. M. G. and barrack master re-assembled at noon, pursuant to the order conveyed in the I'ollowing memorandum : — " Memorandum 3166. " Quarter Master Geiieral's Office, Head Quarters, Hong Kong, !6 March 1866. " The Board upon the accommodation of 2nd-llth Regiment, &c., will be good enough to take into consideration the question of providing public offices and quarters for the officers about to be removed from Wardley House, also office accommodation for the Royal Engineers' offices, at present insufficiently provided for. " As it would be most advisable to concentrate all the public offices in a Government building, the Board will be good enough to inspect the Commissariat house, and report if, with a due regard to the interests of the service, it could not be made available for this purpose. " The probable saving to Government, by relinquishing the present Royal Engineers' offices, and the expense of providing quarters for the Commissariat officers, &c., should be shown, and the whole subject fully reported upon." " By Order, (signed) " T. L. Roberts, " The Commandant, Hong Kong. " D. A. Q. M. G." The proceedings will be duly forwarded to War Office and Horse Guards. Thermometer, noon, 62°. Saturday, 18 March 1866. Hong Kong. Surveyed, with the P. M . O. and usual naval officers, the ships " Capsimoon " and " Anne Leech," tendered for the conveyance of the Detachment 22nd Regiment Bombay Native Infantry, to Bombay. The " Anne Leech," tendered at 12 I. 10 s. per man, accepted. The detachment will embark shortly. The Board upon the accommodation of the 2nd-llth Regiment re-assembled at noon, at the Quartermaster General's office, and proceeded to inspect buildings tendered as quarters for officers and men, 2nd-llth Regiment. Inspected three two-storied godowns, tendered by Messrs. Fletcher & Co., at ^1,900 per mensem, situated immediately opposite the Commissariat. The addition of a story to each of the flank godowns would render this block capable of affijrding good accommodation for 500 men, the number of the 2nd-llth Regiment proposed to be stationed at Hong Kong. The proceedings, giving full particulars, will be duly forwarded to War Office and Horse Guards. Thermometer, noon, 65°. Wednesday, 22 March 1865. Hong Kon £3" The Board upon the accommodation of 2nd-llth Regiment, &c. re-assembled to inspect buildings tendered for officers' quarters. Thermometer, noon, 66°. Thursday, 23 March 1865. Hong Kong. Board upon the accommodation for 2nd-llth Regiment, &c. re-assembled, and inspected various houses tendered for officers' quarters, &c. Thermometer, noon, 66°' Saturday, 25 March 1865. Hong Kong. The Board upon barrack accommodation for the 2nd-llth Regiment &c &c re- assembled at 2 o'clock, p. m., and inspected houses tendered by Messrs. Sassoon & Co. for public offices, quarters for staff officers and officers, 2nd-9th Regiment, at present doubled up m Murray Barracks. o » r The proceedings will be duly forwarded to War Office and Horse Guards by this mail, Ihermometer, noon, 72°. ■' Monday, 27 March 1865. Hong Kong. There being spare accommodation in the ship " Sovereign of India," taken up by the forwLdL'dTnTef-- "^ of their invalids, the following officers and men will be Captain Johnston K. a., ordered home on promotion; clerk of works, Rawling: two dis- o!iTi'p '"''^f'^"f^?'^','^,'°U °"" '"""J^^"* (^'"^^ ^''Pi^d), his wife and one chid 2nd-20th Regiment; two invalids, Royal Artillery; three invalids 2nd-9th Regimen? and one^ woman and one child, two invalids, and two women and one child, 2nd-20thllegi. Thermometer, noon, 60°. Tuesday, SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOBTALITY OF TE00P8 (oHINA). 355 Tuesday, 28 March 1865. Hong Kong. ^PP' ^°- ^■ The Major General Commanding inspected the invalids and men for England in " Sovereign Journals of Quarter- of India," at 11 a. ra., and the general hospital at 12 o'clock. master General. The Board upon the barrack accommodation for 2nd-llth Regiment, &c. re-assembled at 2 o'clock, p. m., and, no houses having been tendered for the accommodation of the families, 2nd-9th and 2nd-l 1th Regiments, proceeded to the lines lately occupied by the 22nd Re- giment, B. N. I., with a view of selecting sites for the erection of huts for this purpose. Accommodation for 50 families will be required. The proceedings will be duly forwarded to War Office and Horse Guards. Thermometer, noon, 62°. Friday, 31 March 1865. Hong Kong. The weather for the last week has been unusually cold. The fuel allowance for public offices has been continued for a fortnight beyond the usual period'of its termination, in consequence. The detachment, 128 men, 22nd BombayNative Infantry, the residue of the Indian troops in the command, leave in a day or two. Tlieir departure has been unavoidably delayed, there being no grain suitable for their provisions on board ship, in the market. The average of sick for the last fortnight is, Europeans, 6"3 ; Native troops, 3". Thermometer, noon, 63°. Monday, 3 April 1865. Hong Kong. Major General Guy visited Admiral Kuper, and inspected the transports " Jane Leech" and " Sovereign of India." Embarked the following details in " Sovereign of India," for England, at 2 p.m. : Captain Johnson and 2 invalid soldiers. Royal Artillery. Three invalid and 2 discharged soldiers, 1 woman and 1 child, 2nd-9th Regiment. One time-expired man, 2 invalids, 3 women, and 2 children, 2nd-20th Regiment. Visiied the ship at 3 p.m. Thermometer, noon, 70°. Tuesday, 4 April 1865. Hong Kong. Finally inspected, with P. M. O. and S. N. officer, the " Jane Leech," engaged for the conveyance of the detachment 22nd Bombay Native Infantry, to Bombay. Everything satis- factory. Embarked detachment: — Major Scott, Staff Surgeon Moore, 4 Native officers, 114 non- commissioned officers and men, and 8 followers, at 2 p.m. Visited ship at 3 p.m. Thermometer, noon, 69°. Wednesday, 5 April 1865. Hong Kong. Instructed Commissariat department to engage, for one year certain, subject to the usual notice of relinquishment, the godowns, tendered by Messrs. Fletcher & Co., for 500 men, 2nd-llth Regiment, at a rental of ^1,900 per mensem. Thermometer, noon, 74. Monday, ]0 April 1865. Hong Kong. Instructed the Commissariat department to engasje the house tendered by Messrs. Sassoon, Sons & Co., at a monthly rental of $ 200 (as a substitute for Wardley House), for one year, subject to the usual notice of relinquishment. Also, from 1st proximo, five houses of four rooms each, situated in Seymour Road, tendered by same firm, as quarters for officers, 2nd-9th Regiment. The Board upon the accommodation for the 2nd-llth Regiment and troops at Hong Kong, re-assembled at noon, and proceeded to inspect godowns and a dwelling-house at Spring Gardens, tendered by Mr, Baldwin. The buildings at present engnged will provide for, as follows : — Messrs. Fletcher's, three godowns, 500 men ; five houses, of four rooms each, in Seymour Road, officers, 2nd-9th Regiment ; house of eight rooms at Spring Gardens, eight officers, 2nd-llth Regiment ; house of six rooms, next the Hotel de I'Europe, Adjutant General's office ; Quartermaster General's office, garrison office, and quarters for one staflT officer. Accommodation is still required at Hong Kong for seven officers, 2nd-llth Regiment, half the families of the regiment; and the detachment of the 2nd-9th, 170 men and 30 families now at Kowloon. 0-53. z 2 3 Mr. Baldwin's 3§g APrENDJX TO KEPOKT FROM THE „ . Mr. Baldwin's dwelling-house and four godowns, the latter to be raised a story, will App.No.S. accommodate, two godowns and the dwelling-house— 14 officers, mess and ante room, pantry, &C.&C.; and the other two godowns, 170 men. . ^ . n ., „o<.=o,„ Journals of (Jilarter- The whole are tendeied at |25,000 per annum ; the proprietor to ettect all tlie necessary master General. alterations The Board propose to enea-e these buildings and relinquish St. Francjs Hospital, rented at |350 per month, originally proposed to be retained as mess accommodation and quarters for eight officers 2nd- 11th Regiment, but by no means a desuable buiidmg. The troop' will then be distributed, 2nd-9th Regiment: Murray Barracks, 18 officers, 450 men. One of Fletcher's godowns (about 400 vards from Murray Barracks) 200 men. Nonh barracks, 132 men. Five houses, Seymour Road, residue of officers about 15. 2nd-l 1th Regiment: — House at Spring Gardens, laie U. S. Naval Dep6t, 8 officers. Two of Fletcher's godowns, 300 men. Baldwin's godowns, Spring Gardens :— Head quarters^ officers' mess; 14 officers and 170 men. Huts Kowloon :— 10 officers,, 300 men, and 22 families. Sixty families ofSnd-9than4 2nd-Uth remain to be provided for. Twelve of this number will be accommodated in the building lately used as a hospital lOr the native troops, leaving 48 families at least for whom accommodation must be hired or built. No houses have been tendered as yet for this purpose, but every effiirt is being made to procure upon the most reasonable terms, the requisite accommodation, with plans, &c. The proceedings of the Board will be forwarded by next mail to Horse Guards and War Office. English mail steamer arrived. Colonel Knox, 2nd-9th Regiment, arrived by this opportunity. Thursday, 13 April 1865, Hong Kong. The Board upon the barrack accommodation for 2nd-llth Regiment, &c. &o., re- assembled at 3 p.m., and proceeded to inspect a two-storied godown at Spring Gardens, tendered bv Messrs. Burrowes & Co. for soldiers' families, at a monthly rental of ^200., Proceedmgs will be duly forwarded to Horse Guards and War Office. TliermDineter, noon, 74". Friday, 14 April 1865. Hong Kong. The following is the per-centage of sick l^or ihe last fortnight : — White troops 5-7. Black „ - 6-0. Thermometer, noon, 78°. Thursday, 20 April 1865. Hong Kong. The Major General Commanding proceeded to Kowloon at 12.30 p.m., and inspected hufs,, kits, and dinners of the Detachment 2nd-9th Regiment stationed there. Friday, 21 April 1865. Hong Kong. Visited Messrs. Fletcher &, Co.'s and M'Gregor & Co.'s buildings, in course of conversion into barracks, for 2nd-llih Regiment. Works progressing rapidly. Thermometer, noon, 76°. Monday, 24 April 1865. Hong Kon t3' The Officer Commanding 2nd-9th Regiment having pointed out the difficulty of obtaining in China suitable material for summer clothing fur his regiment, at a reasonable price, and forwarded samples of materials stored by the Navy, for issue to the Fleet, a Board of Officers commanding corps, and a military store officer, has been assembled to report upon the matter, and take into consideration Colonel Sankey's suggestion, that "a supply should be retained in the miUtary store here, for issue to the troops on payment." The following is the recommendation of the Board, which has been forwarded to War Office. The summer clothing of the Royal Artillery, procured at Hong Kong, of inferior material to that alluded to by the Board, costs 8 s. 4rf. per suit. " The Board recommend that the suggestion of the Commandant should be adopted, as far as; regards sample No 1, at Id. per yard, as they consider that the material wiu'be saitable, for trousers as well as for tuuks, which will further reduce the cost of the suit to. about 5s. "The SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OF TSGOTS (cHINA). SSI " The Board would also recommend that in the first instance a moderate supply should ^p„_ Jjo. 8. be sent out, as a practical test of the soundness of the proposal." Thermometer, noon, 78". JouroalBofQiuaiter. master Geneiral. Tuesday, 25 April 1865. Hong Kong. The. Board upon barrack accommQilation for 2nd-9th and. 2nd-llth Regimeiats, re- assembled at noon, and proceeded to inspect tlie following biiildingg>, tendei;ed as quarters for married soldiers' families, viz. : — 1. Morgan, Lambert & Co.'s house and godown, Spring-gardens, ,§'150 per month for house, ,^250 for godown. 2. G. R. Lammert, two dwelling-houses, Carlton-terrace, J' 60 each per month. 3. Dorabjee Nowrojee, four godowns on the Praya East, j;70tO per mensem. 4. H. W. Davis, six houses, four in one block, two in another at Sprmg-gardeng, at a monthly rental of ,^550'. 6. Padre Ambrosi, St. Francis' Hospital, at ,§600 per mensem, to be altered at the landlord's expense, so as to accommodate 36 families. 6. Granvttle Sharp, buildings to be erected for 21 rooms, at the end of Praya East, ;^600 per month. Nos. 2 and 5, have been accepted, and the buildings engaged for one year, from 1st July next. The proceedings, with plans, cannot be completed in time for dispatch by this mail, but shall be forwarded, with full report, by the next. Thermometer, noon, 77°. Wednesday, 26 April 1865. Hong Kong,., Visited buildings in course of preparatbn far 2nd-llth Regiment. Thermometer, noon, 75°. Friday, 28 April 1865. Hong Kong. The following is the per-centage of sick for the last fortnight, viz. ; 4'8'. Thermometer, noon, 80°. Wednesday, 3 May 1865. Hong Kong;,, The Board upon the barrack accommodation for 2nd-9th and 2nd-llth regiments re-as- sembled at 3.30 p.m. Thermometer, noon, 71°. Thursday, 4 May 1865. Hong Kong. Visited buildings in course of alteration as barracks for 2nd-llth regiment. Works pro- gressing. Thermometer, noon, 76°. Friday, 6 May 1365. Hong Kong, The Major General Commanding inspected the magazines, and- buiWingS' hired for the 2nd-9th and 2nd-llth regiments. Thermometer, noon, 76°. Tuesday, 9 May 1865. Hong Kong. The Board upon the barrack accommodation for the 2n[i-llth regiment re-assembled to take into consideration War Office letter, No. 083 — 1479, of the 23d March last,, received by last mail, and recommend that Mi*. Lammert's two houses, tendered at ,§'50 per merasem each {vide Quartermaster General's Journal, Tuesday 25ih April last, tender No. 2), and engaged for married soldiers' families, be appropriated for officers 2nd-llth regiment, in lieu of the house known as " United States Naval Depot, tendered by Mr. D'Almada E. Castro, at ,§'500 per month, alluded to in proceedings of Board forwarded to War Office on 30th March last, which has. fortunately not been engaged. As it is contemplated, in virtue of the authority given in above-quoted War Office letter, to forward two companies 2nd-llth regiment to Japan, and eventually, if approved by the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for War, the families 2nd-20th regiment, the buildings already hired will be sufficient to meet the most pressing requirements. The proceedings of the Board would,, but for this re-assembly,, have been ready for this mail, but they shall certainly be by the next. Thermometer, noon, 82°. Friday, 12 May 1865, Hong Kong. Average per-centage of sick in garrison, for the last fortnight, nearly 6"Oo. Thermometer, noon, 84°. 0.53. zz4 * Monday, 358 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FROM THE App. Nq. 8. Monday, 15 May 1865, Hong Kong. , Visited barracks in course of preparation for the 2nd-llth regiment. Works progressing JomnalsofQuatter- idly, master General. Vn.-'^ Inermometer, noon. Wednesday, 17 May 1865. Hong Kong. Visited buildings in course of preparation for 2nd-llth regiment, and families 2nd-9th and 2nd-llth regiments. Thermometer, noon, 85°. Thursday, 18 May 1865. Hong Kong. The following instructions have been sent to the Commandant, Hong Kong, relative to the quartering of the troops at the station : " Memorandum 3235. " Quartermaster General's Office, Head Quarters, Hong Kong, 17 May 1865. " On the arrival of the 2nd-llth regiment, the detachment 2nd-9ih regiment at Kowloon will rejoin head quarters, and be quartered in part of Fletcher's Buildings. " The officers of this detachment will be quartered in Murray Barracks and the Seymour- road houses. "The 2nd-llth regiment will be quartered, as follows: "HowG Kong. " Fletcher's Buildings, about _ _ _ - 260 " M'Gregor & Co.'sBuildings, about - - - 200 " Officers, 14 at M'Gregor & Co.'s, and six at Lammert Atkinson's houses. "Extra accommodation if required, will most probably be available at Spring Gardens. " Kowloon. " 250 non-commissioned officers and men, with a proportion of officers. " YOKAHAMA. " 150 non-commissioned officers and men (two companies), with a proportion of officers. " By Order, " The Commandant, Hong Kong. (signed) " T. L. Roberts, " D. A. Q. M. G." Thermometer, noon, 80°. Friday, 19 May 1865. Hong Kong. Visited, with the chief resident engineer and barrack master, the buildings in course of preparation for troops. Appropriated the married quarters at the old native hospital. Thermometer, noon, 80°. Saturday, 20 May 1865. Hong Kong. Visited barracks in preparation for 2nd-lltn Regiment. Thermometer, noon, 84". Monday, 22 May 1865. Hong Kong. Informed the officer commanding at Yokohama, of the intention to forward two Companies 150 men, 2nd-llth Regiment, to that station, and requested him to make the necessary arrangements for the location of these troops in the quarters vacated by the Royal Marine Battalion. ' Thermometer, noon, 86°. Tuesday, 23 May 1865. Hong Kong. Shanghai mail steamer left at 9 a.m. Visited barracks in preparation for 2nd-llth Regiment, &c. Thermometer, noon, 86°- Thursday, 25 May 1865. Hong Kong. anJLtd^lltf Re^imentT"''^ °^ preparation for 2nd-llth Regiment, and families 2nd-9th Thermometer, noon, 80°. Sunday, 28 May 1865. Hong Kong. Her Majesty's ship "Tamar" arrived from the Cape, with 25 officers, 704 N C O and men, 54 women, and 92 children, 2nd-llth Regiment. " At SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TKOOPS (CHINA). 359 As this vessel has arrived at least a month before she was expected, the barracks in course a xr a of preparation for the and-llth Regiment are not ready; it will therefore be absolutely App. No. 8. necessary to hire, for a few weeks, 3 godowns, just tendered by Messrs. Heard & Co. The Report, in conformity with War Office Circular 361, will be forwarded to War Office Jownals of Quarter- as soon as possible. It would be impossible lo encamp troops at this (the rainy) season. master Ixeneral. Visited Her Majesty's ship " Tamar." Monday, 29 May 1865. Hong Kong. Made the following arrangements for the disembarkation and quartering of the troops in " Tamar" : — " Quartermaster General's Office, "Head Quarters, Hong Kong, 29 May 1865. " Memorandum 3254. "The 2nd-llth Regiment will disembark in the following order : — " The sick at General Hospital Wharf, to-day. under arrangements by the P.M.O. "Heavy batjgage, as soon after daylight as possible, to-morrow morning, the 30th instant^ at Messrs. M'Gregor 8f. Co.'s Wharf^ Spring Gardens. " The usual requisition for transport (boats and coolies) for this service, to be sent to the Quartermaster General's office as soon as possible. " The baggage will be stowed in lower story of Mr. Lammert's liouses, Carlton-terrace, which the Barrackmaster will be good enough to hand over to the regiment at once. " The regiment will disembark at 1 o'clock p.m., on Wednesday, the 31st instant. " Seven officers, and 200 non-commissioned officers and men, at Messrs. Heard & Co. s Wharf, Wanchai, and occupy, the officers, Mr. Lammert's houses, Carlton-terrace, ttie non- commissioned officers and men, Messrs. Heard & Co.'s godowns, Wanchai. "Sixoffipers and 150 non-commissioned officers and men wdll be transhipped to hospital ship " Hercules" at the same hour and same date. " Three officers, 70 non-commissioned officers and men, 20 women, with a proportion of children, will be forwarded to Stanley on the 1st proximo. "A gunboat will be alongside Her Majesty's ship "Tamar" at 8 a.m. on that date, for the conveyance of this detachment, and will leave at 9 a.m. The head quarters and remainder of the regiment will disembark at the Commissariat Wharf, Kowloon, on W^ednesday, the 31st instant, at 1 p.m. The Stanley detachment will be rationed on board ship for the 1st proximo, and on shore for and from the 2nd. The remainder of the regiment will be rationed on shore for and from the 1st proximo. " The Barrackmaster will be good enough to hand over, as soon as possible, to the 2nd- 11th Eeoiment, all available married accommodation at Kowloon, Hong Kong, and Stanley, making due provision tor the families, 2nd-9th Regiment. " The old Native Hospital, and St. Francis' Hospital, must be at once occupied as far as possible. " By order, " The Commandant, Hong Kong. " (signed) T. L. Roberts, D. A. Q. M. G." Average per-centage of sick in garrison for the last fortnight, 5*87. Thermometer, noon, 81". Tuesday, 30 May 1865. Hong Kong. Enghsh mail steamer left at 2 p. m. The following officers were provided with passages to England at the public expense : — Colonel Moody, e. e. ; Deputy Purveyor Johnstone. Disembarked heavy baggage, 2nd-llth Regiment at 6 a.m. Visited buildings in course of preparation for 2nd-llth Regiment. Thermometer, noon, 83°. Wednesday, 31 May 1865. Hong Kong. Disembarked the 2nd-llth Regiment at 1 p.m. 200 men and 7 officers at Hong Kong", to occupy Heard & Co.'s godowns and Lammert's houses; 150 men, 12 families, and 6 officers, hospital ship " Hercules ;" 250 men, 14 families, and 8 officers at Kowloott, church, and mat huts ; 8 families. Hong Kong, St. Francis' Hospital. Visited Her Majesty's ships " Tanaar," " Hercules," Kowloon, and Heard & Co.'s godowns. Grant's cooking waggon has been set up at the latter barracks, as a temporary arrange- ment, with a mat shed over it, and answers well. Thermometer, noon, 85°. Thursday, 1 June 1865. Hong Kong. Proceeded to Stanley by gun-boat at 9 a.m., with 70 men, 20 families, and 3 officers, 2nd-llth Regiment. Arrived at 11 a.m. Quartered the troops, 50 men m lower ward ot hospital; remainder, and families, in married quarters. Inspected married quarters, 2nd-20th Regiment, barracks, &c. &c. Returned to Hong Kong at 5.30 p.m. Thermometer, noon, 78°. _, , . 0.53. 3 A Saturday,, 360 APPENDIX TO REPORT EK0M THE A Bp.Na, 8. Sararday,. 3 Juae 1,86.5. Hong Kong. Joumaisof Quarteu. Visited, with' Gommanding' Eoyal Eugineen and Barrackmaster, the buildings in course of master Genertf. preparaitiion for 2nd-llth Regiment. Thermometer, noon, 87°. Monday,, & June 1866. Hong Kong. It was found necessary to. cover Grant's cooking waggon, used by the detacliment 2nd-llth Regiment at Messrs. Heard & Co.'s godowns, with a mat shed, to afford- prd* tection from swn and rain to the cooks. Tlie estimate will be duly forwarded to War Office. Thermometer, noon, 83°. Tuesday, 6; June 1865i, Hong Kong. Had the bamboo arm-racks lately used by 2-2nd Bombay Native Infantry removed to Heard & Co.'s godowlis, for 2nd-llth detachment. Thermometer, noon, 89°. Thursday, 8 June 186&. Hong Kong. Mail steamer LeJtfor Shanghai and Japan, The following officers were provided with passages to Yokohama: — ' Dr. Dick,- Deputy Inspector General, on taar of inspectiion ;. Lieutenants Doorlly aitd Leeming, to join 2nd'--20th Reg;iment. Visited barracks in course of prejjaration for 2nd-llth Regiment. Thermometer, noon, 78°. Monday, 12 June 1865. Hong Kong. The following, is the average of sick for the last fortnight, 6*33 per cent. Thermometer, noon, 85°". Tuesdfey, 13 June 1865. Hsng Kong. Visited buildijags- in preparation for 2nd-9th,and 2nd-llth Regiments. Thermometer,, noon^ 86°. Wednesday, 14 June 1865. Hong Kong. Arranged with C. R. E. and Barrackmaster for the fittings for new barracks. The ser- vice has been san-ctioned', and the following report sent to th« Major General Comtnartdihg. The expense of laying on the water would be 80 Z. The C. R. E's. report and estimate will be forwarded in due course for approval of Secre- tary of State for War. " No. 1030. „ Quartermaster General s Office, Head Quarters, " Sir, Hong Kong, 15 June 1865. " I H.AVE the honour to forward,, for submission to His Excellency the Majjsr. General Commanding, the C. R. Engineer's report upon the fittings, &c., required for the use of the troops about to occupy Messrs. M'Gcegor's, and Fletcher & Co.'s godOwns. " Pending the approval of His Excellency, the service has been- sanctioned,, as the pl'e- paration of the fittings will take considerable time. " Although the P. M. officer has already,, in his letter to you of the 3rd May l,ast, certified to the absolute necessity of punkahs for the public buildings^ at. this station, I thought It as well to obtain the certificate of the senior medical officer present, whose opinion is recorded upoiLthe C. R. E's. report enclosed. " The Barrackmaster has been instructed to have the usual supply of moveable fittings, such aalatrineftubs,, wash-basins, soldiers' vyash-tubs, &c. in readiness. " Pending a reference to the Major General, the I'aying-on of water to the several' ablufion rooms,, caokThouaes, &c. has not been sanctioned; it is, however, a very necessary service, and would obviate the necessity of employing a very considerable number of extra coolies, for carrying; water. " I have, &c. The Assistant Military Secretary, ' " (signed) T. L. Roberts, Yokoliama. " D. A. Q. M. G." Friday, 16 June 1865. Hong Kong. id quarters, Sa Wednesday, Visited Kowloon with Barraekraaster. Inspected huts, married quarters, ore Thermometer, noon, 85°. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TBOOPS. (cHINA). S61 Wednesday, 21, June 1S65, Hoiig Kong. A»»T^b 8. TTje Geoei'al Hospital being full, mi sickness on tke jncreas,e, ithas been.famnd nftcessary — r t.9 j-e-o,ccu,py the liospit«jl ship " Hercules" as a JwspltEvl. Tbe .detac-hment 3nd-l itja Regi- " Toxmaiss^^wist* mmi, 150 men, and 6 pflBcers, will be removed ,to Her Majesty's ship " Princess Charlotte," master General. tb,e senior jiay^ oliicer. Captain Nolloth, havin,c{ kiwdily consenfted to this arrangement. Tbermotneter, flooH, 3S°. .Saitufday^ :24 J une 1.86&. Hong Kong, Visited buildings in course of preparation for 2nd-9th and 2nd-lltli IRegiments, with C. R. E. Both barracks will be rsady for the troops within a fortnight. Thermometer, noon, 89°, Wednesday, 28 June 1865. Hong Kong. Average of sick for 'the fest fortnight, 7'>09. Thermometer, noon, 86'. Friday, 13^^ June 1865. Hbng Kong. Commenced to blow at 4 a.m., and increased to a heavy gale at six o'clock, which jjiode- rated at noon. Two of the Gun Lascars' huts were blown over, and the oJdJSati've Infantry lines considerably damaged. Several boats were sunk in the harbour, and a large vessel- blown ashore at Kowloon. Visited Gun Lascar lines. The occupaBtsof theJiuts.aboyeralluded to have been removed to the 22nd Native Infantry lines, as a temporary measure. Thermpmetef,,nooftj 83",, Saturday, 1 July 1863. Hong Kong. Visited buildings in preparation for -andifltly and. '2nd-llth Regiments. Theraaameter, nbon, 8S°i Tuesday, 4 July 1865. Hbng Kong. The Commanding Royal Engineer reports th8,t it, is absolutely necessary to renew the roof of the hospital at Stanley, which was destroyed in the gale of the, 3Qth.,ultimo,,and that the probable cost will be 200 I. As this hospital is required for the sick', every inch of hospital accommodation at Hong Kong being occupied, the sarvioehas been sanctioned' as a special one. The estimate will be duly forwarded to War Office. The roofs of the other buildings were also consideraMyi damaged, but will be repaired as- incidental services. Thermomfiter, noQn,- ^"i Tbttrsday^ fl July ] 8j65. Hong Kong. Inspected Messrs. Fretchers' buildings with C. R. Engineer a:nd' Pi M. Officer. Arranged the occu|jation and appropriation. These barracks will 'be occupied by ■220 men - of the 2nd-llth, and 120 of 2nd-9th Regiment, on- Tuesday next, 11th instant. Each man will have l,i)00 cubic feet. The barrack furniture will be 'moped in on Monday. Enghsh mail steamer arrived at 5'30 p.m. Thermometer, noon, 90^. Sunday, 9 July 1865. Hong Kong. Visited Kowloon at 5 p.m., with the Commandant and Barrackmaster, with a view of ascertaining the least possible number of men that it will be necessary to station there for the performance of the dutieSiofthef post. The guards are: Naval Stores, Commissariat huts, and Royql Engineer huts. To take these, with four nighta in bed, it will require a detachment of four Serjeants, six corporals, ^nd HO privates. The troops quartered there in excess of ihis wilT be withdrawn on the 11th instant. The Kowloon detachment will be relieved periodically. The troops at KowJoon are, , and have been for some time, very sickly; almost all the- fever cg,ses, are from, th^ detachment quarteied there. It is, iherelore, advisable to reduce its garrison as much as possible. A change was rpade on the 1st instant in the transport arrangemeats for Kowloon, which was carried but in, it is believed, a very unusual manner. The matter has been reported in full by me to the Major General Commanding, it there- foie only remains to mention here exactly what took place. Prevvous tq the Major GeneraJ's departure for Japan, he apportioned tl-.e transport between Hong Kong and Kowloon, and instructions were sent through the Quartermaster General's Office to the Comn)issariat, who provided it accordingly. , On the 3rd instant I, casually heard that these arrangements had been entirely altered, ~ and ascertainved that the Assistant Commissary General, Mr. Robinson, had, in direct com- muuicatioia. with the. Commandant, Colonel Wyatt, 2nd-lUh Regigient, accepted a tender from. Messrs. Russell & Co., for the employment of a small steamer for the current month,- 0,53. 3 A 2 at 362 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE / App. No. 8. at $no, discontinuing the boats formerly employed. This alteration was not, as has — — hitherto been the case, submitted to the Major General, or in his absence, to the Com- Joumals of Quarter- ™andant, through my office; had it been, or had I been at all aware of the intended master General, change, I would have pointed out that the new barracks at Hong Kong were almost ready, and that after their occupation, little or no transport would be required for Kowloon. As it is, after the 11th instant, only three officers and 120 non-commissioned officers and men will be stationed at Kowloon, and one boat, at ^30 per mensem, or at the very outside, two at ^60, would have amply sufficed for their transport. The services of the steamer, engaged to the 31st, will, therefore, be hardly required after the 11th instant. Monday, 10 July 1865. Hong Kong. The arrangement entered into with Messrs. Russell & Co. by the Commissariat Depart-' ment, reported yesterday, has proved so unsatisfactory (the sick and guards having, on more than one occasion, been detained for hours by the unpunctuality of the steamer), that it was to-day cancelled, and one ferry-boat, at J'SO per month, as before, put on between Hong Kong and Kowloon. This amply suffices for the transport of the detachment, which has been reduced to three officers and 110 men, and will be a considerable saving of expense. Thermometer, noon, 90°. Tuesday, 11 July 1865. Hong Kong. The detachment, 2nd-9th Regiment, rejoined head quarters from Kowloon, and occupied west wing of Fletcher's barracks. Two hundred and twenty non-commissioned officers and men, 2nd-llth Regiment, also " moved from Kowloon to east wing of same barracks. The barracks fire everything that can possibly be desired, and, the men have 1,000 cubic feet of space each. A detachment of three officers, four Serjeants, six corporals and 110 men remain at JCowloon, to carry on the duties of the post. Average of sick for the past fortnight, 9*2 Thermometer, noon, 91°. Wednesday, 12 July 1866. Hong Kong. English mail steamer left at 2 p.m. Proceeded by gunboat at 10 a.m. to Stanley, accompanied by Commandant, P. M. officer, and Barrackmaster. Arrived at 1 p.m. Inspected barracks, hospital, &c. The roofs of the different buildings, hospital in particular, have been much injured by the late gale ; the repairs are being proceeded with. Returned to Hong Kong at 8 p.m., bringing file detachment, 2nd-llth Eegiineni, two officers and 50 men, ifor Fletcher's Buildings. Thermometer, noon, 91°. Thursday, 13 July 1866. Hong Kong. The great increase of sickness has rendered it necessary to occupy the hospital at Stanley with convalescents from Hong Kong, a party of whom were forwarded there by boat this morning. Thermometer, noon, 86°. Friday, 14 July 1865. Hong Kong. The following correspondence relative to the unsafe state of the hospital ship " Her- cules " has been addressed by Admiral King to Colonel Wyatt, commanding garrison. The troops have, m consequence, been withdrawn from the ship, which will be handed over to the naval authorities. " Sir, " ' Princess Royal,' Hong Kong, 7 July 1866. " I beg to forward herewith a copy of a letter addressed to me by Captain Nolloth, in- forming me that the ' Hercules ' is no longer a safe habitation. " I therefore deem it my duty to apprize you of the same, in order that the necessary steps be taken to remove the men and stores as soon as possible; and I must, under the circumstances stated in the enclosure, decline to take any further responsibility with reeard to the ship. t j & " I much regret to have to communicate this to you, as I am fully aware of the difficulty experienced in providing sufficient quarters for your men. " I am, &c. " Colonel Wyatt, Commandant, (signed) " Georae King Hong Kona." " Vice Admiral and Commander in Chief." " Relative SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY Or TEOOPS (CHINA). 363 ■ -" Eelative to the stute of Her Majesty's military hospital ship ' Hercules.' " « No. 5. App. No. 8. " Her Majesty's Ship ' Princess Charlotte,' "Sir, Hong Kong, 6 July 1865. Journals of Quarter- " "With reference to former correspondence respecting Her Majesty's hospital ship ' Her- master General, cules,' Ihave the honour to inform you that she has sprunj^ another leak, and the oflBcers -of the yard having again surveyed her, as far as practicable without docking, are of opinion that she is no longer a safe habitation, in which opinion 1 entirely concur. " 2. Although she has been anchored where she has less than three feet of water, soft -bottom under her at low water spring tide, if she should sink at lier moorings during a typhoon, when no assistance could be rendered, heavy seas might break over her while broadside on to them, and the lives of those on board, especially sick soldiers, would be in imminent danger. "I have, &c. ' « Vice Admiral G. St. V. King, c,b., (signed) " M. S. Nolloth, , &c. &c. &c.^ "Captain." , Commander in Chief." Thermometer, noon, SG". Saturday, 15 July 1865. Hong Kong. Inspected the new barracks (Messrs. M'Gregor & Go's, buildings), with Civil Resident Eiigineer and P. M. officer. Fixed the appropriation, &c. Thermometer, noon, 87°- Sundav, 16 July 1865. Hong Kong. Nothing to report. Thermometer, noon, 86°. Monday, 17 July 1865. i Hong Kong. Furnished senior naval officer with returns of troops and stores awaiting conveyance to the Cape and England. Thermometer, noon, 89°. \ ^ Friday, 21 July 1865. Hong Kong. The troops have been so unhealthy atKowloon that it has been arranged to quarter there only a detachment of sufficient strength to perforin the duties of the post, and to relieve this detacbjnent weekly. Thermoifleter, noon, 87°. Saturday, 22 July 1865. Hong Kong. Instructed Barrack master to move barrack furniture, &c. for 168 men into Messrs. M'Gregor & Co.'s godbwns. Thermometer, noon, 88°. Monday, 24 July 1865. Hong Kong. Engaged in dispatch of English mail to the north. Steamer left at 4 p. m. Embarked following details (invalids, &c.) in "Tainar": Lieutenant Lyster, Royal Engineers; Lieutenant Jeffares and Lieutenant Nicholson, 2nd-9th Regiment; Staff As- sistant Surgeon Beath ; D. A. C. General Anderson and family (for the Cape); seven non- commissioned officers and men and one woman, Royal Artillery ; two children, Royal En- gineers; 16 non-commissioned officers and men, 10 women and 17 children, 2nd-9th Re- giment; 14 non-commissioned officers and men, three women and two children, 2nd-llth Regiment; three non-ctmimissioned officers and men, one woman and one child, 2rid-20th Regiment; five non-commissioned officers and men. Army Hospital Corps; two non-com- missioned officers and men, one woman and one child, C. S. Corps ; one military store clerk, his wife and three children. Thermometer, noon, 89°. Friday, 28 July 1865. Hong Kong. The aveirage of sick for the last fortnight is 9*8 percent. Thermometer, noon, 88°. 0.53 3 A 3 3j64 appendix to bepobt from the App. No. 8. Hong Kong, 30 November 1865. ■ '—.' I ACCOMPANIED the Major General when he returned to Hong Kong on the 28th Journals of Quarter- Octalaer> and on the 3rd instant I i^ceived over charge of the Quartermaster General's ipastsr GeMt^ duties in Chma and Japa,n, Sinqe. m}j arrival h^re BO moweni^nt of troops has taken place-, Pxee-pt the removal of a fevw , intvalid soldiers and their families from Stanley to^ Bong Kong, and the embartfeation for.^rape (o,v_erlatid route) of Staff Assistant Surgeon Cui'tis, thw ^v. Mp^ Ooar, military chaplain, and four invalid soldiers. The -principal question that ha« engaged the attentioii of the General hag been the one regiirdi^g^ a. rerappropriation of officers' quarters. Th^ ppoceeclings of a Board, together wkh a copy of the Majof Gsueral's letter to the Secretary of Siate, has been forwai'd^ to you by this mail, so that it is unn^essary that I should enter into auy-details. With reference to the accommodation of the non-commissioned ofBcersand rankand-' fife, no change has taken place since my arrival. The occupation, return, which you will have receivfd by thrt in the Murray Barracks, and the 2nd-] 1th Regimeat-in hired buildi'ags. I found on my arrival here that the troops had not quite as large an amount of cubic space in their barracks and hospital as they ought to have had^ viz. : — 2nd-9th Regiment: J^55lr^•ay ..Barracks^ 74p, cubic, fp^t, F1etchei-*s „ 900 „ General Hospital, 900 „' %4TH;Jij,%gjpient: M/Qr^pr's Buildings, 8,7§ cubic f(|et. FlVtcb^fs "' „ 1^014 ,, General Hospi.ial, 940 ,^^ The health of the garrison is slightly improved, thorigh the number in hospital is still lamentably large. In SeptfiPibgr-; feh§i perT.»?§ (cHINA). 365 The loss, as shown by the returns of the two regiments that have been quartered at Hong ^pp_ ^o. 8. Kong for the last year (the 2nd-9th and 2nd-l]th) has been terrible. J " I took over the duties of this department so late in the year that it does not fall within Journals of Quai-ter- my province to trace the causes of a§d.: lii'eans by which much of this might have been master General. prevented, but I would respectfully , suggest that in future the duty in Japan should be taken in turn hy the regiments in the China command ; the change taking place every year, or at furthest every two years. The average per-centage of sick in Japan is always half, and ..soiftetJkAesnMne^illliH'd^ of what it i^ bei'ftj ^ Friday, 9 February 1866. Hong Kong. Intelligence reached this privately from the Cape, that the " Gresham," invalid ship, which left this about the 13th October, had experienced a loss during the passage from Hong Kong to that place of 36 non-com.fttissjogpd officers and men out of 169 put on board, and of 10 women and children out of 56. This ship was fitted out and dispatched before my arrival at this place. TBe ■'<'Agy^oa'pi"«lI6'MgeJh'ta'Mi shipi; has also bfefen hdsrd of frdAr'Singaperei Oilly- :dfi&deartbonb6&V4fth^teftb new-born child. . , .■ This last mail from England, which was received herfe on the 7th instant, has brought mstructions for the removal of the 2nd-20th Regiment from Yokohama to India, and of the 2nd-lltH ftom Hong Kong ^o Yokohama ■ ■ \ \ W. Hartmdn,Ji.A. War Office, 10 Jxdy 1866. 0.53. Grand Total 3B £. s. d. . 7,041 13 4 - 6,460 12 8 - 10,824 10 4 £.24,326 16 4 H. W. S. Whiffin, Chief Auditor, 368 APPENDIX TO KEPOET PEOSt THE App. No. 9. STATEMENT of all Monies expended upon Foetifications, Military Stoeb- HOUSES and Buildings, and upon Baeeacks, at Hong Kong and Kowloon, from 1st April 1861 to 31st March 1865. Fortifications. Military Store Buildings. . Barracks. 1861-62. Amount expended in Repairs, which include Painting, Whitewashing, and Incidental Expenses Erecting Mat Shed, Barracks, Kowloon - - - Erecting 1? Sheds for Sentries . . . . Erecting Mat Hut, Quarters for Orderlies, and Stoves for Purveying Department - - - - Erecting Roof over Hospital Ship " Hercules " Renewing Floors of Bath and Wash Rooms of Ge- neral Hospital - - . - . _ Erecting an Oven in Officers' Mess Kitchen - Constructing a Baking Oven for General Hospitai,- Hong Kong .--.... Constructing a Mat Hut for Medical OflBcers at Victoria Peak ---.-.- Providing 7 Mat Sentry Boxes - . . . Repairing Fire Engine ------ Providing and fixing Punkahs .... Repairing Sentry Boxes - - - . - Sundry additions to Huts, Kowloon - . . Re-erecting Mat Shed, Cooking House, and Wash- house, at Kowloon, in lieu of those destroyed by fire -- .-. -_. Providing a Bedstead Screen for Hospital Erecting a School Room and Soldiers' Institute £, s. d. £. s. d. 172 9 5 £. d. 2,632 - 3 1,839 1 6 15 3 7 139 - 2 700 11 2 223 11 5 10 9 6 13 8 11 4 1 11 4 16 9 12 11 11 9 7 8 2 7 9 29 9: _ 1862-63. Amount expended in repairs, as above - - - Repairing Roads and Paths - - „ - Erecting 9 Mat Sheds for Sentries, Kowloon - Sanitary Improvements to Drains, Latrines to the Hospital and Infantry Lines - - . . Fitting up Cook Houses with Stoves, Kowloon Fitting Prison Accommodation on board the " Her- cules "-----._. Constructing a Gymnasium ..... Erecting a Shed for Protection of Rifle Range 1863-64. Amount expended in Repairs - - . . _ Altering the position of Gateway of New Powder Magazine - - - - - . . Repairing Roads and Paths - - . . . Repairing 2 Magazines for Rifle practice Erecting a Sun Shade for Sentry Arsenal Yard Erecting a Shed at Arsenal Yard - . . . Erecting a Workshop for Armourer Sergeant . Erecting 4- Batteries, defence of harbour, Hong Kong Erecting Lightning Conductor for Magazine - Carried forward ... 24 11 1 74 4 10 98 16 11 69 16 8 366 7 3 426 3 11 172 9 5 264 5 6 264 213 6 6 28 11 1 26 7 9 460 1 6 98 6 - 5 4 11 826 13 9 58 8 2 4 14 1 10 14 5 S,709 18 1 2,592 6 6 14 10 4 44 17 4 3 16 56 19 8 88 I 3 6-10 2,805 16 4 2,907 9 5 6 5- 2,913 1'4 S SELECT COMMITOIEE lON MOETALITT OF TEOflPS (cHINA). 369 Military Store .6»J^pi;v)rJ) Fortifica.tioHs. Barracks. Jb u& UAlAVriAlilVU0« Buildings, Ji^aL L IHjIXOS £. s. d. £. s. d- £. s. d. Brought forward - - - 426 3 11 826 13 9 2,913 14 5 Providing Cooking Accommodation for Gun Lascars - _ 31 .8 4 Providing 3 Bed Side-screens for Hospital, Kowloon ' - - 15 1 4 Enclosing the front of an open Shed ... - 15 4 10 Renewing Floor and Roof to Verandah > - - . 99 10 3 Renewing Ceiling and Joists, Commissariat Quarters - _ 180 12 6 Fixing Boiler in Kitchen, enlarging Bath Room, and erecting Latrine in Hospital, Kowloon - - 30 2 11 Renewing Pipes and Cocks of Ablution Room, Mur- ray and TVorth Barracks - - - - - . 16,1 6 10 Fitting Ventilators to Officers' Quarters at Murray Barracks ----...- - - 32 2 8 Providingadditional Cell Accommodation for Provost Establishment - . - . . - - . 550 13 9 Repairing Barrack Squares and Parades - - 111 11 ,3 Erecting Mat Shed, Barracks, Kowloon - - - 3,799 14 4 Erecting Mat Shed to Gymnasium - - . 4 12 1 Erecting a Brick Wall and Palisade Fence, at north- ' west angle of North Barracks . . - _ - 35 16 8 Providing 3 Presses for Hospital Wards ^ . 15 1 5 Providing 4 Wooden Stools for Urine Tubs - - . 3 9 1 Erecting a Screen and Verandah, Commissariat Buildings - - - - . - - - - 7 11 9 Improving Drainage of General Hospital - - 75 7 2 Converting part of a Salt Meat Stove into a Guard Room, and supplying Granite for Floors of re- , mainder - . - 156 - 6 Renewing Verandah of Head Quarters' House • - 545 14 7 Improvements to - ditto - - - - - 184 9 11 Fitting Rattan Blinds to Verandah, Hospital - - ' 27 1 8 Providing and Fixing Punkahs for Guard Tloom . . 27 18 11 Converting Servants' Rooms into a Store for Officers' Mess --------- - ;■ -, 7 15 - £. 426 3 11 847 2 7 9,016 17 3 1864-65. / Amount expended on Repairs - - 8 1 2 267 11 8 3,131 1 - Enclosing War Department Buildings with a Bamboo Fence - ----- 43 1 9 — — Repairing: Roads and Paths 59 18 8 — — Providing a Boundary Stone, Kowloon - 1 7 - — — Constructing a Fire Place for the browning of small Arms - - - . - -_ - 5 16 9 — Erecting a 'Flag; Staff, Head Quarters' House - . - IS 3 9 Renewing -Roof lof-Gld Magazine, No. 2 - . 74 10 2 — Erecting a Shed: for Workmen, by Armourers' Shop - - 10 14 - — Converting part of Canteen into Guard Room - - - 12 13 8 Providing Stones for marking out War Department Property - - . - - - 13 7 1 — — Constructing Screens for Armstrong Guns - 9 10 - — Repairing Magazine, Kellatt's Island - 79 10 1 — Erecting Sun Shades for Sentries - - - - - - 8 2 6 Fixing Iron Bars to Barrack Store - - - - - 6 7 3 FixMg.a Stoie iixSMilitary Accountanl's Office - - 10 2 3 Erecting a Veramrtflh po Native: Hospital - - 1 - 4 16 6 Repairs to Armourer Sergeants' Quarters - - 14 8 6 CoBstrttcting additional 'Ranges in Artillery Cook House - -- - - ■ : 11 19 7 Additions to Huts, Kowloon - - - - « — - 23 5 6 Enlarging 'Quarters iOomTOissariat Staff Corps, at •Kowl«on -— - • 17 6 9 FijcJagca Vefttiktor to Main .Giuard Room - - 10 19 2 Enlarging Commissariat Quarters - - - - - - 1 10 - Ereetrng-a'"MTatff!rhefl,'flifte«ange,'Kow'loon - - - - 5 11 4 Fitting up Barracks &t Stanley for Families expected from England - - - - 79 17 7 Rivetting iBmievs^f Cook House - - - _ - - - 2 6- Converting a Store Shed into Bakery, and erecting two Ovens -------- - - 291 11 8 Fitting Punkahs, Military Accountant's Office and Staff Sergeants' Quarters . - - - - 19 1 4 Carried forward - - - £. 135 15 8 447 13 8 3,665 4 3 App. No, 3. 0.53. 3b2 370 APPENDIX TO REPORT OF THE App. No. 9. Brought forward Converting Commissariat Store Shed into Bakery Erecting Mat Shed Barracks, native lines Providing Fittings at Pack Store and Cook House, Stanley Barracks - - - . . Converting Servants' Rooms into Barrack Store Rooms - - - - . . - Converting sundry Buildings into Store Guard Room and Quarters - - - - - - , - Fitting up Married Quarters in Hospital as Pur- veyor's Store ---.-.. Renewing the Ground Floor Hospital, Stanley Cupboards and Fittings for Wards on board the "Hercules" Erecting new Oven in Hospital and Boarding Floor of Pack Store - - - . - Rebuilding Gun Lascars' Cook House and three others at Kowloon, in lieu of those destroyed by Fire Rebuilding Cook Houses for 22nd Bombay Native Infantry ----.-.. Providing Benches in Officers' Cook Houses - Providing a Door for Officers' Quarters - . . Improving Latrines, Murray and North Barracks - Laying down Water Pipes, Commissariat Altering Vaults for Storage of Flour - . . Resetting Boilers in Soldiers' Cook House Re-erecting Women's Latrine - - _ . Removing Mat Hut Barracks, Kowloon Improving Ventilation, Stanley Barracks Renewing Roof of Cook House, Murray Barracks - Providing Hose for Fire Engine - - - - Erecting Mat Huts for Royal Engineers at Kowloon Erecting Cook Houses, Kowloon . - - .. Renewing Pipes and Cocks of Ablution Room Mur- ray Barracks -----.. Laying a Drain for Cooking Huts - - - - Fixing a Tiled Roof on Royal Engineers' Cook House, and constructing Mat Shed Washhouse, Kowloon - - - - - - Erecting a Trial Hut, Kowloon . . . . Erecting Roof of Salt Provision Shed, and Paving with Granite ------- Fixing Windows and Floors in Commissariat Shed - Fixing Urinals and Privies ----- Fortifications, Total - - £. £. s. d. 125 15 8 Military Store Suildings. £. *. d. 447 12 8 125 15 8 Barracks. 447 12 8 £. s. d. 3,665 4 3 3 IS - 145 - 11 41 18 9 2 19 7 2 U - 17 10 - 57 17 11 32 10 8 2 10 2 252 14 7 207 8 6 9 6 10 10 14 5 24 13 72 10 94 15 23 10 1 3 55 - 23 18 - 138 10 - 55 6 11. 386 19 8 45 1 1 154 7 11 13 2 3 53 9 4 699 16 2 206 17 5 2 10 - 7 19 8 5 3 8 6 6,510 11 7 EECAPITULATION. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. Total Amount expended in 1861-62 - 172 9 5 5,709 18 1 Ditto - - ditto - 1862-63 98 15 11 264 5 6 2,805 16 4 Ditto - - ditto - - 1863-64 426 3 11 847 2 7 9,016 17 3 Ditto - - ditto - - 1864-65 Total - - - £. 125 15 8 447 12 8 6,510 11 7 650 15 6 1,731 10 2 24,043 3 3 S. W. S. Whiffin, Chief Auditor. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TBOOPS (CHINA). 371 STATEMENT of Monies paid for Hire of Godowns or other Temporary Buildings at Song Kong and Kowloon, between 1st April 1861 and 31st March 1865. Name of Person from whom Hired. Particulars of Premises. Period and Rate. Amount. I 1861-62. Messrs. Lindsay & Co. Messrs. Lapraik - Ditto - - - - Messrs. Jardine, Mathison & Co. Ditto . . . - f Ditto . - - . Messrs. Baldwin & Co. essrs. Ambrosi - - - Messrs. Lyall, Still & Co. - Messrs. Johnson & Co. i Ditto - - - - Messrs. Pollard & Overbeck Messrs. Fletcher & Co. Ditto . - - . Messrs. Ambrosi - Messrs. Sassoon - - - ^- 1862-63. Messrs. Naurajaa Messrs. liapraik - • 'iDitto - - - - MoBsrs. Pollard & Overbeck Ditto . - - - [Messrs. Ambrosi - W.' Ditto - - . - ■ -f lilesBrs. Fletcher & Co. Ditto . . . . Messrs. ISassoon - - - Rent of Godowns for Military Store, ditto - - - - - - ditto ditto - - - - - ditto - - - - - Rent of Godowns for Purveyor's Department. House used for Staff Quarters House for Hospital Purposes and Occupation. Hire of Godowns for Commis- sariat. Hire of Godowns for Purveyor's Department. House for Officers' Quarters House and Godown used for Military Store Purposes. Hire of Godown for Purveyor's Stores. Hire of two Godowns for Com- missariat Stores. Hire of Buildings for Officers* Quarters. Rent of House for Officers' Quar- ters. Dwelling House for Comman- dant. Godown for Military Store ditto . . . - Godown used for Military Stores ditto . - - - - House for Officers' Quarters ditto - - - ' - Two Godowns for Commissariat Stores. One Godown for Purveyor's Store. House for Officers' Quarters 1 April to 31 October 1861, at 166 I. 13 s. 4 d. per month. 1 April 1861 to 31 March 1862, at 65 /. 12 i. 6 d. per month. 1 April 1861 to 31 March 1862, at 41 /. ISs. id. per month. 1 April to 31 July 1861, at QZl. 15s, per month. - ditto . - . - . 1 May to 30 June 1861, at 93Z. 15*. per month. 1 April to 30 June 1861, at 72 I. 18 s. id. per month. 1 April to 31 July 1861, at 135 Z. 8 s. 4 d. per month. 1 April 1861 to 31 March 1862 (for the year). 1 April to 15 August 1861, at 83 I. 6 s. 8 d. per month. 1 April to 15 September 1861, at 83 Z. 6 s. 8 d. per month. 1 Hovember 1861 to 31 March 1862, at 166 /. 13 «. 4 d. per mouth. 1 October 1861 to 31 March 1862, at 140 Z. 12 s. Q d. per quarter. From 11 July 1861 to 31 March 1862. 6 November 1861 to 31 March 1862, at 281 /. 5 s. per quarter. From 16 October 1861 to 31 March 1862. Total 1861-62 - - - £. 1 April 1862 to 31 March 1863, at 12 Z. 10 s. per month. 1 April to 31 August 1862, at 41 I. 13s. id. per month. 1 April 1862 to 31 March 1863, at 65 Z. 12 s. 6 d. per month. 1 April to 30 June 1862, at 166 I. 13 s. 4 d. per month. 1 July 1862 to 31 March 1863, at 135 Z. 8s. id. per month. 1 April to 31 December 1862, at 281 1. 5 s. per quarter. 1 January to 31 ftlarch 1863, at 232 Z. 17 S.3 d. per quarter. 1 April to 31 March 1863, at 281 Z. 5 s. each per quarter. From 1 October to 31 December 1862. 1 April 1862 to 31 March 1863, at 250 Z. per quarter* Total 1862-63 - - - £. £. s. d. 1,166 13 4 787 10 - 500 - r- 375 - - 375 - - 187 10 - 218 15 - 541 13 4 335 18 9 375 - - 458 6 8 833 6 8 281 5 - 1,000 10 - 453 2 6 541 13 4 8,431 4 7 150 - - 208 6 8 787 10 - 500 - - 1,218 15 - 843 15 - 232 17 3 1,125 - - 155 14 11 1,000 - - 6,221 18 10 0.^3. 3 b3 872 APPElfDIX TO BEPOET FEOM THE Name of Person from wliom Hired. Particulars of Premises. Period and Rate. Amount. 1863-64. J&essrS. iNaurajaa Messrs. Pollard & Overbeck Messrs. Sassoon - Messrs. Winniberg Ditto . . - . Dwelling House for Commandant House and Godown for Military- Store Department. House for Officers' Quarters Two Godowns for Stores - - ditto - - - . . Messrs. Wright - House - - . - Messrs. .Fletcher & Co. Godown for Commissariat Stores Ditto - . . . Ditto - . . . House and Godown for Commis- sariat. Purveyor's Stores - - - Ditto - . - - Two Rum Stores - Ditto - - - - One ditto - - - - Ditto One ditto - - - - Messrs. Ambrosi - Quarters for Officers - - Messrs. Jafdirie,Mai;hison&Co^ House for Officers - - Messrs. Mitchell - - - . Commissariat Office - - 1 Messrs. Slint . . , Commissariat Stores - - 1864-65. Messrs. Sassoon - Messrs. Boyle Messrs. Winniberg Messrs. McPherson &• Marshall Messrs. Pollard & Overbeck - Messrs. Schmidt - Messrs. Ambrosi - - - Messrs. Jardine, Mathison &Cp, Messrs. Fletcher & Co. Ditto .... House for Officers' Quarters House Rent - - . . - ditto - - - Military Train Barracks - House and Godown for Military Store. Commissariat Store House - Officers' Quarters - ditto - - - . . Purveyor's Stores ... Military Store - . 1 April to 3 1 May 1 86^3, at 1 2 2. 1 s. per month. 1 April 1863 to 31 March 1864, at 1.35 Z. 85. 4 d. per month. 1 April 1863 to 31 March 1864, at iioO I. per quarter. From 11 April to 31 May 1863 - 1 June to 31 August 1863, at 6 I. 5 s. per month. 1 April to 31 Aifgust 1863, at 116 I. IS s. id. per month. From 1 -April tQ,30 June 1863 1 April 1863 to 31 March 1864, at 28 1 /. 5 s. per quarter. 1 April 1863 to 31 March 1864, at 140 I. 12 s. 6 d. per quarter. From 1 July to 30. September 1863 From 1 October to 31 December 1863. From 1 January to 14 February 1864. 1 April 1863 to 31 March 1864, at 2 ] 8 Z. 15 s. per quarter. 1 July 1863 to 31 March 1864, at 75 Z. per quarter. From 1 November 1863 to 31 -January 1864. From 25 January to 3 March 1864 Total 1863-64 - £. 1 April to 31 March 1865 - From 1 February to 8 August 1864. From 1 May 1864 to 31 March 1865. From 4 March to 30 June 1864 - April 1864 - . - - . From 12 May to 12 August 1864 - From 1 April 1864 to 31 March 1865. From 1 April to 31 August 1864 . From 1 April to 30 June 1864 April 1864 Total 1864-65 - - . £. £. s. rf_ 25 - — 1,625 - 1,000 -.- - 10 8 4 18 15 --_ 583 6 8 281 e « 1,126 - - 562 10 - 208 13 i 140 12 6 69 JO 1 875 - ^, 675 - 26 - 10 26 _ 10 7,252 2 ,7 4 a,oi3 eta's ,fc 62 ia>*- .1 184 § ^ m - 135 8 ,1 93 15 -'l 883 15 -;. 125 -. -/< 140 12 ft.j 93 15 ^ ii I 2,782 9 3 RECAPITULATION. Total Amount expended in 1861-62 - Ditto - . ditto - - 1862-63 - Ditto- -ditto - -1863-64 - Ditto - - ditto - - lSB4-g5 - XOXAL - - je. £. s. d. 8,431 4 7 6,221 18 10 7,262 2 7 2,782 9 2 a4,6.87 16 2 ff. W. S. Whvffin, Chief Auditor. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF XKOOPS (CHI^A.) 373 STATEMENT of all Monies Expended upon Foktifications> Militaet Stoee- HOITSES, and BuiLDiNGS, and upon Baeeacks at Hong Kong and Kowloon, from 1st April to SOtli September 1865. App. No. 9. Fortifications. Military Store Buildings. ! Barracks. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. *. d. Amount expended in Repairs ----- 2 12 - 72 12 - 887 16 8 Surveying a portion of Stone Cutters' Island - 31 13 - — — Removing Eartli on account of landslip - - - 6 15 10 — — Repairing Roads and Paths - - - - - 5 13 - — — Fixing iron bars to Windows of Military Store Buildings - _ 13 16 10 Erecting a Cook House: for Military- Store Foreman - - 17 16 10 — Rebuilding with brick the Street face of Shell Store in Arsenal -------- . 7 8 5 ^_ Enclosing the front, and fixing boarded floor and windows to Commissariat premises . - - - ■ 153 10 8 Constructing a charcoal oven for blueing arms - - 1 17 - — Erecting a Mat Shed over the Laboratoiy Tent - 20 1 7 — Renewing the Floor and Joists of New Magazine - - 1 7 - — Securing Floor of Commissariat Treasury against ingress of Thieves from the Drains - - - *i m* _ 43 2 1 Erecting a Mat Shed for Machine Rifle rest - - 3 2 3 — Constructing Fbur Artillery Targets - - . • 3 9 3 — Erecting a Trial Hut at Kowloon . - - - - - 1,742 18 7 , Fitting up Native Hospital as Married Soldiers' Quarters - - -,- - . 67 17 11 Supplying Hose for Fire Engine - - - - - - 4 9 6 Supplying Boilers and Ovens to Royal Engineer Cook Houses, North Barracks - . - - - _ 1 14 - Erecting Officers' Hut at Kowloon ... - - 61 5 1 Erecting a Chiurch at Kowloon - . - - - • 80 16 2 Erecting a Commissariat Flour Store - - . ' - 5 - - - - - 57 10 4 Opening a door of Communication for Officers' Quarters, Murray Barracks - - . - . - 1 - - Repairs to Head Quarters' House - - - - - - 3 16 - Constructing Sentry Boxes - . - - - - - 16 19 6 Erecting Latrine Arsenal Barracks - - - - - - 1 - 6 67th Regiment - - . _ 2 - - Supplying Punkahs to Guard Room - . . , ■ - 1 - - Supplying Fittings to Heard's Godown, occupied by 2nd' Battalion 11th Regiment . . - - - - 78 8 2 £. 46 13 10 146 11 2 3,194 4 2 • H. W. S. Whiffin, Chief Auditor. 0.53. 3b4 374 APPENDIX TO' EEPOET FROM THE App. No. 9. STATEMENT of Monies paid for Godowns and other Temporary Buildings at Hong Kong and Kowloon, from 1st April to SOtli September 1865. Name of Person Description - from of Period and Rate. Amount. whom Hired. Premises. £. s. d. Messrs. Sassoon Hire of House for Officers' Quarters. 1 to 30 April 1865, at 85 L per month. 85 - - Messrs. Winniberg - ditto .- - - - 1 to 30 April, at 17 I. - 17 - - Messrs. Sassoon - ditto . - . - 1 May to 30 June, at 42 Z. 10 s. per month. 85 - - Ditto Hire of three Houses for Officers' Quarters. 1 May to 30 June \ Ditto „ of one „ „ 10 „ to 30 „ / 122 6 6 Ditto „ of one „ „ 11 „ to 30 „ / Messrs. Ambrosi Hire of one House for Hospital 1 April to 30 June, at 74 Z. 7 5. 6 d. per month 223 2 6 Messrs. Heard & Co. Hire of one House for Barracks for the 2nd Battalion llth Re- giment. 31 May to 31 July, at 212 Z. 10 s. per month. £. 425 - - 957 9 - War Office, 10 April 1866. S. fV. S. Whiffin, Chief Auditor. Note—The China Accounts for the Quarter ending 31 December 1865, had not been received the War Office up to the date of this Return. at SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS (CHIKWl). 375 STATEMENT of all Monies expended upon Fortifications, Military Store- houses, and Buildings, and upon Barracks, at Hong Kong and Kowloon, from 1st October to 31st December 1865. App. Koi, 9. Amount expended on Repairs . . . - Repairing Roads and Paths Removing earth on account of Landslip - - - Constructing a charcoal Oven for blueing arms Erecting a new Laboratory - - - - - Fitting up Commissariat Bread Racks with zinc, to prevent the incursion of rats, &c. • Renewing joists of Shifting-room, New Magazine - Erecting Latrine at Arsenal . . - - Supplying Hose for Fire Engines - - - - Securing Floor of Commissariat Treasury against the ingress of Thieves from the Drains Supplying Punkhas for Armonr-serjeant's Quarters Supplying Punkhas for Royal Engineer's Office Supplying Punkahs for Quartermaster General's Office - - . - - Supplying Punkahs for Guard Rooms - - - Supplying Punkahs for Military Accountant's k Office - - Supplying Punkahs for Married Soldiers' Quarters - Supplying Fittings to Heard's Godown, as Quarters Supplying Fittings to Fletcher's Godown, as Quar- ters - . - - - - - Supplying Fittings to M'Gregor's Godown, as Quarters ----- ^ - - Supplying Fittings to Temporary Hospital Whitewashing Her Majesty's Hospital Ship, " Her- cules" . - - . . . . Erecting a Spiral Hut at Kowloon - ■ - - Erecting Outbuildings in rear of Fletcher's Godowns Reconstructing Roof of Military Hospital Erecting Temporary Cooking Accommodation for the 67th Regiment „ - . - - Fitting an Oven and Boiler to Royal Engineer's Cook-house """"."'" Opening a Door of communication for Officers' Quarters -------- Constructing Jalousies for Ventilation of Quarters of Acting Serjeant Major, Royal Artillery - Repairing Huts at Kovvloon Fitting up Married Soldiers' Quarters - Supplying Sunshades for Sentries - - - - Substituting a "Window and Frame for Wire Blinds of Female Schoolroom - - - . Repairing Roof of North Barracks, blown down m a Typhoon . - - Fortifications. £ s. d. Military Store Buildings. 5 13 - 8 6 2 £. s. d. 2 9 6 7 5 8 2 12 - 25 9 8 16 14 9 53 11 7 Barracks. £. s. d. 471 6 9 1 11 - 17 16 - - 5 - 2 4 6 15 1 1 15 4 11 - 10 3 3- 12 16 3 1 - - 236 5 7 329 19 1 36 17 6 4 2 1 3 18 - 7 - - 8 5- 20 19 - 18 14 4 10 1 3 2 16 6 361 5 2 242 10 - 1 6 - 3 9 3 199 5 - 2,010 17 5 War Office, 7 May 1866. H. W, S. WMffin, Chief Auditor. 0.53, 3C 376 APPENDIX TO KEPOKT FBOM THE App, No gi. STATEMENT of Monies Paid for Godowns and other Temporary Buildings at Hong Kong and Kowloon, from 1st October to 31st December 1865. From whom Hired. Description of Premises. Period and Rate. Amount. Fletcher's Messrs. Wood q,nd Kaye.* Mr. Ambrose McGregor's - Mr. Baldwia.* Hire of three Godowns, for Soldiers' Barracks. Hire of St. Francis Hospital - Hire of five Houses and part of a Godown. September Quarter, at 403^. 15 s. per month. September Quarter, at 74 I. 7 s. 6 d. From 24 July to 23 Oc- tober, and from 30 Au- gust to 23 October, at 452 Z. 12 s. 6d. per month. £. £. s. d. 1,211 6 - 223 2 6 1,3S0 3 3 2,784 12 9 War Office, 7 May 1866. H. W. S. Whijffin, Chief Auditor. * These premises were all hired for one year certain, but the rent is only calculated for the first quarter. The same applies to Alexander's house (Cf. 500 a month) for a hospital, and to other houses hired for offices and officers' quarters. Hire of Godowns : — From 1st April 1861 to 31 March 1862 - Ditto - 1862 - ditto 1863 - Ditto - 1863 - ditto 1864 - Ditto - 1864 - ditto 1865 - Ditto - 1865 r^iSept. 1865 c: Dec. 1865 £. s. d. 8,431 4 7 6,221 18 10 7,252 2 7 2,782 9 2 957 8 - \ 2,784 12 - I £.3,742 1 - General Guy's letter of 11th November 1866 calls the attention of the Secretary of State for War to the fact, that the hire of quarters and hospital accommodation, although carried out upon the most economical plans, amounts to 13,158 I for one vear. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOKTALITT OE TBOOPS (qpiNA). 377 PAPER handed in by Captain Galton, 1 June 1866. List of Buildings hired at Hong Kong, with the several Rents, according to latest Returns. App. No. 9. Name Period 1 Purpose Rent Remarks. of for which for which per Rent Pboprietor. Hired. Hired, Mensem. per Annum. £. s. d. £. s. d. D, L. Ambrosi 1 year - Married soldiers' quarters 72 18 4 875 - - A. Lasson •*■ )■ 5 houses, flB.cers' quarters 108 7 6 2,200 - - Ditto ■^ 'J 1 house ,, „ 43 10 - 510 - - Fletcher & Co. 1 )} Soldiers' barracks 403 15 - 4,845 - - Ditto '■ }> Officers' quarters - 138 2 6 1,667 10 - ; G. R. Lammert 1 J) 2 bouses, ditto 25 10 - 310 ^ - — McGregor 1 jj Ditto, and soldiers' barracks. 446 5 - 6,355 - - Fletcher & Co. - 1 w Quarters for Commissa- riat Officer Toa 1.38 2 6 'AL ' £. 1,657 10 - 17,310 - - Hospital - . - ' 1,300 - - 18,610 - - 0.53. 3 C2 378 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FROM THE Appendix, No. 10. PAPERS handed in by Mr. Henry S. Gore, 30 April 1866. lOt: DISEMBARKATION RETURN of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment of Foot, at Hong Kong, this 8t day of February 1865, arrived from Gibraltar. SHIPS' NAMES a. 1 i ss o b 2 2 6 i 1 CO SB a So 1 a a Rank and File. 2 .s "o CO o s j£ CO U SS o See annex eii Detail. u el 1 ! 5 s Alterations among the Non-Commissioned Officers, Drufuniersj and Privates^ since Embarkation. •»» DESCRIPTION (whether Ships of War, Transports, Freight Ships, Coasting Steamers, &c., to be stated). i o 5 1 in 3 1 £3 S -a Q -a Transfers. Qi re 1 1 ,- 'o 1 O EC o It 1 K "ea g se o H.M. Screw Transport " Tamat" 10 10 7 19 6 49* 23 40 728 - 51 82 1,007 2 3 - - - Totai. - • - 7 19 6 49 23 40 728 - 51 82 1,007 2 - 3 - - - DISTRIBUTION of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment of Foot, on this 8th day of February 1865. Field Captains. Subalterns. Siaff. Serjeants. Drummers. Rank and File. Officers. Corporals. Privales. Numbers Disembarked 2 7 19 6 49* 23 40 728 Left on the Uecruiting Service - - - - - - - Sick Absent— At Cape of Goud Hope - - - - - _ 3 lu Arrest at Gibraltar - - - - 1 _ - - - _ Staff employ in Mauiitiu.i - 1 - - _ _ Absent : With Leave - - 1 - - - _ _ Without Leave ... 1 - 1 - - - - - Total ElTcctives - - - 3 10 20 6 49 23 40 731 Wanting to complete . . - - - - - - - - Establishment 3 10 20 6 48 21 40 730 * Includes Schooltaaster. The Battalion embarked at Gibraltar on the 3rd day of November 1864, and sailed on the 3rd dav of November 1864 William Sankey, Colonel, Commanding 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROt)PS (CHINA). 379 List of the Officers who have Disembarked. Rank and Namts. From on Board wliat Ship. Rank and Names. From on Board tj„„, , ., what Ship. ^""'^ ""'' ^^'"««- From on Board what Ship. Cblonel W. Sacikey - Surgeon G. Saunders Major S. Darling Captain W. Daunt - „ A. M. Garden Paymaster W. Morrison Captain C, C. Grantham ■ „ C. I. C. Roberts „ H. G. H. Grubbe - „ H. Gipps „ A. G. E. Morlcy - A.9st. Surgeon C. C. Piper - H. M. Screw 1 Transport " Tamar." Lieut. J, H. Camming - Lieut. & Adj. A. J. B.Wright „ J. S. JefEires - ,, J. L. Bradshaw „ C. S. Parry „ E. W. F. Leighton - ,, E. Fursdon - „ R. G. Dunn - „ F. Glennie - „ R. Nicholson - ,, H. A. B. BrucB - H.M. Screw Transport " Tauiar." Quartermaster P. Boylan - Asst. Surgeon J. Stock - Ensign J. A. Ind „ J. W. Clogstoun - „ R. M. Jephson „ H. Bacon „ W. S. Duthie „ J. J. Buchanan „ J. Lovell - „ E. E. Mallby „ E. P. EIrahurst - H.M. Screw ) Transport " Tamar." Absent Officers. Rank and Names. Reasons for being Absent. Where to be Found. Colonel Knox - Lieutenant Clarke 1 Absent without leave. Captain Burland . Absent with leave , Derweni, near GluucfSter. „ French . In arrest at Gibraltar _ Gibraltar. „ Straubenjie - Staff employ MauritiuE - Mauritius. Return of Arms, &C. Pioneer's Appointments. For For Rank Wrenches, Nipple, 1 bo , Serjeants. and File. N .P. i •^ ^ Oescripiion. '59 Left Behind - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _ Total - - - 8 S 8 8 40 40 40 40 40 20 20 - 20 11 759 759 759 759 759 759 0.53. 3 c 3 380 APPENDIX TO BEPOKT FEOM THE Eetukn op Clothing, &c. Serjeants. Drummers and Fifers. Rank and File. .as > DISTRIBUTION. .2' ■i S a i 1 1 pq i {8 i 'a a Eh 20 (1) 1 I- 20 40 i 20 Q 20 ■5 i 1-5 to 35 6 § 5 02 Quantity Embarked 40 - 40 80 40 40 _ 7.59 - 759 1,578 759 759 2 838 36 In possession of Men left Behind 40 40 40 20 - ™ Total - - - 40 80 20 1 40 20 20 759 - 769 1,S78 759 759 2 838 30 K.ETUEN- OP Ammunition Disembarked with the Regiment. Cartridges, Ball, Rifled Musket (1853) Pattern Caps, Percussion t - 46,340. 69,510. William Sankey, Colonel, Commanding 2nd Battalion, 9th Regimen Families op Opficees Disembarked. Wives. Children. Servants. Rank and Names of Married Officers. Above 16 Years of Age, Females only. Of 7 and under 16 Years of Age. Of I and under 7 Years of Age. Under 1 Year of Age. Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. e Major Darling Assistant Surgeon Piper Lieutenant Cummins Quartermaster Bojian - 1 1 1 1 - - - 2 I - Total - - 4 - " 2 1 - - - Families op Non-Commissioned Opficees and Men Disembarked. > Children. Rank of Husbands of Soldiers' Wives Diseiubarked". ' Between 10 and 14 Ye ars of Age. Between 10 and 21 Yeais of Age. Of 1 and Years under 10 of Age. Under I Year Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. of Age. Wives of Staff Seijeants Wives of Serjeants - . Wives of other Nou-Comniissioned Officers, Drummers, and Rank and File 4 20 23 2 3 2 1 4 IS 13 4 12 9 2 10 4 J OTAI. - - 47 7 1 30 25 16 Two (2). William Sankey, Colonel Comma nding 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment. (Indorsement.) Disembarkation Retuen of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment of Foot at Honn K (arrived from Gihraltar), this 7th day of February IsS ^ ^' ong 10. Number of Troops Day of Disembarkation . Rtu u u From on Board what Ship - . . . J t'':^^^^^^^'- SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OF TlfcOOPS (CHINA). 381 DISEMBARKATION RETURN of thp 2nd Battalion, 1 1th Regiment of Infantry, at Hong Koag, this 31st day of May 1865, arrived from Cape of Good Hope. SHIPS' NAMES Rank 5ec annexed Alterations among the Non-Commissioned Officers, AND < s Drummers and Privates, DESCRIPTION O Detail. 1 since Embarkation. (whether Ships of War, Transports, s » c 03 § CO ■s Transfers. S Freight Ships, o O c ii ^ V n Coasting Rteameis, &c., 10 be stated). a a & i o S 6 ¥ CO a- e 3 i O 1 > ■s a 1 s '.S 1^ ■a V a. 'o ii iS o U 1 « o HJM.S.«Tamax" - 10 2 4 14 5 37 21 39 607 2 62 105 B98 - 4 - - - Total 10 2 4 14 5 37 21 39 607 2 62 105 898 1 4 - _ 1 1 - DISTRIBUTION of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Infantry, on this 31st day of May 1865. Keld Officers. Captains. Subalterns. Staff. T»_., Rank and File. Corporals. Privates. Numbers Disembarked - 2 4 14 5 37 21 39 607 Left on the Recruiting Service - - - - - .-. Absent : With Leave - - 1 3 3 - ** - 1 10 Without Leave - - 3 ' 1 - - - 1 Total Effective - - 3 10 18 5 37 21 40 618 Wanting to complete • - 2 - 11 - 22 Establishment - - - 3 10 20 5 48 21 40 640 The Battalion embarked at Fort Natal and East London on the 10th and 14th dajfs of April 1865, and sailed on the 11th and 15th days of April 1865. Augustus F. Jenner, Colonel, Commanding 2nd Battalion, lltli Regiment. List of the Officers who have Disembarked. Bank and Names. From on Board what Ship. Rank and Names. From on Board what Ship. Rank and Names- From on Board what Ship. Colonel A. F. Jenner - Lieutenant V. Williams Ensign P. H.Smith - MajoiA.H.L.Wyatt(.Col.) „ A. H. Vaughan ,, H. Denny - , - Captain T. B. Tinte - „ F. F. Gibbons - „ 0. J. Forjett „ W.T. Coirie „ W. A. Smjth „ L. C. Brown iH.M.S. "Tamar." R. Cumberlege Ensign S. Halalian - IH.M.S." Tamar." Adjutant H. H. Skill Paymaster B. R. Robinson Quartermaster J. R. Atkins IH.M.S. "Tamar." Lieutenant M. Guard „ J. P. Tighe Surgeon W. T. Black J. R. Kelsall - „ O. C. Robinson / „ G. V. Meredith „ T. A. Kemble i Assistant Surgeon A. Mac- intyre. 0.53. 3 C4 382 APPENDIX TO REPORT PROM THE Absent Officers. Rank and Names. Major T. Peebles - With leave Captain W. H. Crompton - . ditto - „ R. V. Dickens - - ditto - Lieutenant E. J. B. Donelan Sick leave „ G. A. Eliot " With leave Captain R. MaunseTl Sick leave „ A. D. Dixon Without leave „ R. Maule - - - ditto „ W. G. Bjron - ditto Lieutenant E. H. Hare . 1 ditto I'easonsfor being Absent. Where to be Found. England. - ditto. - oitto. - ditto. Cape Town. Left at Mauritius, haying been found medically unfit for service in China. England. ditto. - ditto. - ditto. Vacant Officers. Rank .-....- Lieutenant. Since what time - - - - - 4 February 1865. By what means ..... Death. Return of Arms, &c. Pioneer's Appointments. For For Rank Wrenches, . 4 Serjeants. and File. Nipple, JD CO x> 1 -o Eh W S 5 ^ •£ 1 Beccription. H. 6 CO 00 i 1 Muskets, Rifled (1856), with Ra Sword Bayonets 13 s .o s uskets, Rifled, 853), with R d Bayonets. 4 1 1 f ■a i 1 o s o i ft so E 3 a c ee to eg < 1^ bo i c %■ \ •3 .2 J* T3 1 1 1 ■E D B .B & Sig CO 6 S &: s OD a CO (5 n CO 'S. w s> O i^ < d 3 Fci a (^ & Good . 39 39 670 670 670 670 80 670 36 20 10 10 1 4 5 3 3 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 22 11 u Repairable - - - - - - - - - _ - - - - - - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ . Bad - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Total - 39 39 670 670 670 670 80 670 36 20 10 10 1 4 5 3 3 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 22 11 11 Return of Accoutrements, &c. For Staff Serjeants. For Serjeants. Fo Drummers, Fifers and Buglers. For Rank and File. 00 c bo T3 bO •a distribution. io X) .£3 •p CO Si - s O O i CO ■5 n •s o S3 DISTRIBUTION. 1 1 s o El i Q. o ID 1 O 3 i u 1^ ft) 1 o o a. n (0 6 a V O 1 765 13 O o o n s. a U 1 w e 1 Quantity embarked Serge Frocks In possession o( men left behind. 40 48 4 66 4 58 8 61 8 ; 46 4 29 20 25 25 50 - 25 792 870 S3 713 26 1,325 26 - 720 26 2 725 40 ToTiL - - - 92 70 C6 69 - 50 49 25 25 50 - 25 1,675 778 749 1,351 - 746 2 725 40 E.ETUEN of Ammunition Disembarked with the Kegiment. Cartridges, Ball, RiBed Musket (1853) Pattern Caps, Percussion -..--. 40,482 - 60,723 AHgtutia F. Jetmer, 2nd BattaliuD, lltli Regiment. Detail of Officers' and Soldiers' Families Disembarked. description. Women. Children. 1st.— Officers' Wives and Children 2nd.— Female Servants -------- 3rd. — Wives and families of non-commissioned officers and rank and file, being the regulated number. 4th.— The same, above the regulated number, by authority of dated 6 2 54 13 92 ToTAt - . - - 62 105 Casualties siace Embarkation. • Captain Maunsell disembarked at Mauritius on the 2nd May, having been found medically unfit for service in China, accompanied by his wife and three children. Three children died, and five children born. Three soldiers left at Mauritius to proceed home, being found medically unfit for service in China, and one soldier, servant to Captain Maunsell (with wife). . The conduct of ihe men during the voyage has been very good ; and there were two men landed and tried by court martial at Mauritius. The state of health of the battalion has been very good. (Indorsement). Disembarkation Return of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Infantry, at Honff KoTig (arrived from Cape of Good Hope), this 31st day of May 1865. Number of Troops. Days of Disembarkation. From on Board what Ship. Baggage Guard - (lis., ISPts.) 620 - 70 - - - - 30 May 1865 - 31 „ ,. - - 1 June „ - H.M.S. " Tamar." - - ditto, - - ditto. For the D. A. A. General. 0.53. 3D 384 APPENDIX TO REPO-ET FROM THE Appendix, No. 11. ANNUAL EETURN for the 2nd BattaHon, 9tli Eegiment of Foot, Station, Hong' Kong, 1 January 1866. Service Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Eegiment of Foot. State, showing the Increase and Decrease from 1 January 1865 to 31 Deeeml)er 1865. STATIONS. a e a PS Causes of Increase. ; Causes of Decrease. MONTHS. '3 T3 a '5 <-> 3 **^ .2 T3 s a p c *3 ■-s li- lt i§ •3 CD , i . s2 ■6 Q i 5 f ST K P 1 ■ ■ o -a t 1° a a 3 If m 'XI i •3 1 1 January - 1865 1 February 1865 1 March - „ 1 April - „ IMay - „ I June - „ I July - „ 1 August - „ 1 September „ 1 October - „ 1 November „ 1 December „ 1 January - 1866 Atsea - At sea - Hong Kon^ « . - . ditto - ditto . . - - ditto - ditto ... . ditto - . . . ditto . . - . ditto - . - - ditto , - - ditto - ditto TOTAI - - - 48 48 48 48 49 49 49 49 48 48 48 48 48 23 23 23 21 20 20 20 19 20 20 19 19 19 768 768 767 762 757 7S7 751 724 708 703 642 637 636 1 - - 1 1 4 1 6 9 9 5 3 5 2 - \ 4 1 1 6 15 4 59 3 1 5 7 6 28 16 5 62 5 2 - - - 1 - - - 1 45 - 4 * 1 84 3 137 Movements which have taken place in the Quarters of the Eegiment, and particulars of any Actions or Services in which the Eegiment may have been engaged during the preceding Year, or any other event worthy of record, such as the presentation of Colours, &c. Head quarters arrived in Hong Kong on the 7th February 1865, two companies being sent to Kowloon, which rejoined head quarters in July. (signed) T. E. Knox, Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment. Eecmits Enlisted. Transfers. Enlisted. Casualties among the Recruits. Received, Specifying from what Regiments. Number. Given, Specifying to what Regiments. (dumber. s s ass i ■a 1 i T3 .2 V p Claimed as Deserters from other Corps. CO ELI tn ui CO QJ a,.H s c 0< - Array Hospital Corps. 1 1 - - - - - - ■ SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OP TEO^PS (cHINA). 385 Annual itetuimfiB* the 2iid BattaMoni, Sitk Eegiment of Foot, Station, Hong Komg, 1 January 1866 — con^. Deceased Men. COMPLAINTS. Number Died, Killed in Action. ^ * i > c o ! i n s a Disease of the Heart. •n §• a. U Eg o CO 1 5 b a S Q i a a a .2 1 a. HI GO ■o 45 1 12 3 1 5 3 3 3 2 2 3 9 Discharged Men. Men who have Re-engaged, or Re-enlisted, for a Second Limited Period 1 'El O 1 u ■1 3 Medically Unfit. At Request. By Sentence of Courts Martial. o S S o w Hi 56 1 Ed 'S a ^o w a -3 a a: *-• n-g O S of Service. 1 Without pievioas Discbarge. After hs .9 a o ■s a .2 1 5 |x. a ■§ 1 1 Discliarge. 1 ■5 J 1 0< ■&.!». fell O Sec > '73 ^,- :§§ 1 . 2 - 2 - - - - - - - - 17 - - - Deserters. Number. PERIOD OF SERVICE PREVIOUS TO DESER-TION. Under Three Months. Three to Six Months. Six to TweWe Months. One to Two Years. Two to Three Years. Three to Four Years. Four to Five Years. Upwards of Five Years. Deserted - . - - Rejoined . - - - 4 - - - - - - - 4 Return of Men sent jHome from the Service Companies during the Year, showing the Manner in which they have been disposed of. . Port of Embarkation. On Board what Ship. Number sent Home from ihe Service Companies. How disposed of, including Casualties in the Passage. Date of Embarkation. a C3 0) 1 (U CD a s 3 o a Total. Joined the Depot Coropanies. 1 Q 1 ■q 01 Remaining to be ac- counted for ill the ensuing Year. a 4. OJ 02 2 0) 6 a 3 a a es a . ToTilL. Bemtnuing to b e accouulted for in last Return - - - *' Sovereign of India " - H.M.S. " Tamar " . - , P. & O. Company's steamer - " Giesham " - ' - P. & 0. Company's steamer - ' TOTAT, - . - 9 I 1 6 14 4 46 4 6 15 4 55 4 - - 1 1 2 _ - 3 I 9 1 74 84 - - 1 1 2 - - 4 0,53. 3d2 386 APPENDIX TO EEPOET PBOM THE Annual Return for the 2nd Battalion, 9tli Regiment of Foot, Station, Hong Kong, 1 January 1866 — eont^. Retuen of CouETS Maetial held during the Year 1865. COURT BY WHICH TRIED. Number of Cases in which Corporal Once - 74 District Begimental Number of Men General or or has Tried - Twice - 13 Garrison. Detachment, Total. been Awarded and Inflicted. Three times 1 ' Non-com. missioned Privates and Non.com. missioned Privates and Non-com- missioned Privates and Officers. Drummers Officers. Drummers. Officers. Drummers, Awarded , Inflicted. Number of Trials Offences for which Tried - - - 4 39 8 52 103 - - ■■ Violence to superiors and insubor- dinUion ..... - .. _ 5 _ __ 5 1 I Disobedience .... _ .. 2 2 1 6 1 Quitting, or sleeping on post - _ _ 4 _ 4 _ _ Drunk on duty under arms - — _ _ 2 1 8 11 .. ■ _ Habitual drunkenness ... _. _ _ 22 37 59 _ _ Disgraceful conduct ... _ _ 2 3 _ 5 2 _ Absence without leave - - - - _ _ _ _ 2 2 » _ Making away with neeesaaiies - _ _ _ _ 2 2 __ ^. Miscellaneous (See Article of War, 104) - - - 1 7 2 10 - - Total of Of Convicted and Sentence ences . - - - - 4 39 S S2 103 1 1; . To be reduced to the ranks - Corporal punishment and imprison- - - • 4 - 8 - 12 Number of Lashes. 200 ment - - . . . - - _ 4 ., _ 4 Number of Days. Solitary confinement ... - _ _ _ _ 1 1 14 Solitary confinement and imprison. ment with or without hard labour _ _ _ _ 4 4 112 Imprisonmeni, with or without hard labour .... - - - 37 - 47 84 4,882 Total of Convi Acquitted - . . Punishments Inflicted : ctions - - - 4 41 8 52 105 - . - - - - - - - Reduction to the ranks _ 4 g 12 Corporal ^punishment and imprison- Number of Lashes. ment . . - . - - « _ 4 „ _ 4 75 Solitary confinement - - . _ _ _ X \ 1 Solitary confinement and imprison- Number of Days, ment with or without hard labour - - _ _ _ 4 4 126 Imprisonment with or without hard labour - . . - . - - - 37 - 47 84 4,542 Total of Punish Pardoned . - - ments ... - - 4 41 8 52 105 . - - - - - - - Numbers Sent enced Number Sentenced Number Recommended Total Number put under Stoppages Rethbn of Men given to be to be to be to the Civil Power Marked with the Marked with the Discharged with Ignominy. with Letter D. Letters B. C. or without other Punishment. during the Year 1865. To Awarded. Inl Jicted. Awarded. Inflicted. Awarded. Inflicted. replace Necessaries or For Habitual Under 76 and 77 Miscel- Giveu up and tried 4 Appoint- ments, Drunken- ness. Article of War, laneous, Convicted - Acquitted - S &c. &c. 1 - - - - - - 2 59 10 1 T. E. Knox, Colonel and Lieut.-Colonel. Two Non-commissioned officers sentenced to imprisonment with reduction to the ranks. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OP TEOpPS (CHINA). 387 Annual Return for the 2nd Battalion, 9tli Regiment of Foot, Sta,tion, Hong Kong, 1 January 1866 — con¥. Names of Officeks who have Died during the last Year. CHRISTIAN Cause of Disease, AND Rank. Place and Period of Decease. whether Killed in Action, Died of Wounds, SURNAME. or Disease • P. Boylum - • - ■ - Quarter Master . - - Hong Kong, 29th September . Disease . G. Fursdoa . . - - - Lieutenant . - - Hong Kong, 18th October . Disease • Number of each Country. Ages 42 = „• a 1 n i E g 1 Total exclusive Officers. i n 1 1 s pi g m Q Under IS years 1 1 English . - - - 26 26 13 28 319 386 From 18 to 19 years - - - _ _ _ Scotch ... 4 - - 1 16 17 From 19 to 20 years - - - - _ _ Irish .... 7 21 6 11 258 296 From 20 to 25 years - 3 16 8 166 193 Foreigners ... " 1 "~ "" 3 4 From 25 to 30 years - From 30 to 35 years - From 35 to 40 years - 26 16 3 3 26 4 2 295 100 28 350 120 33 TOTAl ... 37 48 19 40 596 703 From 40 to 50 years - Upwards of 50 years . Total - - - - - - 6 6 48 19 40 696 703 Number of each Religious Persuasi on. tn o ■ 1 ■ Past Services. 1 £ c a .* B S 9 s > ^ O CO a O fu t- So 2 a 1 (U 37 35 12 28 307 382 1 o 1 ^ Church of England - ' H° Presbyterians - Other Protestants, not in- 1 20 21 ' cluded in the foregoing . - 1 - 1 2 4 21 years and upwards _ ^ _ .. _ Catholics . . . - ~ 12 7 10 2G7 296 20 years .... 19 years - - . - 1 - - - - 1 Total - - - 37 48 19 40 596 703 18 years - - 1 - - - 1 17 years . - - . 3 - 1 2 16 years . - - - - . _ _ _ Terms of Service yet unexpired. 15 years - . . - 14 years - . - - 2 - - - - - "■ — — 2 „. .■» J 13 years . - . - 1 - - - 1 a E o n. 12 years ... 1 - - 1 o •= o 11 years .... 2 _ 14 16 CO Q W (li r^ 10 years - . - 9 years . . . - 1 15 48 16 55 Enlisted for unlimited service 1 1 2 4 3 Number whose services expire in the 8 years - . ^ - 30 4 29 426- 489 year 1877 . . - - Ditto, in the year 1876 ~~ _ _ _ _ 7 years . - - - 2 2 3 38 45 Ditto, in the year 1875 3 - - 15 IS 6 years ... 1 2 2 30 35 Ditto, in the year 1874 Ditto, in the year 1873 1 2 2 ~ 3 4 4 8 5 years . - . - - 8 - 13 21 Ditto, in the year 1872 - 1 1 1 3 4 years . - - - 1 1 1 • 3 Ditto, in the year 1871 Ditto, in the year 1870 1 1 8 2 2 13 30 22 35 3 years . - . - - 2 - 5 7 Ditto, in the year 1869 2 2 . 3 39 46 2 years . . - - - - 3 3 Ditto, in the year 1868 Ditto, in the year 1867 32 4 4 30 3 426 49 492 56 1 year ... - - - - - Ditto, in October 1, 1866 - 1 •- 1 15 17 Under 1 year - - - Total - - - ~ "" "• 1 1 Total - - - 48 19 40 596 703 48 19 40 696 703 0.53, 3d3 388 ' jfiEPENDIX lO EEiPOET FKOM TiEtE ANNUAL EETUEN for the 2nd Battali&n, llth Ee^ment of Foot, Stati«H> Hong Keng, 1 Jafflaary 1«66. Service Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Kegiment of Foot. State, showing the Increase and Decrease, from 1 January 1865 to 31 December 1865. STATIC KB. 1 ■ V i a E 3 Q ■i 4 Causes of iDcrease. Causes of Decrease. MO N T « S. '■3 & PS OD a e '3 c o ,03. - R S o i o t.3 ■a i 1 i •s 'S 3 »• Is P o U •i o ■ ■i o ■f . p o . S M-< >. — 1 1^ -< O 1 Q K CI - - 33 - 1 1 1 17 4 2, 1 1 ^ Men who have Re-engaged, Discharged! Men. or Re-enlisted, for a Second Limited Period of Service. ■ i Medically Onfit. At Request- By Sentence of Courts iVIanial. ■ Without After ts a. g .03 Previous Discharge. Discharge. a> a o o . u >> .s . ■5 1 ^ g 1 lit 1 < 2 ffi.a. Prior tion c Perio On, eomp First 4 - ■ - - - 1 - 2 - - - 1 - - - Deserters. Number. PERIOD OF SERVICE PREVIOUS TO DESERTION. \ Under Three Months. Three to Sis Mouths. Six to Twelve Months. One to Two Years. Two to Three Years. Three to Four Years. Four to Five Years. Upwards of Five Years. Deserted . - - - Rejoined . - . . 7 - - 1 - - - 3 4 EpETIPEK: of Men sent Home from the Service Companies during the Year, showing the Manner in which they have been Disposed of. Number sent Home/ from the How Disposed of, including Casualties in the Passage- Port of Oil Board what Service Companies. Date of Joined the Depot 6 Embarkation. Eiubarkaiion. Ship. c4 Total. Conipauies. , c •- ll ■2 !2 i i T3 ■s -0 bo in s U a B „• e £ a 1 a 1 5 IS Rema count ensuir Remaining to be accounted for iu last R eturn - - - - 2 1 14 16 1 2 1 _ 11 - 3 - - - 16 1 1 - 7 8 - - 4 1 2 - 1 - 8 2 _ 9 11 2 _ 7 _ 2 - - _ 11 > 3 _ 2 5 2 — 1 1 1 - - - 5 - 4 4 - .- 4 - - - - - 4 — 1 1 — — 1 — — — — - 1 24 July 1865 Hong Kong "Tamar" I 1 12 14 1 1 12 - - - - - 14 28 August 1865 . - ditto - "Behar" ~ - 4 4 - - - - - - - 4 4 1 1 October 1865 - - ditto - «Greshani" - 1 6 3 99 108 - - - - - - 108 108 15 Nov. 1S65 - - ditto - "Benares" - Total - - - 16 4 3 3 — - - - - - — 3 3 155 175 8 1 40 2 8 - 1 115 175 0.53. 3 d4 390 APPENDIX TO EEPOBT PEOM THE Annual Eetum for the 2nd Battalion, llth Eegiment of Fool, Station, Hong Kong, 1 Jan. 1866 — cont^. K.ETUEN of Courts Martial held during the Year 1865. Number of Men Tried - Once - 47 Twice - 5 Three times 1 COURT BY WHICH TRIED. General. Non-com- luissioned Officers. District ' or Garrison.. Privates and Drummers. Non-com- missioned Officers. Privates and Drummers, Regimental or Detachment. Non-com- missioned Officers. Privates and Drummers. ToTAIi. Number of Cases in whicii Corporal Fuoislimeat lias been Awarded and Inflicted. Awarded. Inflicted, Number of Trial* Offences for which Tried : Desertion . . - - - Violence to superiors and insubor- dination - - . - Disobedience . - - . Quitting, or sleeping on post Habitual drunkeimess - Disgraceful conduct - - - Making away with necessaries Miscellaneous — (See Art. of War, 104) Total of Offences ponvicted and Sentenced ; To be reduced to the ranks - Corporal punishment and imprison- ment . - . - - Imprisonment, with or without hard labour - . - - - Total of Cpnvictions 19 11 27 60 23 2 10 Acquitted ------ Punishments Inflicted : Reduction to the ranks Corporal punishment and imprison- ment . . . - - Imprisonment, with or without hard labour - . . - . Total of Punishments . - - Pardoned ■ 19 11 27 3 16 19 Return of Men given to the Civil Power during tlie Year. Number sentenced to be marked with the letter D. Given up and tried Convicted Acquitted 2 Awarded. Inflicted. Number sentenced to be marked with the letiers B. C. Awarded. Infficted. 15 11 11 27 27 1 3 3 23 4 2 20 CO 14 43 60 10 18 10 Number recommended to be Discharged with Ignominy. Awarded. Inflicted, 27 27 13 3 42 58 Number of Lasbes. 150 Number of Days. 3,695 Number of Lasbes. 125* Number of Days. 2,572 Total Number put under Stoppages, with or without other Punishment. To replace Necessaries or Appoint- ments, &c. &c. For Habitual Drunken- ness. 23 Under 76 and 77 Art. of War. Miscella- (signed) • In case of Private Brennan, 25 lashes Augustus Jenner, Colonel, 2nd Battalion, IJth Regiment, only inflicted, on recommendation of Medical Oflioer in attendance. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOJS ( CHINA), 391 Annual Return for the 2nd Battalion, 11th Eegiment of Infantry ; Station, Hong Kong, 1 Jan. 1866 — cont^- Names of Opeicees who have died during the last Year. CHRISTIAN Cause of Decease, AND Rank. Place and Period of Decease. whether Killed it Died of Wou Action nds, , SURNAME. or Disease Alexander Macintyre . •. . Assistant Surgeon - - Hong Kong, 5th September 1866 - [.Disease. Morris Girard .... Lieutenant - - „ 9ili „ J Number of each CounU^. Ages. i s A OQ Cm a S s B a S i ■3 '-' S3 j: ? 3 g ¥ to 3 O Q. - 8 1 < 1 O g Tot exc Offi ID Q U £ Under 18 years _ 1 _ 2 3 Englisli - - - 24 26 12 27 346 411 From 18 to 19 years - 1 - 6 7 Scotch .... Irish .... 1 8 8 3 2 5 11 90 13 106 From 19 to 20 years - 2 - 17 19 Foreigners - . - - - - - - - From 20 to 25 years 7 5 10 71 93 From 23 to 30 years From 30 to 35 years 10 Q 15 172 203- Total - - - 33 34 15 34 447 530 11 7 116 134 1 From 35 to 40 years From 40 to 50 years 6 — 2 63 71 Number of each Religious Persuas Upwards of 50 years - - - - - Lon. Total - - - 34 13 34 447 530 s s 1 a O 1 AL, usive of cers. Past Services. o p u K u ffi ^ « 6 a. H go "' s a t Church of England - 32 22 8 12 1 23 4 306 45 363 58 ¥ i o c fcT o O ■tf Presbyterians - - - Other Protestants, not in- 1 cluded in the foregoing - Catholics - . - - 1 4 2 7 96 109 21 years and upwards 20 years - - - - _ Total - - - 33 34 15 34 447 530 19 years 18 years - _ - - ' ~ 17 years . . _ - - 2 1 3 Terms of Service yet unexpired. 1 6 years ... 8 - - 2 5 15 years . , - 14 years - . - 1 1 1 2 CO 1 3 years - . - - - - 1 I E B u o 12 years . . - - - - - "S* B o > o 11 years . . - 1 - - 1 2 TO Q O 0. H 10 years 9 years ... Enlisted for unlimited service _ - . I - 1 4 6 Number whose services expire in 8 years . . - - — — 3 3 the year 1876 - - . - - - — — 7 years . . _ 12 3 14 205 234 Ditto in the year 1875 1 1 — 6 8 (Jiitto-jn-the year 1874 2 _ - 2^ 4 6 years ... 7 4 9 113 133 Ditto in the year 1873 - - - 11 11 5 years ... 8 3 7 76 94 Ditto in the year 1S72 2 1 1 29 33 Ditto in the year 1871 3 1 1 33 38 4 years - 1 . 1 33 35 Ditto in the year 1870 Ditto in the year 1869 9 7 3 4 7 10 56 102 75 123 3 years . . - - 1 - 1 2 Ditto in the year 18C8 11 3 14 201 229 2 years . . - - 2 - 1 3 Ditto in the year 1867 . - 1 - - 3 4 1 year _ _ _ 1 1 Ditto in the year 1866 1 4 5 Under 1 year ... Total . - - - — 1 - 4 5 Total - - - 34 15 34 447 530 34 15 34 447 330 0.53. 3E 392 JtPiPBNDIX, TO BEPOEI FR©'?t. THE AKKUALl EELTUKN for the 99th Eegiment of Foot ; Staiion^ Kowbon^China^ 1 January 1865. Service Companies of the 99th Kegiment oflnfantry. State, showing the Increase and Decrease, from 1 January 1864 to 31 December 1864. ,:i: STATIONS. 1 a a a Causes of Increase. Causes of Decrease. MONTHS. B "5 8 as M I T3 or OS B o •ft 1 S T3 V '53 It B 11 a o •a. % s o -s a 'S 'a 1 a 1 -i' t 1 V s 1 o s ■a £ "S CO ^6 -a a o a" 1 ■' 1 January 1864 - . Hojig, Kbng - 46 16 714 - , - - - - - - - - - - 1 February 1864 ' - ditto - - - ^ ' it la 705 - 1 - - 4 - 2- - - 6 1 March - „ - ditto - - - - 4T 18 704 - f - - - 1 - - - - 1 1 April - „ - ditto - - 47 18 704 - ' - - 2 2 - 1 1 - - 2 IMay - „ - ditto ■ 47 15 706 - - - 1 1 1 1 - - - 2 1 June - „ - ditto . - - . 47 14 707 - - 1 - 1 1 - - - - 1 IJuIy - „ - - ditto . - - - , 45 14 624 - - - - - 3 - 1 2 79 85 I August - „ ditto - 45 16 616 - - - - 4 1 1 - 6 1 September „ - ditto - 45 16 614 - - - - - 1 1 - - - 2 1 October - „ Kowloon 46 19 639 - 34 - - 34 3 1 - 1 - 5 1 November „ - ditto - 46 20 635 - - - 2 1 - - - 3 1 December „ - ditto - 46 20 023 - - - - - 4 - - - 8 12 1 January 1865 . ditto - - . Total , 46 20 619 1 - - - 1 2 - - - 3 ' 5 - - 1 34 1 3 39 26 6 5 3 90 130 Movements which have taken place in the Quarters of the Eegiment, and particulars of any Actions or Services in which the Regiment may have been engaged during the preceding Year, or any other Event worthy of Eecord, such as the presentation of Colours, &c. The Regiment moved from Hong Kong to Kowloon on the 15th September 1864. % Recruits Enlisted. Transfers. .i Enlisted. Casualties among the Recruits. Received, Specifying from what Regiments. Number. Given, Specifying to what RegimeutB. Number. .' 13 tn 5 a ■a 1 i 1 1 P T3 U a) Claimed as Deserters from other Corps. n..2 Military Store De- partnjent 1 Corps of Military Staff Clerks - 3/60th RiBes . 2 - 1 - 1 - - - - 1 SELECT COMMITSCEte 'ON MOETAtlTY OF TKOOfS (CHINA). 893 k iAdoaa!iiiiSkl-E,djttrnfcjr iJie 99th.iEi£gimseaat(^^ Station, Kawloorii -iChina, 1 Januaa-y L865 — 'continvn';. iDecfiased Wen. COMPLAINTS. iNumber d 1 died. ' •a S ■v S 2 > ■•i3 a. s -O O n- E Q c £ P.1 6 (13 1 E" Q 1 R « 1 1 2 • 5 & a OS ; eg u d p 22 ' 1 a. ■■■ s Courts Martial. . J ^ Without previous After pq Discharge. Discharge. ■ a, w . ', g . OJ § O) CU >i 1 "1 5 ja ■ 1 •S .2 c .5 ll g-3 5P ■g i S. PL, a. a a 1 w g c SI C 03 ior to cpiration of rst Period. ^■§•■2 ' Wifhin Twelve Months. After Twelve Months. - ii ^ ^ & s iSs ft. CD H & s (1hFs;£ ;oo-S ' 1 6 4 - - - . 1 1 - , - 7 - - - Deserters. ftr-. '— — ' •Number. PERIOD OF SERVICE PREVIOUS TO DESEKTION. ■ ' i Under Three Months. Three to Six Months. Six to Twelve Months. One to Two Years. Two to Three Years. Three to Four Years. Four to Five * Years. Upwards of Five Years. Deserted . - - Rejoined - - 5 3 - - - - - - 1 5 2 i'. ' BiEtruKN of Men sent Home from the Service Companies during the Year, showing the Manner in which they have been disposed of. Port of Embarkation. On Board what > Ship. 1 Number sent Home from the Service Companies. How disposed of, iucltrfling Casualties in the Passage. Date of Embarkation. i- 31 to (U CO no E j3 'A ^1 Total. f } Joined •the 'Depot ' Companies. , 1 ■T3 Remaining to be ac- counted for in the ensuing Year. TotaU a a is 13 ■a • j> HemaiBiiig to be a " 9June 1864- 1 November „ - 1 U „ „ - »x>iinted ioi in Jast - * >• ■ letum - - HJM.S. "Vulcan" - Mail Staainer - - - ' . - ditto - - - . - ditto - 2 .3. -1 -57; 77 4 4 3 79 4 , 4 3 - .3. 53. 4 - — J " i _ 79 4 4 3 60 t-^-- - • TOT'AI. - - - 2' -• «« 90 - - - - - 90 - 0.53. 3 £ 2 394 APPENDIX TO EEPOKT FROM THE Annual Return for the 99th Regiment of Foot ; Station, Kowlom, China, 1 January l&Q5-continued. Retukn of Courts Martial held during the Year 1864. COURT BY WHICH TRIED. Number of - — - Cases in which Corporal Once - 53 District Regimental Punishment . General. or or has ' Number of Men Tried - Twice - 3 Three times 1 Garrison. Detachment. Total. been Awarded and Itiflictexl. Non-'Com- Privates Non-com- Privates Non-coin- Privates ' missioned and missioned and missioned and Awarded. Inflicted. Oflfieers. Drummers. Officers. Drummers. Officers. Drummers. Number of Trials Offences for which tried : Desertion - ... - 2 - 29 10 21 62 - 4 . . f _ - Violence to superiors and insubor- 4 3 g 1 1 dination . - - - — 2 ~ " 3 1 4 Disobedience - — 1 1 IT " Quitting, or sleeping on post - — ~ 1 2 12 Drunk on duty under arms - Habitual drunkenness - - - ■- - - 29 2 4 9 - - Disgraceful conduct - - 2 1 1 1 Absence without leave - - - - - "• Making away with necessaries - — *" *" Miscellaneous (See Articles of War, ^ 104) - - - - - - 7 8 5 20 - - 1 Total of OfFe Convicted and Sentenced : nces - - - - 2 - 49 10 24 85 1 Penal servitude ... - 1 - "* "~ ~ ■ -.: To be reduced lo the ranks - ~ "■ 10 ~ Number of Lashes. ,-;■ Corporal punishment and imprison- 1 \ 50 ment - - - - ^ ' Number of Di^. Solitary confinement and imprison- ment with or without hard labour - - - I ■" 2 196 Imprisonment, with or without hard - labour - - - 1 - 28 3 19 51 3,689 Total of Convic ions - - - - 2 - 30 13 21 66 — r' — .- -^ Acquitted - Punishments Inflicted : - — " -- . »- ■> Penal servitude - - - - - ~ ~ " ~ ,i Reduction to the ranks - — ~ — "■ Number of Lashes. Corporal punishment and imprison- ment . . - - - - - - 1 - - 1 50 Solitary confinement and imprison- - Number of Days. ment with or without hard labour - - - - - 1 1 42 Imprisonment, with or without hard labour - - - - - 1 — 29 3 20 53 3,643 Total of Punishments - - - - 2 - 30 13 21 66 Pardoned ------ - - - - - - Number Sentenced Number Sentenced Number Recommended Total Number put under Stoppages to be to be to be Rbtttiin of Men given Marked with the Letter D. Marked with the Letters B. C. Disehaiged with Ignominy. or wit wit Punishment. ' to the Civil Power lOut other during the Year. To replace Necessaries Pop Habitual Under 76 and 77 Miscel- Awarded. Inflicted. Awarded. Inflicted. Awarded. Inflicted. Given up and tried Appoint- Drunken- Articles laneous. Convicted Ji ments, &c. &c. ness. of War. ^ Acquitted - 4 4 2 -1 9 - 39 4 ^- (signed) J. H. Dunne, Major Commanding 99th Regiment. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITr OE TROOPS (CHINA). 395 Annual Eeturn for the 99th Regiment of Foot ; Station, Kowloon, China, 1 January 1865 — continued. Names of Officers who have Died during the last Year. CHRISTIAN AHD SURNAME. Rank. Place and Period of Decease. Cause of Decease, Whether Killed in Action, Died of W ounds, or Dibuase. W. B. Parcel 1 . . . - Captain - Bath, 6 January 1864 - Fever. H. Kinahan - . - - Lieutenant - Hong Kong, 28 January Dysentery. Charles Dew . - . . - Ensign - Madeira, IS October Dysentery. Number of each Country. Ages. Under 18 years i •& 1/3 3 3 1 1 5 1 > O a CO '^ V m 1 S a .a (S o p. o O i > «4. o a) •<; = g H SO < 2 _ 1 3 English - Scotch - - - - Irish . . - - Foreigners 20 2 11 26 3 17 8 12 24 1 15 274 22 283 332 26 327 From 18 to 19 years From 19 to 20 years From 20 to 25 years From 25 to 30 years From 30 to 35 years 9 23 9 I 3 9 1 3 9 26 4 1 2 162 320 65 2 5 189 Total - - - 33 46 20 40 579 685 81 From 35 to 40 years - From 40 to 50 years 3 2 1 1 26 2 31 ~ i ~ 4 Dn. Upwards of 50 years Total - - - - _ - - 46 20 40 579 685 1 O s S 3 43 2 §. o O s •a H go Past Services. 21 years and upwards 20 years 19 years 18 years 17 years 1 02 3 E s Q & a, S > Church of England - Presbyterians - Other Protestants, not in- 29 2 2 33 2 11 9 1 10 22 3 15 249 35 295 313 41 331 tZ ^ 1 cluded in the foregoing - Catholics . - - - 3 1 - 4 4 5 _ Total - - - 33 46 20 40 579 685 5 - - 7 5 Terms of Service yet Unexpired • 16 years 15 years 14yeiirs 2 2 1 - - 5 3 2 7 5 3 c •ET 3 g Q ■ £ o O h > 2 13 years 12 years ... 11 years . . - 1 years 1 2 1 1 1 - 4 3 2 1 7 4 3 Enlisted for unlimited service Number whose services expire in the year . - - - - JJitto, in the year ... Ditto, in the year . . - Ditto, in the year Ditto, in the year Ditto, in the year ... Ditto, in the year Ditto, in the year Ditto, in the year - - - Ditto, in the year Ditto, in the year 5 3 10 5 6 9 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 9 6 5 9 I 3 3 2 5 11 1 2 15 82 90 102 77 159 17 7 5 8 3 4 22 91 109 113 88 188 20 7 11 13 6 17 9 years 8 years 7 years 6 years 5 years 4 years 3 years 2 years 1 year - - - Under 1 year . - - Total - - 3 10 5 6 8 1 2 9 3 2 2 7 9 6 5 11 1 1 89 92 102 77 154 16 5 5 6 1 101 111 US 88 182 17 5 10 8 3 Total - - 46 20 40 579 1 685 46 20 40 57af i-ess 0.53. 3 B 3 396 APPENDIX TO KEPORT FRoM THE Appendix, No. 12. PAPEES handed in by Cplonel Egerton, 14 May 1866. Monthly Return of the Service Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Kegiment of Foot ; Head Quarters at Hong Kong, 1st January 1866. •'' -4\ STATION, &c. ' a & g o u O fS Effective Strength of the Service Companies. COMPANIES. Officers Present. s ^ a S -IH [» '7' "S.3.S «o « a Fit for duty at head quarters On fat - com- < at - mand [_at _ - - - Sick, present . - - In military coniinement Servants to General and StaflF Officei's Total - - - 10 19 10 16 48 19 35 I 416 2 ; 25 5 2 114 32 40 j S95 rOn Staff «mpioy Officers J On duty with other corps Absent | With leave - Iwithout leave Total Effectives - Establishment 20 10 20 5 48 I 6 I 48 Borne as Supernumeraries, and not Included in the above . Numbers : Under sentence of penal servitude - ... Invalids, &c., sent Home, but who have not yet been taken on the Strength of the Depot Companies - - - - 10 19 21 40 40 Staff Captain C. C. Grantham - (A) H. G. H. Grubbe - (B) C. J. C. Roberts - (C) G. H. French - (D) A. M. Cardew - (E) G. E. Morley . (F) W.H. Burlwood - (G) H.Gipps . - (H) B. V. Straubenzie - (I) W. Daunt - - (K) 65 68 63 58 67 60 59 67 64 65 47 20 636 ■596 630 • Number of Staff Serjeants, &c. in- cluded in the Co- lumn of " Ser- jeants " with the Regiment - ■ Serjeant major Qnartermaeter 'seijeant Serjeant instructor of musketry Bandmaster Serjeant Paymaster Serjeant - Hospital Serjeant Orderly-room clerk .Colour iserjeants . - . Total - Nnmber«iE< 7^ 1 1 ', 1 ■,' 16 66 Account showing the Increase and Decrease of the Service Companies diariog the last Month. Number of Lance Serjeants. LiBmae 78 Jbsting Brtnnmers. Effective Strength on 1st of last J.Month - - - Promoted - - - - - Jlecruits joined - - - - ',(„ , Increase Dead Promoted - Reduced - Decrease - Effective Strength on the Ist of the-i present Mdnth, cKclusive of the > Supernumeraries above specifiedj Serjeants, 48 Drum- mers. 19 Cor- porals. 40 48 19 Privates. 597 Total. Average number of nights in bed durmg the last month - 3i ,f 704 Classification in Terms of General Orders, Nos. 737 and 738, ' \i Sthtrad 25th November 1'859. 40 596 Number of 1st Oass. 601 2d Class. -J 112 Explanations of Recruits, Re-enlistments, Discharges, Transfers, &c., dwring pist Month. 7 703 Recruits, enlisted at head quarters Men. Soys. (True Copy.) Thos. JE. Knox, Colonel and Lieut. -Colonel Commanding -2nd Battalion, 9th Foot. S. Egertmi, D. A. G. SELECT COMMITTfBE ©3* MORTALITY OiP Tl^OPS (CHINA). 39t r Monthly Return of the Service Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment of Foot ; Head Quarters. '■ .] ' at Bowj^iTon^, 1st February 1866. STATION, &c. B-i 9. • Fit for duty at head quarters On f At Canton- - Com- < At Foochow mand LAt Stanley - Sickj present - . - In militarji conflneoient - Servants tb General and § ^ I V Staff Officers Total 10 10 Officers fO"^*^*"??'"?;- - Xr. A S On duty with other corps *^''"Hwith leave - - - Total Effectives - Establishment 3 12 10 19 20 Borne as Supernumeraries, and. not Included, in the above Numbers : Under sentence of penal servitude .Invalids, &c., sent Hbme, but who have not yet been taken on the Strength of the DepSt Companies 48 18 19 48 48 12 19 40 425 4 2 10 65 18 1 525 Effective Strength of the S«rvice Companies. COMPANIES 40 20 40 525 630 123 Account showing the Increase and Decrease of the Service Companies during the last Month, 1st February 1866.. I Effective strength on 1st of last month . - - - - promoted - Increase Dead , ~ - - ~ - i Deserted - - ' Transfers given . - - - Invalids sent home to be discharged Sent home to join the depfit com- . panies - . - . - '. Promoted - . - - Reduced . - . - - Decrease - - - j EffectiveStrengthonthelstof theT present Month, exclusive of the > Supernumeraries above specified J Serjeants. 48 48 Drum- mers.. 19 19 Cor- porals. 40 Pri- vates. 596 Total. 703 10 10 7 1 1 52 5 5 71 40 526 7 1 1 57 5 9 1 81 632 Staff - Captain Grantham „ Grubbe - „ Roberts „ French - „ Cardewi - „ Morley - „ Burlgind „ Gipps. - „ Straubenzie „ Daunt - - (A) - (B) - (C) -(D) - (-E). - (F) -(G) -(H) - (I) -(K) Officers Present. 47 20 54 60 57 53 59 53 53 59 59 59 565 * Number of Staff Serjeants, &c. inclu- ded in the Column I of " Serjeants " with the Regiment ' Sejjeant major - . , Quartermaster Serjeant Serjeant instructor of musketry Bandmaster Serjeant Paymaster Serjeant Hospital Serjeant - Orderlyjwom clerk ^ Colour Serjeants - - - Total Number of Number. 15 Lance Serjeants. Lance Corporals. 64 ->t Acting. Drummers^" Average number of nights in bed during the last month .X. w Classification in terms of General Orders, Nos. 737 and 738, ' 9th and 25th November 1859. Number of 1st Class. 536 «^i 2d Class. 96 (True Copy.) T. B. K%ox, Cotonet and Lieut. Colonel Commanding 2nd Battalion, 9th Foot. B. Egerton, D. A. G. «.53. 3 E 4 398 APPENDIX TO EEPOBT PROM THE s Monthly Ketukn of the Service Cpmpanies of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment of Foot ; Head Quarters at — Honff Kong, Ist March 1866. STATION, &c. 3 a 9 CH Supernumeraries above specifiedj Ser- jeants. 34 Drum. mers. 15 Cor- porals. 34 Privates. 447 Total. 530 31 14 28 2 48 2 1 53 397 2 58 2 1 1 64 470 (True Copy.) Staff Captain Hon. J. Colbome - (A) „ T. B. Tuite - . (B) „ A. Gordon - . (C) „ W. P. Jordan - . (D) „ W. A., Smyth . . (E) „ L; C. Brown - - (F) „ R. V. Dickens . (G) „ W.J)..Naper - (H) „ W. T. Corrie . . (I) „ W. H. Crompton . (K) 1 2 t- s"l 1 t- 31 2 2 1 I 2 1 1 2 1 I 14 35. 34 33: 70 33 32 48 33 434 t Lieutenant Kelsall attached. X Lieutenant Meredith attached. * Number of staff ser. jeants, &c. included in, the column ofj " Serjeants" with the regiment ' Bandmaster serjeant Hospital Serjeant . Orderly-room clerk . Colbur Serjeants - Total Number of Lance Serjeants. Lance Corporals. 37 Now 11 Acting Dnunmers. Average number of nights in bed during the last month^ 3. Classification in Terms of General Orders, Nos. 737 and 738, 9th and 25th November 1S59. Number of 1st Class. 426 2d Class. 44 Auguslm F. Jenner, Colonel and Lieut. Colonel, Commanding 2nd Battalion, llth Regiment. M. Egertan, D. A. G. \ < SELECT -COmiSIITSrEE OW KtOETALlTT OF 'TBOOPS (cHINA). 401 Monthly Return of the Service Companies of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Eegiment of Infantry ; Head Quarters at Hong Kong, China, 1st March 1866. STATION, &c. ■g g rFit for Duty at Head Quarters ' CO fl On (at Japan command \at C^pe Colony - Sick ./present *""^ \at Stanley - In militai^ confinement In custody of civil power ,of- Cape Town ' - Total ,te ' SB 10 ,. _ fon staff employ "f '="/<^ with leave - absent ]^„itiio„t leave Total Effectivfes Establishment 12 5 31 15 16 Effective Strength of the Service Companies. J COMPANIES. 214 129 34 1 Officers Present. -H W -353 Staff Captain Hon. J. Colborne - (A) 3 i 10 I 10 16 20 Borne as Supernumeraries, and not included in the above Numbers : Attached : SdClass Schoolmaster - . - . Invalids, &o. sent home, but who have not yet been taken on the strength of the dep6t companies . - - - 31 15' 27 48 21 40 10 12 640 159 AccotTNT showing the Increase and Decrease of the Service Companies during the last Month. Effective strength on 1st of last month - - Promoted Reduced Increase - Dead - - - - - Invalids sent home to be discharged Sent home to join the depflt com- panies - - - - - Promoted - - - - - Reduced - - " " Decre^^se - - - Effective Strength on the 1st of the") present Month, exclusive of the S Sup6rnumerari«s above specified J Ser- jeants. 31 Drum- mers. 14 Cor- porals. 28 •Privates. 397 Total. 470 t 31. 15 27 393 T. B. Tuite A. Gordon - W. P. Jordan W. A. Smyth L. C. Brown R. V. Dickens W. D.. N^er W. J. Corrie (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G) (H) (I) W. H. Crompton - (K) 15 35 33 33 38 67 71 32 31 47 33 420 t Lieutenant ■Kfelsalil attached. % Lieutenant Meredith attached. ♦Number of staff ser- geants, &c. included in. the column of " ser- / jeants" with the regi- ment - - - / Bandmaster Serjeant Serjeant master tailor - Serjeant cook ^ Colour Serjeants - Total - No. 11 Number of Lance Serjeants. 10 Lance Corporals. Acting Drummers. 32 Average number of nights in bed during the last month, 3 and 4. Classification in'Terms of General Orders, Nos. 737 and 738, 9th and 25th November 185,9. 466 I Number of - 1st Class. 422 2d Class. 44 (True Copy.) Augvstm F. Joiner, Colonel and Lieut. Colonel, Commanding 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment. H. Efferton, D. A. G. 0.63. 3f2 V>¥* 402 APPENDIX TO KEPORT PEOM THE d ')< a. a> < to 00 I-( cs S CO -2 VO <» 00 i 1-5 6 a TS S> ■ 1-1 a a 3d a) o pq sH CO -$ =4-1 O !zi o H P^ I— I O 09 as .3 •5 a iTc I I^:. 11 > II > Jl III IU-|II l| II ||. I| = Q OQ iz; " pa f"^ (0 ;0 i-i so CO ffl CO ^ 00 QD ^•'S:" 3; mm CD I ■ I II IS ^ c8:g p;5 of^ f=i " ■ I I • ■ I I II I ■ ■ III II till 1 1 III I I . . 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II II V t » t 1lillllllill|ii|ii|i I 1 I I- I II I 1 I I I I I I' I I I r • r I I I I I r I' r I* I I r r I I ■ I I I I I I I I I I I ■ III! II I r I I ■ r I I r i> i I i> I I I I' I ■ i 1 11 I I r t> I' I t' f !• I I I I' r I I I I I 1 I I I k II llllll Jl-i^ Sffl o iiiiiiiiriiii llllll "s .g= o 00 a !§ cQeonc4eQeOcQeQeoe4S4eoc4eQcoe4eoeoeoe4e4eoa3.cQmeoMcoMe4e>3mMeocO I 1 I I I llllll f SSS(^SSSS^'*QO^^OM^oSo0^aiC^t>'*^**QOT?TPl^N«t~^MCrtCO«Tf«r;^CDOr-tO 0.53. 3^4 406 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FEOM THE s .8 CO 00 Em CO «o 00 1-5 o s 6 PS <5 PJ ffi CO !j 5 " ••jI ti I II ; I 1 1 1 I 1 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 ! I < ■ I • I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ■ I t I I I I ■ I I I illlililliiiiliiiiii|ili I I I I I I I I I II II I I I I I 11 I I ■ I I I ■ ■ 111 III s o s §^- t»q 1 el s 'So pi o w a O d o PS o iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii .a I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I > l*llllllllll(|lllll|ll|llll < I I 1 I 1 I 1 I ■ I I I I It • III! CS 1ft o ta ::qo qo r :: • ■ ■ • I I I I I I p I I I I « I 1 i I « « 2 z; 2 12 ^ !2 SS "=* *=> •« ^ » ■* ^ « — Tj< fr- b. Ft I 111 111 I I i I I I 1 I « I I I I I I I I I I I ■ I I I I s • I ■ I ■ * I I I • ^ ft R S R O p, (u K CO iz; Q K <) iiiiiiiiiiii 111! "22rt'"rtSH°'2S222°'"""'2""°'""'"°'"'°''^"°'""°'"'™""""'""""«Mw«! I I I I c • . ^" = ^j i, ri i J K = oi-Srt3oPSo5(§«ooP3£ooo » « >» >a t-^ P%.3 SL.2 SL g J o oP3 ^"" o c: S ^ ,n fl .2 iw t a > r;j3 ^1 , ^ V i_ i^. = "i "Pi I I a I c *P o ho it w M ■I s s i fe &.?^ ^ S « S £|? S g = S = = « &P= S,35 llll'^^ililliii&sll'^il I I • I I 6khw4Sh4^m .a S III .^ o (U CO fe -'" J5 i o o 'K tnO< OQcqO p^ I I f-1 >«■ SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OF TROOPS (cHINA). 407 C t3 v o > o a 00 ea a: . r:sM 1 1 )lllllllllllllllll I I I ■ ■ I > I t I I I I I t I I I I I I I ■ I I '', < ^ ' I I <■ I I I I I ■ I * I t I I I I I I f^,. I I I I 1 1 1 I I I I I I 11 11 1 I I I I I I I 1 t I I llllllllllllllll ■ ■• I I I I I I I I I I I ■ I I 1 I ■ I I I I I ■ I I I I 1 1 ■ I I I '* I Iv I I I I t I I I I "i*y I I I I I I I I I I > a ^ ^ _.- .. ^ ^ ^ ^ , ^ ^ ,. I I t I ■ III ■ 1 I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I ' I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I crB«CCM«eOMeOf'9COMM«COCfl«eO«M«MMrt 1 I I I I 1 • I III I I I I I • I I I I I I I I I I I I t I I □ I I 11 ■ o ^^ .J o ^ '9 • *3 . -- '3 . • ^7^ — _^ — . T^ T^ T^ .11 W jf\ T» *«' ■« ^M _i •\ rri pa m .« mi ■ .* .*_i ^^ S5 „• . . 3I, I I I I I 1 I ■ I I i I I I I I I I I I '4 ; s R ra.;; :; eoocnTfomO)(NO<-4C9- ^t t> CO (-> (M *-'3,t','?lG>»*'^'^® 0^CSTf« C s' iC f * i-« WfiO ^'irsCbl^COOSO'-Hff»«Tfi»0(OI>COCSOi-r(MCO OOOOOOOOOi— inHfHi— It— l-H^H^Hr<-(^K^(^0|C>l 0.53V 50 lU u CO .n 00 iH CD 00 I— I s^ J- cS o l> o o d CO ID R 1-1 !?; I— I fl 'S o ;=! 3G • DISEASE. Feb. Inter, and Anarmia. Feb. Inter, (exuenie Anasinia), Feb. Inter, and Splenitis. - - ditio. Feb. Inter, (extieme Anamia). Feb. Inter. Spleni.is. Feb. Inler. (extreme AiiEeinia). FebrJs. Remit. Feb. Inter, and Splenitis, - - diito. Diarrhoea (and extreme Anaemia). Feb. Inter, (extreme Anaemia). Feb. Inler. and Splenitis. Feb. Inler. and Hepaulis. Feb. Inter. Diarrhma et Splei.itis. Splenitis. Feb. Inter, et Splenilis. Feb. Inler. et AnEemia. Feb. Inler. el. Splenitis. ;^ "A Q iz; -a W. Wall - R.Kelly - VVro. Wilson - J. Goulding J. Hiehardson - J. M'Gough J. Ednaids J. Cousens A. Archer J. Merritt - J. M'Connor T. Hepworth - R. Reed - H. M'Gregor - J. Rugaii - J. Ban on - R. Giaham S. Smith - J. Jones - • < > < • 1 • 1 ( 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 « a 1-* DISEASE. Feb. Inter. Splenitis. - - ditto. Feb. Remit, and Fistula. Feb. Intur. Splenitis. - . ditio. - - ditto. Hepat., Splenitis, and Ascites. Splenitis and Ascites. Hepat. Chron. Hepal. et Anasarca. Feb. Inter, and Splenitis. - - ditto. - - ditto. - - ditto. Feb. Inler. Feb. Inter, and Splenitis. Splenitis. Feb. Inter, and Anaemia. - - ditto. S J. Garner - J. Cook - J. Reuan - J. Brown - W. J.nce- W. Halsey J. Fiain - G. Lines - W. Caiiham C.Bates - H. Newham G.Dwyer- W. Fallon W. Powell J. Corry - R. Kenyon T. M'Nally H. hjchofield J. Ashby - '•'•■'•' till, III ^ = ^11 =.. = . = Jill *5jo c M E ~_. --«-, .„. ..-KtiKiSK Cd Q Feb. Inter, et Splenitis. Feb. Inter, et Hepatiris. Feb. Inter, et Diarrhoea. Feb. (and extreme Ansemia). Feb. Hepalilis and Diarrhoea. Feb. Diarrhoea and Anaemia. Feb. Splenitis. Feb. (extreme Aiiasmia.). Feb. Inter, and Hejjatitis. - - ditto. Feb. Inter, et Diarrhoea. F'-b. Inter, ft Splenilis. - - ditto. - - ditto. Feb. Syph, Sec. Feb. Int. Splenitis. Diarrhoea and Feb. Remif. Feb. Inler. and Splenitis. Feb. Inter, and Diarrhoea. Feb. Inter. Splenitis. < Q z G. Spencer K. Anderson J. Powell Wm. Brantching J. Cartltdge J. M'Guire B. Jewers ■ J. Heard - W. Bond - J. Dawson P. O'Haia W. Blair - W. Gouldsbro - J. Savage - P. Gibion- W. Wainwiight . C. Douglas J. BarlKtt G. La3 cock C. Smith - 1 1 1 I ■• 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 « -.-2« -- = 15 -,„„.,.„.„„ 00 — Ph 6 408 APPENiaX TO REPORT FROM THE Pi m P3 g kI 1 11 June 1863 23 July „ 11 June 1863 11 V 11 June 1863 11 ., 11 ., 17 June 1863 3 Aug. „ 11 June 1863 S R R S 11 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1^13^ 1 1 1^ 1 1 1 1 1 1 I4I 1 '-g ' ' 'i ;, 1 . 1 1 P i CO so 'at m' M 00 CO 00 CO 00 I-* r-1 i-l F-( r-< ^ ^ >> m >> s n a 3 = 1-5 i-s p-5 -q . . i-:i 00 1 1 0) 1 1 fr- 1 1 1 1 1 fH 1 1 «) I-I R Sr:rrSr...Srr.S::RRRRR'|ss'|srr Soo CO CO 00 00 Fi rH F-( rH I-I — r'|r.rr|r ,|rr |.rrrrr.|rR ||rr. MOirsmurjl-HtM , , irHlMlO ,VHf-4ff|P-t(N»«^ ,rHlO^ 'SS"^"^ -HF-ir-( i-H p-,P-(rHCT T3 i M 1 1 1 1 1 I t ^ 1 1 00 i-t ■3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 • I 1 ^ 1 1 1 1 ■ 1 1 1 ■ 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 t I I ■ ■ > > < 1 1 ' ' 1 1 I 1 1 < 1 1 1 I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 ■ 1 ■<■ I ' as "3 ■i 1 a 1 ;. R R s R s ; s R :: J, R R R = i •-^ aR:;:;rftft::ftR=RftftA CO R S:^rrrSrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr«:;RR I-H I-I (9 03 as IS 1 i 1 1 I i I 1 1 1 ■ 1 1 I ■■ I I ■ ^ 1 1 I I 1 I I 1 ■ 1 I 1 1 1 1 ■ 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 I 1 CO rH • 1 I ■ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 II 1 1, 1 1 1 I I 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1, i ■ 1 ■ 1 1 1 1 ■ . • ■ 1 .5* S 1 1 ■ ■ 1 1 1 1 1 t 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 t 1 1 I 1 I ■I eS §- R . . R . R R . R R . R r . R CO 1 1 1 t >• 1 1 1 1 1 ■• 1 1 ■ 1 1 1 1 1 ■ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ■ 1 1 1 I ■ 1 ■ 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I I 1 1 > , I I 1 I > U) ftftS^ft, -^- RRRR:;5RRRR=:;RRr2Rr5RSJtRR . R|^ ft r. ft r| ^ ^ *. "' Date of leaving Regiment. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 * to CD ""* R?'»E'ft:;R:;?^RRR:^R CMOTN(NWllNINr<«IMIMIN(NrtWWU5lA»O>rtwS>nwSlrtlft«5>«lft»OW»OtO>ftlO>0iai0 CTINl-lFHrHr-'— lrHr--H-Hr-F-l--l>.|rH — rHi-lr-l—rHl-(rH'rH'rH.rHrH-HrH-HlH. 3 Aph. Ch. Diarrhoea Ch. - Syph. See. Dysecoea . - - Diarr. Ch. Serofula . - - Hyper. Cord. - Feb. Int. - ditto - Dysent. Ch. - Atrophia - ditto - . . Diarr. Ch. . ditto ... Strict. Ureth. - Bronch. Ch. - Dysent. Ch. - Dysent. Ac. - Ophth. Ch. - ditto - ditto Diarrh. Ch. - Atrophia - _ - Csecitas - - - Ophth. Ch. Ansemia Ophthalmia Hepat. Ch. Asthenia Anaemia . - - Bronch. Ch. - Asthenia - - - Dehilitas Phth. Puim. ~ Iritis Bronch. Ch. Csecitas - - - Bronch. Ch. - Ophth. Ch. - pebilitas - - - Ansemia - - - Csecitas - - - Ansemia - - - Ophthalmia Morb. V. Cord. Bronch. Ch. - Ophthalmia Debilitaa - o Sil George Stone - James Lawler • Michael Cumingh William Mooney Owen FJnnegan Edward Mulhall William Brown James Conway Fred. Francis - .Arthur Ferguson Thomas M'Grath Michael Rogan Josh. Davidson John Pattison - Daniel Solane - John Hillery - Francis Moon - William West - William Lynch Thomas O'Connell - John Ogburn - James Campbell Francis Hudson Edward Lord - Michael Connahan - George Higgins Charles ' Divine Henry Stinsoii Fred. Lee James Farmer - Patrick Walsh James Burhes - William Hawkins John M'Gee - Michael Logan Frederick Nixon John Mahony - Josh. Roberts - Patrick M'Loughlin Daniel Young - Timothy Naughton - Evan Williams Pierce Tobion - Henry M'Neill Rdbert Gibaon James Stone - William King - Johtt Halfpenny s CO f R = 5«SRRRR:RR;sg ■ ' ' ' 1 . . ■■.,,,.,, £^1 R R R r R R -. R R S , R R - R - , , . . ^ _ , _ _ . ._ Ph Regi- mental Number. (HOOTiH00Q0«C0O^(N(Db«'O01u3, OOOS^^rtOmSSSSSSSoo NNiOiO'WO^USCOODOlNroOt-t-'* ^.« « =0 « 00.0. 2,- 2.^_„ .|g ^_||£ ||s S g^l^ i |S g^2 |S. -iffiOTrfioot-inoJo — s^MTfinto J:2S§SS3S5^S§S;SggSSS5SSgS§?g§;5«155«»'^«, SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA), 409 1865 1864 'ii Tt O Cl Oi Ol O) «0 « 1-1 1— ^ i-« i-H ^ :; O u o u Ot50 Z Olz; OOO O 15 O — ' rt i^ !N W r-t S rS.53 R J -S Mil CO coqo qocoqo cooo goqoqo' qoooqooood o o o 5 « o > > >■ > (J O Oi o o u Q h^pq ;z; I I I I. « I I ■ I I • I I ■ I I I I I I I I I I I * ■ US us 1 * 1 I ^ II to CO 00 I ( I I I I ■ t ( I ll'llllll(llll.lllfllll I I I I I I I I 1 ■ 1 I I I o ? I I I I I rl I I I I • I ■ I ■ ■ I ■ ■ I I ■ I ogooz; I I I I I I 1 I I I 1 I I I ■ III I I I I 1 ■ II I ■ ■ ■ I I ■ rt I I I I I I ) I I I I * I I ■ I I I ■ i I I I 1 I I 1 1 ■ I I a; 3 "^ V9LntAi0U?usoiAO'OUSiAusu9OtAU3C)O3>C>CiC>'C^O0)A-C>Ca0>0)0)Si0>O03AC>C>9)990>0)CiOOOcn0)a)0>0>A0)0)0)0i0)C}n»7 *. (1) aJ ■ -. M B.J? 0.53. 3g2 410 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE «5 CO 00 i-H o en 00 I— < r i -M CO I— ( a o s ■T3 »— ( IP s o o o Pi pq ol [23 M >{ O « p4 U J J CO OD M I I I I I d i 1^ I ^ .1^1^ J 00 e o o (• I I Q I" SO ■o r;'«o' leoiio* 'o «=co ;; ;:co I I P^ ■a . . 3 Jill S -- r = I -^ 1 OS cq !0 I I I • I 1 I • I I I I I I I I I ■ t I I I O J ■ t I I I I I I I I > I I I I ■ m§^ I I I I I I I I I ■ I ■ I I IIIIIIIIIIIIII1II a O > m -2 •? .§ (=1 ^ P5 oi o> O^ c S ■ III) rt ■-5 1 I t I I I I I I I ■ 1 I I I I I t I I I I I I I I I 11*11 1 I I I I I I ■ I -S2 H = s ' J "^ ^- " ^ S o -3 ^ J o o .2 . o -K '-: -« . S „• O iJ a e S^:Sj5 m'-a-a kS Q.J3 o-a _ „ " E . S S . Ej= « js [i(> g ■■■••■•■ I I I I ■ I ■ I I I I I I ,,,,,,,, , M e *«'° "?." 'V" "."V" "> •> "5 ^^ rf OT sg_oo^» m "o o oi 0^ M m_«_iNco ti^ « "5 t. m « S S § § § § S S a 3 SELECT COMMITTEE OK MORTALITY OF TBOOPS (CHINA). 411 EETUKN of Sick of the Teoops proceeding from Hong Kong to Spithead, on board the Ship « Aginoourt," from 13th January 1866 to 10th May 1866. App. No. 13. Strength of Non-commissioned Officers and Men as per Distribution Return, 132. Cases of Sickness. Died. Discharged. Transferred to other Hospitals, at Porta during the Voyage. Sent to DISEASES. Embarked. Occurring during Voyage. Hospital on Disembark- ation. Dysenleria Chronica - . . - . Febris, Intermittens . . - . - Syphilis, Secundaria - . - . - Scrofula ....... Phthisis Pulmonalis - - . - - Morbus Cordis ...... Hepatitis Chronica - \ - 3 109 3 1 2 1 6 5 2 _ - 1 1 3 111 3 I 2 I 5 General Total - - - 125 5 2 - 2 126 ABSTEACT. Strength 132 Cases of Sickness : Embarked 125 Occurring during voyage .-.--.-...g Discharged .-.-..---..-- - — Transferred during voyage ...--..-.-.2 Died 2 Sent to hospital on disembarkation -.--.----.- 126 Women and Children. _ , , , rWomeii ------- -12 Embarked . - . . |children 32 Children born on voyage --.--...-..2 f Women --.--... Died on voyage - - - - j children 6 Landed at Netley on 10 May 1866 {^hZTen' I " -" ." -' -' ." 28 Name of Medical Officer — Assistant-Surgeon K. L. Bett, r.n. 0.53. 3 g3 412 -APPENDIX TO EEPOBT PEOM THE Return of Sick of the Troops proceeding from Hong Kong to Spithead, &c. — continued. Names of Men who have Died. REGIMENT and Regi- mental Num- Rank. NAMES. Age, Service, Causes of Death. I Date of Place of Duration of Disease in BATTALION. ber. Years. Years. Death. Death. Days. r Dysentery - _"^ ' 1 ' 2d Battalion^Utli Regi- ment. 1,459 Private Charles Smith (D.) . - 24 H J Fever, Int. - ] Splenitis - ^Hepatitis - fFeb. Int. - Dysentery, - [.Anasarca - -1 2 Feb. - At sea - Chronic. 2d Battalion, 9tii Regi- 68? >» John CanjweU (D.) - 35 n ( 8 Feb. w At sea - - Chronic. ment. -J Names of "Women and Children who have Died. REGIMENT and BATTALION. NAMES. •Age, Years. Causes of Death, DatQ of Death. Place of Death. Duration of Disease in Days. 2d Battalion, 9tli Regi- ment. -2d Battalion, 11th Re. giroent. Ditto - ditto Ditto ditto Royal Engineers 2d Battalion, UthRe-^ giment. j 2d Battalion, 9th Regi- ment. ■} ! Margaret maxwell IWilliian WUan,_ - Edward Neilan Knte Corrie Fred. Wm. Dunstan - Amelia Dawson - Catherine Anghurst - 36 hours - 8 months - 3 years 9 months - 2 years 3 years 31 years Deibility - /Encephalitis - ■ -"I \Fevcr, Int. - - -J /Cynanche Tracheitis -^ l^ Pneumonia - - -/ {Ulcer, Strum.^ - -"^^ Febris, Int. - fFeb. Int. Pneumonia -"1 \Tracheitis Cynanche -J fFeb. Int. Streura. - \EncephaIitis - Phthisis • 19 Januaiy - At sea 26 Janr Ary - 4 February - 4 February - 17 February - 20 AprU 10 May ditcO' ditto ditto ditto ditto Spithead Chronic. ditto. ditto. ditto. ditto. ditto, ditto. Strength of Non-Commissioned Officers and Men. REGIMENT Number of Date of Embarkation. Place of Embarkation. Date of Landing. Place of Landing. and BATTALION. Non- commissioned Officers. Men. REMARKS. 2d Battalion, 9th Regiment - 2d Battalion, 11th Regiment Royal Artillery Boyal Engineers Staff - . - . Commissariat 5 9 3 1 1 1 S7 51 2 2 1 3 January - Hong Kong 10 March 1866- Netley I man died. 1 man died ; 2 men left at Simon's Bay Hospital. Sick Officers (Strength of Officers present, 2). REGIMENT and BATTALION. Rank. Names. Diseases. Date of being placed on Sick List. Date of being taken off Sick List. Result. R EM ARKS. 2d Battalion, 1 1th Regiment Lieutenant 0. C. Robinson ^Enervation - - - An invalid. No papers re- ceived. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOUTALITf OP TEqpPS (CHIJSTA). 413 Retdkn of Siek of the Troops proceeding from Hong Kong to Spithead, &c. — continued. Sick Women and Children. DISEASES. Embarked. Occurred during the Voyage. Died. Discharged. Transferred to other Hospitiils. Discharged to Netley Hospital. REMARKS. Anemia - - - . Feb. Inter. Climatic Cacheiia Debility - - . Phthisis - Dysentery ... Struma . . . - Hepatitis . . * - 9 22 5 2 1 1 2 2 2 5 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 I ■ 1 1 1 ■ 1 1 1 - 9 17 5 3 I 2 2 Total - - - 41 2 6 T 39 BiETUBiN showing the circumstances under which the Men on board the Ship " Agincourt," from 13 January to 10 May 1866, were sent to England. Date of Landing, 10 May 1866. Total Number Embarked. Embarked as Deaths occurring during the Voyage. CORPS. Invalids. Time Expired Men. Effectives. Of Invalids. Of Time Expired Men. Of Effectives. REMARKS. 2/9 Foot 2/11 Foot - Royal Artillery - Royal Eagineers Staff Commissariat Corps - 62 60 5 3 1 1 57 38 5 3 1 1 6 2 1 1 __ — TOTAtS . . - 132 125 7 - 2 — 10 May 1866. Robert L. Bett. KEMAKKS on the Diseases of the Troops, the Condition of the Ship, &c., and on any Special Causes of Disease. The Nosological Table represents very imperfectly the condition of the invalids that were placed on board. The 109 cases of intermittent fever were nearly all complicated with hepatitis, splenitis, anaemia, and many of them with ascites and dysentery ; but, as intermittent fever was the primary disease, I have put them under that heading. All the invalids that were embarked were in a most depressed, emaciated, and exhausted condition, and their rapid improvement has been really marvellous, some few having gained in weight as much as three stones, and the larger proportion as much as a stone and a half. The high rate of mortality among the children may be attributed in a great measure to their sickly condition when embarked ; but, to a certain extent, I regret to state, to the laziness' and dirty habits of the women, to some of whom, in the early part of the voyage, I was compelled to aUow stink pots in the women's place, which nearly all found occasion to use. Some of the women, from long suffering in Hong Kong, seemed to have become habituated to filth and stinks, and indifferent to exhortations, remonstrances, or abuse. In the early part of February, dysentery began to rage through the ship, and continued to do so till the latter end of March ; there were, in all, 48 cases of it. Strange to state, the larger proportion of the patients attacked with dysentery had not suffered from it in Hong Kong. Several of the ship's company were also attacked with it. I could detect no cause for it, save infection and predisposition to the disease. A great deal of the beer was bad, and the water dirty, as is always the case when kept in casks ; but many cases occurred after leaying Simon's Bay, with fresh good water and wholesome porter. Every 0.53. 3 G- 4 possible 414 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FEOM THE App. No. 1 3, possible means were taken to keep the hospital deck clean and sweet. The cases of fever have had very frequent relapses. In some few cases attacks of ague have recurred within the last few days. I consider this ship a very suitable one for the conveyance of invalids, there being rather more than eight feet of height between decks. It would have been a great advantage to have had the hospital deck painted. (signed) Bobert L. Bett, Assistant-Surgeon, e.n., in change of Invalids. Inspection Kettjen of Teanspoets. Number Embarked. Supplies and State, for 171 Adults, 161 Days. t3 o" 1 ^ -6 a N A M E, 2 'S s m .• N U M B E E, 1 1 1 E .±d "3 1 11 1 OB LETTER. a 1 £ CO EPS. 1 a Si 1 1 a. > MO ■a eu II S V Is SM ns S C3S 1^ ir. a "s A S « is c CO -.5 1 1 £■ (=1 1 § •3 a s a 1 > =-! 2.- cofi '5 - 1 2 Eoyal Artillery - "i /» N U 3 - 2 4 Royal Engineers - s Hired Transport, 7P4 62 < ' 60 1 4 11 2/9 th Regiment - Eight 70 Accordi ng to Ti ansport l-l 24 Scuttles, Good.- " Agincourt." 1 5 14 2/1 Ith Regiment Feet. Tons. Kegu lations. a i aWIndsails. Good. !? §•1 ' 1 Commissariat S. Corps. 3 •3Q tl M. S. Clerk - ■ V"^ / Kemaeks. Ijsls of medicines, &c., forwarded to A. M. Department, with letter dated 1 3tli January 1860. Supplementary lists Iierewith, ,iii duplicate, of medicines placed on board at the last moment, for which consequently no receipt from tlie luedical officer could be obtained. riong Kong, 13 January 1860. Medical Officer in Charge — Assistant-Surgeon Bett, k.n. William Dick, Deputy Inspector General, m.d., p.m.o. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITY OF TROOPS (cHINa). 415 Appendix, No. 14. EXTRACT from the « Hong Kong Government Gazette," 17 March 1866, App. No. 14 (No. 41.) Government Notification. The Colonial Surgeon's Report, with Returns on the Sanitary Condition of the Colony for the year 1865, is published for general information. By order, (signed) W. T. Mercer, Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, Colonial Secretary. 13 March 1866. Victoria, Hong Kong, 3 March 1866. A VERY general impression having prevailed that the year 1865, the subject of my Seventh Annual Report, has been marked by an extraordinary amount of sickness and mortality, it becomes my duty to point out how far this impression has been well founded in regard to certain classes of the population, and at the same time to show that, amidst some startling instances of sudden death, the general average mortality of the resident European and American population has actually been below that of the two years immedi- ately preceding. This I shall do very briefly, by reference to the instructive tables which I have been enabled, with the kind co-operation of my professional brethren, to draw up, and which will in some measure enable me to explain, the reasons of the enormous increase in the general mortality which has prevailed amongst the residents of Hong Kong, in the year 1865 ; reasons which it will in part appear are not necessarily connected with a greatly increased amount of insalubrity. An observation of the meteorological currents for many years past had induced the belief that, unless the temperature be kept down by an abundant fall of rain, the summer of 1865 would prove to be the point at which the therm ometrical wave would attain its highest altitude, and the greatest amount of insalubrity would, based upon somewhat similar calculations, have nearly coincided with this maximum temperature. Unfortu- nately the rainfall throughout the year proved to be much below the average ; and possibly to this cause may be attributed in no slight degree the appearance of an epidemic, happily as yet almost entirely restricted to the Chinese population, but which has not, as far as I am aware, been hitherto described as occurring in China, if indeed in the Eastern hemisp'here. Small-pox appeared as usual in the months of January, February, and March; but the mortality did not exceed that of previous years, nor was the number of admissions into hospital for this disease above the average. Cholera may be said to have been absent in its epidemic form, although several sudden cases have occurred among the community. The admission of one patient only suffering under this disease is recorded in the returns of the Government Civil Hospital, and two in those of the Seaman's Hospital. An epidemic, however, of quite as startling a character was first recognised in Victoria Gaol, upon the 3rd of March, when a prisoner, who was said to have come directly from Macao, was seized with symptoms closely resembling those of yellow fever. No new case occurred until the 15th of the same month, and during the whole of March there had been 'five cases only, but of these three had terminated fatally. The disease increased rapidly until it attained its acme on the 2nd of May, on which day there were 46 cases in hospital, inclusive of 15 admissions on that day. From that period it commenced to decline, but did not entirely disappear until there had been 373 admissions, and 40 deaths. The disease as it exhibited itself was of the nature of a bilious fever, occurring in the form of the continued, remittent or intermittent type, rapidly passing in all fatal cases into the typhoid, and frequently terminating by hcemorrhage from the bowels, and in some cases by black vomit. The skin became yellow, with an orange tinge, passing into olive, and all the fluids of the body were of a marked yellow. In fatal cases spots of ecchymosis over the body were not unfrequent. A detailed account of the pathological changes, as collected by Dr. O'Brien, from the examination of several bodies, I have added in the 0.53. 3 H form 416 APPENDIX TO EEJPOBT FROM THE App. No. U. form of an Appendix. As far as I could ascertain the fact, the disease proved to be con- '^l tagious, but not infectious, and the period of incubation about 10 days. It was undoubt- edly a form of yellow fever. ., , i i x xi. The disease was not, however, limited to Victoria Gaol, but prevailed throughout the town, among the lower classes prineipally. There are 103 cases recorded as admitted into the Government Civil Hospital, of which no less than 40 died ; but it is a little doubtful whether these were all ascertained cases of the epidemic, and not m some simply a severe form of bilious fever. Many of the men admitted were nearly or quite moribund when sent to hospital, and 20 dead bodies were sent there for examination after death,_ m wmcn the same epidemic had been the active agent. I notice that two cases oi bilious tever were admitted into the Seaman's Hospital, both of which proved fatal. Possibly they may have been cases of the epidemic. • e ■^. •+ The disease was most easily studied in the gaol, and upon the observation ot it, as it there presented itself, I have based these remarks. As I have already said, the number of admissions were 373, and the deaths 40, giving a per-centage of 10-75 deaths, which, after all, is not very high for any epidemic, and nothing in comparison to the usual mor- tality in cholera. Very few Europeans were attacked ; a comparatively small number ot Indians, and no females were brought under its influence. , -^ . It is a curious fact that the British ship " Tricolor " left this port for Dutch Guiana on the 2nd of May, when this epidemic was at its worst, with 480 coohes on board, and that - upwards of 200 died on the voyage, as far as can be ascertained, from the effects ot a some- what similar epidemic. j- • j? Poverty and' destitution appeared to be one of the most marked predisposing causes ot the disease, and the long drought and great heat were probably in some measure the ex- citing causes. In this belief, the diet of the prisoners, more especially of the wretched and most emaciated, was greatly improved by the addition of strong soup made from bullocks' heads. The prisoners were carefully examined every day, and at once segre- gated from their fellows when showing any sign of disease. I found obstinate constipation generally preceded the outbreak of the fever, a constipation extending from five to fifteea days, and yet it was almost impossible to get the' prisoners to admit its existence until brought into hospital with unmistakeable symptoms of f ever upon them. The treatment which I found most successful was the immediate administration of an emetic, followed by a calomel purge, and either quinine or calomel and opium, according to the circumstances of the particular case. A hot bath was given when the fever ran high, and blisters to ihe head and sinapisms to the stomach and feet had frequently to be re- sorted to. During convalescence quinine and beef tea and wine were freely administered. I believe that scarcely a single ca'se terminated fatally where there had been sufficient time to get the gums slightly affected by the mercury.* With these preliminary Temarks, I shall now proceed to consider the result of the past year's treatment of disease in the various institutions which come officially under my cognizance. I. — The Police. The police force of this colony, with all its disadvantages in the material of which it Is composed, and the trials to which it is exposed, is eminently remarkable for one quality, that of its sanitary condition. Table I. shows the number of admissions into, and the deaths in, the hospital of members of the ]|)olice force, during every month of 1865. Table II. shows the rate per cent, of sickness and mortality of the force during the same year. Although the average strength of the force was considerably greater in 1865 than in the preceding year, the mortality was not much increased, and still remained very low, 1 "96 per cent., while the rate of sickness was only 98 "19 per cent., which is not much aibove that of the previous year. The health of this body of men is mainly attributable to the care which is taken of them, the comfortable quarters in the new central station which they now occupy, the sufficient and suitable clothing which is supplied to them, and the monthly inspections they undergo for the detection of venereal disease. I am also glad to be able to report that there has been a great diminution in the number of impostors, feigning disease to avoid night duty, or punishment, admitted into hospital. Table III., kindly furnished to me by Dr. Dick, the principal military medical officer, gives a comparative return of the health of the troops serving in Hong Kong, from which it will be seen that the rate of mortality was more than double what it had been in 1864, and this Table does not include the great number of deaths which occurred among the invalided soldiers after leaving Hong Kong. It forms no part of my duty to enter into the question of the probable cause of this great difference in the health of two bodies of disci- plined men, performing somewhat similar duties, I therefore abstain from any comment on this portion of the subject. II.— The * As tlie disea?e ha? shown itself again this year, and we have already had 105 admissions, although •only 6 deaths, it may be advisable to request the heads of the Medical Department in the Army and. Navy to cotisult with me as to its probable cause and possible means of staying its ravages. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TKGOPS (cHINA). 417 II. — The Goteenment Civil Hosfital. Table IV. gives the number of admissions into, and the mortality in, this hospital during the year 1865 ;; to which is added,, for the purpose of comparison,, the average number of admissions and deaths during eight years*- By this Table it will be seen that the admis- sions (1^357) during, the past year have been nearly double the average number. Table Y. gives the rate of mortality in the Civil Hospital, during the past eight years, distinguishing the I'ate in the case of Europeans from coloured persons and Chinese. Table VI., kindly sent to me by the resident surgeon, Dr. Adams, gives information irt reference to the Seaman's Hospital. The rate of mortality shows an improvement in compad'ison with that of the preceding year ; but it is still high, as might have been expected from the temporary and imperfect nature of the accommodation available for the treatment of patients';, until the completion of the new buildings. Although the death rate in the Seaman's Hospital has been below that in the Civil Hospital, it is very much above that of the Euxopeans and Indians treated in the latter institution, and with them alone a comparison can be fairly instituted. In the Civil Hospital iie rate of mortality has been higher than it has been since 1858. But after all, this is more apparent than real, for in the case of European patients the rate has been more favourable than during the two preceding years, while in the case of Indians it does not much surpass the average : it is among the Chinese that the great increase of mortality has occurred, and this is owing in part to the number of nearly morihmid patients admitted whilst suffering under yeltow fever or starvation, and who, although only a short time under treatment, greatly increase the death rate. Whether it was owing to the great commercial depression of the past year or to the greater facility for poor people reaching Hong Kong from Cbiiia, it is certain that a much larger proportion ultimately came to the Civil Hospital than in former years.. Among the two classes, of patients just mentioned, namely, those suiFering from yellow fever and starvation,. there were49 Chinese who died; this number, if deducted from 163, the total number, of deaths, would at once reduce the death rate to a little over 9 per cent. Two Europeans were admitted under the heading of " starvation-" The arrangement by which destitute Europeans can now, as for some months past, find shelter and food in the giaol,, will, I trust, enable me to omit this heading for the future in reference to Europeans. Altogether the result of the last year's treatment in this institution has been very satisfactory. nLr— Tiu: G-AOL. Table VIl. shows the number ©f admissions into the Gaol Hospital,, and deaths there during the year 1865, with the average number of admissions and deaths during eight yearsi as a means of comparison. Table VIII. shows the rate of sickness and mortality in the Gaol Hospital as compared with the total number of prisoners and with the number treated during the year 1865. The great mortality of the past year is mainly attributable to the epidemic of yellow fever which I have already described ; from whidi cause alone there occurred 40 deaths. If these are omitted from the calculation the death rate is at once reduced below the average. The building is clean, well ventilated and admirably well managed, so as to secure the most satisfactory sanitary condition of the prisoners. An important change has been introduced in the mode of punishment adopted for graver crimes among the Chinese. I refer to the public whipping post and the substitution- of the " cat " for the rattan. Having been present and narrowly watched the culprits during most of those pubKc floggings, and treated them subsequently in hospital, 1 can state without hesitation, that for the majority of adult Chinese the punishment is not suck as to affect their health, and if the surgeon in attendance has the power, as at present, to stay the hand of the operator at once, the number of strokes now administered need not be altered. I desire, however,. to suggest that a better form of whipping post be adopted, to enable the back to be better stretched ; and in this manner the man flogging may apply his strokes with more regularity. I would also suggest that where more than two floggings are ordered to be given within six months, the intermediate one be, at the direction of the surgeon when he considers it necessary, given within the gaol on the buttocks, instead of on the back and shoulders. The object with which this change is suggested is to meet the difficulty of getting the skin sufficiently healed within two months, so as to enable the culprit to bear a second flogging, more especially when the men are well aware that they are interested in retarding a cure. Qf the salutary effect of the punishment I have nothing to say, but of the dread with which the prisoners view it I can speak confidently. The numbers confined in Victoria Gaol during the year were : Europeans -- ___._- 620 Indians ___-_-_-- 221 Chinese 3,995 App. No. 14. Total 4,836 The daily average was 566^^, of which number 71 died. 0.53. 3 H 2 The' 418 APPENDIX TO BEPOET PKOM THE App. No. 14. The following Eetum is in continuation of the Table I gave last year showing the change in weight which long-sentenced European prisoners undergo after several years' con- finement. The Monthly Weight of EtrEOPEAN Peisokees confined in Victoria Gaol in the Year 1865. NAME. SENTENCE. 1 1 0. •< ca s 1 < 1 1 1- 'O 1 > i 1 C. W. - Life 148 149 153 152 148 132 146 150 150 149 US- •147 W. M. - - Life 156 147 153 147 153 146 144 145 144 148 lib 146 W. H. - - Life 150 148 148 147 144 138 132 135 135 135 134 138 C. A. - Life 158 157 158 156 151 150 154 153 157 157 159 161 A. J. - Life 153 153 155 153 153 150 145 147 148 145 147 147 A. B. - Life 166 164 169 168 164 165 165 164 165 166 162 167 R. B. - 10 years - - - 108 108 112 112 113 110;5 109 109 112 112 113 116 W. S. 8 years - - - 135 134 135 139 130 130 131 132 130 132 135 139 A. S. - - ' - 3 years - - - 139 140 146 151 156 154 145 143 139 139 142 141 P. X. - 3 years - . . 135 140 144 144 148 148 139 135 136 138 128 130 E. M. - - 6 years . - - 127 126 124 137 124 122 119 121 123 122 126 127 W. D. - - 3 years - - - 130 127 « _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ J. D. - 7 years . . - 159 159 161 161 160 150 157 155 140 155 156 155 A. T. - 4 years - . - 137 137 137 139 143 140 132^ 136 137 t — - IV.— The Convict Hulk. Table IX. shows the rate of sickness and mortality in the convict hulk at Stone Cutter's Island, during the past year. The result is not so satisfactory as it was in 1864, which is another proof of the sickly character of the past season. Notwithstanding this the men appear for the most part robust and healthy, and are well cared for, while at the same time imprisonment to them is somewhat more than mere detention, as they are really obliged to work. It is somewhat remarkable that not a single case of yellow fever occurred on the island. This is in part no doubt attributable to the great care taken in sending prisoners thither to avoid sending any who were likely to convey the disease. V. — The Lock Hospital. Table X. gives all necessary information in regard to this institution. The good it does is undoubted; the good it might do were all unlicensed brothels suppressed is incalculable. At present many of the worst cases of infected women escape entirely the beneficial operation of the Ordinance, by removing to unlicensed houses, where they propagate infection _ without hindrance, to the great injury of the troops' and sailors. Greater stringency is required to meet this evil, as the prevalence of venereal disease is again becoming the subject of complaint on the part of the military and naval medical authorities. I believe that if any plan can be devised so as to bring the whole of the prostitutes of the colony under the system of periodical examination, as adopted in regard to the licensed houses, the disease would become nearly unknown here. As it S I am certain that very few cases of disease are contracted in the licensed houses from their nominal inmates. ' Table XI. is an approximate estimate of the mortality among foreign residents in Hong Kong during the last eight years. The data from which it is compiled are fur- nished to me, so far as the number of residents is concerned, by the Registrar General and by the sextons of the two cemeteries, so far as the deaths are concerned These data' however, exclude in both cases, military, naval, and merchant seamen, as* well as those' who have been buried from the hospitals- From this Table it appears that the residents ^f"ulu T?i? ?"^^ll«^^"?i¥^? tji^n in the preceding year. From the manner in %yhich the Tab e is compiled, it is impossible to say positively, whether the amount of eickness as well as the mortality has been less, but I am inclined to believe that it has really been very much greater, and that the actual rate of mortality has onlv not anneared byreasonof the number of invalids who have left the colony, either in time to LovTv their health, or to be counted m the death returns of some other place. I believe that^t 1« the opinion of the majority of the medical practitioners here, that no such sickly vear as the past has been experienced since 1858. D^^-jj-iy year as Table XII. gives the usual information regarding the work performed by the Inspector of JNuisances attached to this Department, ^ ■'-"epeoior Table XIII. shows the annual mean state of the atmosphere durine the vear ISfi'; recorded at the Government Civil Hospital. ^ ^ ^^^> J. I. Murray, M.D., Colonial Surgeon as * Discharged t Transferred to convict hulk "Royal Saxon." SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPa^ (CHINA). 419 Appendix. App. No. 14. Post-Mortem Examination of Bodies of Prisoners who Died of Yellow Fever. Abnormalities. Irtp T ' H' r Skin, conjunctiva, and cartilages of ribs, &c., of greenish yellow hue. . nse a^n im. i ^^ ^^^ instance only was there any attempt at coagulation : it con- ui I y o e 00 . j^ sisted in a small clot in the left ventricle. In every case the spleen was very much distended (in one weighing 2S ounces). Diaphragmatic surface of liver generally of a mottled appearance, and sometimes coated with reddish serum. Surface of Congestion of Viscera i kidneys at times very vascular. Mucous membrance of stomach ' near pylorus generally intensely congested, and in many cases studded with spots of blood. The heart in one instance had several spots of blood on its surface. A slight turg essence of blood in the brain in one instance. Enlargement and brit- tleness of liver. ■Greenish black fluid in stomach. Liver much increased in size and but little in weight. The substance pale and presenting numerous oil globules under the microscope. The gall bladder always contained bile of a very liquid character. This fluid resembled that contained in the gall bladder, but was much more viscid. In one instance there was a similar fluid in the colon, and in the same case there was about four ounces of cliocolate coloured urine in the bladder. ^0.53. 3 H 3 420 APPENDIX TO KEPOET FBOM THE App. No. 15. Appendix, No. 15. PAPEES handed in by General Sir Hope Grant, 14 May 1866. HONG KONG. CORRESPONDENCE relatiflg to the Hospital Ship " Hercules." LIST OF PAPEES. 10 Mar. - 1866 Quartermaster General to War Office - Enclosures from Officer Command- ing, China. " Hercules" to be replaced ----- PAGE 420 5 Mfay - Quartermaster General to VVar Office - General Hospital to be re-appropriated 422 17 May - War Office to Quartermaster General - Not expedient to replace " lercules" - 422 3 May Admiralty to War Office - Would cost from 13,000 1, to 14,000 1. - . - 422 22 May - Quartermaster General to War Office - " Hercules" should be replaced - . - 422 1 July - War Office to Quartermaster General - General Hospital to be re-appropriated. No fur- ther steps with regard to "Hercules'" 423 13 Nov. - 5» Quartermaster General to War Office - " Hercules" should be replaced - - - - 423 5 Jan. - 1866 War Office to Quartermaster General - Additional Hospital accommodation has been pro- vided. No further steps at present - - - 423 Correspondence relating to the Hospital Ship " Hercules." Sir, Horse Guards, 10 March 1865. In forwarding the accompanying correspondence received from the Major General commanding the troops in China, together with the proceedings of a naval board of survey held upoa the hos- pital ship " Hercules," I am instructed by the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief to recom- mend to the Secretary of State for War that a hospital ship of the description proposed by Major General Guy, be sent out to Hong Kong to replace the Hercules." I am to request that the enclosures may be returned. I have, &c. (signed) Richard Airey, The Under Secretary of q. m. g. State for War. (No. 810.) Head Quarters, Hong Kong, Sir, 11 January 1865. I HAVE the honour to forward for the informa- tion of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, copies of a correspondence addressed by me to the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for War, relative to the state of the hospital ship " Hercules," and a suitable vessel being sent to replace her at this station. 1 have, &c. ^, ^ (signed) W. M. N. Guy, Ihe Quartermaster General, Major General &c. &c, &c„ Commanding Troops! Horse G uards. China and Japan. (No. 809.) Head Quarters, Hong Kong, My Lord, lo January 1865. I HAVE the honour to forward for your infor- mation, the proceedings of a Naval Board of Sur- vey, held upon the hospital ship « Hercules " at my request, on the 23rd of December last. As the report of the Board virtually condemns the " Hercules," I would beg most strongly to re-' commend that, a suitable ship be sent to replace her at this station. The "Hercules" has proved a most valuable addition to the limited hospital accommodation here ; indeed, had this vessel not been available, it would have been absolutely necessary to have hired a building for a hospital, a proceeding vfhich would have entailed an enormous expense upon the Government. A vessel of this kind is, moreover, always use- ful, to meet any pressure for barrack accommo- dation. With reference to the description of vessel to be sent out, and her llttings, I beg to annex the suggestions of the senior naval officer, and prin- cipal medical officer. As iron cots are used on board the " Her- cules," and answer the purpose extremely well, little in the way of fittings will be necessary, and 1 agree with the Principal Medical Officer that it would be better to execute them on the arrival of the vessel at this port. The roof, however, should certainly be sent out with- the ship, as pro- posed by the Senior Naval Officer. I would beg to suggest the expediency of re- placing the "Hercules " by a three (3) decker, if possible, as this description of ship would affiJrd mnrh SELECT COMMITTEE -ON MOETALWY OP TROOPS •( CHINA). 421 much more accommodatiori, than a two (2) decker, under a roof very little if at all larger. I have, &c. (signed) W. M. N. Guy, The Right Honourable Major General, the Secretary of State for Commanding Troops, War, War Office. China and Japan. Her Majesty's Ship " Princess Charlotte," Sir, Hong Kong, 23 December 1864. In compliance with the request of the Major General Commanding, a survey has been held on Her Majesty's Ship " Hei'cules," Military Hos- pital Ship, with the view of ascertaining if she can be used as a hospital ship with safety, during the ensuing typhoon season, and I have the bonour to enclose, for the Major General's information, the report thereof. I have. &c. (signed) M. S. Nolloth, To Captain Roberts, Captain and D. A. Q. M. G., Senior Naval Officer. Hong Kong. In pursuance of an order from Captain M. S. Nolloih, Senior Naval Officer, we, whose names are hereunto subscribed, have made a strict and careful survey on Her Majesty's Ship " Hercules," and do make the following report : A few days ago she sprang a fresh leak ; pre- viously she was making 22 inches of water in 24 hours. She has been careened as far as two streaks of copper, which have been stripped, und the parts beneath were found to be in an exceedingly defec- tive state from being worm eaten. The topsides may be said to be entirely gone, a knife, togeiher with the whole handle, being easily buried, when thrust in, at many places. The main-piece of stem has been completely eaten through by worms. The ship cannot be thoroughly examined with- 'out being docked, which would be impracticable, 'either here or in the Canton E.iver, nor is she 'worth the expense; but judging from the over- haul which has been already made^ and the fre- quency of leaks, there can be little doubt that the whole of her bottom is in a condition past repair. She might at any time spring a serious leak, and in a typhoon assistance could not be ren- dered to provide against this contingency ; she has for a considerable period been anchored in the most sheltered part of the harbour, with only about two feet of water (soft bottom) under her at low- water spring tides. Given under our hands on board Her Ma- jesty's Ship " Hercules " at Hong Kong, the 23rd day of December 1864. (signed) M. & Nolloth, Captain, Her Majesty's Ship " Princess Charlotte," and Senior Naval Officer. (signed) John F. Loney, Staff Commander and Master Attendant Carpeuter ommanaer ana iviasiei -a-ueiiuam,. (signed) Wm. Willcocks, ater. Her Majesty's Ship " Princess Charlotte.' Principal Medical Officer's Office, Sir, Hong Kong, 30 December 1864. With reference to your letter, No. 796, of the asth instant, in which the intention of his Ex- cellency the Major General Commanding, of applying to the home authorities for a three- deeker, to replace the hospital ship "Hercules," is intimated to me, I have the honour to state that, agreeably to the instructions contained therein, I have placed myself in communication with the Naval Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals at this station, and inspected the fittings of Her Majesty's hospital ship " Melville," and 1 am of opinion that whatever smaller fittings ^re re- quired (which I think would not be very costly) would better be effected on the arrival of the three-decker at this port. 1, however, entirely concur in the suggestion of tlie Senior Naval Officer, that a roof-frame would better be constructed in England, and forwarded in the vessel, as I consider both time and expense would be saved by adopting it. I have, &c. (signed) Wm. Dick, M.D., Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, and Principal Medical Officer. The D. A. Q. M. G. &c. &c. &c. Hong Kong. App.No. J5. 0.53. Her Majesty's Ship "Princess Charlotte," Sir, Hong Kong, 7 January 1865. In reply to your letter of the 5th instant, relative to the intention of the Major Geneial Commanding to apply for a line-of-battle ship, to replace the " Hercules," the following are the only suggestions which I have to offer: 1. A teak-built ship would be preferable to any other for this climate, with respect lo preservation, diminution of expense of dock- ing to ascertain if the worms had penetrated, rapidity of drying, comparative freedom from cockroaches and other vermin, &c. ,2. The ship's bottom should be sheathed over her copper, and the sheathing covered with 32-i)unce copper. 3. The roof should be fitted in England, and the parts sent out in her to be fixed here ; it should, for the sake of shade, and protection from heavy rains, project at least five feet beyond the gunwales, and the pitch, or vertical height of the ridge above the latter, be 14 feet, which in the naval hospital ship " Melville " is found to be in all respects suitable, and gives a slope pre- ferable to the more sudden ones of this ship and the " Heicules " for security in typhoons, and convenience in painting and repairing. In typhoons a complete roof of the " Hercules," and a portion of that of the " Princess Charlotte," were blown away. There should be, for ventila- tion and access to the top, a hatch or opening in the fore und in the after end, fitted with doors to close in blowy and rainy weather. If tlie arrangement of cabins and hospital fittings of the " Melville " be approved by the Principal Military Medical Officer, it would be better to send home a plan or description of them than to take them in hand here, with reference 10 expense, workmanship, and expedition. It may be useful lo observe that the " Melville " was elaborately fitted in England, but that, on arrival, the arrangements were considered so un- 3 H 4 suitable 422 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE App No. 15. suitable to this climate that a thorough alteration was made at Hong Kong. It is advisable to state the water stowage* re- quired, so that, for the sake of ventilation and cleanliness, a greater number of tanks than neces- sary be not supplied. The tanks should be in the main hold, on a platform raised sufEciendy to enable a man to work freely underneath, and for ventilation. The fewer the bulkheads in the hold the better, I have, &:c. (signed) M. S. Nolloth, To Captain Roberts, Captain, and D. A. Q. M. G. Senior Naval Officer. • Water stowage would be required for about 100 men. — T. L. Roberts, d. a. q. m. g. I Sir, Horse Guards, 5 May 1865. I HAVE the honour, by desire of the Field Marslial Commanding in Chief, to transmit a communication from the Major General Com- manding in China, and also one from the Director General of the Army Medical Department, re- specting a re-appropriation of the General Hos- pital at Hong Kong; and I am to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, that his Eoyal Highness sees no objection to the re-appropriations proposed by the Board, provided that suitable provision is made else- where, in lieu of the accommodation to be given up for hospital purposes. It is requested that the inclosures may be returned. (signed) E. R. Wetherall, The Under Secretary of Colonel, Deputy State for War. Quartermaster General. War Office, 17 May 1865. Sir, (Hong Kong, 7 — 83.) In reply to your letter of the 10th March lastj enclosing the proceedings of a Naval Board of Survey at Hong Kong, on the hospital ship " Hercules," and recommending that a line-of- battle ship should be sent out to replace it, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you that the question has been referred to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and that a reply has been received, of which a copy is annexed, for the information of his Eoyal High- ness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief. Under the opinion expressed in the letter of Mr. Romaine, it does not appear expedient to Lord de Grey to incur the expense of replacing the " Hercules" by a vessel sent from this country. I am, however, to state that the recommenda- tions contained in the Horse Guards' letter of the 5th instant, for the re-appropriation of the general hospital at Hong Kong for strictly hospital pur- poses, are now under consideration, and that a note has been made of the necessity of providing additional hospital accommodation at that station when an opportunity occurs. I have, 8cc. (signed) J. Crofton, The Quartermaster General, Major General. Horse Guards. hospital ship at Hong Kong, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request you will state to Earl de Grey, in regard to the proposition to replace her by a line-of- battle ship fitted with a frame roof, that ihere is no three-decked ship available; and the "Vanguard" or " Superb," the only two-decked ships that could be appropriated for the service would re- quire an expenditure of thirteen to fourteen thou- sand pounds to fit and place either ship on the station, where she would probably not last lo years. It would appear, therefore, far more economical to build a military hospital on shore, where all the requisite sanitary arrangements could be carried out, and the building be made of a permanent chaf- racter, rather than apply so expensive a make- shift for the purpose as an old decaying ship liable to be unroofed in a typhoon, and thus rendered useless when most needed. I am, &c. (signed) W. G. Romaine. The Under Secretary of State for War, &c. &c. &c. Sir, Admiralty, 3 May 1865. In returning to you the papers forwarded in your letter of the 27th ultimo, in regard to the un- serviceable condition of the " Hercules" military Sir, Horse Guards, 22 May 1865. I HAVE the honour, by desire of the Field Mar- shal Commanding in Chief, to acknowledge the receipt of War Office letter of the 17th instant (Hong Kong, 7—23), slating that it does not appear expedient to Earl de Grey to incur the ex- pense of replacing the hospital ship " Hercules " at Hong Kong, but that the general re-appropria- tion of the hospital at that "station is now under consideration, and that a note has been made of the necessity of providing additional hospital ac- commodation there. After perusing the very strong representation made by the General Officer Commanding in China of the want of hospital accommodation in that country, his Eoyal Highness cannot concur in the Views expressed regarding the inexpediency of fur- nishing a hospital ship to replace the " Hercules " at Hong Kong. In the correspondence now retransmitted it is shown, that the "Hercules" has proved a most valuable addition to the hospital accommodation, and that, had such accommodation not existed, it would have been absolutely necessary to have hired ' a building at an enormous expense for hospital I purposes ; and, moreover, that a vessel of the kind ' '■ IS always most useful to meet any pressure for barrack accommodation, which in such a chmate may naturally accrue. The re-appropriation of the general hospital at Hong Kong for strictly hospital purposes, even if approved will not accomplish the object in view, whde, in his Eoyal Highness's opinion, an expendi- ture of 14,000 /., spread over 10 years, to fit and place either the « Vanguard" or « Superb" as a hospital ship at Hong Kong would be more bene- ficially spent than in the construfition of a large military hospital on shore, which would cost at ieast six times as much, and might possibly, from soine local cause, hereafter be found not to answer. It is requested that the enclosures may be re turned. ■' I have, &c. (signed) Richard Airey, TK TT ^ Q . Quartermaster General. Ihe Under Secretary of State for War &c, &c. &c. ' SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS '(cHUSTA). 423 (Hong Kong, 7 —85.) Sir, War Office, l July 1865. In reply to your letter of the 6th May, enclosing r-'ii copy of the proceedings of a board of officers assembled at Hong Kong, to report on the appro- priation of the military hospital, I am directed to acquaint you, for the information of his Royal Higliness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that the Secretary of State for War con- siders it very desirable .that the general hospital at that station should, if possible, be exclusively appropriated for hospital purposes; and, with this view, the same or another board of officers should be assembled to consider and report the most suit- able plan for converting the east and west wings of the hospital, which are now chiefly used as officers' quarters, into wards for the sick, leaving a room for the orderly medical officer, and allotting the basements and outbuildings of the centre and wings for hospital servants, stores, offices, and other purposes. I am to add, with reference to your letter of the 22nd May last, relative to the proposal of replacing the hospital ship "Hercules" by a vessel sent from this country, that Earl de Grey and Ripon proposes to take no farther steps in the matter until the proceedings of the board in question have been received in this office. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard, The Quartermaster General, &c. &c. &c. Horse Guards. relative to the crowded state of the barracks and ^pp. No. 15. hospital at Hong Kong. And adverting to a J ' letter from this office of the 22nd May last, and the War Department reply of 1st July, Hong Kong 7 — 85, his Eoyal Highness directs me to express his opinion, that another ship as a hospital will be required at Hong Kong. It is requested that the enclosures may be returned. I have, &c. (signed) J. Hope Grant, Quartermaster General. The Under Secretary of State for War. &c. &c. &c. Horse Guards, Sir, 13 November 1865. I HAVE the honour, by desire of the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, to transmit for the Secretary of State's consideration, the enclosed letter* from the Director General of the Army Medical Department, with its accompanying papers, * 4 November 1865. Sir J. Gibson. (Hong Kong 7—92.) Sir, War Office, 5 January 18G6. In reply to your letter of the 13th November last, inclosing correspondence on the subject of the overcrowded state of the military hospital at Hong Kong, I am directed by Earl de Grey and Ripon to acquaint you, for the information of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that a report, dated subsequently to the correspiondence in question, has been received in this office, stating that two houses at Hong Kong have been hired as a military hospital, and equipped for 60 beds. I am consequently to add that, as it has been determined to remove one regiment from the station, and as moreover it is under consideration to appropriate the whole or part of the officers' quarters in the general hospital for the use of the patients, as stated in War Office letter of the 1st July last. Lord de Grey does not consider it necessary to take any further steps at present for providing additional hospital accommodation at Hong Kong. I have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. The Quartermaster General, &c. &c. &c., Horse Guards. 0.53. 31 424 APPENDIX TO EEPOKT FROM THE App. No, 15. K O W L O O N. CORRESPONDENCE relating to the Erection of Barracks and Drainage of Paddt Fields. LIST OF PAPERS. 2RMar. - 1861 2 Apr. 27 Apr. 9 July 16 Sept. 22 Sept. 30 Sept. 22 Sept. 25 Sept. 5 Jan. 14 Jan. 14 Jan. 29 Jau. 6 Feb. 23 Apr. 1863 1864 War Office to Quartermaster General - Enclosures : War Office to Officer Commanding, China ; Memoran- dum by Lord Herbert. Quartermaster General to War Office - Enclosures from Dr. Gibson. War Office to Quartermaster General - Quartermaster General to War Office - Enclosure from General Stavely. War Office to Quartermaster General - Quartermaster Geperal to War Office - War Office to Quartermaster General - Quartermaster General to War Office - War Office to Quartermaster General - Quartermaster General to War Office - Enclosures from Dr. Gibson. War Office to Quartermaster General - Quartermaster General to War Office - War Office to Quartermaster General - Enclosures : Letter to Officer Com- mandingj China, and Plan. Quartermaster General to War Office - War Office to Quartermaster General - Appropriation of Territoi7 Drainage much required - - - Report on Sanitary State called -for Early erection of Bareacks desirable - - - Ejection of Barracks deferred until a Hut has been tested - - - - Protesting against Delay Reference made to Colonial Office General Brown speaks of Barracks ; are there any? Only Huts -------- Sickness attributed to bad Drainage - - . Commanding Royal Engineer again called on to report about Drainage - - - , - IS'ecessity for erecting Barracks and draining Paddy Fields - - -- - -- Question settled with Colonial Office ; but a trial Hut must be erected before. Barracks Necessity for draining Paddy Fields - - - Drainage of Paddy Fields awaiting further Re- ports - - - - - - PAGE 424 426 427 427 428 428 428. 428 428 429. 429 429 429 430 431 Correspondence relating to the Erection of Barracks and Drainage of Paddy Fields. Hong Kong (8—165.) War Office, Pall Mall, S.W., Sir, 28 March 1861. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the' receipt of your letter dated 20lh instant, submitting, tor the considera- tion of the Secretary of State, papers on the sub- ject of the appropriation of a good site for a mili- tary hospital, on the newly acquired territory at Kowloon. I am, in reply, to transmit to you, for the infor- mation of his Royal Highness the General Com-' manding in Chief, the enclosed copy of a letter, dated 10th December 1860, addressed to Sir Hope Grant, on the subject of the appropriation of the Kowloon Peninsula, together with a copy of a memorandum of Lord Herbert's which accom- panied it. I am to state that copies of the papers, which were forwarded with your letter, will be sent to Sir Hope Grant. The enclosures to your letter are herewith re- turned as requested. I am, &c. (signed) F. Foster, Major General, Dy. I. G. F, The Quartermaster General, Horse Guards. Hong Kong (8—154.) Sir, 10 December 1860. With reference to the letter addressed to you by Mr. Herbert, by the mail of the 10th ultimo, on the subject of the occupation of the Kowloon Peninsula, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to inform you that Her Majesty's Go- vernment has determined to obtain a report upon, the question of the appropriation of this new terri- tory from a mixed commission of officers on the spot, to be composed of a naval officer, a military officer, and the Surveyor General of the Colonyl I am, therefore, to request that you will be good enough to nominate a military officer to act on the proposed commission, and at the same time I enclose, for your information, a memorandum embodymg the opinion of the Secretary of State as to the necessity of providing adequate and healthy accommodation for the troops stationed in China, which is to be laid before the officers appointed fpr the above purpose. I have to request that you will, in forwarding a copy of the report, express your views upon the recommendations which may be made by the commission, to enable the subject to be fully considered by Her Majesty's Government. The accompanying copies of a correspondence on the subject, received from the Colonial Office are also forwarded for your information ' Lieutenant General Sir J. H. Grant, k.c.b &c. &c. Sic, China. I am, (signed) &c. JB. Hawes. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOETALITT OE TEOOPS (CHINA). 425 Memorandum on the Appropriation of Kowloon Peninsula. In considering the subject of the appropriation of the newly acquired peninsula of Kowloim, it should be borne in nund that while every reason- able consideration ought to be given to the com- mercial prospects of the Colony, the question at issue is one of ipop^rial and not only of colonial interest. The Colony is defended by a garrison, the cost of which to the Home Government is materially increased by the sickness and mortality (caused by the unhealthy situation of the bairacks, and the insurticient cubic space afforded for the ac- commodation of the troops in a climate so dele- terious as that of Hong Kong. The necessity for mcreased accommodation for the garrison has long been apparent to the mili- tary authorities, and the acquisition of a healthy site like that of Kowloon, points at once to the direction in which this accommodation must be found. The annual cost of life in the jianison at Hong Kong, and the invaliding, home of the sick are so mostly, that, putting all questions of ■humanity aside, it is well worth the while of the Government, in an econ'^mical point of view, to ^0 to considerable expense in constructing new barracks and hospitals open to the sea breeze, and affording increased cubic splice to the soldiers. It is, therefore, a most important object to secure to the Imperial Government the possession of the ^ sites which, on sanitary and other grounds, ^re most adapted for barracks, as these sites, if once otherwise appropriated, can never be regained. The Secretary of State for War has every wish to avoid any course likely to interfere with the commercial growth of Hong Kong ; and he con- siders that it is of the highest importance to lay , out the newly acquired terriioryin such a manner as to give the Colony every facility for develop- ment ; but it must be borne in mind tliat the position of the garrison is very different from that of the colonists. 1 he latter go to Hong Kong by their own op- tion, in pursuit of their own inteiosis. The troops who go there to protect the colonists, go out at the rfsk of life, with no interest of their own to gratify; and it, therefore, becomes the first duty of the Government to undertake that these men shall, at least, have every security for health and life that the best site and the best accommodation can afford them. The actual extent of land wliicli it may be ne- cessary to reserve for military purposes is a ques- lion upon which the Government at home has little means of deciding, and on which the com- mittee on the spot will be in abetterposition to form an opinion. The Lieutenant General Command- ing the -Forces in China will be able to inform the Committee what proportion of the ordinary garrison can be moved from Hong Kong to Kowloon, and what number of troops will be ne- cessaryfor the defence of the peninsula, which, as being a portion of the main land, does not possess the security which Hong Kong derives from its insular position. 3/12/60. Sir, Horse Guards, 20 March 1861. I have the honour, by desire of the General Com- manding in Chief,to forward a letter, with an enclo- sure, from the Director General of the Army Med ical Department, and in submitting these papers for the consideration of the Secretary of State for War, 1 have it in com,mand to remark, that his Royal Highness considers it very important that a good site for a military hospital should be secured on the lately acquired territory of Kow- loon. The return of the enclosures is requested. I have &c. (signed) Richard jiirey, The Under Secretary Quartermaster General, of State for War. App. No. 15. Sanitary (18,411 — 4 B.) Army Medical Department, Sii-, 10 April 1861. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your memorandum (No. 7056), dated the 1st instant, transmitting a correspondence relative to the appropriation of a site for a military hospital on the newly acquired territory at Kowloon ; and I beg to return the enclosures, after perusal of the same, agreeably with your request. I have, &c., (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General. The Quartermaster General, &c. &c. &c.. Horse Guards. Sanitary (18,411 — 4 A.) Army Medical Department, Sir, 19 March 1861. I HAVE the honour to transmit, for the informa- tion of the General Commanding in Chief, the enclosed extract of a letter received from Dr. Rutherford, Deputy Inspector General of Hos- pitals, and sanitary officer attached to the late expeditionaiy force in China, reporting the intended appropiiation by the Admiralty of the best site, in a sanitary point of view, that can be obtained at Kowloon, for the purposes of that Department. Under the circumstances, Dr. Rutherford has represented, I would respectfully request that his Royal Higlmess may be pleased to take such steps as he may consider necessary for securing the piece of ground in question as a site for the military hospital intended to be erected on that peninsula. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General. The Quartermaster General, &c. &c. &c. Hoise Guards. 0.53. Extract of a Letter from Tir. Rutherford, Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, dated Honf Kung, 29 December I860. "As yet no decision has been come to regard- ing a site for an hospital, although an excellent and convenient one presents itself immediately 3X2 contiguous 426 APPENDIX TO BEPOET FROM THE App. No. 15. contiguous, and to the northern end of that for —— the barracks, but which, it is said, has been claimed by the naval authorities for public pur- poses. Should this be the caae, and this portion of ground, about the best on the peninsula, be thus appropriated, a very valuable site for a mili- tary hospital will, unfortunately, be lost, and it will be necessary to seek one elsewhere, at a much less convenient, and perhaps less salubrious locality." Sir, ' Horse Guards, 2 April 1863. I HAVE the honour, by desire of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, to transmit, for the consideration of the Secretary of State for War, as a sanitary question, a cor- respondence which has been received from the Director General of the Army Medical Depart- ment, upon the subject of drainage at Kowloon. I have, &c. (signed) Percy E. Herhert, Deputy Quartermaster General. The Under Secretary of State for War. Sanitary (21,108 — 14 S.) Army Medical Department, Sir, 1 April 1863. I HAVE the honour to submit, for the informa- tion of the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, the enclosed correspondence regarding the subject of drainage at Kowloon ; and as I feel strongly the deep importance involved in having the pro- posed measiire carried out in as effective a manner, and at as early a period as possible, I beg most respectfully to invite the favourable consideration of his Royal Highness to the subject, as one bearing essentihlly and directly upon the health of the troops, with a view to his being pleased to take such steps towards the early attainment of the drainage as he may deem expedient. I have, &c. (signed) J.B. Gibson, Director General, The Quartermaster General, &c. &c. &c. Horse Guards. Sanitary (21,108 — 14 A.) Army Medical Department, Sir, ^ 29 October 1862. With reference to the enclosed extract from the Annual Inspection Report on Barracks and Hos- pitals at Hong Kong and Kowloon, to 31st De- cember 1861, I request to be informed of the results which may have followed the recommen- dation through the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General to the Major General Commanding, and dated 1st December 1861 ; and I beg to be fa- voured with a special report as to the comparative effect on the health of the troops to the latest date, which may be attributed to the measure urged by Dr. Currie, should the same have been carried out duly at the season indicated in the above letter to Sir J. Michel. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General. The Principal Medical Officer in China, &c. &c. &c. Hong Kong. Extract from the Sanitary Report of the Principal Medical Officer in China, 31 De- cember 1861. " The sanitary condition of the promontory of Kowloon is far from being good ; the vicinity of the huts on the north side of the camp is espe- cially objectionable; the whole promontory is more or less surrounded and intersected, in an irregular manner, by belts of paddy cultivation, requiring constant irrigation. I strongly recom- mended that the cultivation referred to be entirely interdicted, and the localities thoroughly dramed, but there is no probability of either being done at present, in consequence of the expense which they would entail." (21,108—14 8.) Principal Medical Officer's Office, Sir, Hong Kong, 29 January 1863. In reply to your letter of the 29th October 1862, marked Sanitary, 21,108 — 14 A, regarding the subject of drainage at Kowloon, I regret to inform you that nothing whatever has yet been done in carrying out Dr. Currie's suggestions,' owing to certain difficulties in existence, the nature of which I conceived would best be explained by my obtaining the enclosed statement on the sub- ject from the Commanding Royal Engineer. Upon the receipt of the memorandum above re- ferred to from Colonel Moody, I lost no time in addressing a letter to the Brigadier General Com- manding m China, on the subject of drainage at Kowloon, a copy of which I have the honour to enclose ; and I shall, in addition, not fail to urge, by every means in my power, the carrying out of so important a sanitary measure. I have, &c. (signed) W. Home, m.d,, Deputy Inspector General and Principal Medical Officer. The Director General, Army Medical Department, London. (21,108—14 S.) Relative to Kowloon Cantonment. Memorandum for information of Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals, Commanding Rojal Engineer's Office, Hong Kong, 27 Januaiy 1863. In1861 (17th August), the commanding officer at Kowloon reported that certain nuisances (manure tanks) were being filled up and closed, agreeably to an order from the magistrate, and further, that the use of liquid and human manure was pro- hibited for the future in the neighbourhood of the cantonments. On the 26th November 1^61, his Excellency Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor and Commander in Chief, writes to Major General Sir John Michel, K.C.B., that the owners and occupiers (Chinese) of the land at Kowloon are, by treaty stipulations, entitled to all the rights of proprietor- ship, until their claims are purchased by the Briiish Government. He also states that the local magistrate has orders to summons the pro- prietors of cesspools, &c. as nuisances, with a view to their removal. It, however, appears that the sickness at Kowloon (especially of late) can- not SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEQOPS (CHINA). 427 not be altogether owing to the cesspools and other nuisances referred to (which are under local con- trol, and therefore admit of immediate remedy), but appears to be partially, if not chiefly, owing to the nature of local cultivation, " paddy fields," and the malaria carried therefrom by the mon- soons and other winds. The compensation required for a portion of this local cultivation (that part considered more imuiediateiy to affect the site of the huts in " Napier's Range") was calculated at between 700 /. and 800 /. His Excellency the Governor and Commander in Chief of Hong Kong stated that, as this sum was required for military purposes (sanitary for militar\ occupation) and not for colonial pur- poses, he had no authority to meet the claim. The Major General Commanding (Sir John Michel, K.C.B.), considered the claim for compen- sation was too high, and that, as a temporary measure, the local arrangements in force v/ould meet existing military wants; nothing; further has therefore been arranged relative to this question, and the cultivation of the paddy fields continues. The cultivation of the paddy fields will be de- stroyed, and compensation claimed in case of drainage, and yet drainage (which is very easily arranged) is apparently the only way of rendering an admirable site for a military cantonment avail- able for the necessary occupation. (signed) SL. Moody, Lieut. Colonel Commanding Royal Engineers in China. Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals in China. (21,108—14 S.) Principal Medical Officer's Office, Sir, Hong Kong, 2S January 1863. I HAVE the honour to solicit the particular at- tention of the Brigadier General Commanding to the very urgent necessity that exists for imme- diate steps being t;iken to drain the paddy fields and otiier wet lands existing in the vicinity, and for some distance to windward of the huts occu- pied by the military at Kowloon. Representations have, I am aware, repeatedly been made by my predecessor on this subject, and 1 also know that peculiar difficulties exist in the way of these representations being carried out; but so strongly has the necessity for something being speedily done become apparent since I took medical superintendence in this command (some- what less than two months ago), that I cannot resist again bringing ihe subject prominently to the notice of the officer commanding in China. During the month of December, the 99th Regi- ment was quartered partly at Hong Kong and partly at Kowloon, in the proportion of 624 of strength at the farmer, and 312 at the latter. In that month, 124 cases of intermittent fever came under treatment in fill, whereof 53 originated at Hong Konj.', and 71 at Kowloon; or, in other words, 8 per cent, of strength in one instance, and 22 per cent, in the other, were affected with ague during one month. Nothing need be added to this fact to prove how much a removable cause of sickness operates to the disadvantage of the troops stationed at Kow- loon, and how necessary, therefore, becomes its removal in a climate where, from unknown causes, ordinary forms of fever may become intensified during an unhealthy season into a malignant and fatal epideruic. If Kowloon is to continue to be 0.53. occupied as a ni|litary station (and the accommo- App. No. 15. dation required/for this garrison will not admit of — — its being dispensed), I would strongly recommend that no time We lost in putting an end to all arti- ficial irrigatiom there, and completing the drainage so requisite tS improve its sanitary condition. I have, &c. (signed) W. Home, m.d,, De|Aity Inspector General of Hospitals, land Principal Medical Officer. The Acting Deputy Assistant Adjutaiit|General, &c. &c. &c. Head Quarters, Shanghai. Hong Kong (8 — 235.) Sir, War Office, 27 April 1863. I AM directed by the Secreta^ry of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 2nd instant, respecting the sanitary state of Kowloon, and to acquaint you, in reply, for the information of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Command- ing in Chief, that a report has 'been called for from the Commanding Royal Engineer on the subject. The enclosures of your letter are returned here- with. I am, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. The Quartermaster General, &c. &c. &.C. Horse Guards. Sir, Horse Guards, 9 July 1863. I AM desired by his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, to transmit, for the consideration of the Secretary of State for War, a letter from Brigadier General Stavely, late commanding the troops in China, drawing atten- tion to the advantages which would result from an early decision being arrived at with regard to the erection of barracks at Kowloon. I have, &c. (signed) Percy E. Herbert, Deputy Quartermaster General. The Under Secretary of State for War. United Service Club, 4 July 1863. Sir, I THINK it right to request you will bring to the notice of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that it is very desirable that no time be lost in coming to a decision with the regard to the erection of barracks at Kowloon in China, for the following reasons : — 1st. A large proportion of the Hong Kong garrison are now, during the hot season, located at Kowloon in mat huts, which, besides affording insufficient protection from the heat, are habie to be destroyed in a few minutes by fire, or by a typhoon. 2nd. A large proportion of the garrison are, for want of barrack accommodation, located in mat huts in the island of Hong Kong itself. 3rd. There are swampy paddy or rice fields in the immediate neighbourhood of the huts at Kow- loon, very injurious to health, as reported to me by Dr. Home, Principal Medical Officer, but which 3 I 3 cannot 428 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE App. No. 15. cannot be purchased from the natives and drained, until it has been decided what lands are to be appropriated to military and what to colonial purpose.-. I wish further to bring to the notice of his Royal Higlmess, the numerous guards and sentries required at Hong Kong for the protection of the commissariat and mihtary stores, especially the lattei', owino; to the goods beino- stored in small buildings at considerable distances from one another. If on tiie completion of the barracks at Kow- loon the present general hospital, or the Murray barracks, were converted into store-rOoms, a great reduction could he effected m the garrison duties, and II consequent reduction in the strength of the gairison. I have, &c. (signed) C. Staveley, Colonel 44th Regiment, late Brigadier General Commanding in China. The Quartermaster General, Horse Guards. War Office, Sir, 15 September 1863. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 9th July last, and its enclosed letter from Brigadier General Staveley, drawing attention to the advan- tages which would result from an early settlement of the question with regard to the erection of barracks at Kowloon. I am, iiowever, to state for the information of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Command- ing in Chief, that when the site was first selected the Secretary of State for War decided to defer the construction of the barracks until the salubrity of the site had been tested by the erection of n properly built hut thereon, and by its occupation for at least a'complete year. This hut will not be begun, owing to want of funds, until 1864-65, and the question of the erection of the l)arracks will, therefore, be neces- sarily deferred for some time longer. The enclosure of your letter is returned herewith. I am, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. The Quartermaster (xeneral, &c. &c. &c. Horse Guards. Horse Guards, Sir, 22 September 1863. With reference to the War Office letter of the 15th instant (Hong Kong, 8 — 245), and previous correspondence respecting the apportionment of ground for military purposes dt Kowloon, I have the honour, by desire of the Field Marshal Com- manding in Chief, to transmit a Despatch, ad- dressed to the Military Secretary by the Major General Commanding in China, covering copies of a correspondence with the Actino; Governol' of Hong Kono; upon the subject. His Royal Highness desires me strongly to urge the necessity of a speedy decision on this ques- tion, as further delay is most objectionable, and may seriously affect tli e health of the troops stationed in China. The Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Hercules Robinson, being at home at present, h is Royal Highness would suggest that a favourable oppor- tunity is afforded for a personal arrangement to be come to with his Excellency on the subject. As longer delay in building -barracks at Kow- ,loon must lead to increased expenditure hereafter, his Royal Highness recommends a reconsidera- tion of the whole question, and trusts that a de- cision may be at once arrived at. I have, &c. (signed) Richard Airey, Quartermaster General. The Under Secretary of State for War, &c. &c. &c. . War Office, Sir, 30 September 1863. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 22nd instant, and, referring to the letter from this office of the loth instant, I am to acquaint you in reply, for the inforrnation of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that the question of the apportionment of ground formilitary purposes at Kowloon has been referred to the Colonial Office, and that when a reply has been received from that Department no time will be lost in dealing with the question. I have, &c. (signed) J. F. Burgoyne, J. G. E. and D. W. The Quartermaster General, &C. &.C. &c. Horse Guards. Horse Guaids, Sir, 22 September 1863. A COPY of a Despatch, dated 29th July 1863, addressed to the Secretary of State for V\'ar by Major General Brown, commanding the troops in China, having been received in this Department, the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief has ob- served the following paragraph : — " The barracks at Kowloon will be ready by the end of the month." His Royal Highness desires me, therefore, to refer to the letters already written on the subject of barrack accommodation at Kowloon, particu-' larly the War Office letter of the 15th instant (Hong Kong, 8 — 246, l), slating that nothing can be done until the year 1864-65, .md to request the favour of some explanation' of Major General Brown's remark. I have, &c. (signed) Richard Airey, Quartermaster General. The Under Secretary of State for War, &c. &c. &c. War Office, Sir, 25 September 1863. With reference to your letter of the 22nd in- stant, relative to a passage on the subject of the barracksatKowloon, which occurred in a Despatch, dated the 29th July, from Major General Brown, commanding the troops in China, addressed to this Office, I am directed by Earl de Grey anlf* Ripon to state, for the information of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that this passage must have referred to temporary mat-shed barracks, which the general officer Missing Page SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS (cHINA). 429 oflScer commanding recently authorised to be consiructed, and not to any permanent erections. I am, &,c. (signed) Edward Lugard. The Quartermaster General, Horse Guards. Horse Guards, Sir, 5 January 1864. I HAVE (he honour, by desire of his Rpyal HishnesB the Field Marshal Commanding in Chiel', fo transmit, for the consideration of the Secretary of State for War, a letter from the Di- rector General of the Army Medical Department, with enclosure, relative to sickness among the troops quartered at Kowloon, which is attributed tq the close proximity of paddy fields to the mi- litary huts. I am directed at the same time to refer to the letters which have been already written on the subject of barrack accommodation at Kowloon (2nd April, 9th July, and 22nd September 1863). I have, &c. (signed) Richard Airey, Quartermaster General. The Under Secretary of State for War, War Office. information of his Royal Highness the Field App. No. ig. Marshal Commanding in Chief, that the Com- manding Royal Engineer in China has again been called upon for a report and estimate of the cost of the drainage works required at Ko'vvloon. Tlie enclosures of your letter are returned here- with. I am, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. The Quartermaster General, &,c. ik,c. &c. Horse Guards. (Sanitary, 21,108— 25B.) ' Army Medical Department, Sir, V "2 January 1864. 'I HATE the honour to transmit, for the con- sideration of the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, the^ accompanying extract from a letter which was addressed by the Principal Medical Officer in China to the military authorities in that command, representing a state of sickness among the troops located at Kowloon, which he attributed "much to the undrained condition of the paddy fields at ihat station, and in close neighbourhood of the military huts; and, with reference to the recommendation contained therein, I would re- spectfully suggest, should his Royal Highness be pleased to deem it expedient, that the necessary .steps maybe taken for pressing instructions being sent out to the proper authorities in China with a view to the effectual drainage of the paddy fields being carried out without further delay ; a measure whicii I consider to be urgent, and essential to the preservation of the health of the troops. I have, &c- (signed) J. B. Gibson, U[ The Quartermaster General, Director General. I'^f &c. &c. &C- fy': Hoirse Guards. Extract Letter, dated 23 October 1863. " I WOULD most respectfully urge the necessity, as previously referred to in a letter addressed to Major General Brown, dated 11th June 1863, of measures being taken witliout delay to effect the drainage of the marahes at Kowloon, without which it is altogether hopeless to expect that any improvement will take place in its sanitary con- dition." Sir, War Office, 14 January 1864. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 5tl) instant, and to acquaint you in reply, for the 0.53. ' ■ Sir, Horse Guards, 14 January 1864. I HAVE tlie honour, by desire of the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, to refer to letters from this Office, dated hs per margin,* on the subject of barrack accommodation at Kowloon. Two principal points have been involved in the above correspondence, viz. : — 1st. The apportionment of ground for the new barracks, and the advantages which would result from their early erection. 2nd. The necessity for remedying the wet state of the paddy fields, which are in close proximity to the military huts, and have been frequently represented as the cause of much sickness amongst the troops. A further report has now been received, that several cases of fever have occurred at Kowloon, and that the health of the troops has been worse than usual. His Royal Highness therefore directs me to advert to the statement in your letter of the 30th September last, Hong Kong, 2 — 251, that the question awaited a reply from the Colonial Office, and to request to be informed whether any d ecisions have yet been come to with regard to the repre- sentations which fiave been made, I have, &c. (signed) lUchard Airey, Quartermaster General. The Under Secretary of State for War, War Office, Pall Mall. * April 2, July 9, September 10 (this was merely asking for a reply), and 22 September 1863. 5 January 1864. (Hong Kong, 8—260.) Sir, War Office, 29 January 1864. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 14th instant, referring to previous correspondence re- specting the apportionment of ground for thecon.- templated barracks at Kowloon, and the drainage of the paddy fields in the locality. Witl) regard to the allotment of ground for military purposes, I am directed to state for the information of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief, that the question has now been settled between the Colonial OEce and this Department ; and that instructions were sent to the gieneral officer commanding, by letter dated 16th November 1863, to carry out the arrangement determined on. That letter enters fully into the whole detail of the land to be apportioned for military purposes ; and a copy of it, and of its accompanying plan, is herewith transmitted "for the information of his Royal Highness. 3 I 4 With 430 APPENDIX TO BEPOBT FEOM THE App. No. 15. With regard to the drainage of the paddy fields, ■ I am desired by Earl de Grey to refer you to War Office Letter of the 14th instant, Hong Kong 8 — 259, stating that the question still awaited a report and estimate from the Command- ing Royal Engineer, which has not yet been received. And as respects the early erection of the proposed barracks, I am to advert to the War Office Letter of 15th September 1863, Hong Kong 8 — 245, in which it was stated that a trial hut would be erected in 1864-5, and that the building of the barrack must be postponed until the salubrity of the site had been tested by the occupation of -this iiut for at least one complete year. The return of the plan is requested. I am, &c. (signed) .Edward Lugard. The Quartermaster General, &c. &c. &c. Horse Guards. (Hong Kong 8—255.) Sir, War Office, 16 November 1863. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th July last, respecting the land to be reserved for military purposes at Kowloon; and I am to acquaint you that the Secretary of State for War has decided, in concurrence with the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the site for a barrack, which was indicated in the letter from this office to the Colonial Office, dated 24th February 1863, and of which a copy was sent to you from this office by letter dated 19th March 1863, shall be adhered to. A copy of the plan therein alluded to, showing on the fly sheet the site determined on for the barracks, is now again enclosed for your infor- mation. Lord de Grey has also decided, in concurrence with the Duke of Newcastle, that the following points of land shall be reserved for the erection of batteries, viz. : — Belcher Point r^ West Point - - - To command approaches to White Rock - - - hai-hour from the west- North-east Pointof Stone- ward, cutter's Island -J -\To command approaches to -J harbour from the eastward. To prevent hostile ships that may have passed the outer batteries ±rom the west- ward, occupying the an- chorage, or cutting out ships. The governor of Hong Kong does not press for the removal of any existing battery ; and the only sites which he wishes to be tra'nsferred to the Colonial Government, are — 1. Possession Point. 2. The south-west point of Kowloon Penin- sula. 3. The north-east point of Stonecutter's Island. There is no objection to Possession Point being given up to the Colony, as West Point will be a substitute for it as a site for a battery. The south-west point of Kowloon Peninsula presents, however, a site for a battery for which no substitute could be found. As, however, it appears that this point is very urgently required for com- mercial purposes, and as it is uncertain at what Lyemoon Pass North 'Point - Town Batteries Kellet's Island South-east and south- west points of Kow- loon Peninsula - date it may be actually wanted for the erection of a. battery, it has been decided that it shall be given over to the Colony on a written engagement that if it should ever be determined to erect a battery thereon, it shall be redeemed from its occupiers at the expense of the Colony, and handed over to the Im])erial Government; within a fixed period, such as three months from the dateof apphcation; and with a further engagement, that if it be urgently required for the construction of a battery in time of war, the Colonial Government will, on a representation from the officer comm.anding that the necessities of the military service require it, undertake to hand over the site in such period as he may name, without waiting for the expiration of the three months' notice, which would under ordinary circumstances be given. With respect to Stonecutter's Island, Lord de Grey imagines that in the erection of a convict prison in that locality, arrangements may be made which would admit of the construction of a bat- tery at the north-east point of that island, should it ever be determined to erect one there. The question of the character of the buildings to be allowed to be erected between the proposed barracks and the sea has received the considera- tion of the Secretary of Slate for War, and his Lordship considers that it would be sufficient to enact that the buildings in that position shall not be high enough to obstruct the breeze from tiie sea to the barracks on the hill above, and that certain trades and occupations (to be specified by the local authorities) likely to prove injurious to the health of the troops shall be prohibited. This view; has been concurred in by the Duke of New- castle. All present proprietors who may be dispossessed, for War Department purposes, will be compen- sated by the War Department ; the several com- pensations being assessed in a!ccordance with the terms of the Convention of Pekin. . I am to request that you will be good enough to take the necessary steps, in conjunction with the officer -administering the Government of Hong Kong, for giving effect to the decision contained m this letter. Instructions will be sent to the Commanding Royal Engineer as to the erection of a trial hut on the site decided for the barracks. I am, &c. , . _,, _, , (signed) Hartington. '| ine General Officer Commanding the Forces, &c. &c. &c., Hong Kong. Sir, Horse Guards, 6 February 1864. With reference to the War Office letter of the • * 29th ultimo (Hong Kong, 8—260), I have the honour, by desire of the Field Marshal Command- ing m Chief, to transmit, for further consideration of the Secretary of State for War, a communica- tion received from the Director General of the Army Medical Department, respecting the neces- sity for draining the paddy fields at Kowloon; and I am to advert to the recommendation which his Royal Highness has already made upon this subject in previous correspondence. It is requested that the enclosures may be "'^ returned. I have, &c. '; (signed) Richard Airey, ^ Quartermaster General The Under Secretary of State for War &c. &c. &c. ' SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS (CHINa). 431 Army Medical Department, Sir, 6 February 1864. Adverting to your Minute, dated the 30th ultimo, transmitting a letter from the War Office, relative to the allotment of ground at Kowloon for mOitary purposes, and the proposed drainage of the paddy fields in the locality, and, with special reference to the 4th paragraph of Sir Edwai-d Lugard's communication, I have now the honour to transmit, lor the consideration of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Conmiandingin Chief, a letter I have just received from the principal medical officer in China, on a perusal of which 1 feel urged to reiterate the i-ecommendation I sub- mitted to you on the 2nd ultimo, for the druinage of these fields, to be carried out at the very earliest opportunity. Be pleased to return the enclosures (3) when no longer required. I have, &c. (signed) J. B. Gibson, Director General. The Quartermaster General, &c. Sec. &c. Horse Guards. Kowloon, Hong Kong, 8 — 273. App. No. 15. Sir, 23 April 1864. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 14th instant, and to acquaint you in reply, for the information of his Koyal Highness the Field Mar- shal Commanding in Chief, that the question of draining piiddy fields at Kowloon is awaiting further reports called for from the station, and that a further communication will be made when Earl de Grey is in a position to form a decision. I am. Sec. (signed) J. F. Burgoyne. I. G. E. and D. W. The Quartermaster General, &c. &c. &c. Further PAPEES handed in by General Sir Hope Grant. Head Quarters, Hong Kong, Sir, 12 Xovember 1S64. With reference to Horse Guards letter of the 26th August 1864, relative to the relief of the 67th and 99th Regiments by the 2nd Battalions of the 9th and Hth Regiments, I have the honour to state, for the infonnation of His Eoyal Highness the Field jNIarshal Commanding in Chief, that I propose making the following arrangements for carrying out this service, and the distribution of the troops to remain in China. Her Majesty's ship " Adventure" has been placed at my disposal, to concentrate the 67th ■R^ment at Hong Kong, for embarkation. This r«criment (strength, 26 officers, 705 men) may be expected here early next month, and will be accommodated in Murray and North Barracks. On tlie arrival of the 6Tth, I purpose forwarding to Shanfihai, in " Adventure," head quarters of the 99th Regiment, 400 men, with a proportion of officers. • These troops can be accommodated in the settle- ment at that station. Two officers and 61 men of this regiment are already on detachment at Taku, the remainder of the corps, 244 men, will be provided for at Kow- loon. On the arrival, about February next, in Her Maesty's ship " Tamar,' of the 2nd-9th Regi- ment (streng-th about 36 officers, S38 men), the 67tb will be forwarded to the Cape, the 2Dd-9th taking its place in Murray and North Barracks ; 18 officers and 500 men being quartered in the former, 221 men in the latter. Eighteen officers and 117 men will remain to be provided for. The men, with a proportion of the officers, will be accommodated at Kowloon, but additional ac- commodation for at least 12 officers will be re- quired at Hong Kong, and as Murray Barracks is only constructed for two field officers, two rooms each, and 1 6 other officers, one each, it will be absolutely necessary to hire a building for this purpose. 0.53 I would beg to draw attention to this fact, and to request the favour of His Royal Highness's in- structions thereon. Uith reference to the annexed extract of letter fi"om Her Britannic Majesty's minister in Japan, to the officer commandins troops in that country, from which it appears that a wing of the 2nd-20th Regiment can be spared from Yokohama within six months, I would beg to propose the following arrangement, viz. : that this regiment be distri- buted between Yokohama, Shanghai and Taku. There will then remain no available accommo- dation for troops in this command, except the barracks and huts at Hong Kong and Kowloon, which will be absolutely required for the accommo- dation of the 2nd-9th Regiment, their families, and those of the 8th-2nd battery Royal Artillery. I would, therefore, request instructions as to the disposal of the 2nd-llth Regiment, which by above letter, it is proposed to send to China, as under existing circumstances it will be impossible to provide for it in this country. I have, &c. (signed) P. M.N. Guy, Major Gen. Commanding Troops, China. The Quartermaster General, Horse Guards. Extract of a Letter fi'om Sir Butherford Alcock, Her Britannic Majesty's Minister at Japan, to Lieut. Colonel Browne, Commanding Troops in Japan, dated Yokohama, 27 October 1864. I WOULD, however, call your attention to the fact, that as far as I can foresee, there is no pro- bability that the troops now here will be required to i-emain, at furthest, more than six months from this date. I have, indeed, at, this moment, instructions from Lord Russell, received by last mail, to the effect, that when all danger of an attickon Ycko- 3 £ hama 432 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FBOM THE App. No. 15. hama has entirely ceased, the wing of the 20th Regiment, brought up from Hong Kong on my requisition, may be sent back. Horse Guards, Sir, 27 December 1864. In forwarding for the consideration of the Sec- retary of State for War the enclosed letter re- ceived from the Major General Commanding the Troops in China,* in which he requests instruc- tions as to the disposal of a portion of the troops under his command, on the completion of the reliefs nf the infantry regiments approved by War Office letter da.ted 5th August last (091 — 574), I am instructed by the Field Marshal Commanding in Chief to acquaint you, for Lord de Grey's in- formation, that the European force at present serving in the China command appears to have been distributed, according to the last returns, as follows, viz. : Royal Artillery : Hong Kong - Japan Shanghai and Taku Royal Engineers : Hong Kong and Kowloon Japan - - . . Shanghai 1 battery. 2 batteries. I compacy. I 1 1 company. Infantry : Hong Kong Japan Shanghai Taku - 1 regiment, - - 1/5 » _ . 6 IS '» 3 regiments. It now appears that, in the course of a short time, the infantry at Japan will be reduced to a wing of a regiment; and therefore, if ihe present force, viz., three regiments, is to be kept in the command, two and a-half regiments must be quar- tered between Hong Kong, Kowloon, Shanghai, and Taku. The ihree last-named places appear by the enclosed letter to afford accommodation for one battalion, if the present garrisons are to be main- tained, whilst the Murray and North Barracks in Hong Kong can be appropriated to another bat- talion, besides detachments of Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. The remaining barrack, viz., Stanley, Hong Kong, is staled by the last barrack return to be " in a state of partial dilapidation. It would not accommodate more than 150 men." The mat huts occupied by the Native Infantry, about to return to India, have not been taken into calculation, as they are not fit for European troops. It therefore appears that, upon the reduction of force in Japan, there will not be sufficient barrack accommodation for the troops in the command; and, it the force is to be maintained at its present strength, instructions for providing additional quarters by hire, or otherwise, should at once be sent out. If, on the other hand, it be decided to reduce the force, it is desirable that a decision should be » 12 Nov. 1864. Maj.-Gen. Guy. arrived at before the departure of the next mail to the Cape of Good Hope, as the 2nd Battalion, 1 1th Regiment, in that colony, is held in readiness to proceed to Hong Kong in Her Majesty's ship "Tamar,"on the arrival of the 67 ih Regiment, now being relieved by the 2nd-9th Regiiuent. I am to add that, should such a reduction be decided upon, a change of arrangements in car- rying out the reliefs appointed by War OflSce letter before quoted will be proposeii. I have, Sec, (signed) Percy E. Herbert, Deputy Quartermaster General. The Under-Secretaiy of State for War, War Office, Pall Mall. War Office, Sir, 10 January 1865 (.091—626). I HAVE laid before the Secretary of State for War your letter of the 27th ultimo, with its en- closure from Major General Guy, in which he calls attention to the difficulty which he antici- pates in providing for the accommodation of the force serving under his command. His Royal Highness the Field Mi'.rshal Com- manding in Chief is aware that it has been 'de- cided to withdraw the troops from the north of China, and to send back to India two regiments - of Native Infantry, and ©•ne battery of Artillery, and that the establishment of the three European regiments remaining in the command is to be re- duced to 800 rank and file (depot included) from the 1st April next. Earl de Grey is not prepared at the present moment to make any further reduction of the force in China, and he has instructed Major General Guy to make the best and most economical ar- rangements in his power for the accommodation of the troops until such time as one of the three battalions can be brought away. 1 have, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. The Quartermaster General, Horse Guards. The Secretary of the Admiralty to Vice- Admiral King. (No. 52.) Sir, Admiralty, 21 March 1865. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to signify their direction to you to order the " Conqueror" to return to Spithead with the battalion of Royal Marines now serving in Japan, unless the state of affairs in that country or in China should, in your opinion, render it absolutely necessary to detain the Marines on the station. You are to complete the complements of Royal Marines on board the ships on the stati-.n from the battalion, and also to retain 20 privates as supernumaries, to fill vacancies as they may occur, giving the preference to men volunteering to remain out on the station. The " Conqueror" is to bring home any naval or military invalids she can conveniently accom- modate. I am, &c. (signed) W. G. Romaine. Vice-Admiral King, c.b., &c. &c. Hong Kong. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MOBTALITY OF TROOPS (QEINA). 433 LETTEE. from Major General TV. G. Brown, Commanding Her Majesty's Troops in China, to the App .No. 15. Secretary of State for War. (No. 127.) Head-quarterSj Hong Hong, My Lord, 14 April 1864. I HAVE the honour to lay before you a copy of a letter which has been addressed to me by Lieutenant Colonel Browne, Commanding Her Majesty's 2-20th Eegiment, relative to the present serious position of the battalion under his command. I forwarded to your Lordship, by the previous mail, a report that a fire had taken place at Kow- loon, and, by a miracle, the whole cantonment was not burnt down; but the same may take place at any moment, and with, perhaps, most §erious results, owing to the construction of the huts being of materials most inflammable, as specified by Colonel Browne. These huts, though of bamboo and matting, are necessarily obliged to be constructed as strong as possible, to resist the typhoons, and Kowloon is so situated as to be exposed to the full force of the south-west monsoon. This, then, will account for the difi&culty in pulling down any huts, should a fire take place, to arrest its progress. I have taken every precaution since my ar- rival in China to meet any accident, by placing four large water barrels, kept constantly filled, to each hut; also ladders, to enable the men to mount the roof quickly, and, by spreading wet blankets, to do all they can to stay any spreading of fire ; tanks have also been constructed, and a fire engine has been placed in charge of the regiment. But, with every precaution, an accident may at any moment create a fire, and, should it take place at night, with a strong wind blowing, it would be hopeless to do any more than to save life ; and the loss of public property alone would be very great, and, in addition, the kits of the men. The huts were erected prior to my arrival in China ; and, though some have been standing for a length of time without accident, yet I conceive it to be my duty to support Lieutenant Colonel Browne's letter, that the same may receive from your Lordship serious consideration. How I am to advise in the matter I am at a loss to make answer, when no building can be hired to accommodate a second regiment at Hong Kong. The trial hut is to remain two years as an ex- periment, before the building of regular barracks is contemplated ; and I would, therefore, urge that something should be done to guard agaiast the fatality of the 2-20th Regiment running the risk of being burnt out, from which they have already had a narrow escape. I have, &c. (signed) W. G. Brown, Major General, Commanding H. B. M.'s Troops in China. The Eight Honourable The Secretary of State for War. (Enclosure.) Sir, Camp Kowloon, 13 April 1864. I DEEM it my duty to request you to draw the attention of the commandant of this garrison to the dangerous nature of the quarters allotted to the battalion under my command. These, as the commandant is aware, consist of huts constructed of light poles and bamboos, covered with matting and dry leaves : highly in- flammable. Not only the public property is at risk, but also the safety of the troops is endangered. Fire, once breaking out, is simply and essen- tially uncontrollable from its intense violence and rapidity. On the 29th ultimo a portion of this camp, in- cluding the entire hospital establishment, was destroyed by fire in a very few minutes, not- withstanding the most prompt exertions. Fortunately, the patients in hospital were few and able to assist themselves ; had it been other- wise, they could not have been saved. Fire cannot be arrested by puUing down huts adjacent, the tough materials resist all such efforts. I do not know of any addition to present ar- rangements by which increased security could be afforded. The most trifling accident is liable and likely at any time to produce the most serious loss of public property, attended with risk to the troops, and has already done so. I have, &c. (signed) H. Browne, Lieut. Col., Commanding 2-20th Regiment. (True copy.) H. B. Savory, a.d.C,™ Assistant Military Secretary. The Fort Adjutant, Hong Kong. 0.53. 3e: 2 434 APPENDIX TO REPOBT FROM THE Appendix, No. 16. GAEEISON HOSPITAL, HONG KONG. EETURN showing Ward Accommodation, and the Alterations made by the Board. Buildicg. Centre Floor, &c. Room. Measure. East building Ground - East of passage < West of passage First floor East of passage Second floor - East of passage West of passage Ground First floor Second floor :{ Medical store, marked guard-room. Four stores - - - Two stores (wing) - Office of regimental hos pital - - - Surgery - - - - Reading room Purveyor's office Two medical stores - Two stores (wing) - Apothecary's office 1 ward - - - - 2 ward - - - - Hospital sergeant - Lobby in corridor - Two baths, &c. in wing - 3 ward - - - - 4 ward - - - - 5 ward - - - - Lobby in corridor - Bath room, &c. in wing - 6 ward . - - - 7 ward - - - Hospital sergeant - Lobby in corridor - Two baths, &c. in wing - 8 ward - - - - 9 ward - - - - 10 ward ... Lobby in corridor - Two baths, &c. in wing - Equip store - - . Lascar ward - - - Prisoners' ward Guard-room - - - Infection ward Principal medical officer's quarters. Medical officers' library - Mr. Wood's quarters Mr. Young's quarters Principal medical officer's office. Ditto - officer's office, private. Medical officers' quarters Medical officers' quarters 5,045 cub. ft. 32' 6" X 11' 3' 5,321 cub. ft. 5,084 „ 2,464 „ 6,084 „ 1,564 „ 16,370 „ 13,420 „ 32' 6" X 11' -3" 10' 9" X 10' 16,370 cub. ft. 17,576 „ 2,053 „ 10' 9" X 10' 16,370 cub. ft. 13,421 „ 5,321 „ 10' 9" X 10' 16,370 cub. ft. 17,576 > „ 2,053 „ 10' 9" X 10' 3,507 cub. ft. 7,290 „ 22' X 11' 3" 22' X 15' 6" 12,170 cub. ft. » 3,662 6,036 6,258 12,216 3,662 6,036 „ 8,741 „ Previous Ward_ Appropriation at 1,500 Cubic Feet. Alterations made under Recent Decision. )- -{ 11 beds. 8 „ II beds. 11 1 11 beds. 8 „ 1 1 beds. 11 » 1 „ Principalmedical officer'? office. Office of regimental hos- pital. 2 beds. - - (?) (?) 2 beds. (?) -' - (?) Orderlies' room. Medical officers' library. 8 prisoners. 2 beds. 4 beds. Orderly medical officer. 8 sick. 2 sick. 4 sick. 6 beds. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS (CHINA). 435 Return showing Ward Accommodation, and the Alterations made by the Boarc — continued. • < Previous Ward Alterations made > Building. Floor, &c. Room. Measure, Appropriation at 1,500 Cubic Feet. under Recent Decision. West building Ground - Purveyor's store Medical store Barrack room (4), Army Hospital Corps. Purveyors' store Sergeant Army Hospital Corps. Bath and ablution - 21' 10" X 20' 6" 25' X 11' — Office of regimental hos- pital. First floor ' - Purveyor's quarters Purveyor's quarters 10 ward - - . 11 ward . . - Sergeant Army Hospital Corps (in corridor). 4,607 cub. ft. 6,663 „ 11,677 „ 6,350 „ 3,298 „ 7 beds. 4 » ' 3 beds. 5 beds. Second floor Dispensers' quarters )> » " " 13 ward ... 12 ward . - - Sergeant Army Hospital Corps. 4,607 „ 6,663 „ 6,660 „ 11,677 „ 3,298 „ 4 beds. 7 „ 3 heds. 5 heds. Outbuildings East Officers' kitchens, and servants. Hospital kitchens (2). Stores, latrines, 2 servants, &c. &c. — 6 stores- West 6 Guard-room - . - Officers' kitchens, &c. Royal Engineer Depart- ment (l). Royal Engineer Depart- ment (2). Pack and provision stores. 11' 5" X io' X 8' 15' X 14' - 2 stores. r 4 stores, and 2 hospital 1 sergeants. Hospital sergeant. Royal Artillery. Sergeant Army Hospital Corps. t 106 beds. 54 beds. 160 6 July 1866. (True copy. jff. Rudd. ■0.53. 3. k3 436 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FROM THE Appendix, No. 17" PAPEE laid before the Committee by Mr. Cox. App^No. 17. Colonial Official Eegulations defining the Authority of the Governor in relation to Her Majesty's Troops, 7. The Governor of a Colony, though bearing the title of Captain General or Commander-in Chief, is not, without special appointment from Her Majesty, invested with the command of Her Majesty's regular forces in the Colony. He is not therefore entitled to receive the allowances annexed to that command, or to take the imme- diate direction of any military operations, or, except in case of urgent necessity, to communicate officially with subordinate military oflScers, with- out the concurrence of the officer in command of the forces. Any such exceptional communication must be immediately notified to that officer. 8. Except in the case of invasion or assault by a foreign enemy, it is the duty of the Governor to determine the objects with which and the extent to which Her Majesty's troops are to be employed. He will therefore issue to the officer in command of the forces directions respecting their distribution and their employment on escort and other duties required for the safety and welfare of the Colony. In all these matters, how- ever, the Governor will consult as far as possible with the officer in command, and will incur special responsibility, if he shall direct the troops to be stationed or employed in a manner which that officer shall consider open to military objection. 8«. The Governor, as the Queen's representa- tive, will give the " word" in all places within his government. 8/?. On the other hand, the officer in command of the forces wUl determine all military details respecting the distribution and movement of the troops and the composition of the diflFerent detach- ments, taking care that they are in conformity with the general directions issued to him by the Governor. 9. The officer in commands of Her Majesty's land forces is alone charged with the superin- tendence of all details connected with the military department in a Colony, the regimental duty and discipline of the troops, inspections, and sum- moning and holding courts-martial, garrison or regimental, and the granting leave of absence to subordinate military officers. 10. He carries into execution, on his o^vn au- thority, the sentences of courts-martial, excepting sentences of death, which must first be approved, on behalf of the Queen, by the officer adminis- tering the civil government. 11. He makes to the officer administering the civil government returns of the state and con- dition of the troops, of the military departments, of the stores, magazines, and fortifications within the Colony, and furnishes duplicates of all such returns of this nature as he may be required or may see occasion to send to the military autho- rities at home, or to any officer under whose general command he is placed. 12. On the receipt of the annual Mutiny Act, the officer in command of Her Majesty's land forces communicates to the civil authority the " General Orders " in which it may be promul- gated. 13. And in the event of the Colony being invaded or assailed by a foreign enemy, and becoming the scene of active military operations, the officer in command of Her Majesty's land forces assumes the entire military authority over the troops. regulations may be officer i will hold good a military officer I command of the 13«. The above though the Governor senior in rank to, the forces. 135. If several Colonies are comprised in one military command, the officer in command of the whole may transfer troops from one to another Colony on an application from the Governor of the Colony to which the troops are sent, trans- mitted to him either through the Governor of the Colony in which he is serving, or through the officer commanding the forces in the Colony for which troops are required. But he must in all cases consult with the Governor of the Colony from which the troops are sent, and will incur a special responsibility if he sends them away with- out that Governor's consent. 13c. Except m. the case of the North American Colonies, Colonies comprised under one Govern- ment in chief are to be treated, for military pur- poses, as a single Colony. Natal, for the same purpose, wUl be considered part of the Govern- ment of the Cape of Good Hope. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS ( CHINA). 437 Appendix No. 18. PAPEES laid before the Committee by the Clerk of the Committee. COERESPONDENCE between the Wax Office and General Guy. App. No. 18 Sir Edward Lugard to Major General Guy. Sir, Pall Mall, 26 March 1866. I AM directed by the Marquis of Hartington to acquaint you that four companies of "the Ceylon Eifles have been ordered to proceed to Hong Kong, with the object of rebeving the British troops of some portion of the garrison duties which, it appears, press so heavily upon them, and have so fatal an effect Upon their health in that climate. I am to add that steps have been taken, by communicating by telegram with Ceylon and otherwise, which it is expected will enable these troops to arrive before the hot season sets in, and his Lordship trusts that the consequent relief to the British troops, for whose reduced numbers there will be proper barrack and hospital accommodation, will secure them against a recurrence of the terrible mortality of last year. The arrangement is intended to be merely temporary, as it is understood that the Malays, from whom the Ceylon Eegiment is principally recruited, are not particularly healthy in the climate of China, and that their continued employment there would have a bad effect upon the recruiting for the regiment. Lord Hartington will be glad to be made acquainted with your views as to the description of local force which would be best adapted for permanent duty at Hong Kong. You will understand that a regiment of the Indian service is considered to be out of the question. Her Majesty's Government enter- tain a strong objection to the permanent employment of these troops upon duties for which they were not intended, and whose pay and allowances are entirely beyond the control of the Home Gt)vernment. The native force, therefore, whatever it may be, must be raised exclusively with the view of employment in China. It has been suggested that a small native battalion should be raised, the men of which should be Indians or Chinese, but which should be officered from the Ceylon Eifles. The men would be permanently em- ployed at Hong Kong, while the officers would constantly be interchanged between China and Ceylon. Or it might be preferable to raise a small corps on the principle of the Irregular Eegiments in India, exclusively for service at Hong Kong. You will have observed that great interest and sympathy have been excited here by the accounts of the mortality among the troops last summer, and that a Select Committee ' of the House of Commons has been appointed to investigate the causes which led to this mortality. Lord Hartington will do all that he can to prevent blame being thrown upon you and your staff, which, in the absence of full explanations, would be extremely unfair. But he cannot conceal from you his opinion that there is much in the history of these events, as disclosed by the correspondence which has been laid before Parliament, relating to the measures taken by you and by the officers under your command, which calls for further explanation from you. He regrets that the letter of 21st December 1865, written by Lord de Grey's directions, did not more distinctly call for an explanation of the conduct of other officers besides the medical officers ; but he trusts that that letter and the comments of the press which will have reached you at the same time, will have elicited from you a full statement of the facts of the case, which he shall be able to lay before the Committee. No reply wliich you can make to this letter will, of course, reach this country in time to be of use during the present Session of Parliament, but in case you should not have sent home the full expla^ nation anticipated, it may be desirable that your attention should be drawn to the points wl^ch appear to Lord Hartington still to require such explanation. These are, firstly, — Why you did not send the 2nd Battalion 11th Eegiment to Japan, on its arrival from the Cape, as you were authorised to do by the letter from this Department, dated 23rd March 1865 ? Secondly. If the insufficiency of the garrison at your disposal (after the_ departure of the Indian troops) for the performance of the duties was the motive which prevented 0.53. 3 K 4 your 438 APPENDIX TO BEPOET FROM THE App. No. 18. your doing so, what the circumstances are which make the duties heavier now than in 1854-55 and '56, when there was only one battalion (without any native force) at Hong Kong, and during which period no remarkable mortality appears to have prevailed ? Thirdly. Why the arrival of the 2nd Battalion 11th Foot should have taken you by surprise when you had received notice of the intention to send it, and were aware of the date of the " Tamar " leaving Hong Kong for the Cape with the 99th Foot, whence she was to bring back the 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment; and, lastly, why you left Hong Kong for Japan before the arrangements for housing this battalion were complete, the officer remaining in command either not having authority to make all necessary arrange- ments or neglecting to do so, it appearing from the correspondence that the troops were overcrowded, both in barracks and hospital, and great delay was caused in providing additional accommodation by references to Japan ? As already observed. Lord Hartington desires in the present imperfect state of his infor- mation to express no opinion upon the subject, and although, as your reply to this letter will be too late to be of any use, so far as the investigation of the Committee in the present Session are concerned, it would be satisfactory to his Lordship as well, as he doubts not, to yourself, that you should furnish in an official shape a full explanation upon these and other points which you may consider to require it. I am, &c. (signed) Edward Lugard. Major General Guy, c.B. &c. & c. &c. Major General Guy to Sir Edward Lugard. Sir, Hong Kong, 23 May 1866. 1. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 26th of March 1866, informing me that four companies of the Ceylon Rifles had been ordered to pro- ceed to Hong Kong, with a view to relieve the British troops of some portion of the garrison duties at this station, and, further, that Lord Hartington will be glad to be acquainted, with my views as to the description of local force which would be best adapted for permanent duty at Hong Kong. 2. I beg to state, in reply, that I am of opinion the troops best adapted for permanent duty at Hong Kong would be either Sikhs or Belooches ; the question is, whether these men would be disposed to engage for permanent duty in this Colony ; if they should, they would undoubtedly form a very efficient corps. Next to these, I consider the natives of Madras or Bombay would be the best ; they do not, however, stand the cold weather well, and seem_ to feel acutely the sudden bhanges of temperature to which the climate of China is peculiarly liable. 3. I do not think any other class of natives would prove efficient or satisfactory as a local force ; the Malays, when stationed at Hong Kong on a former occasion, suffered quite as severely in health as the European troops. With respect to a corps of Chinese, althouo-h they might prove very efficient on actual service, they would, in my opinion, be ill-adaijted for service at Hong Kong. The inveterate habit of committing robbery on every possible occasion is souniversal among the lower class of Chinese, that I do not think it would be safe or expedient to place arms in the hands of these men, amidst the dense population of Hong Kong. 4. Inow come to that part of your letter in which you refer to the subject of a Select Committee having been appointed to investigate the causes which led to the mortality among the troops at Hong Kong during the last summer, and informing me that there are certain pomts which appear to Lord Hartington to require from me a full explana- tion. ^ • ^' l'^ °';'^6'^ *° answer as completely as possible the questions which follow this observa- tion, I shall place them in extenso on one side, with my repKes on the other, adding such further remarks as the subject may require. Q.-lst Why you did not send the 2nd A.-%. The letter here quoted announces Battalion llth Regiment to Japan, on its the decision of the Lords Commissioners of arrival from the Cape, as you were autho- the Admiralty to withdraw the battalion of rised to do by the letter from this Depart- Royal Marines serving, in Japan, and there- ment, dated 23rd March 1865 ? fore there would be no objection to the 2nd Battalion llth Regiment being sent to Yokohama. . T TT -rr- , , ^- ^^6 2nd Battalion llth Reaiment ar- nved at Hong Kong on the 28th of May 1865, but the battalion of Royal Marines did not embark for England until the 22nd of August (as reported in mv letter to the Secretary for War, dated 23rd August 1865); there was consequently no accommodati^on avaulble for the 2nd Battalion llth Regunentm Japan before that date ; independently, however of this circumstance, the withdrawal of the 22nd Regiment Bombay Native Infantry (upwards of 600 strong) rendered it absolutely necessary to detain the o-reater nortion r^ the 2nd Battahon llth Regiment at Hong iong, for ^the performaLf of tK^a^W duties (as explained m my letter to the Secretary of State for War, dated 1 1th May 1865> SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS (CHINA). 439 8. The two companies of the 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment, together with the families of App. No. 18. the 2nd Battalion 20th Regiment, arrived at Yokohama on the 18th Septemher 1865 (which was also reported to the War Office, in my letter dated 27th September 1865) ; all these people were accommodated in the huts vacated by the Royal Marines ; it may be observed that the soldiers' families of the 2nd Battalion 20th Regiment had been separated from the battalion for more than 14 months, and had suffered severely in health during that period at Hong Kong. Q. — 2nd. If the insufficiency of the gar- A. — 9. The answer to the first part of this risen at your disposal (after the departure question is contained in the reply above of the Indian troops) for the performance given. of the duties, was the motive which pre- 10. The circumstances which make the vented your doing so, what the circum- duties heavier now than in 1854, 1855, and stances are which make the duties heavier 1856, are these: — During the years here men- now than in 1854, 1855, and 1856, when there tioned the Government buildings at Hong was only one battalion, without any native Kong were not only fewer in number than force, and during which period no remark- they are at present, but the quantity of able mortality appears to have prevailed? public stores was at that time so exceedingly small compared to the amount now under military protection, it must be remembered that in 1857, and again in 1859, and 1860, warlike stores of every description to an enormous extent were sent to Hong Kong, suffi- cient, in fact, to meet the demands of an army of more than 20,000 men in the field ; this involved the necessity of greatly increased store accommodation, and consequently of a large addition being made to the strength of the guards and number of sentries. A reference to the list of Grovernment buildings in existence at Hong Kong in 1854, 1855, and 1856, shows that their number then did not amount to one-half of the present esta- blishments. I find that in 1864, when one European and one Native Regiment were stationed at Hong Kong, the strength of the daily guards was as follows : — 10 sergeants. 25 corporals. 3 drummers 207 privates. This would require a force of about 1,400 rank and file ; and after making the average deductions of casualties, viz., sick, prisoners, and men employed on other duties, not more than four nights in bed could be reckoned on even with this force, it will therefore be seen that a single European battalion could not possibly perform .the garrison duties or afford efficient protection to the large amount of Govern- ment property now in this Colony, more particularly when the character of its Inhabitants is taken into consideration. I find also that in 1854, 1855, and 1856, when no extraordi- nary amount of sickness was generally prevalent, the casualties from death and invaliding in the 59th Regiment at Hong Kong were : In 1854 200 per 1,000 men. In 1855 269 In 1856 305 The casualties from deaths and invaliding of the 2nd Battalion 9th and 2nd Battalion 11th Regiments, taken together, in 1865, according to the official returns, here show an average of 340 per 1,000 men, being 35 more, during a period of .extreme unhealthiness, than occurred in the 59th Regiment in 1856. Lieutenant General Sir Hope Grant, In his Memorandum, dated Horse Guards, 8th of December 1865, states that the severe duties the troops had to undergo at Hong Kong in 1860 obliged him to reduce the guards and sentries as much as possible, and at that time there was also a Native regiment stationed there. He also adds that if only one European regiment is stationed at Hong Kong there should be at least two Native corps in addition. 11. The above statements will, I think, clearly show what the circumstances are which make the duties so much heavier now than they were in 1854, 1855, and 1856. Q.— 3rd. "Why the arrival of the 2nd Bat- A. -12. The War Office letter, dated 10th talion 11th Regiment should have taken you January 1865, notifying that it had been by surprise, when you had received notice decided to send the 2nd Battalioji 11th Regi- of the intention to send it, and were aware ment to Hong Kong was received on the of the date of the " Tamar " leaving Hong 24th of February 1865. Kong for the Cape with the 99th Regiment, 13. Inmiediate steps were taken to obtain whence she was to bring back the 2nd Bat- suitable buildings for the accommodation of talion 11th Regiment? the troops, by advertising and other means. Every exertion was also made by the Board of Officers appointed for this duty to expe- dite the necessary works and alterations, but a certain time necessarily elapsed before these could be completed. Plans of these buildings were forwarded to the War Office on the 25th of April 1865, with Letter No. 959. The journal kept by Captain Roberts, D.A.Q.11.G., was also forwarded to the Horse Guards, giving detailed information on the subject. I take this oppcartuoity of 0.53. 3 L stating 440 APPENDIX TO KEPOET EEOM THE Apr. No. i8. stating that Captain Roberts was indefatigable ia his exertions throughout, and evinced the most earnest zeal and attention iri the discharge of his arduous duties. 14. The " Tamar " left Hong Kong on the 1st March 1865. She had to land one wing, with the head-quarters 99th Regiment, at Port Natal, and there embark the same pro- portion of the 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment. From thence she had to go to East London, disemhark the left wing of the 99th Regiment, and embark the remainder of the 2jid Battalion 11th Regiment. She had also to take in provisions, water, and coal. It was, therefore, the opinion of Captain NoUoth, the senior naval officer at this station, that the " Tamar " could not be expected back at Hong Kong until about the middle of July. By remarkably quick passages to and from the Cape, she arrived here on the 28th of May, This fact will account for the " Tamar " having been unexpected at the time of her arrival at Hong Kong ; but if it had been otherwise, no greater expedition could possibly have been used, or more pressure exercised to accomplish the work in hand, than were employed on that occasion. In proof of this, it may be stated that the interests of the owners of the buildings were identified with our own anxiety to have them ready in time, and, consequently, workmen were employed day and night incessantly to effect this object. Q. — 4th. Why you left Hong Kong for A.— 15. I left Hong Kong on my tour of Japan before the arrangements for housing inspection on the 17th of May 1865. The this battalion were completed, the officer 67th Regiment was then at Shanghai, under remaining in command either not having orders to proceed to the Cape. It was authority to make all necessary preparations, necessary to make the half-yearly inspection or neglecting to do so, it appearing from of this corps before its embarkation, There the correspondence that the troops were over- was also a large quantity; of warlike stores crowded both in barracks and in hospital, and to inspect, and many arrangements had to great delay was caused in providing addi- be made at Shanghai previous , to breaking tionalaccommodationby reference to Japan? up the Government, establishments and the withdrawal of our troops from that station- These important duties I accomplished en route to Japan. 16. Before leaving Hong Kong I thoroughly inspected all the preparations being made for the reception of the 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment, and ascertained that they were pro- gressing in a most satisfactory manner. I had every confidence in the zeal and energy of the Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General, feeling satisfied that he would spare no exertions to have the work completed without delay. I could not by any possibility foresee the extreme unhealthiness of the approaching summer ; and it is to be observed that no unusual amount of sickness appeared among the troops until August, and that September and October were the two worst months of the season. 17. With respect to the troops being overcrowded in barracks and in hospital, I have to state that in all the buildings hired for the troops, the space of 1,000 cubic feet per man had been allotted ; and as this was calculated for the full number of men to be quartered in each building, the actual space per man was considerably more, caused by the absence of men on duty and in hospital. 18. In the Murray and North Barracks, the original appropriation at the time they were first occupied gave only 600 cubic feet per man ; this space was, however, increased during the past summer to between 800 and 900 cubic feet ; and on the recommendation of the principal medical officer it has been further increased to 1,000 cubic feet ; it must, however, be borne in mind that the spacious verandahs opening from the rooms, and forming a most ample space for the men to dine in, are not included in the above calcula- tion, but which undoubtedly add very considerably to the amount of actual accommoda- tion and comfort of the troops. In my letter to the Secretary of State for War, ISTo. 882 dated 13th April 1866, accompanied by the proceedings of a Board of Officers upon the subject of the accommodation of European troops in Hong Kong, this question has been fully reported on. 19. As regards the present hospital accommodation^ although on ordinary occasions it may be sufficient for one European battalion, it is quite inadequate to the requirements of twtf particularly during a period of extreme sickness ; hence the necessity of obtainincr addi- tional accommodation, and it rested with the Commandant to make the necessary anrange- ments when the emergency arose; it unfortunately happened that the hospital shin " Hercules (which had proved so extremely useful since 1863), was so much damaa-ed by a typhoon, on the 30th of June last, as to become quite unfit for further use- she wi accordingly condemned m July, and early in August Alexander's Buildings were eno-a^ed as a hospital. t ° ^ ° . 20. I am at a loss to account for the misconception « that great delay was caused in nro- vidmg additional accommodation by a reference to Japan." In no instance did this occur; on the contrary on every occasion when a service of this description became necessary, it was carried into effect by the energy of Captain Roberts, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General, who acquainted the Commandant (Colonel Wyatt 2nd Battdion 11th Regiment) with w;hat he knew would meet my wishes on the subject. The foUowino- are the pnncipal cases m point to which I refer : ° Ist. Hiring Messrs. Heards' buildings as a temporary measure on the arrival of the 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment, until the accommodation in course of nrenaration, was completed. ' ; *^ t!«ia.uui* t 2uA. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TEOOPS, (CHINA). 441 2nd. Hiring Mr. Alexander's houses as an additional hospital. App. No,i8i 3rd. Taking up the hired ship " Gresham " for conveying invalids to England. Several other cases of minor importance occurred, and in every instance action was taken without reference to Japan, my approval of the proceedings being subsequently g-iven. 21. The written instructions which I left for the guidance of the Commandant during my absence from Hong Kong were to the following effect : 1st. In all urgent cases which did not admit of delay, to act at once, reporting the same by the first opportunity. 2nd. In matters where no injury or inconvenience to the service would arise from delay, a reference was to be made to me for approval as early as possible. 22. Colonel Wyatt, 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment, is an ofiicer of very long service ; if he failed to exercise his authority oi; to use the means at his disposal for promoting the health and comfort of the troops under his command, it cannot be ascribed to his powers baving been too restricted, or to any want of assistance and support from the officer then holding the responsible post of Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General. I cannot refrain from expressing my firm belief that a great portion of the sickness from which the 2nd Battalion . 11th Regiment suffered so severely may be attributed to excessive indul- gence in ardent spirits, first while at the Cape, and afterwards at Hong Kong : the spirits sold in this place are unfortunately so exceedingly cheap, and of so poisonous a character, that I am quite of opinion more injury to the health of European soldiers results from this than from any other cause, as it certainly predisposes men to every disease which the climate may produce. 23. I must here remark, that entertaining, as I do,* very great respect for the private, as well as for the professional character of Dr. Saunders, burgeon, 2nd Battalion 9th Regiment, I much regret that in the correspondence published on this subject, he should (unintentionally, I do not doubt,) have made some observations which are calculated to mislead and produce erroneous impressions ; for instance, he refers to the temporary barracks as being badly situated in the main street, on low ground, and without recreation- rooms ; these buildings are situated in the principal street of Victoria, on the same level as the dwelling-houses of some of the richest merchants and bankers in Hong Kong, the Post Office, the Club, the Banks, &c., and the situation is generally considered one of the healthiest in the place ; there is, moreover, a large and well -lighted recreation-room in McGregor's Barracks. A more correct impression would also have been conveyed, if instead of stating "that on the arrival of the 2nd Battalion 11th Regiment from the Cape no suitable accommodation had been prepared." 24. Dr. Saunders (who could not but have been aware of all the circumstances of the case) had stated that the preparations then in progress had not been completed, owing to the large amount of work which had to be performed in a very limited time. 25. Dr. Saunders is of opinion that St. Francis' Hospital, where the women and children were located, has an unhealthy vicinity, and yet this was not found to be the case when the building was occupied as quarters and mess-room by the officers of the Indian regiments since 1860, nor was there any reason to suppose it would prove to be so ; but the fact is, it would be very difficult to find any part of Hong Kong where the inhabitants did not experience in a greater or less degree the effects of the late most unhealthy season. 26. With respect to your reference to the comments of the Press on the subject of th« great mortality and sickness among the troops at Hong Kong, and other military matters in China and Japan, I have to remark, that nearly all those I have seen have contained either the most gross exaggerations or the most palpable untruths ; the latter term applies to those statements which appeared first in the " Japan Herald " (a journal devoid of weight or influence), and which were subsequently copied into several London papers. It unfortu- nately happens that false and malicious assertions of a sensational character are more readily circulated and more generally noticed than statements of simple truth. I addressed a private letter to Earl de Grey on the 10th of February last, on the subject of the misrepresentations which had appeared in the '' Times " and other London journals, with a -dew of correcting any erroneous impressions which these misstatements were calculated to produce. 27. I am not aware of any other subject which now remains to be noticed, further than to remark that I am most desirous every circumstance connected with the late melancholy events at Hong Kong should be thoroughly known and explained ; and I trust it will be equally satisfa,ctory to^ Lord Hartington to receive, as it is to myself to forward, this official explanation on the various points to wMch your letter refers. I have, &c. (signed) P. M. N. Guy, Major General, Commanding H.M. Troops in China and Japan. Lieut. General Sir Edward Lugard, k.c.b., &c. &c. ' &c., War Office. 0.53. 3 L 2 442 APPENDIX TO KEPOET PROM THE App. No. i». LETTER from Major General Guy to the War Office, dated 12 February 1866, with Enclosures. * No 083— 1641. Major General Guy to the War Office. Head Quarters, Sir, Hong Kong, 12 February 1866. 1 HATE the honour to acknowledge the re- al Dec. 1866. ceipt of yuur letterj as per margin,* and in reply beg lo transmit the accompanying letter ot explanation from Dr. Dick, the principal medical officer in this command. With reference to this subject, it is necessary to add the followin.-— g-j^^—— -- together 446 APPENDIX TO EBPOKT FROM THE Avu No zo together and doing the same duty, is likely to produce the most serious discontent, and ^'. ■ " may even impair the discipline and efficiency of the army. Under these circumstances, I am directed to press in the strongest manner, the claims of the British officers upon the attention of the Lords Commissioners, with a view to giving the Indian allowances to officers of the British service in China from the 1st proximo, so long as Indian troops may be continued in the command. . I am to add that on every other occasion on which the officers of the two armies_ have been serving together, their pecuniary position has been equalized during the period of such ioint service. ■' I am, &c. (signed) J. R- Godley. No. 2. The Treasury to the War Office. Sir, Treasury Chambers, 24 March 1859. I AM 'commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acqimnt you that in compliance with the strong recommendation of the Secretary of State for^Wa:- contained in Mr. Godley's letter of the 22nd instant, my Lords will not object to the issue of Indian allowances to the officers in China from the 1st proxinio, so long as the head quarters of any regiment of the Indian establishment may remain in that command. I am, &c. (signed) Geo. A. Hamilton. No. 3. The Treasury to the "War Office. (Extract.) Treasury Chambers, 8 November 1859. JIefeeking to the circumstances under which, in consequence of Mr. Godley's letter of the 22nd March last, my Lords assented to the issue of Indian allowances to the troops in China during the remaining period (then expected to be but a few months) of the employment of troops of the Indian establishment in that country, my Lords would be glad, now that the prospect of an early withdrawal of the Indian troops no longer exists, to be more particularly informed of the amounts of the allowances received under existing arrangements by each rank of officers, whether regimental or belonging to the staff or departments, as compared with the allowances which the same officers would receive, either on ordinary service in the tropics or in the field, it appearing to their Lordships to be doubtful whether the present arrangement is not too favourable to the officers, excepting, at the most, during their actual employment in active operations in the field. Their Lordships, therefore, request to be furnished with this information, and to be favoured with the Secretary of State's opinion on the question adverted to. [The remainder of this letter had reference to another subject.] No. 4. (083— 3— 52S.) The War Office to the Treasury. (Extract.) War Office, 12 April 1860. In compliance with the request conveyed in the latter part of your letter, a statement is herewith transmitted, showing the amount of the allowances received in China under Indian regulations, by each rank of officers, as compared with the allowances ordinarily granted under imperial regulations, and with the special rate of consolidated allowance lieretofore issued at Hong Kong, but discontinued from 1st April last. Inasmuch, however, as the cost of provisions, quarters, and forage varies at different stations, according to local circumstances, and as no occasion has arisen for appraising the value of these allowances at Hong Kong, with the exception of quarters, a schedule of which was some time since proposed for the approval of the Treasury, the relative expense of the two descriptions of allowance cannot be given with precision ; and for a similar reason no accurate comparison can be drawn between the expense of Indian allowances and that of ordinary Imperial allowances, as issued during active operations in the field. With regard to the propriety of continuing the grant of Indian allowances to Her Majesty's troops in China, I am to state that Mr, Secretary Herbert considers that the ^ame reasons which led their Lordships to sanction the grant in the first instance seem equally to call for a continuance of it, so long as the forces of the two establishments may bo required to serve together. '' [The remainder of this letter had. reference to another subject.] SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS. (CHINA). 447 No. 5. App. No. io. The Treasury to the War Office. Sir, Treasury Chambers, 7 May 1860. "With reference to your letter of the 12th ultimo, further respecting the allowances issued to officers of Her Majesty's service in China, I am directed by the Lords Com- missioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you that my Lords concur in the opinion expressed by Mr. Secretary Herbert, that the grant of Indian allowances having been once conceded to Her Majesty's troops in China, when serving in conjunction with the forces of the Indian Government, the same must be continued so long as they serve together. The large amount of these allowances leads my Lords, however, to doubt very much whether, on economical grounds, there is any advantage in associating the two services together in a foreign war, and whether it would not have been better, on every consideration, to have organized an independent force of British troops for this expedition. Their Lordships can only now suggest that, on the cessation of hostilities, the earliest opportunity should be taken of sending back the Indian force to India, in order that the special allowances now under consideration may then cease. I am, &c. (signed) Geo. A. Hamilton. No. 6. The Treasury to the War Office. Sir, Treasury Chambers, 4 September 1861. I AM directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of Secretary Sir George Lewis, that my Lords have received infor- mation from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that arrangements have been made for the evacuaition of Canton by about the end of last month. I am to request that you will bring under the notice of Sir George Lewis the oppor- tunity which will be afforded by the movement of troops consequent on this proceeding, for the return to India of the sepoy regiments employed in the recent operations in China; and I am to express the hope of my Lords that this opportunity may be rendered avail- able for bringing at once to a close the anomalous arrangement for the issue of Indian allowances to British troops brigaded with Indian regiments in China. I am also to request that you will call the attention of Sir George Lewis to the third Heport of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Public Accounts (of last Session), so far as it relates to advances from the Treasury Chest on account of Indian troops serving in China. I am to observe that the expenses for this service in the current year will be chargeable on the votes of credit for the China war ; but if the employment of Indian troops in China is continued beyond the 31st of March 1862, the charge for the same should be provided for in the Army Estimates, as part of the military expense for which the Secretary of State for War is responsible. I am, &c. (signed) Geo. A. Hamilton. No. 7. (083—3—1082.) The War Office to the Treasury. Sir, War Office, 7 March 1862. I AM directed to transmit, for the consideration and concurrence of the Lords Commis- sioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, copy of the report of a committee appointed to draw up a scale of allowances for officers serving in China, on the cessation of the Indian rates, the temporary issue of which was sanctioned by their Lordships in 1859. Secretary Sir G. Lewis concurs in the recommendations of the Committee, as he considers that the peculiarities of the station renders it imperative to issue allowances there in the form of a money commutation rather than in kind. The rates specified under the head of lodging-money are the same as those which were proposed for their Lordships' sanction in 1858 ; but the adoption of which was deferred in consequence of the temporary grant of Indian allowances to all ranks of the army in China. Sir G. Lewis agrees in the opinion of the Conunittee that an addition to these rates of 50 per cent, for one year should be conditionally authorised in lieu of the double scale formerly proposed, as he anticipates that by that time the reduction of the force in the command, and the removal of part of the Hong Kong garrison to Kowloon, will have been followed by a considerable diminution in house-rent. Under the head of forage it is proposed to allow all ranks of officers a sum founded on the cost of forage, without requiring from them the usual certificate of keeping horses, as 0.53. 3 M the (^' 448 APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE Ann No 20 the well known local custom of conveyance by chair, the expense of which would be . '^^J ;_ ' defrayed out of this allowance, has been found more convenient to officers than the use oi As 'regards the contemplated grant of 20 s. a-day for table-money to the officer com- manding,! am to refer to Sir C. Trevelyan's letter of 4th August 1858, conveying the sanction of the Lords Commissioners to the payment of 700/. a-year to bir C. btraubenzee when in command of the troops in China. Owing to the grant of Indian allowances shortly after made, this aUowance was never issued, and Sir G. Lewis is oi opinion that the lower rate now recommended is sufficient, but not more than sufficient to meet the unavoidable expenses of entertaining to which the officer commanding m present circum- stances is exposed. , Enclosed is a statement of the total expense of these proposed allowances, as compared with the Indian scale, now being paid, founded on the latest returns received ot the military force at the station. I am, &c. (signed) B. Hawes. Enclosure 1, in No. 7. Deputy Commissary General's Office, London, 26 November 1861. Proceedings of a Committee, consisting of the undermentioned members, assembled under 083—3 — 1074 to prepare for China a scale of consolidated money allo_wances,_in lieu of the allowances in kind " to which officers are entitled at other stations," viz., " lodging-money, fuel and light, rations of provisions, servant's allowance, and forage, as laid down in the warrants governing such issues." Lieutenant Colonel Clifford, Assistant Quartermaster General, Deputy Commissary General Power, C.B., J. Maclean, Esq., Accountant General's Department. The Committee assembled on the 26th instant, and subsequently, and prepared a schedule (annexed) of the allowances above recapitulated, and have affixed to them the actual contract value of the supplies, as shown by the schedules of contract prices for the last five years, which have been obtained from the War Office. In the price of provisions the value of the ration of porter, at about 3 d. per diem, is allowed^ it having been established as part of the health-ration of the garrison ; including this, the daily value of a single ration, taken on an average of the contracts for five years, will be within a very small fraction of 1 s. 6 d. per diem, which is the rate stated in the schedule annexed. , The value of the allowances of fuel and light is calculated in the same way from the actual contract prices on an average of five years. In the case of chairs and bearers being used by officers instead of horses, the usual certificate that the horses have been bona fide kept for the public service should be dispensed with, and a certificate should be required that the officer has not been supplied with transport for his ordinary duties at the public expense. In this case also the officers, though included for the full amount of forage allowances, are not included for the full number of servants allowed by the Black Servant Warrant ; so that in all cases in which the service may require, or an officer may prefer, to keep the number of horses allotted by the Eoyal Warrant, he will be entitled to the fuU allowances for the additional number of servants, as laid down by the Black Servant Warrant. The lodging-money scale is estimated on the datum of 24 1, per annum for a single room, and the number of rooms allotted to each officer is calculated according to the Imperial Barrack Kegulations, it being apparently the spirit and intention of the instruc- tions to the Committee that the calculations were to be strictly confined to an estimate of what officers would be " entitled to at other stations." It is proposed, however, in con- formity with the general tenor of the papers in which the datum 24 1, is established, that an addition of 50 per cent, for one year should be made to the rates throughout of lodging- money, as at present estimated, to meet existing high rates of rent at Hong Kong, pro- vided, in the opinion of the General Officer commanding, it should be justified by a continuance of these high rates ; and this should be made the subject of a report by a board of officers to be assembled by him for the purpose, and which should be transmitted for the consideration and approval of the Secretary of State for War. The Committee, in estimating the commutation, has confined itself, in conformity with the instructions, to the narrowest data aflPorded by the Koyal Warrants for the scales of allowances, and to the local wholesale contracts for the prices, without in any way taking into consideration the peculiar circumstances of climate or locality, and without any refer- ence to the consolidated allowances previously existing, or to the Indian allowances now enjoyed in China. These circumstances would appear to be more fitly considered, inde- pendently of the question of allowances of provisions, forage, fuel and light, and might be partly treated as a climate or local allowance, to meet inevitable expenses attendant on increased personal wants in a bad and enervating climate, and partly to meet the local circumstances of a very peculiar and limited market, and for the extra expense over and above SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TEOOPS (cHINA). 449 above the regulated number of servants, and the regulated allowance of Is. 6d. per diem. In illustration of which it may not be out of place here to remark, that owing to the difficulty attendant upon the language, and to the local invariable practice by which all purchases from the ' market people are made for Europeans by the compradors, an influential class who maintain thismonopoljr, an increase of 12 to 20 per cent, is made on the market-rates, the compradors also receiving from 12 to 20 dollars per month as wages from the mess, family, or establishment to which they are necessarily attached as stewards. The servants who enter the service of Europeans are subjected to a certain training to acquire some acquaintance with the language, and to get rid of habits which unfit them for an European household. They have also to be guaranteed by the comprador, for which they have to pay him three to four dollars per month, enhancing the wages accordingly to from 10 to 15 dollars per month. Such a servant will not do dirty work, and must be provided with a coolie at eight to nine dollars per month. Neither of these would or could cook, or assist in carrying a chair; they will frequently not even carry a message beyond the house. Labour is so thoroughly and compulsorily organised in Hong Kong by unions and associations as to compel an European establishment to employ almost as many servants as caste habits have established in India, with the difference that the tariff of wages in Hong Kong is about treble that of India. Many other necessary expenses are nearly in the same proportion higher than in India. Ice, fruit, and a generous and stimulating diet, luxuries elsewhere, are articles of absolute necessity in a climate so enervating and destructive as Hong Kong, and these add considerably to the necessary and inevitable expenses of a resident there. The committee is therefore of oj)inion, that an addition is required to the rates included in the schedule, and it recommends that 3 s. per diem for officers of every grade should.be approved, as a local allowance. At the period when consolidated allowances were established, a grant, subject to the special approval in each case of the Treasury, of table allowance at the rate of 1,000 1, per annum, was made to general officers commanding at Hong Kong. It is now proposed by the committee that for the future an allowance for table money at the rate of 1 1, per diem should be granted to the officer comrpanding, when a staff officer belonging to any one of the first five classes in the schedule, say from general to colonel. This allowance to be held independently of any command allowance which may be authorised. H. H. Clifford, Assistant Quartermaster General, W. Tyrone Power, Deputy Commissary General. John Maclean. App. No. 20. Enclosure 2, in No. 7. Schedule of Commuted Allowances to be Drawn by Officers serving in China. RANK. Provisions, per Ration. Forage. Fusl and Light. Servants' Allowance. ' Lodging Allowance at £. 24 per Room. Special Pecuniary Allowance. Total per Diem. Class. No. of Horses. At 2 s. 6 rf. No. of Rations. At -891 per Ration. No. At 1 ». 6 d. Stafif. Regimental. s. d. s. d. 8. d. i. d. .. d. «. d. £. s. d. ». d. 2 Lieutenant General 1 3 6 15 - 90 6 8 3 or 6 4 6 13 2 3 - 2 3 7 — 3 Major General - 1 3 5 12 6 70 5 2 2 or 5 3 - 11 10 3 - 1 16 9 — 4 Brigadier General 1 3 4 10 - 50 3 8 2 or 4 3 - 10 6 3 - 1 11 5 — 5 Colonel 1 3 3 7 6 40 3 8 2 or 4 3 - 7 11 3 - 1 6 4 — 6 Lieutenant Colonel 1 3 2 5 - 30 2 3 1 or 3 1 6 7 11 3 - 1-11 — Regimental - 1 3 2 5 - 30 2 3 1 or 2 1 6 7 11 3 - - 20 ll 7 Major ... 1 3 2 5 - 30 2 3 1 or 2 1 6 6 7 3 - - 19 7 — Regimental - 1 3 2 5 - 30 2 3 1 or 2 1 '6 4 3 - - 17 - 8 Captain 1 3 2 5 - 20 1 6 1 or 2 1 6 5 3 3 - - 17 6 — Regimental - 1 3 2 6 20 1 6 1 6 2 - 3 - - 11 9 9 Lieutenant - - - I 3 2 6 15 1 2 I 6 4 3 - 13 5 ~ Regimental - 1 3 2 6 15 1 2 1 6 2 - 3 - - 11 5 ' 10 Ensign ... 1 3 2 6 15 1 2 1 1 6 4 - 3 - - 13 5 — Regimental . 1 3 2 6 15 1 2 1 6 2 - 3 - - 11 5 -0.53. 3N 450 APPENDIX TO REPORT PEOM THE App- No. ao. Enclosure 3, in No. 7. Statement showing the Comparative Expense of Indian Allowances at FuU Batta Scale, and the Scale proposed for China by Committee. In this statement Indian allowances have been reckoned as '^'J'^^l^^'^^J;^^,^ Imperial pay and Indian pay and allowances in regard to regmiental and general stan The regimental command and contingent allowances have been omitted. BANK. Indian Allowances per Month. Staff : 1 Major General Commanding 1 Brigadier General 1 Commandant - - - - 1 Assistant Military Secretary 1 Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant - 1 Aide-de-Camp, Ensign 1 Town Major, Captain 1 Deputy Assistant Adjutant General 1 Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General . . - - 1 Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General, Lieutenant 1 Fort Adjutant - - - - 1 Provost Marshal - - - 1 Deputy Commissary General 3 Assistant Commissaries Genera,! - 9 Deputy Assistant Commissaries General - - - - - 1 Acting Commissary General 1 Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals - - - - 2 Stafi' Surgeons - - - - 10 StafiF Assistant Surgeons - 1 Apothecary - . - - a Dispensers - - - l' Superintendent of Stores - 2 Assistant Superintendents of Stores 8 Deputy Assistant Superintendents of Stores 1 Purveyor - . . - 2 Deputy Purveyors 5 Clerks - - " 1 Chaplain - - - - Regimental : 4 Lieutenant Colonels - 4 Majors 29 Captains . . - . 51 Lieutenants 19 Ensigns 4 Paymasters - - - ■ 6 Adjutants - - - ■ 2 Quartermasters - - - • 2 Surgeons - ... 11 Assistant Surgeons 2 A'eterinary Surgeons - Staff Total Decrease per Month Decrease on Full Indian Allowances s. d. 303 168 36 64 17 18 14 5 34 34 4 7 10 3 4 10 3 10 6 1 41 8 9 32 16 5 14 12 8 28 7 10 Proposed by Committee per Month. 80 10 4 185 15 3 269 15 6 19 19 8 80 10 4 123 16 10 299 15 - 19 19 8 31 6 - 80 10 4 59 19 — 159 17 4 29 19 6 39 19 4 78 5 - 39 19 6 319 10 - 226 4 725 14 838 14 243 11 11 119 9 4 133 11 3 41 11 8 39 16 - 123 3 1 49 11 - £. s. d. 85 2 6 47 2 6 29 26 26 26 26 26 5 -7 26 20 20 31 88 Increase per Month. 236 5 - 20 2 6 31 7 6 58 15 - 263 10 - 20 2 6 40 5 - 31 7 6 , 52 10 - 161 - - 26 5 - 40 5 - 100 12 6 26 5 - 125 10 102 - 511 2 918 7 323 17 70 10 85 12 34 5 51 - 188 7 35 5 8 6 8 11 19 2 5 9 10 - 2 10 - 2 10 8 19 - 12 8 - 5 8 22 7 6 79 12 9 80 5 7 236 6 9 58 16 2 295 2 11 Decrease per Month. £. s. d. 218 13 10 121 9 1 34 14 9 7 18 10 8-1 15 3 9 6 11 5 8 5 4 49 2 10 97 12 9 33 10 6 49 2 10 65 1 10 37 5 — 49 2 10 7 9 ■~ 3 14 6 3 14 6 194 124 4 8 214 12 — - 48 19 4 - 47 18 9 - 7 6 8 11 4 - — 65 4 5 — 14 6 - 651 7 5 816 13 8 1,468 1 1 295 2 11 1,172 IS 2 14,074 18 The allowance for grooms not being included in tlie above reckoning of proposed rates, in addition to the above 1 s. 6d. a-day may be drawn for every horse actually kept, a total possible maximum addition of per annum 4,792 I. 17 s. 6 d. * Surgeons in medical charge of a regiment receive also a Staff Pay at the rate of 30 1. 12 s. 6 A a month, and Assistant Surgeons at 16 I 1 s. 10 d. Either rank also in such circumstances receives 2 I. 11 s. per month for every 100 men. SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTAL ITY OF TROOPS (cHINA). 451 No 8. App. No. 90. The Treasury to the War Office. Sir, , Treasury Chambers, 10 April 1862. With reference to your letter of the 7th ultimo, inclosing copy of the report of the Committee appointed to draw up a scale of allowances for officers serving in China on the cessation of the Indian rates, the temporary issue of which was sanctioned in 1859, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you that my Lords approve of the scale of allowances recommended by the Committee, and of the addition proposed by Secretary Sir George Lewis, of 50 per cent, on the lodging allowances, for one year only. I am, &c. (signed) Geo. A. Hamilton, No. 9. (083—3—1144.) The War Office to the Treasury. Sir, War Office, 4 September 1862. In acknowledging the receipt of Mr. Arbuthnot's letter of the 10th April last, con- veying the approval of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to the scale of allowances recommended by the Secretary of State for War for officers serving in China on the cessation of the Indian rates, the temporary issue of which was sanctioned in 1859,— I am directed now to transmit, for the information of their Lordships, the following observations on the subject: — The rates shown in the proposed scale were fixed by the Committee of Officers upon the supposition that on the cessation of hostilities the prices of the necessaries of Kfe in China would gradually resume their former po-sition; but Major General Sir John Michel, who lately commanded Her Majesty's forces in China, and who is now in this country, and other officers recently returned from that command, with whom the Secretary of State has had several interviews on the subject, state positively that all articles have a tendency to become dearer, and are of opinion that a reduction in the present rates of allowances would be most impolitic, especially .in the present unsettled state of afi'airs in China, it being uncertain how soon it may become necessary to garrison Hong Kong with troops from India, in which case such troops would be entitled to the pay and allowances prescribed by Indian regulations, and it would become a source of dissatisfaction to Her Majesty's regular forces were th^y to be accorded pay and allowances at rates below those received by Her Majesty's Indian troops. In these circumstances. Secretary Sir G. C. Lewis proposes, with their Lordships' concurrence, that the Indian rates now in force in China should continue for the present, and so long as the exceptional high prices of provisions, lodging, &c., shall continue to obtain in that command, and that in the meanwhile the scale approved by their Lordships in the communication from the Treasury of the 10th April last, before adverted to, should remain in abeyance. I have, &o. (signed) Edward Lugard. No. 10. The Treasury to the War Office. Sir, Treasury Chambers, 17 September 1862. With reference to your letter of the 4th instant, recommending that Indian rates and allowances should be continued to the troops in China for the present, and while the present high prices for lodging and provisions obtain in that command, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of Secretary Sir George Lewis, that my Lords will not object to the continuance of the present allowances in China to the end of the present financial year, which will afford_ time for the further consideration of the question; and my Lords trust that Sir George Lewis may be able to make such arrangements as will save the Exchequer from the double disadvantage of the greater charge ^involved in the employment of European troops, and of the extra allowances entailed by the employment in connection with tbem. of sepoys. I have, &e. ( (signed) F. PeeL 0.53. 3 N 2 App. No. 20. 452 APPENDIX TO REPORT PROM THE No. 11. The War Office to the Treasury. (083-3—1166.) „. "War Office, 13 December 1862, Adverting to Mr. Peel's letter of the 17th September last, conveying the sanction of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to the contmuance, ^o/^^ ~ f ? present financial year, of the allowances to the troops stationed in China at Indian rates l L directed .to acquaint you, for their Lordships' information, that ^^g^^V ^f^^fj??^;^^: inff with the Government of India with reference to the employment of native troops, but that pending final arrangements, and having regard to the operations in progress at Shanghai, Secretary Sir George Lewis is unable to recommend any reduction in the allowances to the British troops serving m China. , . ,, ^. ^ ^.i,„ t ^^rl= I am, therefore, to request that you will be pleased to obtam the_ sanction of the Lords Commissioners to the insertion in the Army Estimates for the ensuing year of the amount required to meet the necessary expenditure under this head. ^ I am, &c. (signed) Douglas Gallon. No. 12. The Treasury to the War Office. gjj. Treasury Chambers, 12 January 1863. I AM commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you, for the information of Secretary Sir George Lewis, that, under the circumstances stated in your letter of the 13th ultimo, their Lordships will not object to the continuance, for another year, of the allowances to the troops stationed in China at Indian rates. Their Lordships hope, however, that within a shorter period the Secretary of State may have been able to make an arrangement which will admit of the reduction which, under circumstances doubtless unavoidable, has been so long delayed. I am, &c. (signed) F. Peel. No. 13. The War Office to the Treasury. (083—3—1283.) Sir, War Office, 6 May 1865. The conditions under which Indian allowances have of late years been granted to the troops in China being about to terminate on the withdrawal of the Indian regiments from the command, 1 am directed to forward, for the approval of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, a scale of allowances which Earl de Grey and Rlpon proposes to substitute, with a draft of regulations to govern their issue. The rates proposed under the head of consolidated allowance consist of the average value of the provisions, fuel, and light, to which each rank is entitled, together with the allowance for personal servants, according to the Black Servant Warrant, the value of forage for horses according to Warrant, and for one horse for each officer of the junior ranks. Further, an addition of 3 s. a day is proposed for aU ranks under that of Brigadier General, to meet the special expenses of the station, as is allowed in some other com- mands. Lord de Grey considers that, as the climate of Hong Kong renders it impossible for Europeans to walk even short distances without danger to health, it is necessary to allow every officer the means of conveyance ; but as by local custom this is usually by chairs and bearers, it is not contemplated to require the certificate of horses having been kept, but only one from commissariat officer in charge, to the effect that this conveyance has not been supplied at the public expense. For the same reason no provision is made in the schedule for allowances for grooms ; but inasmuch as some officers are required by their duties to be mounted, an addition of Is. 6 (f. a day, under the Black Servant War- rant, must be allowed for a groom to those officers who, being entitled by the Regula- tions to forage, certify that they have actually kept a horse. The rates inserted in the schedule for lodging allowances are based on the rents which were current at Hong Kong before the outbreak of the last war ; but as, although Lord de Grey has reason to believe that rents are somewhat falling from the very hiwh rates at which they have ranged since 1857, they are still greatly in excess of those which pre- viously SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OP TROOPS* (cHINA). 453 viously obtained, his Lordship considers, it necessary to sanction an addition of 50 per cent, on the schedule rates for the present; and purposes, after the lapse of a year, to require such evidence from the station as may enable him and the Lords Commissioners to determine whether the allowances may not be reduced. Lord de Grey is unable to calculate to what extent it may prove necessary to issue lodging money at present. The consolidated allowances proposed, irrespectively of the additional servants' allowance, which will probably be due to a limited number of officers, as mentioned in paragraph three of this letter, are estimated to amount to 37,598?. 10«. a year, provided the force be maintained at its present strength. In respect to the extra 2d. a. day now allowed to the non-commissioned officers and privates. Lord de Grey fears that it would cause much discontent if it were withdrawn from the regiments now in China, but he does not propose to grant it to those who may hereafter join the command. It is proposed that the new scale of allowances, if approved by their Lordships, should be brought into operation three months after its receipt in the command. This notice appears necessary, to enable officers to terminate any engagements into which they may have entered while in receipt of Indian allowances. I am to request that their Lordships will favour the Secretary of State with a reply to -this letter at their earliest convenience, that instructions may be sent out by next mail. I have, &c. (signed) Douglas Galton. App. No. 20. Enclosure in No. 13. Consolidated Allowances, China. 1. Officers serving in the China command will receive the ordinary pay of their rank, ■or a consolidated allowance in lieu of rations of provisions, forage, fuel, light, allowance for servants, travelling within ten miles of the place where they are stationed, and extra attendance to cover special expenses of the command. 2. In addition to the above, officers will either be accommodated in public quarters or receive lodging money, 3. The undermentioned rates will be granted to officers according to their relative rank, as set forth in Her Majesty's Warrant of 24th September 1860, War Office Circular 641, and such other later warrants as define the rank of staff or departmental officers. Class. Staff. Regimental, except Royal Engineers. Consolidated Allowance, Lodging Allowance Consolidated Allowance. Lodging Allowance. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. £. s. d. 1 General . . - ^ per annum. 2 Lieutenant- General - •) 1,500 - - House. — — 3 Major-General ■ ' ". 4 Brigadier-General 1,200 - - — .„ — Per diem. Per diem. Per diem. Per diem. 5 Colonel .... 1 - - , - 8 - 1 - - - 8 - 6 Lieutenant-Colonel - 13 - - 8 - - 13 - - 8 - 7 Major - - . - . - 13 - - 6 - _ 13 - - 4 - 8 Captain .... - 10 - - 4 - - 10 - - 2 - Q Lieutenant .... - 10 - - 4 - - 10 - - 3 - 10 Ensign . - - - - 10 - - 4 - - 10 - - 3 — 0.53. 3 n3 4. Officers 454 APPENDIX TO EEPOET FROM THE App. No. QO. 4. Officers of Royal Engineers who are in receipt of servant allowance and of extra pay^ — — which includes allowances for lodgings fuel, Hght, and travelling within j5ve miles of their station, will be allowed, in addition, the following rates in lieu of rations of provisions, forage, and extra allowance, to cover special expenses of the command, \dz, : — - s. d. Liieutenant-Colonel - - - - - 9 6 per diem. Captain 1 ^ Subaltern/ ' - » 5. If in consequence of the death or temporary absence of an officer from the command, an officer of inferior rank succeed to the command of a regiment or corps, or to the charge of a department, he shall receive the allowances of the rank next, above his own. A captain of Royal Artillery so situated shall receive the allowances of a major, although the corps does not contain that regimental rank. 6. Brevet officers are granted the allowances according to their regimental rank, unless actually in performance of higher duties than those which attach to their regimental com- missions ; but the higher rate is in no case to be allowed unless the superior duties have been performed for a period exceeding one month. 7. Regimental officers serving at detached posts where they cannot be accommodated in public quarters, and where they cannot join a mess, may receive the lodging money of their rank on the staif scale. 8. An officer's allowances are to commence on the day of his arrival in the command, as notified in general orders, and to cease on the day he leaves it. 9. Officers on promotion are to receive the allowances of their new rank from the date of the general order notifying the promotion. 10. Officers are not entitled to allowances during leave of absence from the command. 11. Officers of Royal Engineers, when accommodated in public quarters^ are to pay stoppages at the following rates : — £. *. Field Officers - - - - - 47 5 per annum. Captains . _ _ _ _ 28 - „ Subalterns 22 8 „ but no quarter is to be appropriated to an engineer officer as long as any other officer to whom it could be allotted is in receipt of lodging money. 12. All claims for lodging allowance are to be supported by the u^ual certificates that the officer actually provided himself with lodgings, and was not, and could not be accom- modated in any buildings belonging to, or hired by the public. 13. Officers drawing these allowances are not entitled to soldier servants, and are required to certify that they had not the services of any soldier or other person paid by the public. 14. Officers entitled, by warrant or special regulation, to forage will, on production of a certificate of their having actually kept a horse, be allowed, in addition to the foregoino- rates of 1 «. 6 df. a day, for the hire of a groom. ° No. 14. (083—3—1283.) The "War Office to the Treasury. ^®i^' , , , „ "^ar Office, 22 May 1865. With reference to the letter from this Department of 6th instant, forwarding, for the concurrence of the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, a schedule of allow- ances for the Chma command to replace the Indian scale now being issued, I am desired to request that you will move their Lordships to favour him with their reply in order that the necessary instructions may be sent out by the mail of the 26th instant ' I am, &c. (signed) Douglas Galtan. SBliECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPfe (CHINA). 455 No. 15. The Treasury to the War Office. Sir, Treasury Chambers, 23 May 1865. The Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have had before them your letter of the 6th instant (No. 083 — 3 — 1283), transmitting a scale of allowance which Earl de Grey proposes to substitute for that now in force for troops serving in China. Their Lordships have directed me to request that you will signify to his Lordship their approval of the proposed scale subject to the limitations submitted, viz. : — Lodging allowance to be submitted for reconsideration at the expiration of one year. The extra two-pence to non-commissioned officers and privates to be allowed only to regiments now in China, and not to be given to other regiments which may be sent thither. I am, &c. (signed) Geo. A. Hamilton. App. No. 20. 0.53. 3 N 4 INDEX TO THE REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON MORTALITY OF TROOPS (CHINA). Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 24 July 1 866. r 44'2 — 1. [ " ] i^NALYSIS OF INDEX. ALPHABETICAL and CLASSIFIED LIST of the Principal Headings in the following Index, with the Paging at which they will respectively be found. Page Allowances : 1. As to tli£ Officers' Allowances in China - i 2. As to the Allowance of id, a day to the Men - 2 3. Saving by Withdrawal of AUtnuances - a Barracks [China Command) : I. Bovg Kong ( Victoria) : 1. Mode of Construction and Character of the Accommodation in the Murray Barracks, and North Barracks - 3 2. Space 'per Man, and total Amount of Accom- modation available - - - - 3 II. Stanley Barracks - - ... ^j, III. Kowloon -----,.4 IV. Japan - • - . - - - 5 V. Generally : 1. Letters and Reports from Medical Officers at Hong Kong - .... g 2. Correspondence letroeen General Guy and the IVar Office in November 1865, and January 1866 ..... j; 3. Returns showing the Accommodation avail- able, and the Distribution of the 'Troops at different periods - ' . . . e 4. Particulars as to the Expenditure - - Q 6. Economy by Providing for Native Troops instead of Europeans - . . . g 6. Suggestion as to the Course of Correspond- ence relative to Barracks abroad . . Q VI. Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee ...... g Disallowance of Expenditure - - . - 13 Distribution of Troops - - . . - ja Eleventh Regiment, 5. . . . . -iq Expenditure (Hired Buildings, ^c.) - - .23 Guy, Major General .^ Sired Buildings Hospitals ---.....,t- Hulks -----.. o Huts --...,_ o Japan ---...." Ninety-ninth Regiment - - ... c Press, The - - - . . c- - 64 Ceylon Rifle Corps Climate [Song Kong) - - = . . Dick, Deputy Inspector General - - - - 1 2 Disallowance of Expenditure - - . . - iq Distribution of Troops - - - . . -14. Barracks -----...„ Eleventh Regiment - - - . . -ig Hired Buildings Japan, •---... "44 Kowloon ••----.. j,a Shanshae -'- . . . . . ^. to . . . yj Stanley -----..,„(• Duties of Garrison (Guards ams Sentries) : 1 . Particulars relative to the Guard Duties at Hong Kong and Kowloon: Reduction effected frorn time to time - - - 15 2. Excessive and Severe Character of the Duties thrown upon the European Troois: reference more especially to the Night Duties - - . . .16 3. Question as to the Employment of Native Troops, or Native Police or Watchmen, in discharge of Gua7d Duties . - 16 4. Considerations as to the European Force required: action of the War OMce in this respect - - . . - - 17 5. Conclusions of the Committee - . . ,3 Ceylon Ritk Corns - . . Drill - - ... I '" 9 Esco7-t Duties - . . . ] ' "^5 Indian or Native Troops - - . J - 21 Elevehth Regiment : 1. Circumstances connected with the Orderin-r of the Regiment to China - . ° jg ^" ■^SL^/''''n-' f f' Regiment, and strength on Disembarkation - ' . jq 3. Mode of Distribution of the Regiment . ,9 4. Correspondence between General Guy and the War Office, relative to the MeUof Accommodation - . . ' "J ^- J^'t^^ relative to the Defcimcy of Accom. '^ flwdaHon,ar,d the stepsUen IL matter hy tlie Local Authorities - . ? . 6. Sickness and Mortality .... ^ T- Deficiency of Medical Officers - 5. Removal of the Regiment to the Cape '. g' 9. Conclusions of the Committee - - 21 Invalids - - - - . Japan -- = . *""43 - 4+ ANALYSIS OF INDEX.. lU Page Excavations : 1. Generally as to the Injurious Effect of Ex- cavations or Earth Cuttings in Hong Kong 21 2. As to the Excavations at Kowloon and their continuance though productive of Great Sickness - - - • - -22 Expenditure (Hired Buildings, S^c.) - - - - 23 Barracks .----• -.2 Estimates - - - - - - - -21 Hired Buildings --.-.. 33 Garrison of Hong Kong ---..- 26 Ceylon Bijies -.-...-g Duties of Garrison - - - - - - 15' -Indian or Native Troops - - - - - 40 Gu7i Major General : 1. Evidence relative to the Course if Action of General Guy in regard to the Accommo- dation and Distribution of the 1 1 th Regi- ment, and of the Troops generally; Views of the War Office and Horse Guards on the Subject ------ 30 2. Correspondence between General Guy and the War OJfice in November 18C4 and in 1865 31 3', Explanation called for by the War Office in Letter of 2()(h March 1 866, and given bi/ General Guy in Letter of 2^rd May 1866 - - - - ' - - - 32 4. Conclusions of the Committee - - - Z- Barracks -------- 2 Disallowance of Expenditure - - - - 13 Distribution of Troops - - - - - 14 ISxcavatiovs, 2 - - - - - -22 Expenditure (^Hired Buildings, ^c.) - - - 23 Sired Buildings - - - - - -33 Hired Bvjlsings : 1. Eviiience relative to the Action of the Local Authorities in Hong Kong in hiring and preparing Accommodation for the Troops 33 2. Explanatory Statement by General Guy - 34 3. Extent and character of the Accommodation in the Gouorvns or Premises of Messrs. Fletcher, Messrs. M'Gregor and others - 34 4. Expense incurred in Hiring - - - 35 5. Conclusions of the Committee - - - 36 Barracks -------- 2 Eleventh Regiment, 5 - - - - -19 Guy, Major General ------ 30 Hospitals -------- -^6 Hospitals -• 1. As to the Hospital Accommodation at Vic- toria ( Hong Kong) and its Deficieiicies - 36 2. Stanley Hospital - - - - - 37 3. Proceedings in regard to Hiring Accom- modation ------ 37 4. Question as to the Provision of a Hospital Skip 37 5. Question as to the Erection of a New Hos- pital on Shore • - - ' - - 38 " Hercules " Hospital Ship - - - - - 32 442— I. Huts i 1. Generally 2. Hong Kong ( Victoria) 3. Kowloon Trial Hut ... Page ■ 38 38 38 77 Indian or Native Troops : 1. As to the Withdrawal if the Indian Troops from China - » - - . 40 2. Importance, on the Score of Health and of Economy, of the Employment of Indian or other Asiatic Trocps - - - - 41 3. Views of the Authorities at the Horse Guards in strong approval of Native Troops -.--.. 41 4. Similar Views expressed by General Guy and by Deputy Inspector General Dich ,- 42 6. Statistics as to the Distribution and Stale of Health of the Indian Troops - - 43 6. Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee - - - - - 42 Ceylon Rifles Intemperance Kowloon ; 5. Water Supply 6. Huts Eleventh Regiment, 5 - Expeditionary Force o/"i8()0 Intemperance . - - Planting - - 9 4'^ Invalids : 1. Number and Condition of Invalids from the China Command - - - - - 43 2. Transport Arrangements : Improvement rer/uired - - - - - "43 3. Advantage of sending Hong Kong Invalids to Japan ...... ^^j. Japan --,..-. 45 1. Explanation relative to the Original Ac- qiiisition of the Kowloon Peninsula - 48 2. Bleworanrlum, by Lord Herbert as to the Appropriation of Kowloon - - - 48 3. Generally as to the Unhealthiness hitherto of Koiehiun ------ 48 4. As to the Excavations, and the Sichness consequent thereon - - - 49 - 49 - 50 7. As to the Erection of a Trial Hut and of Barracks, and the Causes of Delay in the Matter ------ 50 8. Sickness among the 20th Regiment when at Kowloon - - - - - 51 9. Sickness among a Guard of the gth Regiment 51 10. As to the Quartering of the i\th Regiment at Kowloon ------ 51 1 1 . As to the Removal of the ggth from Hong Kong to Kowloon, and their Sickness there 52 1 2. Number of Troops at Kowloon in different Years -------52 13. Means of Rendering the Place Healthy for European Troops - - - - - 53 14. Recent Aba7idonment of Kowloon as a Military Station - - - - - - 53 19 23 42 i^3 IV ANALYSIS OF INDEX. Page Medical Staff: 1, As to the Svfficienc^/ of the Medical Staff" in Hong Kong, and the Steps taken in t/ie Matter 56 2. As to the Absence of Br. Dick ur,d other Medical Officers in Japan, and the Expla- nation given on the Subject - - -56 Saunders, t)r. -.--.--70 Night Duties 59 Ceylon Rifles 9 Indian or Native Troops - • - - - 40 Ninety-Njkth Regimei^t ; 1. Particulars tn connection with the Removal of the Regiment from Hong Kong to Komloon -.---- 60 2. Sickness and Mortality at Kowloon - - 60 3. Effect of Placing the Men under Tents at Koxiiloon ---... 61 4. State of Heath before Removal from Hong Kong .------ Q\ 6. Barrack Accommodation for the Regiment at Hong Kong - - - - - 61 Invalids - - - - - - - -43 Pagk- Ninth Regiment - - - - ' " -61 Officers' Accommodation and Allowances - - - 6a Police 63 Rations • - - - • ' ' ' "i"5 Sleep {Night Duties) ' " 74 Stanley : 1. Barracks and Hospital - - • - 76 2. Escort Duty ------ 76 Transport of Troops - - - ■ * - 77 Trial Hut (Kotuloon) 77 War Department - - " - - - " '79 Barracks -----•-"3 Distribution of Troops - - - - "14 Eleventh Regiment - • - - - - 18 Garrison of Hong Kong 26 Guy, Major General ------ 30 Hired Buildings - • - - - - 33 Indian or Native Troops - - - - - 40 WcUchmen .-.-----80 Women and Children - - • - • -81 Stanley, i- - - - - - - -7^ [ 1 ] N D E X. [AT.B.— In this Index the Fignres following the Names of tho Witnesses refer to the Questions in the Evidence ; those following App. to the Pages in the Appendix; and the Numerals following Jiep. to the Pages in the Report.] ALCOCK, SIR RUTHERFORD. Letter from Sir R. Alcock to Colonel Browne, dated 3rd and 14th October 1864, representing that there were political reasons against troops being brought from China to Japan, to replace the Beloochee corps and the 67th regiment. Major General £rown 3912-3915. Extract of a letter from Sir Rutherford Alcock, dated Yokohama, 27th October 1864, showing the probability of the removal, in six months or so, of the troops then in Japan, App. 431, 432. Alexander's Buildings (Hong Kong). — -Delay in taking up Alexander's Buildings for the accommodation of the sick, Sankey 821-826 Occupation of Alexander's Buildings by the sick in February 1866, Robertson 3623. Algeria. Practice of the French in Algeria not to occupy any land for three years after the place has been prepared for the troops. Sir J. H. Grant 25526-2229. AhLOWANCBS : 1. As to the Officers' Allowances in China. 2. As to the Allowance of id. a day to the Men. 3. Saving hy withdrawal of Allowances. 1. As to Officers' Allowances in China. Very high rents paid by officers for rooms in the Murray Barracks, Hong Kong, they being in receipt of Indiati allowances for this and other purposes, Sree/Z 172-187 Reduced scale of allowances applied to the officers of witness's regiment on the 1st November 1865, Saiikey 1042-1046 Explanation with reference to some suggestions made to witness by the Deputy Commissary General Maturin, relative to the pay and allowances in China; they were of a private nature. Sir E. Lugard 1409-1425. Allowances of witness adverted to with reference to the expense incurred for chair carriage, Jenner 1873-1879 Withdrawal of the native troops adverted to in connectipn with the reduction made in the allowance to the officers of the European troops, ib. 1896- ' 1908. Grreat expense of living at Hong Kong, a dollar there being only equivalent to about a shilling in England ; pay of the officers and men adverted to hereon, Schmidt 2011. 2058- 2061. 2084-209!' — ^Concurrence of testimony as to the great expense of living in China, a dollar there being equal only to a shilling in England, Brand 2315-2319. 2330- ?333- 2341-2344 ; Anderson 2355. Consideration of certain correspondence between the War Office and the Treasury, relative to the Indian allowances ; explanation hereon^ of the part taken by witness in the matter. Lord de Grey 2425-2431 Explanation with reference to the officers' allowance, that the matter was not finally settled when witness left the War Office ; views lentertained by him on the subject, ib. 2431^ Opinion that the allowances of the officers are very full. Gallon 3086, ' Opinion as to the entire inadequacy of tbe extra pay of 13 s. a day to field officers, and 10«. a day to captains and subalterns, /S^neZZ 3123-3125. 3141,3142 — t— Evidence in support of the statement that the expense of living is about four times as much in China as in England, Robinson 3469. 3474-3485 The officers' allowances are very inade- ' quate ; expectation every mail of an amended scale, ib. 347X-3473. 3486 There has been no new scale of allowances for the officers in China since November 1865, ib. 3490. Correspondence between the Treasury and the War Office in the years 1859-62, and in May i865,.on the subject of the allovvances of officers serving with the British troopa in China, App. 445-455. 443—1. A ALL BAR Report, 1 866 — continued. Allowances — continued. 2. As to the Allowance of ad. a day to the Men, Statement as to its having been decided to discontinue the extra pay of 2 d: a day in China, in the case of the next European regiment going to Hong Kong, Sankey 1012- 1014. 1046-1049; i/enwer 1893-1895 Necessity of the allowance of 2 rf. a day for the men, in order to procure them extra comforts, ib. 1891-1893. Exceptional character of the allowance of 2 £?. a day to the troops in China, so that witness proposed to discontinue it in the case of new troops sent thither, Lord de Grey, 2429, 2430. 2443 The allowance to ihe British troops was given because they were serving with Indian troops who had similar allowances, ib. 2429 Reasons for the discontinuance of the allowance of 2 d. a day to the European troops in China, it having only been given in the first instance to place the troops on the same footing as the Indian troops, Galton 3083-3087. Great importance attached to some extra pay to the soldiers in China, as a means of their providing themselves with extras in the way of food and comforts, Snell 3119- 3140 More satisfaction to the soldier by having the extra allowance in money than in kind, id. 3126. 3153-3156 Improbability of the extra pay being spent in drink,, ib. 3127. 3133, 3134 The men getting Indian allowance are satisfied^ Robinson 3470- 3. Saving by withdrawal of Allowances. Withdrawal of the Indian allowances since November 1865, from the Europeaiv troops. in China; saving thereby of about 10,000 Z. a year, Robinson 3369-3371. 3378 Saving of 21,926/. in 1866-67, '" ^^^ P^Y of the staff of the army and the regiments^ by withdrawing the Indian allowances, ib. 3385-3389. 3393 Greater economy by having a^ European regiment and a Native regiment, with the old Indiati allowances, than tv^o European regiments with the reduced allowances, i6., 3509-3511. Anderson, Graham. (Analysis of his Evidence.) — Has lived at Hong Kong since 1850^ ■ and considers that the premises or godowns of Messrs. Fletehef and Messrs. M'Gregor were the only ones available or suitable for the troops sent out in 1 865, 2347-2367. 2371- 2373 With regard to the heavy rent paid for the hire of the godowns, the expenses of" the place are very great, 2355 Certain premises referred to in the evidence of CoJbnel Jenner were not suitable for the troops, and the expense of chairs in. eoinsi to or from. them would have been considerable, 2356-2367. Opinion that the season of 1865 was not an unusually sickly one at Hong Kong for the- civil community; it was, however, peculiarly hot, 2368-2370. 2374 Circumstance of the colonial surgeon having reported that there was less sickness than usual amon«st the- civilians in 1865, 2374, 2375. " Artillery. Instructions from the War Office to General Guy, dated 6tb, January 1865 for sending back the G. Battery Royal Artillery to India, Ap'p. 1 87. Returns showing the distribution of the Eoyal Artillery in the China command oa the 1st day of January in each year, from 1857 to 1866, App. 224-231. ' Return of the mean annual strength, total annual sickness, mortality, and invalidine of the artillery in Hong Kong; also the deaths of invalids on the passaee to England m the years 1860-65, ^PP- 232-234. ^ B »"">. Extract from report of Staff Assistant Surgeon Beath in charge of the Roval Artillery at Victoria, Hong Kong, in the year 1S63, ^p^. 236-240-^Staiement by Assistant Surgeon Beath, as to the good health of the 6th Battery, latb Biigade, Eoval Artillery, in 1863, ib. 240. -6 ^ ,. ^i-ujrai Sanitary reports of Assistant Surgeon Smith relative to the 6th Battery, 12th Bri^rade Tm^'I'^ff'l' ^"^«^"?'^^^' f °y^l Arti'lery, serving at Hong KoJg in ,867and 1865 App. 255-261. 288-294 Statement by Assistant Surgeon Smith of the Vvnl fnTse? Sr '° *'' ''' '"''^ °' """ '• ^^'*^^' '^"""^'^ bebgVa'etd at' tS B. Baring, D. S. E. General Report of Staff Surgeoir Baring as Principal Medical Officer m China for the year 1863, App. 294-297. ° & H -^^uit-rti v/mcer Barrack Department. {War Office). Duty of the Barrack Department of the War OfBoe. to report upon the means of providing accommodation. Sir E. Lugard 1 244-1253. BARRACKS. Report, 1 866 — continued. Barracks {China Command): I, Hong Kong {Victoria) : 1, Mode of Construction and Character of the Accommodation in the Murray Barracks and North Barracks. 2. Space per Man, and Total Amount of Accommodation available. II, Stanley Barracks, III. Kowlooru IV. Japan. V. Generally : 1. Letters and Reports from Medical Officers at Hong Koncj. 2. Correspondence between General Guy and the War Office;, in November 1865 and .January 1866. 3. Returns showing the Accommodation available and the Distribution of the Troops at different Periods, 4. Particulars as to the Expenditure. 5. Economy by providing for Native Troops instead of Europeans. 6. Suggestion as to the course of Correspondence relative to Barracks Abroad. "VI. Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee. I, Hong Kong {Victoria) : 1. Mode of "Construction and Character of the Accommodation in the Murfay Barracks and North Barracks : tU chosen site of the Murray Barracks at Hong Kong; the buildings however are excellent, and there is good protection against exposure to the sun, Snell 7-9 The "barracks were built about the year 1849, ib. 8, 11 Very limited and unhealthy accom- modation for the married soldiers and their wives in the Murray Barracks, ib. 28-33 'Good character of the ordinary drainage of the barracks at Hong Kong, iJ. 35 Erection of the barracks out of the Canton indemnity money, so that they were no ■expense to the Home Government, ib. 80. 83, 84. Further statement as to the good construction of the Murray Barracks, and as to the badness of the site through bein^ in a hollow or ravine, Snell 80-94 — ~^^^'y ^^^ ac- commodation for the officers in the Murray Barracks, though they are very fine barracks for the men, ib. 172 Information relative to the extent of accommodation available in the North Barracks at Hong Kong as distant from the Murray Barracks, i/>. 258-263. ^71-276- Bad state of repair of the INorth Barracks, ib. 260. Filthy and unhealthy state of some rooms in the Murray Barracks in August 1865, Sankey 688^690 — —Bad situation of the Hong Kong Barracks, as there is a higl) hill close behind them, so that they are completely shut out from the soutii-wesc monsoon. Sir J. H. Grant 2094, 2095 Admirable character of the permanent barracks at Hong Kong, Brown 3165. Witness was' Acting Barrack Master at Hong Kong for six years, and considers ihe Murray Barracks the best he has ever seen, Rowland 3663-3665. 3768 ^Very good site of the Murray Barracks ; ample circulation of air in them, ib. 3666, 3667. 3776- ,vj7yQ Several medical men have reported that there was too much air, ib. 3667. 3776 ._ Accommodation of some of the married men and their wives on the ground flooi of tiie Murray Barracks ; doubt as to this being dangerous, there having been a space for ventila^ . -tion between the floor and the ground, 3680, ib. 3720-3726. 3788-379^ Witness is not aware that the drainage of the barracks or hospitals at Hong Kong was defective when he was there, ib. 3686, 2, Space per Man, and Total Amount of Accommodation available : Average space of about 651 cubic feet per head in the Murray Barracks, Snell 77, 78 Actual number of men in the Murray Barracks at different times, ib. 258. 263. 271 Inadequate space per man allowed for in the original construction of both the Murray Barracks and the North Barracks, ib. 264, 265 Much less accommodation really available in the aggregate than is stated in a certain return before the Committeei «*. 339-342- Number of men quartered in the Murray Barracks with reference to the proper space available ; inadequacy of the accommodation, Sflwfcez/ 488-490. 496-510. 518-524- 5^5 Estimate of 700 cubic feet as the space per man in the Murray Barracks, whereas the proper space for China is set down at 1,000 cubic feet, ib. 488. 501-503. 634, 635 On the 28th July 1865 there were 375 men of the 9th Regiment in the Murray Barracks ib. 502. 535 Representation made l)y witness when his regiment uas jnspected'in April 1865, that the beds in the Murray Barracks were too close togelhefi ib- 536-538- 442—1. A 2 fetvong BARRACKS. Report, 1866 — continued. Barracks {China Command)— continued. I. Hong Kong {Victoria) — continued, 2. Space per Man, and Total Amount of Accommodation available— corafonuci. Strong representation made by witness and by Dr, Sanders, the senior surgeon of the gth Regiment, iu July 1865, against an order from the Commandant, Colonel Wyatt, for Ifansferring 70 men from Fletcher's Buildings into the Murray Barracks, Sanltey 539- 542 The rooms in Fletcher's Buildings were to be handed over to the 11 th Regiment, il, g^o Further order subsequently for the tranfer of witpess's men, in which it was stated that the barracks were calculated to hold 460 men, ih. 542-54.4 Insufficiency from the first of the accommodation in the Murray Barracks for the gth Regiment, iJ. 589-593 Occupation of the whole of the permanent accommodation [Previously to the arrival of the 11th, ib. 589. 594 Conclusion as to there being permanent barrack accommodation at Hong Kong sufficient only for one strong battalion, ib. 674-687 Overcrowding at Hong Kong, to which the excess of sjcliness in the gth Regiment in the month of August was mainly owing, ib. 761-764. Statement that on the arrival of the 1 ith Regiment there was really no accommodation ready for them, Jeiiner 1464 Further statement to the effect that there were no riegular quarters for a single man of the 11th Regiment on arrival at Hong Kong, i6. 1559-1569 With regard to the number of men at Hong Kong, there is no doubt but they were overcrowded in the barracks, ib. 1611-1615. Very inadequate space per man both in the Murray Barracks and the North Barracks, Sir J. H. Grant 2095, 2096 — — Asimuch space should be allowed as in India, that is, 1,000 cubic feet on high ground and 1,500 cubic feet on low gronnd, ib, ^Great want of accommodation for the troops in China when witness, gave up the command in i86i, ih. 22^^0-2232 Circumstance of its having been only quite recently settled that 1,000 cubic feet instead of 700 should be allowed per man in the barracks in China, India, &c., ih. 2285. 2289, 2290. Explanation given by witness in reply to a representation from the Horse Guards as to the inconvenience of quartering two European battaijoas at Hong Kong and Kowloon, Lord de Grey 2460 Estiiaated accommodation three months ago for a. bout 1,600 men at Hong Kong, Galton 2984-2988, 3015, 3016 Calculation that, incl^iding the hired buildinjr at Hong Kong, there was accommodation for 3,200 men in the whole command, 26.3008-3016 Large reduction in the estimated accommodation if based upon the calculation of 1,000 cubic feet per man, ib. 3015-3023 — — Accommodation for about 700 or 750 men in the two barracks at Victoria, Brown 3166 Insufficiency of the barrack accommodation throughout the period of witness's command, ib. 3306.13312-3315. Importance of barrack accommodation in tropical countries being at the rate of 1,000 cubic feet per man, Sir J. B. Gibson 3567, 3568 Average of 700 cubic feet per man in the Murray Barracks, exclusive of the space in the verandahs ; conclusion as to the sufficiency thereof, Rowland 3668-^6^0. 3730, 3731., 3733-3740- 3769-3775- 3780 Gpiiriotl that, including the verandahs, there were fully i,ocio cubic feet per man in the Murray Barracks, ih. 3668 Instances of men having on emergencies been placed in the verandahs to sleep; defence of this course, iJ. 3731. 3761-3767 — Accomrnodation available in a room in the North Barracks over the Garrison Institute; this was used in witness's time, ib. 3795-3798. II. Stanley Barracks : Dilapidated state of the Stanley Barracks ; accommodation in them of the women and children of the 20ih up to September i866,iSne/Z 277, 278 Further reference to the dila- pidaied state of the Stanley Barracks, so that they are not fit for occupation by European troops, it. 304-310 ^The barracks are now sometimes used as a sanitarium, Jcwner 156H- Dilapiclat6d state of the Stanley Barracks so that they would not now hold more than 170 men, Sir J. H. Graa^ 2097 -2 100 Unhealthiness of the barr^cksin 1864 through the excavations, Rowland 3691 Healthy character of the barracks in witness's experience, fiS. 3732. III. Kowloon : Re-arrangement at the War Office of the original phm for the barracks at Kowloon, Moody 2514-2517. 2545-2552 -Objections made by witness to the block plan of the proposed barracks at Kowloon as not admitting of sufficient ventilation durino' the summer monsoon; nothmg resulted from his representations on the subject, 16. 2518-2(524. ^kaQ 2547. 2559-2665. 2601-2605. 26262629 Particulars in explanation of the site and plan proposed by witness for the barracks and hospital at Kowloon, iS. 2558-2561. Report from Sir Hope Grant early in i860 recommending that permanent barracks for i,2oa men should be built at Kowloon, in lieu of certain authorised expenditure beine incurred at Hong Kong, Galton 2888-2891 Approval by Mr. Sidney Herbert of the views ot Sir Hope Giiint, whilst estimates and plans of barracks were subsequently sent home, and were received in April 1861, ih. 2889— Revised plans sent out from (he War BARRACKS. Report, 1 866 — continued. Barracks {China Command) — continued. III. Kowloon — icontinued. War Office in March 1862 for the barracks at Kowloon ; instructions sent out with these, Galton sSgs-aSgs. Outline of the plan of each block of barracks proposed to be erected, Galton 2905, •2906 Alteration of the original plan by way of concession to the colonial authorities, the War Office having preferred their original plan for purely military purposes, ib. 2907- ^911. 2939, 2940, 2949-2969 Inferiority of the altered plan as regards the site of the married soldiers' quarters, ib, 2910, 2911, 2949-2954. 2958. Examination relative to the grounds of the claim put forward ,by Sir Herculefe Robinson^ the Colonial Governor, to a portion of the site required for the barracks ; question con- sidered hereon whether the War Department were justified in regard to the delay thus caused to the erection of the barracks, or the concession eventually made to the colonists, GaZiora 2913-2926, 2929-2938. 2959-2969 Necessity of reference home before the local differences as to the site for the barracks could be adjusted, ib, 2929. Explanation as to the character of the alterations required by the War Department in the original barrack plans sent home from Kowloon ; suggestions by Colonel Moody adverted to hereon, Galtori 2946-2948 Objectionable character of a plan proposed by Colonel Moody stretching across the north end of the Peninsula, ib. 2956, 2957. ^968 Impression that the plans of the Kowloon Barracks were referred to the ■Quartermaster General, «6. 2994. Official correspondence in 1861, 1863, and 1864, upon the question of the provision of barracks at Kowloon, App, 424—430. IV. Japan : There is no detailed return at the War Office of the barrack accommodation at Japan, but there is accommodation for about 1,500 men, Galton 2997-3008 Particulars as to the extent and character of the accommodation for the troops under witness's command when in Japan ; amount of the force provided for. Brown 3268-3282, V. Generality: 1. Letters and Reports from Medical Officers at Hong Kong, Letter from Deputy Inspector General Dick to the Army Medical Department, dated 127th January 1865, directing attention to the.insufficiencyof the barrack accommodation at Hong Kong, and to the danger to be incurred by sending a second European regiment there, ^p/>, 195, 196. Statement by Dr. Saunders, under date 28th July 1865, relative to the very crowded state df Murray Barracks, and the evils likely to result from putting seventy more men into them, App. 206. Communication from the Senior Medical Officer to the Commandant, dated 8th August 3865, Telaliive to the very defective and filthy state of some floors in the Murray Barracks, and the remedies required, App. 2'o8, Reference by Dr. Saunders to the insufficient and defective barrack accommodation, as a main cause of the sickness in 1865, App. 214. Details in reports of medical officers for the years 1863, 1864, and 1865, relative to the extent and character of the bawack accommodation ai Victoria, and the defects requiring correction, App. 236, 237, 242, 243. 250. 256, 257. 269-272. 284, 285. 289, S90. Details in general report of Dr. Dick for the year 1864 relative to the barrack and hut accommodation at the several stations, and the respects in which deficient^ App. 299- 362. H. Correspondence between General Guy and the War Office, in November 1865 and January 1866. Copy of letter from Major General Guy to the Quartermaster General, dated I2tli Novembei' 18^4, with reference to the distribution and accommodation of the troops in the China command, and asking for instructions as to the disposal of the and battalion of the lith Regiment on arrival in China, App. 185. 431. Reply by the War Office, dated ioth January 1865, to General Guy's letter of the » 2th November 1 864 ; statement therein that Earl de Grey must rely on General Guy snaking the best and most economical arrangements in his power for the accommodation 3399- TV 1^ ■ Statements of requirements proposed by the heads of departments at Hong JS-ong m 1863 to the Commanding Royal Engineer, for insertion in that officer s barrack estmiate in 1864-65, Jpp. 336-339- — Similar statements of requirements for insertion in estimate for 1865-66, ih. 340-345 Similar statements for 1866-67, ib. 340-349. Return of sums annually granted by Parliament on the estimates for the accom- modation of European troops at Hong Kong (stating the nature and object ot each building), during the years from 1858 to 1866, App. 366. Statement of all monies expended upon barracks at Hong Kong and Kowloon, from 1st April 1861 to 31st March 1865, App, 368-370- Aggregate of 24,043/. in the four years, ib. 370 Statement of all monies expended upon barracks at Hong Kong and Kowloon from 1st April to 30th September 1865; total of 3,194/r, ?^, 373 Similar statement of expenditure from 1st October to 31st December 1865; total of 2,oioZ., ib. 375. 5. Economy by providing for Native Troops instead of Europeans, Less costly barrack accommodation required for native troops than for Europeans, Snell 347 ; 'Robinson 3395, 3396. 6. Suggestion as to the course of Correspondence relative to Barracks Abroad, Advantage if the correspondence of general officers on foreign stations relative to barrack accommodation, &c., went direct to the Horse Guards ; suggestion made by Sir Richard Airey on this subject, Duke of Cambridge 3890^3894. , VT. Conclusions and "Recommendations of the Committee : Inadequacy of the barrack accommodation, both in extent &nd quality, adverted lo by the Committee as one of the chief causes of the excessive mortality among the troops. Rep. vii. Reference to the great delay in the erection at Kowloon of a special hut for testing the healthiness of the site ; evils consequent thereon, ib. Considerations as to the amount of cubic feet available with reference to the number of men to be accommodated ; great deficiency of space, Rep. vii., viii, — r-Total estimate of 999 rank and file to be accommodated in Murray Barrack, North Barrack, and Stanley Barrack ; that is according to the old barrack regulations, ib. Normal deficiency of barrack accommodation at Hong Kong, which was increased by the arrival of the 2nd battalion, iith Regiment, Rep. viii. Sevefal naodes of accom-' modation resorted to on the arrival of the 11th Regiment, iJ. Actual deficiency of accommodation in July, 1865, the 11th Regiment having arrived on 28th May previously, ib. ix. Costly nature of the barrack accommodation required for an increased European garrison, as compared with a garrison composed parly of native troops. Rep. xi. See also Disallowance of Expenditure. Distribution of Troops. Eleventh Regiment, 5. Expenditure (hired Buildings, ^c.) Guy, Major General. Hired Buildings. Hospitals. Hulks. Huts. Japan, Ninety-ninth Regiment. Press, The. Beath, John K., M.D. Extract from Report of Siaff Assistant Surgeon Beath, in charge of the Royal Artillery at Victoria, Hong Kong, in the year 1863, App. 236-240. Beloochees and Sikhs. Reference to the Beloochees and Sikhs as peculiarly fitted for service out of their own country, Snell 456. 469, 470 Great value of the Beloochees as part of the force in China, Brown 3183, 3184. 3193. ^rand, Robert. (Analysis of his Evidence. )— Has spent about four years in Hong Koog, 2295 Large accommodation in the premises or godowns of Messrs. Fletcher and of Messrs. M'Gregor in the town of Victoria, an additional storey having been put on when they were taken up for the troops in 1865; 2297-2303 Belief that there were no other godowns available or suitable for troops, 2304-2312. 2323-2329. 2334-2339 Unsuitable character of some buildings referrefl to by Colonel Jenner, as havino- been open to Government to hire ; heavy expense also for chair carnage in this case" •2308-2311. 2320-2322. 2334-2339. Gicat BRA BR a Report, 1866 — continued. Brand, Rolert (Analysis of his Evidence) — continued. Great expense of living at Hong Kong, things being more than twice as.dearasin India; conclusion hereon that the rent of 1900 dollars a month for Fletcher's buildings , was anything but exorbitant, 2313-2319. 2330-2333. 2341-2344 Sickly character of the season of 1865 for civilians, owing very much to exceptional causes, 2340. 2345, 2346. Brown, Major General William Gustavus. (Analysis of his Evidence.)— Was in com- mand of the troops in China from April, 1863, to October, 1864; 3158, 3I59 , Strength of the garrison of Hong Kong when witness first took the command, 3160- — Circumstance of witness having, to his surprise, been called upon to pay 200 rupees a month for his ^quarters at Hong Kong, 3I62 Dilapidated state of witness's quarters on his first arrival, so that they had to be put in repair before he occupied them, 3163, 3164 Admirable character of the permanent barracks at Hong Kong, 3I65 , Accommodation for about 700 or 750 men in the two barracks, 3166. Necessity of placing some of the European troops in the huts at Kowloon; that is, in April, 1,863; 3167-3171 Superiority of the huts at Kowloon to the mat sheds at Hong Kong, the former being, however, utterly unfit for European troops, 3168. 3170 f Great omission in the matter of accommodation for the women and children, 3169 Decided unfitness of the godownsor stores of JVIessrs. Fletcher and Messrs. M'Gregor for occupation by European troops, 3172. Representations made by witness to ihe War Department in January 1864, as to the difliiculty of finding accommodation for the and battalion of the 20th Regiment on its ariival in Hong Kong, 3174, 3175 The unhealthiness of the huts had already been reported before witness's arrival, 3174. 3196. 3213 Necessity of running up additional sheds at Kowloon, and of sending the 20th thither, 3176 — —Great exertion necessary in order to get ready some accommodation at Stanley for the women and children of the 20th, ih. Statement in a War Ofiice letter of 10th September 1863, that it was intended to raise the strength of all European infantry regiments in China to 1,000 men; there were no instructions, however, as to any additional accommodation, 3177. 3255- 3257- Witness was never consulted as to the advisability of withdrawing the native troops from China; his long experience in the East adverted to hereon, 3178 -Insufficiency of one European regiment for the garrison of Hong Kong ; great sickness in the 69th, when they were the only regiment there, 3179. 3226-3'^.30 Utterly untrustworthy character of the Chinese police or watchmen, 3180 Employment by witness of the Indian troops as watchmen, for which they had 6d. a. day extra, 3181 Strong opinion as to the necessity of native troops in aid of European troops in China with reference to the performance of guard duties, 3182-3184. 3192, 3193.. Outbreak of fire among the hospital huts at Kowloon during witness's command, when it seemed a miracle that the whole cantonment was not burnt down, 3186 Report by witness in April 1864, relative to the extremely defective construction of the Kowloon huts, the great danger from fire, and the precautions necessary against accident, 3186 . The trial hut was not begun during witness's command, 3187 -Necessity of an escort being sent daily with the provisions to Stanley, 3188, 3189 Occurrence of some difficulty as to the mode of issue of quinine to the men, 3190 Invaluable character of chlorodyne for the cure of dysentery in hot climates, 3191. ' Explanation with further reference to the necessary occupation by witness of the huts at Kowloon, and the nature of the representations made by him to the War Office on the subject of their unfitness, 3194-3213 Witness never contemplated that the huts woidd . be permanently occupied, 3199-3201 Letter from witness to the War Office, dated Qist October 1864, when resigning his command, relative to the danger from fire, and the defective state generally of the Kowloon huts, 3207-3213 Statement that witness was not aware, till shortly before leaving China, that it was intended to withdraw the native troops, and that, never contemplating such withdrawal, he made no representations on the subject, 3214-3225. 3260-3262. Further disapproval of the employment of Chinese police for the protection of Govern- ment property, 3231-3233 Safety of merchants' property through the money security ■ given by the compradors, 3232 Approval of the employment of Malays or natives ot India as a police force in China, 3232, 3233. Witness repeats that, not contemplating any permanent occupation of the Kowloon huts and knowing they had been condemned in the medical reports, he did not consider it necessary specially to report upon their unhealthiness, 3234-3236 He never imagined that the Secretary of State for War would have deemed the huts fit for Euro- neans as permanent accommodation, 3237 Requirement of the whole force under witness's command for the performance of the local duties, there being a regiment of Europeans and of Indian troops, and a battery of Eoyal Artillery, 3238-3*43- Opi- nion that Fletcher's buildings were as good as any that were available, but they were not fit for permanent occupation by Europeans, 3244-3247. Statement that the 20th Regiment npt having been sent to China for a permanency,. witness saw no emergency which called upon him to incur any unusual expenditure for 442-i. A 4 their BRO CAM Keport, 1866 — continued. Brown, Major General William Gustavus. (Analysis of his 'Ejidence) —continued. their accommodation, 3248-3254 Limitation, as far as possible, of the number of sentries during witness's command, 3258— ^Favourable situation of the Govefnmen buildings with reference to guard duties, 3259-^— Considerable difficulty in finding house accommodation in Victoria for a re^ment of Europeans, 3263 ^Nece!ssary use by witness of the " Hercules" as a hospital ship, after the burning of the hospital of the 20th Regiment; this answered very well for the time being, 3264, 3265. 3267 Advantage if there were a spacious two-decker available at Kowioon for the sick^ or as a hospital, 3266. Particulars as to the extent and character of the accommodation for the troops under witness's command when in Japan ; amount of the force provided for, 3268-3282— — Difficulty in obtaining ground at Yokohama for the encampment of tlie inarines; pro- bable difficulty as to space if the 2nd battalion of the 11th had been sent on from Hong Kong, 3276-3286 During witness's stay in Japan, the marines were not accommo- dated on board the " Conqueror," but a detachment of 150 of them was placed in the " Princess Charlotte," 3287-3292. Instances of witness having authorised expenditure during his command in China, the War Office generally requiring further information in such cases, so that a disallowance was constantly hanging over witness, 3293-3299 — ' — Warning conveyed to witness with reference to some building expenditure authorised by him, though attended with con- siderable saving in the hire of stores, 3300-3305 ^Insufficiency of the barrack accom- modation throughout the period of witness's command, 3306. 3312-3315. Except in a very urgent emergency, witness would not have incurred expenditure with- out previous authority from the War Office, 3307-3311 Extreme embaiTassment to General Guy when an additional European regiment was thrown upon his hands at a short notice, 3316-3324 Explanation that witness was absent from Hong Kong when the 99th were ordered to Kowioon, and that had he retained the command for any time after his retiim, he should not have hesitated in ordering them back to Hong Kong, 3326-3333- [Second Examination.] — Explanation as to witness having first been led to anticipate that the Indian troops would be withdrawn through a letter from Deputy Commissary - General Maturin to Sir Rutherford Alcock, in July 1864; copy of this letter read, 3601- 3611- Letter from Sir R. Alcock to Colonel Browne in October 1864, representing that there were political reasons against troops being brought from China to Japan to replace the Beloochee corps and the 67th Regiment, 3613-3615, Burland, Captain William Harris. (Analysis of his Evidence,)— Witness, who is Captain in the 9th Regiment, came home in the " Gresham " in charge of invalids from Hong Kong; he left Hong Kong on 13th October 1865; 2461-2465 — -^Excessively debili-. tated state of the invahds at the time of embarkation ; death of one man on board before the ship weighed anchor, 2466-2468 .Total of I73 invalided men in the " Gresham," besides six officers, twenty-five women, and twenty-eight children, 2469-2476 Nume-. rous deaths on board during the passage to the Cape; particulars hereoa; showing a total of about forty deaths, 2477. 2479r2485. Exceedingly sickly and reduced state of the men on arrival of the ship in Simon's Bay* .2478 Several deaths in the hospital at Simon's Bay, 2489-i?49i— ~-Death of two more men between the Cape and Enffland, 2492^— Great attention shown to the sick by Surgeon Adams during the voyage to tlie Cape ; one surgeon, however, was alto- gether inadequate, 2493, 2494^ Excellent accommodation for the men on board ?495- ' Circumstance of there having been fifty tons of gunpowder on board without witness having been aware of it on starting ; great danger from this source, as there were no men available for duty, and the ship was in fact twice on fire during the voyage, 2496-2490 2502 The mvalids on arrival in England were all landed at Nietley, 2500, 2501 There were no healthy men or orderlies specially embarked to look after the sick ^Ko-t 2504 -Testimony to the extreme zeal of Dr. Saunders in the performance 'of his arduous duties as principal medical officer during the greater part of the sickness at Hong Kong, 2505-2508, ' .Cambridge, Field Marshal Hu Royal Highness the Duke of. (Analysis of his Evidence.) —Information conveyed to witness by the Secretary of State for War, in the usual way, that It was mtended to withdraw the Indian troops from China, 3865-3867 ^The opmion of witness as to the expediency of such withdrawal was not asked, nor did he vounteer any opinion on the subject, 3867-.387,i. 3895-3899— "Policy involved in the withdrawal of the Indian troops, so that witness considered it beyond his province to mterfere m the matter, 3868-3872. 3875, 3876. 3886, 3,887. 3895-3911. 3914. Adoption CAM C H L Report, 1 866 — continued. Cambridge, Field Marshal H. R. H. ike Duke of. (Analysis of his Evidence) — continued. Adoption by successive Secretaries of State of the policy of the withdrawal of the Indian troops because their employment in China involved allowances which were never intended to be permanent, 3868, 3869. 3886. 390Q-39U Accuracy of the statement of Lord De Grey as to the nature of the communication between him and witness rela- tive to the withdrawal of the India troops, 3873, 3874 Statement as to witness having contemplated that other Asiatic or native troops should be employed in China, subse- quently to the withdrawal of the Indian troops, 3875. 3878, 3879. 3884, 3885. 3888, 3889.3912-3914. Non-objection by witness to the arrangement proposed by Lord De Grey, by which the permanent garrison of Hong Kong was to comprise only one European battalion, 3877-3883 Advantage if the correspondence of general officers on foreign stations relative to barrack accommodation, &c., went direct to the Horse Guards ; suggestion made by Sir Eichard Airey on this subject, 3890-3894 Purely financial objection to the continuance of the Indian troops in China, there being no objection on military grounds, 3901-3907. Strong opinion always entertained by witness that in no hot climate should European troops ever be employed without native troops, 3912 Forcible representations made by witness against a contemplated reduction of the West India Regiments; attention paid to these representations, 3912. 3917-3919 Had witness been asked to propose a garrison for Hong Kong he would doubtless have suggested an intermixture of native and European troops, 3913,3914 — —With regard to the force to be maintained in future in China circumstances have materially changed since a garrison was first established at HongKong, 3915, 3916. Canteens. Very deleterious native spirit sometimes drunk by the men at Hong Kong, so that it is very expedient always to provide the canteen with ale and porter from England, as well as with a good spirit under proper restrictions, Sankey 951-956 Constant addition to the amusements of the men by means of the overplus from the canteen fund, ib. 957. 958. Suggestion by Surgeon Saunders that the regimental canteens should always be supplied with porter, and no ardent spirits sold, App. 214. Particulars relative to the canteen tap-rooms, and the quality of the articles sold in them, App. 239. 246. 251. 258. 264. 275. 286. 291. Canton. Returns showing the force serving at Canton on 1st January in each of the years 1857-66, App. 224-231. Ceylon Rifle Corps. The Malay troops of the Ceylon Rifle Corps are well fitted for service in China, Snell ^^6, 477 A portion of the Ceylon Rifles has been ordered to Hong Kons, pending the question of raising a native regiment to be stationed there. Sir E. Lugard 1295, 1296 — ^—Probable number of soldiers of the Ceylon Rifles now on their way to Hong Kong; their fitness for guard duties, Sir J. H. Grant 2158-2160 ^Transport was provided for 800, including women and children, Galton 3075, 3076. It. would be most dangerous to quarter the Ceylon Rifles or any other troops in the Kowloon huts until the place is free from the evil influences of the excavations, Rohinson 3451-3454 O" tlhe arrival of the Ceylon Rifles they will probably occupy the barracks to be vacated by the 2nd battalion of the 11th Regiment, ib. 3455. Communication from the War Office to the Military Secretary, dated 24th January 1 866, proposing that a portion of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment be sent to Hong Kong, App. 221." Objection, in letter from the Military Secretary to the Horse Guards, dated 1st February J 866, to the proposal for employing portion of the Ceylon Rifles in China, App. 222. Further communication from the Horse Guards to the War Office, dated 10th February 1866, with reference to the employment of a portion of the Ceylon Rifle Corps, App. 22.3. Correspondence between the War Oflnce and General Guy iri March aiid May 1866, with reference to the emplovment of portion of the Ceylon Rifles in China, App. 437, ; 438. Chlorodyne. Stop put to the issue of chlorodyne, a very valuable but expensive medicine ; particulars hereon, SweZ/ 223-227. 230. 232-235. 270 Invaluable character of chlorodyne for the cure of dysentery in hot climates. Brown 3191. Grounds upon which witness justifies the non-supply of a medicine called chlorodyne for use in Hong Kong, Sir J. B. Gibson 3593-3600- 442— I. B Cholera. 10 CHO CUR Report, 1 866 — continued. Cholera. Result of an inquiry ordered by witness with reference to cholera at Kowlooti Moody 2787-2790. 2807, 2808 Statement as to witness having differed from the menical officers' opinion that some tanks of water at Kowloon were the cause of the cholera, ih. 2788-2790. 2812-2822. Civilians {Hong Kong). Prevalence of sickness among the civil inhabitants of Hong Kong in 1865, attributed chiefly to the unhealthy sites chosen for their residences, Snell ^ Absence of any similar excess of sickness among the civilians to that suffered by the troops; causes of this, Sankey 838-844 Sickly character of the season of 1865 for civiliai)s, owing very much to exceptional causes, Brand 2340. 2345, 2346. Opinion that the season of 1865 was not an unusually sickly one at Hong Kong fo*" the civil community ; it was however peculiarly hot, Anderson 2368-2370. 2374 Ciicumstance of the colonial surgeon having reported that there was less sickness than usual amongst the civilians in 1865, ib. 2374, 2375, Report of Dr. Murray, colonial surgeon for the year 1865, together with returns on the sanitary condition of the colony of Hong Kong during the year, App. 415-419. Climate {Hong Kong). Very sudden variations of temperature during the winter months at night, Snell 4, 5 Expediency of sending troops to China between the middle of October and the middle of January, on account of the other months being so hot and trying for troops on first arrival, ;7>. 128, 129 Evidence relative to the difference of climate between Hong Kong and Shanghai, ih. 434, 435. 456-475. Unhealthiness of Hong Kong in the months of July, August and September, more especially, Sankey 756, 757 ; Moody 2843, 2844 The season of 1865 was considered the most unhealthy in Hong Kong since 1848, /SawAcy 766-769 Much less injurious effect of the climate of China upon Indian troops than upon Europeans, ib. 905. Grounds for the conclusion that the season of 1865 was the most unhealthy ever experienced by the troops in China, Sir E. Lugard 1338-1342 Belief that a regiment would suffer less if it went direct from England, than if it went from the Mediterranean or the Cape, Venner 1535 Doubt as to the season of 1865 having been a more sickly one than usual for civilians, ih. 1686-1689 Doubt as to the Navy having suffered unusually in 1865 from the season, i6. 1937-1940. Much more healthy character of the climate of Japan than of Hong Kong, Sir J. H. Grant 2170 Sickly character of the season of 1865 for civihans, owing very much to exceptional causes. Brand 2340. 2345, 2346 Opinion that the season of 1865 was not an unusually sickly one at Hong Kong for the civil community; it was however peculiarly hot, Anderson 2368-2370. 2374. Grounds for concluding that the season of 1865 was an exceptional one, and that there has been no such unhealthy year at Hong Kong since 1853; quotations hereon from a letter of Dr. Murray, Sir J. B. Gibson 3525-3528 Very healthy condition compara- tively of the troops in Hong Kong for the last four or five years, excepting last year, ib. 3567- 3569 Very sickly season in 1858, prevalence of sickness in the 59th Regiment, adverted to hereon^ Rowland ^y^^, 3812-3816. Information supplied in reports of miedical ofiicers relative to Ihe dimate and physical geography of Hong Kong and Kowloon, in the years 1863, 1864 and 1865, and the influence of the climate on health and disease, App. 236. 241. 249. 255. 261. 268. 284. 288. Report of Dr. Murray, colonial surgeon^ for the year 1865, together with returns on the sanitary condition of the colony of Hong Kong during the year, App. 415-419. Conclusion of the Committee as to the season of 1865 having been more unhealthy than any year since 1858, Rep. v. Clothing of Troops. Very suitable character of the clothing of the 99th Regiment at Hong Kong, Snell 44 Necessity of three different descriptions of clothing in order to suit the variations of the temperature at the different seasons, and the changes between the day heat and the night cold, ib, 44. Information furnished by the medical offi<:ers with reference to the character of the supply ofclotlnng in 1863, 1864 and 1865, App. 238. 245. 251. 257. 263.273. 286. Colonial Office. See Governor of Hong Kong. Kowloon, 7. Cox, Charles. (Analysis of his Evidence).— Explanatory statement relative to the power and responsibility respectively of a governor in the colonies, and of the military ofiicer in command, 3644-3655 There has been no reference to the Secretary of State for the Colonies of any complaint made to the Colonial Governor at Hong Kong relative to the excavations made in carrying out public buildings, 3656, 3657. Cultivation of the Soil. Belief that the health of Kowloon was not affected by the Chinese mode of cultivation, Sankey 747-755. Currie, Dr. Concurrence in the views of Dr. Currie as to the importance of emplovina Native or Indian troops in China ; that is, not only at Shanghai, but at Hong Kong, Snell DEGREYANDRIPON. n Report, 1866 — continued. B. De Chrey and Eipon, The Right Honourable the Barl. (Analysis of his Evidence). — ^Was Secretary of State for War when the 2nd Battalion of the gth Regiment, and the and Battalion of the ilth were ordered to China, 2376-2378 — ^Emaination from the Horse Guards, in the usual manner, of the proposals for moving the 9th and 11th Regiments to China, the War Office having concurred in such proposals, before the orders for moving the troops were sefit out, 2378-2382 Letter from the War Office to General Guy, dated 10th January i86p, adverted to as not stating that any particular regiments would be sent out, but only that there would be the same number of European battalions as previously, 2383, 2384. Explanation that witness never intended or contemplated that of the three battalions to be kept temporarily in the China command, two would be retained by General Guy at Hong Kong, 2385-2389 — —Statement in justification of the course pursued by witness in leaving a large discretion in General Guy, relative to the distribution of the troops, 2388, 2389. 2392 View of witness in the first instance that a portion, at least, of the 11th Regiment should be sent on to Japan, 2388, 2389 Letter from witness to General Guy, dated 23rd March 1865, adverted to as clearly indicating his wish that the 2nd Battalion of the nth should go to Japan, 2389-2392. Impression of witness in writing the letter of 23rd March, that the marines would b^ withdrawn from Japan in time to make room for the nth, delay however in the embark- ation of the marines, 2393-2400 Belief that the marines would at once have been withdrawn upon a representation to the admiral by the commanding officer at Hong Kong, 2394. 2395. 2399 Improbability of any objection by the Japanese to the arrival of the nth, before the departure of the marines, 2396, 2397 View of witness that either the marines could have been withdrawn on board the "Conqueror," or the nth placed on board until the former were withdrawn, 2398. Experience of the years 1854, 1855, and 1856 adverted to in support of the conclusion arrived at by witness, that the duties at Hong Kong and Kowloon could be performed by one European regiment, without any native troops, 2401, 2402 Withdrawal of native troops from Hong Kong in 1853 or 1854, without any objection on the part of iiord Hardinge, 2401 Circumstance of the Commander in Chief having concurred with witness as to the withdrawal of the native troops, ib. Nearly double the force of European troops proposed by witness for the performance of the duties as compared with the force in 1 853-5.5, 2402. Further statement relative to the large discretion vested by witness in General Guy to employ or distribute the troops in any part of his command, 2403-2406. 2409, 2410 Data upon whicli witness concluded there would be ample accommodation in Japan for two whole regiments, 2407, 2408. 2411 Intention of witness to leave it entirely to General Guy's discretion whether any troops should be quartered at Kowloon, 2409, 2410. 2413-2415 Witness did not contemplate that any large amount of barracks would have to be hired at Hong Kong, but would have been fully prepared to approve of any expenditure necessary for the purpose, 2412. Conflicting opinions before the War Office in December 1864 and January 1865, as to the healthiness of Kowloon, 2413 Objections on the part of the Admiralty and of the Army Medical Department to the provision of a hospital ship, so that witness gave full anthority to General Guy to provide hospital accommodation on shore, 2416-2421 — ^ Explanation as to witness having suggested the assembling of a second board of inquiry at Hong Kong relative to the matter of permanent hospital accommodation, 2422. Consideration of certain correspondence between the War Office and the Treasury relative to the Indian allowances; explanation hereon of the part taken by witness in the matter, 2425-2431 Exceptional character of the allowance of 2cf. a day to the troops • in China, so that wilness proposed to discontinue it in the case of new troops sent thither, 2429, 2430. 2443 Explanation with reference to the officers' allowance, that the matter was not finally settled when witness left the War Office; views entertained by him on the subject, 2431. Financial considerations by which the Treasury were actuated in wishing for the withdrawal of the Indian troops from China, 2432 Understanding from the first that the Indian troops should be withdrawn as soon as the war necessities lor their employ- ment had ceased, ib. Constitutional as well as financial considerations upon which witness justifies the withdrawal of the Indian troops from China, ib. Objections in tlie interest of India to the continued employment of Indian troops out of that country, ib. Witness is not aware of any instance of a general officer refusing to incur expenditure for the health or accommodation of the troops ihrough fear of the expenditure being dis- allowed by the War Office, 2433-2435 Nor is he aware of the disallowance of any such expenditure, 2435. 2438-2442 Instances of disallowance of items in the shape of pay or allowances drawn by. officers, which the War Office deemed improper, ib.~ — .^2 I. B 2 Explanation 12 DEG Die Report, 1866 — continued. Be Grey and Ripon, The Right Hon. the Earl. (Analysis of his Evidence) — continued. Explanation relative to the temporary disallowance of expenditure for porter issued to the wives and children of soldiers at Houg Kong, 2436, 2437. Impression, as regards the excavations at Kowloon, that the erection of a trial hut was all that was ordered by the War Department, 2444-2446 Power of the General at Hong Kong to have stopped the excavations at any time, 2447- — Witness has no recollection of the withdrawal of a sum of 50 1, a month for planting trees, 2449 Con- siderable discussion between the Colonial Office and the War Office in respect to sites for constructions at Kowloon, 2450. Statement that the Civil Governor of Hotig Kong had no power over the General in regard to the erection of barracks, the removal of troops, or the detailed military arrange- ments generally, 2451, 2452 Remonstrances made against the withdrawal of the Indian troops, but not until after their recall, 2453, 2454 Cinumstance of General Guy having taken no exception to the withdrawal of the native troops, on the ground that the European troops could nfjt perform the duty without them, 2454. Explanation that the question of the withdrawal of the native troops was fully dis- cussed between witness and the Commander in Chief before it was finally settled, 2455 Temporary retention of three regiments in China, with leference to the state of affiiirs in Japan, 2455-2457 Objections to the retention of the native troops for service in Japan, 2456 Power of commanding officers generally at foreign stations to incur expense for the accommodation and safety of the troops, 2459 Explanation given by witness in reply to a representation from the Horse Guards as to the inconve- nience of quarleritig two battalions at Hong Kong and Kowloon, 2460. Dick, Deputy Inspector General. Remark made by Dr. Dick to witness, that for the litb Regiment to go to Kowloon was certain death, Jenner 1464. Comment upon the circumstance of Dr. Dick, the Deputy Inspector General of Hos- pitals on the China station, having "one to Japan in June 1865, and not having returned till the following October, Sir J. B. Gibson 3547-3o54. 3563- 3579-3588 — ^Twofold reason given by Dr. Dick for sioing to Japan, one that he was not well, and the other that he went to make his annual inspection, ib. 3548 Absence of any necessity for a stnfF surgeon in Japan, ib. 3549 Exceptional instances of a general being accompanied by the principal medical officer on the station v/hen on his to'iir of inspection, ib. 3550, 3551- 3579~358i Witness considers that Dr. Dick should have returned from Japan when the sickness broke out, ib. 3563, 3586-3588 I^espects in which witness consi- ders it was not natural in Dr. Dick to have accompanied the General 10 Japan, ib. 3579- 3585- Further evidence upon the subject of Dr. Dick having accompanied General Guy to Japan; witness repeats that the proper place for a principal medical officer is at the head-quarters of his station, Sir J. B. Gibson, 3817-3838. 3843-3845 There was no question of establishing a sanitarium at Japan which required Dr. Dick's presence there, ib. 3827-3829. 3833 Duty of Dr. Dick to have gone to Japan for his annual inspec- tions ; witness felt, however, that a different time should have been selected, as his ser- vices were so much needed in Hong Kong, ib. 3833-3838 Practice in India, the West Indies, &c., in regard to the general in command being accompanied on his tours of inspection by the principal medical officer of the station, ib. 3843-3845. Communication from Dr. Dick to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at Hong Kong dated 16th January 1865, representing the danger to be incurred by sending the 99th Regiment to Shanghai, App, 194. Letter from Deputy Inspector General Dick to the Aimy Medical Department, dated 27th January 1865 directing attention to the insufficiency of the barrack accommodation at Hong Kong, and to the danger to be incurred by sending a second European regiment there, App. 195, 196. ° f . & Report by Dr. Dick, dated 29th March 1865, containing statistics relative to the sick- ness and rnortahty among the white troops and black troops respectively, and showing the much better health of the latter and their greater efficiency for service in China, App. Letter from Dr. Dick to the Army Medical Department, dated 14th October 1865, relative to the great sickness prevalent at Hong Kong, the iiecessitv of sending home a large number of invalids, and the insufficiency of the medical stafi; App. 212, 213 ol'bl7itfi"\?n;«"'''' J° *^f As^'stant MiHtary Secretary, Hong Kong, dated 271^ ?,8 Ln % Z. ^°'"^ "f '• '''^'^' ^° '^'^ ''^^"^^^ ^«i4 ^^^ d'fferenr troops, Apl .,,8-220— ^trong representations by Dr. Dick as to the expediency of emp oyS Indian or native troops, ib. 218, 219. ^ "^ ^J " ^' F'^j^'if, Extracts from Sanitarjr Reports of Dr. Dick for the years ,863 and 1864, Apv ^-^^ 236.. 253-256,— -Staten-ents by Dr. Dick in his Report for ,864, relative 'to IL verf .njunous ette.t he excavations at Kowloon, and the improvements and remedied required at that station, ib. 255. * K-meuieb General Die , DIS 13 ■j^^ • Report, 1 866 — continued. Dick, Deputy Inspector General — continued. General report of Dr. Dick, as principal medical officer for the year 1864, containing ■ remarks in detail relative to the sanitary condition of the troops at the different stations in the China command, App. 297-309. Letters of explanation from Dr. Dick, dated 30th January and gth February, with reference to certain medical officers having gone from Hong Kong to Japan, App. 442, 443 Explanation by Dr. Dick, in his letter of 30th January 1S66, relative to his own absence from Hong Kong during part of the hot season of 1865, ib. 443. Diet. Information as supplied in the medical reports relative to the composition of the soldier's ration in 1863, 1864, and 1865, tlie alterations introduced, and the character of the diet generally, App. 237. 244. 251. 257, 263. 272, 273. 285. 290. See also Rations. Disallowance of Expenditure : Circumstance of its having been reported tiiat if the commandant at Hong Kong engaged more native watchmen he would have to pay for them, Sankey 849-854 Sanction obtained by witness from General Guy, on three different occasions, to employ native watchmen combined wiih the soldiers ; refusal afterwards to grant any more watchmen, the expense being the objection, ih. 852, 853. 867-876. Authority of the general in command to have hired hulks or buildings, and to have employed watchmen^ without incurring any personal risk on the score of expense. Sir E. Lugard 1173-1178. 1268-1283. 1301, 1302 Witness repeats that it is at least ex- tremely improbable that the War Office would have surcharged any expenditure by General Guy which he could at all justify, ib. 1406-1408. 1426-1433. Reference to the surcharge of General Wynyard some years ago for having moved some troops between Sydney and Van Diemen's Land on his own responsibility, Jenner 1599: 1605-1607. 1924 Witness does not know any case of a commanding officer having had to pay out of his own pocket through being surcharged in respect of pro- viding accommodation, ih. 1600, i6oi. 160-1 r-Circumstances of Dr. Dick haying informed witness that he was surcharged for porter ordered by him for the women and children, i&. 1601-1603. 1608-1610 A commanding officer is much cramped by the pecuniary responsibility which he incurs in providing for the troops, ib. 1669. 1670. Liability of the commanding officer at any station to be called to account for expendi- ture in providing accommodatiim, though he would not be likely to be found fdult with if he incurred the expenditure as a matter of expediency or necessity, Sir J. H. Grant 2240-2244. Witness did not conienipjate that any large amount of Isarracks would have to be hired at Hong Kong, but would have been fully prepared to approve of any expenditure neces- sary for the purpose, Zorc? 2>e Grey 2412 Blame attributable to any general officer who hesitated to incur expense necessary for the accommodation of the ti;oops, ib. 2433 Witness is not aware of any instance of a general officer refusing to incur expendi- ture for the health or accommodation of the troops through fear of the expenditure being disallowed by the War Office, ih. 2433-2435^ Nor is he aware of the disallowance of any such expenditure, ih. 2435. 2438-2442..^ Instances of disallowance' of items in the shape of pay or allowances drawn by officers which the War Office deemed im- proper, li. 2435. 2438-2442 — —Explanation relative to the temporary disallowance of , expend'tiure for porter issued to the wives and children of soldiers at Hong Kong, ib. 2436. 2437. Witness knows no instance of disallowance of expenditnrp, though in a few cases questions have been raised and explanations required, Grato/13039, 3040. 30^6-3050 Statement in justification of the course pursued by the depurtment in dishallowing an expenditure for porter for the women and children at Hong Kong ; subsequent allow- ance of this expenditure upon a proper explanation having been received from the inedical officer, ih. 3051-3062 The expense was incurred in 1864, was disallowed in April 1865, and was re-allowed in, February 1866, 116.3055, 3056 The ration allowed by Government already included porter, ib. 3057. 3063. Details with. reference to a recommendation made by witness, as officiating principal medical officer, in China, for the issue of porter to the women and children of the 20th Regiment, at Stanley, Snell 3092-3094 Official authority under which witness made the recommendation in question, 26.3093 Application made to witness in London, by letter trom the War Office of 2istFebruary 1866, forpayment of 15/. 15*. Ad- for the porter issued at Stanley in 1864, ib. 3099-3102— Reply by witness to the fore- going, the matter having been referred to the Army Medical Department, and the claim upon witness having been eventually remitted by the War Office on 2nd March 1866,, i6. 3103-3110 Opinion that medical officers will be sadly crippled, in. the performance of their duties, if liable to disallowances, as in witness's case, ib: 3110. .3118. Instances of witness having authorised expenditure during his command in China, the VVar Office o-enerally requirino- further information in such cases, so that a disallowance 440-L '^ B 3 was 14 DIS DI$ Report, i866 — continued. Disallowance of Expenditure — continued. was constantly hanging over witness, Mqjor-General Brown 3293-32199— — Warning conveyed to witness with reference to some building expenditure authorised by hini, though attended with considerable saving in the hire of stores, S. 3360-3305 Except in a very urgent emergency witness would not have incurred expenditure without previous authority from the War Office, ib. 3307-3311. Considerable responsibility felt by General Guy in incurring expenditure, he being afraid that his orders would not be allowed at home, Robinson 3347-3356 Instance of the general having refused to sanction an extra expenditure of about a shilling a day to an officer in witness's departnient; witness has since heard that the home authorities refused to allow this expenditure, ib. 3349. Before leaving Hong Kong witness heard that Dr. Saunders had been suFcharged in respect of medical comforts ordered for the sick, Robinson 3466-3468, 3488 — < — ^Reluc- tance of the purveyors' branch to provide milk for the women and children through apprehension that it would be disallowed at home, ib. 3487 Liability of a general officer to be surcharged when he authorises any expenditure beyond the amount authorised by the War Office, I'J. 3504-3508— — Instances of disallowance further adverted to, ib. 3505. Explanation that a certain letter of 19th February i866 is the only one that has been sent from witness's department relative to surcharges in the matter of medical comforts supplied at Hong Kong in 1865 5 no surcharge has yet been made, Robertson 3616-3622 Large expense incurred in hiring buildings and purchasing stores, when witness was barrackmaster at Hong Kong, without any difficulty or disallowance on the part 0f the home authorities, Rowland 3709-3714. 3727-3729. 3804, 3805. Diseases {Hong Kong). Information supplied in reports of medical officers relative to the influence of the climate in health and disease, App. 236. 241. 249. 255. 261. 268. 2.84,288. Returns showing the diseases prevalent among the men in 1863, 1864, and 1865, and the causes to which owing, App. 239. 246, 252. 259. 264. 275, 276. 287. 292. Return showing the specific diseases by which the admission into hospital and deaths have been occasioned by the 99th Regiment, at Kovvloon, during the year 1 864, App^ 281, 282. Siatistics in detail relative to the various diseases from which the men of tiie 99th Regiment suffered during the year 1864, and tha sickness and mortality caused by each disease, App. 321-328. Distribution of Troops: Letter from Major General Brown to the Secretary of State for War, dated 31st October 1864, offering sundry suggestions upon the subject of the removal and quarter- ing of the troops in China and Japan, Sir J. H. Grant 221 i-'22i5 Transmission of a copy of the foregoing letter to the Quartermaster General for the information of the Commander in Chief, ib. 2216-2218. Explanation that witness never intended or contemplated that of the three battalions to be kept temporarily in the China coinmand two would be retained by General Guy at Hong Kong, Lord de Grey 2385-2389 Statement in justification of the course pursued by witness m leaving a large discretion in General Guy relative to the distribution of the troops, lb. 2388, 2389. 2392 Further statement relative to the large discretion vested by witness in General Guy to employ or distribute the troops in any part of his command JO. 2403-2406. 2409,2410. * Letter from General Guy to the War Office, dated 12th November 1864, proposing to concentrate the 67th at Hong Kong until the arrival of the gih^ and then to send ft to the Cape; a wing of the 20th bemg avaUable from Yokohama, to be distributed between ohanghai, laku, and Japan, App. 185. Reply by the War Office, dated 10th January 1865, to General Guy's letter of 12th November 1864; statement therein, that Earl de Grey must rely on General Guy making the best and most economical arrangements in his power for the accommodation of the troops, jipp. 187, 188. Communication from the Foreign Office to the War Office, dated 1st December 1864 approving of the land force being withdrawn from Shanghai, and suggesting that three battalions of European infantry should be retained between Hong Kon- China and Japan, App. 186. ° "' '""<»> •*"" Letter from the War Office to General Guy dated 3rd December 1864, directing the withdrawalof the troops from Shanghai and Taku, and the sending back of the two Guy,^^^!^!?! '' '^"'"''"*'°° °f *^^ remaining force bdng left to Generi Letter from the War Office to General Guy, dated 2'^rd March i86n statincr fK.f ♦!, Marines are to be withdrawn from Japan, and that the'i U^^^i'^ltcTZr^^X sent there on arrival, JpT?. 194. ° <.»ereioie be Letter DIS DUT 15 Report, 1866 — continued. Distribution of Troops — ^^continued. Letter from' General Guy, dated 27th September 1865, with reference to the removal of troops to Japan, Sbd, App. 202, 203. Returns showing the distribution of the troops in the China command on the 1st day of January in each year, from 1857 to 1866, App. 224-231. information in general report of Dr. Dick for 1864, relative to the distribution of the troops during the year, App. 297, 298. Extracts from journals of Quartermaster General's Department in China, from January to July 1865, containing details relative to the movement, &c. of the troopg, App, 350- 365- Way in which it was contemplated by the War Department that the troops would be distributed on the arrival of the 2nd Battalion 11th llegiment. Hep. Vj vi, xii Intention that a considerable number of men should be sent on to Japan, so as to prevent overcrowding, ib. v, vi Reasons assigfned by General Guy for not distributing the troops as intended by the Secretary of State, and for retaining in Hong Kong a much larger force than was intended by the latter, ib. vi. xii. Circumstance of imperative instructions as to the distribution of the force not having been given by the War Department, Bep. xii. Opinion that fuller instructions, far from limiting General Guy's discretion, would have enlightened and strengthened him in its exercise, ib. See also Barracks, Eleventh Regiment. Hired Buildings. Japan, Kowloon, Shanghai, Stanley. Drainage. Improved health of Victoiia, Hong Kong, through the improved drainage, Snell 4 Good character of the ordinary drainage of the barracks at Hong Kong, ib. 35 Great nuisance arising from the officers' privies at the Hong Kong barracks, owing chiefly to the shape of the drain and the scanty supply of water, ib. 35, 38 Very unsatisfactory drainage of the hospital buildings iat Hong Kong, ib. 76. Injurious effects of a foul drain which went along by the side of Fletcher's godowns, Jenner 1626, 1627. 1630 Witness is not aware that the drainage of the barracks or hospital at Hong Kong was defective when he was there, Rowland 3686 Defective drainage of the officers' privies at the Murray Barracks j remedy of this by Jipplying iime or disinfecting fluid, ib, 3686, 3687. 3784-3787. Particulars relative to the drainage and sewerage connected with the several barracks in 1863, 1864, and i860, aad the defects requiring correction, App, 237. 243. 250. 257. 263. 271, 285. 290. Correspondence in 1863 and 1864 relating to the drainage of paddy fields at Kowloon, App. 426-431. DrilL Amount of drill of the c)9th Regiment adverted to as not having been in any way fatiguing or harassing, Snell 66-69. Information supplied in the medical officers' report relative to the daily amount of drill, and its influence on the health of the men, App. 238. 245. 251. 258. 264. 274. 286. 291. Duties of Garrison (Guards and Sentries) : 1. Particulars relative to the Guard Duties at Hong Kong and Kowloon ; Reduction effected from Time to Time. 2. Excessive and severe Character of the Duties throum upon the European Troops; reference more especiallg to the Night Duties. 3. Question as to the Employment of Native Troops, or Native Police or Watchmen, in discharge of Guard Duties. 4. Considerations as to the European Force required; action of the War Office in this respect. 5. Conclusions of the Committee, 1. Particulars relative to the Guard Duties at Hong Kong and Kowloon ; Reduc- tion effected from Time to Time : Witness cut down as many sentries as possible, Sankey 862, 863. 885, 886- — -Neces- sity of out-door sentries at all the Government buildingsy m order to guard against thieves, ib. 888. 919-921 Share taken in the sentry duties by the Artillery, 16. 889- 891.922-925. Particulars of the garrison guards and regimental guards at Hong Kong and Kowloon in 1863 and 1864, showing the number of men of the 99th and of Native troops employed. Walker 1070-1089 Constant reduction made in the guards, as there were m)t men enough to furnish the duties, ib. 1088, 1089. 1094-1097,. 1104-1110 Belief that there was no loss of property throuiih the guards being reduced^ ib, 1090 Practice of placing the European sentries as" much as possible under cove;r, i§. 1091-1093. .^.3^ j_ B 4 Reduction i6 DUTIES OF GARRISON, &c. Report, 1 866 — continued. Duties of Garrison (Guards and Sentries) — continued. 1. Particulars relative to the Guard Duties at Hong Kong, ^c— continued. Reduction in the military posts in China and in the duties when the Native troops were removed, Sir E. Lugard 1307, 1308 ^The reduction of posts in China was not followed by a concentration of troops at Hong Kong, i6. 1378, 1379 -^ — Opinion that the sentries could not have been reduced any lower than they were, Jenner. 1590. 1503 ——Absence of any improvement if the men were on guard' and were relieved every twelve hours instead of every twenty-four, i6. 1777, 1778. Reduction by witness, when at Hong Kong, in ihe number of sentries, so that further -reduction is not feasible,' SzV J. jBT. ^ Return showing the accomnriodation for the troops of all anna at Hong Koiig and Kowloon at tiie time of the arl"ival of the and Battalion of the 9th Hegiment and the 2nd Battalion of ihe nth Regiment, specifying tlie Ociture of the accommodation and the numlier of cubic feet allowed for them, App. 332. Letter from the War Office to General Guy, dated 26th March 1866, caHing for explanations with reference to the mode of disj.osal of the 11 '.h Regiment on arrival iii China, App. 437, 438, Explanatory statement by General Guy, in his letter of 23id May 1866, as to the steps taken to obtain suitable buildings for the accommodation of the troops, by adver- tising and other means, App. 439-441. 6. Sickness and Mot tality : Statement of the average strength of the regiment at Hong Kong, and the average number of sick, Egerton 1060 The deaths were fifty-nine at Hong Kong, and twentv- nine on the passage home, the number of invalids from Hong Kong having been 134., ib. 1060, io6i. Muster at Kowloon on 30th June 1865, when, instead of about 230 men on parade^ there were only thirty-six, and of these twenty fell down or were removed in about four minutes, Jenner 1479-1486. 1495-1498 — -Witness has seen 120 men go down at a parade, ib. i486 Belief that, within three weeks after landing at Kowloon, the men were hors de combat, ib. 1591 Clear evidence, in tlie case of the l ith Regiment, of the peculiar unhealtiiiness of Kowloon, 16. 1673-1676. Particulars relative to the number of deaths and invatidings in the nth Beginlent, in China, within certain periods; also the deaths of invalids on the passage Irom Hong Kong to the Cape, Jevner 1693-1708 In eight months One-tenth of the regiment died and one-third was invalided, 16. 1705. Copy of all correspondence which has taken place in 1864-66, relative to the sickness and mortality in the 2nd BattaHon of the 9th Regiment and the 2nd Battalion of the 1 ith Regiment, in China and Japan, App. I83 et seq. Communication from General Guy to the War Office, dated 31st October 1865, with reference to the great sickness and mortality which has prevailed in the iiih since its. ariival at Hong Kong, and the causes thereof, App. 203, 204, Return of admissions to hospital, and of deaths in the regiment, from 1st June to 20th October 1 865, Ajfp. 204. Statement by Dr. Dick, under date 27th October 1865, relative to the great deteriora- tion in the health of the regiment, so that its removal from the command is inevitable App. 205. ' Annual return for the year 1865, containing details on various points, App 388-QQi Monthly returns of the seivice companies of the 2nd Battalion for JanuaryfFebruai v and March i866, ib. 399-401. ^ j> Statement by General Guy, in letter of 23rd May 1866, that a great portion of the sickness of the llth Regiment is attributable to excessive indulgence in ardent spirits rat at the Cape and subsequently at Hong Kbngi^/>p. 441. ' 7. Deficiency ELE EXC 21 Report, 1866 — continued. Eleventh Beg litfEJVT— continued. T. Deficiency of Medical Officers : Gommunication from the commanding officer of the 1 it h, dated 25th September 1865, n'|>orting his regiment's deticiency of one surgeon and two asdisiant surgeons, at thai date, App. 201. 8. Removal of the Regiment to the Cape : The and battalion is now on its passage to the Cape of Good Hope, Egerton 1063. Statement in letter fmm General Guy to the War Office, in November 1865, as to the expediency of removing the regiment before the next hot season, App. 210. Arrangement proposed by tiie Horse Guards, and approved by the War Office, in January 1866, by which the and BattiiHon of the nth Foot will form one of the five relieving regiments for India in 1866, App. aao, aai. Proposal by the Horse Guard'*, in letter of 1st February l86fi, for removing the iiih Regiment to the Cape of Good Hope iiist< ad of 10 India, App. ill — ' — Approval of the foregoing arrangement on the part of the War Office, ib. '\ 9. Conclusions of the Committee : f Loss of 258 men, by deaths ^nd invaliding home, in the 2nd battalion, i ith Regiment, Sliat of a strength of 716 uien,friii the nine months tnding 1st March 1866, Rep. iii, iv i:v Rtl'eience by the Coinmitjee to the intention of the Secretary of State, that the 2nd baltwlion, llth Foot, should go to Japan on its arrival in China from the Cape, ib. v, vi — ^Keasons of General Guy for.not >endiiig on the nth Regiment to Japan, as intended . by L'brd De Gi ey. ib. vi. ;; Remarks relative to the steps taken by the local authorities in order to provide increased accommodation to n eel the wants of the nth Regiment on tlieif arrival from the Cape, Rep.'w — Reference to the deplorable account given ly ColonelJtnner of the state to which tfe, men were reduced at the end of one month by fever and ague, ib. xii. See also Invalids. Japan. Escort Duty '{Stanley'). Escort of two soldiers and a non-commissiom d officer of the 9th Regiment, in piovi>ioniiig Stanley Barracks, from Victoria, ihe distance being eiiiht or nine miles; ,£re«it liability t6 sickness from this duty, Sankey 790-805 Necessity of troops in oider to perform the escort duty to Stanley, ib. 976-978 The 99th liad nothing to do with furnishing the escort to Stanley, Walker H3I-1123 Necessity of an escort beiiig sent daily with the provisions to Stanley, Brown 3188, 3189. Conclusion as^to the escoit duty to Stanley having been especially injarjous to the European troops. Rep. vii. Estimates {Army in China). Compilation by witness of the Estimates for all the depait- n.eiits of the aimv inChinaj they being api-roved by the general before they are sent home to the War Office, Robinson 3372-3377 Ba>\s of two Europiean regiments and one native regiment fot» the Estimates of 1865-66, and of three European regiments for the Estimatts of 1866-67, iJ. 3379-3383. Particul IS relative to\l^e Estimates prepared by witness for 1865-66, ^nd for 1866-67 T excesses in the latter yeaV amounting to 56,288/., the savings amounting to 22,510/., 2J 393 Continuance of the excavations, although it was a matter of general con- versation that they were productive of much sickness, Ib. 724-738 The excavations had reference to the formation of the site of a new town, and w^re under the superintendence of the Koyal Engineers, iJ. 729-733, 736, 737. Cuttings for the new barracks at Kowloon were going pn all the time witness was there; he never heard any remonstrancfs made, Jeniier r5i8rl52l The unhealthiness of Kowloon was notorious; lA. 1536-1538. Power of the general at Hong Kong to have stopped the excavations at any time. Lord de Grey 2447. Circumstance of witness having been compelled to postpone the excavations for the trial hut,, through complaints, of the sickness caused by theftl, altliough some Admiralty excavations close by were never stopped, Moody 2554-2556, 2580, 2581. 2588-2594— Opinion that in September 1864, Kowloon was not wholly unfit, for occupation by troops, on account of the cuttings, ih. 2575 Small distance between the excavations and some of the occupied huts, ih. 25781, 2579. Excavations during the summer of 1865,00 tlie part of the Colonial Governmenr, under the superintendence of Lieutpnant Williams | witness had no control over these. Moody 2582-2587 The excavations under the War Department were stopped in August or September 1864, and were resumed during the winter, ih. 2588-2594 Doubt whether any representations were made to the Coioliial Government, with a view to their excavations being stopped, ih. 2595 Further statement as to the Admiralty excavations havmg gone on continuously; they were not however of much extent, ib. ■2018-2625. ' It would be most dangerous to quai-ter the Ceylon Rifles or any oiher troops in the Kowloon huts, until tlie place is free (iom the evil influences of the excavations, iioimson 3451-3454' There has been ho reference to the Secretary of State for the Cblonies of any complaint made to the Colonial Governor at Hong Kong, relative to the excavations made in carrymg out public buddings. Cox 3656, 3657. The llowla the 991 le huts at Kowloon we^e perfectly healthy before the cuttings were commenced land 3690~-rhere were no orders to stop the cuttings at Kowloon when some of igih were sent there on arrival in 1862, ih. 3793, 3794. Statements in report of medical board, dated 26th November 1864, relative to the baneful influences of the excavations at Kowloo,.. App. 190-192— Decided opb on expressed by Dr. Kane in regard to the illness at Kowloon having been caused by he disturbance of, he surface of .he soil through the excavations, ib. 192 — Op nioJ ex! pressed by the medical board that had the cuttings been efl-ectually sropped bf the fi st oSuSTr " '"'^ '"°^''^''y "^"^ ^'''^ ^'"^'^ enlued^Jould not have Statements in sanitary report of Dr. Dick for the year 1864, relative to the sickness on by D, Dick m his report or 1864, that until the necessary cuuings liave ceased lu. a penod of at least six months, no troops ought to be quartered at Kowloon, ^6. 255 Representations EXC EXP 23 ^ ^ • Report, 1866 — continued. Excavations— continued. 2. As to the Excavations at Kowloon, and their continuance, SfC. — conlinued. Representations by Surgeon Snell in his report for 1864, relative to the baneful effects of the excavations, and the importance of not quartering European troops at Kowloon for some time to come, ^pp. 278. Written representations and urgent remonstrances made by Surgeon Snell in October and November 1864, relative to the extremely injurious effect of the excavations, and the expediency of stopping them, App. 316, 317. Exercise and Recreation, Information and suggestions by medical officers, with reference to the means of exercise and recreation for the men in Hong Kong, App. 338, 245. 251. 258. 264- 274. 286. 291. I^peditioJiary Force of I860. Opinion as to the injurious effect of Kowloon upon the troops quartered there in i86o, Snelt 438, 439 Modes of accommodation of the large expeditionary force (upwards of 15,000 men) under witness at Hong Kong and Kowloon in 18S0); excellent health enjoyed by the men, the hot weather not having commenced aithe time. Sir J. H. Gra«< 2267-2269. 2292-2294. Statement of the garrison at Hong Kong before the northern expedition arrived there, and of the way in which distributed, Rowland 3692-3695 Great pressure as to accom- modation on the arrival of the northern expedition ; several expedients resorted to, ib. 3695-3702- 3753-376^. 38^8-3811. Expenditure (Hired Buildings, S;c.) : Authority of the general in command to have hired hulks or buildings, and to have (employed watchmen, without incurring any personiil risk on the score of expense. Sir E. Zagarc? 1268-1283. 1301,1302. 1406-1408. 1426-1433 Clieck upon the commandant at Hong Kong hiring buildings or hiiing watchmen without due authority, JennerA^^Q- 1541. 1598. 1818-1824. 1924-1929 Reference to the surcharge of General Wynyard some years ago, for; having movfd, some troops between Sydney and Van Diemen's Land on his own responsib lity, ib. 1599. 1605-1607. 1924 Witness does not know any case of a commanding officer having had to pay out of his own pocket, through being sur- charged in respect of providing accommodation, ib. 1600, i6oi. 1604.. A commar. ding officer is much cramped by the pecuniary responsibility which he incurs in providing for the troops, Jenner 1669, 1670 -Necessity nf referring to Japan! when the general was there, in order 10 have certain sanitary arrangements sanctioned, ib. 167I, 1672 Statement to the effect, that had witness been the general. in command at 5ong Kong he would not have hesitated in incurring the expense of proper accommoddtion, ib. 1924-1929- Liability of the commanding officer at any station to be called to account for expen- diture in providing accommoHation, thomgli he would not be likely to be found fault with if he incurred the expenditure as a m^itter of expediency or necessity. Sir J. H. Grant 2240. 2244. Witness did not contemplate that any large amount of barracks would have fo.be hired at Hong Kong, but would have been fully prepared to approve of any expenditure neces- sary fur the purpose. Lord de Grey ii^\'2. r Witness is not aware of any instance of a general officer refusing to incur expenditure for the health or accommodation of the troops through fear of the expenditure being disallowed by the War Office, ib. 2433-2435 Nor is he aware of the disallowance of any such expenditure, ib, 2435. 2438-34.42 — ^- Blame attributable to any general officer who hesitated to incur expense necessary for the accommodation of the troops, ib. 2434 Power of commanding officers generally at foreign stations to incur expense for the accommodation and safety of the troops, ib. •2459- Full authority of the general in command to have hired accommodaiion to any extent for the health and safety of the troops,, Galton 2989-2992. 3039-3050 Quotation of a certain circular of the department, ^ showing: the power vested in commanding officers to incur expenditure in procuring accommodation for the troops, ib. 2992, 2993. 3043- 3045- . . . ' . ,. Instances of .witness having a,uthorised expenditure during iiis command in China, the War Office generally requiring further mformalion in such cases, so that a disallowance was constantly hanging over witness. Brown 3293-3299^ Warning Conveyed to witness with reference to some building expenditure authorised by hirh, though attended witii considerable saving in the hire of stores, ib. 3300-3305' Except in a very urgent emei'O'ency, witness woidd not have incurred expenditure without previous authority froai the War Office, ib. 3307-331 '• Witness was cognizant generally of all expenditure authorised by the commanding officer at Hong Kong, from June 1862 until a recent period, and supplies sundry parti- culars relativeto the estimates of expenditure in respect of the troops in 1865-66 and 1866-67, ijotosoH 3337-3346 Considerable responsibility felt by General Guy in .442— L c 4 incurrin^j- 24 EXP FOR Report, 1 S66^coT>ti>iued. ExPESDiTVRE (Hired Buildings, §-c.)— continued. incurring expenditure, he being afraid that his orders would not be allowed at home, Bobiit^ son 3347-3350 Esiimated excess of 13,327/. in 1866-67, as compared with 186,5-66, for barrack accommucTaiion, on account of the hired buildings for European troops in lieu of native troops, ib. 3395, 3396 Excess of 19,890/. in 1866-67, as compared with 1865-66, oil the vole for " Works and Buildings;" this embraces a poition of the new huts at Kowloon, ib. 3398, 3399 Illustraiion, in the case of some buildings proposed 10 be hired for hospital purposes, of the reluctance of General Guy to incur expenditure, ih. 3441-3443. The general is conscientiously a great economist, and was desirous of keeping the expen- diture as low as possible, Robinson 3443 Conclusion as to General Guy having hired buildings instead of building them, because he had no authority from tlie War Otfice except for hiring, ib. 3462-3465 Liability of a general officer to be surcharged when he authorises any expenditure beyond the amount authorised by the War Office, ih. 3504-3508. Large expense incurred in hiring buildings and purchasing stones when witness was barrack master at Hong Kong, without any difficulty or disallowance on the part of the home authorities, iiow/awrf 3709-3714. 3727-3729. 3><04, 3805. Statement in letter from General Guy, in November 1865, as to the great expenses consequent upon garrisoniiig Hong Kong with European troops alone, App. 209, 210. Return of sums annually granted by Parliament on the Estimates for the accommo- dation of European troops at Hong Kong (stating the nature and object of each buildmg) during the years from 1858 to 1866, App. 360 Statement of sums paid for hire of godowns or other temporary buildings at Hong Kong and Kowloon, between 1st April 1858 and 31st March 1861, 26.367 Total payment of 7,041 /. for 1858-59 ; of 6,460/. for 1859-60; and of 10,824/. for 1860-61, ?J. ' Statement of all moneys expended upon barracks at Hong Kong and Kowloon, from 1st April 1861 to 31st March 1865, App. 368-370 Aggregate of 24,043/, in the four ycHrs, ih. 379- — -Statement of moneys for godowns or other temporary buildings at Hong Kong and Kowloon, between ist April 1861 and 31st March 1865; ib. 371, 37a ^Total of 8,431/. for 1861-62; of 6,221/. for 1862-63; 7252/. for 1863-64; and of 2,782/. fi.r 1864-65, iV>. Statement of all moneys expended upon barracks at Hong Kong and Kowloon, from 1st April 10 30th September 1865; total of 3,194/., .4pp. 373 Statement of moneys paid for godowns and other buildings in Kowloon, from 1st April to 30th September 1865, ib. 374 Similar statement of expenditure from 1st October to 3i8t December 1865 ; total of 2,010/., ih. 375 Similar statement of moneys paid for godowns from l&t October to 31st December 1865; total of 2,784/., ib. 376. List of buildings hired at Hong Kong, with the several rents, according to latest returns; total of 18,610/., including 1,300/., for hospital accommodation, App. 377. Authority given by General Guy for the hire of buildings to the amount of 18,610/. per annum, the accommodation,- nevertheless, having been defective in quality. Rep. xii Remarks relative to the discretion in General Guy in regard to incurring expendi- ture, ib. " "^ See also Bq^aeks. Estimates. Hired Buildinga. •o- Exposure and Fatigue. Exceedmgly injurious effect upon Europeans, through undue exposure to^he rays of the sun in Hong Kong, and through fatigue, Siiell 4, 60. Fifiy-ninth Regiment Considerable sickness among the 59th when the whole duties at Hong Kong were borne by them, Str E. Lugard 1232-1234 ; Brown 3226-3230. Fletcher's Buildings. See Hired Buildings. Floating Barracks and Hospitals. See "Hercules" Hospital Ship. Hulks. ^ZitS-^"'' ^'^*«™«!'*.«« to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs havin.r, for and Tanln'T; 7.''"^ T' '''*' *'''"' '•'^™^"*^ «^°"'^ ^e retained for a time in Ch na F^tiTAff f f iu'^T I T: ' 'V-- ' •'»4 Views of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs further adverted to relative to the maintenance of three European resi- ments in the China command, iJ. 1335-1337. • -"cc x^uiupcdu legi Communication from the Foreign pffice to the War Office, dated 1st December 1864 approymg of the land force bein^ withdrawn from Shanghai and suggesting tKt thre^ JapSX i?r''''" ' '"''^^ '''""'^ ^' ''^'^'"^'' betwWfiong lS,ng,lhina, an" Fruit. F R U GAL 25 Report, ii66~continued. ■ •f — — — — -m Fruit. Check in regard to the quality of fruit supplied to tlie men, iTenner 1770-1773. ' jFiieL Insuffitiency of the supply of fuel in Honor Kong:, Sankey 1017 Difficulty as to cooUing on account of the insufficient sUpply of fuel, Je/me;' 1764-1769. 1792, 1793- ■' Insufficient sujjply of fuel for cooking, but not for the rooms, ? J. 1766, 1767. 1792,1793 ■ — ^The deficiency of fuel was frequently reported, but there was no remedyy ib. 1768,1769. G. Galfon, Captain Douglas, C. B., F. R. s. '(Analysis of his Evidence.) — Explanation pf the * circumstances which led to the cession of the peninsula of Kowloon to the British .Crown in February 1861 ; previous lease of the peninsula from the Chinese, 2887,2888 Keport from Sir Hope Grant early in i860 recommending that permanent barracks for 1,200 men should be built at Kowloon, in lieu of certain authorised expenditure being incurred at Hong Kong, 288^-2891 Approval by Mr. Sidney Herbert of the views of Sir Hope Grant, whilst estimates and plans of barracks were subsequently sent home and were received in April 1861 ; 2889. Discussion and difficulty in i860 as to the allotment of the ground at Kowloon when ' acquired from the Chinese; conflicting claims of the military authorities, the colonists, and the naval authorities to the best site for building, 2889. 2900-2902. 2913-2927 Memorandum by Mr. Sidney Herbert in i860 adverted to relative to the allotment of the ground, 2890 Bevised plans sent out from the War Office in March 1862 for the " barracks at Kowloon ; instructions sent out with these, 2892-2895. Nature of the instructions from the War Office in March 1862 relative to the trial hut at Kowloon; discretion left to the comraandina; engineer (Coloiiel Moody) in regard to the site, 2895-2897 Negotiations between the War Office and Colonial Office, from 1862 to 1864, relative to the site to be allotted to each, so that the erection of the trial Jiut'was necessarily delayed during this period, 2898. 2900-2902. 2913-2926 — —Local circumstances owing to which, though the site was finally allotted in 1864, there was much ' further delay before commencing the hut, so that it will not be completed till September, 2898. 2904 The War Officehas constantly urged the commanding engineer to report why the construction of the hut was not going on faster, 2 S98, 2899. Question considered whether Kowloon was not, in the first instance, purchased and occupied for military rather than colonial purposes, 2903. 2930-2938 -Outline of the • plan of each block of barracks proposed to be erected, 2905, 2906, Alteration of the original plan by way of concession to the colonial authorities, , the War Office having .preferred their original plan for purely miUtary purposes, 2907-2911. 2939, 2940. 2949- 3069 ^Inferiority of the altered plan as regards the site of the married soldiers' quarters, 2910, 29'ii. 2949-2954. 2958 As regards the water supply of Kowloon, no full report has yet been received at the War Office, 2912. Examination relative to the grounds of the claiin pufforwar-dby Sir Hercules Robin- son, the Colonial Governor, to a portion of the site required for the barracks ; question • considered hereon whether the War Department were justified in regard to tlie delay , ' thus caused to the erection of the barracks, or the concession eventually made to the colonists, 2913-2926. 2929-2938. 2959-2969 There was no arrangeriient abput the supply of water in any of the treaties with the Chinese, but no difficulty was appre- hended on this score, 2928- ^Necessity of reference home before the local differences as to the site for the barracks could be adjusted, 2929. Particular objects for which the Kowloon peninsula was, in the first instance, acquired; partly colonial purposes for which the purchase was recommended, 2930-2^938 Diminished use of the trial hut through the ground having been so much disturbed all round 2041-2943 Responsibility of the local authorities for the original mode of construction of the Kowloon huts, 2944, 2945 Explanation as to the character of ,the alterations required by the War Department in the original barrack plans sent home from Kowloon ; suggestions by Colonel Moody adyerted to hereon, 2946-2948—- Objectionable character of a plan proposed by Colonel Moody stretching across the north end of the peninsula, 2956, 2957. 3968. Letter from Sir Hercules Robinson, dated 13th February 1861, setting forth in detail the colonial view in regard to the occupation of the ground at Kowloon, 2963, 2964 — — Final arrangement of the matter when Sir Hercules Robinson was in England m the •winter of 1863-64; S966-2969' Local causes- of the delay in the completion of the trial hut, the home authorities not being responsible in the matter, 2970-2977. Statement that there were not continual complaints made to the War Office relative to the accommodation at Kowloon, 2978-2980.' 3024-3029 The }i"ts are the on y accommodation available at • Kowloori, and there is no information at the War office as to the numbers they will hold; 2980-2983= -Estimatfed accommodation, three^months^ago, for about 1,600 men at Hong Korig,'2984-2988.'30iS.30i6— Full authority, of^ the 443— I. ^ genera 26 GAL GAR Report, 1866 — continued. Galton, Captain Douglas, C.B., F.R.S. (Analysis of his E\'idence)^cttntimted. general in command to have hired accommodation to any extent, 2989-2992 Quotar tion of a certain-circular of the department as showing the powers vested in command- ing officers to incur expenditure in procuring accommodation for the troops, 2992, 2993. 3043-3045 Impression that the plans of the Kowloon barracks were referred to the Quartermaster General, 2994. Renewed hiring of the godowns at Hong Kong, 2995, 2996 There is no detailed leturn at the War Office of the barrack accommodation at Japan, but witness believes there is accommodation for about 1,500 men, 2997-3008 Calculation that, including the hired building at Hong Kong, there was accommodation for 3,200 men in the whole command, 3008-3016 Large reduction in the estimated accommodation if based upon the calculation of 1,000 cubic feet per man, 3015-3023. Except some letters of General Brown, witness is not aware of any representations about the accommodation at Kowloon till the letter of 12th November 1864 from General Guy, 3024-3029 In 1859 there was a proposal by Sir Hope Grant for barracks at Kowloon for 1,200 men, 3028. 3030 The trial hut is the result of the original scheme of Sir Hope Grant, whilst the delay in the erection of the hut was not the fault of the War Office, 3031-3036. Hire of a building for some of the sick in lieu of adding a storey to the general hospital, 3037. 3082 Statement as lo several of the hospital buildings having been used for other purposes than for the sick until a certain period in 1865, when they were made available for patients, 3037, 3038. Further statement to the effect that general officers have every discretion to incur expenditure for the health and safety of the troops, 3039-3050 Witness knows no instance of disallowance of expenditure, though in a few cases questions have been raised, and explanations required, 3039, 3040. 3046-3050 Statement in justification of the course pursued by the department in disallowing an expenditure for porter for the women and children at Hong Kong ; subsequent allowance of this expenditure upon a proper explanation having been received from the medical officer, 3051-3062. Considerable imprpxement since 1854 in the rations of the troops at Hong Kong, more especially by giving fresh meat every day, 3063-3068 Iv'o salt meat is now given, it having at first been given four days a week, and subsequently twice a week, 3064-3067 Inaccuracy of a statement that a sum of 50?. a year proposed for the purpose of planting near the barracks in Hong Kong was disallowed by the Treasury, 3069. Return handed in showing that the total rents of the hired buildings amount to 17,310/. per annum, 3071, 3072 Discretion in the general to continue the hire of the buildings beyond the term of one year, 3073, 3074— ^Probable streiigth of the Ceylon Corps ordered to Hong Kong, 3075, 3076 Explanatory statement as to the "Hercules" hospital ship not having been replaced by another ship, 3077-3082 Means adopted for providing additional hospital accommodation on shore when the "Hercules" was abandoned, 3077, 3078. 3081, 3082. Reasons for the discontinuance of the allowance of 2d. a. day to the European troops in China, it having only been given in the first instance to place the troops on the same footing as the Indian troops, 3083-3087 Very full ration of the soldiers in China 3084, 3085. 3087 Opinion that the allowances to the officers are very full, 3086 - Similar hospital stoppage in China as in any other foreign station under Imperial re<^ula- tions, the stoppages and allowances in India being altogether of a special chai-acter. Garrison of Hong Kong. Statement of the force at Hong Kong, and of its distribution when witness arrived in February 1865, Sankeg 585-588 Difficulty in calculatino- the actual force sufficient for Hong Kong ; one battalion of European troops and two Indian regiments would, however, be ample, ib. 959-968. DesireoftheSecretary of State for War to have reduced the garrison in the China seas to two regiments, one at Hong Kong and one at Japan, Sir E. Luqard 11 q2 1 j^i 1335-1337; Political reasons by which the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs w'as influenced in asking that three regiments should for a time be kept in China ib 11Q2 1141. 11 44 -—Determination of the force stationed at Hong Kong, without reference to tiie local duties ^fi. 1235-1237— Absence of increase m the num'ber of bSaUons ° China smce 1st January 1865, there having been three at that period, ih. iqoQ-Anl^ Temporary character of the accommodation contemplated by the War Office as th^ troops were not, to remain in such force as a permanent arrangement, ih. 1349-^351 Reference to the total force in Hong Kong previously to and upon the arrival of witness s regiment, J-.««er 1642-1648 Personal experience in i86l Spon which Sess concludes that one regiment at Hong; Kong cannot perform the dutie8,^Sir J^H^Gmnt 2092, 2093. 2148. 2152— -Impression that on his mtum from China witn;sr;a^S consulted by the War Office as to the force that ought to be kept at Hong KoS Tft 2209, 2210 Explanation that witness never intended or contemplated that of the three battalions GAR GIB 27 Report, 1866 — eontinued. Garrison of Hang JSoh^— contimied. battalions to be kept temporarily in the China comtnand two would be retained by General Guy at Hong Kong, iord dij Grey 2385-2389 Temporary retention of three regi- ments in China with reference to the state of af^irs in Japan, ih. 2455-3457. Strength of the garrison of Hong Kong when witness first took the command in April 1863, Brown 3160 — —Statement in a "War Office letter, of ioth September 1863, that it was intended to raise the strength of all European infantry regiments in China to 1,000 men; there were no instructions, however, as to any additional accommodation, ih. 3^ 77- 3255-3257- Evidence to the effect that the garrison in China was altered as between 1865 and 1866 by the substitution in the latter year of a European for a native regiment, Robinson 3422-3440 Eeferenceto a letter from the Secretary of State for "War to General Guy, in December 1864 or January 1865, stating that the garrison in China was to consist of three European regiments, a battery of artillery, and a company of engineers, ib. 3436- 3440. . Non-objection by witness to the arrangement proposed by Lord de Grey, by which the permanent garrison of Hong Kong was to comprise only one European battalion, Dukeof Cambridge 3877-3883 With regard to the force to be maintained in future in China, circumstances have materially changed since a garrison was first established at Hong Kong, ib. 3915, 3916. Communication from the War Office to the Military Secretary, dated 6th December 1865, stating that it has been determined to reduce the command in China by one battalion of infantry, App. 212. Letter from the Military Secretary to the War Office, dated 15th December 1865, together with memorandum by Sir Hope Grant, dated 8th December 1865, in disapproval of the proposition for reducing the force in China by one European battalion : suggestions in lieu thereof, App. 214, 215. Communication from the War Office to the Military Secretary, dated 26th December 1865, stating that Lord de Grey approves of the arrangements proposed by the com- mander-in-chief for carrying out the orders for the removal of one battalion from China, App. 216. Returns showing the distribution and effective strength' of the garrison in China on 1st January in each of the years 1857 — 1866, App. 224-231 Return of the mean annual strength of the troops of each arm in the years i860 — 1865, ib. 232-234. Letter from the Deputy Quartermaster General to the War Office dated 27th December 1 864, with reference to the amount and distribution of the force in China, and suggesting certain arrangements on the subject,, App, 432. Communication from the War Office to the Horse Guards, dated loth January 1865, stating that Earl de Grey is not prepared at present to make any further reduction of the force m China, App. 432. See also Ceylon Rifles. Duties of Garrison. Indian or 'Native Troops. Gibson, Sir James Brown, K.C.B. (Analysis of his Evidence.) — Has been director of the Army Medical Department since March i860; 3519 Concurrence of witness, in May 1865, in the views of the Admiralty, disapproving of the fitting-up of a line-of-battle ship in lieu of the " Hercules," for a hospital at Hong Kong, and approving of a military hospital on shore as far more economical, 3520, 3521 Expectation of witness, in ap- proving of a permanent building on shore, that it might be completed and be occupied with safety at the end of eighteen months, or of two years at the outside, 3522-3524. Suggestion made by witness that in lieu of another hospital-ship in place of the *' Hercules " the general hospital should be enlarged by the conversion into hospital wards of some rooms appropriated to the purveyors and medical officers, 3525. 3529-3546 Expectation of witness that hired accommodation would, if necessary, be provided, 9525. 3545 Grounds for concluding that the season of 1865 was an exceptional one, and that there has been no such unhealthy year at Hong Kong since 1858 : quotations hereon from a lettei of Dr. Murray, 3525-3528. Decaying character of the ships which were available as floating hospitals in place of the " Hercules." 3531, 3532 Considerable increase of accommodation to be afforded in the general hospital by means of the rooms occupied by the purveyors and medical officers, 3542-3546. Total of thirteen medical officers in China and of three in Japan in the year 1865 ; this was an immense staff for so few troops, 3547 ■ Absence for various reasons of several of the medical staff in Japan, &c», else the attenduice when the sickness broke out would have been ample, 3547. 3553* Remarks upon the circumstance of Dr. Dick, the Deputy Inspector General of hospitals on the China station, having g^one to Japan in June and not having returned till October, 3547-3654- 3663- 3579-36o8' ^Twofold reason given by J3t. Dick for going to Japan, 442 — I. D 2 one 28 GIB G R A Report, 1866 — continued. I - - - ■ — ■ Gibson, Sir James Brown, K.c. B. (Analysis of his Evidence) — continued. one that he was not well, and the other that he went to make his annual inspection, 3548 Absence of any necessity for a staff-surgeon in Japan, 3549. Exceptional instances of a general, when on his tour of inspection, being accompanied by the principal medical officer on the station, 3550, 3551. 3579-358i Opinion that when the sickness at Htmg Kong became known at Yokohama all the medical staff at the latter place belonging to Hong Kong should at once have been sent thither, together with as many other medical officers as could have been spared, 3552-3554. 3563— — Steps taken by witness to supply the vacancies caused in the staff at Hong Kong by in- validings, &c., 3552, 3553. Disadvantages experienced in sending invalids overland via, Egypt, so that the prac- tice was discontinued, 3556- Instructions sent out in the spring of the present year to forward invalids home by every available ship having a surgeon, or to send them to Japan if the change were desinible, 3556-3559 Very healthy character of the clima'te of Japan, so that witness anticipates the best results from sending Hong Kong invalids to Yokohama, 3560-3562. ' Witness considers that Dr. Dick should have returned from Japan when the sickness broke out, 3563. 3586-3588 Ample amount of permanent hospital accommodation at Hong Kong, but for the annual amount of sickness in 1865 ; 3564-3566 > Very healthy condition, comparatively, of the troops in Hong Kong for the last four or five years, ex- cepting last year, 3567. 3569 Importance of barrack accommodation in tropical countries being at the rate of 1,000 cubic feet per man, 3567, 3568 Reports made to witness in 1864 as to the general unhealthiness of Kowloon, witness having represented the matter to the Horse Guards, 3571-3577 Since i86i there has been frequent correspondence about Kowloon, 3578. Respects in which witness considers it was not natural in Dr. Dick to have accom- panied the general to Japan, 3579-3585 Explanation in regard to the disapproval by witness of the issue of quinine in wine; mode of issue I'ecommended by witness, 3589- 3592 Grounds upon which witness justifies the non-supply of a medicine called chlo- rodyne for use in Hong Kong, 3593—3600. * [Second Examination.] — Further evidence upon the subject of Dr. Dick having accom- panied General Guy to Japan; witness repeats that the proper place foi- a principal medical officer is at the head quarters of his station, 3817-3838. 3843-3845 Tiiere was no question of establishing a sanatorium at Japan which required Dr. Dick's presence there, 3827-3829. 3833 Duty of Dr. Dick to have gone to Japan for his annual inspections ; witness felt, however, that a different time should have been selected, as his services were so mucih needed in Hong Kong, 3833-3838. Amount of increased hospital accommodation since the severe sickness in 1865, v^hilst there has been a great decrease in the number of sick, 3839-3842 Practice in India, the West Indies, &c., in regard to the general in command being accompanied on his tours of inspection by the principal medical officer on the station, 3843-3845. Particulars as to the mortality and per-centage of sick among the white troops at Hong Kong from 1844 to 1857 inclusive, as compared with the years 1862 to 1S64 inclusive; much more favourable result in the latter period, 3846-3863 Difficulty in showing the rates of mortality and sickness for i860 and 1861; 3846.3851.3863 Instances of an unusual amount of sickness in 1863, 1864, and 1865 in the case of the 20th, the 99th, the 9th, and the nth regiments, 3856-3864. Godowns. See Hired Buildinss. Governor of Hong Kong. Statement that the Civil Governor of Hong Kong had no power over the general in regard to the erection of barracks, the removal of troops, or the de- tailed military arrangements generally. Lord de Grey 2451, 2452. Explanatory statement relative to the power and responsibiHty respectively of a Gover- nor m the colonies, and of the military officer in command, Cox 3644-3655- A eover nor may order the Commander in chief to remove troops, but has no power to enforce the order, ib. 3648-3655 Ihere has been no reference to the Secretary of State for the Colonies of any complamt made to the Colonial Governor at Hong Kono- relative to the excavations made in carrymg out public buildings, ib. 3656, 3657. ° Colonial official regulations defining the authority of the Governor in relation to Her* Majesty s troops, Ap'p. 436. Grant Lieutenant General Sir James Hope, K. c.B. (Analysis of his Evidence.)— Opinion as to the impossibility of performing the duties at Hong Kong satisfactorily with only one European regiment 2092, 2093. 2148 Importance of European soldiers in China having SIX or seven nights m bed weekly, 2093 Bad situation of the Hong Koncr Bar- ^ racks, as there is a high hill close behind them, so that they are completely shut out ^ trom the south-west monsoon, 2094, 2095 Very inadequate space per man both in '^ the GRANT. 29 Report, 1866 — continued. Grant, Lieutenant General Sir James Hope, K.c.B. (Analysis of his Evidence)— continued* the Murray Barracks and the North Barracks, 2095, 2096 Dilapidated state of the , Stanley Barracks, so that they would not now hold more than about 170 men, 2097- 2100. Reduced number of patients for whom there is accommodation in Stanley Barracks' ; hospital, as it has been found necessary to double the space allowed jier man, 2101, 2102 , Strong disapproval of the mat-sheds at Kowloon, as being altogether unfit for Eu- ropean troops, 2103-2107 Better health of the gpth v\hen under tents at Kowloon than when put into huts, 2109, 2110. 2163, 2164 Statement that Kowloon would be a decided healthy place (that is, for China) if planted and. built upon, and if barracks there were not occupied for about three years after the completion of the excavations, ' 2110-2112.2147.2223—2226. ' Bad situation of the godowns used for the troops when witness was at Hong Kong, 2113 Reference to certain correspondence between the Horse Guards and the War OflBce in March, May, and July 1865, upon the subject of the accommodation in the " Hercules" hospital ship, and the question of replacing this vessel, 2115. 2119-2134 Witness was in command at Hong Kong in 1861, when Kowloon was handed over to the British, 2 1 16-211 8 Views of tbe Duke of Cambridge and of the authorities at the Horse Guards that the " Hercules " should be replaced by another hospital ship, 2120.2135-2138.2151. Necessary lapse of four or five months after the first letter from the Horse Guards, on 10th March 1865, before another hospital ship could have arrived at Hong Kong from England, 2139-2143 Opinion as to the necessity of a hospital ship until a hospital is provided at Kowloon, and the place is healthy, 2144-2147 Personal experience in 1861, upon. which witness concludes that one regiment at Hong Kong cannot perform the duties, 2148. 2152 Advantage of a floating barrack until the barracks on shore are fit for occupation, 2149, 2150. Reduction by witness, when at Hong Kong, in the number of sentries, so that further reductioh is not feasible, 215a, 2153 Great importance attached to there being Indian. or native troops at Hong Kong, in addition to European troops, 2154-2157. 2247- 2255 Less mortality by one-half of native troops than of Europeans, 2154 Advan- tage of the greaier sobriety of Indian troops than of Europeans, 2155 Probable num- ber of soldiers of the Ceylon Rifles now on their way to Hong Kong ; their fitness for guard duties, 2158-2160 Suggestion that an efficient native force may be provided by placing Chinese under European officers, 2160-2162. 2261-2264. Opinion that on the arrival of the 11th it would have been better to put them into tents than into the huts as Kowloon, 2163-2168 Want of space at Yokohama for the encampment of troops, or for the erection of wooden houses f 3. Explanation called for hy the War Office in Letter of 26t& March 1866, and given by General Guy in Letter of 23rd May 1866 ; Letter from the War Office to General Guy, dated 26th March 1866, calling for - explanations with reference to the mode of disposal of the 11th Regiment, on arrival in - China, App. ^^j, 438. Statement in letter from Major General Guy to the War OflSce, dated Hong Kong, 23rd May 1866, in explanation of his not having sent the nth Regiment to Japan, on its arrival from the Cape, App. 438, 439 Explanation in letter of 23rd May 1866, as to the duties being heavier in Hong Kong than they were in 1854, ^^55> ^^'^ 1856, when they were performed by one European battalion, ib. 439. Explanatory statement by General Guy, in his letter of 23rd May 1866, as to the steps taken to obtain suitable buildings for the accommodation of the troops, by adver- tising, and other means, App. 439-441. Explanation by General Guy, as to liis having Jeft Hong Kong for Japan before the arrangements for housing the 1 1 th Regiihsnt were completed ; full authority of the com- mandant to have acted promptly in the matter of accommodation, ib. 440, 441. 4. Conclusions of the Committee : Remarks by the Committee relative to the course pursued by General Guy in the dis- tribution of the troops on the arrival of the nth Regiment, Iiep.\i. ix, x Circumstance of General Guy havina; deemed it necessary to retain the greater part of two batialions in order to furnish a sufficient number of men for guard duties, ib. vi Very large expen- diture authorised by General Guy for the hire of buildings for the troops, ib. xii T^he Committee do not consider that, in the case of such distant stations as China, it would be desirable to limit the discretion which was left to the general, ib. Opinion, however, that fuller instructions from the War department, instead of limiting General Guy's discretion, would have enlightened and strengthened him in its exercise, ib. See also Barracks. Disallowance of Expenditure. Distribution of Troops. Excavations, 2. . Expenditure Hired Buildings, S^c. Hired Buildings. H. Heat. Importance, for the due preservation of health, of European troops in China being employed as Utile as possible during the day on any duty where they are exposed to the influence of the heat, Rep. vi. Helmets. Importance of wicker helmets with white covers, as now in use in China; great delay at times in supplying the men with these, Snell 44-50. 55, 56 Probable cause of some delay in the issue of helmets, Sankey 909-9 n Description of the helmets used in Hong Kong; defect in there not being adequate protection against the sun, ib. 912-918 Delay before the men of witness's regiment were supplied with helmets, Jenner 1577-1679- Steps taken by witness in providing helmets upon requisition for the troops in Hong Kong, Robinson 3497, 3498 Cause of some delay in the issue of helmets to the nth on arrival, ib. 3499 Ample supply of helmets in store, and readily obtainable when witness was at Hong Kong, Rowland 3683-3685. Herbert, Lord (the late). Memorandum by Lord Herbert, dated 3rd December i86o relative to the appropriation of the Kowloon peninsula ; concurrence of witness therein' Sir J. H. Grant 2189-2192. ' Reference to the decision of Lord Herbert in regard to the erection at Kowloon of barracks for 1,000 men, with a proportion of hospital accommodation. Rep: vii. "Hercules" Hospital Ship. Beneficial results derived from the use of the " Hercules " floating [hospital, until the vessel became dilapidated and fell into disuse Snell 136, 137 Some men of the nth were put on board the "Hercules," but this yessel was in a very rotten state and was condemned and sold, Sankey 691 Necessity of sending i5o men of the nth on board the "Hercules" though in a rotten and smking condition, as shown by letters from Capt. Nolloth andj Admiral King Jenner 1467— 1471* • ■^^f^'"^?",^" 'pertain correspondence between the Horse Guards and the War Office in March, May, and July 1865, upon the subject o f the accommodation in the Hercules hospital ship, and the question of replacing this vessel. Sir J. Grant an;; 2119-2134— -Explanatory statement as to the "Hercules" hospital ship not having been replaced by another ship. Gallon 3077-3082, ^ Necessary use by witness of the "Hercules" as a hospital ship, after the burning of the hospital of the 20th Regiment at Kowloon; this answered very well for thi time being, Brown 3264, 3265. 3267. ' Letters HER H I R 33 Report, 1866 — continued. ''Hercules" Hospital Skip — continued. Letters of Admiral King and Captain Nolloth in Julv 1865, relative to the unsafe state of the " Hercules," App. 362, 363. Official correspondence in 1865 and January i866 relating to the hospital ship " He^|cules," and the question of her being replaced by another ship to serve for hospital purposes, App, 420-423. Reference by the Committee to the abandonment of the " Hercules " hospital ship as being no longer a safe habitation, Mep. x. Apphcation by General Guy in January 1865 for another vessel in lieu of the "Hercules," as she had been extremely serviceable : refusal of this application, ih. Necessity of re-occupying the " Her- cules" as a hospital, notwithstanding the previous report as to her being no longer fit, ib. Hired Buildings: 1. Evidence relative to the Action of the Local Authorities in Hong Kong in Hiring and Preparing Accommodation for the Troops. 2. Explanatory Statement by General Guy, 3. Extent and Character of the Accommodation in the Godowns or Premises of Messrs. Fletcher, Messrs, M'Gregor, and others, 4. Expense incurred in Hiring. 5. Conclusions of the Committee. J. Evidence relative to the Action of the Local Authorities in Hong Kong in Hiring and Preparing Accommodation for the Troops; Adoption of all the recommendations of the board of officers of which witness was President, in regard to the hired buildings, &c. for the nth Regiment on arrival, Sankey 568-574 Arrival of the regiment some weeks before it was expected, whilst the hired buildings were not ready for six or seven weeks afterwards, ib. 576-581. 595-603 Commencement in March 1865 of the local action in regard to barracks or hired buildings for the nth ; no time was subsequently lost in the matter, ib. 605, 606. 625-630. 641- 648. Conclusion of the War Department that hired buildings might be obtained, though they had no special information on the subject, Sir E. Lugard 1138. 1140. 1143. 1148. 1150. 1 157 Calculation of the Home authorities that hired buildings would be ready, though in reality the necessary alterations were not completed till several weeks after the arrival of the nth, ib. 1185-1195 Statement as to the nth having arrived some weeks earlier than was expected, so that the hired buildings were not ready for them, ib. 1189- 1194. 1287-1289 Statement that the general at Hong Kong could not have been pecuniarily hable in connection with the measures for the disposal of the troops, ib. 1268- .1283. 1406-1408. 1426-1433. Steps had not been taken for preparing godowns until about a fortnight before the nth Regiment arrived, Jenner 1464. 1640 Unless by hiring buildings at enormous rents, there were no means of accommodating a second European rejiiment in Hotig Kong, ib. 1504-1506' Conclusion that houses were to be had by paying for them, ib. X505-1508. 1539 Check upon the commar^dant at Hong Kong hiring buildings or hiring watchmen, without due authority, ib. 1539-1541. 1598- Further statement that ample hired accommodation could have been provided in Victoria; it was merely a question of co»t, Jenner 1592-1597. 1939-1936 Witness repeats that if expense were no object, better and larger accommodation might have been hired, ib. 1649-1668 Witness had no actual experience in searching for buildings, Jbut he understood they were obtainable at enormous expense, ib. 1752-1755. Further statement as to the conversion of the godowns into barracks not having been commenced till about a fortnight before the arrival of witness's regiment, Jenner 1802- 1806 Question further considered as to the responsibility incurred by a general officer on any station in hiring buildings for troops, ib. 1818-1824. 1924-1929. 1962, 1963 Speedy remedy of the w ant of ventilation in Heard's buildings, ib. 1918, 1919 State- ment to the effect that had witness been the general in command at Hong Kong he would not have hesitated in incurring the expense of proper accommodation, ib. 1 924- 1929. Difficulty or impracticability of obtaining other premises or godowns besides Fletcher's and M'Gregor's, Schmidt 2001-2014. 2019, 2020 Opinion that General Guy did all that was possible for the accommodation of the troops, ib. 2019-2020 Every diligence was used by witness's firm to get Fletcher's buildings ready as quickly as possible, ib. 20S5-2027' The date of contract with the Government was about the 20th March 1865, ib. 2026. Behef that there were no other godowns available or suitable for troops than those that were hired, Brand 2304-2312. 2323-2329. 2334-2339 Unsuitable character of lome buildings referred to by Colonel Jenner, as having begn open to Government to 442— I. E hire ; 34 HIRED BUILDINGS. Report, 1866 — coKtinited. Hired Buildings— conUnued. 1. Evidence relative to the Action of the Local Authorities, Sfc. — continued, hire ; heavy expense also for chair carriage in this case. Brand 2308-231 1 . 2320-2322. 2334-2339- Witness has lived at Hong Kong since 1 850, and considers that the premises or go- downs of Messrs. Fletcher and Messrs. M'Gregor were the only ones available i>r suitable for the troops sent out in 1865, Anderson 2347-2367. 2371-2373 Ortitin premises referred to in the evidence of Colonel Jenner were not suitable for the troops, and the expense of chairs in going to or from them would hav£ been considerable, ib. 2356-2367. Opinion that General Guy should, on his own responsibility, have abstained from £[uartering troops in the Kowloon huts if unhealthy, and should rather have hired the best additional accommodation available at Hong Kong, Sir J. H. Grant 2373. 2235- 2389 Witness did not contemplate that any large amount of barracks would have to be hired at Hong Kong, but would have been fully prepared to approve of any expendi- ture necessary for the purpose. Lord de Grey 2412. Examination relative to the steps taken by the Board at Hong Kong, of which witness was a member, for procuring hired accom-mod'ation for the 1 ith Regiment on arrival. Moody 2659 ^^ **?• Limit in the choice of houses or godowns as only a certain number were tendered, ib. 2660. 2665. 2668-2670. 2686 Explanation relative to the hiring of Messrs. Fletcher's godowns, and the adding of another storey to them, ib. 2664-2666 Statement that every expedition was used in produring hired accommodation, ib. 2686, 2687. 2734, 2735. Information relative to the time occupied in preparing and altering Fletcher's buildings; question considered hereon, whether the alterations could not have been completed in a shorter time than three months, or before the arrival of the iitli Regiment, Moody 2687, 3688. 2691-2717. 2726-2728. 2733-2738. 2746,2747 Goncluaion. as to General. Guy having been aware, before going to Japan, that e^ery effort was being made to procure accommodation for the 11th Regimeat, ib. 2741-2745 ^EjX.ertions made to provide accommodation as quickly as possible at Hong Kong, irrespectively of what might be done by sending some men on board ship, or to Kowloon, Stanley, or Japan, ib. 2748- 2760. , Full authority of the general in command to have hired accommodation to any extent, GaLton 2989^-2992 Renewed hiring of the godonrais at Hong Kong, ib. 2995, 2996 Discretion in the General to continue the hire of the buildings beyond the term of one year, ib. 3073, 3074- Considerable difficulty in finding house accommodation in Victoiia for a regiment of Europeans, Brown 3263 Conclusion as to General Guy h^ivin? hired buildings instead of building them, because he had no authority from the War Office except for hirinu-, i2oiinso« 3462-3465- Expectation of witness that hired hospital accommodation would, if necessary, be provided, Sir J. B. Gibson 3525. 3545. Full authority of (he general officer to hire, and absence of difficulty in doing so, thougli no steps were taken in the matter till July or August 1865, i2o6er?son 3625-3627 Large expense incurred in hiring buildings and purchasing stores when witness was bar- rack master, without any difficulty or disallowance on the' part of the home authorities, Rowland 3709-3714. 3727-3729- 3804, 3805. 2. Explanatory Statement by General Guy : Explanatory statement by General Guy in his letter of 23rd May 1866, as to the steps taken to obtain suitable buildings for the accommodation of the troops, by advertising and other means, App. 439-441 Denial hy General Guy that delay occurred through his absence in Japan; full authority of the Commandant in his absence, ib. 440, 441. 3. Extent and Character of the Accommodation in the Godowns or Premises of Messrs. Fletcher, Messrs. M'Gregor, and others: Information relative to the extent and character of the accommodation in hired build mgs, Snell 324-335 The United States dep6t was abandoned in 1864 as being unsafe lb. 326, 327-— Accommodation for 350 or 370 men in Messrs. Fletcher's premises or godowns, z5 328-331 A godown is simply a store or warehouse for goods ib '?2q Accommodation for more than 200 men in Messrs. McGregor's godowns, 'i&. 332- Addition made to M'Gregor's premises when taken up for the nth Regiment- verv fine rooms m these buildings, Sankey 559-564. 568. 571- 684 Description of the accorumodaiion in Fletcher's buildings, and of the enlargements made in order to provide Vt VI ,^^g'°?f t' **• 565-571- 582-584 Equal space per man in M*Greeor's and Fletchers buildmgs as in the Murray's Barracks, z6. 613 Entire unfitneTs of godowns for European troops, unless the buildings were properiy refitted and adaoted to the ptirpose by special alteration, ib. 618-622— -Equally good health of the men in th^ ^hired buildings as m the barracks, ib. 623. 624. ^ ^ ^ '' '"^^ '« the Exceedingly H I R E D B U I L D I N G S. 35 Report, i866 — continued. Hired Buildings — continued. 3. Extent and Character of the Accommodation, S^c. — continued. Exceedingly defective accommodation in a godown where 200 men were placed, Jenner ^559 Circumstance of there having been no latrines attached to the godown, so that the men had to go a distance of a quarter of a mile without any proper covering for their heads agaihst the sun, ib. 1559. 1570-1579 Amount of accommodation in the hired premises of Messrs. Fletcher and Messrs. M'Gregor ; necessity of reducing the number of men in the latter, i6. 2624-1626 Want of verimdahs in the hired buildings, i6. 1628. 1630 Want of accommodation for the officers in Fletcher's buildin2,s, i6. 1630-1632 injurious efifect of placing latrine tubs, &c., in the godowns, ih. 1672. Further statement relative to the number of mew accommodated in the Fletcher and M'Gregor godowns, and the space in cubic feet per. man, Jenner 1716-1718 Necessity of making several additional windows in Heard's buildings, as the rooms were intensely hot when occupied by the troops, ib. 1728-1733. 1756, 1757 Better accommodation for the troops when the godowns wei'e completed,?'/;. 1870-1872 -Improvement effected . when witness represented the inconvenience, through there being no latrines at the godowns for the men, ib. 1913-1917. 1958-1961. Information relative to the accommodation afforded by the premises of Messrs. Fletcher to the troops, and the character of the alterations and additions made in them, Schmidt 1991-1996. 2000 Bad situation of the godowns used for the troops when witness was at Hong Kong, Sir J. H. Grant 2113 Large accommodation in the premises or godowns of Messrs. Fletcher and of Messrs. M'Gregor in the town of Victoria, an addi- tional storey having been put on when they were taken up for the troops in 1865, Brand 2297-2303. Estimate at first that Messrs. Fletcher's godowns would accommodate 500 men, whereas they did not actually provide tor much more than half that number. Moody 2667. 2729-2732 Seve'al respects in which the godowns were deficient as permanent - accommodation, ib. 2718-2720 Decided unfitness of the godowns or stores of Messrs. Fletcher and Messrs. M'Gresor, for occupation by European troops. Brown 3172 Opinion that Fletclier's buildings were as good as any that were available, but thev were not fit for permanent occupation by Europeans, ib. 3244-3247 Defect of thehired buildings in having no verandahs, ib. 3247. Circumstance of Fletcher's buildings having recently been condemned by a board, comprising the Quartermaster General and others, Robinson 3459-3461. Return showing the accommodation for the troops of all arms ai Hong Kong and Kovvloon at the time of the arrival of the 2nd Battahon of the 9th Regiment, and the 2nd ' Battalion of the nth Regiment; specifying the nature of the accommodation and the number of cubic feet allowed for each man, App. 332. 4. Expense incurred in Hiring : Great expense at which Heard's buildings were hired for a portion of the nth Regi- ment for a short time, Sankey 604. 645 Hire by witness's firm at Hong Kong "of "Fletcher's premises" to Government, at a rent of 1,900 dollars a month, the firm undertaking to do the repairs, which cost about 12,000 dollars, Schimdt 1989, 1990. 1997-1999— — Great expense of living at Hong Kong, things being more than twice as dear than in India ; conclusion hereon that the rent of 1,900 dollars a month for Fletcher's buildinsTS. was anything but exorbitant, BraKd 2313-2319. 2330-2333. 2341-2344 With regard to the heavy rent paid for the hire of the godowns, the expenses of the place are very great, Anderson 2355. Return handed in, showing that the total rents of the hired buildings amount to 17,310^. per annum, Galton 3071, 3072 Excess of 13,327/. in the present year for barrack accommodation, on account of the hired buildings for European troops in place of native troops, Robinson 3395, 3396 Explanation as to the actual expense for hired accommodation in the present year, being considerably more than the estimate of witness, ib. 3489. Statement of sums paid for hire of godowns or other temporary buildings at Hong Konsi and Kowloon, between 1st April 1858 and 31st March 1861, App. 367 Total payment of 7,041 /. for 1858-59, of 6,460 /. for 1859-60, and of 10,824 I. for 1860-61, ib. Statement of monies paid for hire of godowns or other temporary buildings at Hong Kono- and Kowloon, between 1st April 1861 and 31st March 1865, App. 371, 372 TotaTof 8,431 Z. for 1861-62, of 6,221 Z. for 186.2-63, of 7,252 /. lor 1863-64, and of 2,782 /. for 1864-65, ib. Statement of monies paid for godowns and other temporary buildings at Kowloon, from 1st April to 30th September 1865 ; total of 957 /., App. 374 Similar statement of monies paid for godowns from 1st October to 31st December 1865; total of 2,784 I. ib. 376. List of buildings hired at Hong Kong, with the several rents, according to latest returns ; total of 18,610 /., including 1 ,300 I. for hospital, App* 2,11 ■ 442— I. E 2 36 H I R H O S Report, 1 866 — continued. Hired Buildings— contiaued. 5. Conclusions of the Committee : Reference to the great difficulty experienced in obtaining tenders for the hire of suitable buildings, Rep. ix Due exertion on the part of the local authorities at Hong Kong, and of the proprietors of the various hired buildings, to get them ready as soon as possi- ble, ib. X Circumstance of the hired buildings not having been ready for occupation until the nth July, or about six weeks after the arrival of the nth Regiment, fb. Very defective accommodation in the hired buildings, notwithstanding the enormous rent paid for them, ib. Reference to General Guy's letter of i23rd May 1 866, as stating that "the hired bar- racks were in a situation generally considered the healthiest in the place," Jtep. xii Authority given by General Guy for the hire of buildings to the amount of i8,6lo /, per annum, the accommodation, nevertheless, having been defective in quality, ib. See also Barracks. ' l\th Regiment, 5. Guy, Major General. Hospitals. Home, Dr. Views of Dr. Home, as principal medical officer at Hong Kong, in regard to the issue of quinine to the 20th ; question of expense constantly brought forward by him, SneH 212-222. 231. 266-269. Hong Kong, See the Hiadings generally throughout the Index. Horse Guards. See Indian or Native Troofps, 3. Hospitals: 1. As to the Hospital Accommodation at Victoria {Hong Kong\ and its Deficiencies. 2. Stanley Hospital. 3. Proceedings in regard to Hiring Accommodation. 4. Question as to the Provision of a HoSpital Ship. 5. Question as to the Erection of a New Hospital on Shore. 1. As to the Hospital Accommodation at Victoria {Hong Kong\ and its Deficiencies : Very unsatisfactory drainage of the hospital buildings at Hong Kong, Snell 76- Statement as to the undue overcrowding of the General Hospital at Hong Kong from July to October, Sankey 780-786. 808, 817-830 Increased accommodation devoted to the sick in the General Hospital since witness came home, an order having been sent out that the purveyors and purveyors' stores were to be cleared out of the building, ib. 808-810 Question considered whether the Commandant, in the absence of the General in Japan, should not have taken the responsibility of removing the purveyors, &c., from the hospital, so as to give up the whole building for the purveyors and others adverted to hereon, ib. 811-826. 845-849 Constant representation .by Dr. Saunders as to the overcrowded state of the General Hospital, lb. 820. Excessively crowded state of the General Hospital, Jenner 1517 Entire unfitness of the barrack rooms in which many sick soldiers were treated, ib. 1553-1555 Statement as to several of the hospital buildings having been used for other purposes than for the sick, until a certain period in 1865, when they were made available for patients, Galton 3037j 3038 Explanation relative to the quarters occupied in the General Hospital at Hong Kong, by medical officers and purveyors ; there was no misappropriation, nor could the officers well have been elsewhere, -S'«e/Z 3143-3151 No stores occupied any place that could be used for the sick, ib. 31,47. Suggestion made by witness that in lieu ot another hospital ship in place of the " Hercules " tbe general hospital should be enlarged by the conversion into hospital wards of some rooms appropriated to the purveyors and medical officers, Sir J. B. Gibson "^^i^. 3529-3546 -Considerable increase of accommodation to be afforded in the General Hospital by means of the rooms occupied by the purveyors and medical officers, lb. 3542-3546 Ample amouni of permanent hospital accommodation atHonff Kong but for the unusual amount of sickness in 1865, ib. 3564-3566 There is ^t present more hospital accommodation than is wanted, the sickness having decreased verv much, ib. 3564. •' Obstacle to any enlargement of the General Hospital, by adding another storey to it whilsi fully occupied by the sick, Robertson 3624 Large increase of accom.nodation available by a re-appropriation of tbe General Hospital, ib. 3627-3629 In November 1857 ^here \'.ere 213 patients in the General Hospital, ib. 3628, 3629. Necessity m 1857 of cowding the General Hospital; opinion that on an emergency It could be made to hold 300 men, Rowland 3759-3762 Amount of increased hos- pital accon;u;odation since the severe sickness in 1865, whilst there has been a areat decrease 111 the number o! sick, ib. 3839 -3842. _ Letters from Dr. Saunders, m July 1865, demanding additional hospital accommoda- tion tor 60 patients, App. 205 Report of a board of officers relative to the ovpr- crowding of the Garrison Hospital, ib. 206, 207. Information HOSPITALS. . 37 Report, 1 866 — continued. Hospitals — continued. 1 . As to the Hospital Accommodation, Sfc. — continued. Information supplied by the medical officers in 1863, 1864, and 1865, relative to the hospital accommodation for the difFtrcnt troops, and the hospital arrangements generally App. 239, 240. 247, 248. 252, 253. 260. 265. 277. 287, 288. 293. Remarks by Dr. Dick in his general report for 1864 relative to the deficiencies of hospital accommodation at Hong Kong, App. 302. Return showing the accommodation for the troops of all arms at Hong Kong and Kowloon at the time of the arrival of the 2nd battalion of the gth Regiment, and the 2nd battalion of the nth Regiment, specifying the nature of the accommodation and the number oC cubic feet allowance per man, App. 332. Returns, dated 6th July 1866, showing the ward accommodation in the Garrison Hospital, and the alterations recently made, App. 434, 435. flemarks by the Ccmimittee upon the great deficiency of hospital accommodation. Rep. viii-xi Estimate of 120 patients to be accommodated in the General Hospital ; that is, according to the old regulations as to space, ib. viii. R,eference to the report of Generil Guy, on 18th September 1865, as showing the urgent want of improved hospitaLaccommodation at that period, ib. xi. 2. Stanley Hospital : Inaccuracy of a certain return slating that there is accommodation for 88 patients in "Stanley Barracks Hospital, Snell 311, 312 Unroofing of portion of Stanley Barrack Hospital by a typhoon in June 1865, so that it was rendered unfit for the occupation of the sick, Sankey, 777-779. 787. 807 Reduced number of patients for whom there is accommodation in Stanley Barracks Hospital, as it has been found necessary to double the space allowed per man, SirJ.H. Grant 2101, 2102. Room for 88 patients in Stanley Hospital according to the old regulations, a much larger space per man iieing now required. Rep. viii. 3. Proceedings in regard to Hiring Accommodation : Delay in taking up Alexander's Buildings, Sankey 821-826 Deficiency of hospital accommodation adverted to with reference to the absence of the General in Japan and the delay in providing accommodation, Jrawer 1977-1981 Means adopted for pro- viding additional hospital accommodation on shore when the " Hercules " was abandoned, Galton 3077, 3078. 3081, 3082. Increase of 8,052 I. on the vote for purveyors and hospital services, in the Estimates for 1866-67 as compared with 1865-66", Robinson 3398 Instance in the case of some buildings proposed to be hired for hospital accommodation, of the General having felt precluded from sanctioning the required expenditure, iJ. 3441-3443 In addition to the expense of hired barracks at Hong Kong a hospital has been hired at about 1 10 Z. a month, lb. 3456-3458 Expectation of witness that hired accommodation would, if necessary, be provided. Sir J. B. Gibson 3525. 3545 Occupation of Alexander's Buildings by the sick in February 1866, Robertson 3623. Letters from General Guy to the War Office, dated 18th September 1865, reporting that he had authorised additional hospital being hired at Hon^ Kong, App. 200--— Proceedings of a board of officers assembled on this subject, on 19th August 1865, by order of the Commandant, ib. 201 . 4. Question as to the Provision of a Hospital Ship : A floating hospital at Hong Kong is almost indispensable, Snell 137— —Several, recommendations were sent home for another vessel in lieu of ihe " Hercules," zi. 138, 139. Concurrence in the views of Dr. Dick, as to the advantage of a vessel at Hong Kong as a supplementary hospital, ib. 1 56. Views of the Duke of Cambridge and of the authorities at the Horse Guards that the "Hercules" should be replaced by another hospital ship, Sir J. H. Grant 2120. 2135- 2138. -2151 Necessary lapse of four or five months after the first letter from the Horse Guards, on loth March 1865, before another hospital ship could have arrived^ at Hong Kong from England, ib. 2139-2143 Opinion as to the necessity of a hospital ship until a hospital is provided at Kowloon and the place is healthy, ib. 2144-2147. Objections on the part of the Admiralty and of the Army Medical Department to the provision of a hospital ship, so that witness gave full authority to General Guy to pro- vide hospital accommodation on shore, Lord de Grey 2416-2421 Advantage if there ■were a spacious two-decker available at Kowloon for the sick, or as a hospital. Major General Brown 3266. Concurrence of witness, in May 1865, 'n the views of the Admiralty, disapproving of the fitting up of a line-of-battle ship in lieu of the " Hercules" for a hospital at Hong Kong, and approving of a military hospital on shore as far more economical, 6ir J. B. Gibson 3520, 3521 Decaying character of the ships which were available as floating hospitals in place of the " Hercules," ib. 3531, 3532. _ _ . 442-1. E3 Officia 38 H O S HUT. Report, 1866 — continued. Hospitals— continued. 4. Question as to the Provision of a Hospital Ship-*~-contmued. Official correspondence in 1865 and January 1866, relating to the hospital ship " Hercules " and the question of her being replaced by another ship to serve for hospital., purposes, App. 420-423. 5. Question as to the Erect/on of a New Hospital on Shore : If a new hospital be built, it should be at Kowloon, Sir J. H. Grant 21 ^y Ex- planation as to witness having suggested the assembling of a board of inquiry at'Hojig Kong, relative to the matter of permanent hospital accommodation, Lord de Grey lo^ii^ Expectation of witness, in approving of a permanent building on shore, that it might be completed and be occupied with safety at the end of 18 months, or of two years at the outside. Sir J. B. Gibson 3522-3524 Witness contemplated that the excavations and drainage in connection with the hospital should go on simultaneously with the erec- tion of the building, ib. Rule that 1,500 cubic feet per man must now be given in all new hospital buildings, though this is not practicable in old buildings, Robertson 3630-3640 Necessity of providing a certain per-centage of hospital accommodation with reference to the barrack accommodation: any excess of sick beyond this proportion should be provided for by hiring, ib. 3633-3642 The hospital accomniodation is calculated at 7 per cent, of the barrack accommodation at home, and at 12 per cent, abroad, ib. 3633. Letter from General Guy to the War Office, dated 24th August 1865, requesting im- mediate authority for additional liospital works, App. 198 Estimate by the Royat Engineers Department of 2,000 I., as the cost of providing additional hospital accommo- dation for about eighty patients, ib. Recommendation by Surgeon Saunders for ade- quate hospital accommodation, affording to each patient 1,500 cubic feet, ib. 214. Hulks. Import ance of an old tliree-decker to be available as a supplementary barrack at Hong Kong. Snell 156-160 Great advantage if at Kowloon there were a hulk. always available and under control of the military authorities, £6.164-169 Obstacle to providing other vessels as barracks for the men, in lieu of the " Hercules" or "Princess . Charlotte," Savkey 693-696 Objections to hulks as compared with barracks on shore,. ib. 697 Opinion as to floating barracks being very inferior to barracks on shore, though in time of emergency a bulk might be very useful, ib. 1050-1052, Conclusion of the War Office that some temporary accommodation might be obtained from the Admiral on the station for the 11th Regiment; this was left to the General,, Sir E. Lugard, 1149. 1151-1156 — —Doubt whether any troops were accommodated on board ship after the arrival of the 11th Regiinent, ib. 1179-1 184. Opinion as to the advantage of hulks over godowns, Jenner 1801 Advantage of a floating barrrack until the barracks on shore are fit for occupation. Sir J. H. Grant, 2149, 2150. See also "Hercules" Hospital Ship. Huts .• 1 . Generally. ■■ 2. Hong Kong ( Victoria). ■3. Kowloop.. 1. Generally. Details in general report of Dr. Dick for the year 1864 relative to the hut accommoda-. tion at the several stations and the respects in which deficient, App. 299-302. 2. Hong Kong ( Victoria). Very limited accommodation available in the mat sheds at Hong Kong : dilapidated state of these when witness left, Snell 316-320. 340 Entire unfitness of the mat huts u* 0°"!^; "■^' '^ 546-551— -Statement as to its not having been contemplated by the War Depaitment that the European troops should go into the huts at Hon o- Kong {VicioTm), Sir E. Lugard 1142. 1254-1288. * Unfitness of the mat huts at Victoria (Hong Kong), for occupation by European trooos- they were never so occupied whilst witness was there, Jenner 1509-1512 1618 The huts at Hong Kong were for the Indian troops exclusively, Brown 3168— There are rl huts at Hong Kong for European troops, Robinson 3449, 3450. 3. Kowloon. Entire unfititess of the rnat huts at Kowloon for. European troops, S^.Z^i 10 iqr Exceedingly defective character of some huts at Kowloon used^s quarte ^ f^r he women rb. 34 t-rection of additional huts at Kowloon previously to the a rTval of the 20th tb. 249, 250— Descrip ion of the huts : they were made of bamboo and mats and the accommodation was altogether very defective, ib. 251-257 Unfitness of ^£ sZZ '^;?4;V "'"" '""''' ''"' "'^"^ ^''*^''' '^^ nati^eToops, t HUTS. 39 Report, 1866 — continued. ■SVTS — rcontinued. 3. KowloQn — conliuued. Condemnatinn of the mat huts at Kowloon ; they are, in fact, neither wind-proof nor rain-proot; Sankey 546-551. 614-617. 636-640. 655, 656 Entire unfitness also of the huts at Kowloon for European troops, Jenner 1513-1517. I5B5-1587 — —Strong dis- approval of the rant sheds at Kowloon, as being altogether unfit for European troops. Sir J. H. Grant 2103-2107 Great defect in the huts not having verandahs, ih. 2103 Impression that the huts were not boarded or paved, ih. 2107. Grounds for concluding that part of the sickness attributed to the cuttings was really owing to the mat sheds, Moody 2576 Statement as to witness having been desirous of erecting brick huts in lieu of mat huts. General Brown having, however, objected on the score of expense, ih. 2576. 2607-2617. 2630-2632 Various periods at which the mat sheds were* erected, several having been pulled down and re-erected, ib. 2606 Reference to the mat sheds as constantly requiring renovation, and as being the merest make-shifts, J6. 2G49-2651 Way in which it whs contemplated by witness to construct the brick huts, so as to render them perfectly healthy, ih. 2721-2725. Responsibility of the local authorities for the original mode of construction of the Kowloon huts, Galton 2944, 2945 The huts are the only accommodation available at Kowloon, and there is no information at the War Office as to the numbers they will hold, ib. 2980-2983. Necessity of placing some of the European troops in the huts at Kowloon in April 1863, Brown 3167-3171 Superiority of the huts at Kowloon to the mat sheds at Hong Kong;, the former being, however, utterly unfit for European troops, ih. 3168. 3170 The unhealihiness of the* huts had already been reported before witness's arrival, ih. 3174- 3196. 3213 Outbreak of fire among the hospital huts at Kowloon during witness's command, when it seemed a miracle that the whole cantonment was not burnt down, ih. 3186. Report by witness in April 1 864, relative to the extremely defective construction of the Kowloon huts, the great danger from fire, and the precautions necessary against accident,. Brown 3186 Explanation, with further reference to the necessary occupation, by witness, of the huts at Kowloon, and the nature of the representations made by him to the War Office on the subject of their unfitness, ih. 3194-3213 Witness never contemplated that the haU would be permanently occupied, ih. sigg-^aoi^ — -Letter fiom witness to the War Office, dated 31 October 1864, when resigning^ his command, relative to the danger from fire and the defective state generally of the Kowloon huts, ib. 3207-3213. Witness reptats that, not contemplating any permanent occupation of the Kowloon huts, and knowing they had been condemned in the medical reports, he did not consider it necessary specially to report upon their unhealtiiiness, Broww 3234-3236 He never imagined that the Secretary of State for War would have deemed the huts fit for Europeans as permanent accommodation, ih. 3237 It would be most dangerous to quarter the Ceylon Rjfles, or any other troops, in the Kowloon huts until the place is free from the evil influences of the excavations, Robinson 3451-3454- Witness was at Kowloon when some of the huts were erected there, and states that they were built for European troops, and that he never heard any complaint of them, that is, up to the end of 1861, Rowland 3671-3679. 37 15-371 9- 3741-3745 Mode of construction of the Kowloon huts : the flooring was thiee and a half feet from the ground, ib. 3672, 3673 Witness never saw any rain come through the huts at Kowloon, ib. 3674. 3744 Belief that the huts were erected at the end of the year 1859, «*< 3675- 3678. 3746- 3781-3783- The huts at Kowloon were perfectly healthy before the cuttings were commenced, Mowland 3690 The sickness has, on all occasions, been caused less by the huts than by the excavations, ih. 3691. 3749-3751 Opinion as to the vgry good accommodation in the huts at Kowloon for temporary purposes, ib. 3734-3736- 3747> 3748- Returns showing, for 1863, 1864, and 1865, the monthly average number of men in huts at Kowloon, and the average monthly cubic feet per man, App. 242. 269. 289. Condemnation of the Kowloon huts by Staff Surgeon Baring in his Report for 1863, App. 296. Copy of letters from General Brown, dated 13 and 14 April 1864, relative to the state of the huts at Kowloon, and the great danger in the event of fire, App. 433. Reference to the erection of the huts at Kowloon in 1859 as having been intended for the temporary reception of European troops engaged in the Chinese war; mode oi cor- struction of these huts. Rep. viii Bad state of repair into which the huts were allowed to fall, so that they became undoubtedly unfit for occupation, ib. ix. See also Tnial Hut. 442 — I. E 4 40 INDIAN OR NATIVE TROOPS. Report, 1 866 — continued. Indian Allowances. See Allowances. Indian or Native Troops: 1. As to the Withdrawal of the Indian Troops from China. 2. Importance, on the score of Health and of Economy, of the Mnployment of Indian or other Asiatic Troops. , r -\t ■ 3. Views of the Authorities at the Horse Guards in strong Approval oj JSative Troops. /~i 1 4. Similar Vieivs expressed by General Guy and by Deputy Inspector General Dick. 5. Statistics as to the Distribution and State of Health of the Indian Troops. 6. Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee. 1. As to the Withdrawal of the Indian Troops from China: Witness left China with the 99th Regiment on ist March 1865, and native troops were still there at that time, but were under orders to leave, Snell 289-291. Orders given by the War Department on the 3rd December 1864, for sending back the Indian troops then at Hong Kong, Sir E. Lugard 1128-1130 Explanation as to the War OiEce having still decided to send back the native troops, and to send on the nth Regiment to H&ng Kong, although, on 29th December 1864, a letter was received from General Guy that it would be impossible to provide accommodation for the latter, ib. 1130 et seq. Intention, from the first, that the Indian troops should go back to India on the terpiination of the China war, ib. 1143 Doubt as to the Commander in Chief having been consulted upon the question of removal of the native troops, i6. 1204- 1215 Withdrawal of the native troops adverted to with reference to the previous objections made against such withdrawal, and the increased duties thrown thereby upon the European troops, ib. 1218-1231. Witness further explains the circumstances under which the native troops were sent away from China, notwithstanding the remonstrances on the subject. Sir E. Lugard 1297-1306 There was no arrangement by which it was obligatory to send back the Indian troops by a particular time, ib. 1374, 1375 Score of economy on which the Treasury pressed for the removal of the Indian troops, ib. 1389-1394. . Behef that the Commander in Chief was not consulted relative to the removal of the Indian troops. Sir J. H. Grant 2204-2208 Considerable difficulty experienced in regard to the pay and pensions of the Indian troops in China, ib. 2255. Withdrawal of native troops from Hong Kong in 1853 or 185^, without any objection on the part of Lord Hardinge, Lord de Grey 2401 Circumstance of the Commander in Chief having concurred with witness as to the withdrawal of the native troops, ib. Financial considerations by which the Treasury were actuated in wishing for the with- drawal of the Indian troops from China, ib. 2432 Understanding from the first that the [ndian troops should be withdrawn as soon as the war necessities for their employ- ment had ceased, ib. Constitutional as well as financial considerations upon which witness justifies the with- drawal of the Indian troops from China, Lord de Grey 2432 Objections in the interest of India to the continued employment of Indian troops out of that country, ib. Con- currence between the views of General Peel, Lord Herbert, and Sir George Lewis as to the expediency of withdrawal of the Indian troops as soon as possible, ib. Remonstrances made against the withdrawal of the Indian troops, but not until after their recall. Lord de Grey 2453^, 2454 Circumstance of General Guy having taken no exception to the withdrawal of the native troops, on the ground that the European troops could not perform the duties without them, ib. 2454 ^Explanation that the question of the withdrawal of the native trocjps was fully discussed between witness and the Com- mander in Chief before it was finally settled, ib. 2455 Witness was never consulted as to the advisability of withdrawing the native troops from China ; his long experience in the East adverted to hereon, Major General Brown 3178 Statement that witness was not aware till shortly before leaving China that it was intended to withdraw the native troops, and that, never contemplating such withdrawal, he made no representations on the subject, ib. 3214-3^^5. 3260-3262 Explanation as to witness having first been led to anticipate that the Indian troops would be withdrawn through a letter from Deputy Commissary General Matuiin to Sir Rutherford Alcock, in July 1864; copy of this letter read, il. 3601-3611. Information conveyed to witness by the Secretary of State for War, in the usual way, that it; was intended to withdraw the Indian troops from China, Duhe of Cambridg'e^ 3865-3867— — Tiie opinion of witness as to the expediency of such withdrawal was not asked, nor did he volunteer any opinion on the subject, ib. 3867-3871. 3895-3899 Policy involved in the withdrawal of the Indian troops, so that witness considered it beyond INDIAN OR NATIVE TROOPS. 41 Report, 18Q6— continued. Indian or Native Tb oops— continued. 1. As to the Withdrawal of the Indian Troops from CAiwa— continued, beyond his province to interfere in the matter, Duke of Cambridqe q868-'^872. qS?*;, 3876.3886,3887.3895-3911.3914. y 6 61 61b, Adoption by successive Secretaries of State of the policy of the withdrawal of the Indian troops, because their employment in China involved allowances whicih were never intended to be permanent, Dwfce of Camfinrf^e 3868, 3869. 3886.3990-3911 Accuracy of the statement of Lord de Grey as to the nature of the communication between him and witness relative to the withdrawal of the Indian troops, ib. 3873, 3874. Instructions in letter from the War Office to General Guy, dated 3 December 1864, relative to the sending back of the two Bombay regiments to India, App. 186. Letter frona the War Office to General Guy, dated 30 June 1865, refusing to sanction the substitution of native for European troops, App. 198. Letter from the Treasury to the War Office in May i860 and September 1861, recom- mending that the Indian troops in China be sent back to India, App. 447. 2. Importance, on the Score of Health and of Economy, of the Employment of Indian or other Asiatic Troops : Great advantage on the score of health by the relief of the 99th at Kowloon by native troops between June and September 1864, Snell 279-288. 322 Great importance attached to the retention of native or Indian troops in Hong Kong, with reference to the discharge of guard duties, &c., ib. 292-303 Most of the duties in Hong' Kong, especially in summer, should be performed almost solely by native troops, ib. 292-297 Much better health and less expense of native tro()ps in Hong Kong than of European troops, ib. 343-353. Troops of which the Hong Kong galrison consisted whilst witness was there; entire insufficiency of Indian troops, SweZZ 440-445 Concurrence in the views of Dr. Currie as to the importance of employing native or Indian troops in China, that is, not only at Shanghai but at Hong Kong, ib. 451-460 Reference to the Beloochees and Sikhs as peculiarly fitted for service out of their own country, ib. 456, 469, 470. Importance of largely reducing the number of European troops at Hong Kong, and of supplying their place with native or Indian troops, Sankey 664-673 Sufficiency of mat huts for Indian troops, ib. 668-670 Much less injurious effect of the chmate of China upon Indian troops than upon Europeans, ib. 905 Necessity of Indian troops, else the sacrifice of life must be great, ib. 979-981 Opinion that, with the exception of the main guard and the regimental guard, all the duties might have been performed by Indian troops, Walker ioq8-i 102. iii6. It is contemplated to have a regiment of Indian native troops at Hong Kong for sentry and guard duties. Sir JB. Lugard 1294 Impossibility of sending; native troops in 1865 in time for the unhealthy season, after receiving the report of Dr. Dick on the subject, ib. 1315-1318 Before the hot weather of this year some native troops will have arrived, ib. 1319-1321. Reference to the opinion expressed, by General Guy, as well as by the Commander in Chief, that there should be native troops at Hong Kong, Sir E. Lugard, 1343-1348 The employment of Asiatic troops, irrespectively of the Indian army, for tropical service, is now under consideration, ib. 1368-1370 The loss of European troops and the con- sequent expense were not owing merely to the removal of ihe Indian troops, ib. 1395, 1396. Increased duties of the European troops and increased sickness through the withdrawal of the native troops, Jenner 1886-1890 -Withdrawal oF the native troops adverted to in connection with the reduction made in the allowance to the officers of the European troops, ib. 1896-1908 Objections to the retention of the native troops for service in Japan, Lord de Grey 2456. Injurious consequences of the withdrawal of the Indian battalion, Moody 2763. 2768 Great importance of having some native troops or police as a means of relieving the European troops of undue exposure to night air, ib. 2763-2768 Strong opinion as to the necessity of native troops in aid of Europ.ean troops in China with reference to the performance of guard duties. Major General Brown 3182-3184. 3192, 3193. Greater economy by having a European regiment and a native regiment, with the old Indian allowances, than two European regiments with the reduced allowances, Robinson 3509-3511 Facility of calculating the actual cost, in tiie case respectively of the former garrison of one European regiment and two Indian regiments, and of the subse- quent garrison of two European regiments and one Indian regiment, ib. 3513-3515. 3. Views of the Authorities at the Horse Guards in strong Approval of Native Troops : Great importance attached to there being Indian or native troops at Hong Kong in addition to European troops, Sir J. H. G^rani 2154-2157. 2247-2255 Less mortahty, 442— I. F by IND INT Report, 1866 — continued. Indian or Native Tboop,s— continued. 3. Views ofihe AutJioriti&s at the Horse Guards, .^«.— continued. by one-half, of native troops than of Europeans, SirJ.H. Grant, 0,1^^ Further statement as to the importance of native troops in addition tu British troops, ib. 12238, 2239. 2254, 2255 Degree of efficiency of the Indian troops in China as compared with the British troops or with native Chinese troops, ib. 2247-225^^. 2261-2264 Necessity in the event of another China war of drawing upon the Indian army, ib, 2258-2260. Statement as to v\itness having contemplated that other Asiatic or native troops should be employed in China subsequently to the "'ithdrawal of the Indian troops, Duke of Cambridge. 3875. 3878,, 3879. 3884, 3885. 3888, 3889. 3912-3914 Purely financial objection to the continuance of the Indian troops in China there being no objection on military grounds, ib. 3901-3907 Had witness been asked to propose a garrison for Hong Kong, he should doubtless have suggested an intermixture of native and European troops, i6. 3913, 3914. Views expressed by the Duke of Cambridge and Sir Hope Grant, in December i865> and submitted to the War Office, as to the importance of native troops being comprised in the garrison oi China, Aipp, 2\^, 215. Further expression of the views of the Commander in Chief, in January and February 1866, as to the necessity of native troops of some description, ^pp, 218. 221, 222. Communication from tUe Horse Guards to the War Office, dated 10th February 1^866, again urging employment of Indian or native troops, or the formation of a local corps, with the least possible delay, App. 223. 4. Similar Views expressed by General Guy, (ind by Deputy hispector General Dick • Suggestion by Dr. Dick in January 1865 that one of the native raiments ordered back to India would he more efficient than a secpnd European regiment, there not being proper accommodation for the latter, App. 195, 196 Report by Dr. Dick,' dated 29th March J865, containing statistics relative to the sickness and mortality among the white troops and black troops respectively, and showing the much better health of the latter and their greater efficiency for service in China, ^5. 196, 197 Strong representations further urged by Dr. Dick as to the expediency of employing Indian or native troops, ib. 218, 219. Statement in letter from General Guy, in November 1 865, that the presence of an Indian or other native regiment is indispensable for the performance of th« garrison duties in Hong Kong during the hot season, App. 209, 6. Statistics Qis to the Distribution and State of Health of the Indian Troops : Returns t.hGwing the distribution of the Indian troops serving in China on 1st January in each yciir, from 185810 1865, ^;j;j. 224-230 Abstract of report and returns for the year 1863, showing ihe sickness and mortality, of white troops and black troops respectively in that year, ib, 235. Remarks by Dr. Dick, in liis general report for 1864, relative to the sanitary condition of the Twenty-second and Twenty-ninth Regiments of Bombay Native Infantrv at Shanghai and Japan, App. 307, "^ 6. Conclusions and Recommendations of the Committee : Great relief to the European troops during the employment of Asiatic troops in China Mep. VI, XI— —Conclusion of the Committee that the evidence points strongly to the advantage of constantly mamtuining ;in Asiatic auxiliary force at Hong Kong Station iJ VII— Opmton of the Committee, that the withdrawal of the Indian troops and the substitution of a purely European garrison ultimately resulted in increased expense to the British Government, ib. xi. ^ Employment of Indian troops in China from 1850 to 1854, and from 1857 to 14th March i865,i?ep.x, Reference to the grounds adduced by Lord de Grey in dis- approval of theemploNment of Indi.n troops for Imperial purposes except in the pressino- emergency of yv, ih Comment upon the removal of these troops by the Wa? Department without adverlm^ to the very beneficial results accruing from their presence Asiatic uZ^rib. '°^'' " '" desirableness of supplying their place by other See also Ceylon Rifle Corps. ■^"chTna^fiT 948. ^''''"''§' '^ '^'^°°'' employment could be procured for the men in Intemperance. Much less drinking among the men when at Kowloon than when at Hong Kong,- S«.ZZ 394-400^-Co„s,derable intemperance among the European troops af compared with the na ive troops zS. 401— lUse by the men of a very cheap^ and villanous spirit called " Samshoo ; " advantage of the encouragement given to the use of beer and rum^ m preference to this compound, ib, 402-409-^Opinion that there is not more I NT, I N V 43 Report, 1 866 — continued. Intemperance — continued. more intemperance among, the troops at Hong Kong than at any other garrison town in the East, Snell 40(2. Witness does not consider the men were as intemperate at Hong Kong as in the M'fditerranean, Sankei/ 951 Advantage '39. 1327— With regard to a portion of the nth Regiment not having inHl rM iT"' u 7',"°,^^'^*'°°'^ ^h^t tl^^'« ^o»ld be no accommodation therl until the Marines had embarked, Jenner 1542- 1547. 1829-1 838. 1880-1882. T.nJ!rf wlP''^ '^* ^'f °!V""^^ '■"'• the encampment of troops or for the erection of wooden HZtlnr 5 ' SirJ.H.Gra,U^^QQ-^,^% Much more healthy character of the S jL^tT "?-"'-/^;,'"S ^""S. ib- 2170 — Facility with which wooden house' tn&.?7r V r;'V''''^''""'P^'"^^^'''^''^^^ Authority given to General Guy to send tn Japan a ,y troops whom he could not accommodate at Hong Kong and Kowloon ; question hereon, whether accommodation was really available at Yokohama, tb. 2270-2284 Statement as to General Guy having sent to Japan as many troops as he could spare, ib. 2275. g t uu j^pan as View JAP JEN 45 Report, 1866 — continued. Japan — continued. View of witness, in the first instance, that a portion, at least, of the 11th Regiment should be sent to Japan, Lord de Grey 2388, 2389 Letter from witness to General Guy, dated 23rd March 1865, adverted to, as clearly indicating his wish that the 2nd Battalion of the 1 ith should go to Japan, ib. 2389-2392 Impression of witness, in writ- ing the letter of 23rd March, that the Marines would be withdrawn from Japan in time to make room for the nth; delay, however, in the embarkation of the Marines, ib. 2393- 2400 Belief that the Marines would at once have been withdrawn upon a representa- tion to the Admiral by the Commanding Officer at Hong Kong, ib. 2394, 2395. 2399. Improbability of any objection by the Japanese to the arrival of the nth before the departure of the Marines, Lord de Grey 2396, 2397 View of witness that either the Marines could have been withdrawn on board the " Conqueror," or the nth placed on board until the former were withdrawn, ib. 2398 Data upon which witness concluded there would be ample accommodation in Japan for two whole regiments, ib. 2407, 2408. 24x1 Temporary retention of three regiments in China with reference to the state of affairs in Japan^ ib. 2455-2457. There is no detailed return at the War Office of the barrack accommodaiion at Japan, buttheie is accommodation for about 1,500 men, Galton 2997-3008 Particulars as to the extent and character of the accommodation for the troops under witness's command when in Japan ; amount of the foice provided for. Major General Brown 3268-3282 Difficulty in obtaining ground at Yokohama for the encampment of the Marines ; pro- bable difficulty as to space if the 2nd Battalion of the nth had been sent on from Hong Kong, ib. 3276-3286. Very healthy character of the climate of Japan, so that witness anticipates the best results from sending Hong Kong invalids to Yokohama, Sir J. B. Gibson 3560-3562 Letter from Sir R. Alcock to Colonel Browne in October 1864, representing that there were political reasons against troops being brought from China to Japan to replace theBeloochee Corps and ihe"67th Regiment, Brown 3612-3615. Letter from the War Office to General Guy, dated 23rd March 1865, stating that the Marines are to be withdrawn from Japan, and that the nth Regiment can therefore be sent there on arrival, App. 194- Instructions in letter from the War Office, of 10th April 1865, relative to the removal to Japan of the troops not provided for at Hong Kong, ib. 197. Letter from General Guy to the War Office, dated nth May 1865, stating that he can only spare 150 men of the nth Regiment for service in Japan, App. 198 Letter from General Guy to the War Office, dated 27ih September 1865, enclosing a return ol the troops removed from Hong Kong to Japan, ib. 202. Statement in letter from General Guy, of November 1865, that it would be most desir- able to effect, if possible, an annual, or at least a bi-annual, relief of regiments between HongJKong and Japan, App. 209. Returns showing the troops quartered in Japan on 1 st January in each of the years 1862-66, App. 227-231. Extract of letter from Sir Rutherford Alcock, dated Yokohama, 27th October 1864, showing the probability of the removal in six months or so of the troops then in Japan, App. 431, 432. Statement in letter from General Guy to the War Office, dated Hong Kong, 23rd May 1866, in explanation of his not having sent the nth Regiment to Japan ou its arrival from the Cape, App. 438, 439. Intention of Lord de Grey that the 2nd Battalion of the nth. Foot, on its arrival from the Cape, might be sent on from Hong Kong to Yokohama, if there were not accommo- dation at the former place. Rep. v, vi Reasons of General Guy for not forwarding the 1 ith Regiment to Japan, as contemplated by the Secretary of State, ib. vi Only 150 men were sent to Japan, ib. xii. Jenner, Colonel Augustus Frederick. (Analysis of his Evidence.)— Is lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Battalion of the nth Regiment, 1434 Was in command of the regiment at the Cape of Good Hope when it was ordered, in August 1864, to embark for Hong Kong ; it finally embarked for China on i5ih April 1865; 1435-H4i- HS^-MM l^elief of the nth at Natal by the 99th from China; exceedingly miserable and sickly condition of the latter on arrival at the Cape, 1441-1446. Arrival of the 1 ith in the Harbour of Hong Kong on 28th May 1865, which was said to be a month earlier than was expected. 1447-1451- 1532 Suosequent orders re- ceived by the regiment when at the Cape, after the first orders in 1864, those having been countermanded, 1456 Disembarkation at Hong Kong on 31st May 1865 the strength of the regiment having been 704 men, fifty-four women, and ninety-two children, besides officers, 1456-1463- Statement that, on the arrival of the regiment, there was really no accommodation ready for them. 1464 Steps had not been taken for preparing godowns until about a foit- 442-1. ■ rS , "'gi^t J E N N E R. Report, 1 866 — continued. Jenner, Colonel Augustus Frederick. (Analysis of his Evidence) — continued. night before the regiment arrived, 1464. 1640 Necessity of witness taking the head- quarters of the regiment to Kowloon, thouah be was told that, to go there, was certain death; remousirancemade by l^im in ihe matter, 1464—1467. 155O-1558. 1583, 1584 JVecessity of sending 150 men on board the " Hercules," though in a rotten and sink- ing condition, as shown by letters from Captain Nolloth and Admiral King, 1467-1471 Reference to a certain return as stating correctly the distribution of the regiment on arrival, 1472, 1473. Accommodation of miarried men, their wives and families,. at Stanley, 1473, 1474. 1,501 Explanution relative to the removal of 150 men and six ofiScers to the " Princess Charlotte," by permission of Captain Nolloth ; these were under orders for Jupan, 1475- 3477. 1580-1582 Muster at Kowloon on 30th June, when, instead of about 230 men on parade, there were only thirty-six, and of these twenty fell down, or were removed in about four n-iinutes, 1479-J486, 1495-1498 Witness has seen 120 men go down at a parade, i486.. ■ Statement relative to the very inadequate force available for guard duties, witness's rey.iiiient having occasionally done duty with only one night in bed, 1487-1494. 1499 Opinion that the sentries could not have been reduced any lower than they were, 1500. i/>03 Unless by hiring buildings at enormous rents there were no means of accom- modating a second Ei ropean regi'mnt in Hong Kong, 1504-1506 Conclusion elrat houses were to be had by paying lor them, 1505-1508. 1539. Unfitness of the mat huts at Victoria (Hong Kcng) for occupation by European' troops ; they were never so occupierl whilst witness was there, 1509-1512. 1618 Entire unfit- ness also of the huts at Kowloon !or European troops, 1513-1517. 1585-1587 Cuttings for the new barracks at Kowloon were going on all the time witness was there '; he never heard any remonstrances made, 1518-1521— — Belief that a regiment would suffer less if it went direct from England than if it went from the Mediterranean or the Cape, 1535 The unhealthiness of Kowloon was notorious, 1536-1538. Check upon the commandant at Honj. Kong hiring buildings or hiring watchmen with- out due authority, 1539-1541. 1598 With regard to a portion of the regiment not having been forwarded to Japan, it was understood that there would be no accommoda- tion there until the Mrirines had embarked, 1542-1547 Impossibility of the duties at Hong Kong beine peiformed if witness's regiment had all gone to Japan, 1548-1550 Entire unfitness of the barrack, rooms in which many sick soldiers were treated, 1553- 1555- Statement to the efect that there were no regular quarters, for a single man of the nth Regiment on arrival at Hong Kong, 1559-1569 Exceedingly defective accommoda- tion in a godown where 200 men were placed, 1559 Circumstance of there having been no latrines attached to the godown,,so that the men had to go a distance of a quarter of a mile, and without any pioper covedag for their heads,, against the sun, 1559. 1570- 1579 Delay before the men were supplied with helmets, 1577-1579. "With regard to the officers of witness's regiment, lodging money was given them wherewith to provide quarters, 1588-1590 Belief that within three weeks after landing at Kowloon the men were hors de comhat, 1591 Further statement that ample hired accommodation couid have been pTovrdedm Victoria; it was merely a question: of cost. 1592-1697- 1930-1936 Refeience to ihe surcharge of General Wynyard some years ago fi)r having moved some troops between Sydney and Van Dieman's Land on his own responsibility, 159.9. 1605-1607. 19124. Witness does not know any case of a commanding officer having had to pay out of his own pocket thrcughbeing surcharged, in respect ot providing acGOtramodatian, 1600, 1601- 1604 Circumstance of Dr. Dick having infoi-raed witness that he was surcharged for porter ordered by him for the women and children, 1601-1603: 1608-1610 Subserip- tions by the civilians and by the officers for aiding the women, but for which they would have been m a still more deplorable state, 1603. 1608, 1609, With regard to the number of men in tlie barracks at Hong Kong,, there is no doubt but they were overcrowded, 1611-1613 Exeessixely crowded state of the c-eraeral hospital, 1617 Better accommodation available for the officers than in the°Uni(ied States Dep6i, hired for the purpose, 1618-1620 Amount of acconHnodation in the hired premises of Messrs. Fletcher and Messrs. M'Gregor ; necessity of reducina; the number of men m the latter, 1624-1626 Injurious effects of a foul drain which went along by the side of Fletcher's godowus, 1626, 1627. 1630 Want of verandalis in the hired buildings, 1628. 1630 Want of accommodation for the officers in FletcJier's buildings, 1630-1632. Great expense to the officers in going about in chair carriages, there being; no snecial allowance for this, 1633-1637 When the "Tamar" left Hong Kon-, to bring witness's regiment (rom the Cape, no steps were being taken 10 provide accomraodation, i6':t8- 1641 Reference to the total force in Hong Kong previously to and upon the arrlvil of witness s regiment, 1642-1648 Witness repeats that, if expense were no object belter and larger accommodation might have been hired, 1649-1668- A command Pn^ officer J E N N E R. 47- Report, i8'66 — continued. Jenner, Colonel Augustus Prederich. (Analysis of his Evidence)— co««inwec?. flfficer is much cramped by the pecuniaTy responsibihty which he incurs in providing for the troops, 1669, 1670. Necessity of referring to Japan, when the general was there, in order to have certain sanitary arrangements Simctioned, 1671, 1672 Injurious effect of placing latrine tubs, &c. in the godowns, 1672^ Clear evidence, in the case of the iitii Regiment, of the pecidiarunhealthiness of Kowloon, i673--l676 Unhealthy effect of the paddy fields, as well as of ihe excavations at Kowloon ; representations made on both these matters, 1676, 1677. 1682-1685. 1690-1692 Free supply of quinine to witness's men, it being taken by them in water, 1678-1681— — Doubt as to the season of 1865 having been a more sickly one than usual for civilians, 1686-1689. Particulars relative to ihe number of deaths and invalidings in the 1 ith Regiment, in China, within certain periods ; also the deaths of invalids on the passag^e from Hong Kong to the Cape, 1693-1708 In eight months one-tenth of the regiment died and one- third was invalided, 1705 Explanation as regards the non-supply of sheels, in addition to blankets, for invalids on board the " Agnicourt," that it is not usual to issue sheets on board ship, 1709-1714. [Second Examination.] — Further statement relative to the number of men accommo- dated in the Fletcher and M'Gregor godowns, and tlie space in cubic feet per man, 1716- 1718^ Inadequacy of some steps taken for providing recreation places for the men in the hired buildings, 1719-1723 Entire unfitness of most of the guard rooms in Victoria, 1724-1727. 1738-1747. 1749-I7fii. 1758-1760 Necessity of making several additional windows in Heard's buildings, as the rooms were intensely hot, 1728-1733. 1756, 1757- Steps taken for erecting a trial hut at Kowloon before witness came nway, 1734, 1735 Beneficial effect derived from the planting of trees, 1736 There has not been till lately any opportunity for planting at Kowloon, 1748 Witness had no actual experience in searching for buildings, but he understood they were obtainable at enormous expense, 1752-1755 Information relative to the men's rations, the allowance for vegetables, &c., 1762-1776. 1797-1800 Difficulty as to cooking, on account of the insufficient supply of fuel, 1764-1769. 1792, 1793 Extra meal, of bnad and cheese and porter, in the case of men on duty; necessity of thi^, 1774-1776. 1779-1781. Absence of any improvement if the men were on guard and were relieved every twelve hours instead of every twenty-four, 1777, 1778 Treatment of the soldiers' wives, uhen sick, in their own quarters, 1782-1784 Means of the women for living'; rate of pay- ment by the soldier for his rations adverted to hereon, 1785-1787 Satisfactory supply of punkahs in the case of witness's regiment, 1788, 1789. 1794, 1795 Opinion as 10 the advantage of hulks over godowns, 1801 Further statement as to the conversion of the o'odowns into barracks not having been commenced till about a fortnight before the arrival of witness's regiment, 1802-1806 General Guy .had left for Japan about ten days before the arrival of the nth, 1807-1809. 1986 Colonel Wyatt, of the nth, became commandant, as senior officer, in the absence of the general, 1810. Instructions from the general, under which the commandant was restricted as to the hire of watchmen, 1811-1817. 1825-1828 Question further considered as to the responsi- bihty incurred by a general officer on any station in hiring buildings for troops, 1818- 1824. 1924-1929. 1962, 1963 Further statement as to there not having been accom- modation at Japan for the nth if they had, in the first instance, been sent on, 1 829-1838. 1880-1882 Impossibility of one battalion doing the duties of Hong Kong; that is, unless the men continued healthy and efficient, 1839-1843. 1883-1886— —Belief that there were not 300 men fit for duty out of the whole force of the 9th and 1 ith, 1842. Further statement with reference to the accommodation of a detachment of 150 men on board the "Princess Charlottee ; " belief that no application was made to the naval authorities on the arrival of the regiment, 1844-1869, 1922, 1923— Better accomtiio- dation for the troops when the godowns were completed, 1870-1872 Allowances- of witness adverted to with reference to the expense incurred for chair carriage, 1873-1879 Increased duties of the European troops and increi.sed sickness through the with- drawal of the native troops, 1886-1890 Necessity of the allowance of 2 «?. a day for the men, in order to procure them extra comforts, 1891-1893 Intentii^n to discontinue the allowance of 2 d. a day in the case of European troops in future, 1893-1895. Withdrawal of the native troops adverted to in connection with the reduction made in the allowance to the officers of the European troops, 1896-1908 Obstacle to employing native police or watchmen for guard duties, 1909-1912- Improvement effected when witness represented the inconvenience through there being no latrines at the godowns for the men 1913-1917. l958-'96i' Speedy remedy of the want of ventilation in Heard's buildint^s, 1918, 1919 -Explanation as to witness having drawn only 100 umbrellas for his men, 1920, 1921 Statement to the effect that, had witness been the general in command at Hong Kong, he would not have hesitated in incuriing the expense of proper accommodation, 1924-1929 Doubt as to the Navy having sufi'ered unusually in 1865 from the season, 1937-1940. , Absence of any permanent buildings at Kowloon available for the nth on their arrival, 442-L r 4 1941- 48 JEN K O W Eeport, 1866 — continued. , : . , Jenner, Colonel Augustus Frederick. (Analysis of his Evidence) — continued. 1941-1946 Witness has never seen sheets onboard ship for sick troops, 1947-1957 Testimony to the great zeal of Dr. Saunders, of the 9th, in the performance of his duties as principal medical officer in the absence of Dr. Dick, 1964-1966 Great deficiency of medical officers, Dr. Dick having been in Japan, whilst one assistant surgeon died, and another was invalided, 1967-1976. 1987, 1988 Deficiency of hospital accom- modation adverted to with reference to the absence of the general in Japan and the delay in providing accommodation, 1977-1981 The order to the commandant not to hire any more watchmen came from the general when in Japan 1983-1985. K. Kane, William, M.D. Decided opinion expressed by Dr. Kane in regard to the illness at Kowloon having been caused by the disturbance of the surface of the soil through the excavations, ^jjp. 192. Kowloon : 1. Explanation relative to the original Acquisition of the Kowloon Peninsula. 2. Memorandum by Lord Herbert as to the Appropriation of Kowloon. 3. Generally as to the Unhealthiness hitherto of Kowloon. 4. As to the Excavations, and the Sickness consequent thereon. 6. Water Supply. 6. Huts. 7. As to the Erection of a Trial Hut and of Barracks, and the Causes of Delay in the matter. 8. Sickness among the Q,oth Regiment when at Kowloon. 9. Sickness among a Guard of the Qth Regiment. 10. As to the Quartering of the l\tk Regiment at Kowloon. 11. As to the Removal of the 99th from Hong Kong to Kowloon, and their Sickness there. 12. Number of Troops at Kowloon in different Years. 13. Means of rendering the place Healthy for European Troops. 14. Recent abandonment of Kowloon as a Military Station. 1. Explanation relative to the original Acquisition of the Kowloon Peninsula : Acquirement of Kowloon partly for the purpose of building barracks there and partly as commanding the Harbour of Hong Kong, Sir J. H. Grant 2179-2191.2224 Explanation of the circumstances which led to the cession of the peninsula of Kowloon to the British Crown in February 1861 ; previous lease of the peninsula from the Chinese, Galton 2887, 2888 Question considered whether, Kowloon was not, in the first instance, purchased and occupied for military rather than colonial purposes, ib 2Q0S 2930-2938. 2. Memorandum by Lord Herbert as to the Appropriation of Kowloon : Eefefence to copy of memorandum by Lord Herbert, dated 3rd December i860, relative to the appropriation of the Kowloon Peninsula ; concurrence of witness therein. Sir J. H. Grawi 2189-2192. 3. Generally as to the Unhealthiness hitherto of Kowloon : Causes in the soil as well as in the climate which render Kowloon very unhealthy for the troops, Snell 1 19-123. 192 The troops would be better in hulks than in barracks, ib. 164 Notwithstanding the monthly reports of witness, no means were ever adopted to improve the sanitary condition of Kowloon, ib. 201 There are no European civilians at Kowloon, ib. 388, 389. ^ Belief that the health of Kowloon was not aflTscted by the Chinese mode of cultivation Aank^y 747-755__Mortality and invaliding chiefly in July, August, and September! ;5- 756, 757 Unhealthy effect oi the paddy fields as well as of the excavations at Kowloon; representations made on both these matters, ./e?«Her 1676. 1677 1682-168;; 1690-1692. / ' //• o- Conclusion that the sickness may have been largely owine to ii^discretion and intem- perance on the part of the men, Moody 2787. 2791-2793 Result of an inquiry ordered by witness with reference to cholera, zb. 2787-2790. 2807. 2808 With regard to a certain report as to fever at Kowloon having been owing to malarious influences, this report came before witness as commandant at the time, ib. 2809-281 1. Eeports made to witness in 1864 as to the general unhealthiness of Kowloon, witness havingrepresented the matter to the Horse Guards, Sir J. B. Gibson 2571-3517 Since 1861 there has been frequent correspondence about Kowloon, £&. 3578-— -When b. Kowloon was first occupied it was considered a very healthy locality, Rowland 3689. A iTZll''^ ^^°1''^' ^^I' °^ ^3'-d January 1 865, together with report by Medical Board, dated 2bth November 1864, upon the sanitary state of Kowloon, and the sickness and mortality K O W L N. . 49 Report, i866 — continued. KOWLOON — continued. 3. Generally as to the Unhealthiness hitherto of Kowloon — continued. mortality among the 99th Regiment there, App. 189-192 Occupation of Kowloon adverted to by Dr. Saunders as a fertile source of the sickness in 1865, ib. 214. Information supplied in reports of medical officers relative to the climate and physical geography of Hong Kong imd Kowloon in the years 1863, 1864, and 1865, and the influence of the climate on health and disease, ^pp. 236. 241. 249.255. 261. 268.284. 288. Sundry details in the sanitary reports of Surgeon Snell for 1863 and 1864, relative to the great unhealthiness of Kowloon from various causes, App. 242-249. 266-278 Statement in general report of Staff Surgeon Baring for 1863, relative to the unhealthiness of Kowloon, ib. 296, 297. 4. As to the Excavations, and the Sickness consequent thereon : Extensive cuttings and excavations going on at Kowloon in August 1864, and subse- quently I0 a reduced extent ; great sickness and fever arising therefrom, Snell 356. 377. 379~387' 392- 393- 427 Deadly character of the fever engendered by the malaria arising from the earth cuttings; large mortality attributable entirely to this source, iZ>. 392, 393 Continuance of the excavations, although it was a matter of general conver- sation that they were productive of much sickness, Sanhey 724-738 The excavations had reference to the formation of the site of a new town, and were under tbe superintend- ence of the Royal Engineers, ib. 729-733. 736, 737 Cuttings for the new barracks at Kowloon were going on all the time witness was there ; he never heard any remonstrances made, Jenner 1518-1521 Power of the general at Hong Kong to have stopped the excavations at any time, Lord de Grey 2447. Circumstance of witness having been compelled to postpone the excavations for the trial hut, through complaints of the sickness caused by them, although some Admiralty excavations close by, were never stopped, Moody 2554-2556. 2580, 258 1. 2588-2594 Opinion that in September 1864, Kowloon was not wholly unfit for occupation by troops, on account of the cuttings, ib. 2575 Short distance between the excavations and some of the occupied huts, ib. 2578, 2579 Excavations during the summer of 1865, on the part of the Colonial Government; witness had no control over these, ib. 2582-2587. The excavations under the War Department were stopped in August or September 1864, and were resumed during the winter, Moody 2588-2594-- — Doubt whether any representations were made to the Colonial Government with a view to their excavations being stopped, ib. 2595 Further statement as to the Admiralty excavations having gone on continuously; they were, not, however, of much extent, ib. 2618-2625. It would be most dangerous to quarter the Ceylon rifles or any other troops in the Kowloon huts, until the place is free from the evil influences of tire excavations, Robinson 3451-3454 There has been no reference to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, of any complaint made to the Colonial Governor at Kong Kong, relative to the excavations made in carrying out public buildings. Cox 3656, 3657 The huts at Kowloon were perfectly healthy before the cuttings were commenced, Rowland 3690 There were no orders to stop the cuttings at Kowloon when some of the 96th were sent there, on arrival in 1862, ib. 3793, 3794- Statements in report of Medical Board, dated 26th November 1864, relative to the baneful influences of the excavations at Kowloon, App. 190-192 Decided opinion expressed by Dr. Kane in regard to the illness at Kowloon having been caused by the disturbance of the surface of the soil through the excavations, ib. 192. Statement in sanitary report of Dr. Dick for the year 1864, relative to the sickness caused in the 99th Regiment, through the excavations at Kowloon,. App. 254 State- ment by Assistant Surgeon Smith, of the Royal Artillery, relative to the bad health of No. 6 Battery, through being quartered at Kowloon in 1864, 26. 261. Representations by Surgeon Snell, in his report for 1S64, relative to the baneful effects of the excavations, and the importance of not quartering European troops at Kowloon for some time to come, App, 278 Written representations and urgent lemonstrances made locally by Surgeon Snell, in October and November 1864, relative to the extremely injurious effect of the excavations, and the expediency of stopping them, ib. 316, 31 7- Conclusion as to the present unhealthy nature of Kowloon, as a military station, being owing to the emanations arising from the cuttings and excavations of the earth prepara- tory to the construction of roads and buildings, Rep. iv. 5. Water Supply : Very impure and limited water supply at Kowloon; remedy available, Snell 193-200. 446-450— —.Considerable expense anticipated in bringing water to Kowloon from the Chinese territory, 5aM% 740-746 Particulars relative to some tanks ol water, required in case of fire, which the medical officers reported to have been the cause ot cholera ; grounds upon which witness differed from this conclusion. Moody 2788-2790. 2812-2822 Amount and character of the supply of water from springs and wells; 442—1. G supply 5 K W L O O N Report, 1866 — continued. KoWLOON — continued. 6. Water Supply — continued, supply also procurable from the adjacent hills, though at a great expense. Moody 2801- 2803. 2851-2854 The tank water was not used generally for drinking, ib. 2850. As regards the water supply of Kowloon, no full report has yet been received at the War Office, Galton 2912 There was no arrangement about the supply of water Jn any of the treaties with the Chinese, but no difficulty was apprehended on this score, ib. 6. Huts: Description of the huts ; they were made of bamboo and mats, and the accommodation was altogether very defective, Snell 251-257 Unfitness of the Kowloon huts for European troops, whereas they are very suitable for native troops, i5. 321-323. 341-347 — — Condemnation of the mat huts at Kowloon ; they are, in fact, neither wind-proof nor rain- proof, SanAez/ 614-617, 636-640. 655, 656 Injurious exposure to the heat and wet in going from the huts at Kowloon to the privies, &c., ib. 660-663. Strong disapproval of the mat-sheds at Kowloon, as being ;iltogether unfit for European troops. Sir J. H. Grant 2103-2107 The huts are the only accommodation available at Kowloon, and there is no information at the War Office, as to tiie numbers they will hold, Galton 2980-2983. Outbreak of fire among the hospital huts at Kowloon durino- witness's command, when it seemed a miracle that the whole cantonment was ngt burnt down, Major General Brown 3186 Eeport by witness in 1864, relative to the e,\tremely defective con- struction of the Kowloon huts, the great danger from fire, and the precaution necessary against accident, ib. Explanation with further reference to the necessary occupation by witness of the huts at Kowloon, and the nature of the representations made by him to the War Office on the subject of their unfitness, J6. 3194-3213 Letter from witness to thfe War Office, dated 31st October 1864, when resigning his command relative to the danger from fire, and tlie defective state generally of the Kowloon huts, i6. 3207-3213 Witness repeals that, not contemplating any permanent occupation of the Kow- loon huts, and knowing they had been condemned in the medical reports, he did not consider it necessary specially to report upon their unhealthiness, ib. 3234-3236. Witness was at Kowloon when some of the huts were erected there, and states that they were built for European troops, and that he never heard any complaint of them that is, up to the end of 1861, iJowtecZ [3671-3679. 3715. 3719. 3741-3745 Mode ot construction of the Kowloon huts; the flooring was three-and-a-half feet from the ground, 16.3672,3673 Belief that the huts were erected at the end of 1859 ib ■ 3675-3078. 3746, 3781-3783 Opinion as to the very good accommodation in the huts for tempoiary purposes, ib. 3734-3736- 3747. 3748. 7. As to the Erection of a Trial Hut and of Barracks, and the Causes of Delay in the Matter : -^ ^ Impression that the trial hut proposed to be erected at Kowloon was never occupied *anAey 649-654 Steps laken for erecting a trial hut at Kowlooti before witness came away, JfiKMr 1734, 1735 Intention, before witness left Hong Kong in 1861 of com- mencmg the barracks at Kowloon, Sir J. H. Grant, 2181-2186-l-Statement as to nothing having yet been done in the way of barracks at Kowloon, beyond laying the foundations for a trial hut, and making some excavations which were afterwards stODoed *6. 2193-2198. 2230-2237— -Very little benefit to be derived fmm the experimental hut w /^i^°°'- ■ ^^^^ Considerable discussion between the Colonial Office and the War Uflice in respect to sites for constructions at Kowloon, Lord De Grey 2 4^0. Explanation as tothetiial hut at Kowloon having only just been commenced when witness left in May 1865, though it was ordered to be erected in 1863, J/ooX 2^12 ''^'^y^'>f}-l5^Q-'',55:i.^596-'i6oo Re-arrangement at the War Office of the oriinal plan for the barracks at Kowloon, «6. 2514-2517. 2545-2552 Objections mad! by witness to the block plan of the proposed barracks at Kowloon, as not admitting of" suS cientventUatton during the summer monsoon; nothing resulted from his represlntatbns on the subject, z6. 2518-2524. 2546, 2547, 2559-2565. 2601-2605. 262*6-2620-^ Srbreri:Lrhrnrtri;:y";T^^^^^^^^ fi„Sd"i!;::::.!f86l^i6?.°"^ ^° ^^'^ ^^-^ ''''' ''- ^-^ ^-^ -- ^^- ^^.-t half Report from Sir Hope Grant early in i860 recommending that permanent barracks fo, 1,200 men should be built at Kowloon, in lieu of certain authorised expenditure beiS mourred at Hong Kong, Galton 2888-2891 Approval by Mr. Sidney Ilerbert of h! views of Sir Hope Grant, whilst estimates and plans of barracks.were subsequently sent home and were received m Apnl i86i, ib. 2889— Discussion and difficulty "ni 860 as to KOWLOON. . 51 Report, 1866 — continued. KoWLOON — continued. ^ 7. As to the Erection of Trial Hut and of Barracks, S^c. — continued. to the allotment of the ground at Knowloon when acquired from China; conflicting- claims of the military authorities, the colonists, and the naval authorities to the best site for building, Galton 2889. 2900-2902. 2913-2927 The claim of the Admiralty had reference to the erection of a hospital, but this claim waS more easily dealt with than the Colonial claim, ib. 2889. 2927. Memorandum by Mr. Sidney Herbert in i86o adverted to relative to the allotment of the ground, Galton 2890 Revised plans sent out from the War Office in Marcli 1862 for the barracks at Kowloon ; instructions sent out with these, ib. 2892-2895 Nature of the instructions from the War OflBce, in March 1862, relative to the trial hut at Kow- loon ; discretion left to the commanding engineer. Colonel Moody, in regard to the site, ih. 2895-2897 Negotiations between the War Office and Colonial Office from 1862 to 1864, lelative to the site to be allotted to each, so that the erection of the hut was unne- cessarily delayed during the period, I'J. 2898. 2900-2902. 2913-2926. Local circumstances owing to which the site was finally allotted in 1864, there was much further delay before commencing the hut, so that it will not be completed till September 1866, Galton 2898. 2904 The War Office has constantly urged the com- manding engineer to report why the construction of the hut was not going on faster, ib. 2898, 2899^ Examination relative to tlie grounds of the claim put forward by Sir Hercules Kobinson, the colonial governor, to a portion of the site required for the barracks ; question considered hereon, whether the War Department were justified in regard to the delaj' thus caused to the erection of the barracks, or the concession eventually made to the colonists, ih. 2903. 2913-2926. 2929-2938. 2959-2969 Particular objects for which the Kowloon peninsula was in the first instance acquired; partly colonial purposes for which the purchase was recommended, ib. 2903. 2930-2938. Outline of the plan of each block of barracks proposed to be erected. Gallon, 2905' 2906 Alteration of the original plan by way of concession to the colonial authorities? the War Office having preferred their original plan for purely sanitary purposes, ib. 2907- 2911. 2939, 2940. 2949-2969 Explanation as to the character of the- alterations required by the War Department in the original barrack plans sent home from Kowloon ; suggestions by Colonel Moody adverted to hereon, ib. 2946-2948 Letter from Sir Hercules Robinson, dated 13 February 1861, setting forth in detail the colonial view in regard to the occupation of the ground at Kowloon, ib. 2963, 2964 Final arrange- ment of the matter when Sir Hercules Robinson was in England in the winter of 1863-^ 64, ib. 2966. 2969 The concession would not have been made if it had been really injurious to the soldiers, ib. 2967. Further statement as to the local causes oF the delay in the completion of the trial hut, the home authorities not being responsible in the matter, Galton 2970-2977 The trial hut is the result of the original scheme of Sir Hope Grant, whilst the delay in the erec- tion of the hut was not the fault of the War Office, ib. 3031-3036. Remarks by the Committee upon the great delay in the erection of barracks and hospital accommodation, as contemplated by the late Lord Herbert ; comment upon the delay in the matter of the trial hut. Rep. vii. 8. Sickness among the lOth Regiment when at Kowloon : Occupation of the huts at Kowloon by the 20th between December 1 863 and June 1864, when they were removed to Japan in a very unhealthy state; great sickness from fever and cholera during this period, Snell 203-211. 237-243 Erection of additional huts at Kowloon previously to the arrival of the 20th, ib. 249, 250 Severe suffering of the 20th when at Kowloon, Moody 2847-2849. 9. Sickness among a Guard of the 9th Regiment : Great sickness caused among a guard of 110 men of the gth Regiment, through being at Kowloon for a fortnight, Sankey 721. 759. 10. As to the Quartering of the llth Regiment at Kowloon : Quesiion considered as to the unhealthy character of Kowloon liaving been known to the War Department, when they contemplated that a portion of the llth might be sent into huts there. Sir E. Lugard 1361-1385. 1376, 1377. 1380-1382. Necessity of witness taiiing the head quarters of the regiment to Kowloon, though he was told that to go there was certain death ; remonstrance made by him in the matter, Jenner 1464-1467. 1556-1558. 1583, 1584 Muster at Kowloon on 30th June, when instead of about 230 men on parade, there were only thirty-six, and of these twenty fell down, or were removed in about four minutes, ib. 1479-1486. 1495-1498 The unhealthiness of Kowloon was notorious before witness's regiment went there, ib. 1536- 1 C38 ^-Belief that within three weeks after landing at Kowloon the men were hors de comhatfib. 1591 Absence of any permanent buildings at Kowloon available for the llth on their arrival, ib. 1941-1946. » 442— I. G 2 Opinion K W L O N. Report, 1 866 — continued. KoWLOON — continued. 10. As to the Quartering of the llth Regiment at Kowloon — continued. Opinion that on the arrival of the nth, it would have been better to put them into tents than into the huts at Kowloon, Sir J, H. Grant 2163-2168 Conclusion as to its having been incumbent upon General Guy in 1865 to quarter some of the troops at Kowloon, ib. 2199-2203. 2271-2273. 2285-2289 Opinion that General Guy should, on his own responsibility, have abstained from quartering troops in the Kowloon huts if unhealthy, and should rather have hired the best additional accommodation available at Hong Kong, ih. 2373. 2385-2389. Intention of witness to leave it entirely to General Guy's discration whether any troops should be quartered at Kowloon, Lord de Grey 2409, 2410. 2413-2415 Conflicting opinion before the War Office in December 1864 and January 1865, as to the healthiness of Kowloon, ib. 2413. Statement that there were not continual complaints made to the War Office relative to the accommodation at Kowloon, Galton 2978-2980. 3024-3029 Except some letters of General Brown, witness is not aware of any representations about the accommodation at Kowloon, till the letter of 12th November 1864, from General Guy, ib. 3024-3029. 11. As to the Removal of the 99th from Hong Kong to Koiohon, and their Sickness there: Considerable increase in the sick list of the 99th at Hong Kong, whenever any detach- ment of the regiment came back from Kowloon, Snell 188-190 Great prevalence of fever and miasma in the 99th Regiment, consequent on its removal from Hong Kong to Kowloon in September 1864, ib. 354-358 Better health of the 99th when under tents at Kowloon than when put into huts, Sir J. H. Grant 2109, 2110. 2163, 2164. Protest made to witness against the removal of the 99th to Kowloon, they having been ordered thither from Hong Kong as a matter of policy, Moody 2769-2771. 2775-2781, 2^84 Report made after the regiment had been a short time at Kowloon, of the great increase of sickness which had taken place ; option given thereon by witness to move the men about under canvass, and to place a portion of them on board the "Hercules," ih. 2772-2774. 2781, 2782. 2794-2797 Request of the governor upon which witness, as commandant, ordered the 99th to Kowloon, lor the sake ofmilitary discipline, ib. 2782- 2784. 2798, 2799 — ; — With regard to the great increase of sickness in the 99th on removal to Kowloon, witness did not represent the matter to the governor, ib. 2786, 2787. 2794' Decreiise of sickness amongst the 99th, after General Guy had ordered them under canvass, Moody 2797. 2834-2836 Circumstance of General Brown, who was at Shanghai, when the 99th were removed, having confirmed the arrangement, ib. 2798. 2800. c8o2 Examination with further reference to witness, as commandant, having decided on sending the 99th to Kowloon, and keeping them there, notwithstanding the remonstrances before they were sent, and the subsequent sickness; military necessity by which witness justifies his proceedings in the matter, ib. 2823-2842 Witness accepts the full responsibility of the removal of the 99th to Kowloon, though the suggestion came i'rom the Governor, who was Commander-in-Chief for the time being, ib. 2855-2857. Exception taken to the statement that the health of the 99th Regiment at Kowloon was very much improved by their being placed under canvass in November 1864 ; there never was in fact any improvement in the health of the men after they landed at Kowloon, Snell 3157. Explanation that witness was absent from Hong Kong when the 99th were ordered to Kowloon, and that had he retained the command for any time after his return, he should not have hesitated in ordeiing them back to Hong Kong, Major General Brown 3326- 3333 Witness, during his absence, had a private letter from the Governor, relative to the cause which led to the removal of the regiment to Kowloon, and on his return the matter was explained to him by Colonel Moody, ib. 3328, 3329 As witness's successor was expected by the next mail, witness did not take any steps in the matter, not knowing the view which General Guy might adopt, ib. 3329 Witness disclaims any responsibility in regard to the removal of the 99tli, ib. 3331. Communication from General Guy to the War Office, dated 23 January 1865, together with report of medical board relative to the unliealthiness of Kowloon, and the sickness and mortality among the g9th Regiment there, App. 188-192. Returns showing the unfortunate results >vhich followed the change of station of the ggth^from Hong Kong to Kowloon, App. 319-321. Reference by the Committee to the strong remonstrances made against the removal of the 99th Regiment to Kowloon, but without effect ; great sickness and mortality in the regiment. Rep. iii. 12. Number of Troops at Kowloon in different Years: Returns showing the force stationed at Kowloon on 1st January in each of the years, 1862-66, App. 227-231. 13. Means K O W LUG 53 Report, 1866 — continued. KowLOON — continued. 13. Cleans of rendering the Place healthy for European Troops : Facility of improving the sanitary stale of Kovvloon by drainage, and bv stopping rank cultivation and irrigation close to the huts, Snell 247, 248 Means of making Kowloon just as healthy as Hong Kong, whereas up to August 1864 nothing had been done to improve ics sanitary condition, ib. 410-414. 420^423 Means of preventing the prevalence of malaria, ib. 411-414 — -Great advantage if barracks had been built at Kowloon, and left vacant for a year or two, and if at the same time all excavations and levellings had been completed, ib. 424-426. Measures by which Kowloon might probably be made more healthy than Hong Kong, Sankey 717, 718. 739 Non-adoption of any steps for the draining and planting of Kowloon, ib. 723. Statement that Kowloon would be a decidedly healthy place, that is, for China, if planted and built upon, and if barracks there were not occupied for about three years after the completion of the excavations, Sir J. H. Grant 2110-2112. 2147. 2223-2226 Witness would build as soon as possible at Kowloon, and would leave the buildings unoccupied for three years, ib. 2147 Reasons for Kowloon being a healthier locality than Hong Kong, ib. 2223. Suggestions by Dr. Dick in his report for 1864, that until the necessary cuttings have ceased for a period of at least six months, no troops ought to be quartered at Kowloon, ■^PP: 255 — - Further recommendation by Dr. Dick in his report for 1864, that until efficient drainage, the erection of good and substantial barracks, and the provision by means of verandahs and the shade of trees, of protection against solar influence, troops should not be quartered at Kowloon, ib. Correspondence in 1861-64, relating to the appropriation of Kowloon, the erection of barracks, and drainage of paddy fields, App. 424-431. 14. Recent Abandonment of Kowloon as a Military Station : Kowloon has since been abandoned, and only guards are sent there, Sanhey 650, 6,31. Kowloon. Kowloon was entirely unoccnpied when witness recently left Hong Kono-, Robinson 3447, 3448. See also Eleventh Regiment, p^. Expeditionary Force of \^GQ. Intemperance. Planting. L. Local Corps ( Guard Duties). Suggestion that an efficient native force may be provided by placing Chinese undfer European officers. Sir J. H. Grant 2160-2162. 2261-2264. Proposition in communication from the Horse Guards, under date 26th December 1865, for raising a local corps for special duty in Hong Kone, App. 217. Further suggestions in letter from the Horse Guards of 10th February 1866, relative to the formation of a local corps, failing the employment of the Ceylon Rifles, Jpp. 223. Suggestions by General Guy in letter of 23rd May 1866, as to the description of local force which would be best adapted for permanent duty at Hong Kong, App. 438. Lugard, Lieutenant- General Sir Edward, k.c.b. (Analysis of his Evidence.) — Wit^^ regard to the sending of the 2nd battalion of the iitli Regiment to China, the order was given by the War Department on the 5th August 1 864, a similar order having been issued at the same time relative to the gth Regiment, 1124-1126. Arrival of the ilth Regiment at China from the Cape on ihe 28th May 1865, the gth Regiment having arrived from Gibraltar on the 8th February previously, 1127 Order given by the War Department on 3d December 1 864, for the sending back of the Indian troops then at Hong Kong, 1128-1130. Explanation as to the War Office having still decided to send back the native troops, and to send on the nth Regiment to Hong Kong, although on 27th December 1864, a letter was received from Gtineral Guy, stating that it would be impossible to provide accommodation for the latter, 1130 et seq. Desire of the Secretary of State for War to have reduced the garrison in the China seas to two regiments, one at Hong Kong, and one at Japan, 1 132. 1 1 41 Political reasons by which the Secretary of State fjr Foreign Affiiirs was influenced in asking that three regiments should for a time be kept in China, 1132. 1141. 1144. Authority given to General Guy to hire buildings at Hong Kong for the 11th Regi- ment, whilst he could also receive temporary assistance from the navy, and could send some of the troops on to Japan, 1133 et seq. Question considered as to the accom modation available at Yokohama if the 11th had been sent thither: necessity of placing them under canvas if the marines already there had not left, 1134-1138. 1145. 1163- 1165. 1216-1217 Conclusion of the War Department that hired buildings might be obtained, though they had no special information on the subject, 1138. 1140. 1143. 1148. 11,50. 1157. 442 — I. G 3 Circumstance 54 • L U G A R D Report, 1866 — continued. Lugard, Lieutenant-General Sir Edward, K.C.B. (Analysis of his Evidence) — continued. Circumstance of the General having stated that his reason for not sending any^of" the European troops to Japan was because he wanted them for the duties at Hong Kong, 1138, 1139 It was never intended that any portion of the nth should fjo into huts, 1142 Intention from the first that the Indian troops should go back to India on the termination of the China war, 1143 Conclusion of the War Office that some tempo- rary accommodation might be obtained from the admiral on the station: this was left to the General, 1149. 1151-1156. Circumstance of all the duties at Hong Kong having been performed by one European regiment (the 59th) in the years 1854,, 1855, and 1856; 1166-1172 Sanction given by the War Department on former occasions to the expense of hired watchmen and police for relieving the troops of certain duties, 1173-1178. 1278-1283 Doubt whether any troops were accommodated on board ship after the arrival of the nth Regiment, 1179- 1184 Calculation of the home authorities that hired buildings would be ready, though in reality the necessary alterations were not completed till several weeks after the arrival of the nth, 1185-1195. Further reference to the permission given by the Secretary of State to send portion of the regiment to Japan, 1 197-1203. 1284 Doubt as to the Commander-in-Chief having been consulted upon the question of removal of the native troops, 1204-1215 With- drawal of the native troops adverted to with reference to the previous objections made against such withdrawal, and the increased duties thrown thereby upon the European troops, 1218-1231 Considerable sickness among the 59th when at Hong Kong, 1232- 1234. Determination of the force stationed at Hong Kong without reference to the,local duties, 1235-1237 Facility by means of pohce or hired watchmen of relieving the troops of several guard duties; full discretion in the General to employ watchmen. 1237- 1243. 1278-1283 Duty of the Barrack Department of the War Office to report upon the means of providing accommodation, 1244-1253 General discretion in the com- manding officer in regard to the provision of the necessary accommodation, 1251. -I259- 1263. 1266-1277. Further statement as to it not having been contemplated by the War Department that the European troops should go, into huts; that is, except at Kowloon, 1254-1258—- — Authority of the General in command to have hired hulks or buildings, and t> have employed watchmen, without incurring any personal risk on the score of expense, 1268- 1283. 1301, 1302 Denial that there was a failure of the several means relied upon by the War Department for the accommodation of the nth Regiment on arrival, 1285-1293. It is contemplated to have a regiment of Indian native troops at Hong Kon^'- for sentry and guard duties, 1294 A portion of the Ceylon Rifles has been ordered to Hong Kong, pending the question of raising a native regiment to be stationed there, 1295, 1296 Witness further explains the circumstances under which the native troops were sent away from China, notwithstanding the remonstrances on the subject, 1297-1306 Reduciion in the military posis in China, and in the duties when the native troops were removed, 1307, 1308. '- Absence of increase in the number of battalions in China since ist January 1865 there having been three at that period, 1309-1313 Good ground for the War Office to conclude that the required accommodation would be provided for the nth on arrival 1314. 1322-1325 Impossibility of sending native troops in 1865 in time for the unhealthy season, after receiving the report of Dr. Dick on the subject, 1315-1318 Before the hot weather of this year some native troops will have arrived, '1319-1321. Further reference to the retention of the troops at Hong Kong, on account of the duties to be performed, 1327 It was never considered at the War Office that the local duties required so large a force as were retained by the General, 1328 Views of the Secre tary of fetate for Foreign Affairs further adverted to relative to the maintenance of three European regiments in the Chma command 1335-1337 GVounds for the conclusion 1 8-^ '2 ""^^ "'°'' unhealthy ever experienced by the troops in China, Reference to the opinion expressed by General Guy, as well as by the Commander-in- Chief, that there should be native troops at Hone: Kong: iqaq-iq^S "imauaer in character of the accommodation contempleted by theVar Officefas'the troops w7e°'nS to remain in such force as a permanent arraneement iQdo-ioci n • .t"""'"^ ""'' sufficiency of one European regiment for garrS" ig' H^g S^h^Sg7som: nat : tjoops are also necessary, 1352-1360. ■= a f,> ""ugu auiuc udiive Quesiionconsidered as to the unhealthy character of Kowloon having been known to the War Department when they contemplated that a portion of the nth might T^e sent into huts there, 1361-1365. 1376, 1377- i38o-i382_The employment of Isiatc ofir;oJrP' n L *^ ^''^'^^ ^'V' ^"^ "-"P'^^l «e'-^i«e is now unde^r con=Jde7a1^bn it wal obligatory tf send back^he iJl:. tJo^'s by T^Zl^'^ZriZ^y^y ^'"^^ The LUG MED • 55 Report, 1866 — continued. Lugard, Lieutenant-Oeneral Sir Edward, K.c.B. (Analysis of his Evidence) — continued. The reduction of posts in China was not followed by a concentration of troops at Hong Kong, 1378, 1379 Previously to 1865, ""e of the three regiments in China was stationed at Shanghai, 1385-1388 Score of economy on which the Treasury pressed for the removal of the Indian troops, 1389-1394 The loss of European troops and the consequent expense were not owing merely to the lemdval of the Indian troops, 1395, 1396— — Explanation as to the final order (or the nth Regiment to proceed to China not having been sent out till December 1864, though the order from the War Department was in the previous August, 1397-1405. Further statement that the General at Hong Kong could not have been made pecuniarily liable in connection with his measures for the disposal of the troops, 1406-1408 Explanation with reference to some suggestions made to witness by Deputy Commissary General Maturin, relative to the pay and allowances in China; these were of a private nature, 1409-1425 Witness repeats that it is at least extremely improbable that the War Office would have surcharged any expenditure by General Guy which he could at ill! justify, 1426-1433. M. Macao. Healthy situation of Macao, Kowloon being situated much in the same way. Sir J. H. Grant 2110, 2111. McGregor's Buildings (Hong Kong). See Hired Buildings, Malaria. Deadly malaria produced by excavations at Kowloon and Hong Kong, the ground being a decayed granite, jS/^eZZ 3, 4. 392,393; Sankeg, ji6 Means of pre- venting the prevalence of malaria from the excavations, &c., Snell 411-414. Statement in letter of Dr. Dick, in October 1 865, as to the very injurious influence of malaria in Hong Kong and Kowloon in causing various diseases, App, 219. Expediency, in order to preserve the troops from malaria, of their being employed as little as possible upon night duties. Rep. vi. Malay Troops. See Ceylon Rifle Corps. Marines {Japan). Circumstance of witness having contemplated the withdrawal of the marines from Japan in time to make room for the nth Regiment; delay, however, in the removal of the marines, Lord de (jfrey 2393-2400 Belief that the marines would at once have been withdrawn upon a representation to the Admiral by the commanding officer at Hong Kong, ih. 2394, 2395. 2399. Improbability of any objection by the Japanese to the arrival of the nth before the departure of the marines. Lord de Grey 2396, 2397 View of witness that either the marines could have been withdrawn on board tlie "Conqueror" or the nth placed ou board until the former were withdrawn, ib. 2398. During witness's stay in Japan the marines were not accommodated on board the "Conqueror," but a detachment of 150 of them was placed in the "Princess Char- lotte," Brown 3287-3292. Letter from the War Oflolce to General Guy, dated 23d March 1865, stating that the marines are to be withdrawn from Japan, and that ihe nth Regiment can therefore be sent there on arrival, App. 1 94. I Married Soldiers' Quarters. Very limited and unhealthy accommodation for the married soldiers and their wives in the Murray barracks. Hong Kong, Snell 28-33 Character of the acoommodation for the married soldiers and the women in the huts at Kowloon, Sankey, 529-534 Inferiority of the altered plan of barracks at Kowloon as regards the site of the married soldiers' quarters, Gallon, 2910, 2911. 2949-2954. 2958. Mat, Sheds. See Huts. Maturin, Deputy Commissary General. Explanation with reference to some suggestions made to witness by Deputy Commissary General Maturin relative to the pay and allowances in China; these were of a private nature. Sir E. Lugard, 1409-1425. Explanation as to witness having first been led to anticipate that the Indian troops would be withdrawn through a letter from Deputy Commissary General Maturin to Sir Rutherford Alcock in July 1864; copy of this letter read. Brown 3601-3611. Medical Comforts. Before leaving Hong Kong witness heard that Dr. Saunders had been surcharo^ed in respect of medical comforts ordered for the sick, Robinson, j3466-3468. 3488- ° , , ^ Explanation that a certain letter of 19th February 1866 is the only one that has been sent from witness's department relative to surcharge in the matter of medical comforts supplied at Hong Kong ini865 ; no surcharge has yet been made, Robertson, 3616- Q622. See also Porter. ,, 442-1. cj 4 ■ Medical 56 MEDICAL STAFF. Report, 1866 — continued. Medical Staff .- 1 . As to the Sufficiency of the Medical Staff in Hong Kong, and the steps taken in the matter. 2. As to the Absence of Dr. Dick and other Medical Officers in Japan, and the Explanation given on the subject. 1. -As to the Sufficiency of the Medical Staff in Hong Kong, and the st,eps taken in the matter : ' Very insufBcient medical staff for dealing with the great mass of sickness, Sankey 832-837 Great deficiency of medical officers. Dr. Dick having been in Japan whilst one assistant surgeon died and another was invalided, ./eMHer, 1967-1976. 1987, 1988 There were no private practitioners available, ib. 1987." Total of thirteen medical ofBcers in China, and of three in Japan, in the year 186.5 •" this was an immense staff for so few troops, Sir J. B. Gibson, 3547 Steps taken by witness to supply the vacancies caused in thfe staff at Hong Kong byinvali'dings, &c., ib. 3552, 3553- Communication from the Senior Medical Officer, Hong Kong, to the Army Medical Department, dated 10th September 1865, requesting two assistant surgeons for the nth -Foot, and four staff assistant surgeons, App. 199 Return of the distribution of medical officers serving in China on 10th September 1865, 26. Communication from the commanding officer of the nth, reporting his regiment deficient of one sur"eon and two assistant surgeons, ib. 201. Statement by Sir J. Gibson, in letter of 12th December 1865, as to the sufficiency of the medical staff, App. 314. Communication from General Guy, dated 14th November 1865, stating that there are vacancies for three regimental and four staff officers, ^;)p. 217. Letter from the Army Medical Department, dated 5th January 1866, statino- that the vacancies alluded to by General Guy are already filled up, App. 220. ° Statement by Dr. Dick, in letter of 30th January 1866, that through the assistance derived Irom the naval medical officers, the sick in no degree suffered from want of efficient aid, App. 443. 2. As to the Absence of Dr. Dick and other Medical Officers in Japan, and the Explanation given on the subject : Remarks upon the circumstance of Dr. Dick, the Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals on ihe China Station, having pone to Japan in June 1865, and not having returned tdl October, ^/r J. £.GeW 3547-3554- 3563. 3579-3588_AbTence fof various reasons, of several of the medical staff in Japan, else the attendance when the sickness broke out in Hong Kong and Kowlocn would have been ample, ib. 3/547 o-„ —Twofold reason given by Dr. Dick for going to Japan, one that he was not well, ana the other, that he went to make his annual inspection, ib. 3548 Absence of anv Mcessity for a staff surgeon in Japan, ib. 3549. ^o^ence ot any ih?^'T'°"''} instances of a general being accompanied by the principal medical officer on the station, when on his tour of inspection, Sir J. B. Gibson^^o, 355,. 0570-0"^^ Opmion that when the sickness at Hong Kong becameknown arYokohamar aU ih^e ml^ staff at the latter place belonging to Hong Kong, should at once have been sent thither with as many other medical officers as could have been spared, z6. 3552. S'si qS?' 3586-3588 -Eespectsin which witness considers it was^ot natural in Dr^Dfckt" have accompanied tne General to Japan, ib. 3579-3585. ^ Further evidence upon the subject of Dr. Dick having accompanied General Guv fn Japan; witness repeats that the proper place for a principal medical officer is aYthe head quarters of his station. Sir J. B. Gibson 3817-3838 '■9.%A'iJ9,AK T^, f 1- d^feS^Tt r '" ""T f^r ^° f^P^^- 'T ""'% """«' -«Pect>on^r'itneTs1elf fowe7e?"£t°a differen time should have been selected as his services were so much needed ^n H^*. Kong, e/;. 3833-3838 Practice in India, the West Indies &Tin retaJ t ^^^ Dick, and St.lsa,geonWoolfreys,jy.;,"! ' ^tputy Inspector GenemI Letter from the War Office to Genpml fJn^r ^„*«j ^, -rv explanation of the absence of the princ Jal m&ifaf Jffi S ^the'lff ^'''' "'"§ '°^ ^'^ assistant surgeon in Japan, yljt,;,. 216. P^' ™^°'^^' °*^"^ t'^e staff surgeon, and a staff : Communication from General Guv to thp "WTor Offi „ 1 * j 1. t. , Letters MED M Q O 57 Report, 1866 — continued. Medical Staff— continued. 2. As to the Absence of Dr. Dick and other Medical Officers, Sfc. — continued. Letters of explanation from Dr. Dick, dated 30th January and gth February, with reference to certain medical officers havino" gone frorp Hong Kong to Japan, App. 442, 443- See also Saunders, Dr. Milk. Reluctance of the purveyor's branch to provide milk for the women and children, throujih apprehension that it would be disallowed at home, Robinson 3487. Moody, Colonel Hampden, c.H. (Analysis of his Evidence.) — Was commanding officer of Royal Engineers in China from Dtcember i86i to May 1865; 2509-2511 Explana- tion as to the trial hut at Kovvloon having only just been commenced when witness left in May 1865, though it was ordered to be erected in 1863; 2512,2513. 2528-2539. 2553. 2596-2600 Difficulty as to the sice for the trinl hut, as the hut was to be built on part of the site of the future barracks, 2514, 2515. 2529. 2537-2539. 2553. Re-arrangement at the War Office of the original plan for the barracks at Kowloon, 2514-2517.2545-2552 Objections made by witness to the block plan of the pro- posed barracks at Kowloon, as not admitting of sufficient ventilation during the summer monsoon; nothing rt-sulted from his representations on the subject, 2518-2524.2546, 2547, 2559-2565. 2601-2605. 2626-2629 Objection also made by ivitness against the actual spot chosen for the trial hut, as he contended it should be erected on the lowest and worst part of the site on which the barracks were 10 be built; he was however over- ruled in the matter, 2525-2527. 2539-2543. 2571. Requirement for the purpose of temporary huts of the ground upon which the trial hut was to be erected; hence the delay, 2529. 2538, 2539. 2553. 2596-2599 Consi- derable excavation necessary in clearing the ground for the hut; enhanced expense on this score beyond what was first estimated, 2533-2537 Suggestion made by witness in reu^ard to the trial hut being so built as to form a permanent portion of the intended barracks, 2544. Circumstance of witness having been compelled to postpone the excavations for the trial hut, through complaints of the sickness caused by them, although some Admiralty excavations close by were never stopped, 2554-2556. 2580, 2581. 2588-2594 Great unhealthiness caused by the excavation and levellings for new buildings, so that certain precautions are very essential, 2557, "^SB^- '2566-2575 Particulars in explanation of the site and plan proposed by witness for the barracks and hospital at Kowloon 2558-2561. Interval desirable before the occupation of buildings after the completion of the ex- cavations ; so long a period as three years is not necessary, 2568-2570. 2572-2574 Opinion that in September 1864, Kowloon was . not wholly unfit for occupation by troops, on account of the cuttings, 2575^ Grounds for concluding that part of the sickness attributed to the cuttings was really owing to the mat sheds, 2576 Statement as to witness having been desirous of erecting brick huts in lieu of mat huts. General Brown having however objected on the score of expense, 2576. 2607-2617 ' Impression that the trial hut was to hold about sixty men, 2577. Small distance between the excavations and some of the occupied huts, 2578, 2579 Excavations during the summer of 1865, on the part of the Colonial Government, under the superintendence of Lieutenant Williams ; witness had no control over these, 2582-2587 Doubt whether any representations were made to the Colonial Govern.- ment with a view to their excavations being stopped, 2595 Various periods at which the mat sheds were erected, several having been pulled down and re-erected, 2606 Further statement as to the Admiralty excavations having gone on continuously; they were not, however, of much extent, 2618-2625. Objection by General Brown to the erection of brick huts further adverted to, 2630- 2622- -Doubt as to the War Office authorities being; responsible far any delay in the pro<^ision of accommodation generally, 2633-2636. 2648. 2652, 2653 Local circum- stances by whicii the erection of the trial hut was delayed, 2636. 2648 Interval necessary after the completion of the trial hut, before its occupation, 2636-2638 The hut is constructed as the lower storey of a barrack, 2639. Causes of the increased expense of ttie trial hut further adverted to, 2640-2643 The home authorities had nothing to do with the site chosen for the trial hut, which was arranwd by a Board in which witness was in a minority, 2643-2646 Keference to the ma? sheds as constantly requiring renovation, and as being the merest make-shifts, 264Q-2651 Witness was commandant at Hong Kong in September 1864, when the 99th were sent to Kowloon, at the suggestion of the Governor, in consequence of some rioting ai the former place, 2654-2658. Examination relative to the steps taken by the Board at Hong Kong, of which witness was a member, for procuring hiied accommodation for the nth Regiment, on arrival, -flcQ et sea ^Limit in the choice of houses or godowns, as only a certain number were 442-1. ^ H tendered Missing Page Missing Page 6o NINETY-NINTH REGIMENT. Report, 1866— continued. JViNETY-NiNTH Begiment — continued. 1. Particulars in connection with the Removal of the Regiment from Hong Kong to Kowloon : Cause of the sudden removal of the ggth to Kowloon, through some riots at Victoi-ia (Hong Kong), in which they were engaged, Snell 359-372. 379. Verbal representa- tion and wriiten protest made by witness to Colonel Moody, the Commandant, against the removal to Kowloon, but without effect, ib. 373-380. Witness was commandant at Hong Kong in September 1 864, when the ggtli were sent to Kowloon at the suggestion of the Governor, in consequence of some rioting at the former place. Moody 2654-2658 Protest made to witness against the removal of the ggth to Kowloon, they having been ordered thither from Hong Kong as a matter of policy, j&. 276g— 2771. 2775-2781. 2784 Request of the Governor, upon which witness as commandant ordered the 99th, to Kowloon, for the sake of military discipline, iJ». 2782-2784. 2798, 279g With regard to the great' increase of sickness in the ggth on removal to Kowloon, witness did not represent the matter to the Governor, ib. 2786, 2787- 3794- Circumstance of General Brown, who was at Shanghai when the 99th were removed, having confirmed the airangenient. Moody 2798. 2800. 2842 Examination with further refererice to witness as commandant having decided on sending the 99th to Kowloon, and Keeping them there, notwithstanding the remonstrances before they were sent, and the subsequent sickness by which tliey were prostrated : military necessity by which witness justifies his proceedings in the matter, ib. 2823-2842 Witness accepts the full responsibility of the removal of the ggth to Kowloon, though the suggestion came from the Governor, who was Commander-in-Chief for the time being, ib. 2855-2857. Explanation that witness was absent from Hong Kong when the ggth were ordered to Kowloon, and that had he retained the command for any time after his return he .should not have hesitated in ordering them back to Hong Kong, Major General Brown 3326- 3333 Witness during his absence had a private letter from the Governor jelative to the cause which led to the removal of the regiment to Kowloon, and on his return the matter was explained to him by Colonel Moody, ib. 3328, 332g As witness's successor was expected by the next mail, witness did not take any steps in the matter, not know- ing the view which General Guy might adopt, i&. 332g Witness disclaims any re- sponsibility in regard to the removal of the 99th, ib. 3331 Arrival of GenerafGuy as witness's successor about a fortnight after the return of witness to Hong Kon"^^, ib. 3332, 3333- Explanation in letter of Major General Guy, of 23rd January 1865, relative to the removal of the regiment to Kowloon in consequence of a riot in which they were con- cerned at Victoria, Hong Kong, App. 188. Remonstrances made by Surgeon Snell against the removal to Kowloon, but without effect, App. 313-316. Particulars supplied in Surgeon Snell's report as to the cause and character of the riots which led to the removal of the regiment to Kowloon, App. 314, 315, 2. Sickness and Mortality at Kowloon : Considerable increase in the sick list of the ggih at Hong Kong, whenever any detach- ment of the regiment came back from Kowloon, Snell 188-1 go Great prevalence of fever and miasnia in the ggth, regiment consequent to its removal to Kowloon in Sep- tember 1864, ib. 354-358 Great sickness and mortality, attributed entirely to their stay, of the ggth at Kowloon, ib. 433. 436, 437. con Relief of the 11 that Natal, by the ggth Irom China; exceedingly miserable and sickly ndition of the latter on arrival at the Cape, Jeniier 1 441-1446. Statement intended to show that the great sickness at Kowloon may have been lareelv owmg to indiscretion and intemperance on the part of the men. Moody 2787 07Qi_27Qq -—Witness does not recollect any special reports by the principal medical officer rela- tive to the huts at Kowloon in connection with the accommodation of the oath ib 2778 2779. yy > • //"> Report by Medical Board, dated 26th November 1864, upon the sanitary state of Kow- loon, and the sickness and mortality among the ggth regi.nent there,.^;,;?. i8g-ig2 Sanitary report of Surgeon Snell for the year 1863, when a portion of the regiment was quartered at Hong Kong and Kowloon, App. 24()-24g. Sanitary report of the 99th Regiment serving at Hong Kong and Kowloon, under the medical charge of Surgeon Snell, from 1 January ,864 tS 31 December ,8Q^,App. 266- 278 --Returns showing in detail the sickness, diseases, and mortality aniong the reai- ment in 1864, 10. 266, 267. J = '^ "^b' Return of the strength and de.ths in the regiment at Hong Kong and Kowloon in 1864, with a detail of the duty performed, application of the soldiers' pay, and extent of crimes and pumshment during the year, App. 279, 280 Return showing the specific diseases NIN NIN 61 Report, 1 866 — continued. Ninety-Ninth Regiment — continued. 2. Sickness and Mortality at Kowloon — continued, diseases by which the admission into hospital, and deaths have been occasioned, in the ggthRegimentatKowloon, during the year \^Q^,App. 281,282 Statement of the daily sick in hospital at Hong Kong and Kowloon in 1864, ih. 283. Remarks by Dr. Dick, in his general report for 1864, relative to the sanitary condition of the regiment during the year, and the injurious effects of its removal to Kowloon in September, App. 306 Annual return of sickness and mortality of the regiment from i January to 31 December 1864, 16.308-312, Report of Surgeon Snell to accompany the annual return of sick and wounded of the ggth regiment for the year 1864 ; details therein relative to the sanitary state of the regi- ment, and the causes of the great sickness in the latter portion of the year, App. 313- 331- Returns showing the unfortunate results which followed the change of station of the ggth Regiment from Hong Kong to Kowloon, App. 3ig-32i Statistics in detail rela- tive to the various diseases from which the men suffered during the year 1864, and the sickness and mortality caused by each disease, ib. 321-328. Statement by Mr. Snell, under date 25th February 1865, that the present condition of the men is unsatisfactory in the extreme, App. 331, Nominal return of men of the ggth Regiment, invalided to England from China, from 1st January 1863 to 7th November 1.865, showing in each case the disease, the result of the voyage, and the result afttr landing, App. 408-410. Remarks by the committee upon the great sickness ^nd mortality consequent upOn the sudden removal of the ggth Regiment from Hong Kong to the huts atKowloon, Rep. iii, iv. 3. Effects of placing the Men under Tents at Kowloon : Better health of the ggth when under tents at Kowloon than when put into huts, Sir J. H. Grant 2iog, aiio. 2163(2164 Report made after the regiment had been a short time at Kowloon of the great increase of sickness which had taken place ; option given thereon by witness to move the men about under canvas, and to place a portion of them on board the " Hercules," Moody 2772-2774. 2781, 2782. 27g4-27g7. 2800 Decrease of sickness among the ggth at Kowloon after General Guy had ordered them under canvas, ib. ^jgj. 2834-2836. Exception taken to ihe statement that the health of the ggth Regiment at Kowloon was very much improved by their being placed under canvas in November 1864; there never was, in fact, any improvement in the health of the men after they landed at Kow- loon, Snell 3157. Statement by General Guy as to his having ordered the regiment under canvas, and as to the beneficial effect thereof, App. 1 88. Representations made by Surgeon Snell against placing the men in tents on the Kowloon peninsula, App. 3i7-3]g. 4. State of Health before Removal from Hong Kong : Excellent state of health of some officers and others of the ggth who remained at Hong Kong when the regiment was moved to Kowloon, Snell 3go, sgi Healthy state of the ggth at Hong Kong before removal to Kowloon, Moody 2846. Remarks by Surgeon Si>ell in Report of 15th April 1864, relative to the health of the regiment during the year 1863, and the measures necessary for the prevention of unusual sickness and mortality, App. 248, 24g. 5. Barrack Accommodation for the Regiment at Hong Kong: Necessity of always having a detachment of the ggth Regiment at Kowloon, as the barracks at Hong Kong would not hold all the regiment, Snell 244-246. 271-276 •Continuance of tlie ggth at Kowloon for about five months, half the barracks at Hong Kong havinii been empty nearly all that time, ib. 428-432 Occupation by the troops of portion of the permanent barracks at Hong Kong vacated by the gyth. Moody 2785. See also Invalids. Ninth Regiment. Total strength of the regiment on landing at Hong Kong in February 1865 ; aggregate of about 840 men, exclusive of 34 officers, Sankey 484, 485 Accom- modation of the regiment in the Murray Barracks and part of the North Barracks, except that two companies weie sent to the mat huts at Kowloon, ib. 485, 486. 525-527. Number of men quartered in the Murray Barracks with reference to the proper space available; inadequacy of the accommodation, /Sa/zAey 488-4go. 4g6-5i 0.5 18-524. 535 Small portion of the North Barracks occupied by men of witness's regiment, ib. 4gi- 4g5. 500 Information relative to the number of deaths and invalidiiigs in the 2d battalion of the 9 th Regiment, from the time of its landing in China, z6. 698-715. 761-765 Overcrowding at Hong Kong, to which the excess of sickness in the regi- 442— I. H 3 ment 6'2 NIN OFF Report, 1866 — continued. Ninth Regiment — continued. 1 ment was partly owing, Sankey 760 Great excess of sickness in the month of August, ib, 761-764. The average strength of the gth in 1865 was 786, including all ranks, Egerton 1056 The average number of sick during the year was 65, the deaths were 45, and the number invalided ^nd sent home, 84, ib. 1057-1059 The deaths on the passage home were 28, tlie total deaths being 73, ib. 1061, 1062. Copy of all correspondence which has taken place in 1864-66 relative to the sickness and mortality in the 2nd Battalion of the gth Regiment in China, App. 183 et seg.-. Return of admissions to hospital, and of deaths in tlie regimentj ffom 1st June to 20th October 1865, ib. 204. Proposal by the Horse Guards, in letter of 1st February 1 866, to remove the gth from Hong Kong to Japan, App. 222 Approval by the War OfBce of the foregoing arrange- ment, il). Pisepiharkation return of ihe 2nd Battalion at Hong Kong on 8th February 1865, arrived from Gibraltar ; mode of distribution of the battalion, App. 37S-380 Annual return for 1865, containing details on various points, ib. 384-387 — ^Annual return for 1864, containing sundry details, ib. 3g2-395 Monthly returns of the service com- panies of the 2nd Battalion for January, February, and March, 1866, ib. 396-398. Nominal return of men of the 2nd Battalion gth Regiment, invalided to England from China, from i.st January 1865 to 3rd February 1866, showing in each case the disease, the result of the voyage, and the result after landing, App. 402, 403. Loss of ^00 men by death and invaliding home in the 2nd Battalion gth Regiment, in the year ending 1st March 1866, Hep. iii, iv. Non-Commiissioned Officers. Large number of upn-commissioned officers lost by death and invaliding, SawAez/ gg5. 1007. loog. North Barracks {Hong Kong). See Barracks. O. Occupation of Hong Kong. Summary by the Committee! of the history of the occupation of Hong Kong by British troops. Rep. v, vi. Officers' Accommodation and Allowances. Very insufficient accommodation for the officers of ihe gth Regiment on landing in Hong Kong; particulars he\ eon, Sankey 487. 511- 515 Payment made by the officers tor their rooms, which were of very good size, ,if>- 5i5;^5i7 Grood rooms eventually provided for the officers, but at an inconve- nient distance from the barracks, ib. 554, 555. Explanation that the United States depot was never actually taken up for the officers, Sankey 556-558 Further information relative to the inadequacy of the accommoda- tion at Kong Kong for the officers, ib. 1031-1035. 1040, 1041 Undue charge made tor two rooms allotted to witness, one of which he gave up to other officers, ib. loq6, 1037. ^ r . p 5 With regard to the officers of v> itness's regiment, lodging-money was given them v^herewith to provide quarters, Jenner 1588-1590 Better accommodation available for the officers than in the United States dep6t hired for the purpose, ib. 1618-1620 (jreat expense to the officers in going about in chair carriages, there being no special allowance for this^ ib. 1633-1637 Allowances of witness adverted to with refereiice to tlie expense incurred for chair-carriage, ib. 1873-1879. Explanation with reference to the officers' allowance that the matter was not finally settled when witness left the War Office ; views entertained by him on the subiect L,ora de Grey 2431. j '-'■> Particulars relative to the steps taken by the Board of officers at Hong Kon^ in nro- vidmg officers quarters for the 11 ih Regiment, Moody 2671-2684, Opinion that the allowances oHhe officers are very full, Galton 3086-— Opmion at to the^nJSe ina e- quicy of the ex ra pay of 13.. a day to field officers, and 10 s. a day to captains and subalterns, Sv-ell 3123-3125. 3141, 3142. ^ ^cipuains ana Circumstance of wiiness having to his surprise been called upon to pay 200 rupe-s a month for h.s quarters at Hong Kong, Major Genial Brown 3162 -Dilapidated sfate of w.tnes.'s quarters on h.s first arrival, so that they had to be put in repafr before he occupied them, iJ. 3163, 3164. ' '^ oeiore ne scak'rSLtTiT7Vr8fi^"Th^"'?' fP^^'^t'"'^ «->T--il of-n amended :Srst'SSa'sTc;S^ "^^ «-'^ °f ^"— for the Officers OFF P P R 6^ Report, 1 866 — continued. Officers {Sickness and Mortality). Statement in letter of Dr. Dick, dated 27th October 1865, relative to the numerous casualties among the officers, App. 204. Abstract of returns for the years 1863 and 1864, showing the sickness and mortality of officers in those years, App. 235. 254. Overcrowding of Troops. Overcrowding of the troops adverted to by the Committee as a chief cause of the great sickness which ensued. Rep. vi Revitw of the barrack accommodation and hospital accommodation, showing that during the summer of 1 865 they were much overcrowded, ib. vii-xii. See also Barracks. P. J^ay and Allowances. See Allowances. Period of Service. Recommendation by Surgeon Sriell in report of 15th April 1864, that no European regiment should serve for a continuous period of more than three years in the south of China, App. 248. Planting. Irepiovement effecteil in the health of Hong Kong since it has been extensively • planted with trees, Snell 170, 171 Advantage of the planting of trees at Kowloon, Sanke.y 7I9, 720 Beneficial effect derived from the planting of trees, Jenner 1736 There htis not been till lately any oppoitunity lor planting at Kowloon, ib. 1748. Witness has no recollection of the withdrawal of a sum of 50 I. a month for planting trees. Lord de Grey 2449 Inaccuracy of a statement that a sum of 50 I. a year pro- , posed for the purpose of planting near the barracks in Hong Kong was disallowed by the Treasury, Gidtoii 3069. Police. Inadequacy of Chinese police for supplying ihe place of Indian tronp<, as regards the protection of property, Hankey 972-975 In most d^ses the public property under guard at Hong Kong might have been adequately protected by the police, Walker 1103 There is no doubt but many of the duties might hnve been undertaken by the police, Sir G. Lugard 1237. 1241 Doubt as to any steps having yet tie'en taken by , the Governor ol Hong Kong for increasing the local pohi e, ib. 1371-1373. Obstacle to employing native police or waichmen for guard duties, Jenner 1909-I912 -Very indifferent character of the ntitive police force of Hong Kong, so that they would not be suitatile to act as sentries in aid of the troops, Schmidt 2062-2077- The police are of the worst description, Sir J. H. Grant 2152, 2153. Relief to be given by employing Indian or native troops as police on night duties, Moody 2763-2768. 2859; Major General Biown 3181 Utterly untrustworthy character of tlie Chinese police or watchmen, Major General Brown 3180, 3231-3233 Approval of tlie eiriploymeut of Malays or natives of India as a police force in China, ih 3232, 3233. Porter {Women and Children). Circumstances of Dr. Dick having informed witness that he was surcharged for porter ordered by hiin for tlie women and children as a medical comi'crt, Jenner 1601-1603. 1608-1610. Explanation relative to the temporary disallowance of expenditure for porter issued to the wives and childien of soldiers at Hong Kong, Lord de Grey 2436, 2437. Statement in justification of the course pursued by the department in disallowing an expenditure for porter for tlie women and children at Hong Kong : subsequent .lilowaoce of this ex|jendituie upon a proper explanation hai-ing been received from the medical ''officer, Galton 3051-3062-= The expense was incurred in 1864, was disallovved in April 1865, and was re-allovv(d in February 1866, ib. 3055, 3056 The ration allowed by ■Government already included porter, ib. 3057-3063. Details with reference to a, recommendation made by witness, as officiating principal itfed'ical officer in China, for the issue of porter to women and childien of the :2oth Regiment at Stanley, Srae// 3092^3094-^ Official authority under which witness made the recommendation in question, ib. 3093 Witness had no power to order the' issue of porter, which was issued by order of the coiniiiaiKJant upon' witness's recotii- ra«nda!tion, ib. 3095-3099'- 3' i^- Applicaition made to witness in London by letter from the War Office of 21st February 1866, for payment of 15 I. 15s. 4 d. for the porter issued ai Stanley in '.864, Snell 3099- . 3102 : Reply by witness to the foregoing, the matter having been referred 10 the Army Medical Department, and the claim upon witness having been eventually remiited by the War Office on 2nd iVlarch 1866, ib. 3103-3110 Further statea.ent as to the porter , not having been issued upon any order from witness, ib. 3103-311 1. 31 15-3"7- Recommendation by Surgeon Saunders that the regimehtal canteens should always be ;. supplied with porter, App, 214. 442 — I. H 4 Press, Missing Page Missing Page 66 ROBINSON Report, 1 866 — continued. Robinson, Henry, C.B. (Analysis of his Evidence) — continued. officer in witness's department; witness has since heard that the home authorities refused to allow this expenditure, 3349. Opinion as to the impossibility of performing all the duties at Hong Kong with only one European battalion ; reference hereon to the number of sentries required for colonial and imperial purposes, 3351-3368 Withdrawal of the Indian allowances since November 1865, from the European troops in China, saving thereby of about 10,000 I. a year, 3369-3371- 3378- Compilation by witness of ihe estimates for all the departments of the army in China, they being approved by the General before they are sent home to the War Office, 3372-3377 Basis of two European regiments and one native regiment for the esti- mates of 1865-66, and of three Europern regiments'for estimates of 1866-67, 3379-3383 Particulars relative to the estimates prepared by witness for 1865-66, and for 1866-67; excesses in the latter year amounting to 56,288 /., tlie savings amounting to 22,510/., 3384-3401. Saving of 21,926 I. in 1866-67, ''^ ''^^ P''^y of the staflFof the army and the regiments, by withdrawing the Indian allowances, 3385 3389. 3393 Excess of 13,213/. in 1866-67, from the difference in the feeding of the troops, as compared with 1865-66, 3389, 3390- 3393> 3394 Excess of 13,327?. in the present year for barrack accommo- dation, on account of the hired buildings for European troops, in place of native troops, 3395, 3396 Increase of 8,052 I, on the vote for purveyors and hospital services, 3398 ;-Excess of 19,890/. in 1866-67, on the vote for works and build- ings; this embraces a poriion of the new huts at Kowloon, 3398, 3399. Statement relative to the large expenditure incurred in transport for invalids from the European troops, which would never arise if native troops were employed, 3402- 3411 Explanation as regards the excess of the War Office estimates for 1866-67, that the estimates for the previous year do not include the pay of the native regi- ment then in China; probable amount of this item, 3412-3421 Evidence to the effect that the garrison in China was altered as between 1865 and 1866, by the substitu- tion in the latter year of a European for a native regiment, 3422-3440. Instance, in the case of some buildings proposed to be hired for hospital accommo- dation, of the General having felt precluded from sanctioning the required expenditure, 3441-3443- The General is conscientiously a great economist, and was desirous of keeping the expenditure as low as possible, 3443 With regard to the increase on the commissariat vote for 1866-67, ^^^^ was not owing to any alteration in the ration of the soldier, 3444-3446. Kowloon was entirely unoccupied when witness recently left Hong Kong, 3447, 3448 • There are no huts at Hong Kong for European troops, 3449, 3450 ^It would be most dangerous to quarter the Ceylon Rifles, or any other troops in the Kowloon huts, until the place is free from the evil influences of the excavations, 3451-3454 On the arrival of the Ceylon Rifles they will probably occupy the barracks to be vacated by rhe and battalion of the 11th, 3455 In addition to the expense of hired barracks at. Hong Kong, a hospital has been hired at about no Z. a month, 3456-3458. Circumstance of Fletcher's Buildings having recently been condemned by a board comprising the Quarter-master General and others, 3459-346 1 Conclusion as to' General Guy havmg hired buildmgs, instead of building them, because he had no autho- rity from the War Office, except for hiring, 3462-3465 Before leaving Hong Kong witness heard that Dr. Saunders had been surcharged in respect of medical comforts ordered for the sick, 3466-3468. 3488. Evidence in support of the statement that the expense of living is about four times as much in China as in England, 3469. 3474-3485 The men get Indian allowances, and are satisfied, 3470 The officers' allowances are very inadequate ; expectation ''very mail of an amended scale, 3471-3473. 3486 Reluctance of the purveyors' branch to nro- vide milk for the women and children, through apprehension that it would be disallowed at home, 3487, [Second Examination J— Explanation as to the actual expense for hired accommoda- tion in the present year being considerably more than the estimate of witness -^dRo There has been no new scale of allowances for the officers in China since Novemberi86^ 3490 Intimation received shortly before witness left Hong Kong in April 1866, that the issue of umbrellas would be discontinued, 3491-3403— ^Provision bv wftn^ J nf umbrellas for the uth Regiment, they having be7^ JShy the SS^f sYorSepS t considerable numbers at a time, 3494-3496. oiuicK-cepei iii Steps taken by witness in providing helmets upon requisition, 3497, 3498 Cause of some delay ,n the issue of helmets to the nth on arrival, 3499— Distllowance of Tun- kahs for the commissariat corps, though they are necessSffor Euro? LninmpiXn that this was done on an order from home, 3500-3503 Liability oh generaf S ♦LVn Sffi^''^''^''' he authorises any expenditure beyond the amount^uthorised by the War Office, 3504-3508 Instances of disallowance further adverted to, 3505 Greater ROB . S-AN 67 , Report, 1866 — qontinued. I — - — - Robinson, Henr^, C.B. (Analysis of his Evidence)— -continued. Greater economy by having a European regiment and a native regiment, vyith the old Indian allowances, than two European regiments with the reduced allowances, 3509-3511 Facility of calculating the actual cost in the case respectively of the former garrison of one European regiment and two Indian regiments, and of the subsequent garrison of two European regiments and one Indian regiment, 3513-3515 The relative expenses of a white regiment and a black regiment can be supplied by the War Department, 3516-3518- Robinson, Sir Hercules. Letter from Sir Hercules Robinson, as Governor of Hong Kong, dated 13 February 1861, setting foith the colonial view in reg9,rd to the occupation of the ground at Kowloon, Galton 2963, 2964. See also Kowloon 7. Mowland, John Christian. (Analysis of his Evidence.) — Is Military Superintendent of Stores at Portsmouth, 3658, 3659 Served at Hong Kong from March 1855 to April 1862, 3660-3662- Was acting barrack-master at Hong Kong for six years, and con- siders the Murray Barracks the best he has ever seen, 3663-3665. 3768 Very good site of the Murray Barracks ; ample circulation of air in them, 3666, 3667. 3776-3779 — — Average of 700 cubic feet per man in the Murray Barracks, exclusive of the space in the verandahs; conclusion as 10 the suflBciency thereof, 3668-3670, 3730, 3731. 3733- 3740. 3769-3775- 3780. Witness was at Kowloon when some of the huts were erected there, and states that they were built for European troops, and that he never heard any complaint of them ; that is, up to the end of i86i, 3671-3679. 3715-3719. 3741-3745 Mode of construc- tion of the Kowloon huts ; the flooring was three, and a half feet from the ground, 3672, 3673 Belief that the huts were erected at the end of the year 1859, 3675-3678. 3746. 3781-3783. Modes of accornmodation of the women when witness was barrack-master ; there were no complaints, 3680-3682 Accommodation of some of the married men and their wives on the ground-floor of the Murray Barracks; doubt as to this being dangerous, there having been a space for ventilation between the floor and the ground, 3680. 3720- 3726. 3788-3792 Ample supply of helmets in store, and readily obtainable when witness was at Hong Kong, 3683-3685 Defective drainage of the ofBcers' privies at the Murray Barracks ; remedy of this by applying lime or disinfecting fluid, 3686, 3687, 3784-3787. Conclusion that the unusual amount of sickness and mortality in 1 865 was owing mainly to the cuttings or excavations going on, 3688-3691. 3751. When Kowloon was first occupied it was considered a very healthy locality, 3689 -Statement of the garrison at Hong Kong before the Northern Expedition arrived there, and of the way in which dis- tributed, 3692-3695 Great pressure as to accommodation on the arrival of the Northern Expedition; several expedients resorted to, 3695-3702. 3753-31762. 3808- 281 1 Accommodation of troops on board the " Princess Charlotte" receiving ship in witness's experience; belief that in 1865 two of her decks might have been available, 3702-3708. 3799-3803- 3806, 3807. Large expense- incurred in hiring buildings and purchasing stores when witness was barrack-master at Hong, without any difliculty or disallowance on the part of the home authorities, 3709-3714. 3727-3729- 3804, 3805 Instances of men having on emer- gencies been placed in the verandahs to sleep; justification of this course, 3731, 3761- 0767 Statement as to the healthy character of Stanley Barracks in witness's experi- ence, 3732 Opinion as to the very good accommodation in the huts at Kowloon for temporary purposes, 3734-3736- 3747; 3748- Further statement as to the mortality in 1865 not having been caused by the huts or barracks, but by the cuttings and the general unhealthiness of the Hong Kong cHmate 3749-3751 Very sickly season in 1858; prevalence of sickness in the 59th Regiment adverted to hereon, 3753. 3812-3816 Necessity in 1857 of crowding ihe general hospital ; opinion that on an emergency it could be made to hold 300 men, 3759-3762 There were no orders to stop the cuttings at Kowloon when some of t|ie 96th were sent there on arrival in 1862, 3793, 3794 Accommodation available in a room in the North Barracks over the garrison institute ; this was used in witness's time, 3795-3798. s Saiwon Barrachs. Sickness formerly at Saiwon Barracks owing to the excavations in ■ making the parade ground, Rowland 3691. Samskoo (Native Spirit). See Intemperance. Sanatoriums. Utter failure of the sanatorium establishment at Victoria Peak ; increased mortality through sending patients there, Snell 124-127. 132-135. 140-142-^ — Occupa- tion of the sanatorium or hospital barrack in 1862 and 1863, after which it had to be abandoned, ib. 127. 130, 131. 143. , AcLQ, I. I 2 Remarks 6 8 SAN SAN Report, 1866 — continued. Sanatoriums — continued . Remarks by Surgeon Snell in report of 1.5th April 1864, relative to the entire failure of the sanatorium established at Victoria Peak, App. 248. Statement in general report of StaflF-Surgeon Baring for 1863, relative to the objection- able character of the sanatorium at Victoria Peak, App. 297. Statement in letter from General Guy in November 1865, that a sanatorium should be established, in JapaiH, which would tend very materially to preserve the efficiency of the European troops, and at the same time considerably diminish the heavy expense of sending all invalids home, App. 209. Sankey, Colonel William. (Analysis of his Evidence.) — Is senior Majorof the 9th Regiment, was with the 2nd battalion of the regiment at Hong Kong, from 8th February 1865 till 1st November 1865, 480-483 — ^-Total strength of the regiment on landing^ aggregate of about 840 men, exclusive of thirty-four officers, 484, 485 Accommodation of the regiment in the Murray Barracks and part of the North Barracks, except that two companies were sent to the mat huts at Kowloou, 485, 486. 525-527 Very insufficient accommodaiion for the officers on landing; particulars hereon, 487. 511-515. Number of men quartered in the Murray Barracks, with reference to the proper space available; inadequacy of the accommodation, 488-490. 466-510. 518-524. 535 Estimate of 700 cubic feet as the space per man in the Muiray Barracks, whereas the proper space for China is set down at 1,000 cubic feet, 488. 501-503. 634,635 Small portion of the North L5arracks occupied by men of witness's regiment, 491-495, 500 Payment made by the officers for their rooms, which were of very good size, 515-517 Character of the accommodation for the married soldiers and the women in the huts at Kowloon, 529-534. Representation made by witness when his regiment was inspected in April 1865, that the beds in the Murray Barracks were too close together, 536-338 Strong repre- sentation made by witness and by Dr. Saunders, the senior surgeon of the regiment, in July 1865, against an order from the commandant. Colonel Wyatt, for transferring seventy men from Fletcher's Buildings into the Murray Barracks, 539-542 The rooms in Fletcher's Buildings were to be handed over to the ilth Regiment, 540 Further order subsequently for the transfer of witness's men, in which it was statetl that the barracks were calculated to hold 460 men, 542-544. Absence of any proper accommodation for the nth Regiment on its arrival in Hong Kong, 545-547 Enlire unfitness of ihe mat huts for European troops ; mode of con- struction of these huts at Hong Kong tind at Kowloon, 546-551 — —Period for which the officers of witness's regiment were obliged to sleep two in a room, 552, 553 Good rooms eventually provided for the officers, hut at an inconvenient distance from the barracks, 554, 555 Explanation that the United States depot was never actually taken up for the officers, 556-558. Addition made to M'Gregor's premises when taken up for the nth Regiment ; very fine rooms in these buildings, 559-564. 568. 571. 584 Description of the accommoda- tion m Fletcher's Buildings, and of the enlargements made in order to provide for the nth Regiment, 565-571. 582-584 Adoption of all the recommendations of the Board, ol which witness was president, in regard to the hired buildings, &c., for the nth on arrival, 568-574 The Board calculated, however, upon one wing of the regiment being at Kowloon, and upon only half the regiment being at Hono; Kong, whereas nearly the whole regiment was placed in Hong Kong, 574, 575. 611, 612. 642, 643 Arrival of the regiuient some weeks before it was expected, whilst the hired buildings were not ready for six or seven weeks afterwards, 576-581. 595-603. Statement of the force at Ilong Kong and of its distribution when witness arrived in Februiiry 1865, 585-588 Insufficiency from the first of the accommodation in the Murray Barracks for the gth Regiment, 589-598 Occupation of the whole of the permanent accommodation previously to the arrival of the nth, 589. 594 Modes of accommodation of the nth on its arrival, and until the hired buildings Were ready, 604-612. Great expense at which Heard's Buildings were hired for a portion of the lUli Regiment for a short time, 604. 645 Commencement in March 1865 of the local action m regard to bariacks or hired buildings for the nth; no time was subsequently lost in the matter, 605, 606. 625-630 641-648 Equal space per man in M'drego V and Fletchers Buildings as ,n the Murray Barracks, 613-^Further condemnation of the mat huts at Kowloon; they are in fact neither wind-proof nor rain-proof. 614-617. 636-640. 655, 656— -Entire unfitness of godowns for European troops, unlets the buildings were properly re-fit ed and adapted to the purpose by special alteration! It'llX ^I'^^'^y S°°^ l^^^''^'^ °f the men in the hired buildings as^ln the barracks; Belief as to General Guy having reported to the home authorities, befoie witness's arnva m China, that there was no accommodation for the nth Regiment, or for anv more troops, 631-633, 657-659-— Impression that the trial hut proposed .0 be erected at Kowloon was never occupied, 649-654 Kowloon has since been abandonedrand only S A N K E Y. 69 Report, 1 866 — continued. Sankey, Colonel William. (Analysis of his Evidence) — continued. only guards are sent there, 650, 651 Injurious exposure to the heat and wet, ingoing from the huts at Kowloon to the privies, &c., 660-663. Importance of largely reducing the number of European troops at Hong Kong, and of supplying their place with native or Indian troops, 664-673 Sufficiency of mat huts for Indian troops, 668-670 Conclusion as to there not being permanent barrack accommodation at Hong Kong sufficient for one stroriij battalion, 674-687 Filthy and unhealthy state of some rooms in the Murray Barracks in August 1865, 688-690. Reference to the accommodation of portion of the nth Regiment on board the " Princess Charlotte," three-decker in Hong Kong harbour, 691, 692 Some men were also put on board the "Hercules," but this vessel was in a" veiy rotten state, and was condemned and sold, 691 Obstacle to providing other vessels as barracks for the men, 693-696 Objections to hulks as compared with barracks on shore, 697. Information relative to the number of deaths and invalidings in the 2nd battalion of the 9th Regiment, from the time of its landing in China, 698-715. 761-765 Deadly malaria produced by excavation at Kowloon and Hong Kong, the ground being a decayed granite, 716 Measures by which Kowloon might probably be made more healthy than Hong Kong, 717, 718. 739 Advantage of the planting of trees, 719, 720. Great sickness caused among a guard of 1 10 men of the gth Regiment, through being at Kowloon for a fortnight, 721. 759 Unfitness of the guard-rooms for European troops, 722 Non-adoption of any steps for the draining and planting of Kowloon, 723 Continuance of the excavations, although it was a matter of general conversation that they were productive of nmch sickness, 724-738 The excavations had reference to the formation of the site of a new town, and were under the superintendence of the Royal Engineers, 729-733. 736, 737. Considerable expense anticipated in bringing water to Kowloon from the Chinese territory, 740-746 Belief that the health of Kowloon was not affected by the Chinese mode of cultivation, 747-755 Mortality and invaliding chiefly in July, August, and September, 756, 757- Ovt;rcrowding at Hong Kong to which the excess of sickness was partly owing, 760 Great excess of sickness in the 9th Regiment in the month of August, 761-764 The season of 1865 was considered the most unhealthy in Hong Kong since 1848, 766-769 Excavations at Hong Kong are always considered to be attended with an increase of sickness, 770-775. Unroofing of portion of Stanley Barrack hospital by a typhoon in June 1865, so that it was rendered unfit for the occupation of the sick, 777-779. 787-807 Statement as to the undue overcrowding of the general hospital at Hong Kong irora July to October, 780-786. 808. 817-830 Occupation of the Stanley Barracks by women, convalescents liaving also been sent there, 788, 789; 806 Escort of two soldiers and a non-com- missioned officer in provisioning Stanley Barracks from Victoria, the distance being eight or nine miles: great liability to sickness from this duly, 790-805. Increased accommodation devoted to the sick in the general hospital since witness came home, an order having lieen sent out that the purveyors and purveyors' stores were to be cleared out of the building, 808-810— Question considered whether the com- mandant, in the absence of the General in Japan, should not have taken the responsibility of removing the purveyors, &c., from the hospital so as to give up the whole building to the sick; immense expense of hiring buildings for the purveyors and others, adverted to hereon, 81 1-S26. 845-849. Very insufficient medical staff for deahng with the great mass of sickness, 832-837 Absence of any similar excess of sickness among the civilians to that suffered by the troops; causes of this, 838-844 Circumstance of its having been reported that if the commandant engaged more native watchmen he would have to pay for them, 849-854. Statement as to the undue exposure of the men to the night-air, 855-859 Obstacle to any reduction of the number of night sentries, unless by the employment of more hired watchmen, 860-863. 884-888 — ^Witness cut down as many sentries as possible, 862, ,863. 885, 886 Sanction obtained by witness from the Geneial, on three different occasions, to employ native watchnien combined with the soldiers; refusal afterwards to grant any more watchmen, the expense being the objection, 852, 853. 867-876. Several instances in which witness represented that military sentries might be relieved by others, 863. 877-883 Witness was of opinion that more watchmen might have been employed in lieu of sentries; question as to the truu worthiness of the natives adverted to hereon, 863-866. 892-904 Necessity of out-door sentries at all the Govern- ment buildings in order to guard agamst thieves, 888, 919-921 Share taken in the sentry duties by the artillery, 889-891. 922-925. Mucli less injurious effect of the climate of China upon Indian troops than upon Europeans, 905 Impression as to umbrellas having been issued to the nth Regiment, . Q06-Q08— ^Probable cause of some delay in the issue of hehnets, 909-91 1 Descrip- %42-L I 3 ti"" 70 SAN S A U Report, 1866 — continued. Sankey, Colonel William. (Analysis of his Evidence) — continued. tion of the helmets; defect in there not being adequate protection, against the sun, 912-918. Representations made by Dr. Saunders relative to sending the invalids away in ships without delay, amended arrangements being much required on this score, 926-932. 943 Abandonment of the practice of sending four invalids a-month by the overland route, 933- 939 Illustration of the very inadequate accommodation for the invalids on board the vessels via the Red Sea, 933-942. Advantage if in-door employment could be procured for the men, 948 Several modes of recreation now available to the men, 949, 950. 957, 958 Very deleterious native spirit sometimes drunk by the men, so that it is very expedient always to provide the canteen with ale andporter from England, as well as with a good spirit under proper restrictions, 951-956 Constant addition to the amusements of the men by means of the overplus from the canteen fund, 957, 958. Difficulty in calculating the actual force sufficient for Hong Kong; one battalion of European troops and two Indian regiments would, however, be ample, 959-968 Necessity of Indian troops, else the sacrifice of life must be great, 979-981 Inadequacy of Chinese police for supplying the place of Indian troops as regards the protection of property, 972-975 Necessity of troops in order to perform the escort duty to Stanley, 976-97S- Testimony to the great zeal of Surgeon Major Saunders not only in looking after the sick of his own regiment, but as acting principal medical officer of the station, 978, 979 Suggestion in regard to the provision of some kind of supper for the men, as being very conducive to their exemption from sickness, 980-982. [Second Examination.] Statement in explanation of the supply of punkahs at Hong Kong, with reference more especially to their having been disallowed in the case of non- commissioned officers, 984-998. 1005-1010 Inability of non-commissioned officers to incur the expense of providing themselves with punkahs, 984, 994, 995 Non-allowance of punkahs at Kowloon, and complaint by the men in consequence, 985. 1011 Cir- cumstances of the verandahs in the general hospital not having been provided with punkahs, 985-992. Unwearied effi)rts made by Surgeon Saunders towards improving the sanitary condition of the trdops, 992, 993 Large number of non-commissioned officers lost by death and invahding, 995. 1007. 1009 Treatment of sick women in the huts where they lived, 999, 1000 Very straitened means of the women ; subscriptions by the officers towards enabling them to hve, iODi-1003 Allowance of half a ration a day to the women and a third of a ration to children, 1003. 1025. 1028-1030. Statement as to its having been decided to discontinue the extra pay of 2 437 Great difference between the climate of Shanghai and Hong Kong, 434, 435 Opinion as to to the injurious effect of Kowloon upon the troops quartered there in i860 ; 438, 439 Troops of which the Hoiig Kong garrison consisted, whilst witness was there; entire insufficiency of Indian troops, 440-445 Further statement relative to the bad quality of the water at Kowloon, 446-450. [Second Examination.] — Concurrence in the views of Dr. Currie, as to the importance of employing native or Indian troops in China; that is, not only at Shanghai, but at Hong Kong, 451-460 Difference of climate between Hong Kong and Shanghai further adverted to with reference to the expediency of employing native troops in each of those places respectively, 456-475 Reference to the Beloochees and Sikhs as pecu- liarly fitted for service out of their country, 456. 469, 470 The Malay troops of the Ceylon Rifle Corps are also well fitted for service in China, 476, 477. [Third Examination.] — Details with reference to a fecomtaendatioli made by witness, as officiating principal medical officer in China, for the issue of porter to women and children of the 2otli Regiment at Stanley, 3092-3094 -Official authority under which witness made the recommendation in question, 3093 Witness bad no power to order the issue of porter, which was issued by order of the commandant upon wimess's recom- mendation, 309-5-3099. 31 11. Application made to witness in London, by letter to the War Office, of 21st February 1866, for payment of 15 ?. 15 s. 4 d., for the porter issued at Sfatiley in 1864 ; 3099-3102 Keply by witness to the foregoing, the matter having been referred to the Army Medical De|jartment, and the claim upon witness having been eventually remitted by the War Office on the and of March 1866; 3103-3110 Further statement as to the porter not having beeii issued upon any order from witness, 3103. 3111. 3115-3117 ^Opinion that medical officers will be sadly crippled in the performance of their duties, if liable. 10 disaliowaiices as in witness's case, 3110. 3118. Great importance attalched to some extra pay to the soldiers in China, as a means of their providing themselves with extras in the way of food and comforts, 3119-3140^ Opinion as to the entire inadtetjuacy of the extra pay of 13 ». a day to field officers, and 10 5. a day to captains and subalterns, 3123-3125. 3141, 3142^-^^More satisfaction to the soldier by having the extra allowance in money than in kind, 3126. 3153-3156. Improbability of the extra pay being spent in drink, 3127. 3133, 3134 Temperate state of the 99th when in Hong Kong, 3127. 3152 Impression that the extra meal recommended for the men on night duty, was never sanctioned when witness was in China ; witness is not aware, however, whether alteration has since been made, 3128, 3129. 3135-3137—^ — Opinion that without the extra pay the ration was not excessive, 3132. 3135, 3136. Explanation relative to the quarters occupied in the general hospital at Hong Kong by medical officers and purveyors; there was no misappropriation, nor could the officers well have been elsewhere, 3143-3151 No stores occupied any place that could be used for the sick,. 3147 'Exception taken to the statement that the health of the 99th Regiment at Kowloon was very much improved by their being placed under canvas in November 1864 ; there never was, in fact, any improvement in the health of the men after they landed at Kowloon, 3157. Snell, Surgeon. Sanitary report of Surgeon Snell for the year 1863, when portion of the 99th Regiment was quartered at Hcmg Kong and Kowloon, App. 240-'249—— General conclusions arrived at in this report relative to the sickness caused at Kowlood, the failure of the Victoria Peak sanitarium, and the defects in the transport of invalids, C6. 248, 249. Sanitary report of the goth Regiment serving at Hong Kong, under the medical charge of Surgeon Snel^, from 1st January 1864 to 31st December 1864, App. 266-278 Repetition of Surgeon Snell, in his report for 1864, of representations relative to the state of Kowloon, the transport of invalids, &g., tS. 278. 442-I. L 76 SNE STR Report, 1866 — continued. Snell, Surgeon — continued. Report of Surgeon Snell, to accompany the annual return of sick and wounded of the 99th Regiment for the year 1864: details therein relative to the sanitary stale of the regiment, and the causes of the great sickness in the latter portion of the year, App. 313-331 Remonstrance made by Surgeon Snell against the removal to Kowloon, but without effect, ih. 313-316. Soil {Hong Kong and Kowloon). Peculiarity of the soil of Hong Kong, which renders the place very subject to fevers of a dangerous character, Snell 3, 4 Causes in the soil as well as in the climate which render Kowloon very unhealthy for the troops, ib. 119-123* 192— ' — Deadly malaria produced by excavation at Kowloon and Hong Kong, the ground being a decayed granite, Sankey 716. Information, in reports of medical officers for 1863, 1864, and 1865, relative to the physical geography of Hong Kong and Kowloon, App. 236-341. 249. 255. 261. 268. 284. 288. Information in genetal report of Dr. Dick for 1864, relative to the formation of the Soil, and the causes of itsiiyurious effects upon health, App. 299* See also Excavations. Stanley: 1. Barracks and Hospital. 2. Escort Duty. 1. Barrachs and Hospital : Dilapidated state of the Stanley Barracks ; accommodation in theiii of the women ahd children of the 20th Regiment to September 1865, Snell 277, 278 Further reference to the dilapidated state of the Stanley Barracks, so that they are not fit for occupation by European troops, ib. 304-310- Inacctiracy of a certain return stating that there is accommodation for 88 patients in Stanley Barracks Hospital, ib. 311, 312. Unroofing of portion of Stanley Barrack Hospital by a typhoon in June 1865, so that it was rendered unfit for the occupation of the sick^ Sanhey 777-^779. 787. 807 Occupation of the Stanley Barracks by women, convalescents having also been sent there, ih. 788, 789. 806 Accommodation of married men, their wives and families, at Stanley, Jenner 1473, 1474. 1501^^ — Stanley Barrack is now used fot a sanitarium at certain times of the year, ib. 1568. Dilapidated state of the Stanley Barracks, so that they would not now hold more than about 170 men, Sir J. H. Grant 2097^2100 — ^Reduced number of patients for whom there is accommodation in Stanley Barracks Hospital, as it has been found necessary to double the space allowed perman,j'6. 2101. 2102. Sickness at Stanley Barracks in 1844, owing to the excavations, Rowland 3691 Statement as to the healthy character of Stanley Barracks in witness's experience, ib^ 3732. Returns showing the force stationed at Stanley on 1st January in each of the years 1862-66, ^^/j. 227-231 Information relative to the climate and physical geography of Stanley, ib. 261, 262 Particulars relative to the barrack accommodation in 1864, and the defects requiring correction, ib. 262,263 Statement as to the hospital accom- modation, and the ventilation and warming, ihe drainage, water supply, &c. of the hospital, il. 265. Amount of accommodation in the barracks at Stanley adverted to by the Committee Rep. viii Reference to the abandonment of the barracks at Stanley, in 1861 on account of their insalubrity^ ib. 2. Escort Duty : Escort of two soldiers and a non-comtaissibned officer in provisioning Stanley Barracks from Victoria, the distance being eight or nine miles ; great liability to sickness from ttiis duty, Sankey 790-805 Necessity of troops in order to perform the escort duty to Stanley, ib. 976^978 Necessity of an escort being sent daily with the provisions to Stanley, Brown 3188, 3189. *^ Conclusion as to the escort duty to Stanley having been especially injurious to the Jburopean troops, Hep. vu. Stoppages from Pay. Similar hospital stoppage in China as in any other foreign station utider imperial regulations, the stoppages and allowances in India beins altogether of a special character, Galton 3088-3090. ° Straits Settlement. Intention of the War Office to provide the Straits Settlement and China with native troops from Ceylon rather than to borrow troops from India, Sir J. H. Grant 2256, 2257. ' Letter from the Horse Guards to the War Office, dated lo February l866 with reference to the force to be employed in the Straits Settlement, App. 223. ' TAK TRI 77 ■Report, iS66— continued. Taku Forts. Instructions from the War Office to General Guy, dated 3rd December 1864, directing the withdrawal of the troops from Shanghai and Taku, App. 186. Temperature of Hong Kong. Very. sudden variations of temperature during the winder months at night, Snell 4, 5 Necessity of three different descriptions of clothing, in order to suit the variations of the temperature at the different seasons, and the change3_ between the day heat and the night cold, ib. 44. Information supplied in reports of medical officers relative to the climate and physical geography of Hong Kong and Kowloon in the years 1863, 1864, and 1865, and the influence of the climate on health and disease, App. 23d. 241." 249. 25.5. 261. 268. 284> 208. Tents. Statement as to tents having been found more healthy at Kowloon than the mat huts. Sir J: H. Grant 2109, 2110. 2163, 2164 Opinion that on the arrival of the 11th it would have been better to put them into tents than into the huts at Kowloon ih. 2163-2168. See also Ninety-ninth Regiment, 3. Transport of Troops. Great delay and uncertainty in the dispatch of invalids from Hong Kong; amendments required, SneW 144-155 Statement as to several broken-down men of the ggth Regiment, who were passed by an invaliding Board in May 1863, having been kept during the summer to pine and die off for want of transport, ih. 144, ' 145. igl, 152 Representations made by Dr. Saunders, relative to sending the invalids away in ships without delay, amended arrangements being much required on this score, Sankei/ 926-932. 943. Statement relative to the large expenditure incurred in transport for invalids from the European troops, which would never arise if native troops were employed, Robinson 3402-3411 Tender of two ships for taking the 2nd battalion of the nth back to the CapR, the lowest tender having been 35,000 I., ih. 3406-3408 It was computed that the invalids cost about 50/. a man to send home, ib. 3409-3411. Instructions sent out in the spring of the present year, to forward invalids home by every available ship having a surgeon, or to send them to Japan, if the change were desirable, Sir J. B. Gibson 3556-3559.,' Remarks by Surgeon Snell, in report of 15th April 1864, relative to the great uncer- tainty and delay in the dispatch of invalids from Hong Kong, and the expediency of a regular system of transport, App. 248, 249 Further remarks by Surgeon Snell, in his report for 1864, relative to the improvements required in the transport of invalids, ib. 278 Further remarks by Surgeon Snell, under date Hong Kong, 25 February 1865, as to the importance of speedy removal of invalids, ib. 331. Largely increased expenditure in the cost of transport, through the employment of European troops exclusively, Rep. xi. Treasury, The, Score of economy on which the Treasury pressed for the removal of the Indian troops. Sir G. Lugard 1389-1394 Financial considerations by which the Treasury were actuated in wishing for the withdrawal of the Indian troops from China, Lord de Grey 2432. Correspondence between the Treasury and the War Office, in the years 1859-62 and in May 1865, on the subject of the allowances of officers serving with the British troops in China, App. 445-455. Trial Hut {Kowloon). Impression that the trial hut proposed to be erected at Kowloon was never occupied, Sankey 649-654 Steps taken for erecting a trial hut at Kowloon before witness came away, Jenner 1734, 1735- Very little benefit to be derived from the experimental hut at Kowloon, Sir J. H- Grant 2226. 2229 Impression as regards the excavations at Kowloon, that the erection of a trial hut was all ^hat was ordered by the War Department, Lord de Grey 2444-2446. Explanation as to the trial hut having only just been commenced when witness left in May 1855, though it was ordered to be erected in 1863, Moody 2512, 2513. 2528-3539. 2553. 2596-2600 Difficulty as to the site for the trial hut, as the hut was to be built on part of the site of the future barracks, ib. 2514, 2515. 2529. 2537-3539. 2553 Objection made by witness against the actual spot chosen for the trial hut, as he con- tended it should be erected on the lowest and worst part of the site on which the bar- racks were to be built ; he was, however, overruled in the matter, ib. 2525-2527. 2539- 2543. 2571 Requirement, for the purpose of temporary huts, of the ground upon which the trial hut was to be erected ; hence the delay, ib. 2529. 2538, 2539. 2553. 2596- 2599- Considerable excavatiort necessary in clearing the ground for the hut; enhanced ex- 442 — I. 1 2 pense 78 TRI UMB Report, 1866 — continued^ Trial Hut {Kowloon) — continued. pense on this score beyond what was first estimated, Moody 2532-2537 Suggestion made by witness in regard to the trial hut being so built as to form a permanent portion of the intended barracks, ib. 2544 Circumstance of witness having been compelled to postpone the excavations for the trial hut through complaints of the sickness caused by them, although some Admiralty excavations close by were never stopped, ib. 2554-2556. 2580, 2581. 2588-2594 Impression that the hut was to hold about 60 men, ib. 2577- Locall circumstances by which the erection of the trial hut was delayed. Moody 4636. 2648 Interval necessary after the completion of the trial hut before its occupation, ib.. 2636-2638 The hut is constructed as the lower storey of a barrack, ib, 2639 Causes i)f the increased expense of the trial hut further adverted to, ib. 2640-2643 The home authorities have nothing to do with the site chosen for the tiial hut, which was arranged by a Board in which witness was in a minority, ih. 2643-2646. Witness left Hong Kong on 15th April 1866, and the trial hut at Kowloon was then about half finished, Edwards 2862-2865 The hut ought to be completed by October or November 1866, ifi. 2865 By the end of the present month it wiU l>e quite safe to put a few men into the trial hut, ib, 2866-2871 rPermanent nature of the trial hut, which is well built and is supplied with verandahs.'iJ. 2871-2874 Room for about 50 men iu the hut, though if 1,500 cubic feet per man be required the number of men must be re- duced, ih. 2875-2879. ' Nature of the instructions from the War Office, in March 1862, relative to the trial hut ; discretion left to Colonel Moody in regard to the site. Gallon 2895-2897 Ne- gotiations between the War Office and Colonial Office from 1862 to 1864, relative to the site 10 be allotted to each, so that the erection of the trial hut was necessarily delayed during the period, ib. 2898. 2900-2902. 2913-2926 Local circumstances owing to which, though the site was finally allotted in 1864, there was much further delay before commencing the hut, so that it will not be completed till September, ib. 2898. 2904. The War Office has constantly urged the commanding engineer to report why the construction of the hut was not going on faster. Gallon 2898, 2899 Diminished use of the hut through the ground having been so much disturbed all round, ib. 2941-2943 Local causes of the delay in the completion of the hut, the home authorities not being responsible in the matter, ib. 2970-2977 ^The trial hut is the result of the ori- ginal scheme of Sir Hope Grant, whilst the delay in the erection of the hut was not the fault of the War Office, ib, 3031-3036. Comment by the Committee upon the great delay in the erection at Kowloon of a special; hut for testing the healthiness of the site. Rep. vii^ — To this delayis due the fact that in 1,865 the healthiness of the site had neither been tested, nor had barracks or hospital been built when the troops arrived from the Cape, ib. Twentieth Regiment. Very healthy state of the 2nd battalion of the 20th Regiment on its arrival at Hong Kong from England in December 1863, Sne/Z 203 Occupation of the huts at Kowloon by the 20th between December 1863 and June 1864, when they were removed to Japan, in a V£ry unhealthy state; great sickness from fever and cholera during this period, ib. 203-211. 237-243 Severe suffering of the 20th at Kowloon as well as of the 99th, Moody 2847-2849., Representations made liy witness to the War Department, in January 1864, as to the difficplty of finding accommodation for the 2nd battalion of the 20th Regiment on its arrival in Hong Kong, Major Gen. Brown 3174, 3175 Necessity of running up ad- ditional sheds at Kowloon and of sending the 20tli thither, ib. 3176 Great exertion necessary m order to get ready some accommodation at Stanley for the women and children of the 20th, ib. Statement that the 20th Regiment not having been sent to China for a permanency, witness saw no emergency which called upon him to incur any unusual expenditure for their accommodation^ ib. 324a-3'254. Proposal by the Horse Guards in letter of 1st February 1866, to remove the 20th Regiment from Japan to Hong Kong, App. 222 Concurrence of the War Office in the foregoing arrangement, ib. Remarks by Dr. Dick, in his general report for 1864, relative to the health of the regiment when stationed at Kowloon from January to June, App. 305. U. Umbrdlas. Expediency of the men being supplied with umbrellas, as when witness was a Hong Kong; reference hereon to a rumour that these have been taken away, Smll ^^^T~ p^T'T- ^' to umbrellas having been issued to, the nth Regiment, 5a»/tey ^n^^^L P '?^'T''*° w'tnessjhavingdrawnonly 100 utnbrellas for his men, Je« J 1920,, 1921 Jnttmation received, shortly betbre witness left Hong Kong, in Apr 1 1S60 that.the issue of the umbrellas would be discontinued, Robinson 34^1-3493 Provision by wuness of umbrellas for the iith Regiment, they having been^ issued by the Sry storekeeper m considerable numbers at a time, ib, 3494-3496. miuiary V E R w A R 79 Report, 1866— continued. -Jenner 1628. Verandahs. Want of verandahs in fhe liired buildings at Hong Kong- 'f rit^ Importance of verandahs as a most essijntial comfort in such a chmHte as that ot Ohina, Sir J. H. Grant 2103 ■ Defect in the iiired buiWin-s in having no verandahs, Jirown 3247— —Instances of men having, on emergencies, been placed in tlie verandahs to steep ; justification of this course, Rowland 3731. 3761-3767. Importance afitaehed by Dr. Dick, in his report for 1864, to the provision of verandah* at KowIqqb,, App, 255.. '^ Victoria {Hong Kong). Greatly improved health of the town of Vict'oria now that excava- Uons ifaave ceased, and that the drainage and water supply are good, Snell ^. 17 Healthy character of the town of Hong itong; at the present time the fever is very prevalient m the country around, i6. 414-419. ' See also the Headings generally throughout the Index. Victoria Peak Sanitarium. Utter failure of the sanitarium established at Victoria Peak ' increased mortality through sending patients there, so that it had to be abandoned, Snell 124-127. 132-135. 140-143. Remarks by Surgeon Snell on report of 15th April 1864, relative to the entire failure of the sanitarium established at Victoria Peak, App. 248, Statement in general report of StsifF Surgeon Burins, for 1863, relative to the objection- able character of the sanitarium at Victoria Peak, App* 297. W. Walker, Captain Albert L. (Analysis of his Evidence.) — Captain in the 99th Regiment ; was for a time garrison adjutant of the Regiment at Hong Kong, 1067-1069 Supplies particulars of the garrison guards, and regimental guards, at Honjr Kong and Kowioon, in 1863 and i8€49 showing the number of men of the 99th and of native troops employed, 1070-1089 Constant reduction made in the guards, as there were not men enough to , furnish the duties, iq88, 1089. 1094-1097, 1104-1110— —Belief that there was no loss of property through the guards being reduced, 1090 Practice of placing the Euro- pean sentries as much as possible under cover, 1091-1093. Opinion that, with the exception of the main guard and the regimental guard, all the duties might have been performed by Indian troops, 1098-1102. iii6 in most cases the public property under guard might have been adequately protected by the poiice, 1103 Severe character of the duty the men of witness's regiments, having only thiee or four nights in bed weekly, instead of five or six, 1107-1110 Additional watchmen provided from the native troops, instead of mounting the latter on guard ; there were also a few Chinese watchmen, 1111-1119 The 99th had nothing to dio vvith furnish- the escort to Stanley, 1121-1123. War Department. Explanation as to the War Office havinsf still decided to send back the native troops, and to send on the 11th Regiment to Hong Kong, although on 29th , December 1864, a letter was received from General Guy, stating that it would be im- possible to provide accommodation for the latter. Sir E. Lugard ti^o et seq. Witness does not recollect any consultation at the War Office with the Horse Guards before the 1 ith were ordered out to China, Sir J. H. Grant 2245, 2246. Letter from the War OflEice to General Guy, dated mth January 186.5, adverted to as not stating that any particular regiments would be sent out, but only that there would be the same number of European battahons as previously. Lord de Grey 23H3, 2384 Statement in justification of the course pursued by witness in leaving a large discretion in General Guy, relative to the distribution of the troops, iS. 2388, 2389. 2392. 2403- 2406. 2409, 2410. Doubt as to the War Office authorities being responsible for any delay in the provision of accommodation generally, JMooiy 2633-2636. 2648. 2652, 2653 Witness never imagined that the Secretary of State for War would have deemed the Kowioon huts fit for Europeans as permanent accommodation, Major General Brown 3237. Copy of all correspondence which has taken place on the part of the War Office in 1864-1866, relative to the sickness and mortality in the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Regi- ment, and the 2nd Battalion of the 1 ith Regiment in China and Japan, App. 183 et seq. Letter from the War Office to General Guy, dated 3rd December 1864, directing . the withdrawal I of the troops from Shanghae and Taku,. and the sending back the two Bombay regiments to India, the distribution of the remaining force being left to General Guy, ib. 1516 Reply by th&War Office, dated loth January 1865, to General Guy's letter of 12th November 1864 j statement therein that Earl de Grey mu^t rely on General Guy making the last and most economical arrangements in his power for the accommodation of the troops, ib. 187, 188. 442— I. li 3 Communication 8o WAR WAT Report, 1866 — continued. War Department — continued. Communication from the War Office to the Horse Guards, dated 10th January 1865, statmg that Earl de Grey is not prepared at present to make any further reduction of the force in China, dpp. 432. Letter from the War Office to General Guy, dated 26 March 1866, calling for explana- tions with reference to the mode of disposal of the 1 ith Regiment on arrival in China^ ^iJ?- 437» 438. , Comment by the Committee upon the course pursued by the War Department in the matter of the removal of the Indian troops from China, Rep. xi — " — Circumstance of no demand having been made on the Admiralty to instruct the Admiral in China to furnish accommodarion for the troops on board the man-of-war or receiving ship at Hong Kong, ib. xi, xii Threefold mode of provision contemplated by the War Department for the troops on the arrival of the iith Regiment j non-realisation of these expectations, ib. xii. Opinion expressed by the Committee that fuller instructions from the War Depart- ment to General Gay, relative to the distribution of the force, instead of limiting General Guy's discretion, would have enlightened and strengthened him in its exercise. Rep. xii. See also Barracks,. Distribution of Troops. Eleventh Regiment^ Garrison of Hong Kong. Guy, Major General. Hired Buildings. Indian or Ndtipf Troops. Watchmen. Circumstance of its having been reported that if the Gomnaandant engm^edl more native watchmen he would have to pay for them, Sankeif, 849,-854 San.qtioi)i obtained by witness from the General, on three diflferent occasions, to employ native watchmen, combined with the soldiers; refusal afterwards to grant any more wat^fjraen,, the expense being the objection, 25. 85.2, 853. 867-876— — ^Witness was of opinion thaS more watchmen might have been employed in lieu of sentries j question as to th# trust-- worthiness of the natives adverted to hereon, ib, 863-86,6, 892-904. Additional watchmen provided from the native troops, instead of mounting the latte» on guard; there were also a few Chinese watchmen, Walker ill 1-11 19— r-Sanction, given by tlie War Department on former occasions to the expense of hired watchmea and police for relieving the troops of certain duties, Sir E. Lugard Iij2-^iiy8. 1278- 1283 Facilities by means of police or hired watchmen, of relieving the troops of several guard duties; full discretion in the General to employ watchmen, ib. 1237-I24