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throughout the year with the exception of a short period
during which there was a strike” for increased pay as a
result of which 119 men were discharged* At present ten
more recruits are required to bring the force up to strength.
The type of man now being enlisted is very much better than
the majority of those discharged.
.Jemadar Aimed Gher has. replaced Subedar Mir Bey
Khan, and although not such an expert in gunnery, he is
a signalling instructor and has already made a great
improvement in the standard of signalling. A number of
the signallers can now send and read up to the standard
Indian Army rate.
(2) Training. Individual and collective training
has been carried cut together with frequent exercises. It
has been found that owing to the very low standard of
education and mentality generally it is a waste of time to
teach the men too many new methods as they cannot absorb
them. They are being given a thorough traning in the more
simple methods.
Sand table schemes and lectures were attempted 'but
were discarded in favour of outdoor practice as they meant
nothing to the N.C.O.s and men. The main lectures now
consist of general lectures on the war situation, mostly
with a view to making the men understand that although
•Muscat i6 not at war she is bound to be affected by it.
The Recruit Training Period has been reduced from
21 weeks to 12.
(3) Artillery. Rigid economy has been exercised
in the expenditure of ammunition owing to the difficulties
of obtaining fresh supplies. The practices that have been
carried out with live ammunition have produced excellent
results. The camels maintained for the transport of the
guns, are being' dono away with and in future will be *
carried