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is still considered somewhat precarious, although the internal conditions of the country are improving.
The nearest French fortified base to Hong Kong is Port Courbet, 460 miles distant.
4. Russia is at present at war with Japan. and it is impossible to forecast her future military and naval position in the Far East.
5. The number of German troops in China is now 4,370, including the garrison of Kiao- chau, which is being increased. There are also about 400 reservists at Kiao-chau, who can be called out when required.
The new harbour works at Kiao-chau are progressing, but the German squadron may still be said to refit at Hong Kong.
6. The strength of the United States' garrison in the Philippines is about 13,200 regular troops. There are, in addition, 5,000 Philippine Scouts commanded by United States' officers, and 6,300 Philippine Constabulary officered by Americans and Filipinos. Some progress has been made with the naval dockyard at Kavite in Manila Bay, but the larger ships of the United States' Asiatic and Philippine squadrons, have at present to refit at Hong Kong, Shanghai, or Nagasaki. Sites have been reserved for fortifications at the entrance to Manila Bay, and near Olangapo in Subig Bay. The latter will probably be adopted instead of Kavite as the principal United States' naval base in the Philippines.
7. The present mobilized strength of Japan is 801,000 men, in every way fit for service in the field, with over 500,000 trained men fit for home service.
Nagasaki is 1,070 miles from Hong Kong. The new advanced base, Formosa, with a garrison of three mixed brigades, about 15,000 men, is 350 miles, and the fortified naval port of Makung,. in the Pescadores, is 317 miles distant.
Japan need not, however, under existing circumstances, be considered as a probable
enemy.
12. Page 2, paragraph 9, and page 4, paragraph 18.-With reference to paragraph 7 of the Committee's Remarks No. 340 R on the 1903 Defence Scheme, the following sentence should be added to paragraph 9 on page 2 :—
Hong Kong is not within the radius of attack by sea-going torpedo boats; and no special local defences are provided (except at dock gates) against attack by carried torpedo boats. The latter form of attack is primarily directed against men-of-war, and is left to be dealt with by them.
Page 4, paragraph 18, requires amendment in this sense.
Chapter 11.-Organization.
13. Page 9, paragraph 1.-Besides giving effect in Chapter II (A) and Chapter III to any alterations that may be made in the organization of the staff at Hong Kong, it will be desirable to consider the application of the new principles to the arrangements for carrying out the staff duties in the sectional commands, which are described in Chapter IV (i).
14. Page 9, paragraph 2. Sectional Oganization.--The new sectional organization in four sections, in which the Colonial Defence Committee concurred in paragraph 10 of their Remarks No. 340 R, has now been worked out in detail, and appears well suited to the topographical conditions and tactical requirements.
The formation of a second reserve at Kowloon, shown at the bottom of page 9, has entailed alterations in the general orders at page 22, and in numerous other places. in the Scheme, which have not been made.
It is possible, however, that the reduction of the infantry garrison will necessitate the abolition of the Kowloon Reserve as a distinct force, and its amalgamation with the troops assigned to the Northern Section. The necessary modifications in the distri- bution of the troops consequent on the reduction of the garrison will require local consideration.
15. Page 11, Table B.-The information as to the distribution of troops and arma- ment in this table is somewhat scanty. It is recommended that it should be expanded on the lines indicated in paragraph 19 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Memo- randum No. 330 M on the precautionary and war stages of Defence Schemes. This would enable the detailed distribution of the whole of the troops to their defence posts to be seen at a glance, as in the form printed as Appendix II to these Remarks, and would provide a check against discrepancies.
16. Pages 13 to 15.-A revision of Chapter II (C) (ii) has been suggested in para- graph 10 above, and Chapter II (C) (i) would be improved by grouping the internal communications of each section of defence together a little more distinctly.
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