Page 277
Page 277
>
>
>
t
t
>
[
8
20
ន
t
I
e
а
=40 80+ 3 @ 64 CERT
:0
S.
of
le
ill
d
at
ships being sunk by torpedoes. The importance of the quick-firing gun and electric light defence, especially of the Western Entrance to the harbour is, however, emphasized by this danger.
6. I requested Major-General Hatton to have the details with regard to the establishment, armament, and availability for military duties of the Civil Police, and with regard to the establish- ment, organization, and distribution of the Fire Brigade transferred to Chapter I, which contained information with regard to the defence resources of the Colony from the first part of Chapter VI which I wished to confine to the definite action of the civil departments in aid of the military.
7. The slight departure involved by the instruction at the end of the Colonial Defence Committee's Memorandum No. 330 M, from the general principle of 'Defence Schemes being entirely based on the resources available at the time of their preparation is not very material.
8. Effect has been given to the recommendations with regard to communications contained in paragraphs 10, 16, 17, and 21 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks No. 373 R.
war
"3
9 and 10. The division of the preparations for the defence into "precautionary” and “ stages has been carried out in the present revision as completely as it would appear possible to make this differentiation, in fact to an extent which, in the opinion of Major- General Hatton (paragraph 25 of his letter) is destructive of initiative and numbing to the sense of responsibility. I am inclined to think that this view is due to an erroneous regarding of the approved Defence Scheme as embodying the orders of the Army Council as to the conduct of the defence rather than as a means of securing careful consideration beforehand of this conduct by every officer concerned in it, and as a guide to the General Officer on whom it may devolve before he has had time to obtain from personal investigation that complete knowledge which it requires.
11. In the matter of distributing regimental signallers and of appointing a Brigade Signalling Officer, I have no doubt that full discretion will be left to the General Officer Commanding, who is far too much impressed with the necessity for utilizing every available rifle for fighting purposes, for him to employ men away from their units on signalling in cases where other arrangements for communication have been or can be made. The detail with regard to message forms mentioned by Major-General Hatton will no doubt be considered at the War Office.
12. The subject of censorship was discussed in my secret despatches to you dated the 6th and 19th May last. I agree with Major-General Hatton that effect is suitably given to the suggestions contained in paragraph 20 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks No. 373 R by the arrangements now detailed in paragraph 2 of "Action by Colonial Secretary," in Chaper VI, by paragraphs 2 and 3 of "Action by D.A.Q.M.G., in Chapter III (C), and under "Action by Censor" in Chapter III (CCC) and Table C. The table will be completed by inserting the names of six civil servants (three British masters of schools and three cadets now learning languages at Canton), and the names of the firms supplying each of the remaining assistant censors and decoding clerks.
13, 14, and 15. The artillery details dealt with in accordance with paragraphs 26 and 27 of the Committee's Remarks require no observation from me. The manner in which the com- panies of the Hong Kong-Singapore Battalion Royal Garrison Artillery are now told off for duty would appear a distinct improvement in organization.
16. The table of field works to be constructed on mobilization includes some items which could apparently be carried out in peace time, and I recommend that the General Officer Commanding be at once furnished with the necessary funds for this purpose.
17. The present state of the question of port war signal stations referred to in the 10th Remark of the Committee, and of communications with them, was dealt with in
my Confidential despatch of the 16th June, 1905.
18. Alterations in the list kept by the Civil Government of private medical practitioners registered for service in the military hospitals in war are communicated periodically to the General Officer Commanding, as are also all other alterations affecting the assistance promised by the civil to the military authorities.
19. The expansion of existing instead of the creation of new hospitals for the treatment of men brought in from the dressing stations is an improvement in the medical part of the Scheme. This part also now embodies the arrangements for civilian assistance proposed by the Local Committee, which made recommendations for giving effect to the suggestions contained in Colonial Defence Committee's Memorandum No. 326 M, referred to in paragraph 9 of their Remarks No. 373 R.
20. In view of the fact that the initial expenditure would presumably not be repeated each week, a sum of 8001. would, on the Chief Paymaster's estimate, provide for the "precautionary stage being maintained for a month. I suggest that the General Officer Commanding should have permanent authority, in the event of the "precautionary" stage being adopted, to incur without further reference the expenditure necessary to maintain it for one month, irrespective of any balance that may remain on the sum allotted for annual manoeuvres.
21. It would be better if the instructions to Section Commanders for their action in peace time were communicated to them by letter or memorandum with their copies of the Scheme than that they should be printed in the Scheme. Defence Schemes have not hitherto been held to be the proper vehicle for communicating orders for action in peace time, and though they are so recognized in paragraph 24 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Memorandum No. 330 M, I think this is a mistake tending to an unlimited extension of the bulk of Schemes to the detriment of their lucidity.
171
[1021]
Page 277
D
Page 277
Page 277