CHAPTER II (D).
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5. Landing on the South.-The probable landing places on the south are at Aberdeen, Deep Water, and Repulse Bays, Stanley, and Tytam Bay.
(a.) From Aberdeen three lines of advance are possible:
(1.) By the main road to Mount Davis Gap and thus to Fly Point, Victoria Battery, and Belchers. The probable line of advance of an enemy would be along the wooded slopes to the north and east of the road, with his left thrown forward on the west of the road, with the object of turning Mount Davis. The attack would be met by No. II Section reinforced from the Reserve and positions taken up by the troops on the east side of the road and on prominent spurs held higher up the hill. A strong picquet would be placed on the top of Mount Davis to meet the flank attack.
The right flank of the attack would be dangerously exposed to enfilade fire from No. III Section by troops on High West, but good cover is afforded to the enemy by the woods growing on the hill side.
(2.) By Mount Kellet Road to Victoria and Plantation Gaps and the road from Aberdeen to Pokfulum. By this advance No. III Section would be exposed to an attack on both sides of the ridge running from Mount Kellet to Plunketts Gap. The attack would doubtless be extended over the slopes, and the flank of No. III Section seriously threatened. The slopes are, however, at this end very precipitous and bare This Section can be of cover, and can be swept by fire from Maxims and Infantry. reinforced from the Reserve by the Peak Road and Magazine Gap.
(3.) By Wanchai Gap Road. This road runs from Aberdeen to Magazine Gap, but is hardly practicable for an advance, and the attack would be similar to that by Mount Kellet. It is also very probable, if the enemy really intend to make a serious attack, that these three lines of advance would be used simultaneously, and then the whole Reserve would be utilized to reinforce these Sections.
(2) and (3) give steep bits of climbing, and it would hardly be possible to advance on the narrow paths under artillery fire.
The 47-inch gun on Mount Kellet Spur would bring fire to bear on boats bringing troops to effect a landing at Aberdeen.
(b.) From Deep Water Bay there are two lines of advance :
(1.) By Wong-nei-Cheong Gap.
(2.) By Little Hong Kong and Middle Gap.
These would be met by the garrison of the Wong-nei-Cheong Section, including two 15-prs., supplemented by the Reserve, and the boats would be under fire from the two 5-inch howitzers above Wong-nei-Cheong Gap. Repulse Bay need not be specially considered, as if ever a landing took place on its steep shores, the advance would be the same as that from Deep Water Bay.
(c.) As regards Stanley, the village might be destroyed, but an advance from here would only be a very much more toilsome way of attacking the points that are more easily attained from Deep Water and Tytam Bays; if an enemy, landing at Stanley, advanced northward over the rugged broken ground, it would only lead him to the spheres of defence of Wong-nei-Cheong Gap and Tytam Reservoir.
(d.) From Tytam Bay the objective of the attack would be:
(1.) To destroy the dam of the Tytam Reservoir and to seize the Wong-nei-Cheong Section; the two 15-prs. allotted to its defence, supplemented by the fire of the two 4.7-inch howitzers from Quarry Bay Gap, would hold an advance over this difficult ground in check until the arrival of support from Wong-nei-Cheong Gap and of the Reserve.
(2.) The deflection of this attack from the Reservoir viâ Quarry Bay Gap need hardly be considered, as it could not take place if the defence at the Reservoir held its
If not, this circuitous route would hardly be adopted.
own.
(3.) Advance by Tytam Gap and Sai-ki-Wan Road need hardly be considered, for after a lengthened march over steep slopes it leads to ground defended by Sywan Redoubt and the garrison of No. V Section. Reserves should reach the Sai-ki-Wan Gap long before the advance from Tytam Bay, on which a flank or rear attack could be made from the Reservoir.
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