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CHAPTER II (D).
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(ii.) Attack from the Mainland.
6. An attack from the mainland is perhaps the most probable that an enemy would attempt, as the mainland can be approached without coming under the fire of the forts. To meet it, it becomes necessary to push the line of defence up to the chain of hills dominating Kowloon, as they, in the form of a natural fortress wall, present a well-marked feature. An attack from this side may be viewed from two aspects :-
(a.) By one of the Great Powers.
(b.) By a Chinese army.
7. With regard to (a), an enemy endeavouring to effect a lodgment on these hills, which must necessarily be his first objective, is confined to certain landing places and lines of approach. Experience locally gained proves that any landing on the seaboard which abuts on the open sea is only practicable in the very calmest weather, as there is generally so heavy a swell that the conveyance of troops in shallow-draught boats becomes a proceeding so hazardous as to render it unpracticable. An enemy would accordingly be obliged to bring his transports into the sheltered bays and to land his troops therein. A landing having been effected, the broken precipitous country further confines his advance to such routes as are practicable for the passage of troops.
Pathways, for the most part rough country tracks used by grass-cutters or the characteristic inter-village communication of the Chinese, run from the east and west up to the line of hills from the direction of Hebe Haven, and are met by similar tracks from the direction of Junk Bay, while a narrow Chinese paved road runs from Hebe Haven itself over the Customs Pass to Kowloon City. All these tracks are practicable for infantry and for such light field pieces as are capable of being carried on mules or coolies. Similar tracks run from Three Fathom Cove and the eastern shores of Tide Cove to the passes over the chain of hills named respectively the Customs Pass, the Grass-cutters Pass, the Shatin Pass, the Kowloon Pass, and the Lai-chi-kok Pass. On the extreme left of the position, ie., on the west of the chain of hills, the frontier road, a broad metalled road upon an easy gradient, has been constructed from Kowloon to Tai-po-hu. On the west of the Tide Cove there are several Chinese tracks running from the shore up to the villages in the hills, which join one main pathway, the most noteworthy of all, and can thus be said to converge on to the extreme left of the position. This main pathway runs direct from Tai-po-hu over the Lead Mine Pass and joins the frontier road near the Lai-chi-kok Pass.
8. Under the conditions described above, viz., those that confine an enemy to a successful landing of his troops, and to lines of approach that are practicable, it becomes necessary to consider which routes, under these two conditions, are the most feasible and offer the best chances of success, and the dispositions the defence would have to make to meet his attack.
There are, then, three main lines of approach:-
(1.) A landing in Three Fathom Cove and an advance in the direction of Buffalo Pass against the right centre and the right flank of the position.
(2.) A landing in Hebe Haven and an advance via the Customs Pass against the right flank of the position, combined with a turning movement of the Devil's Peak Position.
(3.) A landing in Tolo Harbour in the direction of Tai-po-hu and an advance by the Lead Mine Pass against the left flank of the position.
There is yet one more line of approach, which, although not so feasible as the three above mentioned, must not be lost sight of. It is a landing of troops, under cover of the Lantau and Chung Hue Islands, from the Stonecutters Batteries in Tsin Wan and Gindrinkers Bays and a turning movement round the left flank of the position.
9. Considering each of these probable lines of advance in detail and the tactical dispositions that would have to be made to meet them :
With regard to (1). Buffalo Pass provides a very good artillery position for an enemy's guns, and one that he would doubtless endeavour to secure, as it would enable him to manœuvre his infantry under cover of artillery fire up to the passes over the hills; Tate's Cairn, however, dominates it, and becomes, in conjunction with (2), a tactical point of vast importance, and, having good space on its summit, makes a most excellent gun position, covering a very wide field of fire. There is a police post at
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