Page 115

CHAPTER VI (ii).

Page 115

130

3. The officer in charge is responsible that two look-out men, one of whom should be a signaller, are constantly kept posted to keep a watch on the examination steamer, and that a sufficient number of men to furnish reliefs for this duty, and also the officer or non-commissioned officer next in seniority to himself, know the position of the examination line. The examination battery should have a sufficient number of signallers to admit of at least one being on duty day and night.

4. On the alarm signal for a hostile vessel being made, fire will at once be opened on the vessel, care being taken that the examination steamer is clear of the line of fire. The officer in charge of the examination battery will immediately report to the military officer in command.

5. If the examination steamer signals an incoming vessel as friendly, such vessel will be allowed to pass in without action on the part of the battery.

6. If an incoming vessel disregards the signals from the examination steamer to bring to, and continues to approach the port at speed, a blank round is to be fired in her direction by the examination battery; if after an interval she still has not brought to, a round of plugged shell should be fired across her bows, so as to strike the water at least 100 yards ahead of her; if she fails to regard this warning, after a further interval she is to be treated as hostile.

7. In the event of no signal being made by the examination steamer, after closing an incoming ship, or in her temporary absence, any vessel approaching the examination line should be brought-to by the examination battery as described in Instruction 6.

8. If the examination steamer signals that the incoming ship is undergoing search as provided for by Instruction 4 of (c), the detachments will fall in on the guns, and a sharp watch be kept both on the ship and the examination steamer, so as to be ready should the "aların" be given. Should any hostile action on the part of the incoming ship, such as firing on the examination steamer, be observed, she should at once be treated as hostile.

9. Any vessel flying the colours of an enemy, or which is recognized as belonging to an enemy, or in any way shows herself to be hostile, must be attacked without waiting for the alarm signal, and other batteries must be warned.

10. The examination batteries will be in electrical communication with the main defences, and will always be manned.

(e.) Regulation of Traffic and Harbour Arrangements.

1. The arrangements necessary for regulating traffic and the harbour management on the outbreak of war may be considered under the following sub-heads:-

(a.) Arrangements necessary on the outbreak of war to keep clear the field of fire in front of the defences.

(b.) Arrangements necessary for regulating the traffic into and out of the harbour. The Harbour Master is in all cases the authority for carrying out instructions.

2. Arrangements necessary for (a):

No vessels are to moor or anchor (1) west of line drawn from the pier at West Point to the south-east corner of Stonecutters, and from a military buoy off the north- east Pier at Stonecutters in a north-easterly direction to the mainland, or (2) east of a line drawn across the west side of the Lyemun Pass. All junks and vessels are to move away from wharves before sunset. A quarantine harbour to be selected.

Arrangements necessary for (b)

The regulation of traffic is governed by "Instructions for the Examination Service.” The Harbour Master will be the Chief Examining Officer, and is responsible for the provision of launches and crews. The military authorities will provide the special stores required.

Page 115

Page 115

Page 115Page 116

Share This Page