Page 30
Page 30
CHAPTER II (D),
19
23
(iv.) To utilize for the defence of the port, unless required for other service, the four torpedo boats and the one harbour service destroyer which are attached to the naval establishment; also a number of local steam craft would be taken up and armed as soon as crews could be provided for them.
(a.) Attack from the Sea on the East or the West Entrance.
5. Attacks on the eastern or western entrances will be met by the fixed armament which is closely supported by detachments of infantry.
(b.) Attack from the South.
Island Section.
6. The system on which the defence of the Island of Hong Kong is based is to hold the main ridge of the island and its gaps, and to watch the coast line.
7. Each flank is held by a company of British infantry, which, for administrative purposes, are under the orders of the Western and Eastern Fire Commanders respectively, and which, in addition to safeguarding the fixed armament on the island, perform other duties which are laid down in Chapter V (11), paragraphs 49 and 63, in which also the boundaries of their areas of action are clearly defined.
The defence of the island is mainly entrusted to six companies of Indian infantry together with certain guns of the movable armament.
8. The main ridge of the island, which is therefore the line of resistance, runs as follows:-Hill 1022 (Pottinger Peak), Hill 1120, Boa Vista, Violet Hill, Mount Nicholson, Mount Cameron via Mount Gough to Mount Kellet, Mount Kellet via Mount Gough to Victoria Peak, High West to Mount Davis.
9. Infantry of the General Reserve, under the direct orders of the G.O.C., are stationed as follows:-
Two companies of British infantry at Mount Austin and Murray Barracks. Two companies of Indian infantry at Taikoo Sanitarium, Quarry Gap. Volunteers at their own drill hall.
10. The Headquarters of the Island Section Commander are at the Sanitarium. He will be in administrative charge of the troops detailed to his section, and of the General Reserve troops at Taikoo.
11. In each sub-section a local reserve is placed on the main position, while at suitable places in the interval between the line of resistance and the coast are the supports, these supports at night and in foggy weather throw out piquets, which in turu find patrols and sentry groups.
The exact positions of local reserves and supports and the approximate positions of piquets in each sub-section are clearly laid down in paragraphs 48 and 51, Chapter V.
12. By day, Officers Commanding sub-sections will furnish sufficient look-out posts to watch the sea approach to the coast line of their sub-sections. The supports will send patrols every two hours round the front of their group areas. The chief rôle of these patrols will be to gather information from police posts, &c., of any unusual
occurrence.
The local reserves will similarly communicate with their own supports.
13. By night and in foggy weather the piquets as set forth in Chapter V, paragraph 51, will be furnished by supports. These piquets will send patrols every hour alternately to the piquets on their right and left. Supports will similarly communicate by patrols with their own piquets. The reserves will furnish detachments at the Gaps and other important points in their line, and will similarly communicate by patrols with their own supports.
Page 30
Page 30
Page 30Page 31