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18

Position of Officer com- manding.

Water supply.

Food supply. Means of com- munication.

Tools.

Accommoda- tion.

Description of position.

Troops available.

Armament.

The Officer commanding and Officer commanding Royal Artillery will be in the West Battery. The Officer in charge of mine-field defence will be in the Central Battery.

There is a good supply of water from wells on the island, but no tanks. Plenty of barrels should be kept filled with water by coolie labour.

Daily rations and a reserve of seven days' supply of biscuit and preserved provisions. Good roads and paths about the island. There are three piers where launches can come alongside: one near South Shore Battery, the stone pier to the south of the old convict establishment, and the wooden pier to the north of ditto.

Telephone communication exists between the South Battery and head-quarters. Visual signalling must be used on the island.

The tools to be kept in store are-

50 picks.

80 shovels.

6 sets of miners' tools.

9 boxes carpenters' tools.

20 measuring tapes.

30 tracing tapes.

20 measuring rods,

14 mallets.

4 bill-hooks.

14 hand saws.

3 cross-cut saws.

3 saws set cross-cut.

12 files, saw, cross-cut.

3 sledge hammers.

3 crowbars.

8 four-fold rules.

6 field levels.

3 rub stones,

6,000 sandbags.

8,000 yards wire, for entanglement.

The troops in the West position will be in casemates in the West Battery, in the Lazaretto buildings, and in mat-sheds to be put up between the guard-room near Lazaretto and South Shore Battery. Those for the Eastern position will be in mat-sheds to be put up in the valley to the west of the Central Battery.

Section II.

The position consists of Belcher Battery and Fly Point, of a redoubt, and howitzer battery to be made on hill, between 800 and 900 feet level above Belcher, with shelter- trenches pushed forward to the best points for observing the Pokfullum Road, a howitzer battery to be made in the ravine to the west of Fly Point, and emplacements for quick- firing guns for defence of mine-field.

Royal Artillery

Gun Lascars Royal Engineers Infantry.

Total

་་

10" B.L.R.

6" B.L.R. 8" Howitzer. 6" Howitzer.

Q.F.

70

30

10

100

210

Machine

Guns.

Belcher, Upper

>>

Lower

Fly Point

Redoubt on hill

Howitzer Battery, west of

Fly Point

Mine-field defence

General

1*

1

3

1*

::

::

·

:::::

3

:::

::::

3#

Weak points.

Attack.

Means of opposing the attack.

Position of

Officer com- manding.

Water supply.

Food supply. Communica- tions.

There are not sufficient troops to hold Mount Davis, and if this is occupied by the enemy, they command the position.

1. The most probable line of attack will be from Sandy Bay.

2. Less likely line by an advance on the north side of Mount Davis. In either case Mount Davis would probably be first occupied by the enemy.

1. Infantry pushed forward on the Pokfullum Road, overlooking Sandy Bay, with shelter-trench to be made with obstacles in front.

Redoubt on hill, and shelter-trenches and obstacles.

Support from southern defences, No. I Section, viz., howitzer battery, Victoria Peak, and machine-guns on High West.

2. Fire from redoubt above Belcher, and infantry fire from Belcher and Fly Point. The Officer commanding and the Officer commanding Royal Artillery, and the Officer in charge of submarine mining defence will be at Belcher's.

There is a tank at Belcher not yet connected with town supply. Barrels to be filled by coolie labour will be kept everywhere else.

Daily rations and seven days' reserve of biscuit and preserved provisions.

Good roads exist to Belcher and Fly Point; paths will have to be made to redoubt and howitzer battery. Telephone communication exists between Belcher and head-quarters. Visual signalling will have to be used elsewhere.

* Not received.

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