Page 40
Page 40
Page 40
60
(E.)-Action by Officer Commanding Royal Engineers.
The distribution of officers to Engineer districts, and of the Super- numerary Staff and the Fortress Company to Sections and Reserve, will be made as detailed in Chapter II.
The Commanding Royal Engineer will make immediate arrangements with the triennial contractor for the hire of the contract labour, and provision of materials, necessary for constructing the field works and mat-sheds enume- rated hereafter under the head of "Works," and the Schedule thereto.
The distribution of the Hong Kong Company will be carried out as described in (ii), provided that the Senior Naval and Military Officers concur in the necessity of the mines being laid.
A telegraph and telephone system will be immediately completed as explained in (iii).
The Rules for the Regulation of Sea Traffic will be put in force if, and so far, as the Senior Naval and Military Officers concur in such being necessary.
(i.) WORKS.
(a.) Sywan Hill Redoubt.-The construction of the permanent redoubt on Sywan Hill, which has long been contemplated, has been authorized, and will be shortly commenced; the cost of its construction is, therefore, not provided for in the estimate of works to be made on mobilization.
(b.) Sanitarium Redoubt.-The redoubt designed to be constructed around the Sanitarium Barrack will still be required, but in lieu of the other redoubts previously designed on the hill-tops, a system of block-houses, as suggested in
Hong Kong 5
of 21 491, is proposed. War Office letter No.
4258
Block-houses. These will be thirteen in number, and are shown on the map as B 1, B2, &c. The sites for them have been selected below the average fog level, and with a view to their forming shelter for the visual signalling parties, fortified outposts until the advanced lines are occupied, and, subse- quently, strong places on the lines of communication, and the nucleus of a second line of defence.
The type of stone block-house in "Instructions for Field Engineering
The nature of the is proposed. A type sketch is annexed, Schedule VII.* soil is so rocky that in no case can these block-houses be constructed very quickly. It would be advisable to make them, as far as the foundation and walls, in peace-time, and, if possible, they should be completed before hostilities commence; but provision is made in the following estimates for their completion on mobilization, if not previously completed.
Howitzer Batteries.-It is recommended that the howitzers shall be grouped in four batteries of three each, at the spots marked in the map as H1, H2, &c. These spots have been carefully selected at a level below the prevailing fogs, and on heights not too high or distant for effective firing on the bays of possible landing--all of which, with the exception of the distant bays on the east and south-east of the island (from Stanley to Collinson's Light), are more or less exposed to howitzer fire by the dispositions now made.
It is proposed to place the S-inch howitzers at Sandy Bay and Lyemun, to which places there is easiest access by road; the 6·6-inch howitzers being placed on the sites more difficult of access, near Aberdeen and Deep Water Bay.
It is most desirable, in view of the great difficulty of moving them into position, that they should be fixed in time of peace, more especially those at Wong-nei-Cheong and above Aberdeen, where the approaches are very difficult, and the soil is rocky, and that with this view the batteries should be prepared, sites levelled, storehouses for the heavy parts of the ordnance built, and com- munications perfected; but the estimates are made to provide for constructing them on mobilization if necessary, so far as practicable, though in the case of * Not reproduced.
Page 40
Page 40Page 41