(40.9/97. 1253)F.0, 644.
Harrison & Sons Lith. S. Martius Laue.W.C.
Page 44
43
Page 44
(iii.) Signalling and Telegraphy.
The Commanding Royal Engineer is responsible for the immediate completion of the telephonic system, in accordance with the Diagram opposite, the work being carried out under the direction of the Divisional Officer for Telegraphs, assisted by a staff of one Company Sergeant Major, Supernumerary Staff, four Sapper linemen from the Fortress Company, and two civilian Chinese permanently employed; clerks and messengers being supplied as below detailed.
The peace stations are in Belchers Lower, Stonecutters West, Whitfield Barracks Kowloon, Lyemun Barracks, the Sanitarium and the Exchange in the Head-quarter Office. On the order for mobilization additional offices are to be opened in North Point, Kowloon West and Kowloon Dock Batteries, and at the Sanitarium, Mount Gough, Mountain Lodge and Wong-nei-Cheong Gap, the lines being permanently erected to these points.
The Telephone Offices for R.A. Chain of Command are all opened, the lines for these telephones are permanently erected, and the instruments are stored in the various forts in the R.A. Stores. They can be connected up at short notice by the R.A. operators, are inspected at intervals by the R.E. linemen to ensure their being always ready for use, and are frequently used by the R.A. at drill.
For telephones not in permanent buildings, temporary shelters are supplied. Table E (iii) shows the distribution of the R.E. Staff during the first day while mobilization arrangements are being completed, and Table E (iv) shows the distribu- tion of all parties, including clerks and messengers, after all telephones have been connected up. The telephones are worked by Infantry clerks. A sufficient number are kept trained in the use of the Vibrator and Morse Code to employ this system in case of a breakdown of the telephones. These clerks report on mobilization at the Telegraph School, Wellington Barracks, and are then detailed to the various offices. The local telephone offices at Belchers, Lyemun and Stonecutters are manned under arrangements made by the O.C.R.A., who also provides messengers for these offices.
Messengers are permanently detailed for the Head-quarter Telephone Exchange and Whitfield Barracks Telephone Office, and on mobilization additional coolie messengers are also provided, two for each of the offices at Stonecutters West, Kowloon Dock, Belchers and Lyemun, and one for Head-quarters and Kowloon West. There is a contract with A. Fuckeera to supply English-speaking coolies at 40 cents per man each day, and they are to be accommodated in tents at all the places named, except at Head-quarters. No messenger is provided for North Point or Wong-nei-Cheong Gap, none being required.
The Submarine Mining Telephones are kept permanently fixed, except those for the stations of the O.C.S.M. at each place, no permanent stations having as yet been provided.
Table E (iii).-DISTRIBUTION of N.C.O.s and men for connecting up Telephones on Mobilization.
Head-quarters
Belchers
Stonecutters
Kowloon
Lyemun
Place.
R.E.
Coolies permanently employed as Wiremen.
Coolies temporarily employed.
Remarks.
North Point
Wong-nei-Cheong Gap
Sanitarium
Mount Gough Mountain Lodge..
Total
:
:
5
1 C.S.M.
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
:
No R.E. Staff available. Must be fitted up by the Infantry clerks.
Page 44
Page 44
31
Page 44