Although months have passed since the receipt of the Colonial Defence Com- mittee's Remarks, No. 172 R, of the 30th November, 1897, which accepted generally the principle of the Scheme put forward on

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Sir,

Covering Despatch of Governor.

Government House, Hong Kong, December 16, 1898.

I HAVE the honour to forward herewith Defence Scheme for this Colony revised to December 1898, with enclosures.

The Right Honourable J. Chamberlain, M.P.,

&c.

Enclosure 1.

I have, &c.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor, &c.

Sir,

Covering Letter of the General Officer Commanding in China and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong, December 8, 1898. I HAVE the honour to forward to your Excellency, for submission to the Secretary of State, the Defence Scheme of Hong Kong, revised to date.

Although months have passed since the receipt of the Colonial Defence Com- mittee's Remarks, No. 172 R, of the 30th November, 1897, which accepted generally the principle of the Scheme put forward on the 10th June, 1897, the time has not been wasted, as the garrison since that date have been practised in attacking and defending the various Sections of the defence.

Care has been taken to profit on each occasion by these tactical exercises when they suggested some slight alteration in the position of the defending force.

2. The Scheme does not claim finality, but it has so far stood the test of practice

3. The ruling principle of the defence is that the forts and batteries guarding the entrances to the harbour can hold their own, reinforced, if necessary, from the Reserves.

As regards a force landed at the south shore, while gaining as much information as possible of an enemy's movements by outposts and scouts, to hold the bulk of the available force in a central position ready to move to the threatened point when, the feints over, the real landing-place is apparent.

4. The acquisition of Mount Austin Barracks on the Peak above Victoria Gap is a point of some tactical importance, as it enables us to house some 400 men ready to defend that Section; by Mountain Lodge, to give a hand to the defenders of No. II Section, or, in thirty minutes, to embark at the pier in Victoria to any threatened point.

5. In accordance with the previous orders no notice is made in the Scheme of Defence to assistance from the Royal Navy, but as the four rather lame ducks armed as under* will almost probably, and two of them most certainly, be left in this harbour, it is certainly making the worst of it not to contemplate with satisfaction the strengthening of our means of defence by these slow but mobile gun-platforms, e.g., in an attack on the land front not aided by heavy guns, one of these craft on either side of the Kowloon Peninsula would close the advance by the village of Yaumati on the western side, and by the eastern beach, to the enemy, &c. They would not less aid the garrison in defending the island against a landing-party.

"Wivern'

Swift"..

"Firebrand"

"Tweed"

[199]

4-9-in. R. M.L. guns. 10 machine-guns.

2-7-in. R.M.L. guns. 6 machine-guns. 2-5-in. B.L. guns. 2-4-in. B.L. guns.

3 Gardners. 3-64-pr. R.M.L. guns. 2 machine-guns

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Although months have passed since the receipt of the Colonial Defence Com- mittee's Remarks, No. 172 R, of the 30th November, 1897, which accepted generally the principle of the Scheme put forward on

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