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FLOATING DEFENCES.*
*
Appendix No. 4.
HONG KONG.
Floating defences and torpedoes
With reference to the recommendation in paragraph 10 of the despatch of the Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 6th March, 1880,† that Her Majesty's Government should rely more on floating forts, such as the iron-clad " Wivern," and torpedo defences, than on a costly as a means of defence for Hong scheme of numerous land batteries, it need only be pointed out that even to Kong. provide one vessel of the "Wivern" class and two heavy gun-boats, with a certain number of torpedo launches, would involve an immediate outlay of 280,0007., a sum greater by 100,0007. than the actual cost of the works and armament now proposed.
The cost of maintenance, too, would be much higher than that of works on shore. To defend Hong Kong by naval means, even against the Chinese, would require, I may say, at least double, if not three times, the above-mentioned force. Further, to secure these vessels for harbour defence exclusively, it is pre- sumed that their cost would have to be defrayed from the Vote for the defences of the place, as they would not be available for the general service of the navy.
If by "torpedoes" is meant a system of submarine mining defence, it has been already explained why any regular system of such defence is not applicable to Hong Kong, and, if it were, the mines would be of no use unless protected by guns on shore.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, the scheme of defence, as laid down in this letter, is entirely in accordance with that of the Local Defence Committee as regards the positions and main armament of the sea batteries.
The main points of difference are :—
a few detached groups of
1. That it is here proposed to substitute electro-contact mines for a regular system of submarine mining defence.
2. That a regular cavalry force has not been considered necessary, and has not been provided for.
3. That an increase of the strength of the infantry force at Belcher's Point has been recommended.
The total cost being estimated at:-
Batteries
Armament
Submarine mines and extra store buildings Barracks
Entrenched posts, &c.
Mountain batteries
Naval defences
Add for hospital
•
:
:
£
93,908
77,545
4,000
89,240
25,000
500
80,000
370,193
25,000
Cost of floating defences.
Say
..
395,193
400,000
I have, &c.
(Signed)
W. CROSSMAN, Colonel, R.E.
DEFENCES OF HONG KONG.
Sea Defences (Military).
(Table No. 1.)-RETURN showing Armament and Cost.
Cost.
Battery.
Armament.
Total Cost.
Works, Armament.
No. of Royal Artillery.
Remarks.
Eastern-
Kowloon Dock North Point
4 10-in.
£ 12,810
£ 14,340
3 9-in.
3,225
7,386
£ 27,150 10,611
68
51
Conversion of old battery. Ditto.
Quarry Point
4 10-in.
2 64-prs.
22,131
14,335
36,466
100
New battery casemated.
Central-
3 10-in.
Kowloon West
11,277
1 64-pr.
10,755
22,032
68
Battery to be remodelled; 64-pr. as
Kowloon East.
2 9-in.
East
9,533
J
1 64-pr.
4,921
14,457
51
New Battery, 64-pr., to aid in defence of position at Kowloon. Gun in store.
Western-
Stonecutter's East
2 7-in.
4,730
In store.
4,730
31
Central West
2 9-in.
2,950
4,295
7,245
34
Converted battery.
3 10-in.
13,942
10,755
24,697
51
"
Belcher's Point
3 10-in.
..
13,310
10,755
24,065
51
Total
30
93,908
77,545
171,453 508
17 10-in. M.L.R. guus.
7 9-in.
Total
57
2 7-in.
4 64-prs.
* See Table No. 5.
† See Inclosure 1 in No. 88.
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