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the cable hut to a different position, which would be known to no one but the Government and the Telegraph Superintendent; this could be done in a night on the occasion arising were the necessary The precautions taken, namely, the digging of a trench from the hut to the point decided upon." secrecy contemplated in the passage which is printed in italics, could hardly be maintained, for even if the operations of native workmen were not generally known in the place, the line of newly-turned earth left by the construction of the trench could easily be followed for some days.
9. I may remark that in the passage which immediately follows this, namely, that commencing as it would be visible at sea for some distance," &c. I have ascertained upon enquiry that "it" is intended to refer to the cable hut.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
WILLIAM MAXWELL.
Page 124
FRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY J. W. HARRISON.-10/9/97.
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[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government of 296 Page 125 of 290
Printed for the use of the Colonial Office.
December 2, 1897.
SECRET.
No. 172 R.
C.O. No. 15640.
W.O. Nos. 266/HONG KONG/5 and HONG KONG 5/17370/97.
HONG KONG.
Defence Scheme revised to June 1897.
RECO
Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.
THIS revision of the Defence Scheme is the first complete one that has been submitted by the Colony since May 1894. The arrangements for the defence of Hong Kong, which it embodies, differ so much from those formerly proposed as practically to make the Scheme an entirely new one. It has been drawn up on the lines indicated by the General Officer Commanding in a letter dated the 28th January, 1896, and concurred in by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Remarks, No. 138 R., dated 2nd April, 1896, and subject to certain rearrangements which have been introduced in editing the Scheme, and to the remarks below with regard to parts of it, it appears to the Colonial Defence Committee to meet satisfactorily the defence requirements of the Colony.
2. The War Office have referred to the Committee for consideration in connection with the Scheme a Memorandum by the Commanding Royal Engineer on the Defence of Hong Kong, dated the 21st April, 1897, forwarded by the General Officer Com- manding, with a covering letter, dated the 24th April, 1897. The Colonial Defence Committee have not thought it necessary to print this Memorandum. In so far as it deals with the utilization of the existing defence resources of the Colony, it may be considered to be superseded by the Defence Scheme which is of later date, and in the preparation of which due weight was doubtless given to the points brought forward by the Commanding Royal Engineer. As regards the alleged insufficiency of the garrison, the Colonial Defence Committee, in October last year, went very carefully into the question of the troops necessary for the defence of the Colony, and there appears to be no fresh matter brought forward which would justify a reconsideration of the decision then arrived at. There is no practical value in men per yard calculations where it is not the case of a continuous position which requires to be held throughout its length. The Colonial Defence Committee are informed that the 25-in. R.M.L. gun battery for Hong Kong and the additional machine guns approved for that station have now been provided. They do not at present recommend a large further increase weapons of this nature proposed by Colonel Elsdale. The preparation of positions for field-guns, a point on which the Commanding Royal Engineer lays great stress, has not been lost sight of by the General Officer Commanding, and it would appear that his selection of sites, which can be prepared in a few hours, meets the require- ments of the case. The question of the sites for the Howitzer batteries is under the consideration of the War Office.
in
[870]