The French fleet now some 48 horus in the Bar D'along might
suddenly appear
on
the south shore
of the island and disembark
10me
5,000 or 6,000 men to
rush Hongkong by a coupe de main- asserted that the Jamison
Thez
The Fort was too small to man at the Eastern & Westem Entrances
to the harbour and at the same time to dexend the southem shores of the island
They also spoke
of the insufficiency of the food supply and being undefended by fortifications
I confined myself in reply to
the southem shere
stating -
(1) It would be
verz
inexpectent
for me to discuss with ther
the scheme for the defence of
Chony.
The
(2) I brugh stated that no such
hostile fleet with transports
eccions en ct couldh carrying
be organised
or could sail
from reightouring ports without
without some
information
269
of.
it preparation being telegraphed
to
(3) that as long
our harz had
no hostile
the command of there waters
in being
and
navy could undertake such a considerable expedition and
landing in force
a
e in thes
This Rony,
for at any moment,
G
our fleet
if Temporan & absent might
return
(4) dor short I pointed out that Captain Mahan on whose book The spokesman had lectured
demonstrated that until our worsted,
by to farming
harzy could wrest from
Costing station
Dourd that.
no nation
사거
Island
in my opinion alle
that could happen while our
China Heet was in
being
creusers
a raid undertaken by
Fo
annoz,
what
harass and destroy.
was possible
in a hurried
zaid
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