Major Clauson
A.1.0+10/10
[we shall probably
My want 31897 back before long]
is
Re
As the Inspector of Carrion Artillery (Major Slade)
Secret
returned
34936
31897/040
tong ong
visiting the Eastern stations, and as there has been some delay in preparing this scheme, I think it better to send new armament copies out at once. I send 3 copies to C-in-C, 10 copies to WO (for transmission to ROC), 4 copies to Adm. (including 1 for C-in-C China Station, 1 for C-in-C Australian Station and 1 for Commodore Hongkong), adding in each case that the Remarks of the CDC will follow in course of next month.
Sir M. Ommannay
This was considered by the Colonial Defence Committee at their meeting of 24/1/05 and I enclose copies of their Remarks No. 373 R for distribution & approved as follows:-
War Office (incl. 10 for C-in-C) // Admiralty (incl. 1 each for Naval C-in-C China, and Australia Station, and Commodore Hong Kong) 4 Governor 3(The Memo on strength of garrison referred to in para 3 will follow at a later date)
I have the honour to forward herewith the Defence Schemes for Hong Kong, revised to September 1904 in accordance with the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks No 340 R, 347 R, dated the 27th January and the 4th May 1904 respectively, on the revision of the schemes to June 1903. I also enclose correspondence on the subject of the revision with Maj-Gen. The Major General Commanding
1. Having in the first instance dealt with Maj-General Hamilton's letter of the 25 August, I would point out that the selection of Maj. H. St. John Clark as a member of the local defence Committee for the purpose of considering the matter of the provision of the coolies required by the garrison for and during mobilization has resulted in practical arrangements being made for this provision, the difficulty of which, as well as the actual requirements having been ascertained in the past. 3686 coolies are required on the first day of mobilization, the number rapidly diminishing day by day to 948 when mobilization is complete. Of the 3686, 1686 can be obtained by the Officer Commanding Army Service Corps under existing contract, leaving 2000 to be provided by the Captain Superintendent of Police under the Colonial Ordinance. These men as they come in will be sent to the Army Service Corps contractor for distribution under the officer in charge of Transport.
3. With regard to the third paragraph of the letter, I am in communication with the Commodore on the subject of handing over the obsolete Torpedo boats to the Dock Companies and as to the instructions to be issued to these companies with reference to the fixing of the new armament in time of probable attack.
4. The shortness in the strength of some of the units of the garrison as compared with the establishment, pointed out by the C-in-C in paragraph 11, is most apparent in the case of the Native Infantry Regiments of which the total number of N.C.O's and men on the rolls of this month was 2153 in place of 2691. There is also some shortage as regards the Establishment of Royal Artillery. I should be grateful if effect could be given to the opinion of the Colonial Defence Committee, expressed in paragraph 3 of their Remarks No 347 R, "that the approved Establishment of the garrison in Infantry and Artillery should always be maintained. If for administrative reasons it is not possible to arrange for the units being consecutively up to strength, I suggest for consideration that two more companies of the British Infantry Regiments now bivouacked equally between Hong Kong & Wei-hai-wei should be transferred to the former station, so that the establishment of the garrison should approximate more closely than it does at present & that is recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Memorandum No 264 M dated the 25 June 1901.
The detailing of a large proportion of the Infantry Force to telephone duties in war is certainly understaffed. These duties must of course be performed by men of intelligence where available, but they do not receive any real military training.
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