L.
Enclosure...1
"Tamar" at Hongkong. 313
29th December, 1914.
sir,
I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that a ship is urgently required as a transport for the conveyance of the 36th Sikhs from Chinwangtao and Hongkong to East Africa. I have been unable to get an offer of a suitable vessel up to the present and am reluctant to requisition a vessel not only on account of the cost but also because of the dislocation of the shipping
trade which such a step involves. In any case a suitable vessel is not at present available.
2.
I am informed by my professional officers that the
prize ship "Tannenfele" could be fitted for this service and I
request that she may be let out on charter for this purpose if
possible. She would be fitted by the Dockyard but some firu
accustomed to carrying out trooping work would have to run the vessel.
I would respectfully urge that I may have an early
reply so that the work of fitting the vessel may be put in hand
at once.
If there are any other steps which Your Excellency can
advise me to take in this matter I should be very glad to be
informed.
I have, etc.
Sd. ROBT. H. ASTRUTHER
Commodore.
is Excellency
Sir F. H. May, K.C.L.G.,
Governor of Hongkong.