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around. The following night about 1000 troops set out in small boats proceeded by a pilot boat, the occupants of which were detalled to lay a amoke sorgen. vn approsoning #arth Ioint the occupante laid their smoke bombs and the other boats foliosed close by and apparently our machine gunners waited for this boat to come within range and opened fire. However, by this time some of the bcate which were following closely under cover of the smoke scre-u, brok formation and beaded for the water front alongside the Taikoo čugar \efinery, and I under- stand quite heavy fighting took place at and around that point and next morning the Japanese vere in full control of North Foint, having taken position on the high ground opposite the catric ompany. hext day they just førried their troops over at will.
I cannot rec llect the dates, but the
eventually
extended their activities to shaukiwan, taking Gaiwan and
ycemum batteries. At the same time (nother movement took place through Causeway Bay and up Taikang koad from thinoe up to ongreichong Gap.
These advances caused the Taps many casualities and the fighting was quite hɩ avy. Go the Japa werɑ now contr lling the worth part of the island, bordered by the shankiwan Road, Taihang :oad and epulse Bay Road, although at that time they had not ttacked Bhek-, D'Aguilar and tanley, being content to have severeŭ ell communication by road.
The enemy then advanced over song Nel Choaë jap to Blacks Linke in the vicinity f camp bicolson and several parties of Canadians were sent out after them, but without sɛccess and with losses.
When the situation clarified we had a sit iation where the Japa wers just behind Mount (ameron and our front line was in Wanchai Gar, extending down to Aberdeen. This line was composed principally of Canadians, which in the end were put under Col. Simon Zhite. About 100 yus to the rear of this line we had a Company of Chinese Machine gunners of the H.K.V. .C. which incidentally wero never involved in any heavy fighting.
The next disposition of importance, and which as far as i know, had no netual fighting, was that mɛned by anothe batch of Canadians, which were located at the side of the Fokfulm Reservoir at the bottom of the narrow road leading down the valley from the reak to Pokfulm road.
Severe shelling and regular bombings were made on our position in Sanchai Gap. The enemy seemed to favour Trench mortars which usually went into action at niɲht.
About 2 o'clock one morning there was a terrific amount of trench mortaring, shelling and machine gunning and there was a report that the Japanese sere coming over wount Cameron and our whole line retreated intending to reform a line extending from ́atilda lospital to Oough Hill. The retreat was terribly straggly and when the situation cleared it was found that some of the men had left their ammunition behind. There is no doubt that if the unemy had actually come over Mount Cameron end up the leak Load that night, we would have been sanihilated. Sext morning after reconnaisance it was found that the Japs were still in the old position and no advance had been made. Be therefore moved back into ŝanghai
i accompanied the first batch to re-enter anchai
Gap./