2
8
90
great superiority on the part of the latter, the interests it has to defend are incomparably greater than those of the two former.
II.-Organisation of the Defence.
The strength of the garrison is as follows:-
Royal Artillery
China Gun Lascars
Artillery Volunteers
Royal Engineers
Infantry
Departmental
Total
::::::: |
The Committee recommend the following distribution :-
Name of Division.
Name and Number
of Section.
Eastern
Southern Victoria Peak
Mount Gough
Mount Cameron
Lyemun..
North Point
Kowloon Dock
Western Stonecutter's Island
Belcher's Point
Kowloon West
Total in sections
-
In reserve
Total
-
:: ::
:
Artillery.
:::
Royal Artillery.
Gun' Lascars.
Volunteers.
26 110
26
::::: 8.
105
•
183
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Engineers. Infantry.
Fortress.
Bubmarine
nodmio
2nd Battalion
Miners.
1st Battalion
Argyll and
tå xg goo Sutherland
Highlanders.
12
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::: 98 22:28
221
178
117
112
1,079
$1
1,788
Remarks.
150
150
150
200 of these to re- main as a réserve in Murray Barracks.
200
358
136
77
301
150
100
199
75 31 Departmental.
214
136
117
45
29
130
905
7
42
10
24
1,596 111
221
178
117 73 39
159
929
In the Murray Barracks and adjacent barracks.
1,707 Add 31 Departmental
- 1,738.
The Plan attached to this Report shows the positions of the sections and divisions. Whenever a state of war exists, the troops belonging to the different sections must be in the works ready to receive the enemy, otherwise the batteries may be taken by small landing parties before the troops could join their section from the barracks in Victoria.
The division attacked will be strengthened, if necessary, by the troops in reserve in or near Murray Barracks. This reserve is, unfortunately, very small, but with the number of troops available the Committee do not see their way to make it larger.
If the attack is directed against the Eastern Division, some small reinforcements will be sent to it from the Western Division, and also from the Eastern to the Western if the latter is attacked; but great caution must be used in the withdrawal of troops, as the distance between the two entrances of the harbour, round the island, is only 20 miles, an enemy, after threatending one entrance, might suddenly change his plans and attack the other before the men withdrawn could return.
Under no circumstances do the Committee consider it advisable to withdraw the few troops available for the southern defence, although any section of this defence will move to the assistance of a neighbouring section in which the enemy has effected a landing.
Head-quarters will be at Head-quarter House as the most central position from which to direct operations or to move by land or water to any section of the defence. It is connected by visual signalling with all the signal stations, and with the Commodore's head-quarters.
The junction of the military telephones from the harbour defences is at the Commissariat buildings, only 150 yards distant, and a connection will be made with it and with the police telegraph system. All reserves will be in the Murray and North Barracks, where they are close to the
Peak Tramway, the Magazine Gap Road, and Murray and Commissariat Piers.
The strength of the garrison does not allow of any defence being attempted of the south shore of the island, which will be watched by the armed civil police, who will be in telegraphic communication with head- quarters.
The Naval authorities will asssist in watching the coast-line by night with either steam-launches or torpedo-boats.
The Artillery Commanders in the different batteries to make them- selves thoroughly acquainted with the Charts, so that they may know the course that the enemy's ships are likely to take, and when they can be most effectively fired at.
Beacons will be established on the neighbouring points, and buoys laid out at different distances to enable them to estimate the range. The buoys and beacons to be clearly marked on the Chart, and the ranges
shown.
The mines for the submarine mining defence will be laid under the superintendence of the officer in charge of that branch, but when they are laid the officers and men connected with them will be under the orders of the Divisional Commander.
This is not to prevent the officer in general charge from frequently inspecting the mine-fields, testing-rooms, &c., and being generally respon- sible for the efficiency of this arm.
III.-Permanent Works.
The permanent fortifications are of recent construction, and not yet wholly completed, and should an emergency arise they cannot be finished until the arrival of the heavy B.L. guns.
Fly Point, Stonecutter Central, Kowloon West, Kowloon Dock, and North Point Batteries do not contain accommodation for the full complement of 200 rounds per gun. The balance of fifty rounds for Fly Point will be kept in Belcher's Battery, that for Stonecutter Central in Stonecutter West. In the other cases, field magazines will be constructed for the additional ammunition required to complete the 200 rounds, and also for the quick- firing and machine guns for the defence of the mine-fields.
The remaining measures for putting the works in a complete state of preparation, supplementing them where desirable, and providing extra accommodation and stores for their garrisons, are dealt with in the Divisional Schemes (vide Appendices II, III, and IV).
Military possession would be taken of the houses of the town between Belcher's Battery and the sea, and any which interfered with the defence of the mine-fields would be blown up.
IV.-Field Works.
Redoubts will be constructed by civil and military labour at the following points, viz. :—
Tywan Hill, bill above North Point Battery, hill above Belcher's Battery, Victoria Peak, High West, Mount Kellett, Mount Gough, Sanitarium, Mount Cameron; a small work will also be required on the hill adjoining Kowloon East Battery.
Emplacements and magazines will be erected for the 8-inch howitzers which form part of the movable armament; two of these will be placed behind a hill to the west of Lyemun Redoubt, one at Stonecutter's Island, and three behind a spur to the south of Fly Point Battery.
The minor works required are shown in the Sectional Schemes (vide Appendices II, III, and IV).
Plans have been prepared showing the position of the works, and detailed designs for the more important ones.
The Officers commanding Divisions will be responsible for the execution
of the works by the Royal Engineer officer attached to the Division. If no Royal Engineer officer is available, an infantry officer will be detailed as Assistant Engineer to superintend the works.
PUBLIC RECORD.OFFICE
Reference :-
TC..537
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON:
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO