COMMUNICATIONS
XII.
Page 15. CONFIDENTIAL
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General:
The easy excuse of the Commander or staff Officer who males mistakes is to blame communications for lack of the information required for him to rake a right decision or issue correct orders. Although communications here are not first class and Royal Signals suffer from some incompetents, lack of manpower, equipment, and having to operate in very iifficult terrain, the Officers who had to make use of tho Signal facilities are at least fifty per cent to blame for the delays in messages which occurred.
Equipment:
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Is nov for the most part, good but scarce. No Commander can fight a battle without information and he cannot get that information without efficient communication. Ordnance, and REME must realize that the number one priority above all else for care and maintenance is Signals equipment. Similarly, the "G" Staff and Signals must be satisfied that the Army communication facilities in HONG KONG have not been reduced below the irreduceable minimum for efficiency.
Security:
This is
The security of speech on the wireless was appalling. largely due to the fact that officers are frightened of using the wireless set, and that when they do summon up courage to do so, do not understand the phonetic alphabet, or correct wire- less procedure. All officers must receive further training. HQLF and Bde HQ will take the necessary action.
Routing of Mossages:
If the telephone is operating it is by far the best means of communication, and should be used e.g. for passing the code- words "Annoyance", etc.; This was not deno by HQ1 F and most code-words took four hours to reach certain addressees, putting them all cut of time with the rest of the Garrison.
Slidex:
An average officer's knowledge of Slidex is practically NIL. Brigade HQ and units will ensure that great improvement is made in this respect. A rood many of ur likely enemics can
speak English.
Army Signal Lavout:
An Army Signal Diagram must be available in the Combined Operations Room. So also rust Brigade Ho understand that when they move out in the NT TER ITORIES their Signal layout differs from that which they have when static in "HITFIELD Barracks. Part of their reason for complaining at cut signals was that Brigade Beadquarters failed to adopt the layout for operations in the field when they moved out there. planned signal diagram must be adhered to, and Brigade HQ must
This not adopt a layout to suit themselves, without consulting the CSO. If they do confusion is bound to occur. It is the duty
of all Officers to understand the signal layout, nd use it intelligently. Furthermore the H in the field must try to make more use of the line trunk routes already in existence.
/it......
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