CO537-(33-34) — Page 262

PUBLIC RECORD.OFFICE

TIILU

Reference:

C.O.537 / 33

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON | ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

The Yangtse.

The Pei-ho.

Canton.

French forces avail-

able.

8

river a bar with only 114 feet at low water springs, 16 to 20 feet at Bigh water neaps, and 20 to 25 at high water springs. Above the bar the deep water channel of the river is in places not more than 100 yards wide. The entrance to the river was defended in November 1881 by a fort built partly of mud and partly of concrete, the embrasures protected by iron plates, mounting 16 guns. On the assumption that it would be deemed unadvisable to subdue this fort, it would be necessary for the blockading fleet to lie off from it a distance of, say, 3,000 yards, on an arc of some two miles. Judging from the blockade of Wilmington in 1863, where, to maintain an effective cordon at the two entrances, it was found necessary to employ 50 vessels distributed on semi- circles of 10 miles or more in length, it would be necessary to have here at least three or four vessels. If, however, the capture of the fort were deemed desirable, and it is reported that this could be effected with tolerable ease, a smaller force would of course suffice. But it may be assumed that, should a blockade be considered probable, every effort would be made by the Chinese to strengthen the defences of the river, in order to secure themselves against the risk of the important arsenal and dockyard of Shanghai falling into the enemy's hands.

The closing of the River Yangtset would not present any great difficulty, provided that no extensive use is made of torpedoes. The first defences are situated at 120 miles from the entrance, so that the blockade might be established somewhere below this point (Kiang-yin). The breadth of the river is here nearly three miles, a distance which might be effectually guarded by two or three vessels, taking into consideration the fact that the blockade runners would have to make their way up the river, and not from the open sea, as in the previous case.

The Pei-hot could be closed by stationing one or two vessels of very light draught (7 or 8 feet) off the bar at the mouth of the river, some 44 miles from the forts which defend the entrance, but so small a force would have to be considerably augmented if blockade running assumed large dimensions. Specially constructed vessels of trifling draught (such as ran into Charleston) could hug the coast, and, taking advantage of the spring tides which rise here 10 feet, could run in past the flank of the blockader unperceived. The distance of the bar from the mainland is thus unquestionably a great disadvantage to the blockader. It is to be remarked that the ice closes this river from the first days of December to the commencement of March.

The main entrance to the Canton Rivers is nearly two miles in width between Tycock-Tao and Chuen-pee islands, and beyond this entrance the blockading squadron could not proceed, on account of the somewhat formidable defences of the Boca-Tigris on the Wantongs, and on Anunghoy island. It may, consequently, be assumed that three or four vessels would be required adequately to close the main river. The closing of this entrance alone would not prevent vessels from reaching Canton. The Wang-mun, Tam-chau, and Tycock-Tao channels debouching into the Canton River estuary, which are available for vessels drawing less than 8 feet, and the Si-kiang (up_which vessels of 6 feet could pass), which falls into the sea to the west of Macao,|| would all have to be guarded; so that, if a close blockade of the port were necessary, more than double this force would be required.

Summing up the foregoing estimates of the number of vessels required, it will be found that a simultaneous and unopposed blockade of the points selected would necessitate the employment of from 9 to 13 vessels.

(3.) FEASIBILITY OF BLOCKADE.

The disposition of the French naval forces at present in Chinese waters is believed to be that given in the accompanying Table. It seems fair to suppose that the vessels composing the Tong-King flotilla will find sufficient employment in the Red River Delta, and that they will therefore not be made use of elsewhere. There remain therefore the divisions of Admirals Meyer and Courbet; of these the vessels likely to be utilised for blockading purposes

• 1 of 9-inch. 3 of 7-inch calibre.

See Map No. 4.

See Admiralty Chart 2562.

† See Map No. 2.

§ See Map No. 5.

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are the sloops, gunboats, and gun vessels, the larger vessels being employed as

cruisers.

DISTRIBUTION OF FRENCH NAVAL FORCES.

Rear-Admiral J. Meyer (Commander-in-Chief).

Rear-Admiral Courbet (Tonquin Naval Division).

Class.

Ironclads ..

Unarmoured.

Frigate Corvette Sloop Gunboat

Ironclads ..

Name of Vessel.

Triomphante. Victorieuse.

Tourville.

Villars. Volta.

Lutin.

Atalante. Bayard.

Unarmoured.

Corvette Sloops

Château-Renault. Hamelin.

Kersaint.

Gun vessel..

Gunboats..

Transport aviso

Parseval.

Lynx.

Vipère.

Aspic.

Drac.

Fanfare.

Leopard.

Surprise.

Paddle-wheel aviso Paddle-wheel gunboats

Pluvier.

Eclair.

River gunboats

Yatagan.

At Saigon (in reserve).

Paddle-wheel aviso

River gunboats

Alouette. Framée. Javeline. Mosqueton.

Captain Morel-Besulien (Tonquin Flotilla).

Gunbosta ..

(Laid up.)

River gunboats

Trombe.

Carabine. Hache. Massue.

Coutelas. Estoc.

Harpon. Sagaie.

There are therefore available the following eight vessels:--

Sloops

Gun vessel

Gunboats

"Volta."

"Hamelin."

"Kersaint."

"Parseval."

"Lutin."

看器

Lynx."

"Vipère."

Aspic."

"

201

In the previous estimates of the number of vessels required, mere Chinese blockading purposes have been considered, and no allowance has been made Navy. for the resistance likely to be offered by the Chinese Navy. Although its power for offence may not be of a very high order, still its existence would necessitate the presence of a not inconsiderable number of heavily armed gun vessels to neutralize any hostile efforts which it might make. The distri- bution of the fleet is given in the accompanying Table :—

(742)

D

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