CO129-233 - Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [6-8] — Page 285

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

280

to assume

the North of England at the time of "the Salford septaion" Military charge of the disturbed districts, when, after taking all reasonable precautions, my most difficult task was to allay unnecessary alarm on the part of the uninitiated at divers places, Manchester and other large towns.

13. If the Admiral possessed limited Experience, I can hardly believe we should have heard from him, in para. 2 of his letter to the Governor, Straits Settlements, such an account of how Fort Siloso might be totally destroyed by a few foreign officers visiting the place.

14. Even if such proceedings by foreign officers, by a civilized Government in time of peace, (they would of course be impossible in time of war, or even on war threatening) the mischief done, in comparison with personal risk encountered, would be so little and so soon repairable, that the attempt to injure fortifications, especially unfinished ones, in the way described has never, to my knowledge, been attempted. I have spoken to the agent and Manager of Nobles Explosives Co., who quite ridicules the idea of much harm being done under the circumstances mentioned.

15. The Admiral's dictum contained in para. 3 of his letter last quoted, viz: "once the knowledge of inside of a fort becomes known, together with its strength and the weight and position of its guns, the fort becomes useless" would, I fear, if accepted, mean that Malta, Gibraltar, and all our other fortresses are useless. I should have thought their usefulness depended rather upon the real efficiency of the works, guns, and armament.

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280 to assume the North of England at the time of "the Salford septaion" Military charge of the disturbed districts, when, after taking all reasonable precautions, my most difficult task was to allay unnecessary alarm on the part of the uninitiated at divers places, Manchester and other large towns. 13. If the Admiral possessed limited Experience, I can hardly believe we should have heard from him, in para. 2 of his letter to the Governor, Straits Settlements, such an account of how Fort Siloso might be totally destroyed by a few foreign officers visiting the place. 14. Even if such proceedings by foreign officers, by a civilized Government in time of peace, (they would of course be impossible in time of war, or even on war threatening) the mischief done, in comparison with personal risk encountered, would be so little and so soon repairable, that the attempt to injure fortifications, especially unfinished ones, in the way described has never, to my knowledge, been attempted. I have spoken to the agent and Manager of Nobles Explosives Co., who quite ridicules the idea of much harm being done under the circumstances mentioned. 15. The Admiral's dictum contained in para. 3 of his letter last quoted, viz: "once the knowledge of inside of a fort becomes known, together with its strength and the weight and position of its guns, the fort becomes useless" would, I fear, if accepted, mean that Malta, Gibraltar, and all our other fortresses are useless. I should have thought their usefulness depended rather upon the real efficiency of the works, guns, and armament.
Baseline (Original)
280 to assume the North of England at the time of "the" Salford" septaion" Military charge of the disturbed. districts, when, after taking all masonable precautions, my most difficult task was to allay unnecessary the part of the uninitiated alarm on at diver bool, Manchester and other large towns. 13. If the Admiral possesed limitar Experience, I can hardly believe we on étre past should have heard from him, in para: 2 d his letter to the Governor, Straits Settlements, such an account of how Fort Siloso might be totally destroyed by a few fordign officers visiting the place. 14. Even if such procedurigs If Jorrign officers by civilized yournment's in time of place, (they would of course be impossible in time of war, or Even on war threatening) the mischief done, in comparison with personal were counter anded risk Brinke nok in currad, would be so little and so soon repairable, that the attempt to injure fortifications in the -Especially unfinished that I am aware Ones way described has never, 'been attempted. I have spoken to the agent and Manager of Nobles beplosives Co. who quite ridicules the idea of much harm boning done under être circumstances mentioned. 15". The Admiral's dictum contained letter last quoted, ory: para: 3 of in that when 21 t # " inside of the once the knowledge of of a fort becomes known, together with it's stringth and the weight and position of its guns the valur : becomes useless" the fort "would, I fear, cs are are useless. if accepted, mean that Malta, Gibraltar, and all our other fortress co I should have thought their usefulness depended rather upon the real efficimay of the works, guns. and д amison Ction on
2026-05-25 18:04:16 · Baseline
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280

to assume

the North of England at the time of "the" Salford" septaion" Military charge of the disturbed. districts, when, after taking all masonable precautions,

my

most

difficult task was to allay unnecessary

the part of the uninitiated

alarm on

at diver bool, Manchester and other

large

towns.

13. If the Admiral possesed limitar Experience,

I can hardly believe we

on étre past

should have heard from him,

in para: 2 d his letter to the Governor, Straits Settlements, such an account of how Fort Siloso might be totally destroyed by a few fordign officers visiting the place. 14. Even if such procedurigs If Jorrign officers by civilized yournment's in time of place, (they would of course be impossible in time of war, or Even on war threatening) the mischief done, in comparison with personal

were counter anded

risk

Brinke

nok in currad, would be so little and so soon repairable, that the attempt to

injure fortifications in the -Especially unfinished

that I

am aware

Ones

way

described

has never,

'been attempted.

I have spoken to the agent and Manager of Nobles beplosives Co. who quite ridicules the idea of much harm boning done under être circumstances mentioned. 15". The Admiral's dictum contained

letter last quoted, ory:

para: 3 of

in

that when

21

t

#

"

inside

of the

once the knowledge of

of a fort becomes known, together with it's stringth and the weight and position of its guns

the valur

: becomes useless"

the fort

"would, I fear,

cs are

are useless.

if accepted, mean that Malta, Gibraltar, and all our other fortress co

I should have thought their usefulness depended rather upon the real efficimay of the works, guns.

and

д

amison Ction

on

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