CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 28

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As to the North side, hopes are enter-turn their attention to and insist on know. tained that Sir Claude Macdonald may being truth, instead of worrying the Govern- able to sottle that matter for us, but we went for returns that never produce any should be prepared to settle it ourselves on result beyond making unnecessary work short notice if the pinoh came. Every one and worry for the juniors in the various is so afraid to take responsibility now-a-Departments. Budgering the Government days, and the Chinese parrot cry of No will do no go d; let us work together if belong my pidgin' is always forthcoming, that be possible in Hongkong. We do not Then, are we prepared with a scheme of de- want to have to pay extrs Military Contri- fence with our own resources in the ab-bution, but we do want to know that our sence of the fleet? The public would feel payments are producing the desired result, much easier if they knew such was the case, if not the Ins' should be put out. Yours and that every man knew his post and duty faithfully, before-hand. Every point should be thought out, and prepared for, and an in- telligence department formed, and instruc- tions prepared for Gap Rock and outlying points. Heliograph stations fixed, and a patrol service of torpedo craft ranged, so that it could be sent out to

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FREE LANCE.

THE DEFENCE OF HONGKONG, (China Mail, Oct. 12.)

The series of articles which has appeared watch in the event of complications arising in these columns, under the rather curious likely to result in war; a pre-arranged sig-heading of The Back Door,' has doubtleas nal from sea-ward of the approach of caused much talk and controversy. It is suspicious craft would be of incalculable possible that the articles may have caused advantage in giving us time to muster for some amusement, notwithstanding their But while a certain defence. No doubt all this would be done realistic character. after war was declared, when money would amount of amusement may have becu be poured out like water, but how much caused by the fanciful movements of the better it would be to have an expansive attackers and defenders, it is to be hoped scheme worked out before-hand, in cool something more important than the mere blood, ready to the hand of any Commander pleasures of imagination will result from A competent critic that might be called upon to defend the the sketch referred to. place. Is there any such scheme worked puts the matter in this way :- out?

Your attractive literary skit entitled Another point which is exercising the "The Back Door" may open our eyes as minds of property-holders is, can the Co-well as arouse our thinking powers (and, lony be shelled from seaward or from Mirs of course, afford us a topic of conversation); Bay? It is generally believed that no hos for, conjectural as most of it is, and impos tile craft can get into the harbour, or if sible as many will say more than one incident once in that she could survive for any time, related must be, it should be remembered that a declaration of war has not invariably Another point, what about our magazine? and what facilities exist for the transport preceded hostilities even amongst the most

civilised powers.

Witness the attack on of ammunition to the various points which

the Turkish fleet at Sinope, and the will be necessary?

so-called reprisals at Foochow in the It seems to me that these are points on Franco-Chinese War. The bombardment which our unofficial members might well of Alexandria has been quoted conver-

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sationally as a similar illustration, al-or at Vindivostock? Are our interesta in though it does not seem equally appli- these places less than those of any of the cable. And the Jameson Raid has also Foreign Powers who maintain Consuls of been mentioned; but neither appear to their own race in Hongkong? Again, be analogous. One was to check an in- is it not worth while protecting the surrection, and the other (since disowned shore ends of the telegraph cables, or are by the Imperial Government) was some we so certain we can at once repair thing between a demonstration and a pre- any damage close in shore, that such pro- mature blunder. Anyhow, to retum totection is unnecessary? The cost of carry- our local application of the imaginary de. ing out these suggestions cannot be so great fence and final destruction of Hongkong, as to exclude them from practical politics, one can realiso, without being behind the and their completion cannot but add to our scenes, that the Harbour Defence vessels security."

are antiquated, and that the small expense

vested.

Thus far our Critic; and we do not doubt

required to mobilise "suddenly" more than once a year would be money well in most of the thinking residents of the Co- We ought to know that the lony will bo prepared to go with him thus ammunition, food, coal, etc., as well as the far. We have also to commend 'Free Lance' for his sensible commentary upon men to man all the harbour defence vessels, i

are at any moment ready for the whole of the situation. Indeed, most men of com- these vessels to be under weigh as soon as mon-sense realise that something is wanting ever steara can be got up.

in our defence arrangements. We are all 'It is no secret that the Infantry in the ready enough to die for 'home and coun- Colony is insufficient for the defence of the Ty, if necessary; but the question is now frontiers,--that, even with the aid of the where lies the necessity? It is over the guns of the forts, at least one Battalion system,' or rather want of systom, which should be available for the frontier on the is our weakness,--never our readiness to mainland; and as the Colony already com-

defend ourselves. Continuity is needed,

plains of the Military Mulet, something here, as in everything else in out-of-the- should be dono in the meantime. Block-way Colonies. One General, or Engineer houses, or something more than temporary Commanding, requires one thing; and he shelter trenches, should be prepared in the spends money, and stays say three years. positions commanding the likeliest landing. Another succeeds, and the pack is shuffed places for a hostile force, to enable the in-again, and a new game begins. Such (29 fantry at our disposal to meet the foe with the saying is) is life in the Far East ---So the advantage such fortifications afford. far as we can comprehend the lessons con- Would it be

veyed in the awfully realistic sketch of the & waste of money to prepare shelter for the field-guns avail-noble defence and final destruction of able, or to know exactly the spots the Hongkong (as described in The Back batteries must occupy to resist a landing at

Door'), they are these:—

any named point, without running the risk of annihilation from the heavy guns of an enemy's ships the moment they open fire, and to have the passage to such spots kept clear of all obstructions?

Is it not remarkable that Great Britain maintains no Consul in French Indo-China,

(1.) A proper look-out and patrol of the South side of the Island.

(2.) Efficient protection of telegraphic cables.

(3.) Proper official Consuls for Saigon and Vladivostock.

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