2
Sandy, Taihowan, and Kellet Bays. "These would be quickly reinforced by the infantry companies (240) or the Volunteers (164) from the Peak Section, and the whole Victoria Reserve (376 infantry), as well as, if necessary, by the Kowloon Reserve (251 infantry), which would move either by the main road by Belchers to Sandy Bay, or by Victoria Gap to Pokfulum, or both, as might be required."
The Defence Scheme also states that a company from the Reserve can reach Sandy Bay within an hour of being summoned by telephone from Belchers, "an addition clearly needed when so important a point has to be held by so small a garrison,” and it lays down that a Cossack picket is sufficient on the shores of Sandy Bay to give warning of the approach of boats at night, and that at night a section is to bivouac in the cable house at Taihowan Bay to prevent a boat stealing up to cut the seven cables which connect Hong Kong with the rest of the world, and are all landed at this point of the island.
5. The only landing places contemplated in the Defence Scheme on that part of the coast affected by the western section of the proposed new road are Kellet Bay, Taihowan Bay, and Sandy Bay, and as far as can be judged from the map a landing is impossible on the rocky shore between these places. The proposed new road would offer no advantage to a landing party at any of them unless it was proposed to advance round the foot of Mount Davis instead of through Victoria Gap. From Sandy Bay the road through Victoria Gap is somewhat shorter than the proposed road. On the other hand, it is not so level, and can be barred by troops posted on the hills which flank it on both sides. It would also undoubtedly be an advantage to an enemy to be able to attack by alternative or by two routes.
But the new road round Mount Davis, cut out of a steep hill side and with slopes on either side impassable for formed troops, would be a bad line of advance, and a small body of troops posted on Mount Davis should be able to deny it to an enemy, and would also be available to oppose an advance along the existing road through Victoria Gap. Both the new road and the existing road are within 700 yards of the top of Mount Davis. Again, unless an enemy were advancing by both roads, it would be possible for the reinforcing defence force provided for in the Defence Scheme to attack him in flank or rear by the road he was not using.
6. On the whole, it appears to the Committee that the military disadvantages of the road would be obviated if instead of being taken immediately along the top of the cliff its trace were to follow generally the 150-foot contour, and that by building up the revetments on its outer side to form a 3-foot parapet, by making the platforms of the bridges over nullahs easily removable, and by forming projections at points suitable to serve as gun positions the road might be made a distinct military advantage. The Committee accordingly recommend that its construction should be allowed to proceed under these conditions which will neither interfere with its main object of providing a level drive for the residents of Hong Kong nor add appreciably to its cost.
7. There is no military telegraph or telephone to either Sandy Bay or Taihowan Bay, and it is not known how far the civil systems assist communication from these points to the headquarters in Victoria. The Committee take this opportunity of recommending that arrangements should be made for enabling the parties watching these bays to communicate by telegraph or telephone to the position of the Reserve forces that might be required to assist in their defence.
M. NATHAN, Secretary,
January 9, 1900.
Colonial Defence Committee.
3
APPENDIX.
Despatch of Governor.
Sir,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 153 of the 11th ultimo, with reference to the expenditure of the funds subscribed for a memorial of Her Majesty's Jubilee in 1897.
Government House, Hong Kong, September 27, 1899.
2. The money was placed in the hands of trustees, to be devoted...
(1.) To the construction of a road round the island.
(2.) The building of a hospital for women and children, and a nursing institute.
3. The plans for the hospital have been prepared, and the site acquired from the Government, and it is being proceeded with. The construction of the road has not been undertaken as yet for the following reasons:-
4. Immediately after my arrival in the Colony I was addressed by the Director of Public Works by a letter, dated the 20th November, 1898, in which he urged that some understanding should be arrived at with the Jubilee Committee on the subject of the Jubilee Road, about which there was a deadlock, and suggested that the opinion of the Major-General, who had administered the Government previous to my arrival, should be asked for. The question at issue was whether the road was to be commenced at the west or the east of the island. The westernmost section from Kennedy Town to Aberdeen would absorb all the funds subscribed, while many more miles could be made for that money round the east.
5. The trustees hold that they are bound by a Resolution that the money was to be devoted to the construction of a road round the island, the first section of which was to be from Kennedy Town to Aberdeen, round the western promontory of Mount Davis. The Government bound themselves to continue the road until its completion after the money subscribed was exhausted, and some of the money subscribed was so subscribed after the Resolution so binding the trustees had been published.
6. As previous Minutes showed that Major-General Black had, while administering the Government, expressed himself as opposed to this section on military grounds, I referred the question to him on that point, and received his answer, dated the 2nd December, 1898. It is to be regretted that Major-General Black did not urge this military objection when the proposition was made, or before the laying of the memorial stone at the point at which the road was to begin by my predecessor, at which ceremony General Black was present.
7. However, a short time after the arrival of Major-General Gascoigne, I submitted the papers to him with a Minute, dated the 12th January, 1899, and on the 17th January I received his answer, in which he agreed with Major-General Black that a road round Mount Davis near the sea-level would be highly undesirable in a military sense.
8. As there is a considerable difference of opinion in the Colony as to the advisability of this road apart from the military aspect, I allowed the matter to rest in the hope that the trustees might see their way out of the difficulty by calling a meeting of the subscribers; but in the beginning of August I was informed that the Committee were preparing a statement to be submitted to you, which statement I received a few days after the receipt of your despatch. As the opinions of Major-General Gascoigne and of the Director of Public Works were mentioned, I sent copies of the letter of the Committee to them for their observations. You will observe that Major-General Gascoigne's views are materially modified, and his last Minute does not convey to me that there would be any serious military objection to the road.
9. Personally, as I have stated in my Minute, apart from military consideration, I see no reason why the road should not be first made in accordance with the resolution, especially as the Government is bound to continue the road until its completion round the island; but, as the question has been submitted to you, I think it better to forward with the letter of the Committee all the correspondence and Minutes in the case, that you may have an opportunity of seeing it all its bearings. And, as Major-General Gascoigne intimates the probability in his last Minute that the construction of the road may probably necessitate some alteration in the scheme of defence, you may consider it advisable to have the views of the Defence Committee on the subject.
I add that the statement in the letter of the Committee as to the position of the proposed road and the extremely rugged character of the shore is quite correct.
I have, &c. (Signed) HENRY A. BLAKE, Governor, &c.
The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain, M.P.,
&c.
&c.
&c.
*Only those letters and Minutes referring to the military aspect of the question have been printed.—(Secretary, C. D. C.)
1
2
Sandy, Tailiowan, and Kellet Bays. "These would be quickly reinforced by the infantry companies (240) or the Volunteers (164) from the Peak Section, and the whole Victoria Reserve (376 infantry), as well as, if necessary, by the Kowloon Reserve (251 infantry), which would move either by the main road by Belchers to Sandy Bay, or by Victoria Gap to Pokfulum, or both, as might be required."
The Defence Scheme also states that a company from the Reserve can reach Sandy Bay within an hour of being summoned by telephone from Belchers, "an addition clearly needed when so important a point has to be held by so small a garrison,” and it lays down that a Cossack picket is sufficient on the shores of Sandy Bay to give warning of the approach of boats at night, and that at night a section is to bivouac in the cable house at Tailowan Bay to prevent a boat stealing up to cut the seven cables which connect Hong Kong with the rest of the world, and are all landed at this point of the island.
5. The only landing places contemplated in the Defence Scheme on that part of the coast affected by the western section of the proposed new road are Kellet Bay, Taihowan Bay, and Sandy Bay, and as far as can be judged from the map a landing is impossible on the rocky shore between these places. The proposed new road would offer no advantage to a landing party at any of them unless it was proposed to advance round the foot of Mount Davis instead of through Victoria Gap. From Sandy Bay the road through Victoria Gap is somewhat shorter than the proposed road. On the other hand it is not so level, and can be barred by troops posted on the hills which flank it on both sides. It would also undoubtedly be an advantage to an enemy to be But the new road round Mount able to attack by alternative or by two routes.
Davis, cut out of a steep hill side and with slopes on either side impassable for formed troops, would be a bad line of advance, and a small body of troops posted on Mount Davis should be able to deny it to an enemy, and would also be available to oppose an advance along the existing road through Vietcria Gap. Both the new road and the existing road are within 700 yards of the top of Mount Davis. Again, unless au enemy were advancing by both roads, it would be possible for the reinforcing defence force provided for in the Defence Scheme to attack him in flank or rear by the road he was not using.
6. On the whole, it appears to the Committee that the military disadvantages of the road would be obviated if instead of being taken immediately along the top of the cliff its trace were to follow generally the 150-foot contour, and that by building ap the revctments on its outer side to form a 3-foot parapet, by making the platforms of the bridges over nullahs easily removable, and by forming projections at points suitable to serve as gun positions the road might be made a distinct military advantage. The Committee accordingly recommend that its construction should be allowed to proceed under these conditions which will neither interfere with its main object of providing a level drive for the residents of Hong Kong nor add appreciably to its cost.
7. There is no military telegraph or telephone to either Sandy Bay or Tailowani Bay, and it is not known how far the civil systems assist communication from these The Committee take this opportunity of points to the head-quarters in Victoria. recommending that arrangements should be made for enabling the parties watching these bays to communicate by telegraph or telephone to the position of the Reserve forces that might be required to assist in their defence.
M. NATHAN, Secretary,
January 9, 1900.
Colonial Defence Committer.
3
APPENDIX.
Despatch of Governor.
Sir,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 153 of the 11th ultimo, with reference to the expenditure of the funds subscribed for a memorial of Her Majesty's Jubileo
Government House, Hong Kong, September 27, 1899.
in 1897.
2. The money was placed in the hands of trustees, to be devoted-...
(1.) To the construction of a road round the island.
(2.) The building of a hospital for women and children, and a nursing institute.
3. The plans for the hospital have been prepared, and the site acquired from the Govern- ment, and it is being proceeded with. The construction of the road has not been undertaken as yet for the following reasons:-
4. Immediately after my arrival in the Colony I was addressed by the Director of Public Works by a letter, dated the 20th November, 1898, in which he urged that some understanling should bo amived at with the Jubilee Committee on the subject of the Jubilee Road, about which there was a dead-lock, and suggested that the opinion of the Major-General, who had adminis- tered the Government previons to my arrival, should be asked for. The question at issue was whether the road was to be commenced at the west or the east of the island. The westernmost section from Keunedy Town to Aberboen would absorb all the funds subscribed, while many more miles could be made for that noney round the east,
5. The trustees hold that they are bound by a Resolution that the money was to be devoted to the construction of a road round the island, the first section of which was to be from Keunedy Town to Aberdeen, round the western promontory of Mount Davis. The Government bound themselves to continue the road until its completion after the money subscribed was exhausted, and some of the money subscribed was so subscribed after the Resolution so binding the trustees had been published.
6. As previous Minutes showed that Major-General Black had, while administering the Government, expressed himself as opposed to this section on military gronuds, 1 referred the question to him on that point, and received his answer, dated the 2nd December, 1898. It is to be regretted that Major-General Black did not urge this military objection when the proposition was made, or before the laying of the memorial stone at the point at which the road was to begin by my predecessor, at which ceremony General Black was present.
7. However, a short time after the arrival of Major-General Gascoigne, I submitted the papers to him with a Minute, dated the 12th January, 1899, and ou the 17th January I received lis answer, in which he agreed with Major-General Black that a road round Mount Davis near the sea-level would be lughly undesirable in a military sense.
8. As there is a considerable difference of opinion in the Colony road apart from the military aspect, I allowed the matter to rest in the hope that the trustees as to the advisability of this might see their way out of the difficulty by calling a meeting of the sbscribers; but in the beginning of August I was informed that the Committee were preparing a statement to be sul matted to you, which statement I received a few days after the receipt of your despatch. As the opinions of Major-General Gascoigne and of the Director of Public Works were mentioned, I sent copies of the letter of the Committee to them for their observations. You will observe that Major General Gascoigne's views are materially modified, and his last Minute does not convey to ine that there would be any serious military objection to the road.
9. Personally, as I have stated in my Minuto, apart from military consideration, I sec no reason why the road should not be first made in accordance with the resolution, especially as the Government is bound to continue the road until its completion round the island; but, as the question has been submitted to you, I think it better to forward with the letter of the Committee all the correspondence and Minutes in the case, that you may have an opportunity of seeing it all its bearings. And, as Major-General Gascoigne intimates the probability in his last Minute that the construction of the road may probably necessitate some alteration in the scheme of defence, you may consider it advisable to have the views of the Defence Committee on the subject- Juny
add that the statement in the letter of the Committee as to the position of the proposed road and the extremely rugged character of the shore is quite correct.
I have, &c. (Signed) HENRY A. BLAKE, Governor, &c.
The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain, M.P.,
&c.
&c.
&c.
*Only those letters and Minutes referring to the military aspect of the question have been printed.—- (Secretary, C. D. C.)
524
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