Enclosure 2 (1) 4 Secret Despatch of the September 1904.
Keret
Copy of
482
Letter from 14.8. The General Officer Commanding South China
£ 4.9. The Governor Hong Kong
Head Quarters
Hong Kong 25th August 1904.
I have the honour to forward to your Excellency the revised Scheme of Defence, 1903, revised up to date, in accordance with the suggestions and instructions of the Colonial Defence Committee. The Permission to revise the 1903 scheme reached me only on 30 June 1904 and after I had submitted the 1901 scheme.
1. You will have observed that I have added H. H. Stay, Colonial Secretary, as an additional member of the Local Defence Committee to represent the Civil Government.
2.
3. Allusion is made in the remarks to the use of torpedo tubes as a defence to the Dock Gates. There are lots of obsolete patterns, and apparently of no war value to the Navy, which have been appropriated by the Admiralty for the Defence of Hong Kong, and the value of them is £2350. I recommend that they be handed over to the Dock Companies and that they be asked to take the responsibility for the defence of this dock gate.
4. I wish to draw your attention to the weakness of the telephone system and to remark that in some units it is not up to establishment strength, which you will realise on reference to the table as
Page 6. I attribute this largely to the shortage of the Officers administering the government telegraphs and telephones and I wish to point out that the approved telephone system which has been long begun is not yet complete. There are only five R.E.'s working on telephones when 8 are required (3) and of these 5 only 2 are completely trained. Therefore it is difficult to install new telephones, in addition to maintaining those already installed.
I draw attention to the fact that the working of the complete telephonic System requires European telephonists. There are to be detailed from the 1/2 Battalion of British Infantry which comprises practically the whole of our company out of four from the only available British troops available. Something might be done to alleviate or remedy this by providing civilians who might be members of the Volunteer Corps.
The Colonial Office, $6
I am informed that 17 R.E. signallers are required for the Examination Service. These would be found from the R.A. Reserve
And a
host
sa
host
which at present only amounts from sickness and other causes, to 93; and column casualties would further reduce it so that it will be found that the worst will not be able to supply what is wanted, and the batteries will be undermanned.
Again owing to the war in the number of Defence works now in course of construction and present establishment of the Submarine Mining Company Royal Engineers is inadequate, I have already proposed to the War Office to increase this establishment from 72 to 102 as per letter No 204 Engineer, 4094/209/71 of 12th May 1904. This proposal has been considered favourably. A further appears to your Excellency
The Governor
卜
Enclosure 2 (1) 4 Secret Despatch of the September 1904.
Keret
Copy of
#σης Χάρης.
482
elette from 14.8. The Jeneral Offers Commanding South China
£ 4.9. The Joevua Hong Kong
Head Qumbus
SA.
Hony Kong 25" Auqua 1904.
I have the honour to forward to your Exateeny the revised Ichent * Defence-¡.z., One Schemes of 1903, revised up to dete, un acadamus códi the sugqcolious and innstuctions of the Colonial Defeuve Commitist. The Peruumikso on the 1903 schent trachid that only on the 30 June 1904 and after I had submitted
1901 scheme.
2ci Lie
1. You hast aðïdes Hou, J. H Stay, Colonial Stundary an an additiona member of tim Local Difenu Committee to repusend An Quit Youarumand.
3. Allusion is madl is the řekame to the use of torpido hubs as a defence
to the Dock Gates. There are lots trets of an obsolete patives, and apparently of no war to the Navy, which have kan appropriched by the Admiralty to the Defines of HongKony, and the wad of them is f 23 5.0
✓ recommend them thuse be handed von to the Dot Companies and that they be asked to take the recepory mecomes for the defaru of this doch gelo.
4. I wish to diaio your aliation to tu wakutp of
Au Jarur. and to rernach that is some units it is not up to wtablishnul, shith you wich realist on refuenit to the take as Page 6. I kabely bright l'his to the holite of the Offien labely stdinuutstering the govorumad tepustubaig this woestrup I wish to pouit our this the approvd telephone system which has been long begun is not have compecho, There are only five RE's wakulig n kaphones whun ku aut repuis (3) and of these F'only 2 and completely havied. Therefore it is difficult to uittall nuo klephour, ni addition & maintaining those already wistallid.
I straw attention to the fact that the worker's of the complete telephonic System requires by Evopcans taphouitts. There are to be detailed from the 1/2 Ballu of British dufanky which cufaits practically the tops of our company out of four from the only avatabu Avilish tujaukų Kuvaat. Something might be down to alleviate m temedy this boy is providin of hauíes civilians who might be members of the Volunteer Corps,
the Colouise offae, $6
hamo mijas he kept wi I am informed theme 17. R.9.A. siquoluer au requited for ti Examination Suwite, These would be found from the RA Resuot
And a
tast
sa host
which as present only amoinis from dicknup and other causes,
t 93; and colum casualties wrist
it will be found that the worse wil hat be able to supply want. and the bettnies with be undermanned.
Aqouri owuis to the wax ni the number of Defcuue ligul, naw ni counte of construction An presind zotablishmend of the Submerauit visu, Company Royal Exquicers in mindequely, i' haer aktrady proposɔ to the come office to niveaxe this tetablirumus fvon. 72 to 102 4 4 tetier No 20 Elynicer, 4094{A9.71 of 12th May 1904s this proposal has been considered Unvonable. A howton appears Jus Exailinay
The Governor
ebr st
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