May 2
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believes that in the present unsettled condition of western Yünnan, the Chinese will be unable to send troops from Tengyueh across the frontier, and this view finds some support from the recent report (in my telegram dated the 10th October, 1910) that it had been found necessary to send troops from Tengyuel and Talifu to oppose But deserters from the Szechuan army, who were invading Yüunan from the north. although the Lieutenant-Governor is disposed to think it probable that Mr. Rose's anticipation of a peaceful issue to Mr. Hertz's expedition will be realised, his honour cannot disregard the possibility of the other alternative. Mr. Rose has recently reported the preparation by the Chinese at Tengyuch of a large-scale map including the unadministered territory in question. The object of this map may be merely in connection with the ordinary administration of the tract by Chinese officials, which is known to be imminent, and which Mr. Hertz's expedition is intended to forestall. But on the other hand the preparation of a map is consistent with an intention to move troops, and it is not more difficult for troops to enter the unadministered territory from Tengyuch than from Myitkyina. It must be noted that Mr. Rose's memorandum indicated several possible routes from Tengyueh into that territory, any one of which might bring a Chinese force directly on to the flank of Mr. Hertz's march. Having regard to this possibility, the Lieutenant-Governor thinks that it is no longer wise to adhere to the original arrangement by which Mr. Hertz's escort, exclusive of the rationing base, was to be split up into two small parties; and his honour is not satisfied that the total strength originally proposed would be sufficient to ensure a peaceful or even a successful issue. Small isolated parties might invite opposition or attack, whereas by a substantial show of force we should be more likely to avoid all risk of hostilities. The sanctioned arrangements, moreover, include no provision for the dispatch of a relieving force, in case Mr. Hertz's escort found itself in a difficult position. No effective relief could be afforded by the military police even if sufficient men could be furnished, because magazine rifles and ammunition have not been provided except for the escort itself. If Mr. Hertz were forced to retire or if a portion of his escort were cut off, there would be the most serious loss of prestige; and on the other hand, if the expedition does not proceed this year, the almost certain loss of the entire territory and the establishment of the Chinese on the upper reaches of the Irrawaddy must be accepted. In these circumstances, the Lieutenant-Governor is strongly of opinion that the expedition ought to proceed; but his honour recommends that the original arrangements should be modified so as to make a greater show of force, (1) by rendering Mr. Hertz's escort stronger and more compact, and (2) by stationing a force of regular troops in readiness in the neighbourhood of Myitkyina, in case it should become necessary to extricate or support Mr. Hertz's party.
4. As already reported by telegram, the Lieutenant-Governor now recommends that the proposed expedition of a civil officer to the Shan State of Hkamti should be postponed for one year, his escort of 125 rifles being added to the escort originally proposed for Mr. Hertz. Mr. Hertz's escort will then consist of eleven British officers (including a medical officer) and 607 native ranks (including thirty-two signallers). A rationing base of 100 rifles will be established at Makawng, leaving a force of 475 rifles to accompany Mr. Hertz as his escort. A compact force of this strength is less likely to be attacked or to meet with resistance, but as an additional precaution the Lieutenant-Governor recommends that one native infantry battalion shall be stationed temporarily in the Myitkyina district, one-half of the battalion being kept at Myitkyina as a garrison, and the other half provided with transport and moved out to Seniku in readiness to follow Mr. Hertz into the unadministered territory and relieve him if required. The Lieutenant-Governor has already requested the Major- General commanding the Burmah division to be so good as to obtain sanction to the dispatch of a wing of a native regiment to garrison Myitkyina during the absence of the military police; his honour's present proposal is that a whole battalion should be sent, one-half being mobilized and pushed forward to Seniku. This movement of regular troops into the Myitkyina district will doubtless impress the Chinese and render them less disposed to interfere. The Lieutenant-Governor has discussed the matter with the Inspector-General of Police and the Major-General commanding the division. His honour's present proposals have been framed not only with a view to ensure the safety of Mr. Hertz's party, but also to avoid hostilities by removing from the Chinese all temptation to attack. As the proposals are more likely to lead to a peaceful solution his honour hopes that they may be approved. They will entail some alteration of the instructions which formed Enclosure 2 of my letter of the 10th May, 1910, and I am accordingly to submit a revised set of instructions for the approval of
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the Government of India. There is one other suggestion which has not yet been mentioned, and which was made to the Lieutenant-Governor by the Major-General commanding the division, namely that the military authorities should furnish a Maxim gun section of ten men, under a junior British officer, to accompany Mr. Hertz's escort. This arrangement seems to the Lieutenant-Governor to be highly desirable as an additional measure of precaution, and I am to recommend that the Government of India may be pleased to issue the necessary orders for its adoption.
5. I am now to describe the arrangements proposed for the establishment of a military police post in the unadministered tract, so as to ensure the permanency of our occupation. The country is at present almost unknown, and the location of the post cannot therefore be definitely settled until after actual inspection. But it is probable that the post will be established at or near Atawgaw, and it will also be necessary to establish a small connecting post at Makawng. The Lieutenant-Governor proposes that Mr. Hertz should leave a civil officer, two British officers of military police, and 175 rifles to garrison the post at Iltawgaw, and 50 rifles under a native officer to occupy the post at Makawng. If the Chinese do not interfere with Mr. Hertz's operations, these posts can be withdrawn at the commencement of the rains and sent out again in the following open season. Otherwise it will probably be necessary to leave them out throughout the rains. In order to ensure a sufficient supply of ammunition the Lieutenant-Governor has already asked for 500 rounds for each of the magazine rifles lent to the military police, in addition to the 400 rounds of ball ammunition already supplied, and his honour hopes that this request will be granted. The estimated cost of establishing posts at Htawgaw and Makawng, and the total estimated cost of Mr. Hertz's expedition are now being calculated, and will-form the subject of a separate report.
I have, &c.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
W. F. RICE, Chief Secretary.
Instructions concerning the Tour to be made for the purpose of bringing under Administration the Unadministered Country East of the 'Nmaikha.
MR. HERTZ, deputy commissioner, Myitkyina, with Mr. Scott, assistant superintendent, as his assistant, will proceed with an escort of military police to visit the unadministered country east of the 'Ninaikha, including Pienma and villages within easy march of that village. Mr. Hertz will be in exclusive civil and political charge, and will decide all administrative questions on his own responsibility, subject to such references to the commissioner as lie may consider necessary.
2. The object of the tour is to bring under direct administration the country between the 'Nmaikha and the watershed between that river and the Shweli and Salween as far as latitude 26° 15' or thereabouts, including the villages on both sides of and in the valley of the Ngaw Kha and its junction with the 'Nmaikha, to nullify the recent attempts by the chief of Teng Keng to establish his authority over villages in British territory, and to effect the removal from the tract in question of all traces of occupation on behalf of China.
To effect this, Mr. Hertz will visit as many villages as possible, issue appointment orders to headmeu, settle any disputes which may be brought before him between villages in the aforementioned tract, levy a nominal tribute, the amount of which will be left to his discretion, but should not exceed 1 rupee per household, destroy any boundary pillars which may have been erected by the Chinese within that area, and generally collect all available information, and explain to the villagers that they will henceforth be under British rule, and that they are entitled to British protection and will pay tribute.
3. The force will be furnished by the military police and will consist of—
(a.) Escort 475 rifles and 20 signallers.
Ration base, 100 rifles and 12 signallers.
It will start from Myitkyina as early as possible in November or December 1910. 4. Major ffrench-Mullen will be in command of the escort; Captain Moule will be second in command; Captain Gilchrist will be in command of the rationing base, with Lieutenant Pickthall attached to it as assistant commandant. They also will be
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