CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 334

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time taken fr reinforcements to arrive, there should be no

It was also felt delay in taking a decision in the matter.

that landing-perties were more import nt th n ship3, and

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that from this point of view Cruisers would be more valuble than Destroyer both as a means of protecting any foreign settlements that might be threatened and to reassure the

British popul tion.

After considerable discussion, the Cabinet agreed (9) Nav: Reinforcements. That the Admir.lty should m ke the

following dispositions:-

(1) In addition to R........ENTERPRISE which was on her

say, H..S.EMERALD should be sent from the East

third Cruiser Indies to the China St tion, and a should also be sent from the nearest St tion from

which one could be spared;

(11) The two Gunboats it M ita should be got ready and sent to the China St tion as soon as possible: (111) The flotilla of Destroyers (which could not he

peady to leave K-its-before-Fobrarry) should be ordered to get rendy but should not be despatched w

without further orders.

(b) Military Reinforcements.

That, on the understanding that an indian Battalion could be sent in case of emergency at short notice from Hong Kong to Shanghai or elsewhere sa needed without waiting for relief, the War Office should make

arrang-ments

ids