WEI-HAI-WEI
138
2.
The Committee had before them a. Report by the Committee of Chiefs of Staff (C.P.171(27)) on the subject of the Defence of Wei-hai-wei,
covering a Memorandum by the Oversea Defence
Committee (0.D.C.523 M), the Conclusions of which
are summed up in paragraph 12 of the Memorandum
as follows:-
(a) The defence of the northern portion of the Wei-hai-wei peninsula and of the Island of Liu-Kung-tao is practicable.
(b) For maintenance of order in this
portion and defence against local bandits one battalion should suffice.
(c) For maintenance of order in this
portion and defence against a general anti-foreign rising, supported by a small force of Nationalist troops a minimum of 3 battalions and 1 pack battery, assisted by Naval gun-fire, and a detachment of aircraft would be needed. The possibility of ships being immobilised by ice must, however, be borne in mind.
(d) Whether the above troops can be found from forces now in the Far East will
depend on the general situation prevailing at the time.
(e) The presence of His Majesty's Minister in the Colony would seriously complicate the accommodation problem, since all the existing accommodation and more would be required for the troops mentioned in (b) and (c) above. His presence would also involve an additional military commitment, and would thus prove an embarrassment.
f) The evacuation of the remainder of the Leased Territory outside the defensive zone would be advisable in the event of the situation deteriorating.
In expressing entire agreement with the Conclusions reached, the Chiefs of Staff emphasised that these must be regarded as an academic
appreciation of the situation, and that the
actual plan of defence and the size of the force required to give effect to it must be left to
the discretion of the Naval Commander-in-Chief and the General Officer Commanding in China
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