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PROPOSED ADDITION OF
A BATTALION AT WEIHAIWEI FOR
CLIMATIC REASONS.
The Committee also had under consideration
the following telegrams: -
From the Secretary of State for the Colonies (No.C.0.183(27)) to the Commissioner of Wei-hai-wei, dated June 4, 1927, summarising the above Report; directing the Commissioner to communicate with the Commander-in- Chief with a view to preliminary preparation; and stating that a Battalion from the Shanghai Defence Force was now under orders for Wei-hai-wei to act as an escort for the Convalescent Depot, on the arrival of which the detachment now at Wei-hai-wei would be withdrawn to Tientsin:
From the Commissioner of Wei-hai-wei (No.C.0.184(27)), to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated June 8, reporting the preparations and progress at Wei-hai-wei; welcoming the presence of the Battalion; stating that he had conferred with General Duncan; and suggesting, inter alia, that with aircraft the whole territory could be protected by a smaller force than experts at home, without knowledge of China, consider necessary:
From the Naval Commander-in-Chief in China(No.1164), dated June 14, stating that he was assured by the Consul- General at Shanghai and Col. Carpenter, R.M.both of whom are intimately acquainted with Wei-hai-wei, that two additional Battalions and Batteries were entirely unnecessary and that one Battalion and a few seaplanes, which Admiral Tyrwhitt proposed to send in the "Argus" could hold the whole of the Leased territory against any force which was likely to attempt to break through.
Lord Beatty stated that he saw no
probability of 3 Battalions and one Pack Battery being required so far as could at present be judged.
CONCLUSION.
The Committee agreed that in present circumstances it was unnecessary to maintain more than one Battalion at Wei-hai-wei for defensive purposes.
Sir L.Worthington-Evans said that he was
examining the possibility of sending a further
Battalion of the Shanghai Defence Force from
Shanghai to Wei-hai-wei for climatic reasons.
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