CAB11-57-10 — Page 45

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CHAPTER III (F).

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42

The head-

numbers would vary from time to time according to circumstances. quarters of these Coolie Corps will be, one in the Victoria Barracks, Victoria, and the other at Whitfield Barracks, Kowloon, which will be vacant when the troops are mobilized, and thus available for this purpose.

Each particular batch of coolies would be employed on the same journey, with a view to minimise the errors made by illiterate Chinese in the delivery of stores, &c., and with a view to ensure greater regularity and despatch.

N.B.-Coolies required as telephone linesmen will be entertained by the C.R.E.

8. The O.C.A.S.C. will arrange with the C.0.0. for the distinguishing arm- badge, &c., for the Coolie Corps and the coolies working the ammunition lifts.

(ii.)—Supplies.

9. The O.C.A.S.C., assisted by the officers of the A.S.C., will, on the threatened outbreak of hostilities, form two main ration depôts, one on the recreation ground at Victoria, where the gun-sheds, when built, will become available as godowns, supple- mented if necessary by mat-sheds, and the other at Whitfield Barracks, Kowloon, where ample accommodation will be found.

10. He will in addition form sub-depôts for the various sections of the defence, as under, where one week's rations of preserved meat, biscuits, groceries, potatoes, onions, and fuel for British troops, also oil for signalling purposes and magazine candles, will at once be stored, and one week's rations for native troops, according to scale, which are not perishable.

No. I Section at the corrugated iron huts on the rifle range. No. II Section one sub-depôt near Thirleston Peak House. Lower Belchers.

No. III Section at Magazine Gap.

No. IV Section at Wong-nei-Cheong Gap. No. V Section at the Taikoo sugar refinery.

One sub-depôt at

No. VI Section at section headquarters camp, north of Kowloon City.

The rations stored at the various sections will be treated as

a reserve, fresh supplies being distributed daily from the main depôts. When the reserves are on any occasion necessarily drawn upon, they will be made up to the full week's supply as soon afterwards as possible.

11. The Victoria main depôt will be under the charge of the Officer i/c Supplies, while that at Kowloon will be under the charge of the Inspector of Army Schools, who will take up his quarters and establish his office in one of the blocks in Whitfield Barracks.

The Victoria main depôt, acting a main artery, will feed the sub-depôts on the island of Hong Kong. In similar manner the Kowloon main depôt will feed the sub- depôts on the main land and Stonecutters, the Officer i/c Transport apportioning the requisite transport, i.e., launches, cargo-boats, and water-boats for this purpose.

The Officer i/c Supplies will detail an assistant to be in charge of each sub-depôt, utilizing the services of such civilians as may volunteer for this purpose.

12. The Officer i/c Supplies will, if the troops have been mobilized, intimate to the Officers commanding sections the strength of the guards he will require for the protection of the stores at the sub-depôts.

In the case of the sub-depôts being formed prior to mobilization, he will indent on the C.S.O. for these guards, which will in this case be detailed from the troops allotted to the various sections.

13. Table F (iii) shows:-

(1.) The supplies required for the European troops, the native troops, and the Chinese auxiliaries permanently employed.

(2.) The further quantities to be laid in, in case of expected war, to complete two months' reserve.

(3.) The steps necessary for procuring such additional supplies, how and whence they are to be procured.

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