Page 12
CHAPTER I.
6
Page 12
Footpaths also cross the Devil's Peak Peninsula at Tsing-Lan-Shu, and Lau-Tong, and cross into the Tai-Mau-Shan Valley by Chung-Hu, Shek-Li-Pui, and Smugglers' Pass.
25. At Hong Kong, as elsewhere, the civil population is a factor affecting the defence. The present non-military population amounted on the 20th January, 1901, to 302,665, of which 293,303 were Chinese.
Former reports have assumed that half of the population would leave on the out- break of hostilities. The question of their food is discussed hereafter.
26. The Naval Establishment, docks (except those at Aberdeen), and coal stores are within the defences, and the docks will be protected against torpedo boat attack by means of nets, &c., provided by the Dock Companies.
27. All the magazines are reasonably safe so long as no enemy's ships are in the harbour. The Colonial makeshift powder magazine on Stonecutters Island is a source of danger, but plans are now approved for building a proper magazine elsewhere.
General Outline of Defence.
28. The general plan of defence is as follows:-
(i.) To trust to the batteries, submarine mines, and Brennan torpedo to prevent the entrance of ships into the harbour at either end, and to repel by the same means, aided by infantry and guns of the movable armament, the landing of a force in the neighbour- hood of the batteries.
(ii) To hold the central ridge and gaps, and to prevent an enemy who has landed on the south shore from climbing the steep slopes leading to the central dominant position.
(iii.) To guard against and repel an attack from the mainland by holding with infantry detachments and guns of the movable armament, the passes over the bills running across the Kowloon Peninsula.
29. The following tables contain statements of the garrison and armament :---
Table A (i).—GARRISON.
Imperial.
General Staff Artillery-
Staff and D.E. Clerks
3 garrison cos.
4 local cos...
Engineers--
Staff
Fortress Co. S.M. Co.
Infantry-
::::
:::
Headquarters and 4 cos.
3 native Indian bns.
A.9.C.
R.A.M.C.
A.O.D.
:::
Officers.
Approved Establishment.
Strength on September 1, 1904.
Europeans.
Natives. Europeans.
Natives.
Other ranks.
Officers.
Other ranks,
Officers.
Other ranks.
Officers.
Other ranks.
Remarks.
5
1*
5
1*
21
600
13
13
43357
6
72
15
503
ུགསྟྲ 8མསྶ ཤྩ
40
4
20
8
8
447+
පපස
17
4
602
12
7
* Garrison sergeant-major. N.B. The Artillery Garrison, ap- proved by the Secretary of State 20/Art./2914, is 57 officers and 1,201 other ranks.
443 Includes 9 hospital orderlies.
30
70 6
σ WA
4
3
207
29
96
72
:::
::8
17
221
44
30
:::*:
482
48
2,691 38 4
21
10
39
8
28
::::
46
2,153
bn. temporarily in North China.
Includes 5 clerks in Staff Office.
1
:::
3
8
3
∞
:
Including an Inspecting Officer of ordnance machinery, machinery artificers, and armourers.
And 2 schoolmistresses,
4.P.D. and A.P.C.
Army Schools..
Indian Medical Service
:::
Colonial.
Staff..
6
6
Artillery-
1 co. (for artillery duties)
15
313
1 co. (for machine gun duties)
Engineers
3
57
:::
:
::
5
6
:::
:
:
13
176
2
18
Totals
152
1,830 56 3,208 157
1,608 54
2,671
52
Page 12
Page 12
Page 12
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.