CAB11-57-11 — Page 20

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CHAPTER II (D)

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(D.)—Modes of Meeting various Attacks.

(i.) Attack from the Sea.

1. East or West Entrance.-Attacks on the eastern or western entrances will be met by the guns of the forts, and by the submarine mines, supplemented by the sectional infantry, and in the case of an eastern attack by the Brennan torpedo.

2. Landing on East.-If an attack on the eastern entrance is supplemented by a landing of troops in Sywan Bay or on the Eastern Coast, the sectional troops can be reinforced by the whole of the Victoria and Kowloon Reserves, which might all be brought to the spot in about two hours.

3. Landing on West.-An attack on the western entrance might be supplemented by an attempted landing of troops in Sandy Bay and Taibowan and Kellet Bays. This would be met in the first instance by the troops present on the spot. These would be quickly reinforced by the infantry companies or the Volunteers and the Reserve, which would move either by the main road by No. II Section Belchers to Sandy Bay by the Jubilee Road, or by Victoria Gap to Pokfulum, as might be required.

4. Landing on Stonecutters.-An attack on the western entrance might be supple- mented by an attempted landing on Stonecutters Island. This would be met by the infantry and movable armament of the Section. A reinforcement might be quickly

obtained from the Reserve.

5. Landing on the South. The probable landing places on the South are at Waterfall, Aberdeen, Deep Water, and Repulse Bays, Stanley, and Tytam Bay.

(a.) From Aberdeen three lines of advance are possible:

(1.) By the main road to Mount Davis Gap and thus to Fly Point, Victoria Battery, and Belchers. The probable line of advance of an enemy would be along the wooded slopes to the north and east of the road, with his left thrown forward on the west of the road, with the object of turning Mount Davis. The attack would be met by Nos. I and II Sections reinforced from the Reserve, and positions taken up by the troops on the east side of the road and on prominent spurs held higher up the hill. A strong piquet would be placed on the top of Mount Davis to meet the flank attack.

The right flank of the attack would be dangerously exposed to enfilade fire from No. II Section by troops on High West, but good cover is afforded to the enemy by the woods growing on the hill side.

(2.) By Mount Kellet Road to Victoria and Plantation Gaps and the road from Aberdeen to Pokfulum. By this advance No. II Section would be exposed to an attack on both sides of the ridge running from Mount Kellet to Plunkett's Gap. The attack would doubtless be extended over the slopes, and the flank of No. II Section seriously threatened. The slopes are, however, at this end very precipitous and bare of cover, and can be swept by fire from Maxims and Infantry. This Section can be reinforced from the Reserve by the Peak Road and Magazine Gap.

(3.) By Wanchai Gap Road. This road runs from Aberdeen to Magazine Gap, but is hardly practicable for an advance, and the attack would be similar to that by Mount Kellet. It is also very probable, if the enemy really intend to make a serious attack, that these three lines of advance would be used simultaneously, and then the whole Reserve would be utilized to reinforce these Sections.

(2) and (3) give steep bits of climbing, and it would hardly be possible to advance on the narrow paths under artillery fire.

A 4.7-inch gun on Mount Kellet Spur would bring fire to bear on boats bringing

troops to effect a landing at Aberdeen.

(.) From Deep Water Bay there are two lines of advance :

(1.) By Wong nei-Cheong Gap.

(2.) By Little Hong Kong and Middle Gap.

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