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CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III (A).

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ACTION BY STAFF AND DEPARTMENTS.

(A.)—General Review of Measures to be taken.

1. The notification that the Defence Scheme for the Colony is to be put partially or wholly into force will be sent to the Governor in the form communicated in Mr. Chamberlain's despatch of the 26th July, 1898. This notification will at once be communicated to the G.O.C., who on receipt of the first message, notifying the pre- cautionary stage, will order:

(1.) The manning of quick-firing guns and search-lights.

(2.) The establishment of port war signal stations at Cape D'Aguilar and Mount Davis, and the provision of guards for these stations as well as for the cable landing places.

(3.) Preparations to put in force the examination service, and the enforcement

of the same if approved by the naval authority.

(4.) The preparation of the submarine mines, and the laying of the same if concurred

in by the naval authority.

(5.) The execution of improvised works, clearing of ground, &c.

(6.) The protection of dock gates by torpedo nets.

(7.) Troops to hold themselves in readiness to mobilize.

And on receipt of the second message, notifying war, will order mobilization.

2. On the order to mobilize, action will be at once taken by Staff and Departmental Officers as laid down in this Chapter. The troops will be distributed to their several Sections and to the Reserve. Action will be taken by the Civil Administration

as laid down in Chapter VI.

3. All available measures for obtaining intelligence of an enemy's movements, including such assistance as may be obtained from Governors of Eastern Colonies, from the British Consuls at Eastern Ports, and from the Royal Navy will be put in force.

4. The movable armaments which have fixed positions assigned to them will, if not previously placed, be at once moved into them with their complement of ammuni- tion. All deficiencies in gun ammunition in the batteries, if any, will at once be made good.

5. Howitzer batteries, field magazines, blockhouses, earthworks, and communi- cations, as planned, will immediately be put in hand, where not previously executed.

Mat-sheds will be built to shelter the garrisons of Sections.

It is estimated that the defensive works will be completed in from three to eight days, and that mat-sheds to replace the tents will be erected in from ten to twenty days.

6. The mine-fields can be completely laid out in four days. They will not be laid down until the consent of the Naval Commander-in-Chief or Senior Naval Officer has been obtained.

7. The Hong Kong Volunteer Corps will be called out for actual military service, A Proclamation to this and efforts made to complete them up to their establishment. effect is issued by the Colonial Secretary (Chapter VI (i) (1) II ).

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