CAB11-57-12 — Page 55

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CHAPTER III (E).

34

(ii.) Electric Lighting and Submarine Mining.

1. The eastern entrance is provided with five electric lights, consisting of one search-light, one concentrated fixed beam, and three dispersed beams, of which one is

spare.

The western entrance is illuminated by two sets of lights placed respectively at Belcher and Stonecutters, the former set consists of two search-lights, of which one is spare, and four dispersed beams, one being spare. At Stonecutters there are one search-light, two concentrated fixed beams, and five dispersed beams, of which one is

spare.

2. There are four mine-fields, Nos. I and II lie between Belcher and Stonecutters, No. III to the north of Stonecutters, and No. IV at Lyemun. There is also a Brennan torpedo installation at Lyemun.

(1.)—Action by O.C.S.M.—Electric Lights and Brennan Torpedo.

1. In time of Peace. He will see that all gear is ready for immediate running at short notice, and that a reserve of carbons, lubricating oil, and stores, for at least two nights' continuous running, is maintained in each section.

The coal and fuel oil stored near the engine rooms is not to fall below the following:- For each steam engine, seven days' continuous running.

For each oil engine, half the storage capacity provided.

He will detail to sections for mobilization the officers, n.c.os. and men of the Hong Kong (S.M.) company and the S.M. Staff.

2. At the * Precautionary" Stage.-He will send out a further supply of carbons, lubricating oil, &c., and arrange to renew this supply from time to time.

He will send out any stores that may be required for the Brennan installation.

He will requisition on the A.S.C. for the coal, oil, &c., required to fill coal stores and reserve oil tanks.

3. At the "War" Stage.-He will detail the Volunteer Engineers, and send out to sections the number of n.c.os. and men, R.E., and Volunteers detailed in Table E (ii).

(2.)-Action by O.C.S.M.

1. In time of Peace. He will make all the necessary preparations for laying out the S.M. defence as described in the S.M. Manual, and will detail the officers, n.c.os. and men of the Hong Kong S.M. company and the S.M. Staff, and keep them fully practiced in their defence duties.

2. At the "Precautionary" Stage. The coal bunkers of the S.M. vessels will be filled up, and those vessels kept under steam by night and day.

If either vessel is laid up, a launch to replace her will be hired.

This launch, as well as any required later for laying the mine defences, will be obtained through the A.S.C., but in case of delay the O.C.S.M. may engage them direct.

Twenty coolies suitable for submarine mining will be engaged at once.

He will then carry out the following work:-

(i.) Get out group and branch cables stored cut, cut and coil remainder, and insert mooring thimbles.

(ii.) Lay main cables for No. III Mine-field.

(iii) Lay main cables for No. II Mine-field, if permission has been obtained from the Harbour Master.

(iv.) Lay friendly channel buoys (if not already laid) as soon as permission has been obtained from the Harbour Master.

(v.) Complete test rooms, wet batteries, adjust position finders, and set position-finder plans. 3. At the "War" Stage.-Having distributed the n.c.os. and men detailed in Table E (ii), as described under (a), which will take precedence of S.M. work, he will distribute the remaining men in accordance with Table E (iii), and at once commence the following work, which, including the work done in (i) to (v) “precautionary" stage, should be completed in two days:-

(vi) Draw guncotton primers from Ordnance.

(vii.) Inspect and prime apparatus.

(viii.) Insert primed apparatus in mines.

(ix.) Lay main cables for No. I Mine-field, if permission has been obtained from the Harbour Master.

Note. It is assumed in the distribution of work below that the main cables for Nos. II and III Mine-fields are laid and all the friendly channel buoys, before orders are issued to lay out the mine defence.

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