CAB11-57-14 — Page 33

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CHAPTER II (D).

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war stage, but it is recognized that certain hostile acts may be attempted at an early stage of strained relations, before the war stage can be put in force.

3. The measures taken at the precautionary stage have therefore the two-fold object of:-

(1.) Preventing these hostile acts.

(2.) Facilitating the transition from the precautionary to the war stage.

The hostile acts likely to be attempted in Hong Kong are :-

(a.) Attempts to cut the cable communications at their landing places in Taihowan and Deep Water Bays, and to damage the docks at Aberdeen.

(b.) Attempts to damage the coast armament and electric-light emplacements. (c.) Attempt to damage the wireless telegraphy installation at Cape D'Aguilar.

(a.) Will be prevented by the infantry arrangements shown in Table B (i) (which are made under the ostensible practice exercise of field training), assisted by the civil police.

(b.) Will be prevented by distributing a sufficient personnel of R.G. A. to live in and look after the forts, and by infantry guards placed over the electric-light emplace- ments. Owing to the constant passage of the gunners, &c., between forts, this can be arranged without exciting comment. The R.G.A. personnel would be sufficient to work the guns for a short period in case of necessity.

(c.) Will be prevented by alloting a small infantry garrison for the purpose, and by erecting obstacles.

(ii.) At the "War" Stage.

1. Attack from the Sea on the East or West Entrance.-Attacks on the eastern or western entrances will be met by the guns of the forts, 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 Saiwan Bay or on the Eastern Coast, the sectional troops can be reinforced by the Reserve, which might be brought to the spot in about two hours. This attack is also provided against by a special detachment of British infantry on Mount Parker, which secures the reverse of Saiwan and other batteries at Lyemun.

3. Landing on West.-An attack on the western entrance might be supplemented by an attempted landing of troops in Sandy Bay and Taihowan and Kellett 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. This attack is also exposed to the fire of two 15-prs. of the movable armament on High West.

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

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