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In this connection the Colonial Defence Committee desire to refer to the recom- mendation contained in paragraph 20 of their Memorandum, No. 173 M, dated the 7th March, 1899, to the effect that half a native Iudian battalion should replace the two companies of British infantry to be detached to Wei-hai Wei. They now consider, in view of recent events in China, that a whole native Indian battalion, in addition to that at present known as the Hong Kong Regiment, should be stationed at Hong Kong, and they trust that the War Office will find it possible to take very early action on this recommendation.

11. Page 10.-The general description of the strategic situation of Hong Kong, and of the attacks to which it is liable, should be followed by a paragraph describing its cable communications in some such terms as the following:-

The Nominal cable Route from the United Kingdom to Hong Kong is by the Eastern Telegraph Company's four cables from Porthcurnow to Gibraltar, of which one is direct, and three touch at either Portuguese or Spanish territory or at both; thence by the same Company's triplicate cables to Alexandria vià Malta; thence by its land-lines to Suez; thence by its four cables, of which two touch at Suakin and three at Perim, to Aden; thence by its three cables to Bombay; thence by Indian Government land-lines to Madras; thence by the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company's two cables from Madras to Penang, and three cables (of which one touches at Malacca) from Penang to Singapore; thence by the same Company's two cables, one viâ Saigon (Cochin China) and the other via Labuan (British North Borneo) to Hong Kong. This, termed the "viâ Eastern" is, if the cable from Porthcurnow direct to Gibraltar and that from Singapore via Labuan are used, an all-British route, except in so far as it involves the use of stations and land-lines in Egypt. There is a third route between Saigon and Hong Kong viâ Hue and Haiphong, but the cable between Haiphong and Hong Kong has been interrupted for some considerable time, and it is doubtful if it will ever be repaired.

There are various Alternative and Emergency routes as far as India, of which the principal are the "via Indo," which makes use of land-lines through Germany, Russia, and Persia; and the route round Africa, which is all-British except for touching Portuguese territory at Madeira, St. Vincent, Delagoa Bay, and Mozambique.

An Alternative Route from the United Kingdom to Hong Kong is by land-lines through Europe and Russia to Vladivostock; thence by the duplicate cables of the Danish Great Northern Telegraph Company to Shanghai, touching at Nagasaki; thence to Hong Kong either by the cable of the same Company, touching at Amoy, or by the cable of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, touching at Foochow. Shanghai and Foochow can also be reached by Chinese land-lines from the Russian frontier at Helampo and Vladivostock, from the British Indian frontier at Bhamo, and from the French Tonquin frontier at Lungchow.

Cables have recently been laid for the Chinese Government by the Eastern Extension Tele- graph Company and the Danish Great Northern Telegraph Company (1) from Shanghai (W

Voosung) to Chefoo, and (2) from Chefoo to Taku. From Chefoo the following branch cables have been laid :-To Wei-hai Wei for the British Government, to Port Arthur for the Russian Government, and to Kiau-Chau for the German Government.

Hong Kong communicates with Australia through Singapore and the Dutch stations of Batavia and Banjoewangie, or Banjoewangie ouly.

There is also cable communication with the Portuguese Colony of Macao.

The cables from Macao, Haiphong, Saigon, Labuan, Manila, and Foochow land in Taihowau Bay. That from Amoy lands in Deep Water Bay.

12. Page 12, paragraph 1.-The arrangements for protecting the cable-landing places appear to be sufficient, but the beginning of the paragraph is not well expressed. The fact that cables are liable to be cut at sea, especially where laid in shallow water, by any vessel belonging to an unfriendly Power, is not a sufficient reason for still further imperilling communication by leaving the personnel and apparatus at the shore ends at the mercy of any small hostile party that might get possession of them by force or fraud.

13. Page 12, lines 12 to 14.-The statement as to the Colonial make-shift powder magazine on Stonecutters Island appeared in the same terms in the 1898 Defence Scheme, but no reason is given for the delay in carrying into effect the approved plans.

CHAPTER II-Organization.

14. Page 27 (C) (2).—The command system of telephones has recently been much extended, and, although it is not yet quite complete, the General Officer Commanding is able to report that it is now in a satisfactory condition. The description in the Defence Scheme of this and other systems of electrical communications requires some revision, in order that the responsibility of the various officers in regard to them may be

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