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10
The final sub-paragraph of paragraph 4, on page 109, requires adapting to local conditions. As the army is responsible for the regulation of traffic at Hong Kong, a statement of the procedure at ports where the navy is responsible is unnecessary, and likely to cause confusion.
With reference to the words "can, if necessary, be marked," at the top of page 111, it is considered essential to the safety of His Majesty's ships and of the mercantile marine that the friendly channels should be marked whenever the minefields are laid.
It is considered important that the arrangements for the entry of torpedo craft should be added. These are referred to in paragraph 6 of "Instructions for examination steamers and supporting batteries," forwarded with War Office letter No. 266/687 M, dated the 31st July, 1903.
Lists of stores for examination vessels and batteries might also be added with advantage.
Chapter VI (ii) may also require modification in accordance with any further instructions on the subject which may be issued by the War Office.
43. In addition to amendments necessitated by alterations in the garrison and armament since the date of the revision under consideration, and in consequence of the foregoing Remarks, the following minor points in the Scheme appear to require
correction :-
Page 7, Table A (ii).—The total number of machine guns in the armament is correctly stated, but the detailed distribution as shown in the War Office return of approved armaments is as follows :—
Lyemun Reverse
Saiwan Redoubt..
Stonecutter, Albion Battery
2 machine guns on cone mountings.
1
37
"
""
1
"
99
>
"
Centurion Battery
1
"
59
99
19
South Shore Battery
2
13
19
""
Elliott Battery
1
19
"
91
Fly Point Battery
1
59
19
"
General defence..
18
1)
6
"
tripod mountings.
parapet carriages.
Total
13
33
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Page 7, bottom.--It is not clear why 19 machine guns in A.O.D. charge should be shown "various" as regards mountings.
Page 11. The 10-in. B.L. gun shown in error at Kowloon is presumably the 10-in. R.M.L. still mounted, but not in approved armament. At the date of revision there were three 9-in. R.M.L at Kowloon, not two as shown.
Page 18, paragraph 9. According to the list on page 15, Saikung is now in telephonic communication with Hong Kong.
Page 35, paragraph 9 (2).--No mention of launches to be hired for submarine mining purposes is traced in the instructions to the O.C.A.S.C. in Chapter III (F).
Page 52, paragraph 6.-It should be stated whence these coolies would be obtained: they are duly provided for in Table F (ii).
Page 101, (2).-It should not be difficult to embody in the Scheme an estimate similar to that referred to at page 81, and a note should be added that the account will be subject to subsequent adjustment between the Imperial and Colonial Governments.
Page 102, (4).-Volunteers for sanitary duties are no longer called for in the proclamations (see paragraph 39 of the Committee's Remarks No. 282 R on the 1901 Defence Scheme), and Chapter VI (4) appears to be of little value.
Page 104.-The Chinese Water Police are not included in the total of 743 at the top of the page.
April 4, 1905.
(Signed)
J. E. CLAUSON, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
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Approved by Army Council 4/5/05 HK.
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