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occupy and on the ground between that and the summit to which the road to Wong-nei-Cheong mounts.
Communications.-There is a telephone from the police station at Stanley, passing by Tytam Tuk to Shankiwan, and thence to the Central Police Station in Victoria, also a telephone from Tytam Reservoir to the Central Police Station; at a recent mobilization of this section a company of the Hong Kong Regiment, from the reserve at Kowloon was at Wong-nei- Cheong Gap within one hour after embarking at Kowloon.
No. V SECTION.-Lyemun. Head-quarters Lyemun Barracks. R.A. as in 1894 Scheme (see Table attached); C and D companies Hong Kong Regiment.
Movable Armament.-Two 8-inch howitzers within the Lyemun defences. Three Gardners parapet mountings on Sywan Hill.
Sywan Hill is a very commanding position and commands the Shankiwan Gap and the road, thereto, and would have to be carried before an attack could be made on the land sides of the battery.
For the greater part of the year the water breaks on the east shore of the island, and it is not likely that an enemy landing in Tytam Bay would take the circuitous route by Tytam Tuk and Shankiwan.
This section can be easily reinforced from either Victoria or Kowloon. Communications.-Flag signalling from Sywan Hill to Lyemun. Military telegraphing from Lyemun Barracks to Victoria. Telephone from Shankiwan Police Station to Central Police Station, Victoria.
No. VI SECTION.-Kowloon Peninsula, including Kowloon land front, the East Dock, and West Batteries. Head-quarters, Orderly Room, Hong Kong Regiment. Garrisons of the batteries as in 1894 Scheme (see Table attached). A and B companies Hong Kong Regiment for land front.
Movable Armament.-Two 7-pr. R.M.L. guns.
Two Maxims.
A tangled network of rotten granite hills (200 to 410 feet) scarped by quarries and scored by crevasses and gullies, occupies all but the southern point of the Kowloon Peninsula and affords no position with a clear field of fire to the front.
As the guns of the permanent batteries are intended to fight ships at the east and west entrances to the harbour, and as their fire to that end is well controlled by a chain of artillery command, the officer commanding this section will not interfere unduly with the direction of their fire, but will more particularly direct his attention to the defence of the land front and to preventing an enemy gaining a hill top whence he might annoy the batteries by rifle fire.
The method of meeting an attack from China depends on whether it is made alone or in combination with others :-
(i.) If an attack be made from China without any seaward complica- tions, and the bulk of the garrison be therefore available, a forward position will be occupied by one and a-half battalions with the right resting on hill No. 10 (see map with 1894 Scheme), and the centre and left on the broken range overlooking the Chinese boundary: 7-pr. guns at the salients and Maxims at the gaps.
Second position.-Two 7-pr. guns, or two 9-pr. R.M.L. guns from reserve at Victoria, on Mount Cockrane.
Two 7-pr. guns, or two 9-pr. R.M.L. guns from reserve at Victoria, Kowloon Observatory.
Two 7-pr. guns, No. 12 hill, overlooking Kowloon East Battery, with outposts at Nos. 10 and 13 hills.
The second position has the clearest field of fire in the Peninsula. No. 12 hill, where a small block-house and a shelter-trench following the contour of the hill are to be constructed, has considerable command over the Peninsula, and a fair field of fire over the hills to the north.
Mount Cockrane is itself a scarped promontory of rotting granite, and with an epaulment on top and shelter-trench for infantry becomes a redoubt difficult of access, commanding the streets of Yaumati and the country to Gun Club Hill on the east.
Hill No. 13 in its front commands the valley running north-east from Yaumati.
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