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The manning tables have accordingly been drawn up with a view to providing D. R. F. detachments for all the stations, and complete detachments for the more important guns, detachments for the movable armament being in some cases found by withdrawing men from the inner line of forts.

The ammunition details have been reduced to the lowest possible limit, and it is proposed to employ Chinese coolies at the ammunition lifts. It is considered that a very short instruction will render them efficient.

Armament.

The fixed armament is complete but not in all cases the latest approved for the Colony; the movable armament is, with few exceptions, held in reserve by the Army Ordnance Department.

In most cases the approaches to the positions assigned to the howitzers are very difficult, and it is most desirable that the batteries should be constructed and the howitzers placed in position in time of peace, to do so would involve considerable time and great labour, and would be impossible on a sudden outbreak of war.

The Officer Commanding Royal Artillery will draw any reserve armament that may remain in charge of the Army Ordnance Department.

Ammunition.

The O.C.R.A. will ensure that the full complement of ammunition is stored in the fort magazines, and will keep the movable armament supplied, obtaining the necessary transport from the Army Service Corps. He will draw the tubes and fuzes for the fort guns which are in Ordnance charge.

The Officer Commanding Royal Artillery is in possession of the rules for harbour traffic laid down on p. 59 of this Scheme.

(E.)—Action by Commanding Royal Engineer.

The distribution of officers to engineer districts, and of the Supernumerary Staff and the Fortress Company to Sections and Reserve,, is as detailed in Chapter II (B).

The Commanding Royal Engineer will make immediate arrangements with the triennial contractor for the hire of the contract labour, and provision of materials, necessary for constructing the field works and mat-sheds enumerated hereafter under the head of " (i) Works."

The distribution of the Hong Kong Company will be carried out as described in (ii), provided that the Senior Naval and Military Officers concur in the necessity for the mines being laid.

The telephone system will be immediately completed as explained in (iii).

The Rules for the Regulation of Sea Traffic will be put in force if, and so far as, the Senior Naval and Military Officers concur in this being necessary.

(i.) Works.

Howitzers batteries, each for two 8-inch howitzers at Sandy Bay and Wong-nei- Cheong, and for two 6·6-inch howitzers on Mount Kellet or Mount Cameron and at Quarry Bay Gap respectively.

A blockhouse epaulment for two guns and shelter trench on Mount Cochrane. A blockhouse and shelter trench and epaulment for two guns on No. 12 hill,

Kowloon.

Shelter trenches at Tytam Reservoir.

It is proposed that the batteries for the 8-inch howitzers should be prepared in time of peace.

This is now the subject of correspondence with the War Office. Those for the 6·6-inch howitzers and the other field defences may be constructed when required.

Epaulments for the guns of the movable armament and entrenchments for the Infantry will be constructed by the Sectional troops, who will also improve the old and

open the new communications required in each Section.

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