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38
Infantry will be constructed by the Sectional troops, who will also improve the old and open the new communications required in each Section.
The tools will be issued from the Ordnance Stores with the Sectional camp equipment; they will be stacked by the guard-tent in charge of the guard until a mat- shed is provided for them.
When the works are completed, all tools which the Officer Commanding the Section deems it unnecessary to retain will be returned to Ordnance Store.
The howitzer batteries not already prepared and the blockhouses at Kowloon will
be constructed by hired contract labour so far as available.
Tents being very conspicuous and in many seasons unsuitable, will be replaced by mat-sheds as soon as they can be constructed. The following is an estimate of the cost involved :- མ
Section 1
II
III
IV
..
V
"
VI
29
Net total
Add 5 per cent. for pressure
Gross total
:
::
:
Dol.
2,550
2,500
2,900
3,200
2,900
1,050
15,100
755
:
15,855
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(ii.) Submarine Mining.
1. The system of submarine mining defence is in accordance with plans which have been approved by the War Office.
2. There are four mine-fields, numbered I to IV. There is also a Brennan Torpedo Installation at Lyemun,
3. The force available for laying and maintaining the mine-fields and working the Brennan torpedo consists of the Hong Kong Company, Royal Engineers, (55 Europeans, including 5 officers), and 70 natives; 5 S.M. Supernumerary Staff, including a S.M. Storekeeper; and 6 Chinese civilians, permanently employed, viz., 1 coxswain, 3 engine-drivers, and two stokers.
CC
4. The vessels available are the submarine mining steam-vessels "Solent" and 'Miner," a cable-lighter, the "Megohm," 4 J.B. pinnaces, and a few smaller boats.
5. On mobilization one officer and a number of men of the Hong Kong S.M.R.E. proceed to each of the three Sections of the Defence, to which mine-fields belong, for the purpose of working the electric lights and making complete preparations for the submarine mining defences as far as the work on shore is concerned; supplies and reliefs to be made by requisition to the O.C.S.M. at head-quarters, either through the Section Commanders, or, under their instructions, direct to the O.C.S.M.
The distribution of officers and men for mobilization is given in Table E (ii). On the order being given to "lay out the mines," all Submarine Mining Officers and men, with the exception of the N.C. Officers and men of the Brennan torpedo detachment would return to head-quarters, and would be at the disposal of the O.C.S.M. until the operations were completed.
During the period of laying out no arrangements could normally be made for running the electric lights, as owing to the smallness of the European personnel available, all men would be required for the work of laying out the mines.
If it were necessary to run the lights at the same time that the mines were being laid out, the time for laying out, specified in paragraph 7, would be very materially increased.
1
0
tl
fc
la
D
F
Any defects in mine-fields will be reported at once to the O.C.S.M., who
When the operation of laying out the mine-fields is complete, the S. M. Officers and men will revert to their Sections and have charge also of the mine-fields in their vicinity.
PR
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