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the garrisons is the gist of the matter, but as a supplement to the practical working on the ground, general instructions are given as follows to the Commanders as to how the garrisons of each Section and the support from the Reserve should be posted :-
No. I SECTION.
Stonecutters.
No. I Section is, in reality, a small independent fortress; its purpose is, in conjunction with the submarine mines and with the system of Belcher's batteries, to prevent an enemy's ships from forcing the western entrance of the harbour.
It could hardly be attacked by a landing-party in daylight.
At night its several beam lights, if we may judge by past experiments, should prevent any considerable body of troops being landed unobserved. Its artillery garrison is within the forts, and on its infantry garrison depends the task of preventing the landing of an enemy should it be possible for him to slip by the lights unharmed by artillery fire.
The position for the garrison when mobilized should be a section, with two men on sentry at the shore end of the submarine cables to prevent these cables being cut by boats stealing in. These, with sentries on shore north and south of the camp, in addition to the sentries in the various batteries, should detect any boats attempting to land on the island.
No. II SECTION.
R
Mount Davis.
The part the Fortress Artillery has to play is sufficiently indicated by the position of the fixed armaments in the Belcher's system of batteries. With the exception of a section of infantry placed near the shore end of the submarine mining cable, the movable Royal Artillery and Infantry placed as shown in the accompanying sketch to prevent a landing at Sandy or Taihowan Bay, a company from the Reserve can reach Sandy Bay within an hour of being summoned by telephone from Belchers, an addition clearly needed when so important a point has to be held by so small a garrison.
At night a section bivouacs in the Cable-house at Taihowan Bay to prevent a boat stealing up to cut the cables.
At night a cossack picket is sufficient on the shores of Sandy Bay to give warning of the approach of boats.
No. III SECTION.
The Peak.
The telephones from Pokfulam, Aberdeen, with the patrols sent therefrom prevent the garrison of this Section from being surprised, and give ample time to make dispositions for the defence.
On mobilization the garrison of the Section is thus quartered
One company in the Sanitarium, throwing an outpost at night down the Wanchai- Aberdeen road, and a patrol between Wanchai and Middle Gap, where it would meet the patrol Wong-nei-Cheong Section.
The second company encamped at the Plunkett's Gap, which is the head- quarters of the Officer Commanding the Section, with an outpost down the Aberdeen- Mount Kellett road.
The third company, in Mount Austin Barracks, belongs to the Reserve, and will remain there, as thence it can either reinforce Nos. II, III, or IV Section.
The Volunteers are quartered in Mount Austin Barracks.
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