CAB11-57-9 — Page 9

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10. Good progress is, I am happy to say, being made towards completing the approved system of electric lights. Their state as they exist at the present time is as follows:-

Stonecutters, two fixed beams, one searchlight in permanent emplacements, cables

buried.

Belchers, two fixed beams, one searchlight; all in temporary sheds.

Lyemun, three fixed beams, one searchlight, one sentinel, one engine-room for three engines. New emplacements and cables progressing rapidly.

There are two tanks only at present to each engine, but these will be supplemented by two more in a few weeks' time; and there are five new emplacements in hand, which will be completed in three months' time. The lights have been successfully run on a few occasions.

11. There is one more point to which my attention has been directed. It is the necessity of position finders when the new batteries are completed. I refer more particularly to the Devil's Peak and Pinewood Batteries. The prevalence of fogs in Hong Kong at certain times of the year is a matter which has been touched upon from time to time, and is, I think, well known. If position finders placed on a level below the fog stratum were provided for these batteries their value would be enhanced to an inestimable degree. They, being screened by fog, would be in the distinctly advan- tageous position of being able to bring their fire to bear upon hostile cruisers without fear of retaliation.

12. Considerable progress has been made during the past year in adding to the communications of the island, details of which will be found recorded in the Defence Scheme. Both road and telephonic communications are in a satisfactory state. Slight alterations will be required in the telephone system to adopt it to the changes made in the areas of Sections, but they will be so slight as to hardly merit remark. On the mainland the road communication will require improving and supplementing, and this matter is receiving my attention.

13. I have lately instituted enquiries into the food resources of the Colony, and find that the remarks on the food supply which have appeared in former Defence Schemes, although they may have been accurate at the time they were made, do not hold good now. The supply of meat, both fresh and preserved, and of vegetables is not nearly so large as it has been represented to be. No consideration appears to have been paid to the contingency that there would be a rush on the market, and of the probability of large purchases being made by the inhabitants of the Colony. The navy, too, would certainly absorb large quantities. It therefore behoves the military to be in a position of independence, and after careful consideration of the subject I am of opinion that the reserve of preserved meat should not be allowed to fall below 75,000 lb., and that a reserve of 10,000 lb. of preserved vegetables should also be maintained. I am aware that the tables of food supply show a two months' supply of meat as being available, but they do not provide for disease and mortality among cattle which often occurs.

14. The arrangements made for the defence have, as in former years, been tested by a number of tactical exercises, which have been of more interest and value this year by the participation of larger bodies of troops in them. The tactical points mentioned in the Scheme are the outcome of these exercises, and are those which experience has proved to be all important.

(Signed)

W. J. GASCOIGNE, Major-General,

Commanding in Hong Kong.

Enclosure.

Letter of Naval Commander-in-Chief referred to in Paragraph 7 of Letter of General

(No. 4923. Secret.)

Šir,

Officer Commanding.

"Centurion" ut Hong Kong, February 25, 1901.

I HAVE the honour to bring to your Excellency's notice the question of the defence of this harbour from attack by torpedo boats or other small craft.

2. This matter has been previously considered a year ago, but its importance seems to me so great that I feel it right again to bring it forward. Nor can I at all agree with the Colonial

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