CAB38-17 — Page 42

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X.-Defence Electric Lights.

39. The Inspector-General of the Forces recommends that "the system of search- lights be carefully re-examined and reconsidered with a view to the more efficient lighting of the important Lamma Channel.”

In a letter dated the 2nd February, 1910, addressed to the War Office, the General Officer Commanding the Troops recommends that advanced lights for the Western Entrance should be provided and sited on the toe of Mount Davis, where they can be easily manued and protected against boat attacks. He points out that, although the 9.2-inch guns on Mount Davis are not intended to be manned by night, the lights proposed would be of great value in dealing with torpedo attack, for they would enable early warning to be given to the batteries of the approach of torpedo craft, and so would enable fire to be opened as soon as the vessels come within range of the guns.

40. The proposed lights at the foot of Mount Davis would no doubt give early warning of the approach of torpedo craft by the Lamma Channels, but as the whole of the area outside the western entrance contains sufficient depth of water to enable torpedo craft to attack from any direction, the only result of mounting electric lights at the foot of Mount Davis would be to deter approaching torpedo craft from using these channels of approach. The Committee therefore consider that the provision of these lights is not justifiable.

41. The provision of electric lights for use in connection with the special anti-torpedo armament, however, requires separate consideration. It is recommended that for use in connection with the special anti-torpedo armament the following electric lights should be provided :—

(a.) Eastern Entrance.-The approved electric lights at the Eastern Entrance will suffice, but two of the concentrated movable beams should be converted to dispersed beams.

(b.) Western Entrance.-Six lights, one concentrated and two dispersed beams to be sited near Kowloon, and one concentrated and two dispersed beams to be sited at Victoria, should be provided.

XI.-Submarine Mine Defences.

42. Admiral Lambton is of opinion that—

"The land defences of Hong Kong, instead of being increased, are relatively far weaker than they were ten years ago. In those days, in addition to the batteries, there was a complete and efficient system of submarine mines. The Russo-Japanese war incontestably proved the value of this means of defence; yet, at the conclusion of that war, for some unexplained reason, the Committee of Imperial Defence decided to abolish that excellent form of protection, and Hong Kong, in common with the rest of the fortified places in the British Empire, was denuded of its minefields."

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The Inspector-General of the Forces recommends---

That the former system of mines (including the Brennan torpedo, which is still in store at Hong Kong), which existed up to five years ago, be restored.”

43. The abolition of the submarine mine defences was recommended by the Committee of Imperial Defence after careful consideration of the functions of the then existing submarine mine defences at each port throughout the Empire where this form of defence was in use.

In deference to the strong views expressed by the Admiralty as to the inconvenience of this form of defence at naval ports, it was decided that submarine mine defences should be withdrawn from all naval ports.

As a preliminary measure to the investigation of the circumstances of other defended ports, it was decided that the Admiralty must be the sole authority for advising as to what classes of hostile ships may reasonably be expected to attempt to enter certain waters, and whether the attempt to enter such waters would ever be made in war.

The cases of commercial defended ports where submarine mines were employed were then referred to the Admiralty to decide as to whether the channels of approach were such that vessels of the cruiser or larger classes could reasonably be expected to

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