CAB38-17 — Page 49

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Thus Hong Kong, in the event of an attack, must be prepared to stand or fall by her own defences.

19. To take Eastern Entrance first, paragraph 8, page 2, of the same Memorandum states that not more than three battle-ships could occupy a position from which an effective bombardment could be undertaken" (I will accept this limited number, though obviously other ships could be in reserve), and at page 3 the following armament is solemnly recommended:-

“Eastern Entrance-To deter attack by day three 9-2-inch guna, Mark X, are required.”

That is to say that each 9.2-inch gun is to hold at bay and defeat one modern battle-ship mounting four 12-inch, eight 8-inch, and twelve 7-inch, of which four 12-inch, four 8-inch, and six 7-inch fire on a broadside-I take the “Louisiana” as an average type.

One gun against fourteen-what a preposterous proposal !

Remember the position of these unhappy 9.2-inch guns is known in every foreign country to an inch, and the supposed smokelessness of their cordite charges is a purely comparative expression, and has just about as much relation to invisibility as a white elephant has to mow white.

There could be but one result of such hopeless and disproportionate odds. The skill and heroism of our Royal Garrison Artillery would be of no avail; in a minute or two they and their poorly-protected guns would be blown to pieces and Hong Kong finished.

13. The situation at the Western Entrance is just as bad, and the proposed battery of five 9-2-inch on Mount Davis, only four of which are to bear on the East Lamma Channel, equally a mockery.

A few days ago I walked up to the sharp-peaked hill, 1,600 feet high, and studied the small plateau of Mount Davis, less than a mile away and 800 feet below me, and imagined with what certain confidence a hostile fleet of four or five ships would engage these proposed batteries.

I do not think your Excellency has ever seen a modern battle-ship at battle practice, and probably do not realize the terrific concentrated power they possess, or what the effect of a dozen or so 12-inch shells bursting every half-minute on a small space means, in addition to unceasing rain of 8- and 7-inch projectiles.

The fate of Mount Davis would very much resemble that of Vesuvius during the last great eruption in the spring of 1906, and which I was privileged to see.

Terrible as was that convulsion of nature, it would be almost equalled by the inferno belching forth from the battle-fleet, and when the bombardment ceased the top of Mount Davis would be found blown away similarly as was the cone of Vesuvius, and again would Hong Kong be at the mercy of the enemy, for alas! the mine-fields have been abolished, also all guns bearing on the inner waters.

And what damage might the enemy's ships have suffered?

A few officers and men killed, and perhaps a gun or two disabled, but nothing serious, for at 6,000 or 7,000 yards 9-2-inch projectiles are ineffective against the vitals of a modern battle-ship.

No soldier or sailor will controvert what I have written above; then how can we account for the Colonial Defence Committee, Admiralty, and War Office consenting to and approving General Sir F. Owen's totally inadequate defence proposals?

14. It is incomprehensible, and the words of the Grecian orator haranguing the Athenians, vainly endeavouring to rouse them from their apathy, and to prepare in time for the dangers which finally overwhelmed their country, are now equally applicable to Great Britain—

"I am tempted often to think that some evil genius is driving you to ruin.”

And one may well add, taking a rather serious liberty with the greatest of poets-

"Zeus cherished Old England; thou art mad,

And in thy folly takʼat no heed of safety,'

To prove in what a different spirit other nations regard the security of their oversea possen- sions, I have had a comparative table prepared showing, as far as we know, what are the land defences of the most important ports possessed by England, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States of America in Far Eastern waters.

Please study it before reading further, and when you have done so, you will be lost in amazement, and find the comparisons more than usually odious, for from the table it is clear from all these other nations' standard of safety Hong Kong is hopelessly helpless.

And remember the disproportion is even worse than the table shows, for it alone gives the guns we know to exist-there are probably many others which our Intelligence officers have not been able to locate or obtain information of.

Certainly at Tsingtau many more powerful batteries are being erected, but that disagreeable notice "Verboten" half-way up nearly every hill kills all friendly curiosity.

And further be it noted at Tsingtau Germany takes full advantage of her land position, that is to say, her guns are mounted on very strong positions, with heavy cupolas protecting them.

15. Here in Hong Kong they are erected comparatively on the cheap; the guns have only an ordinary shield, as is visible to every ship that passes through Lyemun Pass.

What makes the disparity in the armament of all these places to Hong Kong the more remarkable is the fact that Hong Kong from a commercial point of view, is worth a great deal more than all the rest put together (vide table).

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