CAB7-4 — Page 370

Page 370

Page 370

Appendix No. 4.

HONG KONG.

Submarine mines

Stonecutter West.

2 10-in. M.L.R. guns.

Battery

Armament

Stonecutter Central,*

2 10-in. M.L.R, guns.

Battery

Armament

Stonecutter East.

2 7-in M.L.R. guns.

Battery

..

Armament. (On the spot.}

Belcher's Point.

3 10-in. M.L.R. guns.

Battery

Armament

Gun-boats (2) Torpedo-boats (4)

•

342

existing guns, to add one medium gun, and to render this a strong inclosed work; this side of the harbour may some day be of great value; its water is deep, whereas on the opposite side of the harbour it is gradualling shoaling, owing to the extensive deposition of the mud and gravel brought down by the streams from the nullahs and hills above.

The cost of this is estimated at 7,2057.

The western entrance to the harbour is provided for by batteries on Stonecutter's Island and Belcher's Point, supplemented by submarine mines; but with regard to the latter it must be confessed the entrance is too wide both for the successful application and for the efficient protection of them when applied; nevertheless, a liberal provision has been 19,000 made for them.

£

Stonecutter's Island renders it necessary to dispose the armament proposed for it in three batteries, viz., Stonecutter West Battery, which has already been designed for two 7-inch guns; Stonecutter Central Battery, which is now in course of construction also for 7,170 two guns of the same calibre; and Stonecutter East, which should be constructed for two

£

9,295

£

5,995 7,170

£ 4,730

7-inch muzzle-loading rifled guns; the two former batteries should be modified to receive 10-inch muzzle-loading rifled 18-ton guns, and should be converted from mere batteries to inclosed and defensible works; they are all three at considerable heights above the water, and the guns need not be shielded.

At Belcher's Point a good position is found for a battery of three guns; the site is very important, commanding the inlet of Sulphur Channel, which channel is always used by men of war, and crossing fire with the works on Stonecutter's Island, though, of course, 13,310 at long range. 10,755

£

£

It is proposed to construct a battery for three muzzle-loading rifled guns of 18 tons; these guns, being about 70 feet above the water, may be mounted en burbette.

The defence on this side would be more complete if two guns were placed on Green Island, but the local officers do not recommend it as necessary.

The Colonial Defence Committee recommend the provision of two gun-boats of the 26,000 "Comet" class, and at least this number, as well as four torpedo-boats, should be provided. 18,000

The Island of Hong Kong is accessible on the south side at various places, such as Aberdeen and Tytam Bays, where the anchorages are good and of some extent; from these four good roads, practicable for artillery, lead to Victoria. At Aberdeen there is a private dock large enough to take iron-clads of the " Iron Duke" class, but the entrance to the bay is very narrow, and may be quickly closed by submarine mines and temporary obstructions. Troops and field-guns may also be readily brought into position upon the shore above each of these bays.

On the summit of the central ridge is a telegraph station from whence approaching vessels can be seen at long distances; this station is in telegraphic communication with both bays, and with Victoria.

Of the four roads, the eastern leads as it reaches the highest ground close to the work proposed at Bremer or Quarry Point, which, if well designed, should render the the farther passage of troops impossible.

The western road, too, after leaving Mount Davis, passes not far from Belcher's Point Battery, which should be designed in connection with an outwork from which to block the road, as well as to command the harbour entrance.

The other two roads lead with steep gradients† to the central ridge, and so direct into Victoria.

Excellent positions for blocking these roads are found at Middle Hill and on spurs near Mount Gough; and it is a question whether some barrack accommodation might not be provided at or near these heights, where the troops would be on the spot of eventual struggle, and free to take the initiative at any period of the enemy's landing or advance; whether barracks are built here or not, positions for field or position guns should be pre- pared beforehand, and breastworks for small bodies of infantry might be added. These positions can be easily made, and at little cost.

A sanitarium for 100 men has been constructed in a valley to the eastward of Mount Gough, at a height of 930 feet above the sea; and, if it prove as beneficial to the health of the troops as is anticipated, will be extended to accommodate 500 men.

It should be observed that the descents to Victoria from these two roads are very steep, and may be directly exposed to the guns of Kowloon West, and this should not be lost sight of in determining the subsidiary armament of this work.

As regards Kowloon Peninsula, no work which can be erected on British ground can be rendered secure from artillery placed on the Kowloon ranges, which are from 1,300 to 1,900 feet high, and distant about 5,000 yards; however, the intervening ground is very difficult for troops, and still more so for artillery, and an advance from the Kowloon ranges would be a matter of time as well as of labour.

The work at Kowloon West sees and commands all the intermediate ground, and

*These guns are already at the station.

+ The gradients are very steep in the more western and shorter road.

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