HELD INADEQUATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27078, 12 May 1949, Page 7

HELD INADEQUATE

REINFORCEMENTS FOR " HONGKONG EXPRESSED IN NZPA SpetaLW******/'. Rec. 11 Correspondffl* »’ theincluding knowledge of . the colony' and'its' defences express grave misgivings about the adequacy of the additional forces which are being sent to reinforce the Hongkong garrison. Colonel E. Kirke, formerly chief engineer to the British forces in China, writing in the Daily Telegraph, says that, even with the reinforcements, the garrison will be “ridiculously inadequate.” He points out that circumference of the island is 25 miles and that,, in addition, Britian is responsible for the defence of 100 miles of coastline on the mainland. Six' thousand troops cannot defend this, particularly wnen it is remembered that they are also respohsible for maintaining order among the civilain population of between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 people . Captain T. I. .Scott Bell, R.N., writing in the same newspaper, says that the whole island of Hongkong and the leased territory is within range of medium artillery mounted on the mainland. The only airfield, at Kaitek, is small and extremely vulnerable to attack either by gunfire or bombing. It would become unserviceable at the outset of hostilities. Air support can only be provided from aircraft car- ■ riers, and to maintain carriers adequately a fleet supply train will be required. The military correspondent of the Daily Telegraph considers the minimum force required for the defence of the mainland area alone is a full division.