Printed papers on the political situation and military policy in Egypt [‎5r] (9/176)

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(d.) The ship should be manoeuvred correctly at the last moment, otherwise the
block may only be partial.
{e.) The blockship should be fitted with some means by which she can be rapidly
scuttled.
(/.) The scuttling of the ship should be controlled by the Captain from the
bridge.
{g.) The blockship should be loaded with some heavy cargo, such as stone, cement,
ore, railway iron, &c.
III.—Consideration of the Requirements Necessary to Secure an Effective Block,
as Outlined in Section II.
(a.) The arrangements should be svch as unll ensure the $hij) being sunk at the
correct time, i.e., when negotiations between this country and Jayan have
reached an advanced stage, but before ive have passed our Fleet through the
Canal.
11. The chief requirements are :—
(a.) Reliable Captain and personnel.
\b.) A reliable system of communications between Japan and the Captain
of the ship.
(c.) A sufficient number of suitable ships normally traversing the Canal to
ensure a certain latitude as regards exact time of sinking.
(a.) Should not present any difficulty.
It cannot be doubted that the men could be found who would be ready to sacrifice
their liberty, and, if necessary, their lives, in such a cause.
The Captains and Officers of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha are partly drawn from
the ranks of a body analogous to our Royal Naval Reserve.
(b.) Could be easily arranged.
As regards (c), two steamers of the Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, or Osaka
Shosen Kabushiki Kaisha, traverse the Canal on the average each way every week.
The average dimensions of these vessels are :—
Gross tonnage
Length...
Breadth
Draught
7,000 to 10,000
450 to 500 feet.
54 to 59 feet.
26 to 29 feet.
Conclusion.
12. It is considered that the Japanese would have at their disposal at any given
time in the Eastern Mediterranean or Red Sea steamers suitable, as regards
characteristics and command, for blocking the Canal.
(b.) The ship should be scuttled at a place where the sides and bottom are rocky.
13. The soil through which the Canal was excavated is composed for the most
part of pure sand and sandy clay. There are, however, certain exceptions, notably
just north of Lake Timsah, where the Canal passes through a range of low hills, and
is intersected by bands of hard and soft rock.
14. For the purposes of this paper, the Canal may be divided into three
sections:—
(A.) Sections where the banks are low and sandy.
These are the characteristics that are met with in the Northern portion of
the Canal as far as kilom. 40 approximately and in certain portions south of
the Bitter Lake.
It would be possible to dredge a channel round a large ship sunk in one
of these sections. Estimates of time that would be taken to dredge such a
channel vary from one to three weeks.
(B.) Sections where the banks are higher and the sand compacted.
These are the characteristics of the Canal between kilom. 40 approxi
mately and the Bitter Lakes, and of certain sections in the southern part of
the Canal.
A channel could be dredged round a ship sunk in one of these sections, but
it would take longer, not only on account of the height of dry bank that would
have to be cut away, but also by reason of the more compacted nature of the
sand.