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approved by the Ceylon Government, for the improvement of the harbour of Colombo, where it is proposed to run out a mole to a distance of 4,000 feet, with ample wharves for coaling large vessels.
Colombo being the capital, and principal commercial port of the Colony, connected as it is by railway with the interior of the island, the Committee are informed that there are already several lines of steamers in the European trade which call there, and that the Peninsular and Oriental Company will in all probability eventually make it their coaling station and port of call, in which case Galle will cease to be of that importance which it now possesses.
The town of Colombo was surrounded formerly by ramparts, built by the Dutch, but these have for the most part been razed. Two of the old bastions (Enkhausen and Flag- staff) on the sea-face still exist, and are armed with smooth-bored guns.
Armament-
8-inch smooth-bore guns 18-pounder
"
23
::
No.
3
10
13
But, as these guns are totally inefficient except at short ranges, an attempt at defence by their means alone against ships armed with rifled artillery would only bring disaster upon the town, which is close behind, and which, without some defence, will be at the mercy of an enemy's cruizers, who could demand a supply of coals or levy a contribution under threat of bombardment.
Considering the importance of Colombo as the seat of Government, and of the harbour even in its present incomplete state, the Committee are of opinion that it would be very desirable that six rifled 7-ton guns should be mounted, three at Enkhausen or Flagstaff Bastion, and three at or near where Battenburg Battery formerly stood, near the point at which the new mole leaves the shore. They also recommend that three medium rifled guns, 64-pounders or 80-pounders, should be mounted near the site of Leyden Bastion, to fire along the beach and cover it against a landing from boats.
Battenburg battery and other works in its vicinity have been destroyed to make way for the harbour works, upon an undertaking by the Colonial Government that they will provide for the construction of a suitable battery, designed on modern principles, for the defence of the port, when the harbour and breakwater works are sufficiently advanced. The Committee are not prepared to say that the recommendations they now make are such as would be most suitable when the harbour works are completed, though they never- theless think it most advisable that some protection should be afforded at once.
The Committee are of opinion that it will be impossible to supply Imperial troops for these defences, and therefore recommend that a communication should be addressed to the Colony, pointing out the advisability of organizing a better defence, with a view to ascer- taining whether the Government of the Colony will be willing to bear the expense.
The cost of the armaments would be as follows :-
Six 7-ton guns complete..
Emplacements for ditto
Three 64-pounders complete
Emplacements for ditto..
Total
£
6,000
3,600
1,800
1.500
12,900
:
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For the defence of the three ports-Trincomalee, Galle, and Colombo-the Com mittee are of opinion that the following force will be necessary :—
Trincomalee Galle
Colombo
Total
Artillery.
Infantry.
Total.
200
600
800
100
200
300
100
400
500
400
1,200
1,600
The force at present in Ceylon is as follows :-
Royal artillery
Gun Lascars
Infantry
Total
::
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:
::
:
210
84
294
900
1,194
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