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of the line, by withdrawing the locomotives and other rolling stock to the vicinity of Sydney, and, if necessary, by interrupting it, which could be easily done by breaking down the bridge over the Mira River.
I have, &c. (Signed)
ALEX. MILNE, President.
No. 149.
(Confidential.) Sir,
War Office to Colonial Office.
Surveyor-General's Department, War Office, June 1, 1878. IN reply to your letter dated the 30th ultimo,* requesting to be informed when the guns recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee for the Straits Settlements may be expected to reach the Colony, I am directed by Secretary Colonel Stanley to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that six guns, with carriages and slides and half the projectiles, are being shipped in the sailing ship "Lansdowne," appointed to sail from London on the 15th instant, and that four guns, with carriages, slides, small stores, and the other half of the projectiles, will be shipped in steamer to sail shortly.
I have, &c.
(For Director of Artillery and Stores),
(Signed) W. H. GOODENOUGH.
No. 150.
Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Committee Room, Whitehall, June 1, 1878.
I AM requested by the Colonial Defence Committee to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th May,† inclosing, for the consideration of the Committee, a copy
of а despatch from the Governor of Heligoland, in which he urges a reconsideration of the question of the defence of that island.
The Committee having had this despatch under consideration, as well as the former despatch from the Governor of the 15th April,‡ are unable to see any reason for altering their opinion as expressed in their report forwarded to you on the 17th April last,§ and cannot concur with his Excelleney that it is advisable to erect a permanent work for a couple of heavy 25-ton guns on Sandy Island for the protection of the roadstead. Such a work would not only be very costly in construction, but would require a permanent garrison for its defence, and after all would not afford security to ships lying in the roadstead against the long ranged artillery with which an enemy's ships would now be armed.
The population and resources of the island are in themselves so limited, that the Committee cannot recommend so great a development of means as urged by the Governor for their defence, especially as when constructed, they would not afford security against distant bombardment.
As the Governor is of opinion that the cut in the steps leading to the upper town, with a moveable bridge, recommended by the Committee, would be difficult to effect, and advises other measures connected with the steps which, however, he does not specify, the Committee are of opinion that the simplest course would be to send an officer of the Royal Engineers over to the island to confer with the Governor, and after ascertaining his views, to report on the best means of protecting the approach to the upper from the lower town, which was the object the Committee had in view in their recommendation.
I have, &c. (Signed)
ALEX. MILNE, President.
+ No. 75 of Miscellaneous, 35 E.
* No. 146.
‡ Not printed. Office registry number 4944, Heligoland. § Miscellaneous, No. 35 C.
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