Page 86
101
P.S.-I am also to transmit to you a letter from the War Office, inclosing letters from the Commanding Royal Engineer at the Cape, together with copy of a letter to the General Commanding in that Colony.*
R. H. M.
(Secret and Confidential.)
No. 201.
Colonial Office to Admiralty.†
Sir,
Downing Street, June 25, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, copies of the printed Corre- spondence relating to the Defence of the Colonies, brought down to the 31st ultimo.
This paper contains some despatches or letters which will be of interest to your Department, though it was not thought necessary to furnish you with the manuscript copies when they first reached this Office.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
No. 202.
Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.
Committee Room, Whitehall, June 26, 1878.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
I AM requested by the Colonial Defence Committee to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 24th and 25th June, transmitting correspondence and reports from Sir Bartle Frere respecting proposals for the defence of Table Bay, and requesting information as to the cost of permanent defences for the Cape of Good Hope.
In the absence of Sir Lintorn Simmons, the Committee have given consideration to these papers, and, as at present advised, are not prepared to recommend guns of 38 and 25 tons for the defence of the Cape, as suggested by the local committee.
They are, however, of opinion that it might suffice for the permanent defence of Cape Town against such a limited attack as is likely to be directed against it-looking to its distance from Europe and the general protection afforded by Her Majesty's fleet--if the temporary armament of 7-ton and 64-pounder guns, now in course of preparation, were supplemented with five 18-ton guns, which, if mounted on new works constructed for the purpose, would involve an additional cost of about 35,000l.
But, looking to the prospect of a peaceful solution of present European difficulties, the Committee consider it would be good economy to at once make such modification in the proposed temporary works designed to mount the 7-ton guns as will adapt them for the reception of the five 18-ton guns, which, when manufactured and sent out, could replace an equal number of the lighter ordnance.
Should such a modification meet the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Secretary of State for War, the additional cost of the proposal would be reduced from 35,000l. to about 25,000l., and this might be partly met by the money already sanctioned for a gun-boat of the "Comet " class, estimated to cost 13,000l., which would not be required if the heavier guns were mounted on shore.
The Committee propose to refer these papers to Sir Lintorn Simmons, now absent at Berlin, for his consideration as Inspector-General of Fortifications, and to know his views with respect to the suggested alterations in the armament and works, which, as at present designed, have been approved by him.
It is observed that torpedo-boats of the "Lightning" class have been suggested by the local committee at the Cape; but until some decision is come to as to how these vessels for local service are to be manned, under whose authority they are to be placed, and how officers and men are to be specially trained for their service, the Committee are not in a position to give any opinion as to the advisability of adopting this auxiliary means of defence.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
ALEX. MILNE, President.
[See Memorandum by Sir L. Simmons on this subject, dated July 26, 1878, No. 244 253
in series.
* No. 189.
A similar letter was addressed to the War Office.
[793]
Page 86
Nos. 193 and 200.
L
Page 86
Page 86