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No. 211.
Governor Strachan, C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.-(Received
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
June 27.)
Barbados, June 10, 1878.
WITH reference to the fourth paragraph of your Secret and Confidential despatch of the 30th April,* I have the honour to state that fairly efficient local forces have formerly been raised in this island, and that I am of opinion that there would be no difficulty in raising a volunteer force which might be of considerable service as an aid to the regular troops in a contingency such as that indicated in your despatch.
2. I should be loth, however, until the necessity arises in consequence of the withdrawal of Her Majesty's troops or otherwise, to take any active steps in this direction, as I am not without doubts as to the advantage of such a force as a permanent element in this community.
3. I have been in communication with the Lieutenant-General commanding the troops on the subject of your despatch, and I have furnished him with a copy of its inclosure.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
No. 212.
GEO. C. STRACHAN.
Sir,
Admiralty to Colonial Office.
Admiralty, June 27, 1878.
I HAVE laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 31st May last,† relative to fifty Whitehead torpedoes ordered for the Colonies (twenty-five of which are now only required), in which it is suggested that the Admiralty should undertake the entire control and management of these torpedoes, sending, if necessary, a special staff of officers and men for the purpose to Esquimalt, Cape Town, Hong Kong, and Singapore, where it is proposed a portion of them should be distributed.
My Lords request that you will point out to the Secretary of State for the Colonies that it would be a very expensive arrangement to keep a trained staff of officers and men for the purpose of taking care of a few torpedoes in distant Colonies, where the men would become thoroughly inefficient from having little or nothing to do, and their Lordships are, therefore, not prepared to accede to this suggestion.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT HALL.
No. 213.
Admiralty to Colonial Office.
Admiralty, June 28, 1878.
(Confidential.) Sir,
I HAVE laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 30th April last, inclosing copy of the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee as regards the Colonies noted in the margin. §
In reply, I am to acquaint you, for the information of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that my Lords attach great importance to the harbour of Sierra Leone being defended from an attack by sea, as it is an important coaling station and place of resort for Her Majesty's ships stationed on the West Coast of Africa.
As regards the defences of Barbados, my Lords do not consider them of urgent importance, but Port Royal, Jamaica, and its valuable dockyard, now entirely unprotected, they consider it of very great importance that defences against attack by sea should be undertaken without delay.
I am to add that my Lords have no further questions which they consider it necessary to have referred to the Colonial Defence Committee.
am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT HALL.
* No. 62.
[793]
+ No. 138.
Miscellaneous No. 35 c.
§ Heligoland, St. Helena, Sierra Leone, Barbados, Jamaica, and Newfoundland.
M
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