Page 120
Page 120
135
Within the last few months I have placed four 9-pounder bronze guns in position on Fort Wellington at Prescott to command the ferry from Ogdensburgh, United States, America, and 2,000 dollars have been spent, or about to be spent, in restoring the pallisades, &c., of this work.
Two 24-pounder bronze howitzers and six 9-pounder guns have been fitted with ship carriages to arm four steamers on the lakes, if necessary.
Extensive repairs have been made on the Citadel, Quebec, and the Forts of Levis, as well as Forts Henry and Frederick Kingston.
In taking special notice of the liberal outlay authorized for arming defences at Victoria and Esquimalt, and rendering those exposed points tolerably secure from attack, I must at the same time say that Nanaimo, in Georgian Sound, has not been armed as yet.
(Signed) E. SELBY SMYTH, Lieutenant-General.
Ottawa, July 2, 1878.
P.S.-Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine appears, by a Report received since writing the above, to be making rapid progress with the construction of batteries at Victoria and Esquimalt; but he reports unfavourably of the inclination for enrolling as artillerymen unless war was imminent.
At least ninety artillerymen would be required to man the nine rifled guns, withou leaving any margin for casualties.
E. S. S.
No. 250.
War Office to Colonial Office.
(Confidential.) Sir,
War Office, July 24, 1878.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 24th June, 1878, marked Secret and Confidential, transmitting copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong on the subject of the defence of that Colony, and in reference thereto I am to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the general officer commanding has been asked to furnish particulars of what has been done, and that, until his Report is received, the Secretary of State for War would rather defer any expression of opinion on the subject.
I have, &c.
No. 251.
(Signed)
'J. L. A. SIMMONS.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, July 25, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for War, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Trinidad,* respecting the defence of that island, together with a copy of a Report of the Colonial Defence Committee on the subject,† in which it is suggested that a supply of rifles and ammunition should be sent to Barbados for distribution among the various islands in the event of necessity arising.
2. Although circumstances have changed since the date of Governor Irving's despatch, Sir Michael Hicks Beach cannot think it desirable that Trinidad and other important West India islands should be allowed to remain in their present defenceless condition; and he would therefore suggest, for Colonel Stanley's consideration, whether it would not be possible to maintain, in some convenient locality, a reserve store of rifles and ammunition for use in the West Indies in the event of war, and if Colonel Stanley concurs in the recommendations of the Colonial Defence Committee, I am to request to be informed if he will be prepared to give the necessary instructions.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
* No. 176.
† No. 206.
Page 120
Page 120
Page 120Page 121