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11. Of course large guns would be also efficacious on the top of the main island, in warding off vessels from the west, but Sandy Island so armed covers both roads and the eastern anchorage, thus the Colony, in my opinion, would be perfectly secure.
12. The above system of defence would of course require a larger garrison as the work on Sandy Island would have to be secured against the landing of armed boat parties, but feeling so strongly upon the subject as I do, it is my bounden. duty, Sir, to urgently ask for your assistance, with a view to the reconsideration of the subject by the Committee.
13. Heligoland is, elsewhere, to my knowledge considered in the light of a most important post, easily defended, and it is to be regretted if we become blind to its impor- tance. I well remember the decided opinion as regards the island expressed to me by Admiral Fourichon in 1870.
14. As regards the minor system of defence against a smaller coup de main effected by the presence of fifty men as garrison and the present armament of the island, this would naturally not exclude a bombardment, but whilst a bombardment would cause the loss of all the houses and intense misery to the inhabitants, there is still quite sufficient earth upon the upper land, if judiciously worked, to afford cover to the garrison, and it is with a view to this point and for other like reasons that I have asked to be supplied with the advice on the spot of an officer of the Engineers.
15. I fear that owing to the situation and construction of the steps a drawbridge would be difficult to effect, and would hardly be sufficient protection.
I should, with all respect and submission to the opinion of the Committee, advise certain other measures in connection with the steps.
16. In conclusion, I beg to express the sincere hope that the Committee will recon- sider this question and advise the despatch, if they deem it on reading these remarks advisable, of an officer of Engineers to this Colony; and I most sincerely trust, Sir, that they will not find it their duty to advise Her Majesty's Government to leave this island undefended, on that score supposed to seek the mercy of the enemy's cruizers, and the denial of which would entail on the 2,000 inhabitants a second bombardment or a starvation blockade by Her Majesty's forces for the purpose of recovering a position which, with proper and by no means excessively expensive means, could easily have been defended in the first instance.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
FITZH. MAXSE.
No. 69.
Colonial Office to War Office.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Downing Street, May 4, 1878.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before Colonel Stanley, a copy of a letter from the Treasury,* relative to the proposed expenditure in respect of works, armaments, &c., recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee, for the Cape and eastern Colonies, together with a copy of the reply which has been addressed to their Lordships' Department.†
2. It will be seen that the Lords Commissioners authorize this Department to apply to you for the supply of guns and submarine defences, in order that the necessary provision may be made in the War Office Estimates, and request that you may be informed that their Lordships authorize an immediate expenditure for this purpose of 87,2001. No authority is given in respect of any expenditure for works, on which point you will observe that a further representation has been made to their Lordships, and that the opinion of the Secretary of State for War is invited on the subject.
3. I am to request to be informed whether Colonel Stanley proposes to have these guns manufactured at Woolwich or to extend a portion of the order to Sir William Armstrong's works at Elswick, in order to hasten the rate of production.
* No. 67.
[593]
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I have, &c.
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
+ No. 71.
K
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