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No. 107.
Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.
(Secret and Confidential)
Sir,
Downing Street, May 17, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Colonial Defence Committee, a copy of the correspondence noted in the margin,* relating to the defence of Esquimalt.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT,
No. 108.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir J. H. Glover, R.N.,
(Confidential.) (Paraphrase of Telegram.)
G.C.M.G.
Downing Street, May 18, 1878.
WITH reference to your telegram of the 16th,† please state what has become of the guns mentioned in the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee, and stated in your telegram of the 9th May to have been removed from the batteries, and how many are at present in Newfoundland.
Am I to understand that you have ascertained that the authorities at Halifax can spare six 64-pounders, &c., if permission is given?
them.
Please explain what you mean by mounted guns, and for what purpose you require
No. 109.
Colonial Office to War Office.
(Secret and Confidential.)
Sir,
Downing Street, May 18, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 16th instant, I am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to state that he understands from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that on the 13th instant a telegram was sent to the Senior Naval Officer at Esquimalt that the naval guns in store required by the Dominion Government may be lent until replaced from England or required by Her Majesty's ships. Those guns comprise all the guns mentioned in your letter, except the muzzle-loading rifled 8-inch 9-ton gun, and the breech-loading rifled 9-pounder gun and 12-pounder gun, which it is presumed are the property of the War Office; and I am to request that authority may be given for the loan of the last-named guns to the Dominion Government, if this has not already been done, in compliance with the request contained in my letter of the 11th instant.§ The Governor- General was informed by the despatch, of which a copy was inclosed in that letter, that all the guns in store in Esquimalt and Victoria would be placed at the temporary disposal of the Dominion Government.
In their report on Esquimalt and Victoria, of which a copy is inclosed, the Colonial Defence Committee recommended certain works and armaments for their defence, but that the guns in store should be utilized until they could be provided. From that report it is clear that at least the 7-inch, 8-inch, 9-inch, and 64-pounder guns will all be required to carry out the recommendation of the Colonial Defence Committee until the destined armament is provided; but with regard to replacing them or any other guns in store which the Dominion Government may require for the defence of this Imperial station, I am to call your attention to letters 35, 49, and 63, of the inclosed correspondence, and the letter from this Office to the Admiralty of the 11th instant,|| of which also a copy is annexed, to all which particular attention is requested, from which it will be perceived that Sir Michael Hicks Beach presumes that the permanent works and armaments to be provided will be determined by the Military and Naval Departments.
I am, &c. (Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
* Nos. 92, 100, and 101.
† No. 104.
‡ No. 106.
§ No. 91.
| No. 92.
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