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The above refers solely to the Colonies, but I conceive it would be entirely out of the question, while taking measures for their defence, to leave our home ports in an unprotected
state.
Very urgent representations have at different times been made to the Government as to the defenceless condition of some of our chief commercial ports, and, acting under instructions from the Secretary of State for War, the Defence Committee, in their Report of the 5th June, 1877, placed thirteen of them, commencing with Liverpool and ending with Sunderland, in order of relative importance, estimating the cost in works and arma- ments for the defence, approximately, at 1,579,0007.
Towards their defence, a small sum has been expended under the vote of credit this year for the provision of submarine mines, and for a partial commencement upon the defences of the Firth of Forth, but practically they remain in much the same condition as at the date of the Report above referred to. It was found, moreover, during the late emergency, that not only are the means for extemporizing defences non-existent, in the shape of guns for their armament, but there are not sufficient guns in the country for the approved armaments of the fortresses already constructed, or in course of construc- tion at home and abroad, to complete which a further sum of over 1,000,000l. will be required.
Under these circumstances, it is suggested for consideration whether the subject of defence should not be considered as a whole, with a view to providing the requisite means in such a manner as shall ensure their steady progress, independent of the annual votes of Parliament, instead of taking up separate items for decision, upon isolated portions of this great national question, as in the papers relative to Trinidad now under consideration.
If this view of the question be accepted, it might be well to appoint two Special Committees, who could work simultaneously, to consider what is requisite, severally, for home and colonial defence, when the Government would be in a better position to decide on the course to be adopted.
The Colonial Defence Committee were appointed merely with reference to temporary defences to meet a special emergency, being composed of an officer from each of the three great Departments principally interested-viz., the Colonial Office, the Admiralty, and War Office.
The information contained in their Reports, to which I beg particularly to refer, throws much light on the deplorable state of the defences of our principal coaling stations and commercial ports in the Colonies at the moment of the apprehended danger which gave rise to their appointment, and which, moreover, it should be remembered was in view of a probable war with only one Power, the conformation of whose seaboard is not favourable for aggressive operations at sea, which does not possess a large maritime population or a very powerful fleet.
This Committee, with the experience they have already gained in the course of their inquiry, might usefully continue their labours by advising as to the means to be adopted for converting the temporary defences, or adding to them so as to convert them into permanent defences for the more important Colonial ports, as also as to the measures to be adopted for providing adequate garrisons and other accessories for them.
In conclusion, I would observe that the present seems a most favourable time for the consideration of these questions, when the serious attention of those who are responsible for advising Her Majesty's Government on such matters has been so recently directed to the preparations to be made consequent on the imminence of war.
J. L. A. SIMMONS.
(Signed)
September 17, 1878.
No. 5.
Sir,
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, January 18, 1879. REFERRING to your letter of the 19th ultimo,* on the subject of the defences of Vancouver Island, I am directed to acquaint you that the Secretary of State for War, appreciating to their full extent the promptitude and energy displayed last summer by the Dominion Government when the emergency which called for the exercise of those qualities arose, is most anxious that no steps should be taken relative to the defences of Esquimalt and Victoria without the full and entire concurrence and co-operation of that Govern- ment.
* No. 359 of Miscellaneous, No. 35 E.
D
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