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obtain a carefully considered Report, more in detail, with an approximate estimate of the cost of the various works requisite to carry into complete effect the proposals of the General Officer commanding, including the conversion of the batteries lately erected at Cape Town and Simon's Bay into permanent works, with adaquate armaments; the erection of the requisite defences at Hout's Bay, the construction of railway, roads, signal stations, telegraphs, &c.; as also of any additional barracks for housing the troops, on the hypothesis that a force of Imperial troops, consisting of one battalion of infantry and one garrison battery of artillery, to be brought up to a strength of 1,000 and 200 men respectively in time of war, will be available to aid in the defence. He would also desire to be informed whether the Colonial Government will be prepared, in the event of a combined system of defence being agreed upon, to take the necessary steps to raise, equip, and maintain at all times in a state of efficiency a local force, the strength and constitution of which shall be decided in concurrence with Her Majesty's Government, such as shall be adequate, together with Her Majesty's troops for the defence of the Peninsula and the two towns, and to place it, in the event of war, under the command of the officer commanding Her Majesty's forces in South Africa.
Commodore Sullivan has recommended, and the General Officer commanding concurs in the recommendation, that 4 "Lightning" torpedo boats and 16 Whitehead torpedoes (new pattern) should be provided for the defence of Simon's and Table Bays. The Colonial Defence Committee have also recommended that a gun-boat of the "Comet class, mounting a 10-inch gun, should be provided to aid in the defence of Table Bay. These recommendations would also have to be considered, especially with reference to the concluding paragraphs of the Committee's Reports of the 7th and 26th June last; Nos. 162 and 202 in the printed correspondence.
As the Imperial and Colonial Governments are both deeply interested in the satis- factory solution of this question, I am to suggest the transmission of a complete copy of the Proceedings of the Colonial Defence Committee, so far as they relate to the defences of Cape Town and Simon's Bay, to the Governor, with a view to thus obtaining the assistance of his Government in drawing up the Report and Estimates referred to. Should Sir Michael Hicks Beach concur in this proposal, it would be desirable to form a local Committee, under the directions of the Governor, composed of officers named by the General Officer commanding and the Colonial Government.
It would also appear desirable that the Commodore, or some officer named by him, should be associated with the Committee, so that the Report and Estimates might be as complete as possible, and include all the local requirements, naval as well as military, for the establishment of a sound and practical system of defence for the peninsula.
Upon the receipt of these Reports and Estimates, which should be as complete as possible, Her Majesty's Government would be in a position to decide on the measures to be taken for the permanent defence of these important positions, and to consider, with the Colonial Government, the apportionment of the expenditure to be incurred in carrying them into effect.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
Inclosure 1 in No. 19.
EUSTACE E. CECIL.
Sir,
Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, July 23, 1879. HIS Excellency the Governor of the Cape Colony having called upon me to state my views on the defence of certain ports in the Colony, I have the honour to forward, for your information, copies of the Memoranda submitted by me to his Excellency Sir Bartle Frere, which he authorizes me to state meet with his entire approval.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
FRED. THESIGER, Lieutenant-General, Commanding.
To the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for War.
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