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Evidence, First Report,
Q. 4711, 4712.
Third Report, pp. 105, 107,
111.
Third Report, p. 113.
Digest, p. 607.
Third Report, pp. 139-148,
155-158.
Works
Submarine mines
Naval defences
£ 107,200
6
towards providing the expense of the requisite accommodation. They also recommended that every effort should be directed to locating the troops at Curepipe, where a small military sanitarium has been already established. Such an arrangement, by reducing the number of men who are now yearly invalided, would lead to considerable saving of expense. Curepipe, which is 1,800 feet above the sea, is healthy, and a good military position, inter- mediate between the two harbours of Port Louis and Mahébourg, with both of which it is in easy communication by railway.
28. The only regular communication with Mauritius is by French ships, subsidized by the Government of the island; so that the British Government may find itself, on the outbreak of war, deprived of all direct communi- cation with the Colony. We think that a regular postal communication should be established by British vessels. By this means, not only will the British connection be fostered, and the connection with France weakened, but, in the event of war, the vessels will afford to this country facilities of transport which at present belong to France.
29. The Colonial Government have urged the extension of the telegraph to Mauritius, and have pledged themselves to contribute about 8,000l. for twenty years. The present Governor, Sir George Bowen, does not doubt that this sum might be increased to 10,000l. We are informed that the Eastern Telegraph Company are prepared to construct and work a line from Zanzibar, where it would join the African line, to Mauritius and Réunion for a subsidy of 25,0001, a-year for twenty years. It is believed that the French Government would contribute 5,00071. a-year, and it would remain, therefore, for the Imperial Government to subscribe 10,000l. a-year. Upon this point we would refer to our letter to the Colonial Office, dated October 15, 1880. We would only add that the cable will be almost useless in a military sense if laid to Réunion and thence to Mauritius. Indeed, we could not recommend that any expenditure should be incurred unless the line were taken direct to Mauritius, whence a branch might be laid to Réunion if the French Government desired it.
Aden.
30. The next point to which we desire to direct attention is Aden, near the outlet of the Red Sea.
The distance of Aden from Suez is 1,300 miles, from Mauritius 1,970, from Bombay 1,637, and from Ceylon 2,130. It is not only an important coaling-station in peace time for ships using the Suez Canal, but in the event of a war with any of the Mediterranean Powers, it will be the only place in the possession of your Majesty from which a fleet could prevent foreign ships of war that had passed through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea from gaining access to the Indian Ocean. The value of Aden will be much enhanced if any of the Mediterranean Powers become possessed of military establishments in the Red Sea. The position also is so commanding that its loss might be productive of serious danger to British interests throughout the East. There is good reason for making Aden at least secure against the attack of a small naval squadron.
31. The defence of Aden has been carefully considered, on the spot, no less than four times in the last twelve years.
1. In 1870, by a Committee of which General Tremenhere was President.
2. In 1872, by Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois, R.E.
3. In 1879, by the Defence Committee of India.
4. In 1882, by Colonel Crossman, R.E.
In addition to these four Reports we have a fifth, prepared in the War Armament (additional) 65,500 Office in 1880. The Reports all agree closely as to the position and nature 2,000 of the works necessary for the protection of the port. The chief differences 30,000
are in the number and description of the guns to be mounted in the various 25,000
batteries. We propose to adopt Colonel Crossman's scheme as the basis of 5,800 our recommendations. He estimates the total cost at 235,000l., and the
garrison at 2,000 men. 235,000
Barracks
Telegraphs and con-
tingencies
32. The port of Aden is small, and at present a moderate number of ships assembled in the roadstead might seriously impede the action of the batteries
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