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11. Telegraphs. Whenever hostilities with a maritime Power be imminent, the electric telegraph Appendix No. 4. should at once be extended to (a) Prosperous bay, (b) long range, and (c) man and horse.
To be able to effect this without loss of time, it is considered to be most desirable to have in store here the quantities of wire, iron posts, &c., requisite for the extension in question, together with the instruments for telegraphing, none of which articles are of a nature to suffer much deterioration from the climate, and the cost of which is small,
12. Garrison required and the Assistance to be expected from Local Levies.—In the Memorandum of the Inspector-General of Fortifications of the 26th April, 1881,* the requisite garrison is stated to be 1,620 men, of which total the infantry number 1,350 and the artillery 250, the engineers being 20 in number. This is taken as implying two strong batteries of garrison artillery, and a full battalion of infantry on a war footing, supplemented by the local militia.
13. Two strong batteries of Royal Artillery are considered as indispensable for a time of war, and so also is half a company of Royal Engineers (in place of the small detachment of twenty men), but the Committee are of opinion that if the defences herein suggested or referred to be carried into execution, a half-battalion of infantry on a war footing (say, 500 men), when combined with local levies, ought to suffice for defence against the sort of attack specified in the letter of the Secretary to the Royal Commission on Defences of British Possessions, dated the 26th July, 1880.
In fixing this number the Committee have had in view the importance of not drawing beyond the necessary minimum on the resources of the regular army.
14. But if it be considered necessary to hold the island against a serious attempt to capture it by means of a large military force specially embarked for the purpose, the larger garrison specified in the War Office Scheme, and quoted in paragraph 12 of this Report, would, in the opinion of the Committee, be requisite.
15. The local militia has not been enrolled for some years, but Ordinance No. 2 of 1874 provides for the enrolment of 360 men, and as there are at present about 950 men in the island between the ages of 18 and 55, the Committee consider that this number would be forthcoming.
16. The Committee are also of opinion that the local militia should be reorganized, but to do so assistance from the Imperial Government would be necessary when the state of the colonial revenue is taken into consideration.
17. The minimum war garrison for St. Helena will be thus made up :-
Royal Artillery, two strong batteries
Royal Engineers, half company
Infantry, half battalion on war footing
Total Regular troops
Add Local Militia
Total garrison
(Signed)
:::
HUDN. R. JANISCH.
FREDK, W. RICHARDS.
::
:
:::
250
50
500
800
360
1,160
G. PHILIPS, Lieutenant-Colonel, R.E., and Colonel. E. J. TREMLETT, Major, R.A., and Lieutenant Colonel,
Commanding Royal Artillery, St. Helena.
ST. HELENA.
St. Helena, October 31, 1881.
Inclosure 3 in No. 13.
Minute by Commodore Sir F. Richards.
Island of St. Helena Defences.-Minute respecting Anchorage, James' Town.
THE probability is that, on the first outbreak of a serious maritime war, the Suez Canal (notwith- standing that its approaches were commanded by the fleet of Great Britain) would cease to be a dependable or chosen highway for the commerce of the Eastern seas, and that the whole stream of the trade of India and China would resort to its original channel round the Cape of Good Hope.
2. In such case Simon's Bay and St. Helena would at once become places of primary importance
as ports of call and refuge for our merchantmen, and as coaling stations for our fleets.
3. The "proposed armament," especially that of Munden's Battery, with seven 10-inch 18-ton guns, would appear to be sufficient for the protection of the shipping and town against any ordinary attack; but in the event of Rupert's Valley (which is undoubtedly the most appropriate locality) being selected as a depôt for naval purposes, it would, in my opinion, be advisable to have a work on Bank's Point to cross fire with Munden's. I also think that in every case the battery at Lemon Valley should be retained and armed with powerful guns for the more effectual protection of the shipping from the attacks of an enemy operating from close in shore from the westward.
4. I beg respectfully to record it as my opinion that no time should be lost in placing St. Helena in a condition of defence at least equal to that proposed in the War Office Memorandum,* as its present defensive capabilities are altogether inadequate to the important duties which would devolve upon the island on the first outbreak of war.
(Signed)
Boadicea," at St. Helena, October 24, 1881.
FREDK. W. RICHARDS, Commodore
[1103]
* No. 14.
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