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Appendix No. 4. flag-ship, Her Majesty's ship "Euryalus," has just paid its annual visit to Mauritius, I appointed the
following Committee to make the inquiry ordered :— MAURITIUS.
Lieutenant-Colonel and Brevet-Colonel C. G. Gordon, C.B., R.E., Commanding Royal Engineer
(Chairman);
The Honourable M. Connal, Surveyor-General and Superintendent of Public Works;
Captain R. D. King, R.N., Her Majesty's ship "Euryalus ;"
Lieutenant-Colonel C. G. Robinson, R.A., Commanding Royal Artillery;
Lieutenant R. W. Rogers, R.N., Her Majesty's ship "Euryalus."
I may mention that Colonel Gordon is the officer so well known for his services in China and Egypt, and that Lieutenant Rogers is the Torpedo Lieutenant of the "Euryalus."
3. I inclose the Report of the Committee, dated the 3rd instant, together with an Appendix entering into the details of the naval part of the proposed scheme. This Appendix had to be prepared at once, as the "Euryalus" was about to sail. A second Appendix, giving the details of the military
part of the scheme, will be forwarded by next mail.
4. The proposals of the Committee are as follows:-
(a.) That Fort George should be strengthened.
(b.) That four gun-boats, each carrying a 10-inch gun, should be stationed at the island.
(c.) That a torpedo establishment should be organized.
(d) That a signal corps of twenty men should be organized.
(e.) That the colonial tug-steamers should be fitted with light guns.
(f) That the troops should be reduced from their present strength, about 400 of all arms, to 250 of all arms.
(g.) That Port Louis barracks, "The Villa," at Moka, Port Louis Hospital, and some other War Department property should be sold.
(.) That the police force of the island should be re-organized on a more military footing.
5. The total cost of carrying out this scheme is estimated at a prime outlay of 93,000l., and an annual charge of 38,2851. By the sale of the War Department property above mentioned, the net prime outlay might certainly be reduced by 33,000l. The present garrison costs 53,000l. per annum, so that, while the proposals of the Committee involve a first outlay of 60,000l., they would save, if their estimates be correct, 14,715. on the present annual charge.
6. If, in comparison with these proposals, we look at those contained in the War Office Memo- randa* inclosed in your Circular, and criticized by the Committee, we find that the latter are considered by the Committee to be less effective, though more costly. The Committee provide a cheap and movable scheme of defence, applicable to the whole island, or for use elsewhere, and ask for no greater number of men than the present garrison. The War Office plan, it is urged, proposes to lock up sums of money varying from 44,270l. to 198,550%. in fortifications at and about Port Louis, and besides, asks for more barracks and more troops.
7. Taking the proposals of the Committee seriatim, I consider that Fort George should be streng- thened at once in the manner suggested, and that the organization of the torpedo establishment now in hand should be completed also without delay. I do not attach much importance to the fitting of the tug steamers for light guns, and I think this matter, and also the signal corps, might be left alone for the present. Our signal system is pretty good as it stands, and could be improved at any moment. I do not think that the establishment of four gun-boats need be kept complete in time of peace, provided that the full number, and additional seamen for the signal posts and torpedo service, were promptly sent out on the slightest indication of serious war. But I certainly think that at least one well-manned gun-boat which could spare and exchange men when the other vessels came out, should be permanently stationed at Mauritius. This vessel might perform the Imperial and colonial service mentioned in my public despatch by this mail, and would be a gain in every way. If this plan were pursued, the existing garrison need not be reduced, though I shall mention presently some large economies which should certainly be effected.
8. I must strongly oppose the proposal of the Committee to organize the Mauritius police upon a military footing. Beyond giving the police sufficient drill to enable them to hold a rifle straight, on the remote chance that it should ever be necessary to employ them to quell a riot by fire-arms, I depre- cate any attempt to make them into soldiers. By care and training they are maintained as a fairly good civil force, but to attempt to turn them into a military force could only result in a double failure, seriously impairing the internal government of the Colony, and adding little, if any, strength to its external defence. In case of war with any nation but the French (when Réunion would have to be captured, and a strong land and sea force employed on and off the islands) a European and Creole volunteer corps 400 or 500 strong could easily be enrolled, and would be a valuable aid to the troops and gun-boats. For this purpose a reserve of 1,000 rifles and ammunition should be kept in Port Louis. 9. I will now refer to the economies to which I have alluded, and which I would ask your Lord- ship to bring particularly to notice in the proper quarter. To begin at the top: as Mauritius is only a Colonel's command of 400 troops of all arins, I do not think an expensive country residence and grounds, "The Villa," at Moka, worth 40,000 rupees, should be kept up for the Commanding Officer, for whom the usual lodging allowance would suffice. Take next the Engineer Department. There is a Colonel of Engineers at 1,1807. a-year, and a staff which includes a surveyor at 4201. a-year, and which costs in all another 1,5201. a-year; and all this to look after an annual expenditure of 6,7001. Why not let the Colonial Government execute for the War Department such repairs as are necessary? Money would be saved in every way. Then again, a Colonel of Artillery with little or nothing to do, is, if economy requires to be studied at all, quite an unnecessary extravagance. So also is a Brigade Surgeon. There is a very strong colonial and private medical staff in the island, and one military surgeon would be fully sufficient. I recollect that in Natal, during my service there, much medical aid
* No. 49.
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