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Sale of Port Louis Barracks
the Villa Moka
12
33
Port Louis Hospital
25
121
RESOURCES at Hand.
●
War Department property, but retaining Curepipe and Mahébourg..
Total (A) and (B)
Sum raised by sale of land..
PRESENT Accommodation, independent of Line Barracks.
Barracks at Fort George
J
"
رو
..
Citadel (Fort Adelaide) Curepipe Mahébourg
::::
::
?
?
93,000
?
153 officers and men. 131
•
60
22
35
150
33
On this principle the defence could be effected within twelve months, with the increased advan- tage of mobility with regard to gun-boats.
It will be necessary to reorganize the police force (consisting of 700 men), at a cost of 40,000%. a-year, on a more military footing.
With reference to section (B), it must be clearly understood that none of the expense should be borne by the Admiralty. They only be requested to supply trained officers and men.
The Committee agree in all the foregoing proposals, but Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson, R.A., considers it essential to have 11-in. instead of 10-in, guns in Fort George, and six 16-prs. to take the place of six 7-pr. field-guns at present in the Colony.
(Signed)
C. G. GORDON, Lieutenant-Colonel, R.E., and Brevet-
Colonel, Chairman.
M. CONNAL, Surveyor-General. RICHARD D. KING, Captain, R.N.
C. G. ROBINSON, Lieutenant-Colonel, R.A.
R. W. S. ROGERS, Lieutenant, R.N.
Inclosure 6 in No. 44.
APPENDIX.Naval Section.
TO render the naval part of the "proposed defence of Mauritius" (or, in fact, of any Colony) efficient, it is absolutely necessary that the Commander R.N. in command should be the Harbour- Master and Captain of the Port. The Colony would save money by it in the Harbour-Master's pay and wages of some of the men working the various harbour craft, as the seamen, stokers, warrant officers, &c., would fill many of their places.
The great drawback of having a party of seamen stationary in a harbour would be their not having enongh to do.
As the whole force would not require to be constantly at drill, the harbour work would quite fill up spare time, and give them useful experience in many matters.
The drills they would have to carry out would, amongst others, be-
To work at 10-in. gun: first, till thoroughly efficient; after that, drill at it once a-week for an hour.
Fire the same amount of ammunition quarterly from one large gun, at a target, that we do in the Navy.
Fire ditto "short practice" with projectiles, as in the Navy.
One gun-boat to be kept always in sea-going trim, the other three to be laid up.
The steam-launches, when not required by the Royal Engineers, to exercise firing 4-lb. charges from outrigger once a-month, both by day, and also night. Whitehead torpedoes also, if supplied with
them.
To be exercised fitting extemporary dummy mechanical mines, and laying them out at night around supposed enemy at anchor, &c.
To assist, and act in conjunction with, the Commanding Officer, Royal Engineers, in laying out dummy mines, chains to prevent grappling, booms, &c.
There would be plenty for them to do if they had energetic people over them; but it must be evident how needful the assistance of the port is-not only its plant, but places to keep all their boats and gear in.
Once every six months the whole force should be kept in fighting trim for a whole week; all the gun-boats brought forward and manned; manoeuvres executed in conjunction with the shore batteries and dummy torpedo mine fields; night attacks with spar torpedo; firing 100-lb. charges from end of spar, &c.
After that lay up three gun-boats again, &c.
Every man should have to bring his rifle and accoutrements with him, and have to go through the annual course of position drill and fire the 60 rounds, as per Regulation, at the various ranges.
If the naval complement was 130, 30 might be marines, and who, when not wanted by the Captain of the Port for drill or other purposes, might form part of the garrison in peace time.
The signalling part of the scheme would have to develop itself.
[1103]
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2 I
77
Appendix No. 4.
MAURITIUS.
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