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As long as the inhabitants were not injured, we might count on their help. As soon as they were, we may count on their being passively hostile. Therefore it is, in every way, most important to prevent any, even temporary, success likely to injure the people of this isle, and the question, how best that can be done. The Colonial Government pay 15,000l. a-year, and the Imperial Government pay 22,000l. a-year, for defensive purposes; total 37,000, or, say, 40,000l. The island cannot pay more than it does, and it is doubtful if the Imperial Government will do so.
The Memorandum "Defence of Mauritius "* proposes a garrison of 1,690 of all arms; saying there are 400 of all arms here now, at a cost of 38,000l. or 40,000l. a-year, the cost of 1,690, say 1700, at 100% per man, would be 170,0001. Query, if we had a heavy war, could we send this number of men? Would we be inclined to spend so much for them?
The Memorandum recommended three schemes, costing:-
No. 1. To deny harbour (Port Louis) to enemy by remodelling Fort George, 44,2707.
No. 2. To erect works at Tombeau Bay, costing
Tombeau River Battery
Dauphine Battery
23
31
Grand River, N.W... Battery Condi
Remodelling Fort George
•
•
£
34,425
12,856
4,925
19,475
4,925
76,606
44,270
120,876
Appendix No. 4.
MAURITIUS.
This would secure harbour better than only remodelling Fort George, and would prevent landing in the immediate neighbourhood.
No. 3. To erect, beyond the above works, other forts at-
Semaphore Hill Fort, costing
Koenig Farm
Quoin Bluff
**
··
··
..
•
Add defences, No. 2 scheme
:
£
9,400
12,850
9,400
31,650
120,876
..
152,526
This would partially defend town and fort from land side, but would not defend either from shell- fire. The Memorandum* proposes, to secure this object-
No. 4. To place fort on Barkly Isle, costing..
To occupy Pouce Mount, costing
£
57,925
8,950
66,875
Add cost of defences No. 3, deducting cost of two guns shielded in Fort George, not required if Barkly Isle is occupied, also cost of Grand River Battery, also not required
113,051
179,926
Having dealt with the question of the Mauritius, it now remains to consider what should be done at Mahé, Seychelles Group; and I think that the same mode of defence should be adopted, ie, heavily- armed light-draught gun-boats, torpedo-launches, a small military force to enforce order, a militarily organized police, and good signal stations, and a powerful tug, with guns and racers, to communicate with the other islands. The cost of two gun-boats would be 30,0007., their yearly cost would be 2,000%, signal department and torpedo-launches 2,000l. more; total yearly expenditure, 4,000l. to 5,000%, which would diminish the 16,000l. saved by Mauritius by that amount, leaving 12,0007. available for the grand naval depôt ("place d'armes ") which I would place at Diego Garcia, of the Chagos Group.
This isle has a splendid harbour, with 50 feet at entrance; it has about 400 inhabitants, is healthy, could be bought from its owners for 30,000%., and with a torpedo establishment, and a few heavy guns, it would be a safe refuge to our vessels, and a lair from which our vessels could issue. Having no inhabitants, there would be no trouble with the Government of the isle. Diego is half- way between Suez and Australia, and is admirably placed in a central position to India, Batavia, Aden, &c.
I therefore think that without any greater expenditure than that now incurred the space of water A, B, C, D could be held against an enemy.
Schemes Nos. 1, 2, 3, in Memorandum* do not protect the port or town from shellfire. No. 4 alone does so, at a cost of 179,9267.
Not one of the four proposals prevent the descent on the coast, they are simply for defence of the harbour and town of Port Louis, and scheme No. 4 is the only one which pretends to defend the port from shell-fire.
19
I do not think that even the sum required for the defences thus proposed, or that the increased expenditure for troops, even if they were to be sent which one may doubt-will be granted; and I think also that the proposals are deficient, as they do not secure the inviolability of the isle.
Before entering into the subject of how this inviolability can be secured, the question arises, What does the Colonial Government require from the military authorities in respect to the internal relations between the Colonial Government and the inhabitants of the isle? The Colonial Government can alone answer this question. I would say that with the present police force (some 700 men) a most respectable force is present, and would, by a somewhat greater military organization, be most efficient in case of riots, &c.; and I think that the Colonial Government could scarcely require more than 100 men of Her Majesty's forces to be disposable for their own Colonial affairs; these would cost about
* No 49.
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