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Mauritius, forwarding the " Appendix, Military Section," to the Report of the Committee appointed to Appendix No. 4. consider the defence of the Colony.
MAURITIUS.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
JOHN BRAMSTON.
Inclosure 1 in No. 45.
(Secret.)
My Lord,
Lieutenant-Governor Broome to the Earl of Kimberley.
Government House, Mauritius, August 29, 1881.
IN continuation of my Secret despatch dated the 8th of this month,* I have the honour to forward the "Appendix, Military Section," to the Report of the Committee appointed, in pursuance of your Lordship's Secret Circular despatch of the 8th June last,† to consider the defence of the Colony:
2. With reference to the recommendations of the Committee, I beg to repeat my conviction of the unwisdom of any attempt to give the local police force a military organization. Neither do I consider that the two Government tug-steamers are worth reckoning as any portion of a defence scheme.
3. I would submit that the most pressing necessity in connection with the defence of Mauritius against a foreign enemy is the connection of the island by telegraph with the rest of the world. Take, for instance, the case of a war with France. Réunion would have to be captured, men and ships would have to be sent and stationed here; a great enterprise would have to be undertaken, and the absence of a telegraph would not only be very severely felt when too late, but might possibly mar everything. The same observation applies to any contingency which would bring about the closing of the Suez Canal.
4. All are agreed that the military centre of the island in ordinary times should be removed to some interior station high above the sea-level. European troops can only be kept in Port Louis at a yearly loss of life and health, and a consequent sacrifice of money and of efficiency. This loss has been persistently incurred year by year since 1867, the date of the fever epidemic, for what reason I do not
know.
I have, &c. (Signed)
F. NAPIER BROOME.
Sir,
Inclosure 2 in No. 45.
Major-General Murray to Lieutenant-Governor Broome.
The Villa, August 29, 1881.
I HAVE the honour to forward to your Excellency a copy of the proceedings of the Committee on the Military Section of the Defence Committee held on the 1st instant.
I have, &c. (Signed)
A. W. MURRAY.
Inclosure 3 in No. 45.
APPENDIX.-Military Section.
Proceedings of a Committee assembled at Port Louis, Mauritius, on the 16th August, 1881, by order of Major-General A. W. Murray, C.B.. Commanding the Troops, for the purpose of reporting upon details of the working out of suggestions of the Defence Committee, and considering the present and future arrangements of Barracks and Hospitals in Mauritius.
President: Brevet-Colonel C. G. Gordon, C.B., R.E., Commanding Royal Engineer.
Members: Brigade-Surgeon E. J. Hopwood, Senior Medical Officer.
Lieutenant-Colonel C. G. Robinson, R.A., Commanding Royal Artillery.
Major J. N. Buchanan, Brigade-Major.
Assistant Commissary-General J. R. Johnstone, Senior Commissariat Officer.
THE Committee, having assembled pursuant to order, proceed to discuss, firstly, the present and future arrangements of barracks and hospitals at Mauritius.
1. The members agree that the Port Louis Hospital is unfit for the sick of the garrison, and recommend its sale.
2. The Committee agree that the object which should direct all their efforts is the locating of as many of the troops as possible at Curepipe or Upland, and that the main hospital should be also at Curepipe or Upland.
3. The Committee (taking into consideration that 8,0007, has already been expended on the Curepipe Sanitarium) are of opinion that Curepipe should be the locality chosen for the main hospital, and station for the troops; that as there is there existing accommodation for 60 men, and hospital accom- modation for 16 beds, there will be needed extra accommodation for 12 officers, 50 artillery, 206 infantry, 12 married quarters, and 24 hospital beds, with the accessory buildings, &c. The estimated cost of this increased accommodation would be 43,000l. (as per annexed Statement A), while the estimated value of Port Louis Hospital would be 15,000l. (vide annexed Statement B), so that the deficit in affording this increased accommodation would be 28,000l. to carry out the Com- mittee's object of locating the troops at Curepipe.
*Inclosure 3 in No. 44,
[1103]
† No. 10, Appendix No. 1, First Report.
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