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Appendix No. 4.
MAURITIUS.
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126
4. To meet a part of this deficit, the Committee think that the following lands and buildings could be sold, viz. :-
Royal Artillery barracks and mess, valued at.. Commissariat buildings
£
7,500
..
••
10,000
17,500
5. The Committee have reason to believe that the Colonial Government would give free passes to and fro to the military guards required for the Colonial Treasury and Civil Prison in Port Louis.
6. The Committee therefore conclude this section of their Report by recommending the sale at once of the Commissariat buildings, which are at this moment in the possession of the Colonial Govern- ment, with the power on the part of the War Department to resume possession when required; that the Royal Artillery barracks and mess and Port Louis Hospital should be retained till the extra barrack and hospital accommodation is completed at Curepipe, say in twelve months from date of authority, and then sold.
It is probable that the Colonial Government would agree to come to terms with the War Depart- ment to erect the required barracks, &c., on the understanding that the whole of the property enume- rated in Appendix (B) should belong to them when the barracks are completed. It would, however, be necessary that the designs and supervision of the new buildings should be under the Royal Engineer Department.
The Committee adjourned till the 18th August.
The Committee reassembled on the 18th August, 1881, and proceeded to consider the scheme for the defence of Mauritius as proposed by "Committee of Defence, and its Appendix, Naval Section," of the 1st August, 1881, submitted to them by order of the General Officer commanding the troops, 11th August, 1881.
The Report of the Committee is based on making the defence of the Mauritius a combined naval and military defence, and by so doing guarding the whole coast-line of the isle, as well as securing Port Louis Harbour as an asylum.
Taken roughly, the present garrison of Mauritius consists of 400 men, viz., 100 artillery, 295 infantry, and 5 engineers. The Committee of Defence recommend-
Artillery Infantry Engineers
And a naval contingent of
120
100
20
240
130
370
so the actual number of fighting men are only lessened by 30, i.e., they propose an increase to Royal Artillery of 20, the Royal Engineers of 15, and a reduction of infantry of 195 men; and the addition of a naval contingent of 130 seamen, a military organization of the police of the island, the fitting and armament of the Colonial tug-boats, and the remodelling of Fort George.
Naval Contingent.
The naval contingent being fully detailed in the Appendix, "Naval Section of the Committee of Defence," it only appears necessary to here state that the cost of same will be 14,7717. per annum. (For detail, vide Appendix C.)
Such barrack accommodation as the naval contingent would require will be found in the citadel, which gives accommodation to 8 officers and 131 men.
It is intended by the Committee of Defence that the naval contingent should afford crews for the proposed 4 gun-boats, for the torpedo steam-launches, for the tugs of the Colonial Government, armed as described in Appendix (D), and to supply men for the 6 signal-stations of the isle.
The torpedo-launches with spar torpedo locomotive mines would be for use of the Royal Navy contingent, according to the instructions laid down in p. 1, "Manual of Submarine Mining," by which the line of division between the Royal Navy and Royal Engineer spheres of action respecting torpedoes are laid down, viz., the Royal Navy to be in charge of all locomotive or offensive means, the Royal Engineers to be in charge of all stationary or defensive mines. Thus any Whitehead torpedoes sent to Mauritius would fall to the charge of the Royal Navy.
Military Contingent.
The Committee of Defence recommend that this contingent should consist of 120 artillery, 20 engineers, and 100 infantry. Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson, R.A., commanding Royal Artillery, is of opinion that 160 Royal Artillery would be required.
The present Committee consider, first, the details and annual cost of this force; and, secondly, discuss the objections which may be to its composition.
By detail of the military contingent, Appendix (E), the cost of the contingent, as proposed by the Committee of Defence, is 27,3671. per annum; the Departmental Staff expenditure being kept at the figure it costs at this time, the only difference being the reduction of Assistant Surveyor, Royal Engineer Department, when the remodelling of Fort George is completed.
Barrack accommodation for the military contingent :-
At present there is accommodation at Curepipe for 60 men and 16 hospital beds.
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