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Appendix No. 4.
ADEN.
into decay and been abandoned. In 1866 the defence of the Hooghly was again referred to a Com- mittee, of which Colonel (now Lieutenant-General Sir J.) Adye, R.A., was President, on whose recommendation a battery was commenced in 1868 at Chingree Khall (Diamond Harbour); but the work was suspended in 1870-71.
3. For some years before this time the defence of the Bombay Harbour had been under con- sideration, and between 1860 and 1870 works for the protection of the harbour and city were com- menced on designs approved by the local authorities, and slowly proceeded with. But these were stopped in 1870 by order of the Government of India, which was not satisfied of their sufficiency for the purpose in view.
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4. The Franco-German war of 1870-71 brought the question of the coast defence of India more prominently under consideration; and, at the request of the Government of India, Her Majesty's Government sent out Colonel (now Major-General Sir W.) Jervois, R.E., Deputy Director of Fortifica- tions at the War Office, to report on the proper mode of protecting the more important Indian ports and Aden. Colonel Jervois arrived in the winter of 1871-72. He examined the chief ports, and submitted to the Government of India Reports on the measures to be undertaken for their security. These projects involved a very large expenditure, and were subjected to prolonged consideration. In 1876* the Government of India recommended the construction of certain works at Aden on a modification of those proposed by Sir W. Jervois; and in 1877† the preparation of detailed plans for the defence of Aden was entrusted to a Special Committee.‡ Subequently it was deemed expedient that the Committee should extend its operations, and it was instructed to inquire into, and report on, the necessary coast defence of India. Accordingly, the Committee from time to time furnished Reports, and prepared all necessary plans and drawings for the execution of the works recommended by them for the protection of the various ports of India. They also, in accordance with their instructions, extended their inquiries to the inland defences of India; and through their labours we have been placed in possession of a clear view of the works stated to be necessary for the protection of the main ports of India, and the chief strategical points in the interior of the country.
5. In 1878 the question of coast defence again assumed prominence, and we decided on the con- struction of a battery at Fulta, on the River Hooghly, as originally proposed in 1866. The defences of the Bombay Harbour were also again taken in hand and some additions made.
6. In 1879 it appeared to the Government of India expedient to transfer the functions of this Special Defence Committee, which took its origin from the Aden Defence Committee, and which was a costly agency, to a permanent body on the model of that existing at home, and which should embrace all the representative heads of the Departments concerned in the subject as ex-officio members. The original Committee was therefore dissolved on the 31st December, 1879, and its functions transferred to the permanent "Defence Committee."§
7. We have now the honour to forward to your Lordship, in accordance with the request contained in your despatch of the 12th May, 1881, the Reports of the original Defence Committee.
These relate to the defences of the following places:--
Aden Bombay
Karachi
Madras
Rangoon
Moulmein Hooghly
Port Blair
Total
Estimated cost of Works.
£
155,614
589,000
186,953
415,600
124,882
17,260
203,462
166,460
1,859,231
In doing so, we desire to point out that the various proposals contained in these Reports vary greatly in importance, extending from those which relate to the improvement of the defences of Aden, of which the necessity has long been recognized, to the measures recommended for the protection of Madras, Karachi, Moulmein, and Port Blair, which no one would regard as of equal urgency.
8. Under these circumstances, we think it advisable for the present to abstain from entering upon any detailed consideration of the recommendations of the Committee; for, even if we were convinced that it would be desirable to adopt all those recommendations, it may be doubted whether the present moment is a suitable one for doing so, or whether it would, in any case, be wise to commit ourselves to so large an expenditure as that required to carry out the complete plans of the Committee, until we are in a better position to judge of the future prospects of our revenue, and of the extent and nature of our peace expenditure. We are about to enter, in the course of the next few months, upon a careful revision of our system of taxation; and though the war beyond the frontier of India has been brought to a close, our liabilities in respect to it have not yet been fully discharged, and it seems to us prudent at such a conjuncture to reserve to ourselves the utmost freedom of future action upon all financial questions.
At the same time, in submitting the Reports of the Defence Committee for your Lordship's information, we should not wish it to be supposed that we undervalue the interest of the subject to which they relate, or desire to evade their consideration. Of the ports and harbours referred to by the Committee, those of Aden, Rangoon, and Bombay appear to us to be the most important, and the
* Despatch No. 44 of 28th March, 1876, to Secretary of State.
† Resolution in Public Works Department, No. 549 of the 7th June, 1877.
Of which General Sir A. Taylor, K.C.B., R.E., and afterwards Rear-Admiral Bythesea, V.C., was President.
§ President.-The Commander-in-chief in India. Members. Adjutant-General in India; Quartermaster-General in India; Inspector-General of Artillery in India; Inspector-General of Ordnance, Bengal; Inspector-General of Military Works; Deputy Adjutant-General, Royal Artillery; Officer in charge, torpedo defences.
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