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Appendix No. 4.
ADEN.
Sir,
138
Inclosure 4 in No. 50.
War Office to India Office.
War Office, October 20, 1881. WITH reference to your letter dated the 5th instant, forwarding a Report on the defences of the principal harbours of India, drawn up by the Special Committee appointed in 1877, and requesting that Colonel Crossman, C.M.G., R.E., may be directed to report on the subject of the defences of Aden, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the information of the Marquis of Hartington, that directions will be sent accordingly to Colonel Crossman.
Mr. Childers understands that Aden is one of the stations the defence of which is under the con- sideration by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, and he would suggest that a copy of the Report of the Indian Coast Defence Committee before referred to might with advantage be transmitted to the Commission through the Colonial Office.
With respect to the proposal that a part of the cost of these defences should fall on the Imperial Exchequer, Mr. Childers does not, at present, see reason to make any recommendation to that effect to the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury; but as he understands that the Royal Commission is considering similar questions with regard to the cost of defensive works in other British possessions, he thinks that their opinion might be of value, and should be requested.
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I have, &c.
(Signed)
H. G. DEEDES.
Sir,
Inclosure 5 in No. 50.
India Office to War Office.
India Office, October 24, 1881.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant† on the subject of the defences of the principal harbours in India, and of the Aden defences, and to acquaint you that a copy of the Report thereon, dated the 21st November, 1879, drawn up by the Special Committee appointed in 1877, has this day been forwarded direct to the Secretary (Captain H. Jekyll, R.E., 13, Delahay Street, Westminster) of the Royal Com- mission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, for the information of that Commission.
With regard to the last paragraph of your letter under reply, it is not understood therefrom whether the opinion of the Royal Commission on the proposal of the Government of India-that a part of the cost of the Aden defences should be borne by the Imperial Exchequer should be requested by this Office or by the War Office, and I am desired, therefore, to request to be informed upon this point.
I have, &c. (Signed)
ALLEN JOHNSON, Colonel,
Military Secretary.
Inclosure 6 in No. 50.
Sir,
War Office to India Office.
War Office, November 22, 1881.
IN reply to the inquiry in your letter of the 24th October, 1881, whether the opinion of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, on the proposal of the Government of India, that a part of the cost of the Aden defences should be borne by the Imperial Exchequer, should be requested by the India Office or by the War Office, I am directed to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for India in Council, that Mr. Secre- tary Childers is of opinion that this request would best be made by the India Office, the question being referred through the Colonial Office for the consideration of the Royal Commission.
Referring to the letter from this Office of the 20th October, 1881,† I am to state that Colonel Crossman, C.M.G., R.E., has been instructed by letter, under cover to the Officer commanding the troops at Aden, to report upon the defences of that place, and to request that the Marquis of Hartington will be pleased to cause the necessary communication to be made to the Officer commanding at Aden.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
H. G. DEEDES.
Inclosure 7 in No. 50.
India Office to Governor-General of India,
(Telegraphic.)
India Office, November 24, 1881. COLONEL CROSSMAN, R.E., on reaching Aden, authorized to report on defences. instruct Resident to give all assistance.
Please
* Inclosure 3.
† Inclosure 4.
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Inclosure 5.
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