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Appendix No. 4,
CEYLON.
168
29. The only native levies obtainable at Trincomalee would be drawn from the large class of boatmen to be found there, from whom an efficient body of fifty men may readily be obtained for laying torpedoes and other such work under proper direction.
30. A strong opinion has been expressed by one member of the Committee, Lieutenant-Colonel Armitage, in favour of raising a local militia in substitution for, or in addition to, the volunteer force now commanded by that officer in Ceylon. This opinion is based on the grounds that a militia force is more under control and amenable to discipline than volunteers, while it would not be very much more expensive.
31. The question is one rather for the consideration of the local Government than of this Com- mission, but that consideration may perhaps well be deferred until there has been time to judge of the practical value of the existing Volunteer Force.
SUMMARY.
32. The observations contained in the foregoing pages appear to have sufficiently dealt with four out of the five questions submitted to the Commission, and in the following sense :---
(2.) That Colombo, and perhaps Trincomalee, should be selected as the places where defensive forces should be posted, and defensive works constructed.
(3.) The garrisons required for Colombo and Trincomalee respectively have been stated in paragraph 26.
(4.) The assistance derivable from local levies has been estimated at from 400 to 500 volunteers available for Colombo, 250 armed police available for general service, and a small torpedo corps for Trincomalee.
(5.) The cost of the works would be:-
At Colombo
At Trincomalee
鸟兽
£
95,260
103,234
198,494
33. For the details of the arrangement of works reference may be made to the Report of Colonel Warren, R.E., which is appended to this Report.*
(1.) The general question of the measures necessary for the defences of Ceylon, which comes first in order in our Commission of appointment, we have preferred to leave till the last, inasmuch as it is dealt with collaterally under each of the other heads. It now appears only necessary to refer, in respect to this question, to one or two points which may more appropriately be dealt with in reference to it.
34. The Commission attach great importance to the encouragement of the volunteer corps, and the promotion of its efficiency. What is required is not so much numerical strength as an efficient nucleus which would be capable of expansion upon an emergency arising, and more especially that the officers of the corps should be well-trained and thoroughly efficient.
35. Special attention should also be paid to the storage of coal, concentrating it where it can be defended in time of war, and withdrawing all coal and naval and military stores from undefended or insufficiently defended places. And it is in the view of protecting Colombo-the main place for storage-against the attack or depredation of an enemy, that the proposal has been put forward for the special defence of this port by means of gun and torpedo boats.
36. Lieutenant-Colonel Smart, R.A., having left the Colony on leave during the sittings of the Commission, his place has been taken by Major Philpotts, R.A.; but Colonel Smart has favoured us with a Memorandum,+ which will be found in the Appendix, in which his views are fully stated. They are generally in accordance with those expressed by the Commission.
(Signed)
JOHN DOUGLAS, Lieutenant-Governor, Colonial Secretary. RICHARD D. KING, Captain, R.N. RICHARD WARREN, Colonel, R.E.
J. S. ARMITAGE, Lieutenant-Colonel, C.L.I.V. H. F. PHILLPOTTS, Major, R.A.
R. W. ROGERS, Lieutenant, R.N.
Colombo, October 21, 1881.
APPENDICES.
Commission of Appointment.
Memorandum by Colonel Warren, R.E., two plans.
Separate Memorandum by Colonel Warren, one plan, as to a limited plan of defence for Fort Ostenberg, Trincomalee.
Memorandum by Captain King and Lieutenant Rogers, R.N.
Memorandum by Colonel Smart, R.A.
* Inclosure 4 in No. 57.
Inclosure 7 in No. 57.
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