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Appendix No. 4.
THURSDAY ISLAND.
War Office scheme of defence agrees with that proposed in Report.
Landings on Thursday Island.
Forces required for the defences.
Sources from which
The scheme of defence recommended by the War Office agrees generally in principle with that proposed by me, although in some important details I consider it should be modified.
At the same time, I feel myself to be at a disadvantage in submitting an opinion thereon, as I do not know how it is proposed to establish the defences, or to maintain the organization for taking care of them in time of peace and for manning them in time of war. In such an isolated position as Thursday Island, where there is never likely to be a resident white population of any size, it is doubtful whether a large expenditure should be incurred on fixed defences, even if there were a guarantee that the officers and men for manning them will be available when required. The War Office plan is intended "to deny the use of Normanby Sound and Thursday Island as a coaling and provision depôt," and, although floating defences are provided, the question would appear to have been looked at mainly from a land defence point of view, without taking into account the general naval defence of Torres Strait, thus affording an example of the disadvantage which attends the consideration of land defences separately from naval defences.
The difficulty of providing the forces for manning the defences affords fair grounds for the opinion expressed by Commodore Wilson to the effect that naval means, with extemporized defences -established on the outbreak of war-will be best suited to the case. The opinion of such an autho- rity cannot be lightly set aside, and although I have already, in general terms, contended that this is going too far in favour of naval defences alone, I am bound to admit that the large expenditure con- templated by the War Office-96,0007.-renders it imperatively necessary to look closely into both sides of the question.
The possibility of landings being effected on Thursday Island, or one of the islands of the surrounding group, in order to plant light guns at a distance of 2,000 to 3,000 yards, and cause serious annoyance to the Settlement and harbour, is noticed in the War Office Memorandum.* It has already been stated that landings could be effected with more or less ease almost anywhere, owing to the pre- valence of smooth water and the general character of the shore of these islands. At the same time, I concur in the opinion expressed by the War Office that naval means will suffice for their discomfiture, without it being necessary to provide land forces. Should the floating defences, however, not be provided, the danger of a landing being effected would be too serious to be disregarded.
The nature of the attacks to be provided against and the defensive measures proposed having been considered in detail, the organization, composition, and strength of the forces required must now be discussed. The scheme I recommend comprises-—
1. For the immediate protection of Normanby Sound and the Settlement on Thursday Island a battery on shore, supplemented by torpedo-boats, together with a harbour defence gun-boat, and very simple submarine defences, if they can be devised.
2. For the general defence of the strait an armed steamer, which would be supported, as occasion required, by the aforesaid floating defences.
These combined defences would keep the enemy away from Thursday Island, and render the passage through the strait a hazardous operation, which, to insure success, would have to be conducted with a larger expedition than any that is likely to be dispatched to Australian waters.
The first portion of the scheme is complete in itself, and, if adopted, would require the under- mentioned forces:-
1. Garrison artillery to serve the guns in the battery and defend it against a coup de main 2. A detachment of engineers to work the submarine defences (if provided)
3. A naval force to man the gun-boat and torpedo-boats
4. An auxiliary infantry force (should it be deemed indispensable)
Total
Officers and men.
80
10
60
120
270
The sources from which these forces are to be drawn have next to be considered. This is a point forces may be obtained. presenting very great difficulty. The surrounding circumstances are different from any which exist in Australia, for reasons which have been alluded to. The complete isolation of Thursday Island from any large Settlement, and the improbability of its ever having a large resident population, clearly indicate that the forces required for defence must be sent there before the commencement of hostilities. On the other hand, Torres Strait being an important route for commerce, the transport of troops to Thursday Island would be very easy.
Whether the forces should be naval and military.
Local force.
The next question is whether military and naval forces should be employed to garrison the battery and man the floating defences. If the Admiralty can undertake, in time of war, to set apart officers and men for these purposes, there can be no question that naval forces alone will be the best in every respect-marines for the battery, and seamen for the gun-boat and torpedo-boats- for in that case the defence arrangements on shore and afloat would be under one direction. But to throw such a burden upon the Imperial navy may probably be considered to be undesirable, and uncertainty might exist as to whether men could be spared. It is therefore preferable to look elsewhere for the land force, and count upon the navy solely for service afloat.
Whether it would not be possible to raise a corps on the spot in order to reinforce a body of trained men who might be provided by the Imperial Government, on the outbreak of war, is a question which is not easy to answer. I think a portion of the force could be recruited from the residents and people employed on the fisheries, provided there existed an organization for the purpose. The officials and residents at Thursday Island would doubtless join a local force if it were established; but the number of white men on the spot is very small. The Government establishment comprises a magis- trate, an officer of Customs, a carpenter, a gaoler, five water police, a pilot, a signalman, and three seamen-fourteen in all. There were also at the time of my visit about ten white men residing on the island, who were employed in connection with the stores and the coal hulk for interçolonial steamers, and about a dozen coloured men. According to Mr. Chester's Report of 1879, which he tells me may
* No. 106.
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