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of making feints and of being transferred from one point to another with great rapidity, and without warning, renders it essential that the important positions of Cape Town and Simon's Bay, which are so distant from each other that they must, to a great extent, be self-dependent, should be secured against attack at all times."
Assuming the full co-operation of the Colony against attempted aggression, it is clear that the Cape could be effectively attacked only by a considerable squadron accompanied by a land force of not less than 10,000 men. It appears practically impossible that such a force could be collected at any of the French colonial ports or be dispatched direct from France without our knowledge, and it could therefore be dealt with by Her Majesty's navy. A surprise at the outbreak of war could thus only be attempted by such of an enemy's ocean- going ships as could previously be assembled in or near South African waters without attracting attention, and such an attack could not be supported by a large landing force. Against an attack of this limited nature the defences which are being created should suffice, provided that the local organization is so thoroughly matured as to enable the works to be effectively manned at short notice.
On the other hand, these defences give no protection whatever beyond the range of their guns, and, of all the outlying stations of the Empire, the waters contiguous to the Cape Peninsula, as containing the converging point of so many rich trade routes, will most require naval patrol in war. The damage which could be inflicted in a short time by an enemy's cruizer which was able to maintain herself in these waters can hardly be over-estimated. The retention by Her Majesty's navy of full command of these waters is essential, and would be in itself a guarantee for the security of the Cape Peninsula from a raid by cruizers.
The Report furnished by the Local Committee contains a mass of useful information, but is in no sense a scheme of defence of the nature required, and the object in view appears to have been completely lost sight of. A scheme of defence should distinctly lay down all the steps to be taken, in order to utilize to the utmost the existing defensive resources of the Colony in the event of an immediate outbreak of war. Such a scheme is intended to avert panic, confusion, and delay in the event of emergency; to insure that each necessary step has been thoroughly thought out, and that nothing is forgotten; to bring to light unforeseen requirements; and to place the authorities at home in full possession of information both as to the measures that would be taken and the extent of the resistance which could be offered.
The Report in question does not take cognizance of the Imperial troops or armaments, and the General Officer Commanding, while concurring in the "general recommendations" of the Local Committee, remarks that "the scheme put forward by them is not available for immediate application," and hence fails in its first essential.
Except in so far as the General Officer Commanding may have formed plans of his own, therefore, it appears that no general scheme of defence, such as has now been drawn up for nearly every Colonial station, exists at present in the case of the most important strategic point of the Empire.
Such a scheme as is required could only be drawn up under the direction and with the full cognizance of the General Officer Commanding, who should therefore act as President of the Local Committee as pointed out by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Memorandum No. 19 of the 1st November, 1886.
With regard to the details of the Report before them, the Colonial Defence Committee desire to draw attention to the following points, viz. :—
1. The defence of Simon's Bay has been ignored altogether, notwith- standing that this position must necessarily have a great influence on the defence of Table Bay, and the two cannot be considered apart,
2. The control of the submarine mine defence of Simon's Bay must remain in the hands of the military authorities, as in the case of all other stations, and there is no doubt as to the responsibility in this case. The Colonial Defence Committee consider that the remarks of Commodore Wilson, R.N., should be brought to the notice of the Inspector-General of Fortifi-
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