Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. July 1, 1892.
CONFIDENTIAL.
52-P
HALIFAX.
Page 120
NOVA SCOTIA. 5.
4885.
Scheme of Defence revised to September 1891.
Remarks and Recommendations of Colonial Defence Committee (No. 4).
THE Colonial Defence Committee have considered the scheme of defence of Halifax as revised subsequent to their remarks of the 15th January, 1891.
Subject to the following observations, the scheme of defence appears to be most satisfactory. The various portions bear evidence of the care and study which have been expended upon them, and the work as a whole can now be regarded as nearly complete.
The Colonial Defence Committee desire to draw attention to a few points which might receive consideration in the next revision of the scheme.
1. In § 4, p. 2, it is stated that "the strength of the garrison of Imperial troops now here is manifestly quite inadequate for any purpose beyond making a show of resistance, and mainly on the harbour front only." The Colonial Defence Committee consider that (this expression might give rise to miscon- ception, and that a scheme of defence should not embody counsels of despair. It is evident that the measure of resistance capable of being offered under present circumstances depends entirely upon the nature of attack. In previous remarks of the 5th April, 1889, and 14th July, 1890, the Committee have referred to the probable conditions of attack, and have pointed out the difficulties which would have to be met by any Power, other than the United States, in operating against Halifax. The United States, in the event of war, would probably seek more direct means to attain their objects than an attack on this station, which, moreover, would be impracticable until the naval command of the West Atlantic had been wrested from Great Britain. The deficiency of artillery in relation to the existing armament of Halifax is fully recognized; but this armament, if it were now being laid down, would be on a greatly reduced scale, and as already pointed out (14th July, 1890), the simultaneous manning of all the existing guns would not be required. While an increase of the Imperial garrison of Halifax does not at present appear to be required, and the Admiralty has declined to guarantee the safe transport of reinforcements at the outbreak of war, it must be remembered that, should circumstances arise rendering attack in force on Halifax a probable contingency, every effort would be made to augment the garrison.
2. The "strategical considerations" (p. 5) are dismissed with a reference to previous documents in which they are discussed. It might, however, be advantageous to add a brief summary of these considerations in order to complete the scheme for future arrivals in the command.
3. In § 8, p. 3, the General Officer Commanding draws attention to the defective arms of the local militia, and to the fact that no arrangement has yet
Page 120
[485]
Page 120
19[
י
7
L
it
17