CONFIDENTIAL.
55-R
VICTORIA.
VICTORIA.
24490
Scheme of Defence (Military Portion), revised to September 1891: Report of Commandant.
Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.
THE Colonial Defence Committee have considered the Report of the Commandant of Victoria, dated the 1st October, 1891.
They observe with satisfaction that it is not contemplated to add to the fixed defences of the Heads, and that the proposals of the Commandant are directed mainly to measures relating to the land forces of the Colony.
The Colonial Defence Committee consider that the protection of Melbourne from a force landed in Western Port is essentially a matter for the field troops of the Colony, assisted by improvised defences. The best disposition of the the troops for this purpose, and the selection of the positions to be occupied, can be satisfactorily decided only in the light of full local knowledge. While, therefore, they offer no observations upon the arrangements proposed by the Commandant, they strongly deprecate the provision of any permanent works for the defence of Western Port. Present naval conditions, and the strength of the British squadron in Australian waters, appear to render out of the question an attack on any portion of Australia by an expeditionary force of 10,000 men. Under any circumstances, however, it is clear that troops intended to carry out such an attempt must be in sufficient numbers to be able to overpower an isolated work at Tortoise Head without difficulty. The necessary garrisons required to guard the existing defences of the Colony already entail a large deduction from the available field force, and it appears most undesirable that troops should be locked up in occupation of French Island. The protection of Melbourne against a hostile advance from Western Port should thus depend mainly upon a field force occupying a well-chosen central position prepared for defence. At the same time a landing should be opposed by the 40-prs. and field-guns in extemporized emplacements, from which they could be withdrawn along the roads to the main position.
For the above reasons also, the Colonial Defence Committee deprecate any permanent addition to Gellibrand Battery, or the creation of a new work at the head of the inner pier at Williamstown. The great strength of the batteries at the Heads, combined with the powerfully armed flotilla available for the protection of Port Phillip, appear to render any coast works at Melbourne unnecessary, except in so far as they may be required for drill and practice.
The Colonial Defence Committee consider that the most pressing require- ments are the completion of the equipment of the field force by the provision of the artillery ammunition waggons and small arm ammunition carts,* as
* Unless country carts, suitable for the transport of small arm ammunition, are available in sufficient numbers, and could be obtained when required for mobilization.
[409]
Page 128
Page 128
26
4
L