Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. June 1893.
CONFIDENTIAL.
60-R
GOLD COAST.
Z
Page 146
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WEST AFRICA.
Secret. 6529.
Report revised to September 1892.
Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.
THE Colonial Defence Committee have considered the Report furnished by the Inspector-General of the Gold Coast Constabulary, and note with approval the careful and comprehensive manner in which it has been drawn up and revised up to date. They can offer but few remarks, as the Report shows a satisfactory appreciation of the situation and the requirements of the
case.
The local conditions disclosed in the Report appear to present small attraction to the visits of hostile vessels, and, even though an enemy's ship might be induced by emergency to visit some of the principal ports, to pick up coal or supplies, it seems highly improbable that she would waste time and ammunition in bombarding any of them, as seems to be apprehended.
The only likely form of attack would be by a small landing party, most probably attempted as a surprise, and even this nature of attack is, as shown in the Report, impossible during certain seasons of the year. The measures proposed in the Report seem to sufficiently provide against such attack, and also for the security of the shore ends of the telegraph cables at Accra.
The necessity for the removal of the ammunition from the magazines in the forts at Elmina, Accra, and Kwitta, referred to at page 6, is not very evident. There is nothing to show that these magazines are insecure, and bombardment is an improbable contingency.
The existing supply of small-arm ammunition is not shown, as paragraph 6, page 6 only refers to trade ammunition. The Annual Return of Resources for the year ending December 1892 shows the supply as 69,916 rounds Martini-Henry and 48,037 rounds Snider ammunition, the latter marked as CC very old and unserviceable." As the same Return gives the actual strength of the Haussa force armed with Martini-Henry rifles as 892, and that of the Civil Police and Volunteers armed with Snider rifles as 513, non-commissioned officers and men, the supply appears to be only from 80 to 100 rounds per rifle. This is very inadequate, the usual supply in most Colonies being 500 rounds per rifle. Also, the supply of ammunition for the Maxim, Nordenfelt, and Gatling guns is not given. The same Return showed that 10,000 rounds for each nature had been demanded from England.
These seem to be the only needs of the Colony in the event of war that have not been provided for, or that call for any remark.
:
June 10, 1893.
(Signed)
W. PEACOCKE, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T. HARRISON.----
-13/6/93.
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