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the existing 6-pr. Q.-F. guns, and also for the two 64-pr. R.M.L. guns in Fort George, is now under consideration by War Office.
9. Examination Anchorage.-The position selected seems suitable. 10. Security of Anchorages.-The general necessity for booms is not yet established, nor the best form for them where necessary. It is believed that chains and wire hawsers will prove a more efficient obstacle than a floating obstruction. In the present case, considering the strong and close defence that exists for the entrance to the harbour, the utility of booms is doubtful. Moreover, the proposed outer boom between Forts William and George would be liable to be damaged or destroyed by heavy weather in certain seasons of the year, and would stop navigation into the harbour by night. As regards the inner booms at the docks, the further proposed close defence by machine-guns at the entrances to the docks should amply provide for the protection of the caissons should a torpedo-launch succeed in forcing her way to the head of the harbour. In any case, it would be undesirable to use lighters as part of those booms, as, if sunk, they would block the entrance to the dock, and so do more harm than good.
11. 9-pr. and Machine-guns for defence of Booms and Anchorages.-These guns form part of the movable armament, and the Officer Commanding troops, exercising his discretion, can use them as he thinks fit on any emergency. Two machine-guns would appear ample for the general defence of the docks, and K and L would seem to be advantageous points at which to post them, but no portion of this movable armament should be definitely allocated, or tied down to any particular place.
12. Traffic Regulations. The proposed service of look-out vessels and patrol-steamers by night is unnecessary, and could give no real additional security. Their professed object is to give warning of the approach of any hostile vessel, but as their beat is only about 2 miles out to sea, the warning they could give in clear weather could have but little priority over what could be observed from even moderate heights on shore. In dark nights or thick weather they would not discover the enemy's vessel until she was close to them, so close, in all probability, that the patrol-boat would be captured or destroyed before she could give warning, or the hostile vessel might quite possibly slip past them wholly unnoticed.
As to the proposal to arm these patrol-steamers, their guns would be useless against a non-fighting ship, and powerless against a real enemy.
All that appears to be required is an examination steamer," such as, no doubt, must already exist at the port. Every vessel desirous of entering the port must bring to in the examination anchorage. The examination steamer then boards her, furnishes a permit, and places a pilot on board authorized to conduct her through the defences. The vessel then shows the private signal. If a vessel does not bring to and proceeds without showing the private signal she will be treated as an enemy, being first warned by firing a shot across her bows. There is no reason, however, for impeding the entrance of British men- of-war, as proposed in Appendix II, p. 11. All that is requisite in their case is, that they should show a pre-arranged signal: on this being answered they can proceed.
Appendix I should be modified accordingly. The suggestion in its last paragraph but one on p. 8 is not likely to be practicable, as officers and men of the Royal Naval Reserve will be required for naval duties in war time.
Subject to the above remarks, the general principle of the signalling arrangements and Appendix II are satisfactory.
13. Port Authority to be a retired Naval Officer, and to have under him four British Pilots.-There is no necessity for this. A Harbour-master, such as now exists, should be quite capable of dealing with the duties of the post, and, in the absence of any explanation to the contrary, it is thought that the existing body of local pilots should be capable of furnishing at least four trustworthy
men.
As regards the remark at p. 5, that the island is "unprotected by the Navy," the Colonial Defence Committee desire to observe that the statement shows an inadequate conception of the duties and potentiality of the squadron on the station. It will be one of the duties of that squadron to do its best to intercept any hostile squadron making for the island, and the efficient discharge of this duty by no means depends on the squadron being in the immediate
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