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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. June 1894.
CONFIDENTIAL.
ST. HELENA.
ST. HELENA.
No. 11.
Scheme of Defence revised to September 1894.
Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.
(Not for communication to the Colony.)
THE Colonial Defence Committee desire to direct attention to the insufficiency of the garrison at St. Helena.
The War Garrison recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee was 683; that recommended by the Colonial Garrisons' Committee, 772. Both of these numbers included 300 local militia, which it was hoped could be raised.
The present approved garrison, which also includes 300 local militia, is 523; its existing strength-the project for forming a local militia having failed-is 214, with full establishment. Its effective strength, as shown in the General Return of Regimental Strength for April last, is only 187.
On outbreak of war with a Maritime Power, the existing garrison is to receive a reinforcement of 20 Royal Engineers and 220 infantry from England and the Cape respectively. This would bring it up to 454, but, in view of the distinct declaration of the Admiralty, that they cannot undertake to insure the safe arrival of reinforcements at our foreign stations in war-time, no absolute reliance can be placed on having these reinforcements on the spot when wanted. Thus, under present arrangements, an attack might have to be met by some 187 men.
Pending better arrangements being made, the Defence Scheme contem- plates supplying the place of the Militia by raising an extemporized force of 200 men among the inhabitants on declaration of war.
It is obvious that a garrison thus formed, to a large extent, of a raw levy of unwarlike civilians, which, moreover, would be composed of the younger and weaker members of the population, should the exodus of the able-bodied men continue, is not likely to prove very efficient in repelling an attack which may come early in a war. It therefore is desirable to provide by some other means for a sufficient garrison to insure the safety of the station.
The consideration of how this can best be done was postponed last year pending an expression by the Admiralty of their views as to the present strategical value of St. Helena. The Admiralty have recently given a decided opinion in favour of the retention of the island as a defended naval station, and thus the ground has been cleared for the settlement of the question.
The Colonial Defence Committee submit that at least the present authorized infantry reinforcements (two companies) should be permanently added to the garrison. If this be done, it is believed that the exodus of the inhabitants would stop, and it would in that case be possible to raise and maintain an adequate militia force.
(Signed)
W. PEACOCKE, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
June 14, 1894.
FRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE By T. Harrison.—16/6/94.
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