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in which, however, it was stated that the magazine was being gradually masked by vegetation.
The Colonial Defence Committee remarked on this as follows :—
"The apparent insecurity of the colonial magazine is a matter for the consideration of the local Government. Provided, however, that it can be so completely concealed that the exact site could not be identified the danger would be reduced to a minimum. It appears desirable, however, to consider whether the store of ammunition could not be removed to a more secure position in the event of war.”
The hope of the Local Committee of 1888 that the magazine would gradually be masked by vegetation does not appear to have been realized, and the arrangement now suggested that "the ammunition, &c., should be removed from the magazine and distributed amongst the cellars in the town," does not seem to be a very satisfactory way of getting rid of the danger of an explosion. The advisability of constructing a new protected magazine seems worthy of serious consideration locally.
Chapter II.
10. Page 11 (B).—It would seem advisable that under the heading "Distribution of Troops and Armament," the actual distribution of the existing forces of the Colony at the time of the preparation of the Scheme, should be given with an indication of which of these forces could be made available for the defence of the port itself. The Scheme of the 9th November, 1897, lays down that the defence force at Lagos consists of about 3 officers and 300 men of the Iausas, whereas the Returns of Resources of the Colony, dated the 16th November, 1897, show the total strength of the Hausas to be 23 officers (including 5 natives) and 803 N.C.Os. and men, of which 6 officers (including 3 native) and 145 N.C.Os. and men were at head-quarters and the remainder at out-stations, on the frontier, and on the Gold Coast. The Return also includes 6 officers (including 3 native) and 350 N.C.Os. and men of the Yoruba armed police, of which 5 officers and 250 N.C.Os. and men were at head-quarters, Lagos. These are not, however, referred to in the Defence Scheme.
The Return shows no 7-pr. guns to have been available at its date for the defence of the town. The Local Committee recommend that an armament of these or other light guns should be retained for the purpose, and this seems desirable.
Details should be given of any vessels which, in addition to the Governor's launch, would be used in the creeks connecting Lagos with Porto Novo.
11. Page 11 (C).—Existing communications should be described under this head- ing. Proposals for extensions which the Local Committee consider should be carried out at once should be embodied in their covering letter. Proposals for extensions which it is intended should be carried out on alarm of war should be given with full details of the arrangements necessary in Chapter III of the Scheme, under the heading of the officer who will be responsible for their due execution.
12. Page 12 (D).-The arrangements for meeting an attempt to damage the cables at their landing-place should be added in this part of the Scheme.
Here, as elsewhere in the Scheme, it should not be stated that arrangements could be made, but that they have been made.
Chapters III and IV.
13. Pages 13 to 19.-The information in these Chapters should be given in greater detail in order that the officers responsible for taking action immediately the Defence Scheme is put into force may be fully prepared, even if they have recently taken over their appointments, and also that the various measures to be taken may be carefully considered beforehand, so as to remove all doubt as to their being perfectly practicable and the best that can be devised to meet the requirements of the case.
The Colonial Defence Committee do not think it necessary to indicate at present the exact directions in which the action required of the various responsible officers needs amplification. With the copy of the Sierra Leone Defence Scheme which was sent to the Colony with the Colonial Office despatch, Lagos, No. 119, Sceret, before them, the Local Defence Committee will see in what direction the Lagos Scheme requires working out in further detail in order to be of greater practical use in providing for the defence of the chief town of the Colony.
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