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Proposals to utilize launches or small steamers to patrol the waters in front of a defended port and give notice of the approach of an enemy have from time to time been received from various Colonies, but have never commended themselves to the Committee.
Basing their opinion on the views held by the Naval authorities, they consider that the system of patrolling by small vessels is so unreliable as rarely to promise any practical advantage, and that it might even prove harmful by engendering a false sense of security. On dark nights or in thick weather patrol-boats will rarely, if ever, be able to give even short warning of an enemy's approach, and as in clear weather the area of water overlooked from them will be smaller than that which can be overlooked from moderate heights, natural or artificial, on shore, it may fairly be con- cluded that the cost and crews of patrol-boats can generally be more effectively employed in other branches of the defence.
The employment of patrol-boats for look-out purposes appears also to be open to the objection that the presence of friendly boats within range of the guns is bound to cause uncertainty in the minds of artillery officers in batteries as to the hostile or friendly character of any boat which may be discovered.
It does not appear to the Committee that there are any special conditions at Mauritius which would make desirable a departure from the general principles that they have laid down. A night bombardment of the powerful forts at Port Louis is not an operation which would promise any chance of success even with the advantage of being made at short notice, while the mine-field at the entrance to the harbour, which it may
be assumed would always be in readiness, would prevent any attempt to run past the batteries, apart from the consideration stated in the 1894 revision of the Defence Scheme that no vessel would go up the harbour at night, owing to the difficulties of navigation caused by the narrowness of the friendly channel."
The Committee recommend that in the next revision of the Defence Scheme reference to the proposed scout-boats should be omitted.
6. Pages 12 and 13, paragraphs 20 and 21.—The position now recommended for the defence of Port Louis is more advanced than that chosen in the last Scheme. That now adopted has always been looked upon as the best position, but General Robinson considered it (in 1894) too extended for the available garrison. Generals Barnard and Salis Schwabe, his successors, have, however, come to the conclusion that its tactical advantages are such as to outweigh its defects. The position formerly selected is now retained as a second line.
The Committee concur in the arrangements now proposed, especially in view of the fact that a considerably larger garrison is available than was formerly the case.
7. Page 13, paragraph 21.—In commenting on the disadvantages of the rear position, it would have been clearer and better to have mentioned actual distances rather than to have made use of such terms as "at some distance" (b), and
(b), and "far to the left front" (d).
8. Pages 14 and 15, paragraphs 25 to 28.-The proposed arrangements for the defence of Port Louis from the south are concurred in. It is suggested that by planting trees on the left flank of Victoria Battery, much might be done to conceal it from view from the vicinity of Koenig's Farm.
9. Page 16, paragraph 30.-The Committee concur in the proposed establishment of advanced posts on the lines of approach to Port Louis.
10. Page 17, paragraph 34.-The addition of a battalion of native infantry from India and of a second company of garrison artillery from England, to the actual garrison of Mauritius will have done much to remove the weakness referred to in this paragraph of the Scheme,
The Committee attribute the greatest importance to the early completion of the new barracks, which will enable the half battalion of infantry told off to the Mauritius garrison but now stationed at the Cape of Good Hope, to be transferred to Mauritius.
In the meantime the next revision of the Defence Scheme will, of course, be based on the actual strength of the garrison there, and will lay down the distribution and action of the second half of the European battalion when it arrives in the island.
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