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REPORT.
Port of Natal as a Coaling Station.
THE growing importance of Natal, especially having regard to the monies being spent on harbour improvements, and on railway extension, which will connect the port with large local coal-fields, render it desirable that measures of defence should be at once set on foot.
The population of the Borough of Durban is shown in the Mayor's Minute of 1886 as 16,431 souls, viz.:-
Europeans, 8,590.
Natives, 4,385.
Indians, 3,456.
The Harbour Board Blue Book shows that the total tonnage of the port in 1886 was 213,481 tons, of which one-third entered the inner harbour, and two-thirds used the outer anchorage.
Points exposed to Attack.
The Port of Natal is the only exposed portion of the coast of the Colony the defence of which need be considered. Northward and southward of the port there is no inducement for a hostile cruizer to risk a boat's crew by landing through the heavy surf, which breaks in an almost continuous line along the whole length of the coast.
The Port of Natal is exposed to attack by a hostile cruizer in the following respects :---
(a.) The shore end of the ocean cable connecting the whole of the South African Colonies with Europe, is landed close to the mouth of the Umgeni River, on its right bank, at a distance northward of the Natal Light of about 5 miles.
(b.) The outer anchorage, a roadstead used by vessels of deep draught which cannot cross the bar and enter the inner harbour.
(c.) The town of Durban, the shipping in the inner harbour, and the lighthouse, are within range of an enemy's guns.
Proposed Armament.
Guns of long range, placed on the Bluff Promontory, and at a suitable site on the sand-hills of the Back Beach, between the rocket-house and the cable-house, will amply defend the port.
As it would be extremely unlikely that an armed cruizer would ever endeavour to get into the port, no particular advantage would be gained by having guns at the base of the bluff, especially as that portion of the entrance to the harbour which could not be commanded by guns on the bluff would yet be swept by a battery on the Back Beach. It would also seem unnecessary to provide for a fire to the south and south-east of the bluff, as that promontory entirely excludes any view of the town or port from that direction, and it is not within the bounds of probability that an enemy's cruizer would be tempted to risk the waste of valuable ammunition.
Guns on the bluff alone would not defend the shore end of the cable, neither could they be so far depressed as to command the entrance to the harbour within a 4-mile beyond the south breakwater end. Moreover, it would be quite possible for an enemy's cruizer to take up a position to the northward that, whilst out of practical reach of fire from the bluff, she would yet be able to shell the town of Durban.
A battery in any central position commanding the outer harbour and the entrance to the port, would be further away from an enemy's cruizer than the cruizer would be from the shipping and the port.
No scheme, therefore, for the defence of Durban and the port can be
regarded as sufficient which does not provide for two batteries as above stated.
Six-inch breech-loading guns, two (as a minimum), for each battery would appear a suitable armament.
It does not seem necessary that these batteries should be large and expen- sive works.
On the bluff the guns should be mounted to fire en barbette.
On the Back Beach natural and appropriate sites (à fleur d'eau) are to be found for guns among the sand-dunes and hollows, where they would also be screened from view by dwarf bushes and low trees. Concrete foundations for the racers would have to be provided, but no extensive works are necessary.
The question of permanent works may not appear to come within the acope of this Committee, according to the instructions laid down in the Memo- randum published for their guidance. It is, however, necessary that the subject should be referred to here, as it has been already dealt with by a previous Local Committee, in consequence of whose Report a battery on the bluff, as above proposed, has already been approved.
This Committee has carefully considered the Reports above referred to, and, concurring generally in the recommendations they contain, urge strongly the necessity of the second battery, as recommended therein.
The cost of each battery with a suitable supply of ammunition is esti mated at within 5,0001.
Submarine Mines and Torpedo Boats.
The port is essentially favourable for torpedo work, though unsuitable for submarine mines.
There are six tugs (two of them belong to the Government) which would all be available as torpedo-boats, &c.
The Committee have already applied for more information on the subject of preparation of boats for torpedo work, and the extemporary manufacture of torpedoes.
Lights, Bouys, and Beacons.
There will be no necessity to interfere with these, as all are within rifle
range.
Look-out Stations.
There is a very complete one at present at the light-house on the bluff, in communication by signal with one on the point. Other look-out stations could be arranged for along the coast, north and south, in connection with the existing telegraphic system, if required. Appendix (B).
When danger might be expected, some of the tugs available would be used as patrol-boats.
Bombardment.
Once Durban is provided with two batteries, as proposed, there would be so little danger to be apprehended from an enemy's cruizer, that the threat of bombardment need not cause serious apprehensions.
Coal, Food, and Specie.
The Committee do not consider any special directions necessary on these subjects at present
Personnel.
This is dealt with in detail in Appendix (A).
The Naval Volunteers would man the heavy guns in the batteries; they
would also be trained for torpedo work.
The Committee are confident that this force can be made fully effective
for this service as soon as the guns are mounted in position.
PUBLIC RECORD.OFFICE
C. 587
Reference -
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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