PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
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CO. 885
4PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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5. Craig's battery, a short distance to the cast of the last, and like it, in ruins.
Armament--
24-pounder
No.
..
... 2
6. Fort Wynyard, or Kyk in de Pot, occupies a commanding knoll overlooking the docks and new mole. It was temporarily repaired and armed in 1861; but the guns have since been withdrawn.
As will be seen from the enumeration of the existing armament given above, the whole of the guns in these works are smooth bored, and consequently only of use against unarmoured ships at short ranges. Most of the existing batteries are moreover situated immediately in front of the town, and close to the docks, so that if used they would draw an enemy's fire upon the place, involving great destruction of property.
Under these circumstances, and with a view to placing Table Bay on a level with Simon's Bay as regards defence, the Committee are of opinion that it would be most advisable to despatch at once to Cape Town not less than ten 6 ton guns, with carriages and fittings complete, and 100 rounds of ammunition per gun, and that instructions should be sent at once to the Colony to prepare for their reception by commencing the construc- tion of batteries in positions to be selected by the local military authorities. It will probably be found best to mount five guns eastward of the bay in the vicinity of Craig's battery, and the remainder near Kyk in de Pot. It might also be advisable to remove some of the smooth-bored guns to positions where they might be used against boats or light craft, and thus avoid expending the ammunition of the heavier rifled guns. It is also desirable that whenever guns can be spared, six muzzle-loading rifled 64-pounders should be sent to supplement the present armament. Types of suitable batteries for the guidance of the local authorities could be furnished by the War Office. It is further recommended that a gun-boat of the "Comet" class, mounting one 18-ton gun, in all respects complete, should be sent to Table Bay, as that station, owing to the protection afforded by the new mole ⚫ and safe inland docks, offers an excellent position for so powerful an auxiliary to local
defence. The estimated cost of these proposals is as follows:-
Ten 64-ton guns, complete
Six 64-pounder guns, complete
Batteries, magazines, &c.
Gun-boat
Submarine mines
Total
£
10,000
3,600
17,600
13,000
3,000
47,200
It is also desirable that whenever guns can be spared, six muzzle-loading rifled 64-pounders should be sent to supplement the present armament, at an additional cost of 3,6001. The employment of submarine mines was under the consideration of the Committee; but looking to the exposed position of Table Bay and the heavy rolling sea, which is raised by the prevailing winds, they cannot but regard the employment of this means of defence as somewhat uncertain, and scarcely applicable to the locality. At the same time they consider that a small number of such mines might be sent to Cape Town with advantage, as a favourable opportunity for using them might present itself, and the moral effect of their presence would be too considerable to be neglected.
With regard to troops, the Committee have had before them the Report of the Defence Committee, in which the opinion is expressed that the defence of Simon's Bay will demand a garrison, consisting of a battalion of regular infantry, 1,000 strong, and 200 artillery. They concur in this recommendation, and adopt these numbers, as the strength of the garrison which ought to be maintained for its defence in time of war.
The Committee are further of opinion that a similar force of trained troops, with the addition of a battery of field artillery, would suffice to protect Table Bay and Cape Town against a hostile force landed beyond the range of the guns, with a view to a movement upon the seat of Government.
The Committee have had before them the Report of the Defence Committee, of which His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-chief is President, in which it is stated that the number of troops, infantry, artillery, and engineers, required for the defence of the coaling stations alone, is greater than could be spared in the event of war from the regular forces of Her Majesty's army, especially in the matter of artillerymen ;" and have therefore considered in what way the requirements of defence in respect of men may best be met.
In the case of Simon's Bay, the population is so limited and the naval establishments so small that it is improbable that more than a small number of men-perhaps 50 or 60-could be found to aid in the defence; and these, from the nature of their employ
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At Cape Town,
ment, would probably be of most use in assisting the regular artillery. on the other hand, where the population in men between the ages of 20 and 45 amounts to 4,052 of European and 6,525 of coloured origin, it would be possible to provide a sufficient force for the defence of the place. As, however, such a force could not reasonably be expected to be as highly trained as regular troops, and as, in time of emergency, when suddenly required for action, some of its members might probably be absent from their homes; the Committee are of opinion that it would be desirable to invite the Colony to enrol a force of not less than 1,500 infantry, with 250 artillery for manning the batteries, besides a battery of field artillery and a small mounted force say 50 or 100 men to act as scouts. If this were done it would not be necessary to provide troops of the regular army specially for Cape Town.
The distance between Simon's Bay and Cape Town being only twenty-three miles, for seven miles of which a railroad exists, the defence of the two places are intimately connected; and the capture or temporary occupation of either could hardly fail to react most seriously upon the other. Care should therefore be taken to place the whole of the local forces and regular troops under one command. The officer entrusted with the joint defence of the two places would then be in a position to employ the regular and auxiliary forces to the best advantage, using one to support the other as circumstances might require.
The Committee further recommend that two staff officers should be provided for the purpose of organizing and inspecting the proposed local troops, as recommended by the Governor in paragraphs 20 and 28 of his despatch No. 39 of the 11th June, 1877.
In submitting these recommendations, the Committee have taken no account of the forces now engaged in quelling disturbances on the frontier, and in the interior of the Colony; as to whom it would appear uncertain for the present, whether any portion can be spared for the defence of the coast. Should, however, the disturbances be so far suppressed as to admit of the withdrawal of a sufficient number of troops, it would be unnecessary to dispatch additional forces from this country.
Port Elizabeth is a place of considerable importance, but falls under the last of the three categories laid down in the Colonial Office letter of the 14th March. It is, more- over, the principal commercial outlet of the Colony, and should not be left entirely unprotected. But as the interests involved are almost exclusively Colonial, the Com- mittee are not prepared to recommend that the Imperial Government should assist in the defence of this port, further than by giving advice, or by lending an officer to superintend the organization of its defences.
It would require at least six 7-ton guns in two batteries for its defence, and four 64-pounders; but before any guns are sent, the Committee would recommend that a communication should be addressed to the Governor with a view to ascertain whether the Colony would undertake to construct the necessary works, bearing all expenses incidental thereto; and to organize a local force of artillery 150 strong to man the guns, as well as a small force of about 500 infantry for their protection in case of a landing.
The estimated cost would be-
Bix 7-ton guns, complete..
Four 6-4-pounder guns complete Batteries, magazine", &c.
Total
:::
£
6,000
2,400
10,400
19,200
The Committee desire to avail themselves of this opportunity to urge the extreme importance to the Imperial Government of establishing telegraphic communication with a station so valuable as the Cape of Good Hope in a military, no less than in a naval sense, apart from Colonial interests and considerations. This might be effected by laying a cable either from Pernambuco to the Cape, or by adopting the castern route from Aden via the Mauritius.
The Committee having had before them a report by Sir Penrose Julyan on this subject, dated December 1875, have to observe that, by the adoption of a route through the Atlantic, which is less expensive than one through the Indian Ocean, an important link in a through route to India would be laid, which, if eventually continued, would make telegraphic communication with that portion of Her Majesty's Dominions independent of all existing lines through Europe and Asia, or the Mediterranean, Egypt, and the
Red Sea.
Without further dwelling upon this proposal, the advantages of which are sufficiently obvious, the Committee desire to express their decided opinion that the establishment of such a line would constitute a measure of the highest possible utility in time of war.