The following is the estimated cost :--
Five 7-ton guns, complete
Two extra guns, complete
Four 64-pounders
Emplacements for ditto
Submarine mines
Total
:::::
8
:::::
:::::
5,000 2,000
2.400 6,600 2,000
18,000
The defence of Trincomalee in the event of war could not be intrusted to a garrison of less than 800 regular troops, including artillery.
The town of Galle stands upon a rocky promontory on the west side of the, bay, The position is naturally strong, and the existing fortificationé upon the land side, con- sisting of a bastioned line across the isthmus, would suffice to secure it from capture by a sudden attack.
Towards the sea, the town is surrounded with stone ramparts (originally built by the Dutch) which require completion and repair to make them serviceable against a regular attack; but which would sufficiently secure the place against an attack of the limited character contemplated in this Report.
The existing armament is as follows-
Armament-
7-inch breech-loading rifled gun
8-inch smooth-bore guns..
32-pounder smooth-bore guns
18
6
"
:::::
No.
1
7
20
As these guns, with the exception of the single 7-inch breech-loading rifled gun, are only effective at very limited ranges, the Committee recommend that six 7-ton rifled guas be sent out and mounted, three of them in emplacements to be prepared for their recep- tion on the sea-fronts of the old ramparts; and the other three on Watering Point, a rocky peninsula on the opposite side of the bay, where a small temporary work will have to be built to contain them. It is also very desirable that as soon as guns can be pro- vided, six 64-pounders should be sent out to supplement the smooth-bored armament.
Having considered the necessity of providing for the protection of the harbour and naval yard of Trincomalee, the importance of Galle as a coaling station and port of call for commercial ships in the Indian, Chinese, and Australian trades has equally engaged the special attention of the Committee. At times, as much as 30,000 tons of coal for the use of a single company are stored at this port, and the Committee regard it as a
matter of the highest importance, that such a supply should be adequately protected, and the use of it denied to an enemy's cruizers.
With a view to reduce to the utmost the number of places needing defence, the Committee carefully considered whether, in time of war, it would be possible to concen- trate the two establishments of Galle and Trincomalee, making one or the other, for a time, serve the purposes of both. They are, however, unable to recommend such an amalgamation, owing to the impossibility, on the one hand, of removing the naval establish- ments from Trincomalee-the only refitting port for Her Majesty's ships on the Indian station, for which purpose Galle is unsuited—and on the other, the cqual impossibility of removing the stores of coal at such short notice as could alone be looked for, and the extreme inconvenience of so far diverting the ordinary course of trading ships.
The Committee are therefore of opinion that it is imperatively necessary, in the interest of the Imperial Government, as well as of the trade to India and the Chinese seas, that defences should be provided for Galle as well as for Trincomalee.
The cost of the proposed works is estimated as follows:-
Six 7-ton guns, complete..
Six 64-pounder guns, complete
Preparing emplacements for nine guns on the old ramparts
New battery for three 7-tons guns at Watering Point
Total
·
6,000
3,600
5,400
4,500
19,600
Looking to the natural strength of the position, it is probable that 200 regular troops, in addition to a battery of artillery, would suffice for the defence of the place.
The Committee have had before them the plans prepared by Sir John Coode, and
9
approved by the Ceylon Government, for the improvement of the harbour of Colombo, where it is proposed to run out a mole to a distance of 4,000 feet, with ample wharves for coaling large vessels.
Colombo being the capital, and principal commercial port of the Colony, connected as it is by railway with the interior of the island, the Committee are informed that there are already several lines of steamers in the European trade which call there, and that the Peninsular and Oriental Company will in all probability eventually make it their coaling station and port of call, in which case Galle will cease to be of that importance which it now possesses.
The town of Colombo was surrounded formerly by ramparts, built by the Dutch, but these have for the most part been razed. Two of the old bastions (Enkhausen and Flag- staff) on the sea-face still exist, and are armed with smooth-bored guns.
Armament-
8-inch smooth-hore guns 18-pounder
17
10
No.
3
10
13
But, as these guns are totally inefficient except at short ranges, an attempt at defence by their means alone against ships armed with rifled artillery would only bring disaster upon the town, which is close behind, and which, without some defence, will be at the mercy of an enemy's cruizers, who could demand a supply of coals or levy a contribution under threat of bombardment.
Considering the importance of Colombo as the seat of Government, and of the harbour even in its present incomplete state, the Committee are of opinion that it would be very desirable that six rifled 7-ton guns should be mounted, three at Enkhausen or Flagstaff Bastion, and three at or near where Battenburg Battery formerly stood, near the point at which the new mole leaves the shore. They also recommend that three medium rifled guns, 64-pounders or 80-pounders, should be mounted near the site of Leyden Bastion, to fire along the beach and cover it against a landing from boats.
Battenburg battery and other works in its vicinity have been destroyed to make way for the harbour works, upon an undertaking by the Colonial Government that they will provide for the construction of a suitable battery, designed on modern principles, for the defence of the port, when the harbour and breakwater works are sufficiently advanced, The Committee are not prepared to say that the recommendations they now make are such as would be most suitable when the harbour works are completed, though they never- theless think it most advisable that some protection should be afforded at once.
The Committee are of opinion that it will be impossible to supply Imperial troops for these defences, and therefore recommend that a communication should be addressed to the Colony, pointing out the advisability of organizing a better defence, with a view to ascer- taining whether the Government of the Colony will be willing to bear the expense.
The cost of the armaments would be as follows:-
Six 7-ton guns complete..
Emplacements for ditto
Three 64-pounders complete
Emplacements for ditto..
Total
::::
£
6,000
3,600
1,800
1.500
12,900
For the defence of the three ports-Trincomalee, Galie, and Colombo-the Com mittee are of opinion that the following force will be necessary :-
Trincomalee Galle Colombo
Total
Artillery.
Infantry.
Total.
200
600
800
100
200
300
100
400
500
400
1,200
1,600
The force at present in Ceylon is as follows:-
Royal artillery
Gun Lascars
Infantry
::
Total
:
::
:
:
::::
::::
210
84
294
900
1,194
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
L K L E E L
Reference :-
mmmmm C.O. 885
4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO