4
On taking a general review of the Colonial ports that will require defence, it is clear that at least 200 guns will be required, and a considerable amount of submarine mining stores, in addition to what is being provided.
The Committee have commenced by investigating the manner in which temporary defences could be provided for Simon's and Table Bays at the Cape of Good Hope, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Mauritius, and in doing so have reduced their proposals to the least amount consistent with their defence under the present emergency, with a desire also to make use as far as possible of the means which are available, and have to report that these places alone will absorb all, or very nearly all, the available guns; and that even when so protected, they can only be regarded as very imperfectly defended against the attacks of at most two or three unarmoured ships, and in some cases will still be exposed to insult from ships firing at long ranges.
The Committee, under these circumstances, consider it their impérative duty, thus early in the investigation with which they have been confided, and before the close of the financial year, to make known confidentially to the Secretary of State, that whatever may hereafter be the recommendations for sending out the requisite guns and torpedoes for temporary defence, none will be available until they are manufactured or otherwise obtained.
It is submitted, therefore, for the consideration of the Secretary of State, whether some immediate steps should not be taken, either to manufacture, or purchase, if possible, from contractors, the guns and submarine mining stores which will inevitably be required if the ports in the Colonies are to be provided with any defences, whether temporary or permanent.
The Committee desire me to observe that the ports they have already dealt with are among the principal coaling stations of Her Majesty's ships, and therefore involve must important Imperial as well as Colonial interests; for unless these stations are adequately protected, there can be no security that Her Majesty's ships will be able to keep the sea for the protection of the commerce of Great Britain, or to prevent an enemy's fleet from annoying and harassing the Colonies.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ALEX. MILNE, President.
5
mend to be ordered at once, in the event of there being funds available for the purpose, with any information which they can add as to the prospect of procuring such supplies from private firms.
3. Sir Michael Hic Beach would, in the next place, be obliged if the Committee would address themselves more particularly to the consideration of the more immediate and temporary measures of defence, which could under existing circumstances be adopted in each place in the event of this country being suddenly involved in war, and would as soon as possible make such recommendations as they may think advisable with respect to the disposal of the thirty-five or forty guns now in store which have been stated by Major-General Campbell to be available for the defence of the Colonial ports.
4. It will, of course, be necessary for the Committee, before arriving at any conclusion with respect to the particular measures that should be taken for any Colony, to ascertain as far as possible whether it is now in possession of any guns, submarine mining and torpedo stores, or other means of defence; and if it should be necessary to make inquiries upon these points by telegraph this Department will be ready to transmit any telegrams.
5. I am to add that, in Sir Michael Hicks Beach's opinion, the Committee might conveniently report on the various places which will come under their consideration in the following order :-
(1.) Places such as those alluded to in the last paragraph of your letter, which involve most important Imperial as well as Colonial interests.
(2.) Crown Colonies, for the external defence of which the Imperial Government is specially responsible, and which, on account of their wealth or situation, níight be tempting objects of naval attack.
(3.) Important commercial towns or seaports, such as those in New Zealand and Australia, situated in Colonies under responsible Government.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT,
No. 11.
(Confidential.) Dear Mr. Herbert,
No. 9.
Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.
Committee Room, Horse Guards, March 12, 1878. FROM what you mentioned last evening, that it was wished to have a report from the Committee "what steps ought to be taken if there was an immediate prospect of war," it appears to the members of the Committee that we ought to have some official (of course confidential) instructions, as the only letter which we have received is to state what defences are required as a temporary ineasure for the principa! Colonial ports. This is so general that I had to write to Mr. Meade to know what was specially wanted, but there was nothing said about the wants or recommendations in case of imme- diate war; so be so good as to let us have a public letter.
(Secret.) Sir,
No. 10.
Yours very truly, (Signed)
ALEX MILNE.
Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.
Downing Street, March 14, 1878.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to thank you for your letter of the 12th instant," in which, as the President of the Committee appointed to report as to the defences of the more important Colonial ports, you record the progress made by the Committee at its sittings up to that date.
2. 1 am to state that Sir Michael Hicks Beach considers it very desirable that he should receive from the Committee, at their earliest convenience, a more detailed statenient of the particulars of such guns and torpedoes and other war material as they would recom-
* No. 8.
Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.
(Secret and Confidential.)
Sir,
Committee Room, March 14, 1878.
IN continuation of my reply to your letter of this date, and with reference to the concluding portion of paragraph 3, I have the honour to inform you that, in the opinion of the Colonial Defence Committee, application should be made to the Secretary of State for War for the disposal of the 6-ton guns, which they understand are available for the purposes of Colonial defence.
The Committee recommend the despatch, with as little loss of time as possible, of these guns, complete in all respects, with their carriages and 100 rounds of ammunition, as follows:-
To Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope
Hong Kong
Singapore
Port Louis, Mauritius
Trincomalee
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10
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The Committee think it right to observe that it will be at once necessary for instruc- tions to be sent to the respective stations to prepare emplacements with the least possible delay, without which the guns on their arrival could not be mounted; and they are informed that the approximate cost for this purpose would be about 42,0001.
For this purpose it would be desirable to request the Secretary of State for War to give such directions as may be necessary for their unmediate construction.
The Committee, in- giving consideration to the foregoing temporary defences, have been to a large extent guided by the recommendations contained in the inclosed Report of the Defence Committee, to which they invite careful attention.
I have, &o.
(Signed)
• No. 10.
ALEX. MILNE, President.
J.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.o.
Reference :-
885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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