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No. 25.
Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office,
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Committee Room, Whitehall, April 1, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of this day forwarding copy of a secret and con- fidential telegram from the Governor of the Straits Settlements, the Colonial Defence Committee desire me to state, for the information of the Secretary of State, that they have made full inquiries as to the present state of the defences, and will be prepared with their report in a few days, of the measures which should be taken for the temporary defence of Singapore.
The Committee find that the existing defences of Singapore are practically nil. The Committee understand that in consequence one of their letters to you of the 14th ultimo,* instructions have been given by the Secretary of State for War for the despatch of ten 64-ton guns to Singapore, but no authority has yet been given for the expenditure necessary for the construction of the works requisite for mounting those guns.
The Committee request me further to state that they are strongly of opinion that some steps ought immediately to be taken to expedite these works.
Meanwhile, pending the adoption of arrangements for the better defence of the harbour with its large stock of coals, the importance of which to the trade of Great Britain with the China Seas cannot be exaggerated, the Committee are of opinion that an affirmative reply should be sent to the Governor to consult the naval and military officers as to defending the entrances to the harbours; and to carry out their suggestions as far as possible.
•
This is in accordance with the recommendations of my other letter of the 14th ultimo.†
The Committee would further recommend that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty should be at once informed of the amount of coal in the port, with a view to their dispatching, if possible, such additional ship or ships as their Lordships may consider requisite for the better protection of this important station.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ALEX. MILNE, President.
No. 26.
Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.
(Secret and Confidential.) Šir,
Downing Street, April 2, 1878.
I AM directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you, for the information of the Colonial Defence Committee, a copy of a circular despatch which he has addressed to the Governors of Colonies embodying the suggestions contained in your letter of the 14th March,† relative to the temporary measures of defence which should be adopted by the Colonies in the event of war suddenly breaking out.
I am, &c.
13
From this latter despatch the Committee will observe that the statement made in the previous letter, to the effect that a small force of volunteers exists at the present time in Hong Kong, was not correct.
I am to state that the Lieutenant-Governor of Ceylon, Mr. Birch, is now in England, -and can wait upon the Committee if they desire it.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
No. 28.
Colonial Office to Mr. Jekyll, R.E.
h
Downing Street, April 3, 1878.
My dear Jekyll,
HOW long do you suppose the Singapore works will take to make which are to cost about 20,000?
2. Will the money be thrown away, or will the works come in useful for Jervois' scheme.
3. If your scheme is carried out, will Jervois' ever be undertaken. 4. How long will your works last?
5. Can convict labour be used extensively in their construction?
て
Answers.
Yours sincerely, (Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
1. Depends upon the amount of labour which can be brought to bear, but probably
he works will take three or four months to complete, though it might be possible to mount
guns much earlier, perhaps, in as many weeks, or even less.
the
2. I cannot answer this off hand, but think it probable that the works could be so laid out as to be capable of conversion into batteries of a more permanent kind, so that part at least of the expense would not be thrown away.
3. The scheme now recommended provides only for defence against such a limited attack as may be apprehended under existing circumstances (by which I mean a conflict with Russia), Jervois' scheme is designed to make the place secure against any attack likely to be within the means of two or more of the Maritime Powers combined. Nothing less than this can be regarded as permanently satisfactory.
4. Probably three or four years in good condition, after which extensive repairs would become necessary.
5. Certainly, with a due proportion of skilled labour and superintendence.
I should like to answer your questions with greater precision and certainty, and will endeavour to do so to-morrow afternoon at the Colonial Office.
Yours very truly, (Signed)
H. JEKYLL
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
No. 29.
(Confidential.) Sir,
No. 27. '
Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.
Downing Street, April 2, 1878. WITH reference to my letter, marked Secret, of the 21st ultimo, I am directed by the Secretary of State to transmit, for the information of the Committee, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Straits Settlements, from which will be seen the actual strength of the Colonial forces in that Colony, and also a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong,§ relative to the formation of a volunteer force in that Colony.
• No. 11.
+ No. 12.
No. 16.
No. 19.
Colonial Office to Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G.
(Secret and Confidential.)
Sir,
Downing Street, April 3, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform you that a Departmental Committee, consisting of Admiral Sir A. Milne, G.C.B., General Sir Lintorn Simmons, K.C.B., and Sir Henry Barkly, G.C.M.G., is now considering what immediate steps may be practicable for the defence of Her Majesty's Colonial ports should war at any time unhappily break out, and that they would be glad if you could conveniently call on them and give them the benefit of your local information as regards New Zealand.
2. I am to add that Her Majesty's Government will correspond direct with the Colony on the subject, and that your attendance before the Committee will not compromise your Government in regard to any report or recommendations that the Committee may
make.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TILICO. 885
4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO