PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
6
CO. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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that my Lords authorize an immediate expenditure for this purpose of the amount estimated, viz., 87,2001.
A communication should be also addressed to the Admiralty with reference to the gun-boats which may be required; but I am to request that no expenditure on this account be authorized without further information being submitted to this Department.
may I am to observe with regard to the proposed works for defence, that, with the exception of Trincomalee, and perhaps a portion of those at Hong Kong, the whole of the expenditure would appear to be for the protection of local, rather than Imperial interests. As the labour required for the erection of these works must be obtained from local sources, it may be a question whether, in the first instance at least, the expenditure should not be provided out of local funds.
I am, &c. (Signed)
No. 68.
R. R. W. LINGEN.
Governor Lieutenant-Colonel Sir H. F. B. Maxse, K.C.M.G., to the Right Honourable Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.
(Confidential.) Sir,
Berlin, May 2, 1878.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, marked Secret aud Confidential, of the 30th ultimo, inclosing a copy of the Report of a Committee on the subject of the defences of Heligoland.
2. I cannot avoid expressing a hope that the Committee may, under present circum- stances, so different from those of 1875-76, take a more favourable view of Heligoland as a defensive position than appears to be the case by the contents of the present Report.
3. So long as no outward complications threatened Great Britain I studiously avoided recommending a system of permanent works of defence, as from the position of Heligoland in respect to Germany it is evident that the construction of such works would, in time of peace, have been viewed by that country as a menace, or at least as a precautionary measure against themselves.
4. Matters are now different, and the erection of efficient defences at Heligoland under the present aspect of affairs could not possibly be misinterpreted on the neighbouring continent, I would also respectfully suggest that it is not quite out of the bounds of possibility that a time may arrive when Her Majesty's Government will not find it incon- venient to have a well-fortified post and storehouse in the geographical position of Heligoland, without incurring the jealousy and suspicion of our neighbours by then erecting works. I think, Sir, that this point is not unimportant, and is well worthy of consideration.
5. Very extended plans exist somewhere, at home, for the formation of a large break- water and strong protective works at Heligoland; they were drawn up, as I believe, by
1811. year Captain Tapp, R.E., during the war with France, about the
6. In the advice I have hitherto tendered, and for reasons above stated, I have always only aimed at having some sort of defence against a coup de main, and it is needless to say that the Committee are perfectly correct that neither what, we possess in the shape of armament nor the presence of fifty men would secure the island against bombardment.
7. I beg, however, respectfully to submit that the Committee seem to underrate the position of Heligoland as a post capable of sustaining itself even against a possible bombardment, and I have reason to believe that General Collinson, R.E., almost the only officer of Engineers who has visited the island during my period, agrees with me in what advance.
8. I have no desire to advise you, Sir, to move the Committee to take into consideration the larger plan as drawn up by Captain Tapp. R.E., alluded to above, but I am of opinion, under submission, that the defence of Heligoland is easy, and that the true point for the erection of defensive works is Sandy Island.
9. It is from behind this island, where there is excellent anchorage for heavy vessels, that, with the present long-range guns, a bombardment of the island would be undertaken, as any such proceeding from the west would be comparatively ineffective, nothing but a wall of rock, the lighthouse, and the signal station being visible.
10. I believe that my opinion would be confirmed by engineer officers that a couple of 25-tou guns and one or two Gatlings, in a permanent work on Sandy Island, would render Heligoland secure against any attack in reason.
* No. 58.
31
11. Of course large guns would be also efficacious on the top of the main island, in warding off vessels from the west, but Sandy Island so armed covers both roads and the eastern anchorage, us the Colony, in my opinion, would be perfectly secure.
12. The above system of defence would of course require a larger garrison as the work on Sandy Island would have to be secured against the landing of armed boat parties, but feeling so strongly upon the subject as I do, it is my bounden duty, Sir, to urgently ask for your assistance, with a view to the reconsideration of the subject by the Committee.
13. Heligoland is, elsewhere, to my knowledge considered in the light of a most -important post, easily defended, and it is to be regretted if we become blind to its impor- I well remember the decided opinion as regards the island expressed to me by Admiral Fourichon in 1870.
tance.
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14. As regards the minor system of defence against a smaller coup de main effected by the presence of fifty men as garrison and the present armament of the island, this would naturally not exclude a bombardment, but whilst a bombardment would cause the loss of all the houses and intense misery to the inhabitants, there is still quite sufficient earth upon the upper land, if judiciously worked, to afford cover to the garrison, and it is with a view to this point and for other like reasons that I have asked to be supplied with the advice on the spot of an officer of the Engineers.
15. I fear that owing to the situation and construction of the steps a drawbridge would be difficult to effect, and would hardly be sufficient protection.
I should, with all respect and submission to the opinion of the Committee, advise, certain other measures in connection with the steps.
16. In conclusion, I beg to express the sincere hope that the Committee will recon- sider this question and advise the despatch, if they deem it on reading these remarks advisable, of an officer of Engineers to this Colony; and I most sincerely trust, Sir, that they will not find it their duty to advise Her Majesty's Government to leave this island undefended, on that score supposed to seek the mercy of the enemy's cruizers, and the denial of which would entail on the 2,000 inhabitants a second bombardment or a starvation blockade by Her Majesty's forces for the purpose of recovering a position which, with proper and by no means excessively expensive means, could easily have been defended in the first instance.
I have, &c.
FITZH. MAXSE.
(Secret and Confidential.)
Sir;
(Signed)
No. 69.
Colonial Office to War Office.
*
Downing Street, May 4, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before Colonel Stanley, a copy of a letter from the Treasury, relative to the proposed expenditure in respect of works, armaments, &c., recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee, for the Cape and eastern Colonies, together with a copy of the reply which has been addressed to their Lordships' Department.+
2. It will be seen that the Lords Commissioners authorize this Department to apply to you for the supply of guns and submarine defences, in order that the necessary provision may be made in the War Office Estimates, and request that you may be informed that their Lordships authorize an immediate expenditure for this purpose of 87,2001. No authority is given in respect of any expenditure for works, on which point you will observe that a further representation has been made to their Lordships, and that the opinion of the Secretary of State for War is invited on the subject.
3. I am to request to be informed whether Colonel Stanley proposes to have these guns manufactured at Woolwich or to extend a portion of the order to Sir William Armstrong's works at Elswick, in order to hasten the rate of production.
* No. 67.
[593]
I have, &c. (Signed) R. H. MEADE.
† No. 71.
K