D
100
Government in executing such works without having first determined what share the Colonial Governments are to bear of the cost.
My Lords trust that the Secretary of State for the Colonies will not overlook this consideration, but will suspend all works which, either in the opinion of the military authorities, or from the improved prospect of peace, admit of being postponed until the financial question is settled.
I am, &c.
R. R. W. LINGEN,
101
P.S.-I am also to transmit to you a letter from the War Office, inclosing letters from the Commanding Royal Engineer at the Cape, together with copy of a letter to the General Commanding in that Colony.*
R. H. M.
No. 201.
Sir,
(Signed)
No. 198.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, June 25, 1878. IN reply to your letter of the 5th instant, referring to the consent of the Treasury to the first cost of works recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee for the protec- tion of Barbadoes and Jamaica being provided for in Army and Navy Estimates, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to request that you will inform Sir Michael Hicks Beach that the guns required have been ordered, and that the General Officers Commanding at these stations have been instructed to proceed with the works of defence recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee, including submarine mines for Jamaica.
With regard to the last paragraph of your letter under reply, I am to state that Secretary Colonel Stanley is in communication with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty with respect thereto, and that a further communication will be made to you upon the subject.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
EUSTACE G. CECIL.
No. 199.
Admiralty to Colonial Office.
(Confidential.) Sir,
Admiralty, June 25, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 24th instant, inclosing copy of a telegram received from the Governor-General of Canada,† from which it appears that the instructions addressed to the Senior Naval Officer at Esquimalt had been misunderstood, I am com- manded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that a telegram has been sent this day to the Commander-in- chief on the Pacific station, who is now at Esquimalt, directing that the naval guns in store at that place are to be lent to the Dominion Government immediately.
No. 200.
I am, &c.
(Signed) ROBERT HALL.
Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.
Downing Street, June 25, 1878.
Sir,
WITH reference to the recommendations of the Colonial Defence Committee for the defence of Table and Simon's Bays, and for the apportionment of the Whitehead torpedoes ordered by the Admiralty for the Colonies, I am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Committee, the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Governor,‡ recommending (1) four "Lightning" torpedo-boats and sixteen Whitehead torpedoes for Table and Simon's Bays; (2) ten 38-ton and two 25-ton guns for Table Bay; (3) the immediate provision of some of the heavy long-range guns and of two "Lightning" boats, with a suitable supply of torpedoes; (4) the expenditure of 10,0001. for completion of works at Simon's Bay and commencement of those at Table Bay.
I am also to inclose copy of a despatch, inclosing copy of "Gazette," containing copies of the "Defence Bills."§
(Secret and Confidential.)
Sir,
Colonial Office to Admiralty.†
Downing Street, June 25, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, copies of the printed Corre- spondence relating to the Defence of the Colonies, brought down to the 31st ultimo.
This paper contains some despatches or letters which will be of interest to your Department, though it was not thought necessary to furnish you with the manuscript copies when they first reached this Office.
I am, &c.
No. 202.
(Signed) R. H. MEADE.
Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.
(Secret and Confidential.)
Sir,
Committee Room, Whitehall, June 26, 1878. I AM requested by the Colonial Defence Committee to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 24th and 25th June, transmitting correspondence and reports from Sir Bartle Frere respecting proposals for the defence of Table Bay, and requesting information as to the cost of permanent defences for the Cape of Good Hope.
In the absence of Sir Lintorn Simmons, the Committee have given consideration to these papers, and, as at present advised, are not prepared to recommend guns of 38 and 25 tons for the defence of the Cape, as suggested by the local committee.
They are, however, of opinion that it might suffice for the permanent defence of Cape Town against such a limited attack as is likely to be directed against it-looking to its distance from Europe and, the general protection afforded by Her Majesty's fleet-if the temporary armament of 7-ton and 64-pounder guns, now in course of preparation, were supplemented with five 18-ton guns, which, if mounted on new works constructed for the purpose, would involve an additional cost of about 35,0001.
But, looking to the prospect of a peaceful solution of present European difficulties, the Committee consider it would be good economy to at once make such modification in the proposed temporary works designed to mount the 7-ton guns as will adapt them for the reception of the five 18-ton guns, which, when manufactured and sent out, could replace an equal number of the lighter ordnance.
Should such a modification meet the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Secretary of State for War, the additional cost of the proposal would be reduced from 35,0001. to about 25,0001., and this might be partly met by the money already sanctioned for a gun-boat of the "Comet" class, estimated to cost 13,000, which would not be required if the heavier guns were mounted on shore.
The Committee propose to refer these papers to Sir Lintorn Simmons, now absent at Berlin, for his consideration as Inspector-General of Fortifications, and to know his views with respect to the suggested alterations in the armament and works, which, as at present designed, have been approved by him.
It is observed that torpedo-boats of the "Lightning" class have been suggested by the local committee at the Cape; but until some decision is come to as to how these vessels for local service are to be manned, under whose authority they are to be placed, and how officers and men are to be specially trained for their service, the Committee are not in a position to give any opinion as to the advisability of adopting this auxiliary means of defence.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ALEX. MILNE, President.
[See Memorandum by Sir L. Simmons on this subject, dated July 26, 1878, No. 244 in series. |
I am, &c.
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
• No. 154.
+ No. 185.
No. 18".
§ No. 147.
• No. 189.
A similar letter was addressed to the War Office.
↑ Nos. 193 and 200.
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