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104
No. 210.
Governor Sir A. Musgrave, K.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.—
(Received June 27.)
Jamaica, June 8, 1878.
(Confidential.) Šir,
I HAVE given my careful consideration to the subject of your despatches, Circular, Secret, of 20th March, and Jamaica, Confidential, of 30th April last, but I find it to be very difficult to take effective steps for defensive preparation of any kind in this Colony.
2. The militia laws nominally in existence are practically inoperative, in consequence of their provisions having fallen into abeyance.
They cannot be put in force without fresh legislation. There are no volunteer corps, and the Colony is quite unprovided with arms, ammunition, or military equipments, and even the reserve store of arms in possession of the military authorities only amounts to 263 rifles.
3. I shall have a militia law prepared, which in event of necessity may be passed at once by the Legislative Council, and may enable me to raise a small force of about 500 men for the defence of Kingston; but my action in respect of this measure will depend upon the directions I may receive from you, and which 1 request may be sent by cypher telegram, in case it should appear that there is necessity for urgent preparation. And in this case I must also request that I may be at once furnished with the arms, ammunition, and accoutrements for the force to be raised, the liability for the expense of the equipment being left for future settlement, as has been proposed with regard to the contemplated fortification of Port Royal.
4. Without much greater expense, and without guns being furnished for artillery companies, it will be well nigh impossible to do anything worth doing specifically for the defence of Montego Bay, Falmouth, and other towns and harbours on the north side of the island. But one most useful means of affording these assistance from Kingston in case of need would be furnished by a line of electric telegraph for the transmission of intelligence. Colonel Hackett, the officer in command of the troops, regards this as very important.
5. I have had this work in contemplation on grounds of general public utility. The cost would not be more than 7,000l. to connect all the principal places on the north side with Kingston. The necessary funds can be advanced from the Savings Bank deposits held on public account. And unless I hear from you to the contrary, I shall hold myself I shall, without delay, ascertain whether it at liberty to construct this work at once. may be possible to enter into a contract for this service with persons in the United States who are accustomed to undertake this kind of work in new country, where cheap and speedy construction is an object to be kept in view.
6. From the tenour of recent public intelligence, I hope that the present condition of affairs is not so critical as it was a short time ago, and that there is greater prospect of peace being maintained, but I repeat my request that I may have timely information by telegraph of any necessity for prompt action, as under no cicumstances can any prepara- tions be very quickly made.
1
I have, &c. (Signed)
• No. 15.
+ No. 6%.
A. MUSGRAVE.
105
No. 211.
Governor Strachan, C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.-(Received June 27.) (Secret and Confidential.)
Sir,
Barbados, June 10, 1878. WITH reference to the fourth paragraph of your Secret and Confidential despatch of the 30th April, I have the honour to state that fairly efficient local forces have formerly been raised in this island, and that I am of opinion that there would be no difficulty in raising a volunteer force which might be of considerable service as an aid to the regular troops in a contingency such as that indicated in your despatch.
2. I should be loth, however, until the necessity arises in consequence of the withdrawal of Her Majesty's troops or otherwise, to take any active steps in this direction, as I am not without doubts as to the advantage of such a forge as a permanent element in this community.
3. I have been in communication with the Lieutenant-General commanding the troops on the subject of your despatch, and I have furnished him with a copy of its inclosure.
I have, &c. (Signed) GEO. C. STRACHAN,
Sir,
No. 212.
Admiralty to Colonial Office.
Admiralty, June 27, 1878. I HAVE laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 31st May last, relative to fifty Whitehead torpedoes ordered for the Colonies (twenty-five of which are now only required), in which it is suggested that the Admiralty should undertake the entire control and management of these torpedoes, sending, if necessary, a special staff of officers and men for the purpose to Esquimalt, Cape Town, Hong Kong, and Singapore, where it is proposed a portion of them should be distributed.
My Lords request that you will point out to the Secretary of State for the Colonies that it would be a very expensive arrangement to keep a trained staff of officers and men for the purpose of taking care of a few torpedoes in distant Colonies, where the men would become thoroughly mefficient from having little or nothing to do, and their Lordships are, therefore, not prepared to accede to this suggestion.
(Confidential.)
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT HALL.
No. 213.
Admiralty to Colonial Office.
Sir,
Admiralty, June 28, 1878. I HAVE laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 30th April last, inclosing copy of the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee as regards the Colonies noted in the margin.§
In reply, I am to acquaint you, for the information of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that my Lords attach great importance to the harbour of Sierra Leone being defended from an attack by sea, as it is an important coaling station and place of resort for Her Majesty's ships stationed on the West Coast of Africa.
As regards the defences of Barbados, my Lords do not consider them of urgent importance, but Port Royal, Jamaica, and its valuable dockyard, now entirely unprotected, they consider it of very great importance that defences against attack by sea should be undertaken without delay.
I am to add that my Lords have no further questions which they consider it necessary to have referred to the Colonial Defence Committee.
+ No. 138.
I am, &c.
(Signed) ROBERT HALL.
Miscellaneous No. 35 c.
Heligoland, St. Helena, Sierra Leone, Barbados, Jamaica, and Newfoundland.
• No. 62.
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