106
No. 213 A.
Governor Hennessy, C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.
(Telegraphic. Paraphrase.)
June 28, 1878. THE General to the War Office. Batteries suited to our force have been completed. West, Stonecutters' and Green Islands have not been fortified, because the situations are isolated and the troops are insufficient. 5,0001, have been expended.
Sir,
No. 214.
War Office to Colonial Office,
War Office, June 29, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the accompanying correspondence under date 4th May, 1878," from the officer commanding the troops at Hong Kong, detailing the measures which have been taken for the construction of the temporary batteries authorized for the defence of that place.
I am to request that the inclosures may be returned to this Office at an early date.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
I have, &c.
(Signed) EUSTACE G. CECIL.
No. 215.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, June 30, 1878. WITH reference to previous correspondence I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acquaint you, for the information of Secretary Colonel Stanley, that a telegram has been received from the Governor of Hong Kong, of which the following is a paraphrase:-
"The General to the War Office.
"Batteries suited to our force have been completed. West, Stonecutters', and Green Islands have not been fortified because the situations are isolated and the troops are insufficient. 5,0001, have been expended."
No. 216.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
Governor Hennessy, C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.— (Received July 1.)
(Secret.) Sir,
Government House, Hong Kong, May 18, 1878. IN my despatch of the 11th instant,† I reported that the military authorities had already made rapid progress with the batteries for the defence of Hong Kong.
2. Owing, evidently, to the active personal supervision of Colonel Bassano, Colonel Stuart, and the other officers concerned, and to the fact that the labour market of this Colony was able to supply them instantly with 2,000 hard-working Chinese labourers, most of whom had been accustomed to stone quarrying and excavating, I am happy to say that the following works have now been completed, or nearly so:—
Wellington Battery, in the town of Victoria, mounting five 40-pounder breech-
loaders.
Bonham Road Battery, in the town of Victoria, to mount two 9-inch and one 8-inch gun. This battery is ready for the guns, one of which has been conveyed to it.
Another new town battery, to mount two 6-ton 7-inch guns. This battery is complete, and the guns are on the spot ready for mounting.
Stonecutters' Island Battery, to mount six 64-pounders. Battery ready, but guns not yet taken across.
Kowloon Battery, to mount six 7-inch breechloaders. The guns are on the spot. The battery will be ready in two days more.
Kowloon Dock Battery, to mount two 61-ton 7-inch guns, and three 64-pounders. This battery is complete, and the guns are on the spot ready for mounting.
† No. 179.
• Not printed.
107
North Point Battery, to mount five 7-inch guns. This battery is also ready, and the guns are on the spot.
West Point Battery, near Belcher's Bay, to mount two 7-inch guns. Battery ready, and guns on the spot,
I
3. Except in Wellington Battery, where the guns are mounted for drill purposes, understand it is not intended at present to absolutely mount the guns, on account of the difficulty of guarding the fitments. The slides and carriages will, however, be placed in position, and the guns can at any time be mounted, I am told, in about half-an-hour per gun.
4. On the question as to the amount of assistance the volunteers can give the regular troops in working those batteries, I shall write more fully in another despatch.
Meanwhile I inclose, for your information, copies of the regulations I have issued respecting the volunteers.
5. With the concurrence of Colonel Bassano, I have appointed Captain Dempster, of the 28th Regiment, to be the Commandant of the Hong Kong Volunteers.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. POPE HENNESSY.
No. 217.
The Earl of Dufferin to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.—(Received July 2.) (Secret.) Sir,
*
Ottawa, June 21, 1878. WITII reference to your despatch of the 23rd ultimo, marked Secret, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of an approved Report of a Committee of the Privy Council relative to the defence of the principal Canadian Atlantic ports.
I also beg to forward a copy of a report prepared by Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Selby Smyth, K.C.M.G., Commanding the Militia, on the same subject.
Inclosure I in No. 217.
I have, &c. (Signed)
DUFFERIN.
Report of a Committee of the Honourable the Privy Council, approved by his Excellency the Governor-General, on the 18th day of June, 1878.
THE Committee of Council have had under consideration a despatch from the Right Honourable Sir. M. E. Hicks Beach to his Excellency the Governor-General, transmitting a copy of the recommendations of the Colonial Defence Committee for the defence of the principal Canadian Atlantic ports.
Sir M. E. Hicks Beach requests that he may be informed whether the Government of Canada is prepared to undertake the works and armaments proposed by the Committee, the maximum cost of which would be 50,0001, or 48,0001., according to which alternative is adopted for Sydney, subject to certain possible deductions set forth in the despatch.
The proposal involves the construction of batteries at St. John, New Brunswick, Sydney, Cape Breton, Charlotte Town, Prince Edward Island, and Pictou, to be armed with 7-inch 7-ton guns and 64-pounders. The first-named gun, in addition to being very expensive, would, in the opinion of Lieutenant-General Sir E. Selby Smyth, require to have small parties of artillery permanently stationed at every battery to keep them in order, thus entailing a considerable annual charge on the public revenue..
Lieutenant-General Sir E. Selby Smyth has submitted a proposition for improving
the batteries at the several points named, which, while, no doubt, less effective than the plan suggested by the Defence Committee, will, it is believed, materially strengthen the present defences.
He suggests, for the reasons set forth in his Report, that in lieu of the 7-ton guns, an equal number of -pounder converted Palliser rifled guns should be procured. The annual expense of maintaining in good order batteries mounted with the latter guns would be much less than the 7-ton guns, as ordinary care-takers would be sufficient to préserve that description of ordnance.
St. John and Sydney being the most important points, the Committee recommend the purchase from the Imperial Government of the following guns, to be delivered and mounted under the direction of the Dominion Inspector of Artillery, viz. :--
• Miscellaneous No. 35 r.
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