136
No. 252.
Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B./“
(Secret and Confidential.)
Sir,
Downing, Street, July 25, 1878.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you the inclosed printed correspondence, and to request that the Colonial Defence Committee will favour him with any observations which they may have to offer with regard to the defence of Nanaimo, Vancouver Island.*
2. Although, as stated by the Admiralty, Nanaimo is not an Imperial naval coaling station, yet it appears from the last paragraph of Lieutenant-General Sir Selby Smyth's second Report that all the coal for merchant steamers and for Her Majesty's Navy, in the Northern Pacific comes from there, and Sir Michael Hicks Beach, therefore, is of opinion that the subject should be carefully considered.
3. In these circumstances I am to suggest, for the consideration of the Committee, whether it is advisable to adopt some defensive precautions for the protection of the coal mines at Nanaimo.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
No. 253.
R. H. MEADE.
Memorandum, dated July 27, by Sir J. L. A. Simmons, G.C.B., on Admiral Sir A. Milne's Letter to Colonial Office, June 26, 1878, No. 202 in series. (Secret.)
I ENTIRELY concur in the views expressed by my colleagues of the Colonial Defence Committee, in their letter of the 26th June, and am not prepared to recommend guns of 38 and 25 tons to be sent to the Cape for the defence of Table Bay, and am of opinion that it will suffice for the permanent defence of Cape Town to send out five 10-inch guns, such as are now about to be made of an improved pattern, with enlarged chambers and of greater length, to take the place of the present 18-ton gun; but I should prefer that six such guns were sent instead of five, three to be mounted on either side of the bay, at or near Kyk in de Pot and Craig's Tower.
These guns will exceed in power the present 25-ton guns, and will be quite equal to piercing any but the most powerful ironclads at a range of 3,000 yards.
Considering the very limited number of these vessels, that owing to their great cost they will never be very numerous, that as a rule they are incapable of carrying a supply of coal for very long voyages, that their number and position will be known, and therefore that they will be watched by the ships of Her Majesty's fleet; also considering the great distance of the Cape from any refitting station, which must operate to prevent an enemy's ships from risking an action involving, to say the least, very uncertain results, in which they would be exposed to serious injury on their unarmoured parts, I am of opinion it will be unnecessary to provide heavier guns than those recommended.
I would observe, however, that it appears to me very 'desirable that a gun-bat mounting one of these improved 10-inch guns should be maintained as part of the defen It might manoeuvre within the mole under the protection of the guns in the batteries, and, while presenting a very small target to an enemy's guns, might keep hostile cruizers at a greater distance from the docks and town than the land batteries alone could effect. The cost of one of these vessels is not great, and it is presumed that if hauled
in peace times its engine might be kept in good order at slight expense by a contract with some manufacturing firm, when it would be ready for service when required.
I also concur in the opinion expressed as to torpedo-boats.
up
The addition of the sixth gun would add from 7,000l. to 5,000l. to the estimate given in the letter of the 26th June, making it in one case 42,000, and in the other about 30,0001, the former being the estimate for entirely new works, and the latter being for the modification of the works now authorized; in each case the cost of the guns and a proportion of ammunition are included.
J. L. A. SIMMONS.
July 27, 1878.
• No. 207.
(Signed)
137
No. 254.
Administrator Way to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.-(Received July 27.) (No. 25.)
Government House, Adelaide, South Australia, Sir,
June 12, 1878.
•
REFERRING to your Circular despatch, Secret, of the 20th March last, my Government fully recognize the importance of measures being taken for the defence of the Colony, and they desire to adopt in its entirety the plan of defence advised by his Excellency Sir William Jervois in his Memorandum of the 4th December, 1877, forwarded in despatch No. 26 of the 24th December, 1877, and of which, for convenience of reference, I again inclose copies.
2. Owing to the extent of the South Australian coast-line, General Jervois advises that an iron-clad sea-going vessel of war be procured as the principal means of defence of the Colony. It is hoped that, having regard to the amount of British shipping property and commerce requiring protection in these waters, the Home Government will give the san:e rate of assistance to this Colony towards the purchase of the iron-clad recommended by Sir William Jervois as was granted to Victoria in the case of the “Cerberus."
3. Turning to the subsidiary means of permanent defence advised by Sir William Jervois (at page 5 of his Memorandum), I have to report that :--
(a.) Designs have been prepared by Lieutenant-Colonel Scratchley, R.E., for the two batteries to protect Port Adelaide, and that tenders for their construction will be called for
at once.
(b.) A portion of the military road is completed, and the remainder is to be constructed at once, the cost having already been provided for.
>
(c.) Torpedo defences (are being arranged for on a small scale at Port Adelaide, under the supervision of Lieutenant-Colonel Scratchley, R.E.
(d.) Besides the two 12-ton guns already in the Colony, orders for two 18-ton guns and four 68-pounders with all necessary appliances are being executed in England.
(e.) A paid volunteer force of 777 infantry, 187 artillery, and 46 cavalry is enrolled
and organized, and the requisite rifles, field-guns, ammunition and stores have been pro cured under the advice of the Colonel Commandant.
(f.) A Bill will at once be brought before Parliament for establishing a permanent force of 130 artillery, who will, after five years' service, have advantages in obtaining Government employment so as to secure a reserve force to supplement the perinanent
one.
4. The volunteer force, considering the short time it has been formed, has, I under- stand, made satisfactory progress under the zealous training of the Colonel-Commandant, Colonel Downes, R.A., and the Adjutant-Major Godwin. On the Queen's birthday
I held a review of the force (followed by a sham fight), in which 780 men took part.
5. I have also to report that I have brought the necessity of framing a scheme for extemporizing temporary defences to meet any sudden danger under the notice of my Ministers, and that this subject has received their earnest attention, as well as my own. Means will be taken to carry out the suggestions in your despatch. I may, however, observe that, until an iron-clad is procured, there are and will be no local means what- ever available for the protection of the large stores of coal at Port Wallaroo and at Port Pirie, and that, until the completion of the forts, the coal at Port Adelaide will be equally unprotected.
Inclosure in No 254.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J
S. J. WAY.
Memorandum by his Excellency Colonel Sir W. F. Drummond Jervois, R.E., K.C.M.G., C.B.
THE coast of South Australia, exclusive of that of the “Northern Territory," extends Description of for a distance of about 800 nautical miles, in about a south-casterly direction, from the coast. termination of the Western Australian boundary, in 120° east longitude and about 32° south latitude, to the western extremity of the boundary of Victoria, in 141° east longitude and about 38° south latitude. Between east longitude 136° and 139° are
two large inlets from the sea, called Spencer's Gulf and St. Vincent's Gulf, and, including the shores of these gulfs, the whole extent of the South Australian coast is upwards of
1,500 miles.
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• No. 15.
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