PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
19
Reference :-
C.O. 885
4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
Conclusion.
142
L
Land forces-
3,000
Staff
•
8,000
Permanent Artillery.
8,000
Volunteers.
Annual supply of ammunition and stores; instruction and training generally;
repairs and other contingencies
6,000
Total
25,000
+
This is irrespective of the manning and maintenance of a war-vessel, and of the naval reserve, the annual cost of which would probably be about 13,0001. ́a year.
It may be argued—as indeed I have already pointed out in reports of the defences of Victoria and New South Wales-that there is no probability of an expedition on any extensive scale being dispatched against Australia. In the event of Great Britain being engaged in hostilities with any other great maritime Power, no doubt the enemy would retain the most powerful portion of his fleet in European waters or in the Atlantic, for the protection of his country, or for operations in the immediate neighbourhood of bostilities. If he sent his fleet, or any considerable portion of it, on an expedition against the Australian Colonies, a sufficient part of our home fleet would, in turn, be set free to intercept it, and our squadrons in the Pacific, on the China, the Australian and Indian Stations, might, if necessary, be concentrated to oppose it.
But whilst the bulk of the enemy's naval forces would be occupied in the immediate scene of action in Europe or America, he might no doubt dispatch one or more cruizers to operate against our maritime commerce, or make a descent upon any of our Colonial possessions; and the Australian Colonies, owing to their wealth and prosperity, would, if undefended at certain points, be tempting objects of attack.
Vessels intended for such an operation might issue from the Russian ports of Yladivostok or Petropaulovski, from the French port of Saigon, from San Francisco, or from some other quarter. Eluding our cruizers, and appearing suddenly off St. Vincent's Gulf and Spencer's Gulf, they might intercept and capture merchant-vessels laden with valuable cargoes; or under threat of bombardinent, or after actually firing into Port Adelaide, demand and obtain an enormous payment of money; or this object might be attained by an enemy landing a small force in the vicinity, and marching upon the City of Adelaide itself.
It is against attacks such as these that it is necessary for the Colony to provide. Whenever there has been a chance of Great Britain being involved in war with a naval Power, South Australia, in common with the other Australian Colonies, has hitherto taken alarm, and expense has been incurred on measures which would be inefficient if the event occurred against which they were intended to provide. The feeling of alarm ceasing on war no longer appearing imminent, the question of defence has then been dropped until the next occasion of a probability of war, and then another panic has ensued, when a Govern- ment has been again forced to spend money on taking steps which would be ineffective it the danger apprehended really occurred. And so the State, neither making up its mind to provide against attack or to take her chance and make no such provisions, oscillates between the two courses and spends money on "defences" which would not really provide for defence. I therefore urge that the State should make such provision as will really meet an einergency should it arise.
WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
(Signed)
Adelaide, December 4, 1877.
No. 255.
Administrator Way to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.—(Registered July 27.)
Government House, Adelaide, South Australia, (No. 26.)
June 12, 1878. Šir,
IN my despatch No. 25* on the subject of defences, I have mentioned that arrange- ments are being made for torpedo defences at Port Adelaide on a small scale, as part of the scheme of defence recommended by General Sir William Jervois.
2. Mr. Todd, C.M.G., an experienced electrician and Superintendent of Telegraphs, has been temporarily intrusted with the management of this branch of defence, and Lieutenant-Colonel Scratchley, R,E., bas been good enough to lend certain works on the subject for his use for a short time.
3. With a view of making this branch of our defences as complete as possible, I have
* No. 54.
143
the honour most respectfully to request that you will be pleased to move the War Office to supply this Government with a complete set of the confidential publications issued from the War Office with respect to torpedoes, including Colonel Stotberd's "Text-book," the Admiralty Torpedo Committee's "Report," and the "Report on the Oberon Experiments," and also with any future publications on the subject as issued.
4. I am satisfied that it is unnecessary to assure you that if this application is granted the publications will be treated as confidential, and used only by the officers intrusted with the charge of the torpedo defences.
I have, &c. (Signed) S. J. WAY.
No. 256.
Governor Sir H. Bulwer, K.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.
(Registered July 27.) (Secret.)
Government House, Maritzburg, Natal, Sir,
June 22, 1878. THE subject of your despatch, marked Secret, of the 20th March last,* has been under the consideration of this Government, and I have herewith the bonour to inclose, for information, copy of a Report by Colonel Pearson, the officer commanding the troops your in Natal, and Captain Hime, R.E., the Colonial Engineer, to whom, as a Sub-Committee of the Executive Council, the subject was referred, together with an extract from the Minutes of Council.
2. It will be seen from the Report that the only place on the Natal coast which, it is considered, is exposed to risk from, and needs defence against, foreign cruizers, is Port Natal, comprising the roadstead and the inner harbour, and the town of Durban. Owing to the bar, it is highly improbable that any cruizer could enter the inner harbour, or that any boats belonging to a cruizer could pass the bar, or, on account of the surf, effect a landing anywhere else on the beach; and, certainly, any ordinary attempt to land in this way could be easily and successfully resisted. But the town itself, together with the shipping in the inner harbour, might be exposed to injury from the fire of a cruizer which, lying at the outer anchorage, would still be within sufficient range to shell, over the beach, into the town, or some portion of it, and into the inner harbour. The shipping, also, lying at the outer anchorage, would be liable to be taken or destroyed by a cruizer.
3. The Report of the Committee recommends, accordingly, for the protection of the town and shipping, that a heavy battery should be erected on the bluff, and another on the sand-bills above the beach, with two 18-tou guns at each battery. The Executive Council, by whom this recommendation has been considered, is of opinion that two 9-ton guns will be sufficient.
4. The other recommendations made by the Committee are such as might be carried out at any time, should the occasions of war make it advisable.
I have, &c. (Signed) HENRY BULWER.
Inclosure 1 in No. 256.
Report of a Sub-Committee of the Executive Council on the Secretary of State's Secret Despatch relative to the Defence of the Colony.
Sub-Committee:
The Honourable the Commandant.
the Colonial Engineer.
"
THE only places on the Natal coast, the defence of which against foreign cruizers need be considered, are the harbour and roadstead of Port Natal and the town of Durban. On no other part of the coast is there any town situated, nor are there any inducements for an enemy to attempt a landing, which without the aid of surf boats would be attended with great danger.
2. It is highly improbable that any attempt would be made to effect a landing at the port owing to the necessity for having proper boats for crossing the bar or for landing
• No. 15.