PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
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| PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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obtain a carefully considered Report, more in detail, with an approximate estimate of the cost of the various works requisite to carry into complete effect the proposals of the General Officer commanding, including the conversion of the batteries lately erected at Cape Town and Simon's Bay into permanent works, with adaquate armaments; the erection of the requisite defences at Hout's Bay, the construction of railway, roads, signal stations, telegraphs, &c.; as also of any additional barracks for housing the troops, on the hypothesis that a force of Imperial troops, consisting of one battalion of infantry and one garrison battery of artillery, to be brought up to a strength of 1,000 and 200 men respectively in time of war, will be available to aid in the defence. He would also desire to be informed whether the Colonial Government will be prepared, in the event of a combined system of defence being agreed upon, to take the necessary steps to raise, equip, and maintain at all times in a state of efficiency a local force, the strength and constitution of which shall be decided in concurrence with Her Majesty's Government, such as shall be adequate. together with Her Majesty's troops for the defence of the Peninsula and the two towns, and to place it, in the event of war, under the command of the officer commanding Her Majesty's forces in South Africa.
Commodore Sullivan has recommended, and the General Officer commanding concurs in the recommendation, that 4 "Lightning" torpedo boats and 16 Whitehead torpedoes (new pattern) should be provided for the defence of Simon's and Table Bays. The Colonia! Defence Committee have also recommended that a gun-boat of the "Comet " class, mounting a 10-inch gun, should be provided to aid in the defence of Table Bay. These recommendations would also have to be considered, especially with reference to the concluding paragraphs of the Committee's Reports of the 7th and 26th June last; Nos. 162 and 202 in the printed correspondence.
As the Imperial and Colonial Governments are both deeply interested in the satis- factory solution of this question, I am to suggest the transmission of a complete copy of the Proceedings of the Colonial Defence Committee, so far as they relate to the defences of Cape Town and Simon's Bay, to the Governor, with a view to his obtaining the assistance Should Sir of his Government in drawing up the Report and Estimates referred to. Michael Hicks Beach concur in this proposal, it would be desirable to form a local Committee, under the directions of the Governor, composed of officers named by the General Officer commanding and the Colonial Government.
It would also appear desirable that the Commodore, or some officer named by him, should be associated with the Committec, so that the Report and Estimates might be as complete as possible, and include all the local requirements, naval as well as military, for the establishment of a sound and practical system of defence for the peninsula.
Upon the receipt of these Reports and Estimates, which should be as complete as possible, Her Majesty's Government would be in a position to decide on the measures to be taken for the permanent defence of these important positions, and to consider, with the Colonial Government, the apportionment of the expenditure to be incurred in carrying them into effect.
Sir,
I have, &c. (Signed) EUSTACE E. CECIL.
Inclosure 1 in No. 19.
Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, July 23, 1878. HIS Excellency the Governor of the Cape Colony having called upon me to state my views on the defence of certain ports in the Colony, I have the honour to forward, for your information, copies of the Memoranda submitted by me to his Excellency Sir Bartle Frere, which he authorizes me to state meet with his entire approval.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
To the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for War.
FRED. THESIGER, Lieutenant-General, Commanding.
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Inclosure 2 in No. 19.
Memorandum.
Defence of Table Bay.
IN considering what permanent defences are required for the protection of Cape Town on the sea-side, and what should be the nature of that defence, it is necessary to set clearly before us what damage, in the present undefended state of Table Bay, an enemy's Cruizer could inflict, and then to provide means for preventing it.
The nearest vulnerable points which present themselves to an enterprising enemy are the docks, and the shipping lying in those docks.
These points may be said to be at present entirely undefended, as the batteries which are at present in existence can only protect them on the north-east side. An enemy could bring his ship close in on the north-west side, and act against these vulnerable points in any way that he might consider most advantageous.
A battery on the position called
Kyk in de Pot" is, therefore, indispensable, and
should I, consider, be commenced without delay.
As this battery can receive no support from those which lie further to the south and east, and would have to bear the whole burden of protecting the north-west sea approach, I consider that Colonel Hassard, in recommending five heavy guns as a minimum for its ar:nament, has not under-estimated its requirements.
The are of fire of at least three of the guns of this battery should extend to a line drawn due north-west, so ato prevent the enemy's ship from taking up such a position
7 as would enable her to enfilade the shipping lying in the docks.
I am not sufficiently acquainted with the relative power of modern guns as to be able to express an opinion as to the nature of the armament which should be provided for this battery.
Looking, however, to its importance, and to its isolated position, I consider it would be false economy to place in it guns that are not fully equal to the requirements of the situation. The battery should, I consider, from the first, be built and armed in such a nanner as will enable it, when completed, at once to perform the full part it is intended to play in the defence of Table Bay.
The batteries to the east of the docks-Fort Amsterdam, Imhoff, Fort Knokke, and Craig's Tower-can all, in a greater or less degree, fulfil the double purpose of protecting the docks, as well as the town, on the north-east side of the bay.
Fort Amsterdam, however, is the only one that can perform both these duties in an adequate manner.,
From its position it can cross its fire to the north and north-east with the "Kyk in de Pot" battery, and can range further seaward in those directions than any of the other batteries.
Its are of fire also, for the protection of Cape Town itself, is superior to the Imhoff, and equal to Fort Knokke and Craig's Tower.
I would recommend, therefore, that an armament of at least four heavy guns be pro- vided for Fort Amsterdam, and that this work be considered as next in importance to that of the "Kyk in de Pot" battery.
With these two batteries fully armed and adequately manned, I consider that the two vulnerable points of Table Bay, viz., the docks and the town, would be adequately pro- tected on the sea face.
I would not recommend any alteration of armament in the Imhoff Battery. From its position it can afford the least protection of all the batteries to the town, and is of no value whatever as a protection to the docks.
There is but little difference in the relative value of the two positions of Fort Knokke and Craig's Tower.
They are neither of them, in my opinion, essential to the defence of Table Bay, soy long as the attack is confined to bombardment, and is not combined with an attempt to land troops.
Should it be considered advisable to take this latter contingency into consideration at once, I would then recommend that Fort Knokke be placed in a serviceable condition.
It is better placed for assisting in the defence of the town than either Imhoff or Craig's Tower; its arc of fire eastward commands all the beach to the westward of the Salt River, and it would be able to afford protection to Fort Amsterdam should any attempt be made to storm that battery.