חד
PUBLIC
RECORD
OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Third Report, paragrapli 150.
Third Report, pp. 95 and 36.
Thind Report, paragraph 141.
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quantities of coal ordinarily kept in them, and particularly of the accumulation of any extraordinary supply," especially in ports which are protected by works of defence or are capable of easy defence by extemporized means.
2. The supply of coal to belligerents in the ports of neutral States is regulated by the laws of those States subject only to the condition that a neutral State must give equal facilities to all belligerents. The rules relating to the supply of coal which accompany every declaration of neutrality by Her Majesty's Government, if universally adopted, would not prevent a belligerent ship from obtaining a full supply of coal in a neutral port, should such port be at a long tlistance from any port of her own country. It is, moreover, difficult to enforce the rules; and it is doubtful whether the ships of a strong naval Power would submit to their operations being crippled for want of coal by the regulations of a small State in a distant port.
3. Coal stored in undefended British ports would be at the mercy of any armed hostile cruizer. "This points to the necessity, when war is apprehended, of reducing to a minimum the stores of coal kept in any port not provided with adequate means for its protection. There are cases in which it may be necessary that the coal, if undefended, should be destroyed, or be removed from the wharves and kept at a distance. Some inconvenience may be caused to our commercial traffic by a rigid enforcement of this rule, but the remedy for such inconvenience is to be found in the adoption during peace of defensive measures at the most important ports, and in restricting to these ports the supply of coal to merchant- ships during war."
4. The supply from colliers at sea can only be prevented by constant vigilance at foreign ports, followed by prompt action on the part of the fleet.
COALING STATIONS.
The necessity of securing supplies of coal for our own ships leads to the consideration of the defence of coaling-stations and colonial ports. Upon this point the Commission summarize their opinions as follows: "No addition to the number and fighting power of your Majesty's ships will make up for the want of coaling-stations, which to be of use must be able to defend themselves. We desire to impress upon your Majesty's Government the paramount impor- tance to the British Empire of secure coaling-stations. The agency of steam has revolutionized naval operations as much as it has altered the ships themselves. The change affects ships of war even in a greater degree than merchant-ships. In a man-of-war, the limited capacity for carrying coal, taken in connection with the high rate of consumption, necessarily limits the range of effective action. Without secure and well placed conling-stations your Majesty's ships, however numerous and powerful, will be unable to protect trade, or perhaps even to reach distant parts of the Empire."
The list of Admiralty coaling-stations abroad shows how dependent are Her Majesty's ships upon supplies of coal, even in time of peace. Of the 47 stations now in use, 26 are in foreign territory, and could not be counted upon in time of war.
Of the 21 stations in British territory, 4 only are defended, 5 are partially and inadequately defended, and the remainder are undefended. The Commission consider that two classes of coaling-stations are required:
--
1. Refitting stations and harbours of refuge in which coal is stored in large quantities. These must be strong enough to resist such attacks as may reasonably be expected, so that Her Majesty's ships may look with the full assurance of certainty to finding in them, at all times, the means of repair and all necessary supplies; while merchant-ships will find a refuge from pursuit and the means of coaling in security. The defence of these ports will involve a heavy expenditure of money and large garrisons; their number therefore must be as limited as possible.
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deemed it expedient to leave the selection of such secondary stations to the Admiralty, assuming that their number would not exceed six, and confined their recommendations to the stations of the first class.
The Imperial fortresses, Malta, Gibraltar, Bermuda, and Halifax, though Third Report, originally included within the scope of the inquiry, were subsequently withdrawn by Paragraph 58. Her Majesty's Government. The Commission therefore, though they had taken a good deal of evidence respecting these places, dismissed them from further con- sideration with the hope that "Her Majesty's Government would, without loss of time, take every measure to satisfy themselves as to the condition of these four most important fortresses in respect of works, armaments, garrisons, and supplies."
In addition to these a number of places were brought to the notice of the Commission, and recommended by the naval authorities as suitable positions for coling-stations. The Commission, after considering them all in detail, selected the following as indispensable, and recommended their defence on an adequate
scale :-
Cape Town and Simon's Bay. Sierra Leone.
Port Louis, Mauritius. Aden.
Colombo, Ceylon.
Singapore. Hong Kong.
Port Royal, Jamaica. Port Castries, St. Lucia.
The Cape of Good Hope.
The Cape of Good Hope is, in the opinion of the Commission, the most First Report, important of all the stations required for the support of Her Majesty's ships. paragraphs 4-32. British trade to the value of upwards of 90,000,000l. passes annually round the Cape, and this amount, large as it is, will, assuming the volume of trade to be undiminished, be increased by upwards of 65,000,0001. in the not improbable contingency of the Mediterranean and Suez Canal being closed to British ships. In this case, moreover, the Cape route will be the only line of communication between the United Kingdom and the East, and will have to be protected in the interests of India and of other British possessions. The necessary protection can only be given by Her Majesty's ships based upon the Cape, where the means of supporting a fleet must be provided and defended.
The Cape Peninsula, 32 miles in length from north to south, contains only three good landing places: Table Bay, Simon's Bay, and Hout's Bay. The Peninsula, which is rugged and mountainous, is joined to the mainland by a low isthmus 13 miles wide. Upon this isthmus a railway runs for 7 miles from Cape Town towards Simon's Bay, 22 miles distant.
Simon's Bay, on the eastern side of the Peninsula, has long been used as the station for Her Majesty's ships. It is not a harbour, but the roadstead affords good anchorage, ships can almost always coal there, and repairs not requiring the use of a dock can be executed from the resources of the naval yard. Simon's Bay, if retained as the station for Her Majesty's ships, must be defended, but as the defence of Cape Town is, in any case, a necessity, the Commission considered whether the naval establishment might not be transferred to Table Bay, so as to avoid the necessity of defending two places. After examining several of the best naval and other authorities, they came to the conclusion that the harbour works at Cape Town will not supersede the larger space and the superior natural advantages of Simon's Bay as an anchorage, and that Simon's Bay must be considered, under existing circumstances, as indispensable to Her Majesty's navy. The necessary works and armaments are estimated to cost 116,617, and the work being of an Imperial character, will be a charge upon Imperial funds.
Table Bay, on the northern side of the peninsula, though much exposed to weather, has become an important resort of merchant-ships, owing to the increasing 2. Stations at which coal is, and always must be, kept for the navy, but for
commerce of Cape Town. Much has been done of late to improve the port. A which it is unnecessary to provide an extensive system of defence. Where the
break-water has been constructed, extensive harbour works are in progress, and a question is simply one of maintaining a stock of coal in security, the defence of a
large graving dock has recently been completed. The Colonial Government propose harbour is not always a necessity; the object may be attained by keeping the coal
to expend 350,000. on these works, and Cape Town will shortly possess appliances inland and guarding it by a small redoubt beyond the range of artillery fire from
for coaling and refitting the largest commercial ships. These appliances will also ships. Such a work would not require a heavy armament, could probably be
be available for all classes of ships of war that are likely to visit the Cape, and will constructed for 30,000%, and could be held by a garrison of 150 men.
The chart go far to make up for the want of dock accommodation at Simon's Bay. The illustrating the recommendations of the Commission indicates positions in which importance of Cape Town, as the capital of the Colony, as a commercial centre and such stations might be established with advantage. The Commission, however,
as a strategical position on a great trade route, makes it necessary that Table Bay
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