PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Iz lī
C.O.
Reference :-
8855 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE,
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
LONDON
Third Report, paragraph 156,
Third Report, paragraph 159.
Third Report,
paragraphs 153 and 154.
Second Report,
- paragraplis 24–103,
Second Report, paragraph 107.
Kreond Report, paragraphs 108-122.
14
Governments, it is not improbable, considering the vast extent of the Empire, that many useful precautions may be overlooked, and many steps conducive to public safety postponed to so late a period as to be difficult, if not impossible, of adoption in the event of a sudden outbreak of maritime war.
"We have not thought it our duty to recommend the construction of any docks or similar works. We have observed, in the course of our inquiry, that private Companies are constructing, or are contemplating the construction of commercial docks at several important colonial ports, which might, at small increase of cost, be made available for the largest ships in your Majesty's Navy. It may not be out of place to call the attention of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to these cases, in some of which an Imperial contribution on certain conditions might secure valuable accommodation for your Majesty's ships.
"In the course of our inquiry it has come to our notice that at many places in your Majesty's dominions there are obsolete fortifications and ordnance. Defences of this nature may be useful for some purposes, as, for instance, against a native rising; but they are useless against modern ships of war, while themselves inviting attack. We think that these cases should be carefully considered, with a view to the removal of the guns and the demolition of the works, where they have ceased to serve any useful purpose."
The Commission sum up their conclusions on the defence of coaling-stations in the following words :-
Not until the important coaling-stations shall have been made secure can the strength of the British navy be adequately exerted at sea. this has been accomplished, no other Power will possess equal facilities for keeping When, however, fleets at sea, or equally good lines of communications. Leaving out of consideration the route to the East by the Suez Canal, as liable to interruption, Gibraltar and Sierra Leone, with such assistance as can be derived from St. Helena, will, when defended, put your Majesty's fleet in the best position for protecting the line of trade from the United Kingdom to the Cape of Good Hope. Beyond the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Singapore, Aden, and the large Australian ports, in con- junction with Colombo and the Indian ports, will support your Majesty's ships, will make the Indian Ocean difficult of access to hostile ships, and will so far secure British trade and British possessions within that ocean. Hong Kong will enable the fleet to act with effect in the China Sea, and will do much to secure our China trade. Additional security will be given north of Hong Kong, if it be found practicable to give effect to our recommendations as to Port Hamilton. Jamaica and St. Lucia will enable your Majesty's ships to guard the West Indian Colonies and their trade, while Bermuda and Halifax will support them in protecting trade in the North Atlantic. The Australian Colonies-growing rapidly in wealth and population are year by year, by their own efforts, becoming more able to resist hostile attack, and to assist in the common defence of the Empire."
AUSTRALIA.
The great Australian ports may be conveniently, dealt with separately, inasmuch as their defence has been undertaken, and in great measure accomplished by the Colonies themselves. Detailed descriptions will be found in the second Report of the progress that has been made in the construction and armament of fortifica- tions, and in the organization of troops in these Colonies. alive to the dangers to which they may be exposed, and are resolved to take timely The Australians are and effectual steps to provide for the security of their seaboard and commerce. New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania have undertaken the defence of their principal harbours at a total cost of 672,000, and have raised armed forces numbering in all 8,500 men. has remained inactive. This is much to be regretted; and considering the risk New Zealand alone to commerce arising out of the coal and supplies which might be obtained by an enemy in the ports of New Zealand, it is most desirable that no more time should be lost in providing for their defence.
With regard to works, the Colonies have shown every disposition to adopt the latest improvements in fortifications and armaments; indeed, they are in some respects in advance of the mother country, and have set an example which might be followed with advantage in other parts of the Empire.
The land forces, though fairly efficient, are capable of much improvement
15
The Colonies have acted independently, and have adopted systems of organization differing in every detail, not excepting arms and equipments. There can be no reason why a system suitable to one of the Colonies should not succeed in the others, and although, owing to the great distances which separate the principal towns, no practical inconvenience appears to have resulted from the want of uniformity, yet, considering the rapidity with which means of communication arc increasing, and the possibility that in the future there may be occasion for combined operations, this want might prove extremely prejudicial. Committee, appointed in 1881 to inquire into the military defences of New South A local Wales, considered the subject of organization in great detail, and made recom- mendations which the Commission "trust to see adopted with any slight modifi- cations which may be found necessary for local reasons by the other Australian Colonies."
The following are Commission:---
the principal measures recommended by the
1. The maintenance at each fortified place of a small body of fully-trained artillerymen, permanently enrolled.
2. The formation of reserves of men who have passed through the permanent forces, as an economical means of increasing in times of emergency the number of efficient gunners.
3. The maintenance of volunteer militia forces of limited numbers, comprising artillery, engineers, and infantry, sufficiently trained, and paid for the time devoted to training, supplemented by unpaid volunteers on the model of South
Australia.
principle of the Military College in Canada.
4. The establishment of a central school of instruction for officers on the
5. The establishment of a manufactory of gunpowder and of the smaller descriptions of warlike stores, including small arm ammunition, or, as an alterna- tive, the establishment at some central spot of a depôt, which would answer the double purpose of a store for the Colonial forces and a reserve for the navy. 6. The maintenance in each Colony of an efficient torpedo corps.
To
7. The appointment of an Imperial officer of rank and distinction to inspect the local forces and military establishments, to act as military adviser to the Colonial Governments, and in time of war to, assume the supreme command. this last recommendation the Commission attach great importance. They consider that the appointment of such an officer would be useful in many ways, would tend to increase the efficiency of the forces, and would go far towards bringing about granted for limited periods, during which the officers so employed should be paid that uniformity which it is so desirable to attain. They also advise that the services of such military or naval officers as the Colonies may desire to obtain should be by the Colonies.
There are certain other measures, such as the defence of King George's Sound, which the Commission think the Australian Colonies would do well to consider the expediency of carrying out in common. expected to undertake the defence of this important harbour, which, if left Western Australia alone can hardly be
naval defence of Australian ports; and the naval defence of Australia generally, and paragraphs 129-128, undefended, will be the weak point in the Australian system of defence.
Passing now to naval defence, the Commission draw a distinction between the Second Report, of Australian commerce on the high seas. undertaken by the Colonies themselves, on the ground that it is impossible to have given their advice as to the naval measures which the Colonies ought to discriminate between the fixed and floating defences of a harbour. The Admiralty They think that the first ought to be
adopt in order to supplement their land defences, and the Commission think it "most desirable, with reference to this opinion, that no time should be lost in advising the Colonies with a view to their coming to an immediate decision." The opinion that the main defence of Adelaide and its port, as well as of the extensive naval defence of South Australia is a case by itself. The Commission are of seaboard of the Colony, should be a powerful vessel of war; further, that such ship should be procured without delay: but, even in this case, they are unable to to the cost. support the request of the colonists that the Imperial Government should contribute naval forces. Wales, Victoria was the only Colony that had availed itself of the powers given by The Commission think it important that the Colonies should maintain
Until Her Majesty's ship "Wolverene and exercising a naval force. The Commission "suggest that when any of the the Colonial Naval Defence Act, and possessed the means of properly organizing was presented to New South
[250]
F
a
"
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference :-
8855 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
15
and have adopted systems of organization arms and equipments. There can be no f the Colonies should not succeed in the at distances which separate the principal cars to have resulted from the want of with which means of communication are the future there may be occasion for prove extremely prejudicial. A local into the military defences of New South zation in great detail, and made recom- t to see adopted with any slight modifi- or local reasons by the other Australian incipal measures recommended by the I place of a small body of fully-trained who have passed through the ng in times of emergency the number of permanent
ia forces of limited numbers, comprising ently trained, and paid for the time paid volunteers on the model of South
chool of instruction for officers on the ory of gunpowder and of the smaller all arm ammunition, or, as an alterna-
t of a depôt, which would answer the orces and a reserve for the navy.
an efficient torpedo corps.
icer of rank and distinction to inspect ts, to act as military adviser to the
to assume the supreme command. To tach great importance. They consider 'd be useful in many ways, would tend would go far towards bringing about tain. They also advise that the services
lonies may desire to obtain should be he officers so employed should be paid
s the defence of King George's Sound, Colonies would do well to consider the 'estern Australia alone can hardly be is important harbour, which, if left tralian system of defence.
ission draw a distinction between the Second Report,
val defence of Australia generally, and paragraph 123–128, They think that the first ought to be
the ground that it is impossible to fences of a harbour. The Admiralty asures which the Colonies ought to ences, and the Commission think it ion, that no time should be lost in ing to an immediate decision." The by itself. The Commission are of d its port, as well as of the extensive I vessel of war; further, that such even in this case, they are unable to perial Government should contribute 't that the Colonies should maintain erene was presented to New South vailed itself of the powers given by I the means of properly organizing In "suggest that when any of the
F