PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TIC.O.
8855 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
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Progress of British shipping.
Coal supply.
Coaling stations.
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for much of what appears to be foreign trade is either British property, or security for British advances. In a war with a maritime power, British interests would be exposed to risk to the extent of two-thirds of the sea-borne trade of the world.
It
27. The progress of British shipping-especially of steam shipping-has been very great in recent years.
In 1880 the merchant navy of the British Empire equalled in tonnage all the other navies of the world put together, and exceeded them in value and power, owing to the greater proportion of steam ships. This is still true. be stated broadly that the sea-going registered tonnage of the world was in 1885-6 close may indeed upon 6 million tons; and of this total, 4 inillion tons-more than two-thirds-belong to the British Empire. Great improvements have been made in steam ships, both in increasing speed, and in diminishing the consumption of fuel. One ton of coal will now
do twice as much work as the same quantity did twenty years ago. A first-class steamer could reach any part of the world without coaling on the way; indeed, such a ship, if filled with coal, could steam for 100 days continuously at an average speed of 11 knots an hour. In practice, the amount of space in a ship that can be devoted to coal is com- paratively small, and depends mainly upon the conditions of trade with respect to freight, so that the best steam ships cannot altogether dispense with intermediate supplies of coal, while frequent coaling is a necessity to the slower classes of vessels.
28. The number of steamers having an ocean speed of 14 knots and upwards is small in proportion, though annually increasing. These vessels, most of which are owned in Great Britain, would be of great value in war; they could outstrip any ship of war, and would require no protection on the high seas. The great bulk of trade is carried on in ships of speeds varying from 8 to 12 knots which, in time of war, would be exposed to serious danger. In the present circumstances of trade, merchant ships could not be adequately protected by convoy, even if ships of war could be spared for the purpose. They must rely, therefore, for security upon such general protection as the navy may be able to afford.
29. The question of coal supply in relation to Imperial requirements, and also to those of possible enemies has been carefully considered.
An enemy could obtain coal :-
(a.) In his own ports, or in those of an ally,
(b.) In the ports of a neutral state.
(e.) By seizing it in British ports or in captured trading vessels.
(d.) By supply from colliers at sea sent on to pre-arranged rendezvous.
As to (a.) France and other foreign powers have made great and costly preparations
for supporting the operations of their fleets in distant seas.
As to (b.) The supply of coals 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 distance 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.
As to (c.) Coal stored in undefended British ports would be at the armed hostile cruizer.
mercy of
any
As to (d.) 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.
30. The necessity of having secure and well-defended coaling stations as the basis of all naval action for the protection of the Imperial commerce and interest is apparent.
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 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 involves a heavy expenditure of money and large garrisons; their number therefore must be as limited as possible.
2. Stations at which coal is, and always must be kept for the navy, but for which it is unnecessary to provide an extensive system of defence. Where the question is simply one of maintaining a stock of coal in security, the defence of a harbour is not always a necessity; the object may be attained by keeping the coal inland
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and guarding it by a small redoubt beyond the range of artillery fire from ships.
31. In addition to the Imperial fortresses Malta, Gibraltar, Bermuda, and Halifax, it would seem necessary to defend on an adequate scale, Cape Town and Simon's Bay, St. Helena, Sierra Leone, Port Louis (Mauritius), Aden, Colombo (Ceylon), Singapore, Hong Kong, Port Royal (Jamaica), Port Castries (St. Lucia), and Esquimalt, in addition to minor coaling stations.
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32. Since the issue of the report of the Royal Commission modifications of various Improve- kinds have been adopted. Military progress, especially in relation to armaments, has ments in made great strides, and the guns which are being provided under the existing scheme armaments. are more powerful and accurate than those with which the Commission had to deal. cannot be hoped that finality has in any sense been reached, but the works which are now in process of construction are such as will lend themselves to revision and re- armament at comparatively small expense in the future; while the magazines and other accessories of the defence may fairly be regarded as little likely to be effected by future advances in the power of the attack.
33. While the defence of British commerce and possessions abroad must be based on Defence of the action of a strong navy vigorously handled, and by means of a system of protected property. coaling stations rendered free to act all over the world, there remains the passive defence of exposed property locally accumulated, as well as the temporary shelter of the slower class of merchant steamers and sailing vessels. In the case of many of the coaling stations the measures of defence now in progress do not merely provide protection for naval stores and coal supply. A great wealth of private property both on shore and afloat will at the same time receive protection, while the defended ports which are being created will provide shelter for slow mercantile steamers and sailing ships at the outset. of war, before the action of Her Majesty's Navy has had time to make itself felt. The scale of defence adopted may thus be extended beyond the requirements of a mere pro- tected coal depôt, and the defences of coaling stations constitute in some cases an insurance of Colonial property.
34. On these grounds the Imperial Government has invited certain Colonies where there Contribu- are mixed Imperial and Colonial interests, to share the cost of the necessary defences, tions from Hong Kong, Singapore, Mauritius, and Ceylon have agreed to the principle of a Colonies.
a joint advantage, and are contributing in the aggregate 276,820/. towards defences. You will find in some tables which I propose to place in your bands, statements of Imperial and Colonial expenditure under various beads, showing what has been done in connexion with the defence of these Colonies during recent years. It will be observed that under the scheme in progress the Imperial and Colonial charges will amount to 882,1507. (not including a sum of nearly 200,000l. for submarine mine defence), and 276,8207. respectively. [Table B.] These amounts do not include a sum of 82,3121. incurred on works and mines in accordance with certain recommendations of the Colonial Defence Committee of 1878, given in Table A., besides further sums on works expended between 1879 and 1884, which are not given in detail. Table C. shows that the total Imperial expenditure on armaments and stores, exclusive of mines, provided for Colonial stations between 1878 and 1884, amounts to 102,500/., and the total provision up to date for these services amounts to 482,4747. On the other hand, the self-governing Australian Colonies have from an early period shown great earnestness in defending their own ports, and have agreed in principle to combine for the defence of other ports with which their interests are directly connected. At the present moment the defences of Port Philip and Port Jackson are, having regard to their geographical position, among the strongest in the world..
35. The heavy expenditure incurred up to date by the great responsible government Moderate Colonies is given in a separate statement, so far as replies have been yet received to local defence a telegram and circular despatch sent in January last. It will be seen that the Cape of Good Hope has spent on war expenditure a sum of 1,434,276., and the conditions of the Colony have been such that their military expenditure has been mainly incurred ou personnel, which has hitherto prevented them from undertaking any considerable or permanent works of defence. Victoria has spent no less than 1,681,1107. on her total military defences, and contemplates a further expenditure of 436,0007. As I have already pointed out, the Colony is to be congratulated on the complete security which its principal port and city will attain by its wise and liberal policy. When the returns are complete I have little doubt that the other responsible government Colonies will show that in proportion to their wealth and requirements, they have not neglected their responsibility in the matter of defence.
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