PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference :-
8855 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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itself, which would paralyze the Government of the Colony, and might entail the destruction of the docks and of the valuable property and stores collected within the peninsula,
In order to keep this garrison as small as is consistent with the duties it will have to perform, we are of opinion that the utmost advantage should be taken of fortifications.
We trust that after the completion of the necessary coast batteries and land works, the force of 4000 men suggested in the War Office Memorandum would suffice for the defence of the Peninsula, towards which the colonial forces as now organized may be considered as capable of • contributing 1,000, leaving 3,000 to be supplied by Imperial forces.
As regards armaments, we are of opinion that the medium guns mounted in the works lately erected, should be retained as being useful against unarmoured ships and boats; but as both Simon's Bay and Table Bay are very open, and the positions of the batteries are not very salient with reference to the objects they have to protect, and the resisting power, also, of ships' armour is being greatly improved, the principal guns should be of a heavier class, and of the most improved type, so as to keep ships at as great a distance as practicable. The Inspector-General of Fortifications recommends guns of 10-4-in. calibre, weighing 25 tons.
It was also suggested to us that a gun-boat of the "Comet" class should be stationed in Table Bay, and torpedo-launches provided both there and at Simon's Bay. We were informed that submarine mines could not be relied upon in the exposed positions in which they would have to be placed for the protection of the two bays, although their partial employment may add to
the risk of attack.
The works and garrisons recommended may appear extensive; but we desire to point out that if your Majesty's ships on this station are to be of any use for the protection of British interests they must be free to act at sea, and able to rely with the full assurance of certainty, upon a secure coaling, repairing and refitting station. If the coals and stores were destroyed in the absence of the fleet, the power of Great Britain in these seas would be compromised; her communications with the East would be interrupted, and possibly her possession of India would be endangered.
These considerations are of such importance that we are of opinion that no expenditure ought to stand in the way of placing the Cape Peninsula as speedily as possible in a state of security against any attack which could be reasonably apprehended, independently of any direct assistance it may get from Her Majesty's navy.
It is desirable that no time should be lost in completing the proposed works; and as they will be of a permanent character, we consider that, following the precedent of the home fortifications, instead of placing the capital charge on the ordinary Estimates of the year, it would be more properly provided for by a loan repayable within a reasonable term.
2. THE MAINTENANCE OF TROOPS IN ISOLATED AND DISTANT POSITIONS SUCH AS BRITISH HONDURAS.
This is a question on which the War Office Eave been anxious to obtain our opinion, but to which we have delayed replying until we have had time to consider generally the disposition of your Majesty's troops in the Colonies.
It is evident that small detachments in isolated positions, without defences or artillery, afford no protection whatever against attack which may be brought against them from seaward; their presence, on the contrary, by inviting attack, only tends to court disaster.
From these considerations it results that, in the event of war with a Maritime Power, it would become imperatively necessary to withdraw the small detachments which, mainly for the maintenance of peace and order within their borders, are now kept in some of the less important Colonies.
We, however, observe that the Colonies in which these detachments are stationed having been led to depend upon them for securing internal peace and order, their sudden withdrawal in the absence of any organized means in substitution for them would be attended with serious risks. It is very desirable, therefore, that the Colonies so situated should take prompt measures to organize their own police,
There might be some difficulty at first in organizing trustworthy forces of local police, and the Colonies long accustomed to the presence of your Majesty's troops, might be extremely adverse to giving up this element of security. The withdrawal of the troops would not, however, prevent assistance being sent in an extreme case. Telegraphic and steam communications would facilitate this. Time should, of course, be given to the Colonies to organize their police, and it would not be unreasonable to give them some assistance in the first instance. We consider that, if these suggestions are adopted, an intimation should be given to the Colonies to which this principle shall be held to apply that within a specified time-say, two years the troops will be withdrawn, and they will then have to rely for the maintenance of internal order upon their own
resources.
British Honduras is a case in point. Honduras absorbs 250 men, which small force is intended to guard against the attacks of Indians. There are only three Settlements containing European inhabitants in the Colony, viz., Orange Walk, Corosal, and Belize, whose total populations number respectively 750, 1,500, and 5,000. The inhabitants of the interior are composed of various nationalities, Spaniards, Indians, Caribs, and others, and are of a migratory character. There are few European inhabitants or American settlers. Logwood and mahogany
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cutting forme the chiet occupation of this varied population, and as year by year they penetrate further into the country in search of timber, disputes, aggravated by the uncertainty of the boundary, arise between the wood-cutters and the Indians; and attacks are even made by the latter, from time to time, upon the advanced Settlements.
The country is covered with dense bush, impenetrable by troops; there are no practicable roads, and the only available means of communication is by water. The result is, that this small body of troops are unable to protect the Colony, and can have little or no action beyond the ground occupied by their own barracks.
Considerable energy has been displayed by the Colony in organizing a force of scouts, and companies of volunteers in the towns. An annual military contribution of 5,000l. is payable to the Home Goverument, and was paid until lately. It has now, owing to the present financial position of the Colony, fallen into arrear, and in February 1880 a debt had already accrued of 7,3331.
Taking all the circumstances into consideration, your Commissioners are of opinion that the best arrangement would be:-
(1.) That immediate notice should be given of the intention to withdraw the troops in British Honduras, after a definite time-say, two years.
(2.) That, in the meantime, the Colony should organize a eufficient force to provide for its security.
(3.) That with the view of casing the burdens of the Colony during the change, the military contribution should at once cease, and the existing debt be cancelled.
(4.) That any help other than pecuniary, which could be given towards organizing the police and volunteer forces should be afforded by the Government.
(5.) That steps should be taken in the interim to settle the boundary question, which appears
to lie at the root of the difficulties in British Honduras.
3. ARMAMENTS.
We pass now to some of the very important and pressing questions arising out of recent and impending changes in the construction of heavy ordnance, and the course which in such circum- stances it is desirable for the Colonies to take towards providing themselves with armaments.
The evidence given before us by Mr. G. Rendel, Sir Frederick Campbell, and Admiral Herbert in October 1880 showed that a great change in the construction of ordnance, which practically doubles the power of artillery, has now been accomplished; but experience had not been sufficiently matured at that time to admit of patterns of the new guns, and of their carriages, being definitely decided upon.
This change has been rendered possible by recent improvements in the manufacture of gunpowder. Larger charges under the new conditions of manufacture, can now be used without danger to the gun; but the powder, being slower in burning, requires for the full development of its power guns of greater length than have hitherto been made; the increased bulk of the charges has also led to an enlargement of the bore at the seat of the charge, technically known as chambering. These are the three principle elements in the recent improvements. The change has been gradually accomplished during the last few years; and although it may be anticipated that progress and further improvements will continue to be made, there is from the evidence no such prospect of rapid further development as would justify postponement in the manufacture of ordnance of the new type.
The principles of the change liave been accepted abroad as well as here, and we are indeed to some extent behind foreign Powers. Manufacturers abroad are making guns of the new type, and the Elswick firm are also turning them out for foreign Governments and for the Australian Colonies.
The principle of breech-loading, which, owing to the great length of the new guns, is coming largely into use, is independent and separable from the three conditions mentioned above, its adoption in preference to loading at the muzzle being a matter for consideration determinable by the varying conditions of position and mounting, and by the special circumstances and requirements of each case, such, for instance, as the difficulty of having in distant places skilled mechanics to keep the breech-loading guns in good order and repair.
The 100-ton guns made at Elswick for the Italian Government were mounted and fired on board the "Duilio" in the spring of 1880; and though there are four such guns, which were purchased by your Majesty's Government in 1878, and which are in process of being mounted at Malta and Gibraltar, there are no guns in position at the present moment to compare with these in power.
The gun factory at Woolwich was idle in October 1880. Work had been suspended, and it had been decided to do nothing pending the approval of patterns of the new guns, embodying all the latest improvements. Sir F. Campbell, though unable at that time to say how soon the new designs would be worked out, thought it probable that within eighteen months patterns would be approved by the War Office and sealed, and stated that in the meantime experimental guns were being proceeded with, and that fourteen 6-inch guns had been ordered for trial on board ship. We have been informed that since then more of these guns have been ordered, but none of a heavier nature.
Guns of the new type can be obtained without difficulty from the trade. Mr. Rendel states that Elswick can turn out 100 tons of guns of all sizes per week, the delivery to commence after two months, but not attaining its maximum rate till five or six months after the date of order.
(350)
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