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consid red that with the addition of submarine mines, which play an important part in the scheme of defence, they would render Hobart Town secure against the attacks of an unarmoured cruizer. If it were considered advisable, owing to the strategical importance of the position, commanding as it docs the main lines of intercolonial trade, to make Hobart Town a secure base for the opera- tions of Her Majesty's ficct, works on a much more extensive scale, of which the Colony could not Up to the end of 1879 justly be called upon to bear the expense, would have to be undertaken, about 5,0007. had been expended on these works, and considerable progress has been made since that time, but Colonel Scratchley reports, in September, 1881, that it has been necessary to stop the works at Kangaroo Bluff, the vote for the construction of the batteries having proved insufficient. It was decided, among other modifications of the original plau, to substitute for two of the proposed 64-pounders two 8-inch 11-ton muzzle-loading rifled guns of the new pattern, which were accordingly ordered from Messrs. Armstrong in June, 1881.
Launceston, containing a population of 10,000, is situated upon the River Tamar 40 miles from its mouth. The navigation being tortuous and difficult, Sir William Jervois considered that a single battery, mounting two 64-pounders, and a few electro contact torpedoes, would effectually bar the passage.
Admitting that the best position for the battery would be at the mouth of the river, where, in addition to Launceston, it would protect other places on its banks, he nevertheless recommended that it should be placed near the town for the sake of the facility of providing a garrison which proximity to the town would afford. But it has since been proposed to adopt the former position, and Sir William Jervois has signified his concurrence in this change of plaus The battery, which it is intended to arm with two 25-pounders of the new pattern instead of the 64-pounders originally proposed, has not yet been commenced, and, according to Colonel Scratchley's last Report, there would still appear to be doubts as to the best position for the defences, the result being that "it is considered desirable to defer the construction of defence works in the River Tamar for the present." Sir William Jervois estimated the cost of the works and armaments which he recommended at 21,000. Colonel Scratchley, who shortly afterwards visited Tasmania, recommended certain modifications and additions, which brought up the estimate to 32,500 The Legislature passed an Act voting 25,000, but, as stated above, only about one-fifth of that sum had been expended when Sir William Jervois reported in 1879. Some progress has been made since that date, and the works at Hobart Town are now partly completed.
The forces which Sir William Jervois recommended the Colony to maintain comprised a body of permanent artillery 20 strong, and volunteer artillery and infantry to the number in all of 600. He estimated the annual expense of these troops at 8,000l. These recommendations have been partly carried out, and a volunteer force, consisting of artillery and infantry, has been organized, under the command of a Lieutenant-Colonel of the regular army. The volunteers are raised under Acts passed in 1878. The officers receive a yearly capitation grant of 51., and non-commissioned officers and men of 22 108. Arms, ammunition, and accoutrements are provided at the public expense.
General Sir Henry Lefroy, the Acting Governor, writing to the Secretary of State in Decem- ber, 1880, reported that there was abundant zeal on the part of the volunteer officers and men. The attendance at drill is good, but almost all the drills take place by gaslight, because the men cannot be spared during the day. The movement is supported by many influential persons, and Sir Henry Lefroy does not doubt its permanence.
The privates are chiefly drawn from the artizan class; there are, also, a few old soldiers in the ranks. Physically, the men are quite on a par with regular troops at home. The artillery An excellent artillery instructor has lately been service appears to attract the best men.
Sir Henry Lefroy imported, and the men under his tuition have made remarkable progress. regrets that they could not be employed in mounting the 7-ton guns, an instructive and strictly professional duty, because their services could not be obtained by daylight. He witnessed the artillery practice, and said it would have done no discredit to Shoeburyness.
A full discussion lately took place between the Governor and military authorities on one side, and the Colonial Ministers on the other, one result of which was that a partial reorganization of the volunteer forces on an improved basis was agreed upon, and will shortly be put in force.
Sir F. A. Weld, when Governor, and the Commandant were of opinion that Tasmania, like the other Colonies, would greatly benefit by the appointment of a superior officer of the regular army to inspect and control the military organization of the Colonies as a whole.
Western Australia.
The total population of this Colony is less than 30,000, and there are no large towns upon its sea-board that would be likely to tempt attack in time of war. But King George's Sound, which is situated on its southern shore, has been long regarded as a place of importance, owing to the excellence of its harbour and its position near the south-west corner of Australia. It is distant from Adelaide 1,100 miles, from the Cape 4,200, from Aden 5,000, and from Ceylon 3,300. Until lately it has been the first port in Australia at which outward, and the last at which homeward, mail-steamers called; but the power which ships have acquired of steaming longer distances without coaling has led to the abandonment of King George's Sound by the Peninsular and Oriental Company. The Peninsular and Oriental Company made an offer of their property, consisting of six acres of land, with wharf-buildings,, lighters, and all appliances necessary for
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coaling large ships, to the Imperial Government, but the Admiralty, after full consideration' decided that it was not desirable to acquire the coaling establishment for the use of the fleet. The Colonial Government likewise expressed its unwillingness to avail itself of the opportunity of purchase. The whole correspondence having been referred to us, we replied on the 2nd April, 1880, that, although we had not at that time specially considered the subject, the general tendency of the evidence we had received confirmed the views of the Admiralty.
A full Report upon Western Australia, with proposals for the defence of King George's Sound, was drawn up by Colonel Scratchley in October, 1881.
The provision of a garrison at so isolated a spot, and in so thinly populated a Colony, has always been regarded as the greatest difficulty in the defence of King George's Sound." But Colonel Scratchley, differing from other authorities, considers that it would be within the means of the Colony to provide from its own resources a garrison sufficient to man the works which he proposes.
New Zealand.
"New Zealand," says Colonel Scratchley in his Report, "stands, as regards attack, somewhat in a different position from the Australian Colonies. In Australia there are few harbours of importance which are not the centres of large populations, and consequently the resources in men and appliances for defence are to be found where they are most wanted. In New Zealand, on the contrary, the population (414,412) is scattered over a wide area, and there are several large harbours possessing equal claims to be especially protected; there are also many Settle- ments on the coast which are exposed to attack, but which it is not possible, without throwing too heavy a burden on the resources of the Colony, to include in a general scheme of defence." He proceeds to point out that. owing to the extent of the sea-board, it would be equally impossible to defend the Colony by naval means alone, and comes to the conclusion that the works of defence should be confined to four or five of the principal places whose importance warrants` the adoption of special measures for their protection.
He further reports that: "Hitherto little provision of any kind has been made for the defence of New Zealand against foreign aggression. Projects for the protection of its harbours have been brought forward at different times, and in 1871, Sir W. Jervois submitted proposals for their Volunteers defence by means of batterics and torpedoes, but no action was taken in the matter. have been enrolled throughout the country, but no attempt has been made to give them a special organization for defensive purposes. In 1878, a Committee which assembled in London to con- sider the defences of the Colonies made certain recommendations, which agreed with Sir W. Jervois' suggestions. Acting upon the advice of this Committee, the Colonial Government has procured from England a number of 7-in. and 64-pounder rifled guns, with a complete equipment for mounting them, and the necessary supplies of ammunition."
The existing forces, consisting of cavalry, artillery, engineer, rifle, and naval volunteers, are enrolled chiefly for the maintenance of internal order, and have done good service during native wars; but their organization might be improved and economy effected. Colonel Scratchley believes that an organization somewhat after the model of that of South Australia would be best adapted for New Zealand. He inspected bodies of volunteers at different places and was on the whole favourably impressed. He was "satisfied that it lay in the power of the officers, by a closer application to their duties, to remedy most of the shortcomings that he noticed." The great wants, as in the other Australian Colonies, are opportunities of daylight drill, and a yearly period of continuous training. The number of corps is 118, of which several comprise fewer than 40, and not more than thirteen exceed 100 officers and men. The administration and command of so large a number of small corps is difficult, and it is desirable, for the sake of economy, discipline, and efficiency, that the number should be reduced. The remedy which Colonel Scratchley proposes: the consolidation, wherever practicable, of the corps of infantry into small battalions of four companies each, with one set of rules, one field officer in command, and one list for the promotion of officers. A step in the right direction, he says, has already been taken by the recent con- solidation of the batteries of artillery into one regiment for the whole Colony. Colonel Scratchley also advocates uniformity of clothing; recommends that there should be one rate of capitation allowance for all arms; and mentions other matters connected with the forces which, in his opinion, requiro looking into. He states that many of his suggestions are supported, not only by other inspecting officers, but also by the volunteer officers themselves; and the final conclusion at which he arrives is, that a searching inquiry into the whole subject is required.
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Besides the volunteers, thirty-nine companies of cadets, numbering 2,255 boys are maintained at a cost of several thousands of pounds per annum. Colonel Scratchley, while recognising the value of cadet corps, suggests improvements in the system.
The principal measures recommended by Colonel Scratchley comprise the defence of the four principal harbours-Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers-by batterics, to be armed with ordnance now in the Colony, and to be supplemented by torpedo-boats, which would have to be purchased. Considering it necessary to provide small permanent forces for the batteries, he proposed to train the armed constabulary of the Colony-an existing force of a very superior character as artillery, and, in time of war, to station a small number of them permanently at each place. A nucleus of trained men would thus be provided, which might be supplemented with auxiliary forces organised on a system analogous to that of the naval reserve in Victoria, under which the men receive retaining fees, and are compelled to attend drill. Ho also proposed