CO885(3-4) — Page 241

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Inclosure 3.

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Inclosure 6.

Admiralty to Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, Bart., G.C.B.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Admiralty, March 14, 1878. IN reply to your letter of the 5th instant, I am commanded by my Lords Com- missioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Committee appointed to consider the question of defending Colonial ports and harbours in the event of a sudden emergency, that there are no torpedo-boats in store and available in the event of such boats being required for the defence of the Colonies.

My Lords will, however, be glad to render any assistance in procuring such boats from the firms who are engaged in manufacturing them for the navy, on the under- standing that all expenses are to be borne by the Colonies for which the boats may be required,

Admiralty to Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, Bart., G.C.B.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Admiralty, April 15, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 6th instant asking for any information that can be given to the Committee on Colonial Defences, as to the present state o fhe defences of the Island of Ascension, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you that Ascension is purely a naval station, at which stores of coal, provisions, and certain munitions of war, are maintained to meet the requirements of the vessels on the west coast of Africa, and is not regarded as a colony.

2. As regards the defences a few old smooth-bore guns mounted on defective carriages have been returned to England as useless, and two 64-pounders are now on the island. Four more 64-pounders are about to be sent out, which are to be mounted in the most suitable positions for defence.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT HALL.

Inclosure 4.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT HALL.

Inclosure 7.

Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Admiralty.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Committee Room, Whitehall, March 15, 1878.

I AM requested by the members of the Committee on Colonial Defence to submit, for the consideration of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that in giving atten- tion to the required defences of Hong Kong, the Committee would suggest the dispatch of two gun-boats of the "Comet" class, carrying 18-ton guns, to be stationed in that harbour..

It is probable that the Committee, when they come to investigate the requirements of some of the other Colonial ports, will consider it expedient to recommend similar arrangements.

Under these circumstances, I am requested by the Committee to submit their views, and to be informed whether their Lordships would be prepared to furnish and man these gun-boats as part of the system of Imperial Colonial defence, and if so, what number the Committee may count upon towards carrying out this part of the scheme of defence, as recommended by the Defence Committee.

I am further to ask whether, in the event of the employment of Whitehead torpedoes being recommended in conjunction with other means of defence, their Lordships would undertake to furnish such trained men as might be necessary. I have, &c. (Signed) ALEX. MILNE, President.

Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Admiralty.

(Secret and Confidential.) ?

Sir,

Committee Room, Whitehall, March 15, 1878.

I HAVE been requested by the members of the Committee on Colonial Defence to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that the present unprotected state of Simon's Bay, and the store of coal at that port, has engaged their special attention.

In case of any sudden hostilities, it appears to the Committee to be most desirable, pending the construction of the shore defences now ordered, if their Lordships could despatch one of the smaller iron-clad ships of Her Majesty's navy for the defence of the port.

The Committee deem such a measure of defence to be advisable, looking to the vast importance of this port as a coaling station for Her Majesty's ships.

The importance attached to it was deemed so great that the Defence Committee in their report of the 5th June, 1877, to which I beg to refer you, placed it first on the list of coaling stations needing defence.

I have, &c.

(Signed) ALEX. MILNE, President.

Inclosure 8.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Inclosure 5.

Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, Bart., G.O.B., to Admiralty.

Committee Room, Whitehall, April 6, 1878. I AM requested by the Colonial Defence Committee to ask whether the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will be so good as to afford the Committee any information respecting the present state of the defences of Ascension, with the number and description of guns now there; and further, whether their Lordships propose to maintain a depôt of coals and stores at the island for the use of Her Majesty's ships, or to ensure a supply to steamers calling there.

The Committee are also anxious to be informed as to the establishment which their Lordships deem it desirable to maintain at the island.

I have, &c.

(Signed) ALEX. MILNE, President.

(Confidential.)

Sir,

Admiralty to Admiral Sir Alexander Milne, Bart., G.C.B.

Admiralty, April 15, 1878.

I HAVE laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty your letters of the 15th ultimo, relative to the defences of Simon's Bay, and the harbour of Hong Kong.

2. In reply my Lords desire me to inform you that they are not at present in a position to return any decided answer to the questions raised by the Committee on Colonial Defence.

Their Lordships' decision would necessarily be dependent on the consideration which Her Majesty's Government may give to the general subject of the protection of Colonial ports, and whether such protection should be afforded wholly, or in part, by vessels of the navy stationed locally for that purpose, or whether it should be undertaken by the Colonies themselves.

3. My letter of the 13th ultimo to the Colonial Office, copy of which is inclosed, contains their Lordships' views as to the extent to which protection can be afforded to the Colonies by the squadrons now employed on the different foreign stations, and which could be reinforced according to circumstances in case of the outbreak of war.

4. Certain ports which may be termed military, having arsenals or dockyards, or

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