*.2
No. 3.
Colonial Office to Admiralty.
(Confidential.)
Downing Street, February 21, 1878. Šir,
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a confidential letter which has been addressed by this Department to the War Office, suggesting that an inquiry should be held and a report be made as to the defences of the more important Colonial ports, together with a copy of the reply+ stating that the Secretary of State for War has nominated General Sir J. Lintorn A. Simmons, the Inspector-General of Fortifications, to represent the War Office on the Committee of Officers appointed to hold the inquiry.
2. Sir Michael Hicks Beach trusts that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will be willing to give their assistance in the examination of this important question, and he will be glad to be informed of the name of the naval officer whom the Lords Com. missioners may select to act in conjunction with General Sir J. L. A. Simmons, and the officer who may be nominated to represent this Department on the Committee of Inquiry.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
No. 4.
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
3
Committee about to be appointed by Her Majesty's Government to consider and report on questions connected with the defence of Colonial ports.
In reply I beg that Sir Michael Hicks Beach may he made aware that it will give me much pleasure to serve on such a Committee, and that I purpose attending at the Colonial Office on Monday afternoon, in order to receive instructions as to the precise object and scope of the proposed inquiry.
(Confidential.)
I have, &c. (Signed) HENRY BARKLY.
No. 7.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Sir,
Downing Street, March 9, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 19th ultimo,* I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to request that you will move Mr. Secretary Hardy, if he sees no objection, to instruct Mr. H. Jekyll, R.E., to act as Secretary to the Departmental Committee on the Defences of the Colonies.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
No. 8.
ROBERT G. W, HERBERT.
Admiralty to Colonial Office.
(Confidential.)
Admiralty, February 28, 1878. Sir,
WITH reference to your letter of the 21st instant,‡ respecting the appointment of a Committee to inquire and report as to the defences of the more important Colonial ports, and stating that the Secretary of State for the Colonies would be glad to be informed whether the Admiralty would be willing to give their assistance in the examination of this important question, and would select a Naval Officer to act in conjunction with General J. Lintora A. Simmons, Inspector-General of Fortifications, who has been nominated by the War Office, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that my Lords concur in the proposal that such an inquiry should be held, and that they have nominated Admiral Sir Alexander Milne to represent this Department on the Committee appointed.
(Confidential.) Sir,
1 am, &c. (Signed)
ROBERT HALL.
No. 5.
Colonial Office to Sir Henry Barkly, G.C.M.G.
Downing Street, March 1, 1878.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform you that Her Majesty's Government are about to appoint a Committee to consider and report upon some important questions connected with the defence of Colonial ports, and will be much gratified to learn that you are able and willing to be associated with General Sir Lintorn Simmons, K.C.B., on behalf of the War Office, and Admiral Sir A. Milne, G.C.B., on behalf of the Admiralty, for this purpose.
1 am to add that it is proposed that the Committee should meet at the beginning of next week.
I am, &c.
(Confidential.) Sir,
(Signed)
No. 6.
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
Sir Henry Barkly, G.C.M.G., to Colonial Office.
Bath, March 2, 1878.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your letter of yesterday,§ informing me of the desire of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that I should act as a member of a
No. 5. + No. 2.
✰ No. 3.
• No. 1.
Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.
(Strictly Confidential.)
Sir,
Committee Room, Horse Guards, March 12, 1878.
I HAVE been requested, as the President of the Committee appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies "to inquire and report as to the defences of the more important Colonial ports," to acquaint you, for the information of the Right Honourable Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that the Committee met on the 5th, 8th, 9th, and 12th instant, and after taking a general view of the probable armament, &c., which would be required for the more important Colonial ports, had inquiry made from the War Department what number of guns were disposable, as also torpedoes, for Colonial service.
At the same time a letter was addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty, requesting that the Committee might be informed if the Adiniralty could furnish torpedo boats or launches for Colonial requirements, but no answer has as yet been received.
On the 9th instant, Major-General Campbell, C.B., Director of Artillery and Stores, attended the meeting of the Committee, and stated that the only spare guns in store and available for the defences of the Colonial ports are from 35 to 40 guns of 6 tons, mounted on naval carriages and slides; and that there are no spare guns of 9, 12, 18, or 25 tons weight, and none in store; and that all 7-inch breech-loading guns, ten of which are in position in two of the Colonies, are appropriated for the land defences of our existing fortifications. These also, being only shell guns, are only suitable for use against unarmoured ships of war.
The Committee are further informed that there are no submarine mining or torpedo stores at present available for Colonial service; but that a supply is in course of being procured under the vote of credit, from which it is proposed to allot sufficient for three stations abroad, the remainder being reserved for home defences, which are very inade- quately supplied; also that the existing supply of gun-cotton is insufficient for any additional submarine mining defences which may be approved.
The Committee are also informed that there are no Whitehead torpedoes available, and even that, at their present rate of production, a year will elapse before the present demands can be supplied for the use of Her Majesty's fleet.
Major-General Campbell also stated that the Royal Gun Factory would require a year to make 100 61 or 7-4on guns, at an expense of 6001. each; that the carriages for these guns would have to be supplied by contract (the Royal Carriage Factory being unable to supply them), at a cost of about 2501. each; and that 100 rounds of ammunition would cost 170.; making the total cost for 100 7-ton guns 102,000).
Similarly, the cost of an 18-ton gun, with its carriage complete and 100 rounds of ammunition, would be 2,2191.
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• No. 2.
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