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3. The Committee is an informal one composed of officers designated by the War Office, the Admiralty, and the Colonel Office, and it is not desirable that public attention should be drawn to their proceedings.

4. If you are willing to give the Committee the benefit of your experience, Sir Michael Hicks Beach will be glad if you will be good enough to attend at its next meeting, which will be held at the Horse Guards, Whitehall, on Thursday next, at 2 P.M.

I am, &c.

(Signed) ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

No. 30.

Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., to Colonial Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

7, Westminster Chambers, S. W., April 3, 1878.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date,* on the subject of measures to be taken for the defence of Her Majesty's Colonial ports, and have to request that you will inform Sir Michael Hicks Beach that, in compliance with his desire, I will attend the Committee appointed to consider the question` to-morrow,

at 2 P.M.

I have, &c. (Signed) JULIUS VOGEL,

Agent-General for New Zealand.

No. 31.

The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir W. C. F. Robinson, K.C.M.G. (Telegraphic.) (Secret.)

Downing Street, April 8, 1878.

April 6-Ten 6-ton guns for temporary defence will be shipped in about four weeks.

Instructions for necessary works will be duly furnished. Meantime consult, as you propose, naval and military officers as to defensive measures at your immediate disposal.

No. 32.

Heligoland, March 31, 1878,

Governor Sir H. F. B. Maxse, K.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart. -(Received April 9.) (Confidential.) Sir,

WITH reference to a telegram in cypher which I had the honour to dispatch to you this day,† I beg respectfully to draw your attention to the fact that if the reserves are called out, by which proceeding, as I understand, the coast-guard officers and men are at once told off by the Admiralty to different vessels or stations, the effect of such orders here would be very disastrous, depriving this island as it would of its sole force, executive and defensive.

2. I should wish, Sir, more particularly to recall under what circumstances the present chief officer of coast-guard, Mr. Mains, who holds at the same time the office of stipendiary magistrate and wreck receiver, was by the kind support of the Secretary of State reappointed to this Colony, and I would beg, Sir, earnestly to request that Mr. Mains, who is so thoroughly acquainted with the island and its inhabitants, be not removed from Heligoland at the present moment.

3. This leads me again, Sir, to place before you the state of defence of this island. We have, thanks to the exertions of the Colonial Office, three 40-pounder and two 12-pounder Armstrongs.

A return of these guns, together with the ammunition, &c., appertaining to them, was forwarded lately, by instruction of the Secretary of State, for the information of the

↑ No. 22.

War Office.

⚫ No. 29.

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4. To work the above guns, however, although I do not doubt that we should obtain," in case of necessity, aid from the Heligoland Volunteer Coast-guard, and perhaps from some others, there are, practically speaking, only the seven men of the Imperial Coast-guard, and who, presume, will not be withdrawn from the island.

5. It is quite evident that the above force, and indeed armament, is not sufficient to ward off a serious attack, although it is, I trust, quite sufficient to make Her Majesty's small dominion in the North Sea respected against a coup de main by smaller vessels.

6. In the event of hostilities ensuing between Her Majesty and the Emperor of Russia, I would strongly advise that at least forty-five men be sent to this island in addition to the present force of Coast-guard.

7. I fancy that the most effective and economical plan would be to increase the Coast- guard here by the above number, and by such men as have nearly served their time, and are therefore perhaps rather elderly for sea service, and whé, for this or other reasons, are not sent on board the fleet. This number (exclusive of the chief boatman) would bring the force up to fifty, one of the mea stationed here having died lately and not having been as yet replaced. To this body of men I would propose to add a second chief' boatman, leaving the command of the whole, if permissable, under the present chief officer.

I can

8. I need hardly say, Sir, that as regards the above proposition I speak with all due humility, as I am not acquainted with the working of the Coast-guard Service. only here again bear testimony to their admirable conduct here, and to the kindness and extreme readiness to oblige which I bave always experienced at the hands of the district officers and inspecting commanders of the Hull district.

9. Under any circumstances I would respectfully urge that, in the event of hostilities. some such force should be sent here, for although it is sure that the Russian flag will hardly ever be seen at sea, still Her Majesty's vessels will probably have other things to do than to watch this rock, whilst it is far from the range of impossibility (with the neutral waters of the Eider, Elbe, and Weser close at hand for protection) that a Russian steamer escaping round the Kattegat might not attempt to land a couple of hundred men, backed by artillery probably four times as powerful as our own. We might possibly be able to stop such proceedings, and should at all events try, but I think, Sir, you will agree that the island ought to be made safer against such a contingency. I should also recommend, under such circumstances, that a couple of guns of larger calibre and a Gattling for the protection of the steps should be sent.

10. Presuming that a force of about fifty men is sent to the island, I beg to report that a most fortunate opportunity occurs for the purchase of a house, near the top of the steps leading from the lower town, and which could, at small expense, be converted into officers' quarters, two if necessary, and good accommodation for quite fifty men. The house is of brick and solid, and was sold in bankruptcy; it could now be obtained for the sum of 2501., whilst 1501. more would amply serve for the necessary alterations.

11. This occasion, I beg to suggest, Sir, ought at once to be seized upon, if intention exists of sending forces here. Lodgings, and particularly where cooking conve- niences are required, are difficult to obtain, and in such cases very expensive.

any

In addition to this, the house in question would never, owing to the bathing seasons, remain a loss on the hands of the Government after they had done with it.

Sir,

I have, &c.

(Signed)

H. F. B. MAXSE.

No. 33.

War Office to Colonial Office.

War Office, April 9, 1878. WITH reference to previous correspondence relative to the formation of a body of militia at Malta, I am directed by Secretary Colonel Stanley to transmit to you, to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, an extract from the annual Confidential Report of General Sir C. T. Van Straubenzee, dated Malta, 3rd January last, further recommending that his first proposal on this subject should now be adopted.

Colonel Stanley would suggest, for the consideration of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that this question should be referred to the Colonial Defence Committee now sitting.

I am, &c.

J. C. VIVIAN.

(593)

(Signed)

F

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:

CICO. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO