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(Secret and Confidential.)

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No. 94.

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street, May 13, 1878. Sir,

WITH reference to the letter from this Office of the 26th ultimo,* on the subject of the recommendations of the Colonial Defence Committee for the defence of New Zealand, I am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, the accompanying paraphrase of a telegram from the Governor of New Zealand in reply to the telegram which was communicated to you in that. letter.

The refusal of the Government of New Zealand to avail themselves, in common with the other Australasian Colonies, of the assistance of Sir W. Jervois in considering the subject of the defences of the Colony, and their omission to make earlier provision for those defences, make it especially important that the armament of which they have now agreed to undertake the expense should be sent out with the least possible delay; and I am to request that you will move the Secretary of State for War to give immediate directious with that object.

Sir M. Hicks Beach will be glad to be informed at what date these guns may be expected to be ready for shipment, in order that he may prepare the Governor for their arrival.

I am, &c.

No. 95.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE,

Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Committee Room, Whitehall, May 14, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 29th ultimo† to the Under Secretary of State for War, in which you state that Sir Michael Hicks Beach concurs in Mr. Secretary Stanley's suggestion that the question relating to the formation of a local force at Malta should be referred to the Colonial Defence Committee, I am requested by the Committee to forward the inclosed report, which embodies their views upon this subject.

I have, &c. (Signed)

ALEX. MILNE, President.

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The Committee observe that the garrison ordinarily maintained in Malta comprises brigade of artillery, about 1,000 strong, with about 350 Maltese Fencible Artillery; two companies and a submarine mining detachment of Royal Engineers, about 225 men; and five battalions of infantry, about 3,500 strong,

To bring this garrison up to the war strength would require about 650 artillery, and

the British army upon

if from 4,000 to 5,000 infantry, which would be a serious drain involved in war.

The Committee observe that the Governor considers that there may be difficulties in the way of raising the force in the manner indicated by him, but considering the rate of wages prevalent ainong the natives, it would seem very desirable that if possible a force should be raised and trained to supplement the British troops; but whether that force should be of the nature of a militia, or of a reserve similar to that now maintained in England, the men of which, after passing through the Maltese Fencibles, should be retained for army service by a small reserve pay, or whether any other plan may be adopted, is a matter which they consider could be best dealt with by the military authorities.

They desire to point out, however, that it would be a great advantage to have a number of acclimatized natives always available for duty in time of war, as they would probably in the hot seasou conduce greatly to the efficiency of the regular forces by relieving them of a portion of their duties, and thus reducing the number of men out of the ranks from sickness; also, by reason of the position being an island, it may be expected that these reserve men, or militia, whichever form the organization might take, would always be available in time of emergency.

By mixing them up with the regular troops, the Committee think that no risk of the security of this most important station, upon which the supremacy of Her Majesty's fleet in the Mediterranean so greatly depends, would be incurred, and that it is only consistent with the duties of the islanders as a constituent part of the Empire to contribute in their measure to its general defence. Moreover, in the event of war, they apprehend that, in consequence of the island not producing food sufficient for the support of its inhabitants, the provisioning of a large proportion of them would of necessity fall upon the Government, whether they contribute to the defence of the fortress or not.

In conclusion, the Committee desire to refer to a Memorandum by His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-chief, of the 23rd February last, in which, remarking upon the Report of the Inspector-General of Fortifications, he says:-

"The raising of an auxiliary.local force is of immense importance. I have before this communicated with the Governor, Sir Charles van Straubenzee, on the subject, and concur with him and you in your recommendations, and would gladly see them carried out by the Government. The Malta Fencible Regiment would be an excellent nucleus upon which this auxiliary force might be formed."

(Signed)

ALEX. MILNE. HENRY BARKLY. J. L. A. SIMMONS.

Inclosure in No. 95.

Report.

THE Committee having had under consideration the reference made to them in accordance with your letter of the 29th April to the War Office, relative to the formation of a body of militia in the Island of Malta, have examined the correspondence on the subject, and have also had before them a Memorandum on the defences of Malta, dated 22nd February last, made by the Inspector-General of Fortifications, after a visit of inspection last winter, in which he also treats of this question.

They find that the Governor has repeatedly urged upon the consideration of the War Department the advisability of forming a local force to supplement the garrison of British troops for the defence of the Island, for the following reasons:-

The garrison requisite for its proper defence, when the works now in course of con struction shall have been completed, is from 10,000 to 12,000 men, of whom at least 2,000 should be artillerymen; and the question the Governor raises for consideration is whether England, in the event of war, will be able to spare 12,000 or even 10,000 men for this garrison? Foreseeing the great difficulty that would be experienced in sparing such a force, the Governor considers that a local militia should be looked to for assistance, and accordingly prepared, in 1873, a scheme, into the merits of which, however, the Committee are not in a position to enter.

+ No. 56.

* No. 52.

No. 96.

Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.

(Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

Downing Street, May 14, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Colonial Defence Committee, the substance of two Confidential telegrams received from the Governor of Newfoundland in reply to the inquiry proposed by your Committee whether his Government will raise a local force, and pay for works and armaments.

2. I am to request that the Committee will reconsider the subject of the defence of Newfoundland, as their Report appears to have been framed under a misapprehension as to the means of defence already existing. I am also to request to be informed, with reference to the Governor's application for the gift of certain armaments, whether, in the opinion of the Committee, there is any ground upon which it would be proper to class St. John's among the ports whose defence is in a special degree a question of Imperial

interest.

• Nos. 80 and 81.

(Signed)

I am, &c.

R. H. MEADE.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

13 CO. 885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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