CO885(3-4) — Page 278

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How far these statements may be true it is impossible to say, but they bear the stamp of probability.

F

Should they be truc, should war be declared, and should the alleged objects of the "Cimbria's" crew and cargo be carried into effect, the result would be that at the outset our merchant vessels and the unprotected coasts of the maritime provinces and the Gulf of St. Lawrence would suffer. An attack on the harbour of St. John, from which Ellsworth is many miles distant, would be probable, to destroy the shipping and place the town under contribution.

At St. John there is, fortunately, an excellent battery at Fort Dufferin, which commands the approach to the harbour by both channels, armed with five 64-pounder rifled guns, and two smooth-bore 32-pounders.

There is a very good body of militia artillery at St. John, capable of working these guns, but I recommend they should be authorized to assemble under pay for considerable drill and practice at once.

Should Russian men-of-war land troops to turn this battery and to attack the city, there are several battalions of militia infantry that could be speedily concentrated to dispute such a manœuvre. These battalions are in very fair order, and the staff of the district are active, intelligent officers.

Nova Scotia having the protection of Her Majesty's troops and the squadron of the Royal Navy on the Halifax station, is able to take care of itself. There is a good battery at Pictou.

Digby and the Bay of Annopolis, however, entering from the Bay of Fundy, will require attention-there are six 32-pounder guns there, but I am informed they are not mounted. There is also a garrison battery of artillerymen there, but my belief is they have had very little training. I should wish for authority to have Digby made more defensible, as it commands the narrow entrance to Annopolis basin.

Prince Edward Island has little or no defence of any kind. There are about 1,600 infantry and artillery militia in small detachments through the island, but they have a poor military spirit among these quiet islanders.

There is a field battery of six 6-pounder guns at Charlottetown, but no guns of position worth mentioning.

In the St. Lawrence, the only battery is at the entrance of Gaspé basin, and this is composed of only two 24-pounders, which were mounted more for practice than defence. There is a battery of artillerymen there fairly reported of.

From there to Quebec there is nothing in the St. Lawrence to stop a hostile cruizer. The flourishing sea ports in the Bay of Chaleurs, in Mirainichi Bay, at Richibucto, Shediac, &c., are totally defenceless, and could be destroyed without any means of resistance.

At Quebec, of course, any ship or number of ships, short of iron-clads, would, if bardy enough to come within range of the guns of the citadel, be destroyed.

Besides the smooth-bore guus mounted on the works there are several 7-inch breach- loading 110-pounders on the salients, and some of the 64-pounder rifled-guns obtained last year from England are also mounted.

These should have been all in position long ago, but the platforms are not finished. I request the attention of the Department of Public Works may be called to this very important service being speedily executed, as well as the completion of the concrete plat- forms on the salients of the three forts at Levis, to mount the 7-inch guns all ready for the I earnestly request attention to this in the view purpose. This is also emergent.

of hostilities, which, if they occur, would evidently be immediate on this coast.

To man the extensive works at Quebec we have the excellent "B" battery, of about 160 men, thoroughly-trained artillerymen, also a new garrison battery of 42 men, recently eurolled, but little drilled.

A few days ago authority was given to enrol a battery of 42 men at Levis; but in view of manning the lines and extensive works of this important fortress and its outlying forts, which would be of the utmost consequence in case of war, there should not be less than 300 artillerymen, well trained, in Quebec.

There are two good infantry battalions, a troop of cavalry, and a battery of field artillery in the city.

if serious combined more, any

But there would be ample need of them all, and much attempt were made from the river as well as by land.

The squadron of Her Majesty's ships on the North American station have the West Indies and Bermudas as well to watch. I am not aware of the number of ships, probably about twelve or fourteen, nor of their class or capacity for speed, excepting the flag ship,

55

which, of course, could not compete in speed with the light-armed steamers which an enemy would usę.

We possess guns in Canada qualified for sea service in light vessels. Field guns could not be employed on a ship's decks, and the heavy 64-pounder rifled guns are not applicable to mount on board lightly-built vessels.

The mail steamers both of the New York and Quebec lines would probably be armed in England.

any

Under these circumstances, may I presume to recommend that it may be brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Government that, should war unhappily be necessary, before declaration thereof is made, a squadron of swift and lightly-armed steamers may occupy the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy, where immediate damage could be inflicted by enemy's ships on the outbreak of war, if no preparation be made beforehand to resist them by vessels of a similar character.

Large supplies of torpedoes should be obtained also for the various harbours along our extended coast, and persons qualified to give instruction in their use should be

I have, &c.

sent out.

(Signed) ED. SELBY SMYTH, Lieutenant-General. The Hon, the Minister of Militia and Defence.

P.S.-I have so frequently brought to notice the totally unprotected state of the harbours of Victoria, and the entrance to Esquimalt in Vancouver Island, as well as of the immeasurably important coal mines of Nanaimo, that I need only once more urge very earnestly that guns now lying in Esquimalt dockyard and obsolete for naval service, in fact, kept back from being sent to England partly at my request two years ago, may be at length handed over and mounted on McAulay's Point, to command the entrance to both harbours. A new battery of artillerymen has been authorized to be enrolled at Victoria.

(Confidential.)

Sir,

No. 125.

Treasury to Colonial Office,"

E. S. S.

Treasury Chambers, May 22, 1878. IN reply to Mr. Meade's letter of the 30th ultimo,* I am directed by the Lords Com. missioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to request that you will inform the Secretary of State that my Lords authorize the expenditure proposed for the defence of—

Bridgetown (Barbados)

Kingston and Port Royal (Jamaica)

Total..

£

11,200 39,600

50,800

subject to further consideration as to the apportionment of the expense between the Imperial and Colonial Governments.

The immediate expenditure will, my Lords understand, be met out of Army and Navy Votes, and the requisite communication made from the Colonial Office to the War Office and Admiralty.

My Lords infer from Mr. Meade's letter of the 30th ultimo to the War Office and Adiniralty (of which a copy is inclosed in the letter under reply), that Sir Michael Hicks Beach does not submit to my Lords any immediate proposal requiring their special assent for Heligoland, St. Helena, and Sierra Leone.

(Confidential.)

Sir,

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. R. W. LINGEN.

No. 126.

Treasury to Colonial Office.

Treasury Chambers, May 22, 1878.

IN reply to Mr. Meade's letter of the 18th instant, † requesting sanction for the expen- diture required for works as well as that for guns, for the purpose of Colonial defences, I

J

• No. 60.

[593]

+ No. 110.

تنبيه

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

TILITI

سيليسيا

Reference :-

C.O. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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