CO885(3-4) — Page 292

78

Inclosure in No. 162.

Report.

THE Committee having been requested to give a general view as to the proportion in which the expenditure on the temporary defences recommended by them should be divided in certain cases, having regard to the Imperial and local interests to be served in each case, have to report as follows:-

They desire to observe in the first instance, that while fully concurring in the view expressed by the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Colonial Military, Expenditure, which reported in 1861 that "the tendency of modern warfare is to strike blows at the heart of a hostile Power, and that it is, therefore, desirable to concentrate the troops required for the defence of the United Kingdom as much as possible, and to trust mainly to naval supremacy for securing against foreign aggression the distant dependencies of the Empire," they feel assured that the views frequently expressed by the Lords of the Admiralty are equally correct, and that naval ports should not be dependent on men-of-war to protect them, but rather that men-of-war expect to be protected by land batteries when they resort to the ports for refitting purposes.

This being the case with respect to naval ports, which are as it were the bases of operation for Her Majesty's fleet, it stands to reason that the purely commercial ports cannot look for special protection from ships to be stationed in them, but that other means must be provided for their security against the casual attack of a small squadron of two or three cruizers, their protection against attack by large squadrons or by a force organized for conquest being guaranteed by the naval supremacy of Great Britain.

It will be seen, therefore, that the fleets which are an exclusive charge upon Imperial funds afford a very large amount of protection to the distant possessions of the Crown against external attack, and to that extent relieve those possessions from all charge upon their finances.

The Committee also desire to call attention to the fact that the defences, the cost of which is under consideration, are not such as would be provided if better armaments were available, and there were ample time for the construction of permanent works; but have been recommended by the Committee in accordance with their instructions as the best means of meeting the most pressing requirements in the event of a sudden emergency.

They are to be armed with guns which, while they afford a fair defence, are not altogether such as would under other circumstances have been recommended for adoption, and, therefore, it may be expected that in some cases where great interests are involved it may be necessary to supplement them with guns of a more powerful nature to provide against attack in the event of Great Britain being engaged in a war with one or more maritime Powers which might possibly be able to keep a few powerful ships at sea.

It is not to be expected, however, so long as Great Britain maintains her naval supremacy, that hostile ships protected by heavy armour will be able to appear in the distant seas in which some of the Colonies are situated, and, therefore, it will not be required necessary to provide their defences with the same powerful armament which in those places such as the home ports, or Malta and Gibraltar, which are in more accessible seas.

This being the case, the permanent defence will be fairly provided for if the armament now being sent out to meet the present emergency be supplemented with a limited number guns of heavier calibre, and if the approved works, which will be solidly constructed, bu converted into works of a more permanent character.

of

The expense of these additions and alterations will be considerable, and will vary according to locality; but the Committee have thought it right to draw attention to the necessity of this further outlay beyond the sums now authorized, as any decision now arrived at cannot be regarded as a final settlement of the question.

The Committee obeerve also that the provision of the garrisons with their military establishments will constitute a very large proportion of the cost of the defences, and that it would be more satisfactory, if it were possible, if the manner in which they are to be furnished were decided, and an estimate made of their cost, so that they might have before them a summary of the total expenditure requisite for the defence of each place.

Subject to the foregoing observations the Committee proceed to give a general view, as requested, of the proportion in which they consider the expenditure now authorized may be divided between Imperial and Colonial funds.

79

Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope.

The Cape Colony-or more strictly speaking the Table Mountain Peninsula-was wreated by Great Britain from a foreign Power with the view of its harbours affording a basis for the cruizers of Her Majesty's fleet in protecting British trade with the East, then carried on entirely by sailing ships.

Such a basis, however, is even more needed now since the introduction of steam, on account of the necessity of providing coal for Her Majesty's ships and the means of repairing the delicate machinery upon which their motive power depends. The importance to Great Britain of the possession of the Cape will be evident by the consideration of the trade between Great Britain and South Africa, which amounts to nearly 10,000,000. a-year, and to the value of the commercial interest involved in trade between Great Britain and the East, which to the extent of 83,000,0001. a-year (being nearly one-seventh of the total foreign trade of Great Britain) passes round the Cape, notwithstanding that trade to the further value of 68,250,000l. has a precarious passage through the Suez Canal, almost entirely in steam-ships; which, if the Canal were closed, would require to pass round the Cape and be coaled thereat.

Simon's Bay, which affords a secure anchorage at all seasons of the and

year, the shores of which the Admiralty have an establishment, is solely used for Her Majesty's upon ships, and is on this account regarded by Sir Michael Hicks Beach as an Imperial station, the defence of which falls exclusively on Imperial funds. But the Committee are informed that the principal supply of coals for Her Majesty's ships is stored in Table Bay, and only sent round in small quantities as required to Simon's Bay. Moreover, although Simon's Bay can be protected by works from an attack by land, it is so close to Table Bay that it Cape Town should fall an attack upon it by land, based upon the resources of Cape Town, would be of a much more serious nature than an attack made only by a force which might have landed in its vicinity, and vice versa, although not to the same extent, Simon's Bay might be made use of as a base for the attack of Cape Town.

As stated, therefore, by the Committee, the defence of the one is closely connected with that of the other. Considering the advantage to Simon's Bay of making Table Bay secure against attack, it is reasonable that the Imperial Government should contribute in some measure towards the defence of the latter; but as Cape Town is a flourishing city of considerable commercial importance, it is only just that the principal part of its defence should fall upou the resources of the Colony.

We are therefore of opinion, having regard to the fact that the entire charge of the defence of Simon's Bay, with its garrison of 1,000 infantry and 200 artillery, will fall upon the Imperial Government, that a fair arrangement would be for the latter to take upon itself in addition the charge for the armament and subinarine mines, together amounting to 16,6001., and that the Colony should pay for the construction of the works, estimated at 17,6007., and should maintain them in effective repair until permanent defences are provided. Also that the Colony should be bound to keep up a sufficient local force to man the works and protect them against a landing, for which purpose, until organized, the Imperial Govern- ment should lend without charge to the Colony such officers as may be necessary to assist in their training.

In making this recommendation, the Committee think it necessary to direct attention to the necessity, as stated in their Report, under the peculiar conditions in which these two ports are related to each other, that the local and regular forces should in time of war be placed under one command, which might properly form part of the arrangement under consideration.

With regard to the cost of the gun-boat, 13,000, which the Committee recommended should be sent to Table Bay, they have to observe that when the batteries shall have been provided a fair amount of security will be given to the city and property within it, which, however, may still be exposed to distant fire from ships beyond the range of the guns in the batteries. It was for protection against such fire, and also to aid in preventing a landing in the vicinity of Table Bay, that the Committee thought it desirable that a gun-boat should be sent. The Committee did not make any recommendation as to the manner in which the gun-boat should be manued and worked; and, pending a decision on this point, which is one that will require the careful consideration of Her Majesty's Government, the power of the Colony to man and equip a vessel of war being uncertain, the Committee think it desirable that the question of the apportionment of the cost between the Imperial and Colonial Governments should be deferred.

(Signed)

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

T?「།: 「 ; །། mmimmi MC.O. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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