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be able to state what are the prospects of getting volunteers to offer for drill under competent instructors.

March 15, 1858.

(Signed) H. B. E. FRERE,

Governor and High Commissioner.

Attached.

There are ten 6-ton guns at Simon's Town belonging to the military over which the Commodore has no control.

Will the Lieutenant-General Commanding the Forces give instructions that two of these guns shall be transferred to Cape Town for the defence of Table Bay?

(Signed) J. GORDON SPRIGG, Colonial Governor. King William's Town, March 16, 1878.

The Commanding Royal Engineer will be good enough to place himself in com- munication with the officials mentioned and in the sense indicated, and report for the information of the Lieutenant-General Commanding.

(Signed) W. BELLAIRS, Deputy Adjutant-General.

King William's Town, March 16, 1878.

Deputy Adjutant-General,

A meeting was held this day at the Colonial Office; present, the Honourable Mr. Sprigg, Commodore Sullivan, R.N., Colonel Hassard, R.E., Colonel Dean Pitt, Lieutenant Baxter, D.O.R.E., W.D., also Lieutenant Seymour, C.R.A., W.D., to consider the Memorandum of his Excellency the Governor, and it was considered that it was not advisable to incur any expense for temporary defences of Table Bay, no guns being available for the works. It was not considered advisable to bring the guns from Simon's Town, as they were sent there for a special purpose, and will be shortly mounted.

Mr. Sprigg expressed a wish that the permanent defence of Table Bay should be considered by a Committee with a view to the Imperial Government being addressed upon the subject.

His Excellency the Lieutenant-General's orders will be awaited prior to any action being taken.

Sir,

April 3, 1878.

(Signed) F. C. HASSARD, Colonel,

Commanding Royal Engineer, South Africa.

Inclosure 4 in No. 189.

Chief Resident Engineer's Office, Cape Town, April 30, 1878.

WITH reference to my letter of the 16th instant, transmitting copy of a corre spondence respecting the provision of defences for Table Bay, I have the honour to forward herewith copies of the continuation of the correspondence in question, which has subse- quently taken place, and which also includes a report from myself to his Excellency the Governor, with plan, as called for by Minute dated 23rd April, 1878.

I have, &c.

(Signed) F. C. HASSARD, Colonel,

Commanding Royal Engineer, South Africa.

The Inspector-General of Fortifications, War Office, London.

Inclosure 5 in No. 189.

Defence of Table Bay.

THE Committee, of which the Honourable Mr. Sprigg, Colonial Secretary, was Chairman, and members, Commodore Sullivan, C.B., R.N., A.D.C., Colonel Hassard, C.B., C.R.E., Colonel Dean Pitt, C.B., Lieutenant Baxter, D.O.R.E., Western District,

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and Lieutenant Seymour, C.R.A., having assembled and reported that it was not advisable to incur any expense upon temporary defences, Mr. Sprigg expressed a wish that the permanent defence of Table Bay should be considered, and your Excellency having requested me to give my opinion upon this subject, I have the honour to report that Ĭ concur generally in the reports of Major-General Westmacott, which embraced the occupa- tion of certain positions with heavily armed works from north to south of the bay, sup- ported by works on the breakwater and "Lumps," or block-ships, to prevent the destruc- tion by distant fire of the shipping and docks, at present the only guns being 68-pounder 8-inch shell guns and 32-pounders, which would be useless against armour-plated vessels.

It will be necessary that the heaviest guns procurable, from 18 to 38-ton guns, should be placed in the Kyk in de Pot Kill, Amsterdam Battery, Imhoff Battery, and Craig's Tower or Fort Knokke.

These are the land positions recommended in former reports, with the exception of Fort Amsterdam; but looking at the position of this work, with reference to the harbour, that it will act in concert with guns at Kyk in de Pot, that it is now perfectly capable of supporting a 38-ton gun in each demi-bastion, that it possesses casemates, magazines, and store-rooms, and to adapt it for immediate use would not be very costly, and a very great saving will be effected by so doing, I recommend it.

It will answer instead of (at any rate for some time to come) the "Lumps," or block- ships, proposed in Colonel Westmacott's report, which are very costly, require constant crews and supervision.

I am given to understand that hereafter it is intended to construct an inner basin, the excavation from which can be usefully applied to strengthen the work in any form required to enable it to carry more guns.

Kyk in de Pot, on the left, or north, should be a work with five heavy guns at pre- sent as a minimum, and be inclosed, being on left of position, and it might be necessary hereafter to continue a defensive line towards Signal Hill, as may also be found necessary from Craig's Tower, behind Salt River, in front of Papendorf Station to the watch tower and battery erected by the Dutch above the Wynberg Road, as well as a work on Kloof Road between Table Mountain and the Lion's Head, an advance over the mountain being hardly possible and easily prevented. These latter defences refer to more extended opera- tions being contemplated by an enemy, and need not be entertained at the present time, when it will be best to place the guns in the positions for the defence of the bay, where they will be permanently required, and where the works can be constructed to cover them on the places before stated.

The guns that seem to be required should not be of less size than 18 to 38 tons, in order to keep ships at a distance.

The work on Kyk in, de Pot should have as a minimum five 38-ton guns, Amsterdam two 38-ton guns, Imhoff two 25-ton guns, Craig's Tower three 38-ton guns, making twelve heavy guns, as a minimum.

25-ton guns may be easier attainable than the 38-tons, but unless heavy long-range guns are used the object of the works will not be attained.

I approximately estimate the cost of the works at 1,5001. (average) per gun to place them efficiently, as executed in England. They should be constructed upon the latest designs at the War Office, and under the entire supervision of the Imperial authorities, and

at the rate estimated some 18,0001. or 20,000l. would be required for works, exclusive of the guns, &c.

As time is an object in execution of these works, it would be better to arm Amsterdam and Imhoff Batteries in the first place, ecause they can be more quickly done, and at smaller cost.

Kyk in de Pot and Craig's Tower will require works to be planned and approved. Before closing this report, I wish to state that I have not overlooked the suggestion of finally placing a work at the breakwater head, but from experience gained in England, I can state that they are of a most costly nature and difficult to construct, and it would be far better to give up the idea, increasing the number of guns on the other sites on land.

With regard to Robben Island, the distance between the mainland and it is six miles, any works constructed must be self-supporting and of very strong construction, or an enemy would land and take it. T'he maintenance would be very costly, and a garrison always kept there. I think its construction need not be entertained in the present objects that we have in view with regard to Table Bay.

The works suggested could be manned by volunteer artillery, after having been instructed in the drill It has been found in England that volunteers make most efficient gunners. The number required as a minimum would be twenty men per gun.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TLC.O. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

mmimmi C.O. 885

4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

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