CO885(3-4) — Page 418

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE Reference :---

C.O. 885

20

scarped with the exception of the front, where a glacis has been made and a broad ditch excavated, defended by a musketry caponier in the centre.

In conclusion, I may state that the interest which his Excellency the Administrator has shown in the defence works has afforded me much pleasure, and his expressions of satisfaction have been very gratifying to me.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary,

Singapore.

HENRY E. McCALLUM, Lieutenant,

Commanding Royal Engineers.

No. 19.

K.C.M.G.

The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir H. St. George Ord,

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, September 3, 1879.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, Secret, of the 14th July last, with reference to your recommendations respecting the defence of Western Australia.

2. In reply, I have to state that your despatch, Secret and Confidential, dated the 28th August, 1878,† was referred to the Colonial Defence Committee, who reported that its general character would seem to require consideration from a Committee on permanent defences. That despatch and all the correspondence on the subject was included in the printed correspondence relative to the defence of the Colonies generally, and copies were supplied to each member of the Committee. The whole correspondence will now be laid before the Royal Commission about to be appointed to consider the question of the perma- nent defences of the Colonies, to whom your despatch under acknowledgment will be submitted for consideration.

3. From what I have stated I have no doubt you will feel satisfied that I have taken every measure to secure for your recommendations that consideration which your long service and experience would justly entitle them to receive.

4. In compliance with your request, I transmit to you a copy of the Admiralty letter of the 10th May, 1878.‡

I have, &c.

(Signed)

M. E. HICKS BEACH.

No. 20.

Captain J. C. R. Colomb to Colonial Office.

Sir,

Squerryes Court, Westerham, Kent, September 13, 1879. SEEING the appointment of a Royal Commission in the "Gazette" of last night, I have the honour to request you will be pleased to consider the inclosed memorandum.

I cannot but feel that had my name and my work of the past twelve years been brought prominently forward when the Commission was being formed, I should most probably not have been omitted from the list of members, but as there is ample precedent, believe, for adding to the members of a Royal Commission after it has been gazetted, I venture to hope you will be pleased personally to investigate my claims, as I feel sure if that be done I shall establish them beyond dispute, and,be added, on public grounds, to this Commission.

I should not presume to address you thus, nor to trouble you with inclosed, were it not for the fact that there is no other man to whom the question to be investigated by the Commission owes so much.

I venture also to write to Lord Carnarvon, and have already written, by the post, to the First Lord of the Treasury.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

J. C. R. COLOMB (of Droumquinna, Kenmare), Late Captain Royal Marine Artillery, Justice of the Peace

for County Kerry.

The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart.

P.S.-My address after 18th instant will be, Junior United Service Club, London,

J. C. R. C.

S.W.

• No. 17.

+ No. 347 of "Miscellaneous No. 35 z." No. 86 of "Miscellaneous No. 35 x."

21

Inclosure in No. 20.

Memorandum respecting some Reasons for favourably considering the request of Captain J. C. R. Colomb, late Royal Marine Artillery, to be appointed to the Royal Commission on Colonial Defence, &c.

General Reasons.

1. The fact that for nearly fourteen years he has considered questions relating to colonial and Imperial defence, as evident by his various and numerous articles, pamphlets, and his lectures before the Royal United Service Institution and Royal Colonial Insti- tute.

2. That by reason of his continued and persistent efforte his name is now peculiarly identified with the problem of the defence of the Empire as a whole, involving the protec- tion of Imperial sea lines, defence of coal depôts, and the naval and military progress, organization, and developments in the several Colonies.

This Captain Colomb is prepared to establish by the production of a mass of leading articles, discussions, comments, and notices which his writings have called forth during the last twelve years, not only in the London and provincial press at home, but in every Colony in all quarters of the globe.

3. From his first-published anonymous efforts in 1867 to his last lectures in 1879, he has consistently advocated the necessity for the appointment of a Commission to inquire and report upon the subject of colonial and Imperial defence.

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Special Reasons.

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1. The late Field-Marshal Sir John Burgoyne, R.E., writing to Captain Colomb (with whom he was personally unacquainted), remarks in one of his letters, under date the 6th February, 1871 :—

"It is clear that our condition is very imperfect, while unhappily there is no end to the remedies proposed for its improvement, and a most arduous task those have who are charged with the working out of the problem."

No words could better describe even now the difficulties to be encountered and over- come by the Commission of to-day. Any scheme of Imperial or even colonial defence must, for its efficiency, mainly depend on a right understanding of the reciprocal duties, relative obligations, and application of sea and land force. The true value and bearing of purely naval and purely military evidence laid before the Commission may thus possibly be the pivot on which the main issue, before the Commission may turn. To find the true balance between the purely naval and purely military view of proposed remedies will possibly prove a fundamental difficulty most likely to present itself to the minds of the majority of those members who have not previously had an opportunity of carefully studying so complex a problem, nor the advantage of practical experience of the internal workings of the several naval and military services. Nevertheless, the enduring value and ultimate results practi- cally of the labours of the Commission will probably be more or less directly influenced by the conclusions of the majority on this very point.

It is therefore possible a member who had not only served with the navy, army, militia, and volunteers, but who had previously considered the broad aspects of the questions of combined naval and military requirements, might prove of considerable use to that majority when taking, discussing, and weighing evidence. He would be ready to hand on all occasions to suggest what additional information might possibly elicit such further facts as might enable the majority of members to form for themselves a clearer estimate of the value of differing naval and military views, &c.

Captain Colomb has had practical experience of the above services, having officially acted with the army, navy, militia, and volunteers, and not only do his past writings testify to the fact that he has considered the relative duties of the army and navy, but Sir John Burgoyne, in the letter previously referred to, thus indicates Captain Colomb's exceptional position as a student of this subject :-

"You take up the question on the large scale of the combined requirements for navy and army, and it is of primary importance, while others confine their remarks and sugges- tions to the separate details of each service."

Personal.

Captain Colomb naturally refrains from any particular reference to numerous expressions of sympathy and encouragement he has received from various quarters, or to the publicly-expressed opinions of eminent authorities from time to time.

4. PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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