CO885-(18-19) — Page 212

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

Printed for the use of the Cabinet. July 22, 1907.

CONFIDENTIAL

Miscellaneous No. 209.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:-

TLC.O.885

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

MEMORANDUM OF REQUIREMENTS OF COLONIAL OFFICE FOR SERVICES OF IMPERIAL NAVY.

18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

THE Colonial Office require the services of the

Navy in-

1. North American waters.

2. The Pacific.

3. The West Indies.

4. The Somaliland Coast.

I. In North American waters it is essential that there should be available vessels for the patrol of the Newfoundland fishery and of the Behring Sea. The Admiralty are well aware of the reasons which render necessary the discharge of these duties, and will no doubt be prepared to maintain the services, which cannot be dele- gated to any Colonial Government.

II. The whole of the Western Pacific, including the coast of New Guinea, must for the present continue to be patrolled by the Imperial Navy, and the High Commissioner reported recently that for that purpose it is absolutely necessary to have two suitable vessels. He pointed out that H.M.S. the new

ав class of vessels, such "Pegasus," which recent naval policy tends to leave on the station, is unsuitable owing to their comparatively large size, their material, and the thinness of that material; that an older class of vessel, such as H.M.S. "Torch," was much better suited for cruising among the many rugged, irregular, and insufficiently charted groups of coral islands; and that possibly wooden vessels of moderate size and speed, and carrying a certain amount of sail (such as H.M.S. "Pylades "), would be better suited still for the particular purpose.

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j

is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.}

Printed for the use of the Cabinet. July 22, 1907.

FIDENTIAL

cellaneous To. 209.

MEMORANDUM OF REQUIREMENTS OF COLONIAL OFFICE FOR SERVICES OF IMPERIAL NAVY.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.885

Reference :--

COPYRIGHT

18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

THE Colonial Office require the services of the

Navy in--

1. North American waters.

2. The Pacific.

3. The West Indies.

4. The Somaliland Coast.

I. In North American waters it is essential

that there should be available vessels for the patrol of the Newfoundland fishery and of the

Behring Sea. The Admiralty are well aware of the reasons which render necessary the discharge of these duties, and will no doubt be prepared

to maintain the services, which cannot be dele- gated to any Colonial Government.

40

II. The whole of the Western Pacific, including

the coast of New Guinea, must for the present continue to be patrolled by the Imperial Navy, and the High Commissioner reported recently that for that purpose it is absolutely necessary to have two suitable vessels. He pointed out that the new class of vessels, such as H.M.S. 'Pegasus," which recent naval policy tends to leave on the station, is unsuitable owing to their comparatively large size, their material, and the thinness of that material; that an older class of vessel, such as H.M.S. "Torch," was much better suited for cruising among the many rugged,

of irregular, and insufficiently charted groups coral islands; and that possibly wooden vessels of moderate size and speed, and carrying a certain amount of sail (such as H.M.S. "Pylades"), would be better suited still for the particular purpose.

[711]