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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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No. 67.

DEFENCE OF KING GEORGE'S SOUND AND TORRES STRAITS.

COLONIAL OFFICE MEMORANDUM.

THE necessity for defending Princess Royal Harbour and some position in the Torres Straits has been fully recognised both by the Imperial Government and the Australasian Colonies. The joint-interest of these Colonies in the defence of these points has been generally admitted on all hands, and the Federal Council in February 1886 passed a resolution to the effect that "some united action should be taken by the Imperial Government and the various Colonies."

Several schemes of defence have been put forward by the War Office and by General Scratchley, who reported on both positions, after a personal inspection. More recently, Admiral Tryon has called attention to the great importance" of Princess Royal Har- bour and Thursday Island, "both in a military and commercial sense.” As regards the former, although the present commercial importance of Albany is relatively small, the annual value of the passing trade was estimated at more than 30,000,0007. in 1880, and this amount would be largely increased in time of war in the event of possible interrup- tion to the Suez Canal, in which case the bulk of the Australasian trade with Europe would follow the Cape route. Moreover, the development of Western Australia, and the opening up of that Colony by the extension of its railway system, will undoubtedly confer great commercial importance on Princess Royal Harbour and Albany.

As regards the Torres Straits, the value and bulk of trade following this route in time of peace will certainly increase, and the war importance of a coaling station, as a link between Australasia and the East India and China stations, can hardly be over-rated.

The contemplated increase to the Australasian squadron will permit the defences of these two positions to be on a more modest scale than has been hitherto adopted; but the importance of providing the coal stores there with protection against a raid by a hostile cruizer is nevertheless enhanced. In order that the Australasian squadron may be rendered free to act with the utmost vigour in defence of floating trade, protected coal at these vital strategic points becomes a necessity.

Finally, both positions possess considerable natural advantages for defence; and, as has been pointed out by Admiral Tryon, they require for that very reason to be denied to an enemy, who, once established there, could not be dislodged without an effort.

As regards the negotiations which have hitherto taken place, Princess Royal Harbour and Thursday Island occupy a different position.

There has never been any doubt in recent years as to the general scheme of defence of the former, except as to its scale and such details as the actual position of the guns. Moreover, Lord Derby, in his circular despatch of the 12th June 1885, at a time when war appeared to be imminent, offered on the part of the Imperial Government to pro- vide a certain armament, together with submarine mines, if the Colonies would defray the cost of the necessary works (estimated roughly at 6,0007.) and furnish the necessary garrison. This armament was accordingly prepared for issue; but the apprehension of war having meanwhile passed away, it became desirable to re-consider the question with a view to a more permanent arrangement.

In the case of Thursday Island, various schemes of defence have also been pre- pared, but the whole question has been unsettled in consequence of a proposal to adopt Goode Island as the coal depôt, and to create an artificial harbour and anchorage by means of a breakwater. Thus, no definite proposal for the defence of a coaling station in the Torres Straits has ever been jointly considered by the Australasian Colonies, and the Conference will, therefore, enter upon new ground in considering the question.

Whatever may be the future advantages of creating an artificial harbour in the Torres Straits, the Colonial Governments will probably come to the conclusion that its cost would not at present be justified, and Her Majesty Government consider that present requirements will be fulfilled by a moderate defence of Thursday Island, and that to create that defence without further delay is a wiser course than to embark on a large scheme whose cost can hardly be ascertained with accuracy. In such a scheme, it can hardly be expected that the Australasian Colonics as a whole would co-operate; but, on the other hand, the time may arrive when Queensland will be in a position to create a port on her northern shore, and it appears desirable not to anticipate requirements which cannot be exactly foreseen or provided for.

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Under the above circumstances, definite schemes of defence for Princess Royal Harbour and Thursday Island, with estimates, are now submitted to the Conference, and Her Majesty's Government trust that the present exceptionally favourable opportunity of finally arriving at a settlement of the whole question may not be lost.

The general conditions proposed are as follows

1. The arrangement to be re-considered at the end of ten years.

2. The necessary works, together with their maintenance, to be undertaken at the

cost of all the Australasian Colonies, calculated on the basis of population.

3. A small permanent garrison to be maintained at each place, also at the joint cost

of the Colonies.

4. In the case of Princess Royal Harbour, Western Australia to undertake, on the outbreak of war, to increase the garrison to the strength stated. Queensland to make a similar undertaking with respect to Thursday Island. In the case of

a war of some duration it will be for the other Colonies to consider whether they should not assist in providing reliefs for the garrison of Thursday Island. Princess Royal Harbour, on the other hand, being one of the principal ports of Western Australia, should continue to be garrisoned by that Colony, unless special circumstances arise calling for an increase of strength beyond the stated amount, in which case the other Colonies might be expected to assist. 5. Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to undertake the cost of defences on Australasian territory in view of the large expenditure they are incurring on the coaling stations on which the lines of communication with the Mother Country will depend in war. They are, however, willing to provide the following arma ments, viz. :-

For Princess Royal Harbour-

4-8" R.M.L. guns.

2-40-pr. R.B.L. 4-9-pr. R.M.L.

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as well as the Submarine Mines promised in Lord Derby's despatch.

And for Thursday Island-

4-7′′ R.M.L. guns. 4-16-pr. R.M.Ľ. „,

With the above armaments, a proportion of ammunition would be provided, and the only cost to the Colonies would be that of improved mountings for the 8" and 7" guns, of which an estimate is annexed. These guns, though inferior to the 6" B.L. new type guns which it would be desirable to provide, are capable of piercing 8-2′′ and 7·6′′ of iron respectively at 1,000 yards, possess large shell power, and would be mounted so as Their to range up to 6,000 yards. They are also capable of being loaded under cover. main defect is a falling off in accuracy at ranges exceeding 2,500 yards. In view of the large requirements which have to be fulfilled at stations, both at home and abroad, Her Majesty's Government are unable to provide new type guns for Princess Royal Harbour and Thursday Island. It nevertheless appears desirable that these positions should receive some measure of defence without further delay. If, therefore, the Colonies are not prepared at the present time to incur the expense of providing new type guns for Thursday Island and Princess Royal Harbour, estimated at 19,910, it appears, nevertheless, advisable to mount the available armaments with a view to their being subsequently replaced.

(Signed) H. T. HOLLAND.

April 20th, 1887

ESTIMATES, &c.

PRINCESS ROYAL Harbour, KiNG GEORGE's Sound.

It is proposed to concentrate the defence on the northern side of the entrance to the harbour for the following reasons:-

1. The whole of the works will be less than two miles from Aibany and easily accessible at all times. By this concentration economy will be promoted.

2. Middleton Beach, the best landing-place for a movement on Albany, will be efficiently defended.

3. The sites on Point Possession will be left intact for subsequent occupation when the growth of the commercial importance of the harbour demands an extension of the defence.

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