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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 885/

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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370

No. 81.

THE DEFENCES OF THE CAPE PENINSULA.

COLONIAL OFFICE MEMORANDUM.

THE Royal Commission and the Colonial Defence Committee have reported that the defence of both Table Bay and Simon's bay is necessary in order to secure the Cape Peninsula against attack, and to provide a safe base for Her Majesty's ships as well as a protected harbour for the mercantile marine, and further to guard the docks and general resources, valuable alike to the Imperial Navy and to merchant vessels. In view of the large amount of exposed private property at Table Bay, and of the fact that the defence of the Peninsula would increase the prosperity of Cape Town as a com- mercial port, and constitute at the same time a war insurance on the mercantile wealth of the Colony, the Royal Commission considered that a portion of the cost should be borne by Colonial funds.

Accordingly, it was originally proposed that the whole cost of the defences of Simon's Bay should be an Imperial charge, and that the Cape Colony should be invited to take measures for the defence of Table Bay.

It has been represented, however, that the burden involved is greater than the financial resources of the Colony can reasonably be expected to bear, and the matter has, therefore, been reconsidered with a view to meet the necessities of the case.

Her Majesty's Government now propose that the cost of the works and sites at Table Bay only should be borne by the Colony, the armament being provided at Imperial charge, This course has been adopted in the case of the Colonies of Hong Kong, Singapore, and Mauritius, as well as in that of Ceylon, where Trincomalee is being defended at Imperial charge, and the whole cost of the works and sites at Colombo is being borne by the Colony.

In the case of Table Bay, the estimated cost of the works is, roughly speaking, 70,0007., but it is not possible here to make calculations which would be absolutely correct, and it is considered that by employing convict labour, and by the Colonial Government taking steps to obtain the sites required, the actual cost to the Colony might be materially reduced.

The Imperial Government, on its part, undertakes to provide an armament at a cost of 75,000%.

A plan showing the proposed scheme of defence has been prepared in the Department of the Inspector General of Fortifications, which will serve to explain what is contem- plated, and any information desired will be afforded.

As regards the extension of the railway from Kalk Bay to Simon's Town, Her Majesty's Government recognise its military value in regard to the general defence of the Peninsula. They do not undertake to accept the conditions offered in the letter of the Agent General of the 1st May, 1885, viz. :-

That 50,000l. should be "advanced by Her Majesty's Treasury on bonds chargeable to the public revenue of the Colony

maturing at the expiration of ten years from the date of the advance, but hearing 3 per cent. for the 5 years immediately preceding the date of maturity only."

Her Majesty's Government are, however, prepared thoroughly to discuss this question with the representatives of the Cape Colony, with a view to arrive at a mutually satisfactory understanding if the principal arrangement above mentiored as to the defence of Table Bay is agreed to.

April 1887.

No. 82.

GOVERNOR SIR W. C. F. ROBINSON to SIR H. T. HOLLAND. (Received May 8, 1887.)

RETURNS of EXPENDITURE incurred by SOUTH AUSTRALIA for DEFENCE PURPOSES from the date of the withdrawal of the IMPERIAL FORCES to the end of 1886.

Adelaide, January 23, 1887.

SIR,

WITH reference to your predecessor's cablegram of the 11th instant, I have the honour to forward herewith the returns of the expenditure on defence incurred by this Colony from the date of the withdrawal of the Imperial forces to the end of the year 1886.

I have, &c., The Right Hon.

(Signed) W. C. F. ROBINSON,

Sir H. T. Holland, Bart., G.C.M.G., M.P.,

&c.

&c.

&c.

371

MINUTES.

Returned to the Hon. the Attorney-General.

In accordance with the Minute of the Hon. Attorney-General we have the honour to supply the required information as to cost of military and naval defences from the time of withdrawal of the Imperial forces.

These forces, consisting of 172 officers and men of the 18th Regiment, embarked for England on 8th August 1870. Towards the cost of these troops the Colony contributed 407. per head; and also maintained a volunteer force.

The following summary of the cost of military defences dates from that time to 1st January 1887, but the cost of naval defences has only been incurred during the last 21 years.

Question,

1. Personnel (pay, clothing, and equipments) 2. See total additions (below).

3. Fortifications, including military roads 4. Military buildings (powder magazines)

5. Floating defonccs, exclusive of armament

6. Submarine mine apparatus (torpedoes)

7. Ordnance, small arms, atomunition, &c.

2. Of all sorts, distinguishing naval and military-

Millitary.

Naval.

€

£

158,824

26,739

84,319

5,662

55,302

114,376

7,827 35,045

363,181

124,913

We have stated the figures in full (nearest pounds), but General Owen thinks it will only be necessary to state the nearest thousand.

In the above reply to question No. 1 we have followed the definition given by General Owen, who considers that the total cost of the personnel of each service is sufficient information; but we append particulars of its composition supplied to us by him and by Commander Walcot.

EBENR. COOKE, 17th January 1887.

Reserve

Band

Commissioner of Audit.

Defence Force on 1st January 1887. (Addendum to Minute of 17th January 1887.

Non-commis-

Officers.

sioned Officers

and Meb.

Military :-

Permanent Artilley

2

Cavalry Militia

45

5

49

Artillery

"

12

106

Reserve

8

Infantry

"

41

520

90

"

28

Ambulance

10

Reserve, effective

9

non-effective

"

16

Infantry Volunteer Force.

84

Medical -

1,255

14

Veterinary

2

Total

188

2,111

Naval :-

Permanent Force Naval Reserve

-

7

66

4

84

Total

11

150

Grand Total

199

2,261

17th January 1887.

3 F 3

Ebenr. Cooke,

Commissioner of Audit,