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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885/

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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On the general question of naval defence, we were informed that the value of the union between the mother-country and the Colonies, and the importance of strengthening it, and of each party bearing its share of the common task, is fully appreciated in Australia. Their respective responsibilities were defined somewhat as follows:-The mother-country undertakes to afford all the protection in her power to the Colonies and colonial interests at sea by means of the Queen's ships, the Colonies recognizing that such protection to their shores, as well as to their trade, may, in certain circumstances, be most effectually given by the action of Her Majesty's fleet at a distance from Australian waters. The Colonies, on the other hand, undertake the duty of erecting fortifications, and providing armaments and laud forces, supplemented, when necessary, by naval forces for local defence; sufficient to secure them from external attack, and at the same time to give full protection to the Queen's ships whenever they have occasion to require the shelter of a defended port. Over and above these purely local defences, the Colony of Victoria recognises her obligation to contribute to the naval resources of the Empire from which she derives so large a measure of protection. As to the form which the colonial contribution should take, and its amount, it has been suggested that the Colonies should provide and maintain ships of war of their own, placing them under the Imperial flag in time of war, but the expense and the difficulty of maintaining efficiency under such conditions, no less than the complicated relations which would arise, point, in his opinion, to the impracticability of such a plan, and to the payment of a subsidy in cash towards the expense of the Imperial Navy. He thinks that the amount of such subsidy must be based in some way upon the annual value of trade passing, and that it would be best for the Home Government to decide the amount in the first instance, making it as small as possible, and to ask for a lump sum, which it would be easy to increase afterwards if necessary. This sum should be provided by an Act extending over several years, and should decidedly not be put upon the annual estimates.

We have likewise had before us a Memorandum on the Naval Defence of Melbourne, prepared by Commodore Wilson, the present Commander-in-chief on the Australian station, for the information of the Governor. Lord Normanby was desirous of using this paper officially, but we deemed it undesirable that the recommendations which it contains should be made public while the whole question of defence was under consideration. In this Memorandum, after discussing at length the nature of attack to which the Australian Colonies might be exposed, the Commodore proceeds to describe the measures which he considers most suitable to the requirements and conditions of the Colony. With regard to ships, he recommenda two distinct squadrons, one to operate outside the heads, the other inside Port Phillip. The outside squadron to consist of armed merchant-ships, manned by a local naval force under skilled officers commanded by an officer of the Royal Navy. For the protection of trade entering or leaving the port, he considers that four ships would be sufficient, carrying each from four to six 64-prs, and a revolving gun forward, with a crew of 162, all told. The inside squadron to consist of gun-boats of the "Staunch" class, of 180 tons, and 25 horse-power, carrying one 18-ton gun each, with a crew of 28, all told, At ordinary times these gun-boats steam 8 knots, and draw so little water that they would be peculiarly adapted for use in Port Phillip, as they could manoeuvre over the banks, where large ships could not follow them. They could be hauled up out of water under cover, and would last fifty years. The cost of a gun-boat of this kind, with armament complete, is about 14,000. Six Buch gun-boats would be sufficient, and could be worked like a battery of artillery. To these should be added two torpedo-boats of high speed carrying Whitebead torpedoes. He would organize the men to some extent like the naval reserve at home, each man undergoing three months' drill on board ship on entry, and being then enrolled for five years, and required to undergo one month's drill afloat annually, besides periodical inspections, the men to receive full He further pay when called out, and 1. or 11. 10. per month at other times as a retainer. recommends that the officers and instructors should be drawn from the Royal Navy, and changed triennially, a condition to which he attaches the greatest importance. He estimates roughly the annual expense of such a force at about 20,000l. He considers the "Nelson" well adapted for drill purposes, and therefore useful, but thinks that all practice should be from the gun-boats which he recommends.

South Australia.

Adelaide, like the capitals of Victoria and New South Wales, which are situated directly upon the sea, is inland, and distant seven miles from its port, with which it is connected by Bilway. Port Adelaide stands upon a navigable inlet of the sea, which runs parallel with the shore for several miles, and is separated from it by a low flat peninsula about a mile broad. Sir William Jervois recommended in addition to the provision of a powerful ship of war, the construction of works for the protection of the Capital and Port Adelaide, consisting of two batteries for heavy guns, and emplacements for artillery at intervals along the shore, connected by a military road 20 miles in length. The southern battery, mounting two 10-in, 20-ton R.M.L.

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guns and two 64-prs., has been completed and armed, and 3 miles of the military road have been constructed in connection with it. The northern battery has not been commenced, though the armament for it, consisting of two 9-in. 12-ton guns and two 80-prs., has been supplied. It is, however, in contemplation to modify the design of this battery so as to reduce its cost and to mount the guns. In addition to the heavy guns, eight 16-prs. and three 12-pr. M.L.R. Whitworth guns have been provided for opposing a landing in the neighbourhood of the port. The second battery and the rest of the military road, for the completion of which a petition was got up in the Colony, will be undertaken as soon as the necessary funds are voted by Parliament. The expense incurred for military works and armaments in the years 1878 and 1879 was 67,7062

The armed forces of the Colony consist of paid volunteers and unpaid rifle companies, under the command of an Imperial officer-a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Artillery. It was intended in 1878 to establish a permanent body of artillery numbering 100 officers and men, and although owing to difficulties, chiefly financial, the proposal was for some time deferred, it is understood that it has quite recently been carried into effect. The necessity for such a force to man and take charge of the new forts is fully recognised by the South Australian Government. It is estimated to cost 807. per man per annum.

The paid volunteer force was raised in 1877, and in the same year, at the request of the Colony, the services of two officers of the regular army, one as Commandant and the other as Staff Officer and second in command, were granted by the Imperial Government for a term of five years. These officers, assisted by seven drill instructors, constitute the permanent military staff. With the two exceptions named the officers of the force are colonists, who are appointed in the first instance on the recommendation of the Commandant. The men are eurolled for three years under a special Act founded upon the Colonial Volunteer Act of 1865. They can be paraded at the discretion of the Commandant: cavalry and infantry seventy-two, and artillery ninety-six times in the year for half a-day, or half those numbers of whole days. In the first year of formation the average number of drills in the year was fifty, but now that the men are more trained it is not found necessary to exact more than thirty. No provision is made for continuous training, which could not be carried out without a special vote. The volunteers receive clothing from the Government, together with pay for each whole day, half days being paid in proportion.

Extra allowances are made to officers and men who turn out mounted. All paid drills are by daylight.

This volunteer militia can be called out for service in the event of invasion or danger thereof, when they pass under the provisions of the Mutiny Act and Articles of War. In ordinary times discipline is maintained by a system of fines and imprisonment. A member absent from parade not only loses his day's pay, but is fined a sum equivalent to such pay; and the penalties for repeated absence are more severe. Leave can, however, be obtained under suitable regulations. The Commandant believes that the very stringency of the rules promotes the efficiency and discipline of the force. As a proof of the popularity of the service, it is stated that of 400 men who finished their three years' service in 1880 all but seventy-two re-enrolled into the volunteers, or into the reserve force, for another three years. In the same year 360 recruits joined.

The formation of a reserve of men who have served three years in the volunteers has been commenced, the conditions of service being somewhat similar, except that the number of annual drills is smaller. In the early part of the year 1881 the reserve numbered sixty-two, exclusive of officers.

In addition to the paid volunteers, an association of purely voluntary rifle companies was formed in 1879 throughout the Colony, especially at the principal sea-ports, under an Act passed in the previous year. The members receive no pay, provide their own uniforms, and subscribe 12 a-year each. They have to parade ten times in the year, and go through the ordinary course of class firing. Like the paid volunteers, they are liable to be called out for military service in case of invasion or rebellion. The Government provide arms and ammunition, targets, and 2001. annually in prizes. Any twenty or more men may form a company, and elect their own officers, subject to the approval of the Governor in Council. There is no examination at present for officers, but this will doubtless come in time. Inefficient officers can, however, be removed. The Association is extremely popular in the Colony, and is exercising a salutary influence in many ways. At the end of 1879 the number of members was nearly 500; a year later it had risen to 800, and is still increasing. The men are all, to a certain extent, trained and disciplined, and voluntarily perform on an average double the prescribed number of drills. The force would doubtless prove a most valuable auxiliary, particularly as the majority of the members are better ahots than the paid volunteers, being men of more independent means, and having more time for practice. The movement is thus worthy of encouragement; but, as the Commandant remarks, However popular this force may become, it should never be considered otherwise than as an auxiliary to the paid volunteer force, who, from their better opportunities of training, from their being associated together in large numbers, and from their always being under the eye of the Commandant and experienced officers, answer the purpose of the regular force of the Colony." He thinks it would be well if the Colonial Government were to give a capitation grant of 17. 108. per annurn for effectives.

We were informed that a periodical inspection of the Colonial forces by an Imperial officer of high rank would be favourably regarded in South Australia, provided the expense were not too heavy, and the officer were one to whom the local Commandant would naturally defer. He further stated that the question of military defence has never become a political one, and that all parties in the Colony are ready within reason to do all that is necessary, both for their own self-defence and for the general Imperial defences of which they form a part.

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