CO885-5 — Page 74

, PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885/

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

First Report, paragraphs 80-116,

First Report, p. 28 and paragraph 116.

Second Report, paragraph 8.

Second Report, paragraphs 20-28.

any great outlay, have always at command a moderate supply of deep-sea cable to meet any sudden call on the outbreak of war."

of war.

The progress of British shipping especially of steam-shipping-has been very great in recent years. In 1860 the merchant navy of the British Empire equalled in tonnage all the other navies of the world put together, and exceeded them in value and power, owing to the greater proportion of steam-ships. This prepon- derance is continually on the increase. For the purposes of this inquiry, sailing- ships may be disregarded. They still exist in large numbers, and, their aggregate tonnage largely exceeds the tonnage of steam-ships; but steam-ships are rapidly taking their place, and they could scarcely hope to obtain employment in time Great improvements have been made in steam-ships, both in increasing speed, and in diminishing the consumption of fuel. One ton of coal will now do twice as much work as the same quantity did twenty years ago. A first- class steamer could reach any part of the world without coaling on the way; indeed, such a ship, if filled with coal, could steam for 100 days continuously at an average speed of 11 knots an hour. In practice, the amount of space in a ship that can be devoted to coal is comparatively small, and depends mainly upon the conditions of trade with respect to freight, so that the best steam-ships cannot altogether dispense with intermediate supplies of coal, while frequent coaling is a necessity to the slower classes of vessels.

The number of steamers having an ocean speed of 14 knots and upwards is small. These vessels, most of which are owned in Great Britain, would be of great value in war; they could outstrip any ship of war, and would require no protection on the high seas. The great bulk of trade is carried on in ships of speeds varying from 8 to 12 knots, which, in time of war, would be exposed to serious danger. In the present circumstances of trade, merchant-ships could not be protected by convoy even if ships of war could be spared for the purpose. They must rely for security upon such general protection as the navy may be able to afford.

The principal lines of British trade, and the annual value of the trade upon cach line, are shown on the charts annexed to the first Report, in wich will also be found detailed information respecting the distribution and course of British trade throughout the world.

THE STRENGTH OF THE NAVY.

The defence of British commerce, and in a great measure of British possessions, is a question of naval supremacy, and depends primarily upon the sufficiency in number and power of Her Majesty's ships. Upon this point the Royal Commission, after calling attention to some of the duties which will be required of the fleet in time of war, express their opinion in the following terms:-

"How far the navy is equal to the discharge of these duties is a grave and pressing question, which can only be answered by a careful inquiry into the relative strength of our navy as compared with the navies of foreign nations. The comparison must be made upon data which are constantly fluctuating, and with reference to the exertions made by other nations. It requires also a more careful examination and estimate of the relative fighting power of each ship than can be made by any other body than the Department specially charged with the administration of the navy. But the evidence laid before us suffices to show that foreign nations have of late years made great additions to their fighting power at sea, and France especially is making rapid strides towards placing herself on a dangerous equality with Great Britain, whether we consider the far smaller and more concentrated duties which her navy has to discharge, or whether we look to the greater rate at which her ship-building is now carried on. Our insular position, happily, has freed us from the necessity of entering into the baneful competition in large standing armies to which nations on the Continent have beet subject, but the efforts which they are making to increase their strength al sea do undoubtedly, in our opinion, call for a corresponding effort on the part this country to increase the fighting power of the navy, We are deeply impressed by the Returns furnished by the Admiralty, and to these, as well as to the other evidence, we invite the particular attention of your Majesty's Government feeling. bound to express our opinion that, looking to the action of other countries

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building which this country possesses as compared with other countries; also that we are the chief manufacturers of compound armour plates, and should in this way be able to add to our naval force more quickly than other nations. But this superiority would avail us little at the outbreak of war, however much it may tell in our favour as a reserve power to maintain the efficiency of our armaments and defence during the continuance of hostilities. Further, the manufacturing power of the country might be heavily taxed during war to produce fast ships of large coal- carrying power for commercial purposes and especially for the supply of food to this country. An increase of the navy will involve large expenditure, but the alter- native is a much larger expenditure for fortifications and garrisons of a costly nature, coupled with grave risk to our position as the great carrying Power of the world. All our recommendations respecting the defences necessary for the more important seaports of your Majesty's colonial possessions and dependencies are based upon the assumption that your Majesty's navy will hold the seas, and that provision has to be made against the attack not of large hostile fleets, but of independent cruizers or small armoured squadrons."

The Commission gave much consideration to the possibility of reinforcing the Second Report, navy with fast merchant-ships, of which, owing to the late remarkable progress in paragraphs 18 and 19. ship building, there are now considerable numbers, built and owned in the United Kingdom. These vessels compare favourably with ships of war in point of speed, and far surpass them in coal-carrying capacity. Their speed will secure them fron pursuit, and their comparative independence of coaling-stations will enable them to traverse great distances and keep the sea for long periods of time. mission observe that "although incapable of meeting an enemy's regular cruizers, The Com- they would be effective against ships of a like nature employed against our commerce, and would be invaluable as look-out ships, as a means for conveying communications between the Colonies and the United Kingdom, or carrying instructions to your Majesty's ships on distant stations, especially in the event of communication by telegraph being suspended. encourage the owners of these ships to comply with such regulations as the We think it would be well to Admiralty may lay down as to construction and otherwise so as to enable them to receive moderate armaments, and we think that armaments suitable for them should be provided and stored in different ports." Some of the Commissioners are prepared to go further. In a Memorandum annexed to the Report, they point Third Report, out that the mere provision of suitable armaments at different ports will not render PP. 93 and 34. the ships immediately available on the outbreak of war; that the ships will be exposed to risk on their way to the specified ports; and that time will be lost in fitting and arming them. They suggest that one or two suitable guns should be supplied to each ship, the owners of which undertake to comply with such reasonable regulations as the Admiralty may lay down; that part of the crew should be trained to the service of the guns; and that ships so armed should

be subject to periodical inspection. It has been suggested that a subsidy paid by Second Report, Her Majesty's Government to the owners might secure the services of these fast paragraph 19. ships, and prevent their passing into the hands of an enemy. The Commission

are, however, opposed to the plan of a regular subsidy, and believe "that a pre- ference given to such ships in time of peace, coupled with a more exclusive employ- ment in time of war for the transport of troops and Government stores would go far to insure the objects aimed at."

COAL SUPPLY.

The Commission state their belief that the command of the sea resolves itself Second Report, very much into a question of coal supply-how to deprive an enemy of his supplies, paragraphs 8-15. while securing ample supplies for our own ships.

An enemy could obtain coal-

(1.) In his own ports, or in those of an ally.

(2.) In the ports of a neutral State.

(3.) By seizing it in British ports or in captured trading-vessels.

(4.) By supply from colliers at sea sent on to prearraged rendezvous.

1. France, and other foreign Powers, have made great and costly preparations

for supporting the operations of their fleets in distant seas. This consideration points to the importance of your Majesty's Government being at all times fully

the strength of the navy should be increased with as little delay as possible. Winformed, through your Majesty's Consuls and an Intelligence Department, of the are aware that stress has been laid upon the greatly superior capacity for ship facilities afforded in the ports of foreign Powers for coaling and relitting, of the

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