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The following is the estimated cost :-
Five 7-ton guns, complete
Two extra guns, complete Four 64-pounders
Emplacements for ditto Submarine mines
Total
5,000
2,000
2,400
6,600
2,000
18,000
The defence of Trincomalee in the event of war could not be intrusted to a garrison of less than 800 regular troops, including artillery.
The town of Galle stands upon a rocky promontory on the west side of the bay. The position is naturally strong, and the existing fortifications upon the land side, con- sisting of a bastioned line across the isthmus, would suffice to secure it from capture by a sudden attack.
Towards the sea, the town is surrounded with stone ramparts (originally built by the Dutch) which require completion and repair to make them serviceable against a regular attack; but which would sufficiently secure the place against an attack of the limited character contemplated in this Report.
The existing armament is as follows-
Armament-
7-inch breech-loading rifled gnn
8-inch smooth-bore guns.
32-pounder smooth-bore guns
18
22
"
33
6
"
"
No.
1
4
7
7
1
20
As these guns, with the exception of the single 7-inch breech-loading rifled gun, are only effective at very limited ranges, the Committee recommend that six 7-ton rifled guns be sent out and mounted, three of them in emplacements to be prepared for their recep- tion on the sea-fronts of the old ramparts; and the other three on Watering Point, a rocky peninsula on the opposite side of the bay, where a small temporary work will have to be built to contain them. It is also very desirable that as soon as guns can be pro- vided, six 64-pounders should be sent out to supplement the smooth-bored armament.
Having considered the necessity of providing for the protection of the harbour and naval yard of Trincomalee, the importance of Galle as a coaling station and port of call for commercial ships in the Indian, Chinese, and Australian trades has equally engaged the special attention of the Committee. At times, as much as 30,000 tons of coal for the use of a single company are stored at this port, and the Committee regard it as a matter of the highest importance, that such a supply should be adequately protected, and the use of it denied to an enemy's cruizers.
With a view to reduce to the utmost the number of places needing defence, the Committee carefully considered whether, in time of war, it would be possible to concen- trate the two establishments of Galle and Trincomalee, making one or the other, for a time, serve the purposes of both. They are, however, unable to recommend such an amalgamation, owing to the impossibility, on the one hand, of removing the naval establish- ments from Trincomalee-the only refitting port for Her Majesty's ships on the Indian station, for which purpose Galle is unsuited-and on the other, the equal impossibility of removing the stores of coal at such short notice as could alone be looked for, and the extreme inconvenience of so far diverting the ordinary course of trading ships.
The Committee are therefore of opinion that it is imperatively necessary, in the interest of the Imperial Government, as well as of the trade to India and the Chinese seas, that defences should be provided for Galle as well as for Trincomalee.
The cost of the proposed works is estimated as follows:-
Six 7-ton guns, complete..
Six 64-pounder guns, complete
Preparing emplacements for nine guns on the old ramparts
New battery for three 7-tons guns at Watering Point
Total
£
6,000
3,600
5,400
4,500
19,500
Looking to the natural strength of the position, it is probable that 200 regular troops, in addition to a battery of artillery, would suffice for the defence of the place.
The Committee have had before them the plans prepared by Sir John Coode, and
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