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Adelaide and its

to attack.

140

Another mode which he might adopt for carrying on hostilities would be to attack Adelaide itself. Having coaled at Wallaroo, he would probably steam up St. Vincent's Gulf; or, if he had sufficiently economised his coal during his passage to Australia, he In the might proceed up to Adelaide without previously replenishing his supply of fuel. absence of any means of defence, an enemy might take up a position within shelling distance of the port, and threaten a bombardment, or actually fire into the place. He might also capture the ships in harbour, and land a force, under cover of his guns, with a view of marching into Adelaide and demanding a heavy contribution.

It should be observed that Adelaide is much more open to attack, whether by sea or Port specially open by a force landed for the purpose, than either Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne. Brisbane is situated on a narrow river many miles from the sea; Port Jackson can only be entered by a narrow passage, which can be perfectly defended; Melbourne can be thoroughly defended by torpedoes, and by forts on the shoals within the entrance to Port Philip, and all three capitals of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria are more or less difficult of approach by an enemy who might desire to attack them by land. On the other hand, the coast in the vicinity of Adelaide is a low, open, sandy beach, on any point of which an enemy could land, and from whence an approach to the city is clear and open, with abundance of good roads; whilst Port Adelaide is entirely exposed to attack from seaward. The defence of the capital of South Australia is, therefore, more dependent on naval means than any of the capitals of the other Australian Colonies.

A vessel of war the best defence.

Imperial naval squadron not

available for special local defence.

Gunboats not powerful enough.

Raft proposed by Mr. Reed.

Description of vessel recom-

mended.

Taking all the circumstances of the case into consideration, I have no doubt that the best defence of Adelaide and its port, as well as of the commerce of South Australia, would be to provide a vessel of war superior in power to any hostile cruisers that would be likely to appear in these seas. Such a vessel, taking up her position in the Bay on the north side of Kangaroo Island-where there is excellent anchorage, where she could be commu- nicated with by telegraph from Cape Borda, from Sydney or Melbourne, from Adelaide and other places, and whence she would be in a position to move either westward through Investigator Straits, eastward through the Backstairs Passage, or up St. Vincent's or Spencer's Gulfs, as occasion may require-would be able to afford an active and effective defence against attacks to which this Colony is most likely to be exposed.

It is sometimes argued that the Imperial Naval Squadron would look after any hostile vessels in Australian waters; but when it is considered that that squadron, small as it is, and only composed of wooden vessels, is charged with visiting the islands in the South Seas, with the defence of Fiji Islands, of New Zealand, of Tasmania, and of all the Austra- lian Colonies, the chance is but small of its being available for the special defence of any one Colony or any particular portion of the coast.

Proposals have been made at different times to provide small gunboats for the defence of Adelaide; and no doubt such vessels, in conjunction with other means, would be useful for this purpose. They are, however, wanting in the essential element of being superior to the vessel or vessels which would be likely to attack the commerce of the Colony or its chief city and port.

A project for an armour-plated raft to carry one gun, and estimated to cost about 65,0007, has also been submitted by Mr. Reed, the late Chief Constructor of the Navy. Such a description of vessel, however, would be altogether novel, and would partake more or less of the nature of an experiment; and whatever might be the value, for the protection of the port, of the one gun which it is proposed to mount in her in such a way that it would be easily silenced by an enemy's fire, she would be of very little use for the general defence of the commerce of the Colony.

I would recommend that an iron-clad war vessel somewhat similar to one built about a year ago in England for the Portuguese Government should be provided for the service of South Australia. This is a three-masted sea-going vessel, intended to aid in the defence. of the Tagus and Lisbon, and capable of cruizing to the Azores and the other Portuguese Colonies. It appears to me that the conditions which she was designed to fulfil are just those which are required for this Colony. The displacement tonnage of this vessel is about 2,500 tons, her length about 220 feet, her breadth 40 feet, her depth 25 feet. She is not a turret ship, but has a fixed battery, protected by armour 10 inches thick, which projects beyond the sides, and is so arranged that the guns-two in number, i.e., one on either side can fire fore and aft as well as broadside. Each of these guns is about 18 tons in weight. There is also a gun at the stern of about six or seven tons weight, and The vessel also carries four from these three guns an all-round fire can be obtained. small pieces of artillery for purposes for which the heavy and more powerful ordnance are not required. She is further constructed as a ram-the bow being specially strengthened for this object--and the armour-belt, which is 9 inches thick, is carried down to the extreme point of the ram, about 8 feet below the water-line. She has a raised forecastle,

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