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No. 12.

Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Committee Room, March 14, 1878.

I AM requested by the Colonial Defence Committee, in acknowledging the receipt of your letter Secret and Confidential, of even date,* to inform you that the Committee have lost no time in addressing themselves to that special branch of their inquiry, indicated in the third paragraph of your letter, which appears to demand their more immediate atten-

tion.

2. I have the honour to submit, for the consideration of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, some suggestions for instructions, with which, in the opinion of the Committee, it would be desirable to furnish the Governors of Colonies, should war suddenly break out.

3. The Governor should be directed to consider, with such military or other autho- rities as he may find it possible to consult, the ports within his government for which it is most important that a defence should be provided, and then proceed to place those ports in the best condition of defence which the means at his disposal will permit.

4. The removal of buoys from the channels leading into harbours is a measure which will probably suggest itself on the approach of an enemy's ships, as well as a prohibition to pilots to place their services at his disposal.

5. In regard to coal, it would appear to be expedient that the authorities should adopt such measures as may seem to be practicable to prevent an enemy's vessels from getting supplies, either by the removal of such coal to some place of safety, or to a distance from the town, or in extreme cases by destroying it.

6. Where it is deemed to be necessary and expedient to call out any existing local force for training; and where no such force exists, to enrol and arm a body of men for instruction.

7. Where practicable, the Governors of the respective Colonies should communicate with each other by telegraph in cypher, in case of enemy's ships appearing off the coast, and simultaneously communicate the same to the Colonial Office; and in each Colony responsible agents, having facilities for observing the approach of hostile ships, should be appointed to transmit information to their respective Governments.

8. It is to be understood that these are only temporary measures, until armaments are sent out from this country.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

ALEX. MILNE, President.

(Confidential.) Sir,

No. 13.

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street, March 15, 1878. I AM directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a letter from the Committee now engaged in considering the subject of Colonial defences, and I am to request that you will move Mr. Secretary Hardy, in compliance with their recommendation, to give orders for the immediate despatch of the guns mentioned in the Committee's letter of the 14th instant to the stations therein mentioned, and to send immediate instructions to the military authorities at those stations for the construction of the necessary emplacements.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

No. 14.

Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office,

(Confidential.)

Sir,

Committee Room, March 18, 1878.

I AM requested by the members of the Colonial Defence Committee to ascertain whether any local forces exist at Hong Kong, Singapore, Penang, and Ceylon.

* No. 10.

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+ No. 11.

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