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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. July 1879.

Further Correspondence respecting Colonial Defences.

No. 1.

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

(Secret and Confidential.)

*

Committee Room, Whitehall, January 4, 1879.

Sir,

I AM desired by the Colonial Defence Committee to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th November last, inclosing a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Western Australia on the subject of the defence of that Colony.

It appears to the Committee that, looking to the special object with which they were appointed, they are scarcely qualified, as at present constituted, to express an opinion upon the views of Sir Harry Ord; which, being of a general character, would seem to require consideration from a Committee on Permanent Defences.

The despatch deals largely with principles, which would appear to be questions for decision by Her Majesty's Government, and in the establishment of which a Report from such a Committee might be of assistance.

The Committee would suggest that Sir Harry Ord's views with regard to the retention of King George's Sound as a coaling station should be laid before the Lords Commis- sioners of the Admiralty, for their Lordships' further consideration.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

ALEX. MILNE, President.

No. 2.

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

(Secret and Confidential.) Šir,

Committee Room, Whitehall, January 4, 1879.

I AM desired by the Colonial Defence Committee to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 10th and 18th October last,† relating to the defence of the Gold Coast and of Scarborough, Tobago; and, at the same time, to refer you to my letter of the 26th August as to the defence of Penang, of which consideration was deferred until the entire Committee could be assembled.

As the Committee were appointed to report on the best means of providing a system of defence on a sudden emergency by temporary measures, it would not appear urgent, now that the emergency has passed on account of which they were assembled, to provide such defences, which from their nature would not be of so efficient a character as is desirable; but that it would be advisable to determine generally what places absolutely require defence, and the nature of defence which would be most appropriate for them.

The cost of temporary defences and armainents would go far towards supplying' permanent defences.

The question of garrisons, which, from the limited force available for service in the field during war, is one of extreme difficulty, would also have to be considered.

The Committee, therefore, are of opinion that it would be waste of time on their part to report on the question of temporary defences for such places as Penang or Tobago,

• No. 350 of Miscellaneous, No. 35 E.

[708]

+ Not Printed.

No. 312 of Miscellaneous, No. 35 E.

B

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