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it is against a force of this nature alone that the temporary defences recommended by the Committee are proposed.

Should heavier ships, from her Baltic or other ports, join the squadron now abroad, these defences might not be found fully adequate to sustain the attack which might be directed against them.

The Committee have been informed by the Director of Artillery, as stated in their letter of the 14th March, that the only guns now available for the defence of the Colonies are from 30 to 40 61-ton guns; and that the rate of manufacture of these, as well as of heavier guns suited for use against armoured ships, is slow.

They are consequently of opinion that it is impossible within a limited time to impro- vise defences capable of resisting heavily armoured ships, and therefore in these proposals for temporary defences, propose to limit their suggestions generally to an armament not exceeding in power the 7-in. 7-ton gun. This is a thoroughly effective weapon against unarmoured vessels, is capable of piercing very light armour at moderate ranges, and can be manufactured at the Royal Gun Factory at the rate of about two-and-a-half guns per week, the delivery to commence after three months. The supply of these guns might also be greatly accelerated by calling in the aid of Sir W. Armstrong and Co., who have informed the Committee that they can, at their Elswick Arsenal, turn out guns at about the same speed as the Royal Gun Factory, though at a somewhat higher cost.

The Committee also desire to make a few general remarks with regard to submarine mines and torpedoes.

There are two ways in which submarine mines may be used :—

as foe.

1. They may be so laid as to close a channel absolutely against friend as well

2. They may be used in such a way that they may at will be rendered passive and innocuous to permit of friendly vessels passing over them, with a power to make them active when required to act against an enemy's ships.

The electrical arrangements by which these ends are accomplished, and the instru- ments connected with them, can only be entrusted to highly skilled hands, otherwise not only will great risk be incurred by those engaged in handling these mines, but they may be improperly put together, and so become ineffective; or in cases where the protected channel is not absolutely closed, their employment may be attended with as much danger to friend as to foe.

The Committee are informed that there are only a limited number of officers and men in the Royal Engineers trained to this work; and looking to the demands which will certainly be made upon them in the event of war, it will be impossible to provide the trained detachments requisite for the charge of the mines at the various stations at which their employment will be recommended. The Committee, however, hope that it may be possible to send from home two or three thoroughly trained men, with an officer, for the more important stations, who, with the assistance of electricians employed on the local telegraphs, and of skilled boatmen with a few artisans to be found in each place, either among the troops or inhabitants, will be able to lay out the mines and work them satis- factorily and safely.

The more delicate locomotive torpedoes, requiring as they do the services of highly trained men and the greatest nicety and care in handling, are not considered to be generally adapted for use in the colonies, where it would seldom be possible to secure the conditions. essential to success.

The common, inexpensive, spar torpedo might, however, be adopted, and in many cases with great advantage. This torpedo is of a nature that it may be fitted to ordinary steam-launches or other suitable boats, some of which may, as a rule, be found in any port of commercial importance. Instructions should be furnished to the local authorities respecting the use of torpedoes of this description, and the fittings and appliances which their employment demands.

After taking a general view of the varions Colonial ports, the Committee deemed it advisable, in the first instance, to direct their attention to the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Ceylon, Singapore, and Hong Kong, forming, as these Colonies do, connecting links in the chain of communications between the home ports and India, China, and Japan.

At this stage of the proceedings, the Inspector-General of Fortifications laid before the Committee various professional reports of the Defence Committee, relating to the permanent as well as the temporary defences of the commercial harbours at home, and Admiralty coaling stations abroad. These valuable reports contain full information on all matters of military detail respecting the armaments and forces which appear to be neces- sary, and the Committee accepted these official documents as the basis of their inquiry. There was also laid before the Committee a Confidential Colonial Office Paper (African,

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