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78

Inclosure in No. 162.

Report.

THE Committee having been requested to give a general view as to the proportion in which the expenditure on the temporary defences recommended by them should be divided in certain cases, having regard to the Imperial and local interests to be served in each case, have to report as follows:-

:-

They desire to observe in the first instance, that while fully concurring in the view expressed by the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Colonial Military Expenditure, which reported in 1861 that "the tendency of modern warfare is to strike blows at the heart of a hostile Power, and that it is, therefore, desirable to concentrate the troops required for the defence of the United Kingdom as much as possible, and to trust mainly to naval supremacy for securing against foreign aggression the distant dependencies of the Empire," they feel assured that the views frequently expressed by the Lords of the Admiralty are equally correct, and that naval ports should not be dependent on men-of-war to protect them, but rather that men-of-war expect to be protected by land batteries when they resort to the ports for refitting purposes.

This being the case with respect to naval ports, which are as it were the bases of operation for Her Majesty's fleet, it stands to reason that the purely commercial ports cannot look for special protection from ships to be stationed in them, but that other means must be provided for their security against the casual attack of a small squadron of two or three cruizers, their protection against attack by large squadrons or by a force organized for conquest being guaranteed by the naval supremacy of Great Britain.

It will be seen, therefore, that the fleets which are an exclusive charge upon Imperial. funds afford a very large amount of protection to the distant possessions of the Crown against external attack, and to that extent relieve those possessions from all charge upon their finances.

The Committee also desire to call attention to the fact that the defences, the cost of which is under consideration, are not such as would be provided if better armaments were available, and there were ample time for the construction of permanent works; but have been recommended by the Committee in accordance with their instructions as the best means of meeting the most pressing requirements in the event of a sudden emergency.

They are to be armed with guns which, while they afford a fair defence, are not altogether such as would under other circumstances have been recommended for adoption, and, therefore, it may be expected that in some cases where great interests are involved it may be necessary to supplement them with guns of a more powerful nature to provide against attack in the event of Great Britain being engaged in a war with one or more maritime Powers which might possibly be able to keep a few powerful ships at sea.

It is not to be expected, however, so long as Great Britain maintains her naval supremacy, that hostile ships protected by heavy armour will be able to appear in the distant seas in which some of the Colonies are situated, and, therefore, it will not be necessary to provide their defences with the same powerful armament which is required. in those places such as the home ports, or Malta and Gibraltar, which are in more accessible seas.

This being the case, the permanent defence will be fairly provided for if the armament now being sent out to meet the present emergency be supplemented with a limited number of guns of heavier calibre, and if the approved works, which will be solidly constructed, be converted into works of a more permanent character.

The expense of these additions and alterations will be considerable, and will vary according to locality; but the Committee have thought it right to draw attention to the necessity of this further outlay beyond the sums now authorized, as any decision now arrived at cannot be regarded as a final settlement of the question.

The Committee observe also that the provision of the garrisons with their military establishments will constitute a very large proportion of the cost of the defences, and that it would be more satisfactory, if it were possible, if the manner in which they are to be furnished were decided, and an estimate made of their cost, so that they might have before them a summary of the total expenditure requisite for the defence of each place.

Subject to the foregoing observations the Committee proceed to give a general view, as requested, of the proportion in which they consider the expenditure now authorized may be divided between Imperial and Colonial funds.

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