CAB7-1 — Page 9

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At Cape Town, ment, would probably be of most use in assisting the regular artillery. on the other hand, where the population in men between the ages of 20 and 45 amounts to 4,052 of European and 6,525 of coloured origin, it would be possible to provide a sufficient force for the defence of the place. As, however, such a force could not reasonably be expected to be as highly trained as regular troops, and as, in time of emergency, when suddenly required for action, some of its members might probably be absent from their homes; the Committee are of opinion that it would be desirable to invite the Colony to enrol a force of not less than 1,500 infantry, with 250 artillery for manning the batteries, besides a battery of field artillery and a small mounted force-say 50 or 100 men-to act as scouts. If this were done it would not be necessary to provide troops of the regular army specially for Cape Town.

The distance between Simon's Bay and Cape Town being only twenty-three miles, for seven miles of which a railroad exists, the defence of the two places are intimately connected; and the capture or temporary occupation of either could hardly fail to react most seriously upon the other. Care should therefore be taken to place the whole of the local forces and regular troops under one command. The officer entrusted with the joint defence of the two places would then be in a position to employ the regular and auxiliary forces to the best advantage, using one to support the other as circumstances might require.

The Committee further recommend that two staff officers should be provided for the purpose of organizing and inspecting the proposed local troops, as recommended by the Governor in paragraphs 26 and 28 of his despatch No. 39 of the 11th June, 1877.

In submitting these recommendations, the Committee have taken no account of the forces now engaged in quelling disturbances on the frontier, and in the interior of the Colony; as to whom it would appear uncertain for the present, whether any portion can be spared for the defence of the coast, Should, however, the disturbances be so far suppressed as to admit of the withdrawal of a sufficient number of troops, it would be unnecessary to dispatch additional forces from this country.

Port Elizabeth is a place of considerable importance, but falls under the last of the It is, more- three categories laid down in the Colonial Office letter of the 14th March. over, the principal commercial outlet of the Colony, and should not be left entirely unprotected. But as the interests involved are almost exclusively Colonial, the Com- mittee are not prepared to recommend that the Imperial Government should assist in the defence of this port, further than by giving advice, or by lending an officer to superintend the organization of its defences.

It would require at least six 7-ton guns in two batteries for its defence, and four 64-pounders; but before any guns are sent, the Committee would recommend that a communication should be addressed to the Governor with a view to ascertain whether the Colony would undertake to construct the necessary works, bearing all expenses incidental thereto; and to organize a local force of artillery 150 strong to man the guns, as well as a small force of about 500 infantry for their protection in case of a landing.

The estimated cost would be-

Six 7-ton guns, complete..

Four 64-pounder guns complete Batteries, magazines, &c.

Total

6,000

2,400

10,400

19,200

The Committee desire to avail themselves of this opportunity to urge the extreme importance to the Imperial Government of establishing telegraphic communication with a station so valuable as the Cape of Good Hope in a military, no less than in a naval sense, apart from Colonial interests and considerations. This might be effected by laying a cable either from Pernambuco to the Cape, or by adopting the eastern route from Aden viâ the Mauritius.

The Committee having had before them a report by Sir Penrose Julyan on this subject, dated December 1875, have to observe that, by the adoption of a route through the Atlantic, which is less expensive than one through the Indian Ocean, an important link in a through route to India would be laid, which, if eventually continued, would make telegraphic communication with that portion of Her Majesty's Dominions independent of all existing lines through Europe and Asia, or the Mediterranean, Egypt, and the Red Sea.

Without further dwelling upon this proposal, the advantages of which are sufficiently obvious, the Committee desire to express their decided opinion that the establishment of such a line would constitute a measure of the highest possible utility in time of war,

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