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ST. HELENA.

No. 13.

Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad. (Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, November 30, 1881. I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commis- sion on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of St. Helena, inclosing the Report of the Local Committee on the defences of that island, together with two annexures to the Report.

I am, &c. (Signed) R. H. MEADE,

Inclosure 1 in No. 13.

My Lord,

Governor Janisch to the Earl of Kimberley.

St. Helena, November 4, 1881.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch, marked Secret, dated the 23rd August last,* transmitting copy of a letter from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, and also correspondence with the War Office and Admiralty relating to the defences of this island, and directing that a careful Report on the measures for defence should be prepared by a local Committee of colonial, military, and naval officers.

2. As Commodore Sir Frederick Richards was making a stay at this island when your Lordship's despatch reached me, I availed myself of the opportunity to obtain his services on the Committee, which were the more valuable because he had given special attention to the defence of the anchorage both on this occasion and during his previous visits to the island, and had (without being aware of the contemplated additions) pointed out to me the necessity of some defensive work exactly similar to that proposed by the Director-General of Fortifications, which appeared to him to be essential for the pro- tection of the place either as a port of refuge, or as a naval depôt for coals.

3. The military officers on the Committee consisted of Colonel Philips, Commanding Royal Engineer, and Colonel Tremlett, Commanding the Royal Artillery.

4. On the receipt of your Lordship's despatch, I furnished each member with a copy of the Memo- randum of the Inspector-General of Fortifications, so as to allow time for careful attention to the subject prior to the assembling of the Committee, the first meeting of which took place on the 24th October, and was continued by adjournment on following days to the 31st October. The proceedings of the Committee are herewith inclosed, including a Minute by Commodore Sir Frederick Richards, and a Memorandum on the defences by Colonel Philips.

5. The construction of the effective battery at Munden's, proposed by the Inspector-General of Fortifications, would comprise all that was mainly essential for the security of the harbour or of any depôts in James' Town or Rupert's; and the work at High Knoll, which is now nearly completed, would render the island safe against any sudden attempt to capture it by a coup de main. I would, therefore, not apprehend that there would be much danger of an attack if it necessarily involved lengthened operations and the consequent detention of an enemy's squadron in an exposed position off the island, for so long as its present superiority at sea remained with the navy, a hostile squadron would probably be very unwilling to wait for any prolonged period, and incur the risk of being caught by a relieving squadron of superior force. But, in view of the possibility that the work at Munden's may be extended over some lengthened period of time, the Committee were unanimously desirous to urge the importance of accelerating the construction of such parts of the proposed battery as would allow at least three guns to be placed as soon as possible in positions so arranged as to bring every part of the anchorage under the fire of one gun at least.

6. This most important battery will command the whole of the lee-shore from Lemon Valley to Sugar Loaf Point, or a sweep of 220 degrees from shore to shore, on the right and left of the battery. At present there are only three guns (7-inch R.M.L.) which would not be effective except against armoured ships of the lightest class, and even these guns are so restricted by their position that they could not command more than an arc of about 60 degrees from Lemon Valley, all three bearing upon the same point, and leaving about 160 degrees of the principal parts of the anchorage completely out of all fire from Munden's Point. To remedy this defect in some degree two 9-inch guns have been approved of for some time past. The substitution of seven 10-inch guns will make it a complete and formidable battery, but as so large a portion of the harbour remains meanwhile in a defenceless state, and as the work of constructing casemates at Munden's is of such a nature that it could not be hastily effected in any period of emergency, I trust that the urgent recommendation of the Committee for the early establishment of three of these guns may meet with approval.

7. Some minor works detailed in Colonel Philips' Memorandum have been recommended by the Committee, and would greatly strengthen the island against attack, but they are of secondary importance compared with the necessity of the work suggested by the Inspector-General of Fortifica- tions for securing the harbour as a depôt for naval stores and coals, and as a port of refuge in time

of war.

8. As your Lordship has requested that estimates of cost should be furnished, I was of opinion

* Inclosure 2 in No. 2 A.

† No. 14.

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Appendix No. 4,

ST. HELENA,

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