CAB7-4 — Page 129

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this be otherwise found impracticable, by effecting a corresponding diminution in the numbers of the infantry; that the men should be especially trained to the working of heavy guns, in order to become useful auxiliaries to the Royal Artillery, and serve to complete the number of men required to fight both the existing and proposed batteries. Without such assistance, two garrison batteries Royal Artillery would, having consideration to the necessary reliefs, &c., be insufficient to man one-half of the guns, and the infantry of the garrison, who might have been trained to gun-drill, would be available only should the attack be by sea, without any chance of a landing being attempted.

Appendix No. 4.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

22. Allowing for one battalion of regular infantry additional and one battalion of colonial General distribution infantry less (there being no such second battalion in existence) than is set down in the remarks of of Imperial forces. the "General Officer Commanding," quoted in the Confidential Memorandum, the force would be thus apportioned:-

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Simon's Town-

Infantry

Artillery

Engineers

Cape Town-

Infantry Artillery

Engineers

Add, for general service-

Colonial Cavalry

:::

:::

:::

:::

•

Improvised Field Battery.

:::

Imperial.

Colonial.

1 Battalion

1 Battery

Company

1 Battalion I Battery

Company

1 Troop

Battalion Battery

Battalion Battery The Corps

23. Following, as nearly as possible, the scheme given in the Confidential Memorandum as to the Details of distri- probable distribution of the Imperial troops, this would be as follows:-

At Cape Town :—

1 infantry regiment.

1 garrison battery Royal Artillery.

1 section Royal Engineers.

At Wynberg :-

1 infantry regiment (head-quarters).

1 section Royal Engineers.

Improvised field battery.

(Also the troop of colonial cavalry.)

At Hout Bay and Chapman's Bay :-

Detachments of infantry from Wynberg, of artillery from Cape Town or Simon's Town,

as most convenient.

At Simon's Town:-

2 companies of infantry from Wynberg.

1 battery Royal Artillery.

1 section Royal Engineers.

The Committee consider that three companies of regular infantry at Cape Town in time of war would be altogether insufficient, since such a force would barely provide the necessary guards for public property in time of peace.

bution.

24, The Committee would take this opportunity of inviting attention to the desirability of some Considerations as to adequate provision being made for the protection of Port Elizabeth, the chief commercial town in South Port Elizabeth. Africa, and which, although not a place of first-class importance for the object of their deliberations, should, they consider, be undoubtedly included in the class of places, situated in the highways of commerce, where an enemy's cruizers would be able to obtain very great relief. Algoa Bay affords good protection to vessels in all gales from the north-west, and is frequently made use of as a port of refuge for vessels from the eastward in such distress as to be unable to round Cape l'Agulhas. The supply of water there is abundant, and the fact of Port Elizabeth being the terminus of an extensive system of railways insures a sufficient supply of coal being there at all times forthcoming. In addition to being able to refit, water, and coal there in almost any weather, it would at present be open to the smallest description of gun-boat to lie off this wealthy town and exact from its inhabitants contributions so substantial as to be limited only by the moderation of her commander, on pain of bombardment, since the place is at present entirely open and unprotected.

The Committee are given to understand that, should the Imperial Government consent to furnish some assistance in the shape of armament, the Colonial Government would be willing to defray the expense of erecting such batteries as may be considered most suitable for the defence of this important roadstead, and to find the force requisite to work the guns; and, bearing in mind the Imperial interests involved, the Commitee are of opinion that it would be very advantageous could an arrangement satisfactory to both Governments be come to in this matter.

Although no mention of, or allusion to, Port Elizabeth is made in the letter of the Secretary of State, the Committee would wish to submit that they have been justified in somewhat travelling beyond the letter of their instructions as contained therein, in drawing attention to its unprotected state, both by the position of the place itself and by the magnitude of the interests there involved being such that any blow to them would have a very damaging effect upon the prosperity of a very considerable branch of British commerce.

25. The Committee would further invite attention to the fact that Saldanha Bay, a harbour beyond Saldanha Bay dispute the finest in British South Africa, and occupying a position such that the presence there, so to speak, at the very threshold of the Cape Colony, of one or more hostile cruizers, would expose the

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