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Appendix No. 4.

PERIM

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(Confidential.) Sir,

152

Inclosure 2 in No. 51.

COLONEL CROSSMAN'S REPORT ON PERIM.

Colonel Crossman, C.M.G., R.E., to the Inspector-General of Fortifications.

London, June 15, 1882. IN accordance with instructions contained in the telegram (copy attached*) addressed to Brigadier- General Blair, V.C., Political Resident at Aden, I embarked on board the Indian Government steamer "Amberwitch" on the 12th May last, accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Harcourt, R.A., Commanding Royal Artillery, and Lieutenant-Colonel Mathew, R.E., Executive Engineer at Aden, and proceeded to the Island of Perim.

The features and character of the island are so fully described in the accompanying pamphlet, "A Descriptive and Historical Account of the Island," by Lieutenant J. H. King, of the Bombay Staff Corps, 1877, that it is unnecessary here to say anything further on that head.

As regards the suitability of Perim as a naval station, Lieutenant-General Sir W. Jervois has set forth in his Report on the "Defences of Aden" (paragraph 61), dated Calcutta, 4th January, 1872, the reasons why, as a coaling and refitting station for the fleet, Aden should be selected in preference to Perim.

Briefly stated these are:-

1. At Perim all water would have to be obtained by distillation, while at Aden a certain amount can be obtained in some years by rainwater catch, and a certain amount can at all times also be obtained there from the neighbouring country.

2. Aden being connected with the mainland, supplies can be more easily obtained from the out- side than can be the case of an island, communication with which is sometimes difficult.

3. The larger number of labourers that can be obtained for coaling purposes at Aden than at Perim, a small and barren island, where the inhabitants must necessarily be few.

But though not suited for a coaling or refitting station, the important position which Perim occupies at the mouth of the Red Sea, possessing as it does an excellent though small harbour, renders it most valuable as a station from which ships could command the Red Sea and close the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb.

In 1799 the island was occupied in order to prevent the French coming down the Red Sea and attacking our Indian possessions. (King's Pamphlet, p. 22.) Abandoned the same year, it was not till 1855, when the difficulties of navigation at the entrance to the Red Sea were occupying the attention of the Government, that the question of reoccupying the island and erecting a lighthouse on it was raised.

In a despatch written in 1856, Sir Henry Leeke, then Commander-in-chief of the Indian navy, said:

"If it is regarded in a military point of view, it will be clear that whoever are the possessors of the Island of Perim have the key of the Red Sea."

"Again I would state that in the event of a ship-canal being cut between Suez and Alexandria, the value of such an island to the interests of trade is very apparent, and of the utmost importance to England and India.

As the resources (naval) of England in the Indian Ocean may at times be crippled, the footing of a powerful enemy on that island would add to the embarrassment of the Government, and cause much annoyance to the harbour of Aden, and would completely shut up the Red Sea," and he concludes by saying "that the advantages of this island are so many, that it is well worth the consideration of Government whether it is not better to regain possession of it, for if we do not I strongly suspect others will."

In November 1856 Perim was reoccupied, a lighthouse was built, and a small defensible barrack constructed, but nothing was done to secure the place against attack.

Although, in the event of any great European war, the Suez Canal might be nominally closed to all combatants, there is every probability that if a Power at war with England were to gain possession of Egypt, the Canal would be used by that Power for the service of her fleet, if it were decided to carry on operations in Eastern Seas.

It is, therefore, now the more essential that (to use the words of Sir W. Jervois) "the harbour should be so protected that it may be secure against seizure by an enemy; and it is of great importance that any vessels of war we might have lying there at a time of hostilities should be protected against capture in the event of their being attacked by a superior force."

To attain these objects he proposes that a casemated fort with iron shields for ten 10-inch muzzle- loading rifle guns should be constructed on the low spit to the westward of the harbour, Ghee Dubba Point.†

It is, however, for consideration whether the best position for a battery to command the entrance to the harbour and its approaches, and also to fire upon the anchorage inside, is not on the eastern side, Lee Point, for the following reasons:-

1. The site proposed for the battery at the western side is only 30 feet above the sea, while on the other the elevation is-at the level which would appear best suited for the construction of a work -about 90 feet. In the one case, casemated cover would be required, in the other not, while the increased height would give considerable advantage to the battery on the eastern side of the entrance.

2. It will be seen on reference to the chart that the extreme range to the left of any gun firing to seaward from a fort placed on the spit will not extend beyond the line A. B., leaving an unseen space, of about 200 yards in width, of water over 5 fathoms deep, between the south-eastern point

† See Map attached to Lieutenant King's Pamphlet (not printed).

* Inclosure 3.

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