CAB7-4 — Page 188

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Appendix No. 4.

PERIM,

160

RECAPITULATION.

First Scheme.-Occupation of harbour denied―

Works (Flagstaff Fort) Armament

CEYLON.

Total

•

:

::

Garrison-

Artillery Infantry

::

::

Second Scheme.-Defended as a coaling and provision depôt—

Works 2.

Armament

Roads

Submarine mines, &c.

Two torpedo-boats

Barracks

•

Defensible post

*

Garrison-

Total

Lee Point Fort Defensible post Submarine mines

Totals

April 26, 1881.

་་

:::

:::

:

•

::

£

26,800

4,200

31,000

50

70

£

50,425

29,300

1,000

10,200

9,000

•

12,000 5,000

116,925

Artillery.

Sappers.

Infantry.

60

30

80 50

30

•

90

30

130

CEYLON.

(Signed)

J. H. SMITH,

(Signed)

T. L. GALLWEY, Inspector-General of Fortifications.

Page 188

No. 54.

Captain Bowden Smith to Rear-Admiral Sir A. Milne.

Dear Sir Alexander Milne,

4, Grenville Place, Cornwall Gardens, December 3, 1879. HAVING quite recently returned from two years' service in the East Indies, during which time I visited nearly the whole of that large station, I have taken the liberty of writing you the inclosed letter, desiring to draw your attention to what I venture to think a great mistake, viz., fortifying the harbour of Trincomalee instead of concentrating all our strength on Galle or Colombo, and making one of those places impregnable against any ordinary attack.

We are now, as far as I understand, about to expend money on all three of these places, but how can we garrison them all? I look upon Trincomalee as almost useless in war time as a coaling-station, whilst it is quite cut off from the rest of the Colony.

No heavy repairs of any kind can be executed there to hull or machinery, nor is there any dock there.

I have, by permission, lately forwarded a paper to the Admiralty on the present state of the naval yard at Trincomalee, and should not therefore have troubled you did I not consider the matter of so great importance. It seems to me that we are trying to fortify too many places in our extended Empire, instead of concentrating our attention on a few important and vital stations.

I hope I am not occupying too much of your time in asking you to read what I have written, but had I written a paper on our defences in the east for the United Service Institution, which was at one time my intention, it would have only made our weak places public to the world.

I remain, &c. (Signed)

N. BOWDEN SMITH.

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