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and embarrass the defence of the position, while receiving but little protection

themselves. If the inner harbour were deepened, which the Indian Com- Report of Defence Committee

mittee recommend, believing that it would involve no great expense, large of India.

vessels could lie inside the harbour, where they would be perfectly sheltered, Digest, p. 610.

and no longer in the way of the batteries. We have no evidence as to the probable cost, but we are of opinion that no small expenditure should

stand in the way of the improvement of the inner harbour.

33. As to the apportionment of expense, we are of opinion that the cost of the defences should be equally divided between the Home Government and the Government of India, and that the garrison should, as now, be wholly provided by the Government of India.

Perim.

34. The Island of Perim is in the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, at a Evidence. Q. 2465–2470. distance of 100 miles from Aden. As to the value of the harbour there is some difference of opinion: the Hydrographer of the Admiralty stating that it "would be open during the strong winds which blow up the Red Sea in

the late months of the year;" while Colonel Crossman considers it "excel- Third Report, pp. 152–154, lent, though small." He estimates the cost of defence at 88,000l., and the

158, 159.

garrison at 350 men. In any case, however, Perim does not command the Digest, pp. 607, 610. entrance to the Red Sea, the channel between it and the coast of Africa being about 10 miles wide; but ships can at all times lie on one side of the island or the other, according to the direction of the wind. It is right to prevent the occupation of the island by any other Power; but, with a defended port at Aden, it appears to us unadvisable that any expense should be incurred, or garrison maintained, beyond what is necessary to keep alive our territorial rights.

Ceylon.

35. The distance of Ceylon from the Cape of Good Hope is 4,400 miles, Digest, p. 607. from Mauritius 2,100, from Aden 2,130, from Bombay 960, from Singapore 1,510, and from King George's Sound 3,400.

The Cape of Good Hope, Aden, Singapore, and the Australian ports, when placed in a state of defence, will make the Indian Ocean difficult of access to hostile squadrons, and will act as the first line of defence for Ceylon. If measures are also taken to prevent an enemy's ships from coaling within this ocean, Ceylon will be comparatively safe from heavy attacks. It is, however, possible that, after all, a hostile cruizer, or even a squadron, may evade your Majesty's ships and enter the Indian Ocean, and it is therefore necessary to give consideration to the defences of Ceylon.

36. The interests to be protected in the island and in its neighbourhood

are very great. The annual value of the local trade of Ceylon is 10,000,000l. First Report, paragraph 116. Trade with the China Seas to the annual value of 24,746,000l. passes close round Point de Galle; while the trade between Australia and the Suez Canal (10,855,000l.), and the trade from the Cape of Good Hope to the Bay of Bengal and Straits of Malacca (41,744,0007.), passes at no great distance.

We think that a port should be selected for defence which should be at once a convenient, coaling and refitting station and a port of refuge for commercial ships. Three ports in Ceylon have been brought to our notice -Galle, Colombo, and Trincomalee.

Galle.

37. Galle has hitherto been a very important coaling-station for mercantile

ships, but, owing to the concentration of trade at Colombo, consequent on the Evidence. Q. 5605, 5606- facilities afforded by the railroad from the interior, and the greater security given to shipping by the construction of the harbour works now in progress, the Mail Steam Companies have either transferred, or are about to transfer, their establishments to Colombo, and a small local trade is all that will

remain at Galle. Therefore, although Galle is more in the direct route for Third Report, p. 589. ships passing Ceylon than either Colombo or Trincomalee, there is no interest of sufficient importance to warrant the construction of works or the main- tenance of a garrison for its defence. The works erected by the Dutch

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