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guns to protect the land approach, and I would connect these batteries together with a musket-proof Appendix No. 4. wall, having a shallow ditch outside, and a banquette inside.

These batteries would necessitate quarters for about fifty men, and a due proportion of officers, a magazine, and extensive stores. The materials for construction (except Portland cement, which would be required in foundation) exist in the island. The lime is exceptionally good, and the rock coral, But whilst I am altogether infiltrated with carbonate of lime, makes an excellent substitute for stone. opposed to the erection of any works for the defence of the station, except they be of such magnitude and are armed with such guns as to be able to resist an attack from ships carrying some armour-plating, and whilst I am fully alive to the improbability of a really sufficient and efficient garrison being main- tained, I am, on the other hand, equally apprehensive of the establishment of a coaling station in these seas unless under conditions that would render it useless to an enemy. If iron-clad ships can obtain coal at Diego Garcia, the fortifications of all our ports within a couple of thousand miles will be affected--take, for instance, Trincomalee. Considerable works have lately been carried out for its protection, and I hope to hear soon that more extensive works have been approved for the defence of its incomparable harbour; but all the batteries erected and proposed are designed on an assumption that iron-clad ships cannot carry sufficient coal to enable them to operate with advantage in these seas.

If, however, they can be supplied from Diego, the case is very different, and all our defences will require remodelling at great expense.

The establishment of a coaling station is, therefore, one of the first importance, and the most stringent rules should be laid down for its observance. What these rules should be, it is, perhaps, beyond my province to enter into; but if it be true, as I have endeavoured to show, that a depôt of coal at Diego Garcia cannot be defended as fully as would be advisable without greater expense than the place is worth, and that undefended it may prove a serious evil, I feel that I may go so far as to suggest that if a company, establishing a depôt there, agree to limit the supply as much as possible to their actual wants, and engaged to remove all coal from it within a certain strictly-defined time from the date of an order to do so received from a Secretary of State, then the danger would be so materially reduced as to admit of the establishment being formed without resorting to fortifications, and without fear of evil results.

I have, &c.

Captain Garforth, R.N.,

(Signed)

R. BARTON, Major, R.E., O.C.R.E,

DIEGO GARCIA.

Commanding H.M.S. "Eclipse."

No. 60.

Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

Sir,

Downing Street, October 18, 1881. WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 31st August,* I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the War Office, inclosing, for the consideration of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a further Report by Major Barton, R.E., on the defence of Diego Garcia.

Inclosure 1 in No. 60.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

JOHN BRAMSTON.

War Office to Colonial Office.

Sir,

War Office, October 12, 1881.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to transmit, for the information of the Earl of Kimberley, the accompanying copy of a Report by Major Barton, R.E., dated the 14th July, 1881, on the "defensibility of Diego Garcia," and to suggest that it should be forwarded for the consideration of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

I am to observe that this Report was written by Major Barton subsequent to his return from Diego Garcia, and contains somewhat fuller information than that given in his Report dated the 28th June,† 1881, addressed to Captain Garforth, R.N., commanding Her Majesty's ship "Eclipse," a copy of which Report has been forwarded to the Colonial Office from the Admiralty.

Inclosure 2 in No. 60.

I have, &c. (Signed)

RALPH THOMPSON.

Report on the Defensibility of Diego Garcia.

Fort Frederick, Trincomalee, July 14, 1881.

Sir,

WITH reference to the War Office letter above quoted, I have the honour to report that, in accordance with Brigade Order No. 2 of the 14th May, 1881, I embarked on board Her Majesty's ship

* No. 59.

+ See Inclosure 3 in No. 59.

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