CAB7-4 — Page 38

Page 38

Page 38

L

19

favourably situated for supporting operations directed against British trade, whether with the islands of the Caribbean Sea, with the Central States of America, with the Pacific through the Panamá Canal, or with the Atlantic States of South America. Martinique would evidently be the base of French Second Report, p. 43–45. naval operations. At Fort de France, the chief harbour, which is protected by defensive works, the French Government have an excellent dry dock, capable of receiving vessels 360 feet long, 82 feet beam, and drawing 26 feet. There are also means for repairing steam machinery and for refitting, as well as large supplies of naval stores. During the Mexican War thirty men-of-war were victualled from this naval arsenal. In Guada- loupe, too, defensive works have been erected; and additions have been lately made to the batteries defending the Rade des Saintes.

103. The Power next in importance in the West Indies is Spain. Puerto Second Report, pp. 61, 62. Rico has a garrison generally amounting to about 3,000 men. Cuba has a magnificent harbour at Havannah, protected by six strong forts, besides other harbours, some of which are defended. A force generally amounting to about 30,000 men is stationed in the island.

104. The Netherlands possesses several islands off the coast of Venezuela, Third Report, p. 514. in one of which-Curaçoa-is a fine harbour, with great capacities for defence. Curaçoa is at a distance of 650 miles from the Panamá Canal, and has been proposed by M. Lesseps as the emporium and sanitarium of the Canal. A small iron-clad, the "Bonaire," is stationed there as a guard-ship. Curaçoa might have an important bearing on trade through the Canal, "especially if parted with to Germany, of which there have been rumours at times; or in the event of war with Holland, in alliance with that or other Powers."

105. Denmark possesses the Island of St. Thomas, the harbour of which, although good and well placed for trade purposes, is not fortified.

106. Venezuela, Colombia, the Central American Republics, and Mexico do not as yet possess ships of war of their own, but if in alliance with a maritime Power, their ports might become important bases for naval opera- tions. Colombia, moreover, possesses the whole line of the proposed canal across the Isthmus of Panamá, including the ports at either end. She has also the important port of Cartagena, a strategical position which, if in the hands of any maritime Power, would afford great facilities for preventing the use of the canal.

Jamaica.

107. Jamaica is the centre of British interests in the West Indies, and in Digest, pp. 608, 612. Jamaica, Port Royal is the port best adapted for a naval station. We have Third Report, pp. 370–375. a Memorandum from the War Office on its defence, from which it

appears-

1. That the existing works are insufficient for its security.

2. That the defences necessary to constitute it a safe harbour of refuge and to secure the town of Kingston against bombardment would cost 418,2417., and require a garrison of 2,250 men.

3. That defences merely to deny the harbour to an enemy and to hold Port Royal and the naval yard would cost 105,3501., and require a garrison of 1,180 men.

Works

Armaments

£

38,050

42,300

Submarine mines

3,000

22,000

105,350

108. We have also a Report from a local Committee, who are inclined Naval defences to believe that, "with the resources of Port Royal as they now exist, and presuming that our naval supremacy in these seas is not disturbed," a suffi- cient and satisfactory defence would be provided by a system of submarine mines, protected by artillery in permanent batteries, as the outlying reefs Third Report, pp. 366-370. would afford security against distant bombardment. This scheme very much resembles the smaller scheme of the War Department; but the local Com- mittee propose to employ armoured turrets on the Grusen system, as stated to be adopted by the German Government for the defence of the Weser, instead of armour-shielded batteries. The probable cost of Grusen turrets has not been ascertained, nor has their efficiency been tested in this country, but Commander Grenfell, R.N., a member of the Committee, believes that they would be less costly than the batteries proposed by the War Department. The Committee estimate the garrison necessary for manning their works at

450 men of all arms. The Governor, Sir A. Musgrave, in forwarding this Third Report, p. 365. Report, states that he has no reason to dissent from the opinions expressed

Page 38

Page 38

Page 38