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(Secret.) My Lord,

495

Inclosure 9 in No. 1,

Governor Sir W. Robinson to the Earl of Kimberley.

Government House, Perth, January 20, 1882. WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch marked Secret of the 12th November, forwarding a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office relative to an alleged scheme for a hostile descent upon Freemantle, I have the honour to inclose copies of Minutes between the Staff Officer of Volunteers, the Colonial Secretary, and myself, which will serve to explain the steps which I have taken to meet any attack of the nature contemplated.

2. I may add that we have been on the look out for something of the sort for some time past, and that I took a variety of precautions some weeks ago on learning by press telegram from England that some descent of the character alluded to was said to be in contemplation in the United States. I also telegraphed to the British Consul at San Francisco for information, but he replied that he knew nothing of the alleged expedition.

*

3. With Lord Gifford here as Colonial Secretary, your Lordship will perhaps notice with some surprise an observation in my Minute of the 14th instant, that there is no military officer here available for the position of Commandant. I should explain that shortly after Lord Gifford's arrival I appointed him Commandant and Inspecting Field Officer of Volunteers, but in opposition to my wishes and advice, he threw up the appointment after holding it a few months, partly, I think, in consequence of an unpleasant dispute between himself and the Perth Company, in which I am bound to say he was in the wrong, and partly on the ground that he had too much to do as Colonial Secretary to be able to devote the necessary time to the military work; and, therefore, I could not reappoint him to the position, unless a descent should actually be made upon Freemantle, in which case I have told him that he must take command, and he is quite prepared to do so.

4. In a public despatch I shall have the honour of addressing you on the subject of procuring, if possible, some suitable guns for Freemantle.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

WILLIAM C. F. ROBINSON.

Inclosure 10 in No. 1.

The Staff-Officer of Volunteers to Governor Sir W. Robinson.

THE Secretary of State having deemed it expedient to bring to your Excellency's notice the alleged hostile descent upon Freemantle, I beg to submit that, in view of the very limited defensive resources at your disposal, it is most desirable that, in addition to the precautionary measures already adopted, some well-conceived and organized scheme should be arranged by which the available local forces can be mobilized with the least possible delay; also, that a plan of defence be laid down, so that, in the event of an attack being made, the Commanding Officers of volunteer corps and other responsible officers, may be in possession of some definite and authorized line of action. The preparation of such a scheme I venture to suggest for your Excellency's consideration would be best entrusted to Lord Gifford, V.C., Staff-Commander Archdeacon, R.N., and Captain Smith, all of whom, from their great experience on active service, are the most competent persons in the Colony to advise your Excellency in such matters,

(Signed)

Head-Quarters, December 29, 1881.

(Secret.)

GEO, PHILLIPS, Captain,

Staff Officer, Volunteers.

I SHALL be obliged if Lord Gifford, Captain Archdeacon, and Captain Smith will confer together and advise me in this matter.

January 9, 1882.

Inclosure 11 in No. 1.

(Signed)

W. ROBINSON.

Lord Gifford, Captain Archdeacon, and Captain Smith, to Governor Sir W. Robinson.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Perth, January 11, 1882. IN accordance with your Excellency's request, we assembled this day to confer as to the best means of defence should any hostile descent be attempted on Freemantle.

We are of opinion that a vessel arriving here on a filibustering expedition would, in the first instance, bombard the town in order to learn what ordnance we have and what opposition they would

encounter.

The artillery in possession of the Colony could not reply with effect, as the best guns are two 12-pounder breech-loaders (Armstrong) and four smooth-bore muzzle-loading guns. Finding little or The forces no opposition from guns, the attackers would endeavour to land under cover of their own. of Freemantle, Perth, and Guildford would at this point be required, viz., 320, supplemented by an irregular force of 130, for whom arms are available, and would probably meet successfully any force that could be landed from the class of vessel that might be expected.

* Inclosure 12.

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264

Appendix No. 7.

AUSTRALIA.

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