Page 642
Page 642
account of its proximity to the French station at Martinique (2578-2580, 2588).
St. Thomas has a well-sheltered harbour, but has a bad reputation for unhealthiness (2582-2586).
Jamaica.-Commerce in the West Indies has so fallen off of late years that one hardly looks at the small West Indian Islands as places suited for great naval depôts or rendezvous (2590); it would be more desirable that any expenditure of money should be on Jamaica (2576).
612
iron-clad (2645–2648). The construction of a dock at Simon's Bay would entail such labour, time, and ex- pense that it is preferable to make the best of the dock at Cape Town (2649).
The dock at Hunter's Point, near the town of San Francisco, accommodates ships of the second class. It is 384 feet long, and has between 20 and 25 feet of water over the sill (2492-2495). At Mare Island a stone dock is in course of construction to have 26 feet of water over the sill (2496). There are also floating docks at Callao and Valparaiso (2497, 2498):
A dock is in course of construction at Esquimalt (2657), which is to be 380 feet long, and have 264 feet of water over the sill (2658).
May 25, 1880.
Docks. The Alfred Graving Dock at Melbourne is the best we have out of Europe. It can take the largest of Her Majesty's ships, being 470 feet long, and having, with occasional tides, 28 feet of water over the sill (2499-2504, 2639). As a rule Her Majesty's ships on the Australian Station do not draw more than 20 or 22 feet of water (2505), their dimensions having been until lately somewhat regulated by the depth of Sydney His Royal Highness the DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE, K.G., Harbour, which has only within the last three years been opened up for ships of heavy draught (2510, 2511); it may, however, be necessary, under certain conditions, to put large ships on the Australian Station, and in that case the Alfred Dock would be the only one available for them (2506-2509).
The Fitzroy Dock at Cockatoo Island, Sydney, is long enough (365 feet) to take a large vessel, but the depth of water over the sill is only about 20 feet (2640- 2642); the expense of deepening the dock would pro- bably not be very great, as the island is composed of sandstone (2643).
At Singapore there are two docks: the Tanjong Pagar Dock is 450 feet long, and is reputed to have a depth of 20 feet of water over the sill, but only 18 feet of water was found in 1874, when one of Her Majesty's ships was docked there. The other dock is not so deep, although it also is stated to have 20 feet of water (2659-2663).
The graving-dock in course of construction at Cape Town will be 380 feet long, and have 26 feet of water over the sill, so that it will almost take in our largest
Required Garrison in War Time.
&e.
Garrisons-existing and required-of Foreign_Sta- tions. The existing garrisons of our principal military posts abroad, which are of incalculable value for the protection of British trade and interests, are very in- adequate (2722). Many of these garrisons-that of Hong Kong for example-are below the practically safe limit, even in peace time (2723).
The following Table gives the existing garrisons of the principal military stations abroad, the strength which would be required in time of war, and the increase involved in each case.
The estimates for the garrisons in case of war are very low (2676, 2680); that for Jamaica provides only for the defence of Port Royal and Kingston, and assumes the loyalty of the natives-otherwise a con- siderable addition would be necessary (2676). The estimated garrison for Halifax is for the defence of the dockyard only, not of the Colony; Malta, on the other hand, must be protected as a whole, and the garrison is calculated accordingly (2785).
Existing Garrison.
Required Increase.
Malta (2675) Gibraltar (2676)
Halifax (2076)
Bermuda (2676)
Cape of Good Hope (2670)
Hong Kong (2678)
114
Jamaica, Port Royal (2676-78)
Trincomalee (2679)
2,500
Artillery.
gggg Engineers.
Infantry.
Total.
:
9,000 12,000 350* 167 3,417
628 29 388Artillery.
...
:
sཤྩ Enginecrs.
Infantry.
Total,
Artillery.
Engineers,
Infantry.
Total.
333 5,583 7,148
2,150 1,400 2,000
8,000
250 1,950
10,650 857
3,600
306 3,080
270
1,221
500 3,800
6,300
192
385 1,262
{{
600
100+ } 73
3,000
3,772
...
4,852 1,232 4,210 1,293 1,591 1,130 1,839 1,808 3,7781
196 153
2,009 115 2,538 4,401
4,914 726
6,401
300
2,800
3,11784
01
17
2001
250
***
2,500
2,700
823
296 259T
30
600
880
1,015 125
8:17** 108
138
112
120
1,977 2,102
1,915 2,053
30
600
712
* Malta Fencibles. Owing to recent active operations Gun Lascars.
mv
+ Cavalry.
troops in Cape Colony are scattered, but may be taken to be approximately at this number.
A low estimate, assuming loyalty of natives.
West India Regiment. ** Does not include troops in Bahamas or St. Lucia.
The most important places which should be first looked to are Malta and Gibraltar; they are valuable in almost any crisis or disturbance, whether European or Asiatic. The safety of our route to India through the Suez Canal (which could be easily stopped) depends upon the support of Malta, which therefore ought to have a large garrison (2783, 2784).
The importance of Hong Kong as the base of opera- tions of the China squadron, its distance from support, and its proximity to the ports of foreign Powers, make it necessary that the garrison should, in peace time, be maintained at nearly war strength. There is great risk in leaving a distant and isolated station with a small garrison, but the risk is probably greater at Hong Kong than elsewhere on account of the interests at stake and the wealth of the Colony. Moreover, the reinforcement of the Hong Kong garrison under appre- hension of war might further endanger our relations with unfriendly Powers (2676, 2691, 2692).
The erection of fortifications, and the reinforcement of garrisons when war is imminent, almost amount to
a threat, and it is very important that a settled plan of permanent defence should be carried out during peace, especially as works executed during panic are generally done badly, and at increased expense (2786).
Troops available for Reinforcing Foreign Stations.--- In a great European war, the strength of the nation would be severely taxed. Looking to the exigencies of home, Indian, and possibly some foreign service, the force available for reinforcements would not much exceed 6,000 men. In a war in which England was not threatened with invasion more troops could be spared (2672-2674, 2721, 2787-2789).
The home force consists of eight army corps, of which two are supposed to be held in readiness for foreign expeditionary service. The balance available for the reinforcement of our military stations abroad would be (including militia who can only go to Malta and Gibraltar) (2672-2674):
(a.) In war with France or Germany :-
Page 642
Page 642
Page 642
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.