CAB7-4 — Page 664

Page 664

Page 664

did before, but it is doubtful whether any Colonial Ministry would ask for the re-assertion of the autho- rity (5046, 5064-5069).

These remarks apply equally to the volunteers, both Dutch and English, who went in larger numbers and with more efficient equipment than the burghers, and made great sacrifices in serving at long distances from their homes (5047, 5048).

Defence of the Peninsula.—The defence of the Cape Peninsula involves the defence of both Cape Town and Simon's Bay. Both times the English occupied the Peninsula it fell directly they obtained command of one or the other. The position of Ilout's Bay, which can be entered by large vessels at almost any time, makes it impossible to hold one end of the Penin- sula without the other, inasmuch as it affords a land- ing-place available for either (5049-5051). whole Peninsula must be under one command.

The

Railway.-It would be desirable to extend the rail- way from Wynberg to Kalk Bay, and if possible to Simon's Bay. The extension to Kalk Bay is esti- mated to cost 50,000, and the expense of carrying on the railway to Simon's Bay would be heavier, mile for mile (5053-5055). The line would probably pay. Many ships would prefer Simon's Bay to Table Bay for coaling and loading if there were means of getting their cargo otherwise than by waggon. A railway would bring a great deal of trade to Simon's Bay, the chief value of which is that disabled ships from the eastward find good shelter there. With a rail- way such ships would land cargo at Simon's Bay instead of coming round to Table Bay. The new har- bour works at the latter would not at all supersede the value of Simon's Bay, since every extension of those works extends generally the commerce of all that part of the country (5056-5061). As a naval station, Simon's Bay is superior to Table Bay both for room and shelter (5062).

Population. The population of the Peninsula is between 50,000 and 60,000, of whom, probably, one- fifth are of European parentage. The population of Cape Town is between 30,000 and 40,000 (5101– 5103).

Colonial Officers. The volunteer officers are graded, and hold commissions exactly like militia officers here. When detachments of Imperial and colonial troops act together, an officer in Her Majesty's service always takes command of a colonial officer of equal rank. Difficulties which required careful

treatment sometimes occurred between militia officers and volunteers, and the General had to decide accord- ing to the prescribed Rule. The IIome Government vested in the Governor power to give local brevets, so as to enable a selected officer of Her Majesty's service to command (5104-5109),

Apportionment of Expense.--Before the existing de- fences were begun it was proposed that the skilled labour should be furnished by the sappers, and the unskilled labour by the Colony. There was great willingness on the part of the Colonial Government to do what was just; but in the meantime, the works were carried out at the Imperial expense (5110). If it became necessary to modify and re-arm them, inate- rial assistance might be expected from the Local Go- vernment. They would at first declare the work to be Imperial, and that it ought to be done from Impe- rial resources; but argument would probably induce them to do what was reasonable. The most likely way of getting assistance would be in giving an ascertained value to unskilled labour. The Local Go- vernment objects to pay for what it does not direct, and if they were told that so much of the work was unskilled labour, they would be disposed to furnish it (5111-5113, 5122-5124).

War Office Land. The War Office have a good deal of ground round the town. The sites of the orts overlooking the bay are all secured (5115, 5116).

634

Captain CHARLES MILLS, C.M.G., Under Colonial Secretary, Cape of Good Hope.

Volunteers.-The volunteers in Cape Town, com- prising 128 engineers, 134 artillery, 56 cavalry, and 670 infantry of all ranks, nearly 1,000 in all, besides 100 cadets (5131-5133), are enrolled, and are not allowed to withdraw except with notice and the per- mission of the commanding officers. When required for service they are not allowed to leave (5223-5226). They are recruited from the respectable classes, and are mostly artizans. They are frequently and well drilled (5137-5140, 5217), and have done good service lately in Basutoland and in the Transkei (5134). They were sent as a military body under their cominanding officer, and had to serve as long as they were required (5228). Some of them can earn as much as 30s. or 21. a-day, which they give up, apparently with cheer- fulness, to serve 600 or 700 miles away for 4s. or 58. a-day, undergoing all the hardships of active service (5162-5164). The volunteers furnished all the gar- rison guards in Cape Town for months during the absence of the troops in 1878 and 1879 (5143, 5144), and were paid 2s. 6d. a-day to enable them to feed themselves (5213, 5214). The Cape Town volunteers are thoroughly trustworthy and loyal, and esprit de corps is strong. In 1857, when the troops had to be moved from the Cape to India, the most respec- table part of the population enrolled themselves as volunteers, and for a considerable time discharged all the duties which had previously been performed by the troops. That was the nucleus of the existing volunteer force. They gave proof of a spirit of loyalty and devotion which has increased, and has never been shaken (5141, 5165-5169). Before 1870 the force had dwindled away, but when the late wars broke out it recovered, and has steadily increased up to the present time. The force will never dwindle away again as long as there is a Queen's officer to hold it together (5170-5173). There would be no difficulty in doubling the number of volunteers for the defence of the peninsula in a time of danger (5220-5222), but they might not all be trained (5194). There are no natives and few Dutch in the volunteers. The English element predominates largely (5142, 5156-5161). The men are all good, but the artillery are a particularly fine corps. They have been highly approved of by all the Queen's officers by whom they have been inspected, and have done excellent service in the field. They have six guns, which they horse themselves; they practise regularly, and have also been drilled to the use of the large guns in the forts (5215-5217).

There are corps at Port Elizabeth, Graham's Town, Queen's Town, King William's Town, and many other places. At Port Elizabeth the volunteers are almost all English and German, the great majority English. In the so-called Dutch districts there are scarcely any volunteers (5175-5179).

Officers. The officers are elected by the men, and the Governor appoints on the recommendation of the Ministers. The officers' names appear in the Army List (5145-5148). An officer, like any other public servant, may be removed by the Executive Council for misconduct (5149–5153). The system of election. works well, and has secured a good class of officers. Some of the officers belong to the Regular Service. Discipline and drill mainly depend upon them, but as the elected officers become efficient they also instruct the men (5154, 5155). The corps elect the Queen's officers as they do every other officer (5174).

Yeomanry.-Besides the volunteers, there are yeomanry, Burghers, and levies (5180). The yeomanry, numbering about 1,000, are enrolled for three years and drill twelve days in the year. They have to turn out whenever called upon to do so. Their head-quarters are at Queen's Town, Mitenhage, and Graham's Town (5181-5183).

Burghers, The Burghers in the Colony number about 38,000, of whom about 5,000 are in the peninsula. They are of mixed nationality, and in the

Page 664

Page 664

Page 664