CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 210

No28

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. May 1894.

Page 210

CONFIDENTIAL.

49-R

BERMUDA.

BERMUDA 5.

No. 4812.

Report of Local Joint Naval and Military Committee of January 1894.

Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.

THE only forms of attack considered in these Remarks are:-

1. Attack by a small force of lightly-armed cruisers, comprising, in the case of a war with the United States, one or more light-draught torpedo gun- boats.

2. Attack by the smaller class of torpedo-boats or launches, such as can be carried on board of cruisers, acting from the cruisers as in (1).

The object of such attack would be to damage the Dockyard or war-ships lying in the inner sea.

Considering the difficulties of the only two channels which are passable by vessels mentioned in (1), and that the inner sea is only navigable by daylight, also that they would have to run the gauntlet past the existing forts and mine-fields, both going in and coming out, it is inconceivable that cruisers or gun-boats would seriously attempt to force either the Narrows or the Whale Bay, Daniel's Head Passage, with Ireland Island as their objective.

It is possible, however, that one or more of light draught might make the attempt by the Narrows as a surprise by night, if any of our war-ships were lying in Murray Anchorage; but in this case it would be a preferable course for them to hoist out their torpedo-launches, and attack as in (2). Both cases appear to be sufficiently met by the proposals of the Local Committee.

The only points in the Report which call for remark are as follows;— 1. Mine-fields.-The utility of the advanced St. George's mine-field seems questionable. It is suggested that it should be abolished, as the inner line of E.C. mines closes the entrance to St. George's Harbour sufficiently well.

2. Defence Lights. By altering the direction of the Fort Cunningham beam so as to bear more up the channel, there would be no necessity for the proposed third or intermediate installation near Alexandra Battery. It is understood that the existing beams are search-lights. They should be fixed dispersed beams, which might be disposed as follows:

(a.) One installation near Fort Albert, as at present, consisting of two fixed beams, each of 30° divergence, bearing on the main Narrows mine- field.

(b.) One installation near Fort Cunningham, as contemplated, consisting of two fixed beams, each of 30° divergence, to illumine the advanced Narrows

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