CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 230

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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. June 30, 1894.

CONFIDENTIAL.

958

ST. HELENA.

ST. HELENA.

No. 12.

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

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

THE Colonial Defence Committee offer the following remarks on this Report:-

1. Page 5. Examination Anchorage.-The Examination Anchorage Rules apply to all ships (except our own war-ships) arriving off the port, and it is therefore unnecessary to lay down special rules for foreign men-of-war in war time; their restriction to an anchorage outside 20 fathoms in peace time is both unnecessary and undesirable.

Again, page 6, paragraph 8. It is not clear how the fact of a vessel showing colours by day or "proper lights "-which term it is presumed means ordinary sailing lights-by night, would be any guarantee of the absence of hostile intentions, as she might do either with intent to deceive.

Also, to fire a shot across the bows by night would not be any more effective method of warning than a blank charge, as the vessel could not see the shot in the dark. All that she could understand from it would be that a gun had been fired on shore, which might be interpreted in a variety of ways.

All that is required is to insure that any vessel making for Jamestown shall not approach within a certain distance of the port until she has been overhauled and examined by the port authority. It should be easy to select bearings suitable for the purpose, say, for instance, Sugarloaf Hill, bearing east, and any prominent point about Breakneck Valley, bearing south-south- west, no vessel to pass inshore of those bearings until the examining officer hoists the permit signal on board her and this is answered from the signal station at Ladder Hill. The number of vessels likely to frequent St. Helena, even in war time, will be comparatively small, and there should be no difficulty in the examination launch overhauling them outside the given. bearings by night or day.

If the ship acts in disregard of the examination vessel, the latter will give the alarm to the signal station at Ladder Hill, and then the Officer Commanding the shore batteries, whose station, according to the Defence Scheme, is at Ladder Hill, will treat her as an enemy.

British war-ships should be exempted from any restrictions likely to cause delay. In their case all that is necessary is for them to make the secret or prearranged signal. This should be answered at once.

2. Page 6, paragraph 4. If the Admiralty find it necessary on the outbreak of war to remove the Harbour-master for service in the navy, such temporary arrangements as are possible must be made for the discharge of his various duties.

3. Pages 5 and 6. The Local Committee are the best judges of the necessity for the Regulations for small boat traffic in the bay. If necessary, their proposals seem suitable.

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