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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. December 12, 1894.

CONFIDENTIAL.

98-R

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

CAPE.

No. 18.

Report of Local Joint Naval and Military Committee of

June 1894.

Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.

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

Table Bay.

1. They are unable to concur in the recommendation that three armed tug-boats should be provided for boarding and for guard purposes. These boats would practically be gun-boats, and would entail the establishment of some such organized local naval force as is recommended in the Report. The armament of these tug-boats would be powerless against a hostile ship of suffi- cient strength to constitute a serious menace to the security of the port, whilst in the case of friendly ships it would be unnecessary. As guard-boats they are not required, and for boarding purposes the Committee agree with the opinion expressed by the Naval Commander-in-chief at p. 4, that good steam-launches would answer the purpose perfectly well.

2. The establishment of a naval force and the appointment of a Naval Captain of the Port are contrary to the general principle which has been approved by the Imperial Government in considering Schemes of Colonial Defence. These measures are therefore not recommended; but the Com- mittee are of opinion that in time of war a small staff of trained signalmen will be required, and that it might be formed and trained under the auspices of the navy, at Simon's Bay, in peace-time. This staff need not be large, but it should be sufficient to form the nucleus of the war establishment.

It is thought that the ordinary Harbour-master should be capable of carrying out the executive duties connected with boarding vessels and harbour traffic. He would, of course, act under the orders of the Senior Naval Officer, or, in the absence of such, of the Military Commandant.

3. The Committee concur in the opinion at foot of p. 6, that the local conditions at Table Bay do not admit of the approved principles with regard to examination anchorages being strictly applied, and consider that under the circumstances the more detailed examination of vessels must be made in the anchorage to south and east of the breakwater, as proposed.

The actual barbour inside the breakwater may be regarded in the light of a dock, and the Committee accordingly concur in the proposals with regard to it, viz., to restrict the entry into it to daytime, and to close its entrance, when completed, by a boom, or, in the event of war breaking out before its com- pletion, to extemporize a substitute for the remainder of the south and east. arms by mooring old hulks.

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