CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 28

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defence of the Western Port position. They are informed, however, that this, extension is already in contemplation.

7. While a land attack in force appears to be practicable only from Western Port, it appears to the Colonial Defence Committee that the contingency of the landing of a small force to the west of Point Lonsdale should not be left out of sight. Weather favouring, a party might conceivably be thrown on shore with a view to seize even temporarily the defences from Point Lonsdale to Queenscliffe, thus halving the armament with which vessels would have to contend in forcing an entrance to Port Philip. The question of a rapid movement of troops to the support of Queenscliffe should, therefore, be considered, and for this and other purposes naval transport might possibly be advantageous.

8. With regard to the general questions of the defence of the entrance to Port Philip, which are treated in the Memoranda (e), the Colonial Defence Committee understand that the following armament will be mounted and available for the defence of the Head's position by July next, viz. :—

Queenscliffe

3 92" B.L. gans. 3 6"

1 80-pr. R.M.1.

Crow's Nest

Lonsdale..

Nepean

East Nepean

:

Totals, B.L. guns

:

:

!

gun:

1 8"

B.L.. gun.

2.5"

**

11

1 10"

"1

""

2.5"

22

2.9.2"

"

51

3 6" "} 1 9.2" 1 5"

1 10"

6 9.2"

"1

"

1 8"

6 6"

5.5"

19

The above is altogether exclusive of a second line, including Franklin battery, South Channel Fort, and Swan Island, which will shortly contain 12 B.L. and 2 R.M.L. guns. This armament, together with the line of mines between Queenscliffe and Nepean, and the considerable available floating defence, appears to the Colonial Defence Committee to be ample for all present contingencies, and they are of opinion that to construct a second island fort on the shoal to the east of the Pope's Eye would only throw an unnecessary burden upon the Colony.

They observe that the present B.L. first line armament alone is capable of delivering a fire at the rate of eighty-five rounds in five minutes on a small area of water, and this appears to them to render it impracticable for any squadron which could be spared for an attack on the Australian Colonies to attempt to force the mine-field. Further, the Committee desire to point out that the great increase of naval strength in Australasian waters which has resulted from the deliberations of the Conference, and to the cost of which Victoria is largely contributing, will render attack definitely less probable.

When the original scheme of the defence of the Heads, which contem- plated a powerful island fort of the Spithead type, was drawn up, not only was it impossible to provide a line of mines between Queenscliffe and Nepean, but the extremely powerful new type armament since provided for the triangle Nepean-Lonsdale-Queenscliffe was not in existence. Under present circum- stances, the Colonial Defence Committee consider that the defence now created amply secures the inviolability of Port Philip.

1st March, 1888.

G. S. CLARKE, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

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PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY J. W. HARRISON,6/—3/1901,

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