CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 310

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. July 10, 1895Page 310 of 425

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Report of Local Joint Naval and Military Committee of April 1895.

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

THE Report deals with the instructions contained in W.O. letter, Gen. No. 5/9820, dated the 15th March, 1895, and with the Remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee dated the 7th May, 1894.

2. The Local Committee point out that whereas paragraph 7 of the W.O. letter lays down that the regulation of traffic in and out of defended ports rests with the Senior Naval Officer, or, where none is present, with the Military Officer in Command, it is stated in paragraph 3 (a) of the Remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee, that the local port authority should be the Harbour-master.

The W.O. letter refers to defended ports which are naval bases, and over which the Senior Naval Officer must retain the control as regards Traffic Regulations; it would not apply to the Narrows at Bermuda. The remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee corresponds to their general recom- mendation with regard to all ports at which Traffic Regulations are necesary.

A naval officer could not be spared for the proposed general service to the Colony. A properly constituted local port authority should be appointed by the Governor, after consultation with the Admiral, to deal with traffic generally, through the Narrows into St. George's Harbour and the inner waters.

3. The Local Committee propose, in reply to paragraph 3(b) of the Remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee, that the responsibility of opening fire on a vessel disregarding the Traffic Regulations should rest with the Senior Naval or Military Officer on the spot.

It is not considered necessary to mention the Senior Naval Officer in this connection.

4. The Local Committce request further information on the subject of the secret or pre-arranged signals referred to in paragraph 3 (c) of the remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee as necessary for saving British war-ships from any restrictions calculated to cause delay, and they ask also as to uniformity of such signals between Army and Navy.

The necessary recognition signals for use between Her Majesty's ships and fortresses are in existence, and will be communicated at the right time. This code is not applicable to merchant-vessels which must conform to the Traffic Regulations, and be passed by the examination vessel. The secret code to be employed for the latter purpose referred to in paragraph 10 of the W.O. letter should be arranged locally for use between the local port authority and his deputies and the Officers Commanding forts and batteries in working the Traffic Regulations.

5. The Local Committee consider that the exceptional conditions which justify the use of patrol vessels exist in the case of the channel through the reef at North Rock for the reasons given in paragraph 4 of the Remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee, dated the 7th May, 1894.

The Colonial Defence Committee concur in this opinion.

July 9, 1895.

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(Signed)

M. NATHAN, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T. HARRISON.-10/7/95.

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