CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 322

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. August 1895.

Page 322

SECRET.

GIBRALTAR.

GIBRALTAR. 5.

8511.

Defence Scheme revised to April 1895.

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

(Not for communication to the Colony.)

IN this revision of the Defence Scheme the question of the disposal of the coal hulks in case of an attack is again brought forward.

The Colonial Defence Committee understand that these hulks will cease to exist if it is decided to build, on account of the Colonial Government, a commercial mole and jetties to supplement and complete the Admiralty harbour works now in hand. But as it is not likely that these further works will be finished for some years, they are of opinion that it should be authoritatively decided what is to be done in the matter of the hulks in the meantime.

2. It will be convenient to recapitulate here the recommendations which have been made of late years with regard to the disposal of the hulks and coal.

In a Memorandum, dated the 13th August, 1891, attached to the Gibraltar Scheme of Defence for that year, the Senior Naval Officer stated:

In the event of hostilities with any Naval Power it would be most desirable to move under the New Mole, as many coal-laden hulks as could with advantage be placed there for supply, as well as defensive purposes.

Excepting such coal as could be kept in lighters in shelter under the Moles, no coal should be kept afloat in the bay.

A large amount of coal could, for naval purposes, be stowed in the Dockyard, in Rosia dry ditch, in the Naval Quarry, and on the North Front. The two last-named positions would be most convenient for the mercantile marine if necessary. As regards the North Front, the question of Spain might have to be considered.

To raise moorings of hulks, and both hulks and moorings from the bay, parties of fifty men to each bulk would be required, i.e., twenty-five in the hulk and twenty-five in the mooring lighter.

The work would require to be done under practical seamen, and each party of fifty men that could be employed would probably move and resecure one hulk a-day, dependent, however, on time of year and weather, as also upon the mooring lighters available.

I should think a good many of the older hulks might be beached with advantage.

The Colonial Defence Committee in their remarks, dated the 11th April, 1892, on the 1891 Scheme, reported as follows:-

Apart, however, from the question of danger to coaling arising from fire, it is evident, as pointed out by the Senior Naval Officer, that during war with a Naval Power the risks of keeping coal afloat in hulks in the bay could not be run. The Colonial Defence Com-

mittee consider, therefore, that the question of the local preparations necessary to facilitate

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