Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. 1888.
Pages 4925.
CONFIDENTIAL.
Report by Captain T. S. Jackson, R.N.
GRENADA.
Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.
THE Colonial Defence Committee have considered the Report drawn up by Captain T. S. Jackson, R.N., who was detailed by Vice-Admiral Lyons to confer with the Governor of the Windward Islands on the defence of Grenada.
The strategic advantages which this island possesses are undoubtedly small. It lies nearly midway between Trinidad and St. Vincent, forming thus a link in the chain of British islands closing the entrance to the Carribean Sea, from St. Lucia to the coast of South America. It is also a station on the cable running from Trinidad to St. Lucia, and on to the northern group of the Lesser Antilles. The maintenance of this cable provides communication between Jamaica and St. Lucia, viâ Puerto Rico, if the lines passing through Martinique were interrupted.
The harbour of St. George's, which is commanded by an old fort, now out of repair, is excellent, though small, It therefore affords convenient shelter to an enemy's ship to refit and repair damages, while, if destitute of all means of defence, any vessel would be able to enter it for the purpose of demanding supplies or coal.
The extremely moderate measures of defence proposed by Captain Jackson would, in the opinion of the Colonial Defence Committee, suffice to deter any enemy's vessel from entering the harbour of St. George's, which would then give protection to unarmed British ships employed in maintaining communications among the southern islands of the group.
The Imperial advantage to be derived from the creation of a small local defence at Grenada is necessarily of minor importance. The island would become a sort of picket port, aiding the general defence of these waters, and in the available protection provided for British ships during a period of war, but possessing a limited strategic value in consequence of the proximity of the naval station at Port Castries, St. Lucia.
The Colonial Defence Committee would have hesitated to recommend that conditional assistance should be furnished towards the local defence of Grenada; but that they consider a larger question to be involved. As they have already pointed out in the case of St. Vincent, which presents similar conditions, and for which island they have recommended the grant of arms, " encouragement is due to all Colonies which evince signs of military spirit," and "by the develop- ment of local forces, which would, in time, regard themselves as part of the Imperial strength, there can be no doubt that the sentiment of loyalty to the Empire will be promoted."
They therefore recommend that the three 7-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns proposed by Captain Jackson, and an equipment of ammunition, together with 100 stand of Snider rifles, should be presented to the Colony upon the same conditions as those laid down in other cases. The Colony to pay the cost of
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