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forming such an obstruction, and have over-estimated its efficiency for so wide a channel as that between the two forts. They deprecate any interference with the waterway such as would result from the construction of breakwaters as proposed, and they would point out that an obstruction of the nature suggested would involve delay, with possibly serious results, to friendly vessels desirous of entering the harbour.

Traffic Regulations.

12. The Colonial Defence Committee concur in the suggestion of the Local Committee, that the divergent beam or beams at the mouth of the harbour should be temporarily obscured when a friendly vessel is being piloted into the harbour. They understand that this can be done without difficulty, as the projectors being sent to the station are fitted with louvred shutters for this purpose.

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13. The Colonial Defence Committee infer from the final paragraph under the heading Traffic Regulations," that the removal of certain buoys outside the inner limit of the mine-field is contemplated. They can, however, trace no proposal to this effect in the Defence Scheme revised to January 1895, and they would point out that it is contrary to the general principles laid down by the Joint Naval and Military Committee on Defence, that "buoys, marks, and lights must be maintained during a time of war.' 22

Tombeau Bay.

14. The Local Committee propose to deny Tombeau Bay as an anchorage to an enemy by laying down one or more groups of electro-contact mines, and further to defend the bay by a battery erected on the southern side, or at some suitable commanding site in its vicinity.

The Colonial Defence Committee do not consider these additional defences, which would involve an addition to the R.A. and possibly to the R.E. personnel of the station, to be essential to its security. They think, however, that a few lines of observation mines placed near the beach might be used with considerable effect against boats carrying landing parties. Pro- vision for this could doubtless be made with the personnel and matériel already available at Port Louis.

Range-finding Stations and Victoria Battery.

15. The Colonial Defence Committee do not propose to remark on the recommendations under these headings of the present Report, as they appear to refer to matters which could be more conveniently dealt with in the first instance by the General Officer Commanding or the Local Defence Committee.

Position-finding Cable across Harbour.

16. The Colonial Defence Committee concur in the proposal that this cable should be laid across the harbour, but in such a manner as not to interfere with the anchorage. Its course should be clearly marked to prevent its being fouled by vessels anchoring.

17. The Colonial Defence Committee understand that the revision of the Report of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee having been completed, the proposals contained in it, as far as they may be approved, will be embodied in the next revision of the Defence Scheme by the Local Defence Committee, and that that Committee will in future deal with any question arising out of them.

December 20, 1895.

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(Signed)

M. NATHAN, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE by T. HARRISON.—24/12/95.

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