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CONFIDENTIAL.

No. 20 R.

TASMANIA.

Report of Local Committee.

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

THE Colonial Defence Committee have carefully considered the Reports drawn up by the local Committee of the Colony of Tasmania.

They desire to point out that the instructions contained in Colonial Office Circular Memorandum of the 18th November, 1886, appear to have been somewhat misunder- stood. It was the object of that Memorandum to detail briefly the points which might well be considered in drawing up a complete scheme of defence dealing with existing resources only. Such a scheme, if carefully matured in peace time, might be put in force, if an emergency arose, without confusion or loss of time, and would enable every Colony of the Empire to turn the whole of its defensive resources to advantage at short notice.

Thus, it is desirable to exclude from the scope of such schemes all proposals for the permanent increase and development of the defences of a Colony, and to deal merely with the measures which could be taken on an immediate outbreak of war. On the other hand, such proposals might well be considered by the local Committees, and separately put forward.

The Colonial Defence Committee, therefore, suggest that this should be pointed out to the Governor of Tasmania, for his consideration, and that a copy of the Report drawn up by the local Committee of Natal should at the same time be forwarded, for his information. This Report, though necessarily dealing with conditions on a smaller scale than those which present themselves in Tasmania, would serve, nevertheless, as a general guide to the local Committee in relation to the more immediately important portion of their functions.

As regards the proposals contained in the Report under consideration, the Colonial Defence Committee consider that their views may be of some use to the Colony in adjusting the standard of its future defence policy, and they therefore suggest that their remarks should be forwarded for the consideration of the local Government.

The difficulties of attack in the case of the ports of Tasmania are at all times great. The nearest harbours of France and Russia are New Caledonia and Vladivostock, distant 1,500 and 6,000 miles respectively from Hobart. In the case of all naval Powers, the difficulty of obtaining an assured coal supply in time of war will render enterprises directed against the Australasian Colonies both difficult and dangerous, while at the same time conferring important advantages on Her Majesty's ships operating in these waters. The large permanent increase to the Australian Squadron, to which Tasmania is contributing, will confer upon Her Majesty's Navy an overwhelming preponderance over any possible enemy, and will render the difficulties of attack still greater. In the opinion of the Colonial Defence Committee, this great accession of strength affords a strong guarantee for the safety of the Australasian coasts. No purely naval defence would, however, provide absolute security against the attack of one or two fast cruizers or armed merchant-vessels, which might for the moment elude Her Majesty's ships.

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