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Colony; in the shallowness of the entrances to Nassau will be found its principal security.

Under the above headings, viz., Defence by Land and Sea, the question under consideration is embraced, and the Committee having before them the scheme of Imperial defence, as prepared and drawn up by General Gallwey, Inspector-General of Fortifications, are of opinion that Colonial aid in the carrying out of such a scheme would be practically useless.

They offer the following remarks for consideration :-

The only island of any real importance in the Colony is New Providence, its capital being Nassau. Nassau, therefore, is really the only place the defence of which is worth considering.

There are few inducements in Nassau, or indeed in the Colony itself, to tempt any Power to seek its possession, save any strategic importance it may be supposed to possess.

It is not a commodious harbour, where large vessels would seek shelter or repairs.

It is not a wealthy place, liable to be requisitioned by an enemy for specie, the sinews of war.

It is not a coaling station, where an enemy's vessel could obtain a supply of fuel.

It is not even a telegraph station, and so of importance as a means of communication with other countries.

It does not possess any large depôts, or magazines of stores in the way of provisions, &c., for the supply of a fleet or squadron.

Under these circumstances is the outlay of a large sum of money advisable for its defence ?

(Signed)

RICHARD BINGHAM, Major, 2nd West India

Regiment, Commanding Troops.

E. SCOBELL CLAPP, Staff Commander, Royal

Navy.

E. B. A. TAYLOR, Colonial Secretary.

O. D. MALCOLM, Attorney-General.

R. H. SAWYER, Member of Executive Council.

Nassau, N. P., May 14, 1888.

Annex.

Covering Letter from General Officer Commanding.

I HAVE read the Report of the Committee appointed by his Excellency the Governor of the Bahamas to consider the defensive resources of the Colony, and to formulate, if possible, some scheme of defence, should the necessity arise.

Whatever may be the case in these days, the existence of the heavily-armed forts and batteries in this island is a convincing proof that formerly, at any rate, it was thought capable of defending itself from attack under the conditions then existing, viz., a con- siderable garrison of Imperial troops. Probably, too, these were supplemented by a local force of some kind.

The questions, however, which we have now to ask ourselves are, I think, How far are above conditions likely to be repeated in the event of war? and What, at such a time, would be the value to Great Britain in these days of New Providence, either strategically as a harbour, or as a depôt for coals or provisions?

The reply (from a Nassau point of view) would, I fear, be disappointing; though, on the other hand, its comparative inutility, under any of these heads, might prove its chief strength-or why else should an enemy wish to possess himself of it?

There is, at present, one undoubted source of weakness in this Colony-the small, isolated garrison of Nassau; but, as there is little likelihood of its being increased in time of

war, it would, more probably, be withdrawn altogether rather than be left here to invite attack and be exposed to capture.

We have reason to believe the Imperial Government will anticipate such a state of things by carrying out (so far as the West Indies are concerned) the recommendations of the Colonial Defence Committee in their entirety; and already preparations are being made to withdraw the troops from British Honduras.

The garrison of Nassau may soon follow; and then, unless the question of local defence has been considered and dealt with beforehand-even as a safeguard against riot and disturbance-what would be the condition of the Colony ?

There will be doubtless, however, a tendency to postpone the måtter, as the colonists

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