CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 78

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. November 21, 1889.

Page 78

CONFIDENTIAL.

Revised Scheme of Defence.

VICTORIA.

AUSTRALIA 5.

401.

Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.

THE Colonial Defence Committee have considered the scheme of defence

for Victoria as revised to the 1st February, 1889. This scheme appears to be admirable in its thoroughness, and affords a striking proof of the energy and ability which the Colony of Victoria has brought to bear upon the question of local defence.

While the Committee do not desire for a moment to discourage efforts so patriotically made, they are strongly of opinion that the scale of necessary defence is in danger of being somewhat lost sight of in Victoria, and that the standard of attack which appears to be provided against has been somewhat éxaggerated.

Thus, an expedition of 10,000 men could only be dispatched from Europe, and the Colonial Defence Committee cannot conceive the probability of such an attack being directed against the Australian Colonies, or of its success unless Her Majesty's Navy had been completely effaced. Neither do they consider that "two large iron-clads" of a hostile Power will ever find their way into these waters.

The Committee desire, therefore, to recall attention to the basis upon which the defence of the Australasian ports ought, in their view, to rest, and they quote the following from their Memorandum of the 5th June, 1888, forwarded to the Governor of New South Wales on the 18th June, 1888:-

"The nature and strength of the attack which could be made upon the Australasian Colonies must necessarily rule the measures of defence adopted, and this question has been much considered at various times.

"In a Memorandum of the 25th March, 1880, addressed to Lord Normanby, Commodore Wilson discussed the possibilities of attack from the naval point of view. He then stated:

"It has been suggested as possible that during war a squadron of fast frigates, including even an iron-clad, might escape the vigilance of our fleet and make a descent on the Australian coast; there is no doubt that such is possible, but I cannot allow that it is reasonably probable, and it appears to me that we have to deal with probabilities more than possibilities. But to examine this branch of the subject it must be remembered that in these days of steam and telegraph communication, the locale of every war-ship in the world is known, and that, as a matter of fact, the moment war is declared each and every ship of any Power would be watched by our cruizers. Still, there is the possibility of enemy's ships evading our vessels, or we may be beaten in action and so leave them uncontrolled; but even then it is by no means clear that regular war-ships could or would make an attempt at attack.'

"After considering the difficulties under which ships of war would labour as regards procuring a certain coal supply, without which combined operations

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