CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 87

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. February 6, 1890Page 87 of 425

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CONFIDENTIAL.

37 R

Reports on Defences, &c.

TRINIDAD.

TRINIDAD.

401. Secret.

Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.

THE Colonial Defence Committee have had under consideration the following papers relating to the Local Defence of Trinidad, viz.:-

Report by Major-General Goodenough, C.B.

Report by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir A. Mackworth, R.E.

Majority Report of Local Defence Committee

Separate Report by Major Wilson

Despatch of Acting Governor

Despatch of Acting Governor, conveying proposals of Mr. Fan-

ning on Naval Volunteers

Letter of West India Committee to Colonial Office

Together with other papers.

Feb. 15, 1889

May 8, 1889

June 8, 1889

June 8, 1889

July 29, 1889

Oct. 24, 1889

Oct. 29, 1889

The questions dealt with may be divided under two heads, viz. :-

(a.) The number and nature of the local troops required, and the best means of raising them.

(b.) The nature of the local armament.

These questions have arisen on account of the withdrawal of the Imperial troops from Trinidad, in accordance with the recommendations of Lord Carnarvon's Commission,

In a Secret Circular despatch of the 18th November, 1886, Memorandum No. 19 of the Colonial Defence Committee (Local preparations to be made in anticipation of War) was forwarded to the Governor, who was directed to assemble a Committee, with a view to the drawing up of a Scheme of Defence.

This Scheme was completed on the 7th March, 1887, and forwarded by the Colonial Office for the consideration of the Colonial Defence Committee. The latter Committee commented upon it in a Memorandum of the 22nd De- cember, 1887, in which they strongly recommended that "four 40-pr. or other guns of position, with a complete equipment of ammunition, 500 stand of rifles and side arms, and 200 stand of carbines, should be presented to the Colony, as suggested by the Local Committee; the cost of freight and any charges incurred in preparing the mountings for service to be borne by Colonial funds. It should, however, be made a condition that the Colony will maintain the armament in a serviceable condition, raise and maintain the necessary local force of volunteers, and provide a qualified instructor both for infantry and artillery.'

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In making these proposals, the basis laid down by the Colonial Defence Committee was that "the main object of the defence should be to prevent a landing in boats near Port of Spain, either for the purpose of seizing coal or other stores, or in order to establish a military occupation of the island;" the former being, in their opinion, by far the more probable contingency. As regards bombardment, the Committee apprehended little risk. The damage

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