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is for consideration whether the duties of Intelligence Officer, of which the importance has much increased at Sierra Leone, can now be suitably combined with those of Signalling Officer, and whether an officer of the Frontier Police would not be best fitted by experience for the special responsibilities devolving on the head of the Local Intelligence Department which should be established on any threat of war.

CHAPTER IV.

21. Page 33, paragraph 50.-On the assumption that the responsibility for the various duties in connection with watching and defending the frontier already referred to in these Remarks will devolve on the Inspector-General of the Sierra Leone Frontier Police, the instructions to him given in this paragraph will require considerable amplification. It appears desirable that the Frectown detachment of the Frontier Police should be placed immediately under the orders of the Officer Commanding the Troops.

22. Page 34, paragraph 51.-The instructions of the 11th June, 1897, to the Superintendent of the Civil Police referred to in this paragraph, should be given in the Scheme.

CHAPTER VI.

23. Page 38, paragraph 55.-This paragraph appears to require considerable amplification on the lines given in paragraph 21 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks No. 150 R. of the 10th December, 1896. The examination line should be laid down and the examination vessel told off, and it should be stated how its crew is to be furnished, and what are the arrangements for signalling between it and the hatteries. The respective responsibilities with regard to the stopping of vessels (other than Her Majesty's ships) of the examination vessel and of the batteries should be given in the terms of the final sub-paragraph of the paragraph referred to.

24. Page 38, paragraph 56.—It will not be necessary to repeat this paragraph in future revisions of the Defence Scheme. It is observed, paragraph 49 (8), that a guard over the coal store at night is to be furnished from Tower Hill.

M. NATHAN, Secretary,

(Signed)

Page 156.

March 5, 1898.

Colonial Defence Committee.

?

PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY J. W. HARRISON.-9/3/98.

Page 156

Page 157 of This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Goparment of 290

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. February 24, 1898.

SECRET.

No. 179 R.

ST. HELENA.

ST. HELENA.

C.O.

No. 26. Secret.

Report of Local Defence Committee on Defence Scheme, September 1897.

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

THE Colonial Defence Committee have not thought it advisable to reprint the St. Helena Defence Scheme, in spite of the latest Report on it involving various alterations, because since its submission there has already been a considerable change in the garrison available for the defence of the island, which during the present year will probably attain the full number that has been approved, and will much alter the defence conditions of the Colony.

2. For the same reason the Committee do not propose to remark on the various; details of the defence referred to in the Report, but will confine their attention to the recommendations of the Local Defence Committee and the Governor as to the provision of a steam-tug and to the point brought specially to notice by the Local Committee as to the necessity for cable communication.

3. With regard to the former subject, the Colonial Defence Committce arc informed that the Naval Commander-in-chief on the station has reported that a steam launch will fully meet the requirements of the Colony in examining duties, and they also understand that the Admiralty are not likely to provide a launch for these purposes, except in war.

A vessel suitable for examining duties would, if it were available in peace, answer the requirements of artillery practice, but for this practice at moving targets five or six days in the year would suffice, and though it would increase the efficiency of the artillery, the Committee are unable to recommend the provision of a vessel to be used in peace for artillery purposes only. The Governor strongly urges the necessity of a tug for the relief of shipwrecked vessels, a purpose which does not touch the question of defence. Looking, however, to the fact that a vessel as proposed by the Governor for civil purposes would meet certain military requirements of the Colony, the Colonial Defence Committee recommend that if such a vessel is provided by the Colony, the Admiralty and War Office should contribute towards it.

4. With regard to cable communication with St. Helena, the Colonial Defence Committee understand that a proposal by the Eastern Telegraph Company to provide a cable to the East, touching only at British stations, is under the consideration of an inter-departmental Committee, and that this cable would touch at St. Helena. They are strongly of opinion that such a cable, apart from any commercial and general advantages which it would confer on the island, would immensely enhance its strategic value, indeed, that it is essential if full advantage is to be derived from the important strategic position of St. Helena.

(Signed)

M. NATHAN, Secretary,

February 21, 1898.

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