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In the

In the Defence Scheme revised to January 1895, it was stated (p. 14)* that "Fort Albert can fire across the entrance to Tombeau Bay, but once an enemy has got into the bay he cannot be seen from that battery." Report of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee of August 1895, stress was laid on the facilities offered by Tombeau Bay to an enemy for landing, and it was stated that there was room for several ships to lie there "screened completely from the fire of the forts and unseen from the position finding station at Mont Prêtres.' The Committee considered that the question of laying down one or more groups of electro-contact mines in the bay was worthy of consideration, and that "the defence of this bay should be provided for by a battery erected on the southern side, or at some suitable commanding site in its vicinity.

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The Colonial Defence Committee in their Remarks, dated the 20th December, 1895, on this Report did not consider the provision of a battery essential to the security of the station, but thought "that a few lines. of observation mines placed near the beach might be used with considerable effect against boats carrying landing parties.'

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It is now suggested locally that an earthwork for the protection of the movable armament should be thrown up on the south side of the bay, pending a decision as to the erection of a more permanent work if thought desirable." It is further stated, with reference to the Committee's Remarks, that the employment of 500 lb. observation mines against boats carrying landing parties would be a novel departure.

From an examination of the contoured plan of the vicinity of Port Louis, it appears to the Colonial Defence Committee that it would only require the felling of a small belt of trees to enable the position-finders at Mont Prêtres to see all the deep water at the mouth of the Tombeau River, and they are informed that the arcs of view of the instruments that have been dispatched to Mauritius cover this water. By this means, it will be possible to direct the fire of No. III-9.2-inch. B.L. gun now mounted at Fort George and of the two 6-inch. B.L. guns which it is proposed to add this year to the armament of that work on any ship that may have entered the bay to land troops. This fire at ranges of from 5,500 to 6,000 yards, aided by the fire of the two 10-inch. R.M.L. guns at Fort Albert at ranges of from 3,000 to 4,000 yards across the entrance to the bay, make it very improbable that any vessel would attempt to enter the bay so long as it could be seen from the Mont Prêtres station. The Colonial Defence Committee therefore adhere to their opinion, that a further extension of the coast defence system in the manner proposed is not necessary, but they would suggest, for the considera- tion of the War Office, the desirability of providing a search-light near the site of the old Dauphié battery. Such a light in addition to enabling the fire of Forts George and Albert to be directed at night from Mont Prêtres would effectually prevent a landing being made undetected, and would materially assist the fire of any force told off to the defence of the landing- place.

In this connection, and with reference to the preceding paragraph of these Remarks, the Colonial Defence Committee would point out that one of the advantages of the advanced or No. 3 land position to the North of Port Louis would be that it would give facilities for patrolling the shores of the bay.

With regard to the Committee's former recommendation as to the employment of observation mines against boats landing troops, it was not intended that these should be 500 lb. mines, but that the defence should consist of strings of small charges suitable for destroying boats in shallow water.

4. The remaining points raised in the Report, under consideration do not at present call for remarks by the Committee.

The question as to the extent to which ground should be cleared must be settled by the local knowledge of officers on the spot, who can best decide on where a clear field of fire is of the first importance, and on where the obstacle provided by dense undergrowth should be retained and improved.

The nomination of civilian members of the Local Defence Committee must be left to the Governor.

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5. The Colonial Defence Committee recommend that in the revision of

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