MAJOR CAUTLEY ON DEFENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3289, 13 April 1885, Page 3

MAJOR CAUTLEY ON DEFENCE.

When m Timaru Major Cautley was very reticent as to what he thought m- reference to the feasibility of defending the town. At Oamaru, however, he was very communicative, and as many of his remarks are exceedingly suggestivo and would probably apply to Timaru also, the following report, taken from the North Otago Times of Saturday, will be read with interest : — The following gentlemen were present at the Mayor's office m the Council Chambers yesterday foronoon to heor M ajor Cautley's remarks about the defence of Oamaru, viz., Mr J. Falconer, the Mayor, Mr A. J. S. Headland, Major Sumptor, Captains Creogh and Robinson, the Hon. Mr Surimski, and Mr T. Forrester, Secretary to the Harbor Board. Major Cautley, m answer to questions, said that the coßt of two six-inch guns such as it was suggested to obtain for the defence of the harbor, would amount to about £11,000 each, before they were mounted and the necessary magazines and other works erected. An eightinch gun would cost about £2000 more. Even if they were obtained and stationed, one at the Cape and the other near the Gasworks, they would, he thought, be of very little use against a cruiser, which could dodge about out of range. Major Sumpter asked Major Cautley if he did not think that a cruiser, on finding that the larger ports were defended, would come to Oamaru and other places which were undefended. Major Cautley replied that places like Oamaru could offer no opposition to any enemy's cruiser, which could simply stand off at sea and shell the town. If she were foiled at the larger ports she might come here for provisions and other things she required. She might take any vessels m the harbor, or sink them out of spite. The banks could arrange to have no bullion hero, and the enemy could only searoh their cellars. He was certain that private houses would not be pillaged. War was not m that savage condition now. The vessels were not privateers, as the Russian Government had signed the Treaty of Paris. Of course the cruisers under the Russian flag were dangerous, and there was no doubt but Russia wished to aim a blow at Australia, and if she were foiled there the cruisers might come on to New Zealand. He did not think any Russian agents had been here yet. With respect to laying down torpedoes, nothing could be done, as there are none m New Zealand except what were being made by a clever young fellow. He quite agreed that a little bluff m that way was capital, but unless they were very perfect they could not be depended upon. In an open roadstead where the waves were sometimes very high the connections would got twisted and strained so that they would be of no use. . The question was asked whether, m case ot the boats belonging to the cruiser came into the harbor, something could not be done with torpedoes. ■'■„,... j Major Cautley thought if it were made disagreeable for the boats the occupants of the latter would only go back, and the cruisers would shell the town. She would not wasto any shot certainly, but if provocation were riven there was no doubt but that retaliation would be made- Still, he did not think any cruiser would shell the town if she could not get anything from it. Even if she did, the idea of the damage a colonial town would suffer through being bombarded was very much over-rated, as there was so much more space here than m more largely populated places. The chances were that the town would not suffer much damage through it. Mr Headland, who only arrived at this stage of the interview, referred to the possibility of fortifying the town on a small scale. His own impression had been that two guns would be sufficient, but he had since ascertained that the cost would be so great that it would not be worth while. Major Cautley's opinion was that it would not be worth while to get a heavy gun, as it would take a long time to load, and the ship would be moving about. It would depend upon what the practice was like whether the ship would keep out of range. He did not think a ship would keep out, aB the great aim now-a-days was to annoy the gunners working the guns, and for that purpose she would come close m. Mr Headland pointed out that perhaps one or two shots, if they hit the vessel, might disable her. •,.*.,- Major Cautley thought that was a doubtful matter. Even if they ordored them, the guns could not be obtained under two or three years, and changes were being made now everyday m their manufacture. He mentioned that Sir William Armstrong had lately received an order for soo breaoh loading guns for Italy.. Mr Headland said that a factory was being established for their manufacture m Italy. Major Cautley remarked that m the event of a Russian war, and m the event of that Governmont sending cruisers to New Zealand, such towns as Oamaru, Timaru, and Napier, could not offer any resistance to them. If they came here, and met no opposition, he thought they would do no harm to the town. The place was too exposed; if it had been situated on a river something might have been invented to keep them off. If the cruisers came they would simply hoist a flag calling on the town to surrender, and they would then demand what they required. , He said the Government was going to try and keep them away from the larger towns, where the guns now lay, but the expense of doing so was frightful. It would cost £100 to take one of the guns at Port Chalmers, and erect it at Taiaroa Heads, and it was cheap to the Government at that price, as the man who had offered to do it had all the necessary tackle, whioh the Government would require to purchase.. The guns would carry 4000 yards, and make tolerably good shooting, but they were out of date now. Yet the English had hundreds of similar ones defending ports such aB Gibraltar, but of course they were being gradually replaced by others. The great object now was to proteot the gunners from the machine fire, as these machine guns fired about 100 shots per minute, and somo of them fired explosive shells as well. The Nordenfeldt gun throws a shell 6 lbs' weight, but the Russians had not got many of these guns. If any resistance were offered here

, they would have to pay for it, and unles j they could resist with some effect it woul< f be better to offer none. The quoßtion o 3 fortifying tho smaller towns would shortli come before Parliament, after his repor » was sent m. What tho Government re i quired was a fast cruiser to defend suol P ports as Oamaru. A person, he men i tioned, had remarked recently a9 to hoy ) easy it would be for any of the enemy 5 cruisers to take such a vessel as thi , Rimutaka, but the latter would reqimv , catching as they had only to raise thi . safety valves and Bhe could steam 1, 3 knots por hour. He related an inciden 3 that had come under his notice abou 7 three years ago, during the Peruvian war . where a Governor of one of the ports hac . refused to supply an ene'my'fl cruiser witl F provisions, as his Government would lm j prison him if he complied with tho demand I An Englishman who was travelling witl r Major Cautley said they must do somethm; i to prevent the town being shelled ; so he got j a barge filled with provisions and anchorec j her where the Peruvian iTiriser could ge them. The latter having obtained what sh< t required, dipped her flag and sailed away. II } was nothing but Spanish pride which pro > vented the town doing this, and for allow i ing it to be dono the captain m charg< ) was dismissed, but on the Englishman re f monstrating with the Government he wai . reinstated. The Government would noi . touch tho Union Company's steamers, as th( bulk of the money belonged to Glasgow i With regard to utilising small steamers foi torpedo boats, Major Cautley said that th< defenco afloat was m tho hands of Lieut , Douglas, who had been appointed Nava ; Officer recently. He would have an oppor r tunity of consulting him about this and othei \ matters relating to defence when he reachet i Wellington. F Captain Crcagh said it appeared, that al , they could do was to keep good stocks of coa r and flour on hand, i Major Cautley thought that if tho Russiani did come here, it would-be for provisions, anc . they could get them to give a receipt for whal ', they got, and the owners would have to 100 l to the New Zealand Government for payment Mr Headland remarked that an adequate reception ought to be given them if thej came here. Major Cautley replied that everybody triec to do that. ' The Mayor, m proposing a hearty vote ol • thanks to Major Cautloy, said the gontlemer . present aB well as others, wished to heai Major Cautley's ideas, and thoy were mucl obliged for the informatiou he had imparted He said that when the system of defence wai being discussed, Oamaru would put m a claia for powder and shot. Major Cautley, m reply, said ho had triec to sum up the whole thing to them, but he drew their attention to tho necessity of trying to remove any Government property should any cruiser come here.