Page 282 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

q8
Colonel Ross added that the movements of the ships in question . _
were
effected under the orders of the Senior Naval Officer and not at any requisition
of the Political OfTiccrs, though the latter were kept informed of the changes
in arrangements.
(iv) Inefficient condition of vessels of the Royal Navy on East India Station, 1887.
44. In despatch No. 14 (Marine Department), dated the 29th July 1887,
the Government of India drew the atten­
External A.. November 1887, No*. 6t-60-B.
tion of the Secretary of State to the
inefficient condition of the vessels which formed the Royal Nayal squadron on
the East India station. This had been brought prominently to the notice of the
Government of India on nearly every occasion that a vessel of the Royal Navy
squadron had been required to proceed to sea during the south-west monsoon,
and again quite lately when war with a European power seemed possible.
From age, want of speed, weakness of armament, and antiquity of type, some of
the vessels ol the East India squadron were quite unsuitable for modern war
purposes, and experience had proved that they were by no means fully
efficient even for the police of the seas against slave traders and pirates, who
used fast-sailing dhows, particularly during the south-west monsoon, or in a
strong breeze, when the was no watch for fast-sailing native craft. It appeared
doubtful whether there was one ship out of the squadron, which could average
a speed of 10 knots between Bombay and Aden even in fair weather, while,
excepting the Sphinx, not one could make Aden in the monsoon direct from
Bombay without going south. Many vessels which had been attached to the
squadron were virtually worn out when coming on to the station, and cost a
needlessly large sum in repairs and refit; and in some cases their Indian com­
mission had been their last,
45. In support of these statements, the following recent instances of the
inefficiency of the vessels of the squadron, both for police and ordinary
duties, had been brought to light. . In August 18S6 several small dhows were
reported to be running slaves off the Arabian coast; the Kingfisher of the
Persian Gulf squadron was required elsewhere; the complement of the Sphinx
would not admit of her detaching boats to cruise; and the Wood lark, the only
other available vessel, was not considered by the Senior Naval OITicer in the
Persian Gulf, suitable for use, as she could barely steam against the monsoon.
Again, in July 1883, when the S. S. Knight of the Bath was wrecked off the
Arabian coast, it happened that there was no man-of-war at Aden which could be
sent to the rescue. The Woodlark and the Philomel, then in the Persian Gulf,
were at liberty ; but as they were not powerful enough to steam against the mon­
soon. it had been necessary to despatch the I. M. S. Amber witch from Aden,
to search for the shipwrecked crew and to convey them to Bombay.
46. Finally, an extract from Lord Brassey’s Naval Annual for 1886* was
, p, ej appended as showing the views of the
Government of India regarding the in­
efficiency for war purposes of some portion at any rate of the squadron :—
“ Among the duties undertaken by the Navy, jor which it is necessary to employ
vessels of a type not suited to the more important set vices which would be demanded
from the Navy in war, I may particularly mention the police of the seas in the Persian
Gulf. The service is most trying to British crews, and it could be performed efficiently by
the Indian navyin vessels manned by native crews under British officers, the contribution
from the Indian Government, fixed at £70,000 a year, is a bad bargain for the British
Admiralty."
The Government of India therefore urged, on the attention of the Home
Government, the necessity for steps being taken to replace the ships on the
station by serviceable and efficient vessels of war. An opportunity of commenc­
ing this most desirable change would verv shortly present itself, for the
commissions of the Ranger and the Kingfisher would expire in October and
January respectively. It had been heard that it was in contemplation to re­
commission them, but the Government of India expressed the hope that two
really efficient war vessels might be substituted for these ships.

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