Page 289 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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CHAPTER VIII.
New arrangements for the employment of subsidized vessels for
service in the Persian Gulf, 1895 to 1903.
78. In 1S95 there were some changes made in the arrangement for the
See Motes in Secict E, March 1905, Nos. 390. employment of subsidized vessels in the
*9 3- Gulf. A new agreement was arrived at with
the Admiralty under which India pays an increased subsidy to the Admiralty
towards the maintenance of a naval force in Indian waters (Secretary of State’s
A*, January 1896, Nos. 67*78, and B., February despatch No. 66, dated 26th June I 895 »
1896, .%os. 263-26.1. (Marine Department.) India Office letter, dated 26th June 1895,
and Admiralty letters, dated 30th July and 24th October 1895). The amount
of the subsidy is ;£ 100,000 per annum, and was based on the cost of the
following ships, viz ,—
Tons. Marathon”* ... 2,950 tons')
• Replaced in 1904 by " Fox " ... 4.360 *• Drisk"t ... 1,770 „ I
t I. " Perseus " ... 2,135 6,605.
„ " Lapwing "•* ... 805 •* Pigeon ***^ 755 ,, C
Total tonnage of preicnt subsidised ships =>8,430. “ Sphinx” ... 1,130 ,, J
79. The subsidised ships are under the control of the Naval Commander-in-
Chief, who is however required to comply with the wishes of the Government
of India as to their employment, and they are not to be employed without the
consent of the Government of India south of a line drawn from Cape Guardafui
to Point de Galle, and thence south of the Nicobar Islands to Cape Salang.
The Government of India also pays for the coal and repair of the “Sphinx”
which is habitually employed in the Persian
A.. May 189,, Nos. 917-922. 1 Gulf, and for coal % for the other vessels
I
J See also— J Ma'inc
A., September 1900, Nos. 1322-1327. )► Depart- when employed under requisition from the
A., October 1901, Nos. 1366 1376. Government of India: other vessels be­
A. January 1902 Nos. 37-38 | ment.
,
*
,
B. December 150j, No,. 1323-1324 J sides the “ Sphinx ” are often employed in
the Persian Gulf.
80. In his despatch No. 91 dated 3rd July 1903, the Secretary of State
§ No. 141 in Secret E., September 1903, Nos. intimated that he had approved in principle
113-114. (Foreign Department.). a proposal to substitute vessels of smaller
B., December 19,3, Nos. 1323-1324.
draught for the larger vessels available for
employment in the Persian Gulf, and the employment of not more than three
vessels, including the “Sphinx” for that service. He added that details had
I On the distinct understanding that no incre ase yet to be settled. The Government of
to the annual subsidy was involved. India replied that they had no objection to
the changes. ||
81. In pursuance of the above, the Naval Commander-in-Chief made the
following suggestions which he proposed should take effect from the ist October
>904:—
(a) that the “Sphinx”, 1,130 tons; “Lapwing”, 805 tons; and
“Redbreast”, 805 tons, be
Total tonnage of thc?e three ships «» 2,740.
considered the subsidised
ships instead of the “Fox ”, 4,360 tons ; “ Perseus”, 2,135 tons i
“ Lapwing”, 805 tons ; and “Sphinx ”, 1,130 tons ;
(b) that, except with the consent of the Government of India, these
vessels be not employed south of a line drawn from Aden, south
of Sokotra, to Bombay ;
(c) that yearly, during the months of May to September, each of the three
ships in turn be allowed to proceed to Colombo for a change, and
to enable the men to be put through their musketry course.

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