The Garrison at CaPe Town. ^i 



The destructive rano-e of this cannon attains 

 the jDrodigious distance of 10,000 yards. The 

 garrison at Cape Town is ridiculoiisl}' weak. It 

 consists of one and a half battahons of infantry 

 and two batteries of artillery. The 9*2-incli 

 lireech-loading gun requires for its handling seven- 

 teen trained artillerists. The garrison in its 

 present feeble state can only furnish three men pei' 

 gun. A scheme is at present being considered for 

 combining effectively with the Imperial troops 

 the best volunteer forces, but nothino- has been 

 decided on in this direction, and the jealousy of 

 home interference entertained by the Colonial 

 Government may yet cause much friction and 

 delay. I am informed that if Cape ToA^n is to l)e 

 rendered at all secure from hostile attack, one 

 additional battalion of infantry and one battery 

 of artillery is imperatively required. General 

 Cameron, speaking at the Mayor's lunclieon, as- 

 serted that he had only 1300 effective men under 

 his command, whereas a garrison of at least 6000 

 was necessary for the adequate protection of the 

 Cape of Good Hope. To do full justice to the War 

 Ofhce I should add that it maintains with mao-ni- 

 ticent liberality for the duties of this feeble garrison 

 a staff" equal in numbers and importance to the 

 requirements of an army of 20,000 men.^ AVith 

 the due celebration of the Queen's Birthday on the 

 25th Alay, and with the opening of the Cape Par- 



- This statement was also contradicted in the House of 

 Commons by Mr. Stanhope, Secretary of State for War. It is^ 

 nevertheless, perfectly accurate. 



