Lord Carnarvon, on Thursday, brought up the question of fortifying
the great coaling-stations, in a speech which, though moderate in temper, and full of knowledge, was really an accusation against the Government of gross neglect. He admitted that something was to be done, but believed that the expenditure proposed was inadequate, and that in practice little or nothing would be finished. He wanted more stations fortified and heavier guns. Lord Northbrook replied in a temperate speech, the recurring burden of which was that Simon's Bay should be fortified, at once, and sufficiently, and Aden and Singapore a little more slowly. A sum of 2200,000 will also be spent on minor coaling stations; but as regards these, the Admiralty relies a good deal on submarine mines and torpedo- boats, and also, of course, upon the fleet. The total outlay will be 2900,000. The adequacy of the sum to be asked for is, of course, matter for experts ; but we should think if Hong Kong were added to the list of places to be fortified at once, the public would be contented. We should then have safe stocks of coal at intervals all the way from London to the Far East, the stations being Gibraltar, Malta, Suez, Aden, Calcutta,—an impregnable depot, with a limitless supply,. —Singapore, and Hong Kong. The stretches of sea are a little too long, and Bombay is left in a defenceless condition ; but everything cannot be done at once. Simon's Bay, which pro- tects the alternative route to Asia, is the most important point ; but we wish the whole work could be done out of a definite grant of money, to be expended by men sure of dismissal if the work were not properly completed. There is a want of business- like definiteness about some of these arrangements.
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