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officer in the other cases, and attention is called to the fact that Howitzers require more knowledge of gunnery for their effective use than direct fire guns.
13. Pages 17 to 20, Table (B).---The column headed "Commander" should be filled up to show the officers who will command the various sections in war referred to by the appointments they hold under peace conditions.
14. Pages 21 to 24, Tuble (B) (i).-It would be convenient if the O.C.R.A. (with G.Q.C.) and his Adjutant (with O.C.R.A.) were shown at the head of this Table in the same way as the corresponding R.E. officers are shown at the head of Table (B) (ii). It is presumed that at present the O.C.R.A. is (with the I.O.M.) with the Victoria Reserve, and that the Divisional Adjutant, R.A., is not included in the R.A. distribution, as he forms part of the Fortress Commander's Staff (pp. 11 and 27), but this is not very clear from the Tables.
15. Page 27, Table (B) (vii).It would be convenient if this Table preceded instead of followed those dealing with the distribution of the regiments and corps at the station.
In accordance with paragraph 5 of the Special Army Order of the 10th December, 1895, the Officer Commanding Royal Artillery should be employed on the staff of the Fortress Commander.
The Chief Ordnance Officer should also be added to this staff in accordance with paragraph 72, Section V, Queen's Regulations, 1895, as amended by A.O. 125 of the 1st July, 1896.
The distribution of the fifteen N.C:Os, and men of the A.O.D. should be shown in the Table, either against the various sub-divisions of the Department, or the number in the detail column should be moved up and bracketed against the four sub-divisions, as in the total column, instead of being shown altogether against "Inspector, Ordnance Machinery."
16. Page 30, 6th and 7th paragraphs.-The guns at Kowloon West and East are 10-in. R.M.L. and 92-in. B.L. respectively, and at Stonecutters 10-in. B.L. and 6-in. B.L. It would not as a rule be advisable to expend their ammunition against any but large bodies of troops closely massed.
Chapter III.-Action by Staff and Departments.
17. Page 33.-The notification that will be sent to the Governor, instructing him to put the Defence Scheme partially or wholly into force, will be in the form commu- nicated in Lord Knutsford's Circular despatch, dated the 2nd July, 1891, and a specific reference to this despatch should be made under the heading "General Review of Measures to be taken," to insure the simple code laid down in the Circular being understood and acted on immediately on its receipt.
The Defence Scheme should also lay down the action to be taken on receipt of the above notification, in accordance with Clause 2, Section 189 of the Army Act, with regard to making the forces in the Colony temporarily subject to the Army Act, as if they were on active service.
18. Page 35. Table (C).-The strength of the artillery should be 747 instead of 645 of all ranks, as here given.
19. Page 36. Supplies.-It is observed that there is in the present revision of the Defence Scheme no "Return summarizing the arrangements for supply in war," such as is usually embodied in Schemes, and was included in the May 1894 revision for Hong Kong. The Scheme shows clearly, however, that there need be no fear as regards sufficiency of food at Hong Kong.
20. Pages 38 to 42 (ii). Submarine Mining.-The submarine mining arrange- ments as detailed in these pages are, in spite of the remark on p. 16 of the Scheme (8th line from bottom), outside the sectional organization. This is undesirable, and it is considered that, in order to insure the full resources of the station in boats, super- intendence, &c., being utilized to the best advantage in laying out the mine defence, while subsequently securing to the Section Commanders real control over the mine-
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