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fields forming part of the defence of their sections, an organization similar to that which has been approved for certain home stations should be adopted. This organiza- tion is as follows:-
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On nobilization, one or two officers and a sufficient number of men of the submarine miners should be allotted to each section for the purpose of working the electric lights and making complete preparations for the submarine mining defences, as far as the work on shore is concerned; supplies and reliefs to be made by requisition to the O.C.S.M. at the depôt, either through the Section Commanders or under their instructions direct to the O.C.S.M.
“On the order being given to 'Lay out the mines,' all submarine mining officers and men would be placed at the disposal of the O.C.S.M. until the operations are complete, the O.C.S.M. in the meantime making the necessary arrangements for running the defence electric lights, and completing any shore arrangements required by the Section Commanders in connection with the submarine mining defences.
"When the operation of laying out the mine-fields is complete, the S.M. officers and men detailed for sections will revert to their sections, and have charge also of the mine-field in their vicinity, main- taining it in the same manner as the electric lights.
"The Brennan installation will be treated in a similar manner.
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The O.C.S.M. will be an officer on the staff of the Fortress Commander, in addition to his other duties (ie., as the O.C.S.M. of one of the sections), and will frequently visit the different sections in order to confer with the Officers Commanding and the S.M. officers."
A difficulty arises in the case of Hong Kong, owing to the desirability of undivided control over the two mine-fields (which are practically one) between Stone- cutters and the main island. It is considered that this difficulty will best be met by placing the whole mine-field in this channel, under No. 2 Section Commander at Belcher's, since the mines of the friendly channel are to be fired from the southern side, and it is from this side that the friendly channel is illuminated, and mainly protected by gunfire. The observers at Stonecutters and other personnel connected with the mine-field between Stonecutters and the main island and its illumination should be considered as part of the garrison of No. II Section, and should receive their instructions from the D.O.S.M. in that section, with whom they should be in direct cable communication. The entire charge of the mine-field between Stonecutters and the mainland will of course be under the Commander of No. I Section.
21. Page 47, paragraph 2.--It is presumed that the proposed issue of 150 rounds of ammunition to each man armed with the magazine rifle is based on Part V, Section 132 (8) of "Infantry Drill, 1896," which lays down that whenever a general action is anticipated every man shall carry 150 rounds on his person. It is, however, not considered by the Colonial Defence Committee that this instruction applies to a force held throughout a considerable period in readiness to meet an attack on a coaling-station, and in view of the facts that the men's pouches only take 100 rounds, and that ample provision for sectional reserves of ammunition is made in the scheme (p. 47, paragraph 3), they consider it will suffice if 100 rounds for each rifle is carried on the men.
22. Page 47, paragraph 4.---The total amount of reserve ammunition is incor- rectly described. A reserve of S.A. ammunition is provided at Hong Kong which, added to the quantities available from peace supplies, will enable the General Officer Commanding to have in his possession at all times, exclusive of the twenty rounds of service ammunition held by the troops :-
500 rounds per rifle for the infantry.
300
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R.E.
100 rounds per carbine for the R.A., &c.,
together with an Asiatic special reserve.
It is considered that the stock held to meet ordinary peace requirements for practice, together with the reserve of 1,230,000 referred to, will give sufficient to meet actual wants as above described.
Chapter IV-General Duties of Section Commanders.
23. Pages 49 to 52.-This part of the scheme is satisfactory in so far as it shows that Section Commanders are required to thoroughly familiarize themselves with their duties on mobilization, and are constantly practised in actual defence operations; but valuable though such practical experience is, it does not obviate the desirability of
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