Page 91
4
Chapter IV.-Instructions to Section Commanders.
17. Page 51.-This Chapter has not been revised on the lines indicated in paragraph 23 of the Committee's Remarks, No. 172 R, dated the 30th November, 1897. It might be supposed from a perusal of the Chapter that the duties of a Section Com- mander are purely tactical, although one of the main objects of the sectional system is to gather together in each section not only all the different means for its defence, but also the administrative machinery which keeps them in a state of efficiency.
The paragraph of the Committee's Memorandum, No. 46, dated the 3rd May, 1993, which was recommended for guidance in revising this Chapter, is as follows:
*20. Chapter IV.-It is assumed that at most stations it will be necessary to subdivide the Defence into sections, placed under special Commanding Officers. The officers selected for these positions will need certain instructions as to the area, scope, and composition of their commands; these will be dealt with in Chapter IV. The instructions should deal with the most salient points with which the Commander should be acquainted, such as the area of his command; the staff and may be troops allotted, with their distribution and quartering; the modes in which the section reinforced in case of attack; the system of communications in the section, and between it and other parts of the command; the method of supply of the troops with ammunition, food, water, and transport, with position of depôts, the arrangements for medical service, and position of hospitals and dressing stations; the modes of attack to which the section is most exposed, and the general principles upon which they may best be met; the additional works to be executed in the section, and how they are to be carried out."
Chapter V.-Orders to Corps as to Procedure on Mobilization.
18. Page 52.-The fourth paragraph relating to No. I Section is unintelligible. It would be more convenient if the tactical instructions to Section Commanders were so worded as to be, to some extent, self-explanatory, without reference to the sketches showing the detailed dispositions.
19. Page 57.-The contents of this Chapter should correspond with the heading, and should be as specified in paragraph 24 of the Committee's Remarks, No. 172 R, dated the 30th November, 1897. Much of the present subject-matter would more properly find a place in Chapters III and IV.
Chapter VI.-Harbour Regulations, Civil Administration, and Miscellanea.
20. Page 63.-Paragraph 25 of the Committee's Remarks, No. 172 R, dated the 30th November, 1897, appears to have been overlooked, as, with the exception of paragraph 6, the Traffic Regulations remain unaltered.
The chief amendments required are that in the first paragraph, the words "when considered necessary" should be substituted for "when hostilities are threatening," and that the references to Consular notices should be omitted. It is, however, very desirable that the portions of the Scheme dealing with the arrangements for the regulation of traffic should be rewritten with a view to rendering them more clear and complete. The conditions under which these arrangements would be enforced should he further explained. The Colonial Defence Committee recommend that a copy of the model schedule of arrangements drawn up by the War Office, in consultation with the Admiralty for mercantile defended ports at home, should be forwarded to the Colony as a guide to the nature of arrangements required. These model arrangements will require some modification to suit the local conditions, and it must be borne in mind that Traffic Regulations do not apply to Her Majesty's ships. These are passed into defended ports under a system which is now under revision, and which will shortly form the subject of a communication from the War Office.
J. E. CLAUSON, Acting Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
June 20, 1899.
approved bytte
266
byster in Hong
25.7.99
29.
PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY J. W. HARRISON.--
---22/6/99.
Page 91
Page 91
Page 91