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were enrolled, subjected to a drill of a month or six weeks, and afterwards to a monthly drill day. They were also turned out on all occasions of "general alarm as for a drill day, and remained under arms until dismissed.
9. It is provided by Ordinance that if at any time the corps should be called out for permanent duty, in case of invasion, threatened or actual, they shall be entitled "to the same pay and allowances as Her Majesty's militia forces in England when drawn out and embodied."
10. In consequence of the great reduction in the garrison, and the rapidity and suddenness with which steamers can in these days approach the shore from any direction, it becomes more necessary than ever that the local forces should be speedily available at any instant during a war. I believe, however, that as their habitations are not far from the positions at which they would be required to assemble on any alarm, it would not be necessary to embody them during a war except under very threatening circumstances, or except any case in a prolonged war, in which it might be thought desirable to embody a portion of the corps for the purpose of relieving a weak garrison in the guarding of some of the outposts.
11. With these exceptions it would not be necessary to do more than to provide for the enrolling, clothing, and drilling of the corps, which would be attended by an expense roughly estimated as follows:-
Uniform, &c., for 360 men
Drill for 30 days at 1s. each, and a ration, value 1s.
Adjutant and quarter-master, at 4s. a day
Man in charge of arms, at 2s. a day
Contingencies
勝
··
£
720
1,080
72
36
50
1,958
The annual expense afterwards being :-
Twelve days' drill at 1s. each man for rations Adjutant and man in charge of arms Contingencies..
•
£
216
108
50
374
12. Looking to the importance of the island as an Imperial fortress in time of war, the militia may be regarded as a substitute at a comparatively small cost for the otherwise necessary employment of a certain number of regular troops, and, therefore, if it should be thought expedient to enrol the corps at any time, I would respectfully submit whether, in the peculiar circumstances of the island, the cost of clothing and drilling might not be supplied from Imperial funds.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HUDSON R. JANISCH.
No. 162.
Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B., to Colonial Office.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Committee Room, Whitehall, June 7, 1878.
I AM requested by the Colonial Defence Committee, with reference to your letter of the 31st May,* to forward to you a report in which the Committee have dealt with some of the principles which apply to the Colonies in general, together with a special report on Cape
Town.
The Committee have thought it desirable not to defer sending this report, which even as regards the Cape is incomplete, in consequence of the undecided condition of some of the points necessary to form a conclusion, as some time will elapse before they will be able to report on the other Colonies.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
ALEX. MILNE, President.
[793]
* No. 140.
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