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Appendix No. 7.
AUSTRALIA.
To our mind the force should be disposed as follows:-
The command given to one officer, who alone should be responsible.
The Perth artillery should, in the first place, be placed upon Arthur's Head, under cover, until the attack developed, when they should be moved according to circumstances to oppose the landing with 200 infantry, together with 100 in reserve, with ninety for pickets and communication.
The Volunteer Naval Artillery guns, with twenty infantry, should be placed at the north end of the railway bridge to protect the line of retreat and to save the defending force in the town from being. taken in reverse.
Measures should, we think, be taken for conveying the force across the river should the attackers land on the north side; and the Harbour-master should, on the first intimation of alarm, take his boats into the river, as well as secure any flats or boats that may at that time be lying there, in order to insure the transport of the Government troops.
The whole of the ammunition should, we think, be at once moved from the magazine at Freemantle, with the exception of the first and second reserve of ammunition for 400 troops.
With a view to insure quick mobilization, we are of opinion that every officer commanding volunteer corps should be acquainted with the exact plan of employment of every man, and that the Armstrong guns be moved to Freemantle.
The Railway Department should be prepared to carry out, at a moment's notice, any orders that may be issued by the officer commanding the forces; and it must be distinctly understood that every- thing should give way to any emergency arising.
We are unanimously of opinion that an officer commanding should be at once appointed by your Excellency, who should be instructed to arrange all details as to mobilization, transport and commis- sariat, ammunition, &c., and report thereon promptly to your Excellency.
We, of course, presume that arrangements have been made to signal at all hours, night and day, from Rottnest to Freemantle.
The authorities at all the ports of the Colony should take every precaution to learn and report, by telegram, to the Colonial Secretary the actual object of every strange vessel arriving.
We desire to call your Excellency's attention to the Volunteer Act, as, by section 5, it will be observed that, before the volunteer force can be called out for active service, it will be necessary to issue a Proclamation in the " Gazette," which would necessitate very considerable delay. We would therefore urge the advisability of having that amended, with a view to delegating the power to the Commanding Officer to call out the volunteers at once, on the order of the Governor.
(Signed)
GIFFORD, Colonial Secretary.
W. E. ARCHDEACON, Staff-Commander, R.N M. S. SMITH, S. of P.
(Confidential.)
Colonial Secretary,
Inclosure 12 in No. 1.
Minute by Governor Sir W. Robinson.
I CONCUR in the general recommendations contained in your Confidential Memorandum of the 11th instant.* It occurs to me, on careful consideration, that, inasmuch as there is no military officer at present available for the position of Commandant, the best plan will be for the Staff Officer of Volunteers and the Commanding Officers of the Perth and Freemantle companies to form themselves into a Committee, to carry out, or see carried out, the preliminary arrangements recommended. In this way the Commanding Officers of the companies named will obtain that intimate knowledge of what is going on which it is so necessary they should possess, and all parties will know exactly what to do in the event, I hope unlikely, of a hostile cruizer appearing off Freemantle.
Should such cruizer appear, a Proclamation, which should be prepared beforehand, will have to be immediately issued, calling out the volunteers for active service, and, while so engaged in active service, I would propose to place them under the immediate command of Major Lord Gifford, V.C.
The Colonial Secretary will please issue confidentially to the Railway Department the orders alluded to in the Report, and direct the Commissioner, in the event of emergency arising, to receive and carry out, without hesitation or delay, any orders which may be issued to him by the officer to be placed in command of the volunteers when called out for active service.
The Colonial Secretary will also make the best arrangements possible for insuring prompt telegraphic reports from Rottnest, Freemantle, and the out-stations of the appearance of any suspicious vessel.
With regard to the removal of the gunpowder, I concur in the recommendation of the Committee. The only question is where the powder is to be stored when brought away from Freemantle.
January 14, 1882.
W. ROBINSON.
(Signed)
Instructions accordingly issued and the necessary steps taken to insure effect being given to his Excellency's Minute of the 14th January, 1882.
January 17, 1882.
(Signed)
GIFFORD, Colonial Secretary.
* Inclosure 11.
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