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cations, and that, if it is proposed to proceed with the contemplated mine defence, the necessary personnel and stores should be provided without delay.
3. The question of the provision of local steamers for purposes of patrol should be fully considered, and the necessary steps to obtain and utilize them for this service should be adequately detailed.
4. The Committee have specified the magazines which they regard as unsafe; but have not stated what measures would be required to remedy the evil, nor estimated the time, labour, and material needed.
5. The Colonial Defence Committee consider that a well-considered Proclamation addressed to the civil population ought undoubtedly to be pre- pared, as has been done in the case of other Colonies.
6. The whole question of the personnel has been inadequately treated. Beyond giving a Return of Imperial and Colonial forces, and proposing places of assembly, and Commanders for the local troops, the Committee have not dealt further with the matter. It is of the greatest importance that the distribution of the troops should be laid down, and the measures required to supply them fully considered. And further, an estimate should be formed of the number of men who could be enrolled under the Burgher Act, and of the extent to which they could be armed and equipped.
7. No arrangements whatever are laid down for the service of the perma- nently mounted armament.
8. The defence of Cape Town on the land side is fully discussed by Colonel Phillips. Detailed projects for the field works required should, however, be prepared without delay, and steps should be taken to obtain from the Colonial Legislature the necessary powers of interference with private property to enable these defences to be created in the event of an emergency.
With regard to Port Elizabeth and East London, it should be clearly understood that the Imperial Government cannot undertake to create permanent works for their defence. There appears to be no probability of any serious attack on either of these ports, which are, however, liable to the visit of an enemy's cruizer seeking to exact a contribution or to obtain a supply of coal or other stores.
At East London it does not appear probable that such local vessels as would be available could carry on any efficient system of distant patrol, nor do the Colonial Defence Committee consider that the local conditions are suitable for the employment of any submarine mine defence.
Such preparations for defence as can be made at present, therefore, limit themselves to the following measures, which should be carefully considered:-
1. The organization of an efficient system of look-out.
2. The utilization of the local volunteers to repel any attempted landing, and the measures necessary to insure that a sufficient supply of ammunition is always available for their use.
3. The management of the civil population in event of bombardment, which, however, could hardly be severe or prolonged.
4. The removal of specie inland.
5. The removal, subject to the approval of the Naval Commander-in-Chief, of the coal at Port Elizabeth to Zwartkops Station on the outbreak of war, as . recommended by the Local Committee, if this removal cannot for reasons of local convenience be carried out in peace time.
6. The removal from the town of Port Elizabeth of the stores of explosives referred to by the Local Committee.
The Colonial Defence Committee recommend that the Local Committee should be directed to reassemble under the presidency of the General Officer Commanding, and that a copy of the above remarks should be forwarded for their information. The valuable information already collected should then be co-ordinated, and a complete scheme of defence prepared. This scheme should embrace all arrangements of every kind required for the defence of the Colony in the event of a sudden outbreak of war, so as to enable the entire available resources, Imperial and Colonial, to be utilized to the fullest extent. The scheme should be such that it could be put in force immediately on receipt of a
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