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with a naval Power the risks of keeping coal afloat in hulks in the bay could not be run.
The Colonial Defence Committee consider, therefore, that the question of the local preparations necessary to facilitate the coaling of Her Majesty's ships at Gibraltar in time of war require to be worked out in detail.
3. The Local Committee state (p. 4) : "It is assumed that, as soon as the telegram is dispatched to the Governor of the fortress to place it in a state of defence, transport should at once be sent out to take home about 1,000 women and children of the garrison."
The Colonial Defence Committee consider that, for various reasons, the sending out of vessels at the outbreak, or in immediate anticipation, of war, should not be counted upon. The Governor should therefore dispose of the women and children, as far as possible, on board homeward-bound steamers, many of which would probably be available under the circumstances in question.
4. The arrangements for obtaining intelligence require further considera- tion. During the presence of the Levanter cloud, the upper signal station would be rendered useless for this purpose. The Buffadero station might then be employed, or a look-out might be kept from the position above St. George's Hall; or, possibly, if Spain were neutral, from Catalan Bay. By night it might be desirable to make use of local steamers to patrol the near waters of the fortress.
5. The only deficiency of general stores which the Scheme of Defence brings to light is that of 500 tarpaulins. In the concluding paragraph (p. 7) of the covering letter of the Governor, however, it is stated that the fortress is "dangerously deficient" in "ammunition and Royal Artillery reserve stores."
These deficiencies, and the amounts estimated as necessary to supply them, should be brought forward in a separate communication.
6. The Departmental scheme of transport might be worked out in greater detail, giving the amount of transport required on each day, under head of the various services to be prepared. Lists of owners from whom transport could be obtained might be prepared. This would also apply to the question of supply, the measures necessary for the provision, distribution, and storage of which might be laid down. The large amount of stores required to be moved in preparing the upper portion of the Rock for the reception of the troops renders fulness of detail in the transport arrangements specially desirable. It appears also to be worth considering whether the transference of a portion of the stores in question to the upper level could be carried out in peace time.
7. The orders to officers commanding infantry battalions might be assimi- lated, and further detail given in some cases. Thus, the Officer Commanding a battalion requiring transport for any particular service might be informed of the amount of transport which would be supplied to him, and whence it is to be obtained. Information might also be given to the infantry battalions destined to occupy the upper portion of the Rock, as to the arrangements proposed for their accommodation and cooking, as well as to the Royal Engineer officers charged with carrying them out.
8. In regard to the Engineer work, which is given in full detail, it is assumed that in all cases estimates of the tools and material required have been prepared, and that the places from which they are to be furnished are laid down.
9. The removal of oil and coal from commissariat stores is provided for (p. 35), but the points to which they would be transported are not stated.
10. The work required of the Ordnance Store Department in connection with the distribution of stores should, as far as possible, be laid down in the scheme.
11. Tables, similar to those showing the distribution of the infantry during the various phases of preparation, should be given for the other arms of the Service.
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