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5. The modes of meeting various attacks on p. 15 should be treated in greater detail. The garrisons absolutely required for the various forts should be determined, and it will then be possible to ascertain the maximum reinforcements available from each section. At present this is left quite undefined. Thus, on p. 72, the O.C. Section II is ordered to garrison Forts Prospect, Langton, and Hamilton, but the force required is not stated. Again, at p. 15, in the case of the troops at Prospect being reinforced by the troops of Section I, there is no mention of garrisons being left in the Narrows defences.
6. The general details of the action to be taken by the Staff have been well worked out.
With regard to the action by the O.C.R.A., a better Table, showing the manning details of the guns of the defences, is desirable. The Table given (p. 33) merely gives the general distribution of the gun detachments, and makes no provision for manning the guns in Forts Victoria and Catharine.
With regard to the medical portion, further details are required. The distribution of the medical personnel and the number of beds to be established has been given, but no mention has been made of the details on which the whole working of the Scheme depends. These details should specify the buildings to be occupied as hospitals, the equipment now available for each, the additional equipment required, and how it is to be obtained. Similar details should be given regarding dressing stations and field hospitals, and if camp equipment is required for the latter, it should be included in the issues to be made by the S.O.S.O. A Table should be prepared, showing the distribution of surgical equipment and medical comforts, and also how additional requirements, if any, can be met.
6. The Table of Supplies (pp. 29-32) should show, under remark 4, the stocks of food, grains, and forage usually kept in the island.
7. The S.O.S.O. should have detailed information regarding the transport provided for Ordnance stores on p. 22. The O.C.'s of sections should also be told how many horses and carts have been allotted to their sections.
8. The S.O.S.O. should be informed as to the number of rounds of rifle and carbine ammunition respectively he is to provide. This distinction should also be made in the instructions to Commandants, which should also show the additional ammunition usually in store in each section. Some instructions should also be given as to the issues to be made to the field forces, specifying the number of rounds per man to be carried by the troops, and the amount to be held in reserve.
Details should also be given regarding the ammunition for the movable armament and quick-firing guns, and if any ammunition for these guns is in Ordnance Store charge, its distribution should be given in the Scheme.
9. A Table should be prepared showing the complete peace and war distribution of the garrison by corps. It appears to have been overlooked that the garrison will be reinforced by one company of infantry from England; the best way of utilizing this company should be considered.
10. The submarine mining portion of the Scheme and the Regulations for maritime traffic having been considered in connection with the Report of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee, it is unnecessary to allude to them here. When the final joint decision of the Admiralty and War Office is received, those portions of the Scheme should be correspondingly modified. 11. A few discrepancies have been noticed, these are as follows:- Page 11. The O.C.R.A. should be included in the Staff.
Page 47. Tools at Prospect.-255 picks and 260 shovels are required on the first day, instead of as stated.
According to the detailed Tables of work, 21,200 yards of barbed wire are required.
Page 67. The "chevaux de frise" for the Mullet Neck position are not alluded to in other portions of the Scheme.
(Signed)
June 25, 1894.
W. PEACOCKE, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
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PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T. HARRISON.~26/6/94.
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