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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. September 17, 1894.
CONFIDENTIAL.
93-R
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
CAPE.
No. 4.
Scheme of Defence revised to January 1894.
!
Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.
THE Colonial Defence Committee, having considered the Cape Defence Scheme as revised to January 1894, offer the following remarks:-
1. Covering Letter. It is acknowledged that the system laid down for furnishing reinforcements to the Cape on the imminence of war with a Maritime Power is less satisfactory than, looking to the Imperial importance of the Colony, is to be desired, and the possibility of making some better arrangement has for some time past been engaging the attention of Her Majesty's Government. When the present scheme of reinforcement was made out it was the best compromise that at the time was practicable, but an element of danger undoubtedly exists in the possibility of the Colony being almost denuded of Imperial troops at a critical moment should the present somewhat complicated arrangements for reinforcements not work with absolute smoothness. On the other hand, it is to be remembered that the reduction of the garrison of Imperial infantry to possibly four companies is only temporary, and that the Cape garrison is to be reinforced by eight companies from a point much nearer than any base from which any serious attack could start. Although this consideration may be held to diminish the danger inherent in the present arrangement, the security of the Cape is of such paramount importance that the Committee have thought it well, in a separate communication, to again invite the attention of Her Majesty's Government to the subject.
2. With regard to the numerical insufficiency of the artillery, alluded to in the 2nd paragraph of the covering letter, and the number of guns that would in consequence be left unmanned, it should be borne in mind that it is to the last degree unlikely that attacks calling for the use of the heavy armament would be made simultaneously on Cape Town and Simon's Bay. The defence is on interior lines, and the good communication which exists between those two points should enable it to concentrate its force at the threatened quarter more rapidly than the enemy could transfer his attack. This advantage has been fully recognized by the Local Committee in their remark at p. 13 of the Scheme.
In the absence of detailed manning Tables showing P.F. numbers or R.F. and dial numbers, magazine numbers, and all the other supernumeraries required for fighting each battery, it is impossible to check the apparent deficiency of personnel. Also it is to be assumed, though no mention is made of it, that the regular infantry is practised at gun drill and would thus be available, as at other large stations, to supplement 'the regular gun detachments during a naval attack, when alone the heavy guns would have to be served. Further information is desirable on both these points before considering the necessity for adding to the present strength of the artillery garrison.
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