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so in view of the reductions being made, and about to be made, in the Active Force. It is only by some such system that a reliable and efficient Reserve can be produced. To flood the ranks on an emergency with men of doubtful efficiency would be most unwise.
4. The general strategical considerations governing the defence of Queens- land are clearly and correctly dealt with in the covering letter, and in Chapter I of the Scheme.
The Colonial Defence Committee have had the benefit of the views of the Admiralty on the question of the defensive value of the Great Barrier Reef. The Admiralty opinion in regard to it is as follows:-
"The Great Barrier Reef is undoubtedly a protection to the coast of Queensland, which lies behind it. No naval operations of any importance would be undertaken within it by an enemy who had not the command of the sea in those waters, which is a condition not likely to arise; but as regards cruiser raids, the form of attack which is alone anticipated, the Great Barrier Reef does not afford the same protection.
"If those townships, which are ports, are worth attacking, it is not to be expected that the raiding vessel would approach them by engaging herself in the intricate navigation of the inner route, but directly from outside by the nearest passage through the Barrier Reef,-an enterprising enemy would choose his own time and place, and would count upon the delay caused to the vessels of the defence by having to navigate the inner route.
"These openings are fairly distributed throughout the length of the Barrier, and, if anything, may be said to favour the sudden descent by a cruiser upon the ports lying near them."
5. In paragraph 7 of his letter the Governor remarks on the inability of the French to despatch any serious expedition from Noumea under present conditions. This view is thoroughly concurred in, and, further, it may be observed, there is little likelihood of the French being able to permanently strengthen their position in Noumea for offensive purposes, as hinted at in the foot-note on p. 2 of the Scheme. There is every reason to believe that they experience the greatest difficulty, even with the largely increased bounties offered of late years, in finding their Colonial garrisons on their present scale.
As regards the possibility, mentioned at paragraph 8 of the Governor's letter, of New Caledonia being reinforced on the imminence or outbreak of war by troops and vessels-of-war with transports, it is only requisite to bear in mind how in our own case the extreme difficulty of reinforcing in time of war the garrisons of stations far less remote from England than New Caledonia is from France has been an important factor in determining our system of Colonial garrisons, and that the danger to such reinforements would be far more severely felt by France if at war with us, since we hold secure bases for our navy on every line of communication between Europe and Australasia.
6. The Naval Commander-in-chief on the Station has lately commented on the fact that the battery of permanent artillery at Thursday Island is considerably below its approved establishment. The Committee strongly recommend that it should be maintained at its full strength of 50 of all ranks, and also that every encouragement should be given to the formation of a small company of local artillery. Recent information as to the numbers of the European population of the island shows that the possibility of raising such a force is greater than has hitherto been supposed. It is also hoped that circumstances may ultimately permit of an infantry garrison as well being allotted permanently to the island, as the infantry war reinforcement now told off to it can only arrive there after a ten days' voyage.
7. It is not easy to follow out the argument on the subject of uniformity of railway gauge to the conclusion arrived at in paragraph 11 of the covering letter. Admitting that the result of uniformity may not justify the outlay, yet it is per se an undoubted advantage, as it enables force to be applied at threatened points. The lateral railway communications parallel to the coast to connect the three trunk lines running inland from the coast have for the most part yet to be made, and when constructing them in the future it seems highly desirable that break of gauge should be avoided as far as possible.
8. In paragraph 12 of his letter the Governor somewhat disparages the recommendations of the Local Committee for the assimilation of organization, and the adoption of a common military system throughout the Australian
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