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CHAPTER IV.
50. Page 109.-It is thought that the first paragraph of "General Instructions" would be better omitted. The custom of the service is as stated in the text, but "emergency" is a vague term, and might lead to dispute.
51. Pages 109*, 111*, and 113*.-The Tables showing distribution of troops might be conveniently preceded by the details of the staff, works, and armament in each section, and this information omitted from the Tables in the same way as has been suggested with reference to Chapter II, pp. 23 and 25.
52. Pages 111, 112, 114, and 115.-It is inconvenient that the projects for additional works to be carried out should have a different set of numbers in the C.R.E.'s scheme and in the instructions for the Section Commandants. The numbers in the C.R.E.'s scheme and shown on the General Plan should be sufficient.
53. Page 117.-The orders to Officers Commanding forts given in the last paragraph on p. 54 would be more conveniently given under a heading
Works," at the top of p. 117.
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CHAPTER V.
54. Page 131.-It is observed that the distribution of the Medical Staff Corps given on this page corresponds to that given on pp. 97 and 98, and not to that on pp. 23 and 24. There are still some minor discrepancies. On p. 131, non-commissioned officers are detailed to Forts Connaught and Serapong, whereas on p. 98 privates are told off to these works. Two officers are shown at Fort Canning on p. 98 and one on p. 131.
55. Pages 137 and 138.-The traffic Regulations given in Chapter VI may be omitted here.
CHAPTER VI.
56. Attention is called to the fact that this chapter of the 1894 scheme is a reproduction of Chapter VI in the scheme of 1893, and that the remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee (9th May, 1894) on the Report of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee of October 1893 have been entirely disregarded; though in the Colonial Defence Committee's remarks on the 1893 Defence Scheme, paragraph 4, 30th May, 1894, special attention is called to them, and on that account they were not repeated.
57. Page 141, Section (a).—The use of the word "patrol" applied to a boat or vessel is objectionable, as implying an armed "force" in the approaches of the port for the purpose of examination. The words "exami- nation vessel" is recommended instead.
58. Page 141, paragraph 6, Section (a).—The words "except in a case of special emergency" should be removed, as it is contrary to approved principles, and is in contradiction to Section (e), p. 142, of the same Report.
59. Page 142, Section (b).--It is not clear that the notice to mariners can always be communicated in time to an incoming vessel, nor are the instruc- tions framed to facilitate the continuance of friendly traffic. It is of vital importance to the general interests of the Empire that our trade shall, as far and for as long as possible, continue to be carried on in war time as in peace, and that no measures in connection with the defence of any of our ports, either at home or abroad, shall be unnecessarily adopted which would interfere with their full use, or which would tend to unnecessarily alarm our shipping, or deter it from frequenting them in war time. The utmost freedom should be allowed to the ingress of our commerce into ports without let or hindrance as long as the naval conditions permit. All incoming ships, not unmistakably enemies, should be allowed to proceed at all times direct to the examination anchorage without restriction, and every facility should be given for passing them as rapidly as possible, both by night as well as by day, from the anchorage through the main defences of the port, so as to
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