Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. August 1895.
MAURITIUS.
MAURITIUS.
No. 66.
Defence Scheme revised to January 1895.
Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.
(For communication to the Colony.)
Covering Letter of the Governor.
1. THE Colonial Defence Committee concur with the Governor that General Robinson, by whom this Scheme for Mauritius has been mainly drawn up, deserves the highest encomium for it. The Scheme is as a whole clear and definite, and the strategic conditions are ably and vividly brought forward.
Report of Local Defence Committee.
2. Page 7, paragraph (b) 1.-The Colonial Defence Committee under- stand that the War Office are now dealing with the proposals to defilade Victoria Battery from the west bank of the Grand River, N.O.
3. Page 7, paragraph (b) 2.-It is understood that the recommendations for connecting all the forts and batteries by telegraph are under considera- tion at the War Office. It is most desirable that these communications should be completed early.
4. Page 7, paragraph (b) 3.—In their Remarks dated the 19th January, 1894, on the Report of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee, the Colonial Defence Committee fully concurred in the recommendation that the Signal Stations should be placed, as formerly, in the hands of British soldiers or sailors, the garrison being correspondingly increased to provide for this extra duty. They are again bringing forward the subject in a separate Memorandum.
5. Page 7, paragraph (b) 4.-The question of the maintenance of the new roads referred to in this paragraph has been dealt with by the War Office.
6. Page 8, paragraph (b) 6.-It is understood that the provision of medical comforts, equipment, &c., and of signalling equipment recommended by the Local Committee, is under consideration of the War Office.
7. Page 8, paragraph (b) 7.-The Local Defence Committee remark that the recommendations of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee as to Harbour Traffic Regulations, &c., forwarded in September 1893, had not yet been approved. These recommendations were dealt with by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Remarks, dated the 19th January,
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