Page 404
Report by Local Defence Committee.
3. Page 5, para. 2.-The Colonial Defence Committee in paragraph 31 of their Remarks, dated the 2nd July, 1895, on the Defence Scheme revised to September 1894, suggested that "all unskilled labour should be obtained through one official." The Local Committee consider that such restriction would very much hamper the action of the C.R.E. in this matter.
Under these circumstances, the arrangements for obtaining labour laid down in the Scheme are concurred in.
4. Page 5, para. 3.-The Local Committee explain why the revision of the Defence Scheme to September 1894 had not been modified in accordance with the Remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee on the Report of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee of October 1893.
The Colonial Defence Committee now desire to call attention to their Remarks, dated the 3rd October, 1896, on the further Report of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee, which were approved by the War Office and Admiralty on the 11th January, 1896, and to suggest that the next revision of the Defence Scheme should be correspondingly modified.
5. Page 5, para. 4.-The scheme of organization for Colonial Defence Volunteers referred to in this paragraph as having been submitted to the Colonial Government has been referred to the Colonial Defence Committee on other papers.
As the proposed organization raises important questions affecting other Colonies, it will be dealt with by the Committee in a separate Memorandum.
6. Page 6, para. 5.-The Local Committee adhere to their proposal to tell off a guard of fifteen infantry to the Tanglin Barracks.
The Colonial Defence Committee are still doubtful whether some arrange- ment more economical of fighting men could not be made to insure the safe custody of these buildings and their contents.
7. Page 6. The Local Committee draw attention to the recommendations contained in the Report of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee of the 7th May, 1895, to the effect that No. I 9.2-inch B.L. gun at Passir Panjang should traverse to the right so as to cover Salat Sambulan Channel, and that No. II 9-2-inch B.L. gun should cover on the right the channel to the north of Cyrene Reef, and should traverse to the left so as to fire along the south shore of Pulo Houta.
The Colonial Defence Committee, who have not specifically dealt before with the extension of the water area covered by these guns, understand that action in the matter has been taken by the War Office.
8. Page 6, Inclosure 2.-The Senior Naval Officer considers that the condi- tions under which the mines should be made active should be settled before- hand.
The Colonial Defence Committee desire in this connection to draw attention to the following extract from Report No. XIX of the Joint Naval and Military Committee on Defence :-
"The time after a declaration of war, or commencement of hostilities, at which it would be advisable to put in force the Traffic Regulations, must vary with the distance of the port from the base of the enemy, the nature of the attack to which it is liable, and other special conditions which would be known at the time at each place; but if the great importance of maintaining and protecting our trade is accepted in principle, it would indicate that, though immediate mobilization is essential to an effective state of defence, the protec- tion derived from the examination and exclusion of vessels may be considered as a second phase of the defence dependent upon the enemy's vessels being in certain particular waters, and that, in the same way, the use of submarine mines should not be resorted to unless there is a reasonable prospect of attack. At
Page 404
Page 404
I