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10. Page 21.-The C.O.O. should now be added to the staff of the G.O.C. under the heading "With full Garrison.”
11. Pages 22 to 35.-With regard to the distribution of troops, it would appear to be for the consideration of the G.O.C. whether they might not be allotted so as to keep a somewhat larger force at the Morne ready to proceed at once to any point that may be threatened, and whether it is necessary to separate there, and at the Vigie the movable forces told off to general and local defence.
12. Page 32, paragraph 8 (d).-Reference is made to the necessity for suitable mountings to enable machine-guns to be worked in connection with the movable force.
The Colonial Defence Committee are informed that sanction has been given (57/St. Lucia/520) to alter two carriages to a pattern designed locally. If these carriages are found satisfactory, authority should be applied for for further conversions.
13. Page 36, paragraph 12.-The look-out posts to be established on mobilization, as proposed by the Local Defence Committee in their Report of February 1895, and concurred in by the Colonial Defence Committee in paragraph 4 of their Remarks, dated the 9th July, 1895, on that Report, are now embodied in the Defence Scheme. No reference is, however, made to the suggestion of the Committee that, in the case of the very isolated station at Pigeon Island, instructions should be issued that, in the event of it being necessary to abandon it, all signalling apparatus should be removed or destroyed.
Further recommendations concerning these signal-stations, contained in three Memoranda from the Division Officer, R.E., at St. Lucia, dated the 1st and 4th September, 1896, have been received through the Governor of the Windward Islands, and have been printed as an appendix to the Scheme (pp. 139 to 142).
In these Memoranda it is pointed out that the station proposed for Château Belair is not necessary, as it only sees water visible from other look- outs. On the other hand, it is suggested that a station should be established near Mount Reddie, from which an excellent view of the whole of the north end of the island, including both east and west coasts, and of the open sea up to Martinique can be obtained.
The Colonial Defence Committee regret that these proposals were not made in time to be considered by the Local Defence Committee in their Report covering the Scheme. They appear to be the result of careful local investigation, and to be sound, but, under the circumstances stated, it is not clear why the proposed station at Mount Reddie should not do away with the necessity for, at least, some of those at the north end of the island, such as Pigeon Island, Cap and Marquis.
The D.O., R.E. suggests that, in place of the slow and cumbersome method of communicating with the look-out posts by runners and mounted messengers, laid down in the Scheme, the heights east of Marigot should be connected with the Morne by telephone, and that the remaining stations, except Pigeon Island, should be connected by telephone to the nearest police stations, to which lines are now in course of erection by the Colonial Govern- ment. Pigeon Island, it is proposed, should communicate with the system by signallers. If the telephone lines are not erected, a much larger number of signallers and supply of signal stores would be necessary.
The Colonial Defence Committee attach great importance to replacing visual signalling by electrical communications, and recommend that the erection of the proposed lines should be considered by the War Office.
They would also call the attention of that Office to the proposals of the Division Officer, R.E., that certain small works in connection with the look- out stations should be constructed in time of peace.
14. Page 36, paragraph 14; page 66, 4th paragraph; page 67, paragraph 6.--- The preceding paragraph of the present Remarks indicate the Colonial Defence Committee's views with regard to signal communication with out-
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