SECRET.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
C.O. No. 24549.
Report of Local Defence Committee.
SEPTEMBER 1896.
Page 33
Sir,
Covering Despatch of Governor.
Government House, South Australia, October 26, 1896. REFERRING to your Confidential Circular despatch of the 15th April, 1896, transmitting copies of a Report of the Joint Naval and Military Com- mittee on Defence, and also to Lord Ripon's Confidential Circular despatch of the 7th March, 1894, bearing on the same subject, I have the honour to forward Remarks of the President of the Local Defence Committee, together with two Reports from the Naval Commandant, upon Reports IX and XIX respectively, which formed the enclosures in the two Circular despatches
above mentioned.
I have, &c. (Signed)
The Right Honourable J. Chamberlain, M.P.,
T. F. BUXTON.
Colonial Office.
Enclosure 1.
Remarks of the Military and Naval Commandants on Confidential Reports IX and XIX of the Joint Naval and Military Committee on Defence.
1. THE following Remarks were approved of by the Committee, and are now forwarded for the information of the Government:-
(a.) The Committee report that, in order to carry out the principles laid
down in the above-named Circulars, the following armament is necessary, viz.:
Two Q.-F. guns of about 4.7 inch calibre for each fort; two Q.-F. guns of smaller calibre for the Port River; one search-light to be used from the south of Fort Glanville, and one from a small shallow-draft vessel on the shoal north of the lighthouse. It may be pointed out that the Military Com- mandant recommended the obtaining of this armament as far back as 1893 in his annual Report.
(b.) The Committee recommend that with reference to the question raised in the Naval Commandant's Remarks on Report IX as to "Who is to give the executive command for the enforcement of the Sea Traffic Regulations in time of war?" should be referred to his Excellency the Naval Commander-in- chief during his approaching stay in South Australia.
(c.) The recommendations as to signalling might be at once adopted. The attention of the Government is respectfully called to the Remarks of the Naval Commandant as to—
(1.) Existing naval strength (see paragraph 5, p. 2, Report IX).
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