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2
Though, in view of the distance of the Australian ports from Japanese bases and the strength of Her Majesty's navy in far Eastern waters, no alteration in the scale of defence for the Australian Colonies on account of this is necessary, it would be well if the fact were noted under the heading of Strategic Conditions.
3. Page 2, paragraphs 15 and 16.-With regard to the offensive- defensive force of the Colony referred to in these paragraphs, attention is called to the following paragraph of a Memorandum of the Colonial Defence Committee on a "Proposed Organization of the Military Forces of the Australasian Colonies," dated the 16th May, 1890:-
"Finally, the Colonial Defence Committee desire to point out that the rôle which the Australian Colonies will probably play in war is not likely to be limited to the passive defence of ports little liable to attack. These Colonies will doubtless desire that solid guarantees for future security should be taken, and it is evidently essential to success in this sense that their land forces should be organized on a common basis, so as to be capable of being brought together for concerted action. The possibility of being able to take a vigorous offensive at the outset of war against points which might subsequently prove menacing would be a strategic advantage of the first importance."
4. Page 2, paragraph 17.-This paragraph remains unaltered from the 1894 Scheme. In remarking on that Scheme the Colonial Defence Com- mittee considered that suggestions should be made as to the employment of the unappropriated balance of the Naval Brigade. Such suggestions are contained in paragraph 6 of the Minute of the Military Commandant, printed as Appendix (A) to these Remarks. It is there proposed to man additional torpedo-boats (presumably improvised) for harbour defence, and a small coasting war-vessel for service in the estuaries and lakes of New South Wales. With regard to the additional torpedo-boats, the Colonial Defence Committee, in their Remarks, dated the 5th February, 1895, on the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee Report of 1894, considered that "the two existing harbour torpedo-boats should suffice for this branch of the defence," and they adhere to that opinion. The maintenance of a small steamer for transport and inspection purposes at parts of the coast away from railways may be advisable, but it is difficult to see what advantage could be derived from any armament that could be carried by such a vessel.
Chapter II.—Organization.
5. Pages 3 to 9, Divisions of Command.-The organization for defence. consequent on the strategical considerations detailed in Chapter I would more conveniently be placed at the head of Chapter II than in paragraph 18 of the first Chapter. This organization, according to the Scheme, divides the Colony into the following districts:---
(1.) Port Jackson District.
(2.) Botany District.
(3.) Sydney and Coast District.
(4.) Newcastle District.
(5.) Movable column: offensive-defensive force.
The Colonial Defence Committee, in paragraph 8 of their Remarks, dated the 28th February, 1895, concurred in the arrangement, but, on reviewing it by the light of more convenient organization elsewhere, they now propose a considerable alteration. The so-called districts are rather sections of the defence than divisions of the Colony. The Scheme rightly recognizes that no local defence should be provided except by the movable column for any parts of the Colony other than the ports of Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong. The so-called Port Jackson and Botany Districts, and the Sydney and Coast Districts (except the Wollongong-Bulli sub-section) are practically sections of the defence of the Fortress of Sydney, just in the
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