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3. Page 1, paragraph 2 (c).—Melbourne is approximately 4,300 miles from Saigon, 4,900 miles from Nagasaki, and nearly 6,000 miles from Vladivostock, and not as here stated.
Chapter II.—Organization and Allotment of Troops.
4. Pages 2 to 5.-According to the Scheme the defences of Victoria are to be organized under the following commands :—
(1.) Port Phillip Heads District.
(2.) Williamstown District.
(3.) Western District.
(4.) Field Force.
This division appears generally suitable to the special conditions of the case, but it would be more in accordance with the nomenclature adopted in other Colonies and to the functions of the commands if they were termed:
(1.) Port Phillip Fortress.
(2.) Williamstown Defences.
(3.) Portland, Port Fairy, and Warrnamboul Defences.
(4.) Offensive-Defensive Force.
5. The organization of these four divisions should be as follows:- (1.) The boundaries of Port Phillip Fortress and the position of the Fortress Commander's head-quarters as given in the Scheme appear suitable, but the sub-division of the Fortress into six Fire Commands, of which two are grouped into one section, and two Submarine Mine Defence Commands. is not entirely in accord with the general arrangements adopted in such cases elsewhere, which, it is thought, might more advantageously be followed.
communiculi The Fortress would then be divided into Western and Eastern Sections, their
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dividing line passing between the West Channel and Symond's Channel, across the South Channel, and across the Nepean Peninsula at such a distance to the east of Eagle's Nest Battery that the fire area of that work and of Fort Nepean may be included in the Western Section. In addition to the forts of that section, which might be all under one Fire Commander stationed near Fort Nepean or Eagle's Nest Battery, its Commander should have under him the mine-field in the Western Channel and an infantry force. Similarly the Eastern Section Commander should have under him the Franklin and South Channel Forts, either under one Fire Commander, or, if the distance between them is considered too great, each under a Battery Commander acting as Fire Commander, the mine-field in the South Channel and an infantry force.
It will be noted that though Fort Nepean and Eagle's Nest Battery would geographically have come into the Eastern Section, it is proposed to include them in the Western Section and in one Fire Command with Queenscliff Fort and Crow's Nest Battery. This is done because the arcs of fire of the four works cover the same water area, and they would be required to support each other. As no landing is possible in the immediate neighbourhood of Nepean no complication with regard to the land defence of that work or of Eagle's Nest Battery is thereby involved.
There should also be under the general command of the Port Phillip Fortress Commander, but directly under an officer specially detailed, a Field Force for the defence of the Mornington Peninsula outside the limits of the Eastern Section, and for the protection of the lines of approach from Western Port to Melbourne. This force should have its head-quarters at Langwarrin Camp, or, when possible, under the conditions mentioned in. the 4th paragraph on p. 15 of the Scheme, at the Coolart Recreation Reserve, sending out detachments as proposed. The force should comprise those troops of the Victoria Field Force detailed in Table (V), p. 7, which are not to form part of the Offensive-Defensive Force dealt with below, and should, as far as local conditions render possible, consist of complete
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