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Defence Force
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satisfactory solution to the difficulty. The contingent which could be spared for Kimberley from the Peninsula would not suffice for its requirements unless Cape Town itself and the maritime defences of the Naval Establishments at Simons Bay, were unduly denuded.
The expedient of raising a Burgher Force again does not offer a very favourable prospect of success. The Burgher Act has been in abeyance for many years, and it is doubtful whether its provisions, if put into force, would be cheerfully and readily obeyed. From a statement made by Lieutenant-Colonel Harris it would appear that the farmers round Kimberley would only take up arms if they were convinced of the righteousness of our cause. The grave uncertainty attaching to such a condition must debar those responsible for the safe-guarding of Imperial and Colonial interests from relying upon the co-operation of a body whose active support is admitted to be depen- dent upon popular sentiment, in a country where widely divergent views are known to be held, and racial prejudices may obscure sound judgment. It is questionable whether, even with the best intentions, a Burgher Force could be of material assistance in an emergency, as it would be composed of men entirely destitute of any organiza- tion, military training, or sense of discipline; in the evidence given before the Com- mission, there is a deficiency of accurate information as to the number and nature of the arms in possession of the Burghers.
The commercial and strategic importance of Kimberley is such that no effort, should be spared in placing it in a condition to resist an organized attack, and the Committee suggest the advisability of the serious attention of the Government of Cape Colony being called to the necessity for adding to the security of Kimberley-a necessity that has become more pressing since, by the publication of the Commission's Report as a Parliamentary Paper, the inadequacy of the existing defences has become known, and hence might offer a temptation to unruly spirits, and encourage an attempt to capture the town.
3. After recapitulating the Defence Legislation enacted to meet former defence required in Colony. requirements of the Colony, and detailing the present Defence Force, the Report of the Commission deals in paragraphs 20 to 22 with the Force now required, and comes to the conclusion that “including the Cape Mounted Riflemen, the active Defensive Force of the Colony should consist of about 11,500 men so equipped and organized as to be able to take the field with necessary promptitude."
Defence of Coast Ports.
The Colonial Defence Committee consider that 1,000 men should be added to this number to fully meet the requirements summarized in paragraph 21 of the Report, and the special circumstances of Kimberley referred to in the last paragraph of these Remarks. Having in view the principles which they explained in the Confidential Memorandum quoted in paragraph 23 of the Report, they think it unnecessary for the Colony to make provision for more than 4,000 fighting men for the defence of the Cape Peninsula. It is, however, quite possible, as recognized by the Commission, that if the Colony were at war there might be a native rising; while again, the circumstances may readily be conceived in which an unfriendly maritime nation might attempt a raid on the Peninsula at a time when difficulties with the other civilized Powers in South Africa required that troops should be kept in readiness to defend the land frontiers of the Colony. 8,500 men do not seem an unnecessary number to maintain internal quiet at a time of external trouble, or to defend, with such Imperial troops as may be available, the frontiers of the Colonies till reinforcements can arrive from England. Again, the total of 12,500 does not appear a number out of proportion to the popula- tion and resources of the Colony, or to the provision made by other Colonies for their defence. The Defence Schemes of Victoria and New South Wales provide for War Establishments of 10,179 and 9,484 respectively, and in these cases there are neither large native populations to keep in order, nor highly armed neighbours to guard against.
4. Page 6, paragraph 24.—In their Memoranda Nos. 48 M and 56 M, dated the 13th July, 1895, and the 7th March, 1896, respectively, the Colonial Defence Com- mittee recommended that the defence of Port Elizabeth and East London should, by reason of the commercial importance of these places, be considered by the Cape Government, and in later Memoranda (Nos. 68 M and 75 M) they discussed Reports that had been furnished on the subject by the Naval Commander-in-chief and the General Officer Commanding. For Port Elizabeth the Committee considered that an armament of four 6-inch Q.F. and four machine-guns would be sufficient, and for East London they thought that three or even two 6-inch Q.F. and two machine-guns
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