Military Districts.
Proposed
Reorganization of Defence Force.
A
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From the evidence given before the Commission, the Committee see no reason to believe that it will be necessary to put the ballot into force unless in exceptional circum- stances, but they are unable to go as far as the Commission in recommending that this should only be done "when, in the opinion of the Government, the general aspect of affairs either in South Africa or Europe is such as to demand that the cadres of the different corps be immediately brought up to what may be considered their war strength." It appears to them essential that the establishment of the Colonial contingent for the defence of the sea-ports should be a reality, and the strength of the force effectively kept up at all times. Modern wars break out at short notice, and the completion of nearly empty cadres at the last moment by enforcement of the ballot is a measure which would fail to insure an efficient force adequate to meet a sudden attack. Whatever may be the strength of the contingents which the Colony undertakes to provide for the defence of the Peninsula, Port Elizabeth, East London, and Kimberley, it is essential that these contingents should be kept permanently complete and efficient. On the other hand there is no reason why trained men who have been passed into the reserve, should not be reckoned as part of such contingents, provided steps are taken to insure that their efficiency is maintained, and that they reside at such places as would render their services available at reasonably short notice.
9. Pages 10 and 11, paragraphs 43 to 46.-The arrangements proposed by the Commission for the division of the Colony into Military Districts, and for the com- mand of those districts appear to the Committee to be well devised. They doubt, however, whether in addition to the work of his important command that of inspecting the infantry forces in the remaining districts should be thrown on the Officer Com- manding No. I (the Peninsula) District, as such inspection must necessitate long absences from his own command. In view of the fact that in the event of the invasion of the Colony the Colonial forces would, as recognized in paragraph 46 of the Report, come under the General Commanding Her Majesty's forces in South Africa, the Colonial Defence Committee suggest, for the consideration of the Imperial, as well as of the Colonial Government, that that officer should either himself or by deputy undertake the annual inspection of all the local forces, and render reports of his inspection to the Local Government. This arrangement would fit in with the views of the Commission expressed in paragraph 54 of the Report with regard to the defence of the Cape Peninsula.
If it is adopted, the necessity of giving the command of No. I (Peninsula) District to an officer of the Imperial service to a certain extent disappears, and one important appointment would be available for Colonial officers, who would thus have an additional incentive to qualify themselves for the higher duties of their profession.
10. Pages 11 and 12, paragraphs 47 to 53.-The Colonial Defence Committee while concurring generally in the arrangements proposed for the reorganization of the Colonial Forces, and for removing, apart from any question of payment, the weakness in the present Volunteer system, are not entirely convinced of the advisablity of enlisting men under two sets of conditions for local or general service as proposed in paragraph 49 (v) of the Commission's Report. They are unable to trace in the detailed arrangements for pay (Appendix K) any application of the principle, suggested in this paragraph, of giving a smaller bonus to men enlisted for local than to those enlisted for general service, nor does this principle seem to them a very workable one. They would confine enlistment for local service to the Garrison Artillery, who are necessarily tied down to the places where their guns are mounted-at present in the Peninsula, and later on also at Port Elizabeth and at East London. The general distribution of the forces, proposed by the Commission, is such that the conditions will be exceptional, under which they could be called upon to serve out of the Military Districts in which they enlist. If, further, certain corps or companies in each district are told off as the first to serve out of it, should occasion arise, and men are given the option of joining these or other corps or companies, their convenience and that of their employers would appear to be sufficiently met without the general employment of the forces in time of need being in any way restricted by Regulation, and without introducing the complication of a double set of conditions of service and pay. A similar question has been under consideration in Australia, where it was proposed to enlist a certain proportion of the partially paid forces for service in Australia generally, and the remainder for service only in their own Colony. This arrangement, however, has been recognized as uudesirable, and recent legislative enactments in South Australia and Queensland insure all the partially paid forces
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