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being available for service anywhere on the Continent of Australia, and it is under- stood that Victoria and New South Wales are about to bring the troops enlisted within their borders under similar conditions. The Colonial Defence Committee have had no reason to believe that the wide area of service has prejudicially affected recruiting in the Colonies that have adopted it, and though they recognize that the liability to small wars at the Cape introduces there a different set of conditions to those that exist in Australia, it appears to them that, if arrangements such as they have suggested above can be made, no serious inconvenience would result, while the localization of part of the forces proposed by the Commission might be distinctly disadvantageous.
The Colonial Defence Committee strongly indorse the opinion of the Commission that it would be desirable to enlist men for two years rather than for one year. They observe that the Commission do not adopt the idea of offering a bonus for longer service, though this was suggested in the evidence taken by them. A system of giving a bonus for re-enlistment seems to the Committee to have certain advantages. A man who has already served two years is of greater use as a soldier than a recruit.
11. Page 12, paragraph 54.-The Colonial Defence Committee particularly indorse Defence of Penin- the recommendation of the Commission that the General Officer Commanding the sula. Imperial Forces in the Colony should be consulted from time to time as to the training of the Colonial Forces detailed for the defence of the Cape Peninsula. In paragraphs 9 and 33 of these Remarks the Committee have made suggestions for giving effect to this recommendation, and enabling the Colonial Government to obtain the advantage of the best professional advice on all military matters, while the G.O.C. would, without interfering with Ministerial control, be brought into closer touch with the troops which would come under his command in the case of war with a foreign Power.
12. Page 13, paragraphs 55 and 56.—In paragraphs 18 and 23 below, the Colonial Defence Committee deal with the strength proposed by the Commission for the Prince Alfred's Own Cape Artillery and the Cape Garrison Artillery. They concur in the recommendations of the Commission with regard to the strength and organization of the infantry for Peninsula Defence.
13. Page 13, paragraphs 57 to 61.-The Colonial Defence Committee concur generally in the proposals with regard to training, &c., of the Peninsula troops contained in these paragraphs. With regard to the recommendation that every member of the forces should attend compulsorily twenty daylight drills (including camps, inspection parades, and musketry course) and four night drills, it may interest the Cape authorites to learn that at a Conference of the five Australian Military Commandants held at Melbourne, Victoria, in December 1896, they recorded their opinion that "the minimum number of days' training each year for the Militia and partially paid forces of Australia should be, for Artillery, Engineers, and Mounted Forces, twenty-four days; for Infantry and Departmental Corps, twenty days; and that there should be a continuous training in camp of eight days, to be included in the above totals." In the opinion of the Committee, the Australian Military Commandants did not overrate the period of instruction necessary to attain even moderate efficiency.
14. Page 14, paragraph 62.-The Colonial Defence Committee entirely concur in the recommendation that a Mounted Infantry Corps should be maintained in the Peninsula. The corps would be of special value, having regard to the fact that the local Imperial garrison has no mounted troops.
No reason is given for the proposed establishment of five officers and ninety-five N.C.Os. and men for the 4th (Peninsula) Mounted Rifles, the establishment of a similar corps in the Imperial Service, according to "Field Army Establishments, 1892," being 5 officers and 143 N.C.Os. and men. Unless there is some special reason against it, it would be convenient if Imperial Establishments were adopted whenever possible.
Peninsula.
15. Pages 14 and 15, paragraphs 64 to 72.-The Colonial Defence Committee Defence outside concur generally in the arrangements proposed for the training of the Colonial troops (except artillery) stationed outside the Cape Peninsula and in the principle that this training may be less in amount (twelve against twenty-four compulsory drills) than that proposed for troops in the Peninsula. From this principle they think that the garrisons of East London and Port Elizabeth and a portion of the force at Kimberley
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