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7. It is observed that the small permanent force still includes two engineer sub- marine miners. In December 1895 the question of a submarine mine-field at Albany was reported on by a Local Joint Naval and Military Committee, and later by the Naval Commander-in-chief and the Military Commandant of Western Australia. After carefully considering these Reports, the Colonial Defence Committee in their Remarks No. 146 R., dated the 5th August, 1896, considered that under existing cir- cumstances "it would be better to dispense altogether with the submarine mincs." Under these circumstances, it would seem that it would have been more advantageous to add two to the strength of the permanent artillery than to have maintained an establishment of two submarine miners.
8. Neither the numbers nor organization of the infantry can be considered entirely satisfactory. It should be possible to maintain, under the present conditions of the Colony, at least 1,000 infantry, and these should be organized in two battalions or half-battalions, one for the defence of Albany and one for the defence of Freemantle, the various localities furnishing companies to one or the other battalion or half- battalion according to their facilities for sending troops to one or the other defended place.
The Committee note with much satisfaction that considerable improvement is reported in the drill, musketry, and discipline of the various infantry corps. They strongly indorse the Commandant's opinion, that the provision of suitable drill sheds is likely to be an incentive to the troops to efficiently train themselves.
9. The Committee also indorse the Commandant's opinion, that there should be a larger staff of instructors.
10. With regard to the recommendation contained in his Report for 1895-96, that the Martini-Henry rifles on charge should be converted to Martini-Enfields, they would point out that the offer of Her Majesty's Government contained in the Colonial Office despatch, dated the 27th August, 1897, will enable this to be carried ont under conditions advantageous to the Colony. In considering the question of re-armament it is desirable, however, that the Colonial Government should have in mind that an enemy attacking the Colony will almost certainly be armed with Magazine rifles. The Martini-Enfield is only a single-loader, and troops carrying such rifles would be under a serious disadvantage in meeting the attack of an enemy using the superior weapon. The cost of the Lee-Enfield is 4l. 6s. Id. If the Colony are not at the present time, however, prepared to face the expense of arming its forces with Magazine rifles, it is to be hoped that the offer of Martini-Enfield rifles by Her Majesty's Government will be accepted, thus securing the advantage of the use of the same ammunition as that of the army and navy.
11. The creation of cadet corps, in which so good a start has been made, will tend eventually to facilitate recruiting for the military forces of the Colony.
12. The Colonial Defence Committee attribute great importance to the holding of annual camps of exercise, and note with satisfaction the large attendance at the Easter encampment of 1897. For the full advantage to be derived from these camps, the operations should represent as far as possible those that would take place at the outset of a war.
February 26, 1898.
(Signed)
appired by two.
M. NATHAN, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
Australasia
266/ Accstedavia / 18 15.3.98.
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Page This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government. 16 of 290
Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. February 22, 1898.
SECRET.
No. 176 R.
TASMANIA.
C.O. No. 26714.
Report of Military Commandant, 1896.
Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.
THE Colonial Office have referred to the Colonial Defence Committee a despatch from the Governor of Tasmania, dated the 7th November, 1897, transmitting the Report of the Commandant of the Tasmanian Defence Force for the year ending the 31st December, 1896.
2. The Colonial Defence Committee, dealing with the Commandant's Report of 1894 in their Remarks dated the 31st December of that year, pointed out how seriously the strength of the various forces was below the authorized establishment, and below what was required to man the fixed defences of Hobart, and to make reasonable provision for the safety of the Colony in war. Unfortunately, matters are rather worse now than they were then. The establishment and actual strength of all ranks of the Tasmanian forces taken from the Return of Resources on the the 31st December, 1896, omitting staff (three) and bands (sixty-two !), are as follows :—
Hobart.
Launceston.
Totals.
• Establish-
ment.
Strength.
Establish-
ment.
Establish-
Strength.
ment.
Strength.
Permanent, paid—
Artillery
8
8
Torpedo and Artificer
2
2
Militia, unpaid—
Artillery
222
62
::ཛྱ
N 00
8
2
2
100
Torpedo Corps
75
59
Rifle Regiment
299
92
259
*:*
74
322
136
75
59
73
558
165
Total of Defence Force proper..
Auxiliaries—
606
223
359
147
965
370
Rifle Companies at various places
in the Island
Grand totals..
:
:
1,500
966
2,465
1,336
The actual strength of the Defence Force proper and auxiliaries is therefore now 370 and 966 against 432 and 1,165 in 1894. Of the 966 auxiliaries 627 only were efficient, and of the 360 militia, exclusive of bands, 298.
3. It is scarcely worth while for the Colonial Defence Committee to remark on the details of the organization and work of the Tasmanian forces until the Govern- ment of the Colony is prepared to treat them seriously, and to make an effort to insure that the money expended on them is spent with some definite idea of fulfilling the defence requirements of the Colony. They would, however, again urge the
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