NEW SOUTH WALES.
स
議
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Report of Local Defence Committee on Defence Scheme.
SEPTEMBER 1897.
Covering Despatch of Governor.
Sir,
Government House, Sydney, October 11, 1897. ADVERTING to your Secret despatch of the 14th June, 1897, I have the honour to inclose a copy of a letter that I have received from the Major-General Commanding the New South Wales Military Forces, through my Ministers, embodying the reply of the Local Defence Committee to the Remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee, No. 159 R, dated the 29th April, 1897, upon the "Defence Scheme of New South Wales," revised to September 1896.
The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HAMPDEN.
&c.
&c.
&c.
Enclosure.
Sir,
Head-quarters, New South Wales Military Forces, Sydney, October 1, 1897.
IN reply to the Remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee of the 29th April, 1897, No. 159 R, on the Defence Scheme of New South Wales," revised to the 30th September, 1896 (received under your B.C. of the 28th July, 1897, No. M. 5983/B), I have the honour to state as follows, for the information of the Chief Secretary, and for transmission to the Colonial Defence Committee:-
1. The Remarks of the Colonial Defence Committee of the 29th April, 1897, on the "
Defence Scheme of New South Wales," revised to 30th September, 1896, have received the careful consideration of the Local Defence Committee, who, in reply thereto, desire to remark as follows:-
-
2. (Paragraph 2.)-Noted; will be inserted in revised Scheme.
3. (Paragraph 3.)-This point cannot be dealt with by the Local Defence Com- mittee, being a question of Federal defence.
The subject is dealt with by the Inter-Colonial Military Committee of January 1896.
4. (Paragraph 4.)-This question is under consideration in conjunction with the Admiral.
Any alteration made will be inserted in the revised Scheme, though it is hardly likely that any radical change can be effected before the revision, due this year. 5. (Paragraph 5.)--The proposed division of Commands is accepted.
6. (Paragraph 6, Sub-paragraph 1.)-The general principles are accepted, but the Local Defence Committee consider the following alterations more suitable, viz. :-
(a.) Head-quarters of the fortress to be at Victoria Barracks.
(b.) Port Jackson Section limits to be those laid down in 1896 Scheme for Port Jackson district, and to contain two Fire Commands: No. 1 to include South Head, and
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