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Commandant (paragraphs 114 and 116), to keep up this number of permanent and active and reserve militia, and to fulfil the conditions laid down by him (paragraph 117).
10. One of the conditions of training, which was frequently urged by Major- Camps. General Hutton, and on which the present Commandant (paragraphs 89 and 91) lays great stress, is an annual camp of longer duration than the short ones that have been held locally in the last four years. The Colonial Defence Committee have frequently urged the necessity for this training, to which they last referred in paragraph 3 of their Remarks, No. 143 R, dated the 31st May, 1896. If a nine days' camp for all arms could be arranged for annually, as proposed by Major-General French (paragraph 117), a great advantage would be secured, which would be increased if fully suitable land for camping and parading can be reserved (paragraphs 85 to 87), and if the troops are taught to manoeuvre over the land which they are likely to have to defend (paragraph 92). Defence operations, such as those that were carried out at Port Jackson on the 23rd October, 1897, are of value as enabling officers and men to appreciate the conditions of defence. Their value would have been enhanced had they formed part of a series of operations in which a field force had also taken part.
Though fully alive to the great advantage of a period of consecutive training in a big camp, advocated by the Commandant (paragraph 48 and 49), the Committee would point out that much greater advantage will be derived from such training by men who have previously been well exercised in the drill of small units.
11. The medical arrangements, as set forth in paragraphs 59 and 60, appear to be Miscellaneous. very satisfactory. The physique of recruits, as tabulated in Appendix D, is all that can be desired.
The increase in the popularity and efficiency of corps resulting from the provision of drillsheds, &c., as recommended for New South Wales by the Commandant (paragraph 68), has been generally observed in the case of corps in the United Kingdom, and in various Colonies.
The system of payment from the military to the railway accounts for the transport of troops (paragraphs 93 and 94) is not one on which the Colonial Defence Committee are in a position to advise.
They concur in the proposal (paragraphs 104 to 107) for the establishment of a Government ammunition factory, but understand that existing contracts are at present an obstacle to this proposal being carried out.
The Commandant appears to have effected a very necessary saving in the cost of rations. Similar economy with other advantages could no doubt be effected in the matter of clothing if his recommendations (paragraph 113), which was also that of the Committee in paragraph 6 of their Remarks, No. 143 R, dated the 31st May, 1896, were followed.
The advisability of creating an Australian Military College on the lines of Kingston College, Canada (paragraphs 121 to 126), has frequently, and recently, been pointed out to the various Governments of Australia.
The Committee propose that their Memoranda and Remarks on the subject of the defences of the two strategic ports of Thursday Island and Albany (paragraph 109) should in future be sent to each of the contributing Colonies.
Finally, the Committee would point out that the Report of the O.C. New South Wales Artillery forces (p. 22) contains certain information regarding forts and armament, which might be of assistance to possible enemies. Though it is necessary that information of this nature should be furnished, it seems scarcely wise that it should be published in non-confidential Reports.
(Signed)
M. NATHAN, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
March 17, 1898.
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