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hands of the Queensland forces were of three different calibres. It is understood, however, that this unsatisfactory condition has been, or will shortly be, removed by the receipt of 5,000 Martini-Enfield rifles ordered from England. When these are received the Martini-Henry rifles in the Colony will, it is assumed, be returned to England, as proposed in the Colonial Office despatch of the 27th August, 1897. The Martini-Henry carbines and the Snider weapons should be broken up.
9
9 (iii.) Pages 10 to 14.-The first two columns of Table (G), page 13, and Table (H), page 14, should be made to correspond with the "Divisions of Command now adopted and embodied in Table (F), pages 11 and 12.
10 (iv.) Pages 15 and 16.-The part of the Scheme under the heading "Com- munications" might conveniently be divided under sub-headings :---
(a.) Means of communication.
(b.) Communication of Orders and Intelligence.
The information given in Chapter II (v) on page 17 with regard to these matters should be transferred to Chapter II (iv).
The references to Tables on page 15 require revising to correspond to their altered. lettering.
11. It is proposed to utilize the lighthouses along the coast to signal with passing ships of the Royal Navy, and to obtain information from them which may assist the defence. Though there can be no objection to posting non-combatant observers at the lighthouses, it should be borne in mind that if their use as war signalling-stations is detected by, or becomes known to, an enemy, he would cease to respect the neutrality which such buildings are recognized to possess. The loss which would result from the destruction of lighthouses has been considered in England to outweigh any possible advantages that might be gained by their employment for military purposes.
12 (v.) Pages 17 and 18.-In the absence of maps showing the positions near Brisbane and Townsville, indicated by letters in the text, it is not possible to deal further with this most important part of the Scheme ("Modes of meeting various Attacks") than was done in No. 163 R. It is suggested that each copy of the next revision of the Scheme should have bound up with it, in addition to a map showing the military districts and stations and one showing the telegraph and lighthouse systems, military maps on a scale of about 2 inches to a mile, showing the country round Brisbane and Townsville and Thursday Island, with the positions that would be occupied in the defence of these places enfaced. These military maps would, as well as the Defence Scheme, be secret documents, only to be issued (against receipt) to authorized persons whose names should be registered on a special list sanctioned by the Defence Minister.
13. Page 18, paragraph 1.--Information as to the modes of meeting attacks on Thursday Island should be embodied in the Scheme, as already suggested by the Colonial Defence Committee in paragraph 19 of No. 163 R.
14. Page 18. Mobilization-The general action to be taken by the marine and land forces on mobilization should come at the commencement of Chapter III, under a heading "General Review of Measures to be taken." The Return of ordnance and ammunition in charge of the Marine Force is obviously out of place in a part of the Scheme dealing with action to be taken on mobilization, and if retained in the Scheme, should be placed with the other Tables showing the naval and military resources of the Colony.
Chapter III.-Action to be taken by Staff and Departments.
15. Attention is called to paragraph 22 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks No. 163 R. Great importance is attached to the Scheme embodying a specific reference to Lord Knutsford's despatch of the 2nd July, 1891.
16. Page 19 (a.)—It is observed that the General Orders to be issued by the Commandant when hostilities are imminent take no account of the phases of partial
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