Staff and Command-
Command
Range-finders
Telephonists and signallers
Gun detachments (fixed armament)—
8-10-inch B.L. guns
13-6-inch
:
وو
2-12-5-inch R.M.L.
6--10-inch
*
guns
31
33
6-6-pr. Q.F. guns
Magazine men, store men, orderlies, &c.-
Add 663 per cent.
Add 10 per cent. for sick
Totals
:
5
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Totals.
Officers.
W.Os., N.C.Os., and Gunners.
Officers.
W.Os., N.C.Os., and Gunners.
:
:
124
21
21
30
31
:
:
104
104
24
66
30
61
328
219
21
608
2
61
23
669
t.
The numbers allotted to staff and command in this Table are approximate only, as they depend on the approved chain of artillery command for the fortress, which is not available to the Committee. The Table includes no detachments for the machine- guns, which are rightly allotted in the Scheme to the infantry; it also excludes the 3-pr. Q.F. guns, for reasons stated above. To meet the requirements of 23 officers and 669 of other ranks, there are available three companies of regular artillery which, from the latest British Army Returns, may be taken to number altogether 15 officers and 420 men and 2 companies of volunteer artillery, which had an efficient strength up to the end of the drill season of 1896-97 of 189. This leaves less than 100 British infantry required to assist in working the guns.
The importance of keeping as many infantry as possible available for infantry duties is obvious. Ultimately a reduction of artillery requirements may be rendered possible by the substitution of medium Q.F. for heavy R.M.L. guns, such as is now being carried out in the Colonies. It does not, however, appear that the initial expenditure which this would involve is imperative in the present circumstances of Bombay.
"
9. Under the heading "Action by the Officer Commanding Royal Engineers (page 9) allusion is made to various measures which will be undertaken by the Port Trust, the Municipal Engineers, and the Engineers of the Railways in communication with him. These measures should all be worked out beforehand, if this has not already been done, and detailed information concerning them embodied in the Defence Scheme.
It does not appear from the Defence Scheme that any but minor works are to be executed directly under the Officer Commanding Royal Engineers on mobilization, so that Tables showing working parties' time, tools, and materials required, such as are usually inserted in Defence Schemes, are scarcely necessary but the distribution of any subordinate staff which it is proposed to allot should be given.
10. Under the heading "Action by O.C. Submarine Defences" (page 9) the Scheme for electric lighting should be explained, and the personnel that will be made available to carry it out should be detailed. The position, width and depth of the submarine mine-field should be indicated; it is believed to extend from in front of Middle Ground across the deep water to the east, but this is nowhere stated.
11. Under the headings "Action by Principal Medical Officer" and "Action by Senior Ordnance Officer" (page 10) the arrangements that would be made by these
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