Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. July 28, 1898.
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SECRET.
No. 193 R.
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
CAPE.
C.O.-
No. 423. SECRET.
Defence Scheme revised to December 1897..
Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.
Covering Despatch of Governor.
Page 1, paragraph 2.--It is believed that the Lieutenant-General Commanding in South Africa has been definitely informed since the date on which the Defence Scheme was submitted, that the infantry garrison of Her Majesty's troops allotted for the defence of the Cape Peninsula in time of war is limited to two battalions, both of which are stationed in the Peninsula in peace. It is not intended by Her Majesty's Government to dispatch any reinforcements from England or elsewhere to strengthen the garrison of the coaling station on mobilization, and it must be borne in mind in the Defence Scheme that the half battalion stationed at the Cape, but whose head- quarters are in Mauritius, belongs to the war garrison of the latter station, and would be dispatched thither immediately on mobilization. No troops would, however, under present arrangements go from the Cape to St. Helena.
As regards other infantry battalions stationed in the South African Command, their presence is due to the requirements of frontier defence, and as these requirements are likely to increase rather than diminish during a state of war between Her Majesty and a European Power, it is not desirable that those units should be considered as available for the local defence of the Cape Peninsula.
In
As regards the reconstitution of the Colonial forces, until practical effect has been given to the recommendations made by the Cape Defence Commission of 1896-97, and endorsed by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Remarks No. 169 R, dated the 18th September, 1897-a consummation much to be wished--the Defence Scheme must necessarily include only such Colonial troops as actually exist, and would be definitely available for service in the Peninsula in time of war. connection with this point the Committee are of opinion that, having in view the present situation in South Africa, and the serious inadequacy of the Colonial forces available for the protection of Kimberley from a sudden attack (to which they drew attention in paragraph 2 of their Remarks on the Report of the Cape Defence Commission), it is expedient that the Diamond Fields Horse, and Artillery, and the Kimberley Rifles should no longer be regarded as forming part of the mobilization garrison of the Cape Peninsula.
Having regard, moreover, to the fact that the battalion of Her Majesty's troops stationed in the Eastern Provinces is the only Imperial unit in the Cape Colony, which is left over for frontier defence after the mobilization of the garrison of the Peninsula, it appears a matter of much doubt whether units such as the Cape Mounted Rifles, Prince Alfred's Guard, the Grahamstown Volunteers, and the Queenstown Rifle Volunteers, would not be needed on the frontier rather than in the Cape Peninsula. It is, of course, impossible to foresee the exact political and strategical situation in
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