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6. Page 11 (4), paragraph 1.-The number of Gold Coast Constabulary which will be available for each of the three places which it is proposed to defend, viz., Accra, Cape Coast, and Elmina, should be given here in place of under " (C.)-Modes of meeting various attacks," as well as the reference to the peace distribution shown in Table (I). It is stated in that Table that 658 men of the Gold Coast Constabulary were at Kumassi on the 6th January last; this would seem an error, as at that date the greater portion of the detachment were several hundreds of miles to the north of Kumassi under the orders of the Commandant of the Northern Territories. The second part of Table (I) may be omitted from future revisions of the Scheme which already contains (on p. 13) a list of the men at lead-quarters who will not be available as combatants. Table (IV), which gives the strength and distribution of the Gold Coast Constabulary some years ago, may also be omitted.
If the Gold Coast Police were armed it would add considerably to the Defence force at Accra, and to a less extent to the armed forces at Cape Coast and Elmina. Possibly it is necessary that these men should be of English speaking and unwarlike tribes, but the matter seems to deserve the consideration of the Governor.
7. Page 11 (A), paragraph 2.-The armament of the Colony at present includes three 44-inch mortars and one 44-inch howitzer, with the necessary stores and equip- ment for these antiquated weapons. The Colonial Defence Committee consider that these should no longer be kept up.
The small-arms at present in the Colony consists, according to Table III, of 994 Martini-Henry carbines and 1,300 Martini-Metford carbines. The Committee consider that the former should be done away with and the number of Martini- Metfords brought up to at least 2,000. For these 1,000,000 cartridges should be kept up, or at the rate of 500 rounds per carbine. On the 29th December last there appear to have been only 243 rounds per Martini-Henry and 228 per Martini-Metford carbine. 8. Page 12 (B).-The description of telegraphs and telephones given under this heading should be preceded by an account of the coast roads communicating between, and in the vicinity of the three ports to be defended, which are likely to be used for tactical purposes.
The reference to the message by which the Governor will be instructed to put his Defence Scheme either wholly or partly into force should come in Chapter III, under the head of "General review of measures to be taken.'
9. Page 13, lines 3 to 5.-Arrangements for the defence of Kwitta are here alluded to. The only arrangements in the Scheme that affect this place are for the removal to Acera of the detachment stationed at Kwitta in peace. These should be entered under Accra, and it should not be stated that it will be necessary to make arrangements for the defence of Kwitta.
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10. Page 13, 4th, 3rd, and 2nd paragraphs from bottom. The arrangements for patrols at Accra seem to require some further consideration. They will be difficult carry out throughout the whole course of a war with France, and should scarcely be necessary if provision is made for signalling a hostile or doubtful ship as soon as it comes in sight of the coast, which should be some time before it can land troops from boats.
Chapter III.
11. Page 17.-This chapter will require considerable amplification if the Gold Coast Defence Scheme is to be of practical utility. The object of Schemes of this nature is that every officer who has to take action under it should, immediately it is put into force, have given to him exact orders as to his action, so that no time may be lost in working out arrangements which might have been made beforehand, and so that within a few hours of the receipt of the Secretary of State's notification all the resources of the Colony may be utilized to meet an attack on it. This is not the case with the Scheme as it now stands. For instance, it is laid down that a detachment is to proceed from Kwitta to Accra, but no arrangements are made for the transport of this detachment, and it is not even stated whether this will be by land or sea. Again, precautions are to be taken with regard to storing a supply of food and water for a detachment to be posted at Connor's Hill, Cape Coast, but it is not stated who will be responsible for this action, what the supplies are to consist of, nor how they are to be carried to Connor's Hill or stored there.
All details with regard to the transport, supply, housing, and medical charge of troops, to the transport of guns and ammunition, and to engineering or telegraph works (if any) that may be required, should be fully worked out and entered in
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