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75 miles by rail from Brisbane, one at Ipswich, about 20 miles, and the remainder at Brisbane.
This seems, on the whole, a better arrangement than the former one, though undoubtedly it would be still further improved if the number of companies were reduced, the total establishment of non-commissioned officers and men remaining the same as recommended by the Commandant.
In connection with the Volunteer organization, the Committee note that both the Queensland Rifles and the Queensland Teachers have detached companies at Toowoomba. Unless there is some strong local reason against it, it would, in the opinion of the Committee, be better for purposes of inspection and administration if the three small companies at this distant place belonged to one rather than to two of the corps which have their head-quarters in Brisbane.
11. The State School Cadet Corps, a new organization, have proved a great success, and appear worthy of continued encouragement. It will be interesting to learn whether, when the corps have been established a few years, any considerable number of youths leaving them join the active forces of the Colony.
12. With regard to armament, the replacing of the useless guns at Magazine Island, Townsville, still remains a pressing desideratum.
The Committee understand that, in addition to the four guns* which were, according to the Commandant's Report of last year, indented from England, two more have been recently ordered. The Committee would point out, if not too late, that these machine-guns should be on infantry field carriages.
The Committee note with much satisfaction that it is intended that all the forces of Queensland are to be armed with the 303-inch small-arm before the 1st January, 1899.
According to paragraph 12 of their Memorandum, No. 57 M, the total number of these small arms in the Colony should be 7,500, and an ample reserve of ammunition should be kept up.
13. The proposals of the Commandant with regard to rifle ranges appear to the Committee to deserve the serious attention of Government.
14. The Committee recommend that a copy of "War Establishments," issued with Army Orders, dated the 1st September last, should be sent to Queensland, for the information of the military authorities there, with these Remarks. Though local conditions will in most cases make it inadvisable to adopt in Australia the war establishments of units which have been determined on for the British army, the Com- mittee think that these establishments may serve as a useful guide in deciding those suitable for Australia, and will help in arriving at that similarity of organization which may be of assistance some day when British and Australian units are fighting side by side.
15. Finally, the Colonial Defence Committee desire to record their satisfaction at the efforts which for some years past have been made in Queensland to organize the defence resources of that Colony with a definite view to employing them in war to meet the forms of attack, to which the Colony is liable.
M. NATHAN, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
December 28, 1898.
(Signed)
Approved by loss for was, 22/1/99,
0161 in 684
* Only two on cavalry field carriages according to the Returns of Resources on December 31, 1897.
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