PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O
Reference :-
885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
Intrenching tools. Telegraph wire.
Consideration of the assistance which may
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4. Intrenching tools for at least 500 men.
5. Simple instruments and sufficient field telegraph wire to connect the capital with the different landing-places in the vicinity. Where the town is so much exposed to attacks from many different points, the telegraph will be most useful, as it will be impossible with a limited garrison to detach a force to watch every point, therefore considerable reliance must be placed on the telegraph to give early notice of the appearance and movements of an enemy, and sufficient wire must be at hand ready for immediate use.
It now becomes necessary to consider what assistance may be expected from the be expected from the Colony supposing the requisite armanent and stores were supplied by the Imperial Govern-
Colony.
Training ship sug gosted.
Gun-boat sa tender.
Armament of training-
ship.
Coast Defence Corps.
First Reserve,
Second Reserve.
Third Reserve.
Mode of raising force.
Working of proposed System.
ment.
It has been previously suggested at paragraph 33 that any local force should be trained and organized on a naval rather than a military model; but in raising such a force it is essential that it should be under Imperial direction and under the entire superinten. dence of Imperial officers, in a somewhat similar manner to 'that which exists at present with the Royal Naval Reserve. To apply such a system to Newfoundland it will be necessary that a training-ship should be attached to the Colony where the local levies could be properly trained and brought under discipline. It will be apparent that without Imperial support of this nature it will be very difficult to maintain the connection which should exist between the two services, Imperial and colonial, but also to obtain uniformity of drill, and inculcate those habits of discipline which are so essential to any auxiliary force. It is therefore suggested that one of Her Majesty's ships should be detailed as a permanent training-ship for Newfoundland; one of the old wooden frigates would for many reasons be the best suited for such a purpose. This ship should be rigged, and com- missioned in the same way as the Royal Naval Reserve drill-ships in England, with a small and carefully-selected crew on board for instructional purposes, and for the maintenance of discipline.
A small gun-boat should be attached as tender for the purpose of training the men at sea; one of the "Tweed," "Tay," "Tees" class would be most useful, and in the event of war, it could co-operate with the land batter..s as suggested at paragraph 38.
The training-ship should be provided with a few heavy guns, similar to those mounted in the batteries, for drill purposes only. Although the Moncrieff system proposed for the North Head could not be applied to the guns of the ship, it is recommended that those on board should be of the same nature, in order to familiarize the men with the manage. ment of the projectiles, fuzes, stores, &c.
41. Coast Defence Corps.
If a training-ship with officers and instructors were furnished and partly supported by the Imperial Government, it is suggested that Newfoundland should raise a naval corps for coast defence on the following system :-
The force to be divided into three classes, called the First, Second, and Third Reserves.
The First Reserve to consist of those men who have not completed three years' training.
The Second Reserve, those who have completed three trainings, but have been enrolled under six years.
The Third Reserve, those who have been enrolled between six and twelve years. The force to be raised by annual enrolments of 200 men each, and service in it to be for twelve years. Thus, allowing for vacancies, &c., at the end of twelve years there would probably be 2,000 trained men available for defensive purposes, and by continuing the yearly levy of 200 men there would always be this force available, in addition to any of those who, having completed twelve years' service, might choose to volunteer in the event of war.
The working of such a system would be as follows :—
First year, 200 men to be trained for three months, say during November, December, and January.
Second year, 200 more men to be trained for three months as above, and those of the first year to undergo six weeks' training in two parties of 100 men each.
Third year, 200 more men to be trained for three months, as before mentioned; the second year's contingent to be trained in two parties of 100 men each for six weeks, and the first year's contingent to undergo training for three weeks in four parties of 50 men each.
Thus at the end of the third and every succeeding year there will be a total of 350 men undergoing training at the same time during the whole of the three months.
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42. Second Reserve.
Fourth year. The men of the first year will have completed their training, and will Second Reserve. form the Second Reserve. Those of the second year will take their places in the First Reserve, and 200 more men will be raised to complete the number in the First Reserve.
Fifth year. The same as above, but the second year's men will join those of the first in the Second Reserve.
year
Sixth year. The same, and at the end of the training the whole of the original First Reserve will have joined the Second Reserve, their places in the First having been filled by new enrolments.
43. Third Reserve.
Seventh year. The men of the first year will join the Third Reserve, and continue in Third Reserve. it until they have completed twelve years' service, when the Colony will no longer have any claim on them.
This system will continue, the Colony raising 200 men every year to take the places of those who have completed their service. Thus at the end of three years the force will be as follows:-First Reserve: 200 men with 22 weeks' training; 200 men with 19 weeks' Force at end of three training; 200 men with 13 weeks' training,
years,
At the end of six years the Second Reserve will consist of 600 men who have all Force at end of six undergone 22 weeks' training; and the First Reserve, 600 men who have gone through year. trainings varying from 22 to 13 weeks each.
At the end of twelve years the First and Second Reserves as above, and Third Force at end of twelve Reserve of 1,200 men, all of whom have had 22 weeks' training.
Thus, allowing for casualties, &c., there would probably be about 2,000 men available
for the defence of the Colony at the end of the first twelve years. It is suggested that the main reliance should be placed on the men of the First and Second Reserves, and every exertion should be made to keep these thoroughly efficient by a system of deferred pay.
There can be little doubt that, during a war, and with a large seafaring population like that of Newfoundland, many men would be thrown out of their usual employment who would be only too glad to accept service in the Reserves, and therefore it is very improbable that those who have been enrolled would fail to appear when summoned.
years.
It is suggested that the force should be called out by Proclamation of the Governor, Mode of calling out under the same conditions as the present Army Reserve.
As it is most essential that the force should consist of the finest and best-conducted men of the seafaring classes, it will be necessary that the Colonial authorities should offer such inducements to men to enrol themselves as will insure their having a large number to select from each year to make up the usual levy of 200 men. By giving & comparatively high rate of pay whilst under training, with a small additional sum as deferred pay during the first six years' service, it is quite possible that every year there will be a large number of candidates to select from, and that in the course of time Newfoundland might possess a reserve force for its own defence which will be highly creditable to the Colony and prove a valuable auxiliary to Imperial arms.
It is suggested that the force should be raised as much as possible from the out- harbour population, and should invariably be approved by Imperial officers.
the Reserves.
The course of instruction on board the training-ship generally should be very similar Course of instruction. to that of the Royal Naval Reserve; but the longer period which it is proposed the colonial force should be under instruction will admit of a still more extended course.
The instruction should be confined to sufficient drill to enable them to be moved in bodies without confusion, and to the use of the rifle; but as the object is to provide efficient gunners for the batteries, after having completed this elementary course all further instruction should be confined to the working of the heavy guns on board the training-ship and in the batteries on shore, also in the management of field and mountain
guns.
During the second year's course the men might occupy the barracks on Signal Hill, and year. and for the first month be trained entirely in the batteries on shore, and then be embarked
in the gun-boat for a fortnight for practice at sea.
Thus the training-ship would only be used for training the first year's men, and all
other instruction would be carried on either in barracks or on board the tender.
It is suggested that the management of the field and mountain guns should be left Torpeda Instruction. entirely to the local force; also that a proportion of each year's contingent-say 10 per cent.-should
go through a special course of instruction in laying down torpedoes, instead of going to sea in the tender.
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