PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:--
ITLC.O. 885
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGA NOT TO
246
TRINIDAD.
Admiral Cradock, when visiting this port, expressed himself as pleased that this had been done.
The placing of signallers on the hulk and the removal of coal does not form part of the defence scheme, but was considered absolutely necessary. The floating dock, under the defence scheme, should be brought to Port of Spain and placed under guard, but Commander Owen did not think this desirable, and it would have been difficult to accomplish, so the dock remains at Chagaranas Bay, where work is carried on, daily, as usual. Should it be necessary, it would be at once submerged. The Caroni River has been blocked by felling some trees a little distance from the mouth, the Staff Officer, Captain Walsh, R.F.A., and the Engineer of Works being of opinion that this would be more efficacious than blocking the channels of approach.
At the preliminary stage arrangements were made for establishing hospitals and raising an Ambulance Corps, and base hospitals have been established at the Isolation Camp and at the Constabulary Hospital and dressing stations at Cocorite and at the Ariapita Asylum near the Electric Company's works. Forty members were enrolled, composed of wardsmen from the various medical institutions, equipped with stretchers, and instructed under their newly appointed Medice, Officers. Surgeon-Major Eakin takes charge of the Constabulary Hospital, Surgeon Captain Masson of the Isolation Camp Hospital, Surgeon-Lieutenant Swertz of Cocorite dressing station, and Surgeon-Lieutenant Pawan of the Ariapita dressing station.
Additional Medical Officers have been appointed to military units and the Surgeon-General, the Hon. Dr. Clare, has been appointed Surgeon-Lieutenant- Later it became necessary to convert the Colonel and Principal Medical Officer. Isolation Hospital into a detention camp for prisoners of war, so the base hospital has been transferred to St. James Constabulary Station, with the approval of the Principal Medical Officer.
On the outbreak of war many persons volunteered for service, and Your Excel- lency was pleased to authorise the raising of additional corps. This, as far as pos- A Mounted Infantry sible, was confined to the white section of the population. Corps of three officers and fifty rank and file has been raised in Port of Spain, armed and equipped, and twenty-five horses purchased for them by the Government. These are stabled at the Race Stand stables, and the troopers take it in turn to be drilled in mounted work. Should it be necessary, the unmounted troopers would be despatched in motor cars or on horses commandeered for them. They have become fairly efficient and will make a useful addition to the forces.
Twenty-five additional men of the same class have been raised in San Fernando and attached to the Light Horse there, and twelve mounts are being purchased for them Meanwhile, they are being drilled on estates' animals.
A 2nd Battalion of Light Infantry has been raised in Port of Spain, con- sisting of eight officers and fifty motor and ordinary cyclists and fifty infantry, all white men. They are drawn from the better class, and it was necessary to form them into a separate battalion as it is desirable to keep them distinct from the 18: Battalion, owing to their social position. Officers and men are becoming efficient, and will also be an addition, in many respects, to the forces. The motor cycles number eighteen. There is a trained maxim section, the maxim being carried in side-cars, and a short time ago I tested the possibility of reinforcing Macqueripe. I found that the motor cyclists were able to do so in twenty-five minutes and the ordinary cyclists in fifty-five minutes, which is very fair and much faster than could be done by cavalry. This corps has been fully armed and equipped. The strength of the 1st Battalion has been increased by about fifty men, the actual strength in Port of Spain having fallen very low. These men are under training, but are not yet efficient.
An Artillery Corps of two officers and fifty-four men has been authorised, and two officers and thirty men are now practically efficient, and will form a useful reserve for the Constabulary gunners. Gun practice has not been possible owing to the want of fuzes, which are now arriving.
I found it possible to officer the new units with men of some slight previous military knowledge.
247
TRINIDAD.
The Light Horse and Mounted Infantry came into camp for a week's training in November.
On the outbreak of war it was found expedient to bring in from the country every available man of the Constabulary that could be spared, amounting to eighty- two non-commissioned officers and men, and yet allow of the police work of the island being carried on uninterruptedly without extra expense, and I am glad to be able to report that the work, both in town and country, in spite of the great stress, it has entailed on officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, has been carried out as efficiently as if no war conditions had appertained, and it has been possible, in the interests of the Mother Country, to send the Staff Officer and four Constabulary officers for active service. Their places have been filled by five very promising young gentlemen, three of whom are still under instruction at the depôt. It has also been possible to give some training to two gentlemen of the local forces before being despatched to take up commissions. Of the eighty-two men brought in from the country several were gunners and signallers whom it was absolutely necessary should be in Port of Spain, and the rearrangement of maxim, signalling, and artil- lery detachments necessitated some considerable adjustment. It may be of interest for me to state that there are twelve gun detachments of six men each, thirty-six signallers, and fifty-eight trained maxim gunners in Port of Spain and detached posts. There are two 16-pounder guns and one 12-pounder gun at the Water Police station and fourteen gunners permanently stationed there, these to be increased by the Besson Street detachment of five gunners and by a detachment of infantry, in the event of an alarm. Four horses, with drivers and harness, are kept near by at A Constabulary headquarters for moving the 12-pounder to any position desired. officer is present at the Water Police station all night. The remaining 16-pounder guns are at the depôt ready to be moved to the Cocorite and Mucarapo positions, .The other 12-pounder, with where emplacements have been prepared for them. drivers and team, is also kept at the depôt ready to be moved to any desired position. I am glad to say that the fuzes, so much required, have now arrived. The limbers of all guns have the full complement of ammunition in them. At the outbreak of war it was necessary to bring in horses from country stations to make up shortage in town, due to the fact that no horses were obtainable, and to casualties. Since then eight horses, which were on order, have arrived, and it has been possible to return four horses to out-stations most in need of them. Although not absolutely necessary at the present stage of defence, for the purpose of training the men and horses in night work, patrols are carried out in the direction of Carenage, somewhat similar to those required on concentration, and the men have learned their positions and the horses got accustomed to night work and the surroundings.
Trenches and gun emplacements have been made in the necessary positions, and I am indebted to Captain Bushe, Engineer of Works, and to Lieutenant Godwin, now serving in England, for the attention paid to their construction. The follow- ing positions have been connected by telephone, Bourne's River and Cocorite Rifle Range with the depôt, and Fort Cumberland with the rifle range. The men have been practised in taking up their positions by the Officer in Charge at Four Roads, In addition to the where thirty-six men were stationed on the outbreak of war. military lookout stations, a rural constable has been posted at Erin and another at Icacos, under the Warden, and a police constable also at Icacos, for the purpose of observation and of notifying the Warden of any vessels approaching the Until the Serpent's Mouth, the Warden notifying the Staff Officer in due course.
20th December, three men were stationed on the heights above Los Cuevos Bay, at the head of the Maracas Valley, but these latter have now been withdrawn. A very seful lookout has also been established by the Prisons Department at the convict island of Carrera, which is in telephonic communication with Port of Spain, and intimation of the approach of ships, especially by night, is given to the Customs officer on duty at the Water Police station.
In accordance with the defence scheme a train has been kept under steam at San Fernando, ready to bring in reinforcements to Port of Spain should they be required. To prevent surprise and for the protection of rolling stock, the engines and carriages, which remained at night at the out termini, at Pool, 14 miles from Mayaro, Siparia, 7 miles from Oropuche, and at Sangre Grande, 7 miles from