384
MILITARY FORCE.
VI. The following is a return of the strength and establishment of the Victorian land forces brought down to January 1887:---
385
VIII. The following is a statement of the number and calibre of the artillery in possession of the military forces :—
Guns,
Branch of Service.
Establishment.
PERMANENT.
Head-Quarters Staff -
Permanent Staff (Warrant and N. C. officers)
5 32
Victorian Artillery
200
Permanent Section, Corps of Engineers
21
MILITIA.
Nordenfelt Battery
Cavalry
Field Artillery Brigade -
71
26
266
Garrison Artillery, 1st Brigade
442
2nd
327
Submarine Mining Company Corps of Engineers
62
Field Company Corps of Engineers
99
Victorian Rifles, 1st Battalion -
501
2nd
#
23
"
501
19
19
3rd 4tb
31
403
93
403
16
Medical Department -
Unattached List
Chaplain
Medical Department
Victorian Volunteer Mounted Rifles
Total
1,002
4,377
Description of Giuns.
Number.
Breech-loading rifled, 8-in., of 12 tons.
3
"
"
Garrison guns
נו
21
6-in., of 5 tons 6-in., of 4 tons Muzzle-loading 9-in., of 12 tons
3
6
Guns of position
80-pr., 81 cwt. Breech-loading rifled, 40-pr., 35 ewt. -
23
6
"3
121-pr.
18
Field Guns
"
12-pr. (old type)
6
"
6-pr.
-
6
Muzzle-loading
כן
Machine guns
3-pr. (old type) Nordenfelt 10-barrel rifle calibre
6
Smooth-bored 68-pr. guns
19
Total
103
IX. The guns in possession of the naval forces at the end of 1886 were the following:-
Ship.
Description of Gans.
Number.
H.M.V.S. Cerberus
H.M.V.S. Nelson
Woolwich, 10-in., 400-pr. Nordenfelt
4
4
Woolwich, 7-in., 116 pr.
2
Shunt, 45 cwt., 64-pr.
18
"
11
Smooth-bore, 32-pr.
12
Victoria
B.L.
*
gun, 10-in., 23 ton
121.pr.
1
2
"
Nordenfelt
2
Albert
B.L. gun, 8-in., 12 tou
1
" 6-in., 4 ton
1
VII. Taking this, together with the preceding figures, we obtain as a result:
Naval Forces-
Permanent
Naval Brigade
Total
-
206
376
582
Military Forces-
Permanent
Militia
Mounted Infantry -
258
3,117
1,002
4,377
The grand total of the defence forces, on a peace footing, therefore, amounts to nearly 5,000 men, which, under its existing organization, could be largely and rapidly augmented from well-drilled reserves. Provision for such an increase has been made by the formation of Rifle Clubs throughout the Colony. Of these clubs 221 had been formed before the close of last year, in which 6,540 men were enrolled.
They have been supplied with rifles by the Government at less than their cost. Ammunition is supplied at half-cost, and nearly 2,000,000 rounds have been purchased. The 1,280 polico in the Colony have all passed through courses of military drill and could supply a considerable body of disciplined men available at the shortest notice. In connexion with the State and public schools, a system of cadet corps has also rapidly sprung up. Before the end of last year there were 85 such corps in existence, wearing a simple and inexpensive uniform, drilled by the drill instructors of the militia, armed with Francotte rifles lent by the Government, and numbering upwards of 3,300 cadets. By these various means it is hoped that within a few years almost the entire adult male population of the Colony will have acquired the habit of military discipline, and become accustomed to the use of arms. In addition to the regulation drills, the garrison artillery are frequently exercised in the forts and batteries. Camps of instruction are from time to time formed for the purpose of accustoming the different corps to act in combined operations.
19
9-pr.
Nordenfelt
6-pr.
Childers
Batman
Fawkner
Hotchkiss, 14-in.
B.L. gun, 6-in., 4 tou
"
6-in., 4 ton
Gannet
6-in., 4 ton
Lion
11 6-pr.
1
Spray
Gordon
3
Naval Reserve
20
"
2
*
2
85
Nordenfelt, 1-in.
Smooth-bore, 32-pr. Nordenfelt Howitzer, 12-pr.
Total -
X. The following statement gives the amount of artillery and munitions now being manufactured for the Government :-
under order and being shipped to replace M.L.R. guns~
Garrison guns
Machine guns-----
1 10-in. B.L. 25-ton
4 9-in.
All to be
mounted, on
2 6-in. 5-ton | H.P. carriages.
1 8-in.
99
22
15 5-in.
12 6-pr. quick-firing
8 5-barrel Nordenfelt. 6 2-barrel
29
(1 inch).
Mines and stores for the three mine fields referred to above.
XI. The fortification of Melbourne is being carried out on plans proposed by Lieutenant-General Sir W. Jervois and Major-General Sir Peter Scratchley. The main works are batteries at Queenscliff, Swan Island, Point Nepean, and Point Franklin, and a fort which has been raised upon a shoal on the north side of the South Channel. It is proposed to build another fort on the Pope's Eye Shoal, a commanding 3 H 2
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
TITT
Reference :-
CO. 885/5
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO