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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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In Jamaica, the total number of Government employees who have joined the forces is 76, or fifteen per cent. of those of military age.

In considering these figures, it must be borne in mind that the West Indies have provided a contingent of 7,000 men, and that 3,000 more are being raised, among whom will be a number of officials, both European and coloured, additional to the above figures; that women and over-age men are being substituted where possible, and that it is necessary to retain a certain proportion of men for the maintenance of the administration and of local defence.

Colonial Office,

December 30, 1916.

APPENDIX.

Despatch sent to all the West African Colonies.

Downing Street, November 28, 1916. Sir,

I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have had under my consideration, in consultation with the Army Council, the question of raising additional native forces in West Africa for service overseas.

2. The West African Frontier Force, which is chiefly responsible for the land defence of the West African dependencies, is already furnishing contingents, numbering in all about 3,900 combatant native troops, with about 1,600 carriers, &c., for service in East Africa, and endeavours are being made to maintain these contingents at full strength by the periodical despatch of the necessary reinforce-

Inents.

3. These contingents will constitute an appreciable addition to the forces fighting in East Africa, and their despatch to that theatre of war, following as it does at no long interval of time after the successful conclusion of hostilities in the Cameroons-for the conquest of which country the West African Frontier Force was so largely responsible-in itself represents an effort which reflects great credit upon the two administrations responsible for furnishing the contingents. But the necessity of developing to the full the resources in man-power of the Empire make it incumbent upon His Majesty's Government not to rest content with this contribution from West Africa to the forces now engaged on the side of the Allies; and it is considered advisable that a special recruiting campaign should be set on foot at once with a view to providing considerably increased forces for service

overseas.

4. It has been decided that the best course will be for a senior officer with recent West African experience to proceed to the West Coast as soon as possible in order to assume direction of the measures necessary to this end, and Major A. H. W. Haywood, D.S.O., Royal Artillery, has been selected as the most suitable officer available for this purpose.

5. As you are aware, Major (temporary Colonel) Haywood, who has lately reverted to the Army, had previously commanded a battalion of the Nigeria Regiment. His total service with the West African Frontier Force (in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and the Cameroons) amounts to ten years. He is also an interpreter in Hausa, and has a wide and varied experience of the West African native.

6. Major Haywood will be appointed Assistant Director of Recruiting, West African Frontier Force, with the temporary rank of Colonel.. (I should explain that the title "Assistant Director is intended to convey the implication that he is subordinate and directly responsible to the Director

of Recruiting at the War Office.) The War Department will be responsible for his pay, &c., as part

of the general expenses of raising the oversea contingents from West Africa.

7. Colonel Haywood's functions as Assistant Director of Recruiting will be to take such steps as The terms of enlistment he may think desirable to raise recruits in West Africa for service overseas.

will be for the duration of the War, and the recruits will receive, at any rate, their preliminary training in West Africa with and as part of the West African Frontier Force. Colonel Haywood's reports will be rendered direct to the War Office, copies being sent simultaneously to the Government or Governments concerned. The extent to which he will be required to obtain the preliminary consent of the Army Council to his proceedings is a matter on which he will receive his instructions from the Council; but I have thought it desirable to point out to the Council that it may very likely be found necessary to offer special financial inducements in the shape of a bonus or otherwise to persuade natives to enlist for service overseas.

8. Colonel Haywood thoroughly understands that it will be his duty to work in the closest possible co-operation with the West Africau Governments and the local military authorities, and I desire to impress upon you with the greatest earnestness and urgency the high degree of importance which His Majesty's Government attach to his mission. As you are aware, public attention has been drawn of late in a marked manner to the question of making much more use for war purposes, combatant or other, of the populations of the various dependencies of the Crown that do not possess responsible Government; and while His Majesty's Government are fully alive to the difficulties which complicate the problem, they are firmly of opinion that the question to what further extent efficient forces can be raised in West Africa to take part in the operations of war in, at any rate, tropical or sub-tropical climates, or to do garrison work and so set other more suitable troops free for service in the field, should be thoroughly investigated, and that every effort should be made to obtain recruits for such forces,

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9. I have therefore no hesitation in inviting your close co-operation and assistance in the objects which Colonel Haywood's appointment is intended to secure, and in asking you to impress not only upon your officers, military and civil, but (in such a manner and to such extent as you judge best calculated to effect the purposes in view) on the native rulers and chiefs and unofficial employers of labour, the wishes of the Government in this matter, and make such appeal to their loyalty as may be appropriate. That the appeal will not be made in vain I do not doubt, even though the response may involve, as I think it will, some dislocation of trade and industry and much additional labour and sacrifice at a time of exceptional trial and difficulty.

10. I am particularly anxious (and the Army Council have expressed their entire concurrence in this view) that the inference should not be drawn from the creation of this new post that there is any want of confidence in the desire or ability of the officers of the West African Frontier Force to carry on, as hitherto, the work of raising and training recruits. On the contrary, all new recruits will bo raised for the West African Frontier Force-although, as they will be paid and equipped from Army funds and expressly raised for service overseas with contingents already so paid, it will probably be convenient from the outset to form them into special "service" battalions or companies by themselves and their training will be entrusted to the West African Frontier Force. Indeed, unless the fullest assistance is forthcoming from the West African Frontier Force, the scheme will be foredoomed to failure. I should think it likely, however, that the Commanding Officers and their staffs, working with a depleted personnel and fully occupied, as they must be, with the special difficulties of reorganisation and administration, inevitable in existing circumstances, would welcome the advent of an experienced senior officer who will relieve them of the supervision of recruiting.

11. It is thought most convenient that Colonel Haywood should proceed first of all to the Gold Coast and thence to Nigeria, as there is no doubt that it is from these two dependencies that the bulk of the recruits would be forthcoming. I trust to be able to inform you at a comparatively early date of the time fixed for his departure.

12. You are at liberty to communicate the text or substance of this despatch, or extracts there- from, to any persons that you think fit.

13. A similar despatch has been addressed to the Acting Governor of the Gold Coast, and copies are being sent to the Governors of Sierra Leone and the Gambia, with directions as to necessary action on their part.

I have, &c.

A. BONAR LAW.

PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY O. E. HARISON.—4/1/1917.

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