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South Africa.

11. The excellent material which exists in the manhood of South Africa for building up in the future a valuable addition to the forers of the Empire is very mugfest. The war has further shown this life on the veldt even in peace time ensures the possession of that readiness of resoured and natural instinct which are essential to a soldier in the field under the conditions of modern war. It is evident that men in possession of these natural advantages require less training for war than lads born and bred in the large cities of civilizeal

countries.

It may be hoped in the future, therefore, that we may be able to take advantage of this admirable recruiting ground, and that both the Dutch as well as the English colonists of South Afrin may some day fight for the Empire side by side with the Regular Army, It is obvious, however, that at the present moment the consideration of any scheme for the organization of an Imperial South African force would be more academical labour.

Canada,

15. The Canadian military force consists entirely of militia, in which all male inhabitants d Canada between the ages of 15 and 80 (excepting only Ministers of religion, hulges, professors, &c.) are liable to serve.

This force is divided into-

(a.) Permanent,

(b.) Active.

(c) Reserve.

The two first classes are recruited by voluntary enlistmeta: „the third, which is nutrdad and unorganized, comprises the rest of this anale populations.

The establishment of the drst two classes are as follows :-

General Summary.

17. The proposals made in this paper contemplate, therefore, the organization of the following: Colonial troops for general Imperial service in war :-

Australia

Colony.

New Zealand

South Afric

Canada

...{

2 Mounted Brigade's

1 Infantry Brigade

1 Mounted Brigando

2 Infantry Battalions

Units.

Approximate Strength.

:} 9,000

1,500

? 1

[ 2

::}

35,000

10,500

1 Brigade Division, Field Artillery

Infantry Brigade

War Office, November 25, 1901.

Total

4

(Signed)

E. A. ALTHAM, .1.Q.M.G.

Permanent

Active

Total

All Ranks.

1,021

87,831

DXN52

The active Militia undergoes an ammal training, the rand corps go into camp for twelve days, the city corps "Twing drilled in towns. In his animal Report of Jamtury lasą, the Giemecul Offer Commanding Canadian Militia states that the city corps have absolutely no training wheat- over in the field duties of a solliere and that the rural epips" will never be made oven, fairly fit to Tak the tick with the limited perical of annual training that they receive under existing conditions." In the event of war with the United States it is on this Canadian Militia that must depend the entire saligy of Canda until reinfongements arrive from England. The defengyel Cajala in sneli a confifigeeney is probably the most difficult ilitary problem that the Empins could Þver five, and it may, therefore, be concluded that the best way in which Canada 'van ensoperaio in hmperial defence is by making her militia an efficient force. It is more important that the Culiaji Ministry should be strongly pressed to take this reasonable precantion thêm that they should maintain contingents for genepal imperial servire,

16. Nevertheless, the services rendered by Canadians in South Africa, as well as the history of the last Anglo-American war, show that the Canadians are excellent lighters, and would be i valuable addition to the limperial forces. It is reasonable to assume that Canada will desire to co-operate with Australia in any steps that may be taken for creating a permanent organization of Colonial Imperial forces, and, if such a desire he felt, there are strong political reasons for encouraging it. Moreover, it is possible that, by the example of a Canadian Imperial force, the militia generally might be worked up to a higher standard of efficiency,

The strategical position of Canada makes it, however, unwise that any very large contingent should be drawn from her defence force unless the strength of that force should in the future bes increased. It is suggested, therefore, that if a Canadian Imperial force be organized, it should be limited, for the present, to a brigade division "of field artillery and a brigade of infantry. The force might be organized on lngs similar to those suggested for Austrália.

21328.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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Reference

C.O. 885

8

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