CO885-24 — Page 157

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

ן

Reference :-

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

|ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRA NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

294

WINDWARD ISLANDS.

The

the understanding that they might be called out for duty at any moment. Defence Force has, from time to time since then, been exercised on the lines of the defence scheme.

The signal stations were manned as laid down by the defence scheme.

The cable and office of the West India and Panama Telegraph Company were taken charge of by the Government, and censorship over all messages established, Major Dunn, Chief of Police, being appointed Censor.

In St. Vincent no feeling of excessive excitement prevailed amongst the people. There was a slight rise in local prices, but the knowledge of the power in the Executive to fix prices had the effect of keeping down prices within a reasonable limit. In the early stages of the war the people were advised to plant ground pro- visions, and the landed proprietors allowed labourers free occupation of lands for the purpose. Peasants also planted liberally. Ground provisions are now plenti- ful, and no special poor relief arrangements are necessary.

The

All things considered, the present conditions of the island may be viewed as fairly satisfactory. The state of the cotton and arrowroot market is poor, result- ing in reduction of spending power of all classes, and necessitates caution. Administrator reports that the Cotton Growing Association are assisting the cotton industry, and that, where possible, other crops will be substituted for cotton and arrow root.

From the 1st August to date there has been a loss of revenue of £1,400, com- pared with the revenue for the same period for the previous five years. This represents a loss of about 12 per cent., and it is probable it will be necessary to increase certain of the taxes to meet the deficit in the Budget of the coming financial

year.

An address of loyalty to the King was adopted by the Legislative Council, and a vote of £1,000 passed as a contribution to the Prince of Wales's Relief Fund, and £1,000 for the purchase of St. Vincent arrowroot, as a gift to His Majesty's forces engaged in the war. Private gifts of arrowroot were also made by the planters of St. Vincent, and private subscriptions of about £400 forwarded for the Red Cross Society.

I have, &c.,

DOUGLAS YOUNG,

Acting Governor.

27921/S

SIB,

No. 114.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 17th June, 1915.)

(St. Vincent. Secret.)

SUBMITTED.

(Secret.)

Grenada, 29th May, 1915.

G. B. HADDON-SMITH,

Governor.

Government House, St. Vincent, 19th May, 1915.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Secretary of State's Secret circular despatch, of the 30th March last, transmitting an extract from a letter from the War Office suggesting that the Officer Commanding the local forces should keep up a short war diary for future reference.

2. In this Colony no such diary has been kept, but instructions have now been issued that this be done in the future.

3. In the circumstances, as I am leaving the Colony to-morrow for St. Lucia in order to assume the administration there, I have thought it desirable, in my

مهر

295

WINDWARD ISLANDS.

capacity (since November last) as Commandant of the local forces of St. Vincent, to write a memorandum giving an account of defensive arrangements and local occurrences in connection with the war up to the date of my departure. memorandum I herewith enclose.

His Excellency

Sir George Haddon-Smith, K.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosure in No. 114. MEMORANDUM.

This

I have, &c.,

GIDEON MURRAY,

Administrator.

THE following memorandum is prepared in accordance with the Secretary, of State for the Colonies' Secret circular, of the 30th March, 1915, forwarding an extract from a letter from the War Office suggesting that the Officer Commanding the local forces should keep up a short war diary recording all defensive measures which have been taken from the day of mobilization, and also such information as may be of value for future reference in revising and improving the organization of the defence of the territory within his command.

On the 30th of July, when the "warning telegram" referred to on page 47 of the preface to the St. Vincent defence scheme was received, Major C. de S. Dunn, Commanding the St. Vincent Volunteers and Chief of Police, was Commandant of the local forces. Major Dunn left the Colony on leave of absence owing to urgent family affairs on 26th October, 1914, and was subsequently given a commission as captain in one of the new battalions of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He kept no diary so far as is known, but the following accounts of defensive action taken during his command are authentic.

On the 4th of November, 1914, the Honourable Gideon Murray, Administrator of the Colony and writer of this memorandum, returned from leave of absence, and from the 11th of November, 1914, until the 20th May, 1915, when he left for St. Lucia to assume the administration of that Colony, he took command of the Volun- teers and Commandantship of the local forces. During the short period inter- vening Captain Alexander Fraser, second in command of the Volunteers, commanded that force, and Mr. T. Osment acted as Chief of Police and in command of that body. For this short period there was no Commandant of the combined local forces.

Upon the receipt of the "warning telegram" the Acting Administrator, Mr. R. B. Roden, summoned a meeting of the executive officers of the Government, including the Commandant of the local forces and the local Staff Officer of the Windward Islands, Captain E. F. S. Henderson, of the Leicestershire Regiment, who was in the Colony at the time, but who, owing to the need of his services being greater in St. Lucia, left for that Colony on the 9th of August, 1914. As a result of this meeting, instructions were given to the Commandant to hold himself in readiness to call out the forces at any moment.

CE

On the 3rd of August the Acting Administrator received the censorship telegram" (page 48, preface). He immediately called a meeting of the Executive Council, who agreed to his appointing Mr. F. Birkinshaw,* Assistant Agricultural Superintendent, as Censor of Telegrams. Subsequently the Colonial Postmaster was appointed as Censor of Letters. The Executive Council also approved of the Government taking control of the West India and Panama Telegraph Company's cable station in the Colony. The Acting Administrator the same day issued the necessary instruments in writing to carry those decisions into effect.

Mr. Birkinshaw left the Colony on promotion on 26th October. Mr. V. F. Drayton, Chief Clerk, Government Office, was appointed to succeed him. On the 7th November, Mr. D. 8. Aikman, Chief Clerk, Post Office, succeeded Mr. Drayton, and at date of writing continues to hold the office of Cable Consor at a salary at the rate of £80 a year. The Colonial Postmaster continues to be Censor of letters at no additional salary. The Administrator has continuously acted in the capacity of Press Censor, the local newspapers being submitted to him before issue by consent of the pro- prietors and without any special compulsory legislation.