386
position, which protects every channel leading to Melbourne. The various batteries are being re-modelled and re-armed with B.L. guns of the best type on H.P. carriages.
XII. When all these works are completed, it is believed that Melbourne will be the most strongly fortified and completely defended port in the Empire. Consideration of the best means of making this powerful military position most dangerous to a possible enemy has not been overlooked. A very carefully elaborated plan of operations has been prepared under the direction of the Minister of Defence, in which the best means of utilising in actual war all the elements of the defensive strength of the ships, forts, mines, torpedoes, and armed forces afloat and ashore have been fully settled. It is believed that in this scheme of defence all the eventualities of attack have been contemplated and prepared for, and that however sudden the surprise, it would find fleet and fort, sailor and soldier, each acquainted with his detailed duty and acting under orders ready for whatever warlike contingency might arise.
XIII. As the value to the Empire of the harbour works carried out in other Colonial ports has been cited, it may be advisable to point out the enormous improve- ments which have been effected in Port Phillip, at an outlay of upwards of 2,000,0007. The entrance has been cleared, and Hobson's Bay dredged, and a very large graving dock has been constructed, which has frequently been used, without charge, by the ships of the Royal Navy, while in the neighbouring yards may be found every appliance necessary for the equipment, repair, or re-fitting of oceanic or inter-colonial shipping. The immense importance to the Imperial Navy of such a port so efficiently protected has been always admitted, and it must be remembered that it has been provided solely at the expense of the Colony of Victoria.
JAMES LORIMER,
Minister of Defence.
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The principal permanent land defence works are on the Brisbane River, in the port of Moreton Bay, where there is a fort commanding the entrance to the river, which is also protected by submarine mines, both electro-contact and observation. The arma- ment of the fort, which was constructed under the advice of the late Major-General Scratchley, consists at present of two 64-pr. R.M.L, and two 6-in. R.M.L. of 4 tons, a 10-barrelled 45-bore Nordenfelt machine gun, and one 4-barrelled 1-bore, and will shortly be considerably strengthened by the addition of two 6-inch R.B.L. guns of 5 tons on hydro-pneumatic carriages, two 12-pr. R.B.L. guns, and two 10-barrelled Nordenfelts, which will be mounted in an outwork on a hill commanding the fort.
A staff of submarine miners is maintained by the Colony, and attached to the permanent force.
At Townsville, in the northern part of the Colony, two 64-pr. R.M.L. guns are at present mounted, and provision is being made for increasing this armament.
Particulars of the floating defences of the Colony are appended (Appendix II.).
The total amount expended on the defence of the Colony to the 31st December 1886, and the projected expenditure, not including the ordinary annual cost of the defence and volunteer force, are shown in Appendix III.
The Defence Act of 1884, which adopts in great measure the Canadian system, has been found very satisfactory in its operation.
May 1887.
APPENDIX I.
S. W. GRIFFITH. JAMES F. GARRICK.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
CO. 885/5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
No. 85.
MEMORANDUM BY THE QUEENSLAND DELEGATES ON THE DEFENCES OF QUEENSLAND.
Before 1884, although considerable sums had been spent on the military and naval defence of the Colony, the organization of the forces was not on a satisfactory footing. lu 1884 the Defence Act now in operation was passed. It provides for the establish- ment of a land force and marine force, the members of which are subject, on being called out for active service, to the provisions of the Army Act and the Naval Discipline Act respectively.
All the male inhabitants of Queensland between the ages of 18 and 60 (with a few exemptions), being British subjects, are liable to service in the prescribed order, and if necessary, the corps may be filled up by ballotting. It is, however, very unlikely that any occasion will arise for having recourse to this compulsory process, as since the Act has been in operation the men who have offered their services have been in excess of the numbers of the establishment fixed from time to time. Members of the force are enrolled for three years' service, after which they pass into a reserve.
Provision is made for removing the force beyond the limits of the Colony “when it appears advisable to do so by reason of war or invasion, or danger of either." Officers
and men receive a daily pay when called out for drill at rates ranging upwards from 6s., which is the pay of privates and seamen.
The actual strength of the land force in January last was 2,290, and of the marine force 424; of these numbers, 78 officers and men (a battery of garrison artillery) form a permanent force, who perform various duties in connexion with the permanent arma- ments. These men are paid at lower rates.
In addition to the defence force proper, the Act authorises the establishment of volunteer corps, the members of which receive no pay, but a small allowance for clothing. The number of volunteers in. January last was 927.
Particulars of the force are appended (Appendix I.) :-
The votes for the land and marine forces respectively for the current year were 37,878, and 12,4241.
Besides the ordinary members of the defence force and volunteers, the police force of the Colony, numbering about 600, are liable under the Act to be called out for service, and there are also several rifle clubs, comprising nearly 600 members, some of whom are also members of the defence force or volunteer corps. In case of war, over 4,000 men could be at once placed in the field.
RETURN showing the STRENGTH of the DEFENCE FORCE (paid) and VOLUNTEER FORCE (unpaid) in Southern and Northern Military Districts, Queensland.
Corps.
Defence.
Field artillery (2 batteries) Garrison artillery (5 batteries) Permanent force (1 battery) Mounted infautry (4 companies) Engineers (1 company)
Non- commissioned
Total Officers,
Southern Northern
District.
District.
Officers,
and Men.
།མ།
131
131
64
256
320
78
78
193
49
242
93
93
Infantry regiments (3 battalions)
747
312
1,059
Infantry companies (5)
244
61
305
Bands (3)
45
17
62
Total
1,595
695
2,290
Volunteers.
Infantry companies
Grand total
927
927
2,522
695
3,217
RETURN showing STRENGTH of NAVAL DEFENCE FORCE, 31st December 1886.
Staff
"Gayundah "
Particulars.
Brisbane Naval Brigade Townsville Naval Brigade Rockhampton Naval Brigade Maryborough Naval Brigade Townsville Naval Volunteers - Rockhampton Naval Volunteers
Total
-
Southern. Northern.
Total.
| | |
10
10
43
43
106
106
53
53
53
53
53
53
53
53
53
53
318
106
424
3 H 3
388
APPENDIX II.
RETURN showing FLOATING DEFENCES of the COLONY.
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