CO129-397 - Public Offices & Others - 1912 — Page 128

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Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to-

The Secretary,

War Office,

London, S. W.,

And the following number quoted.

083/4655. (M.0.3.)

CONFIDENTIAL 8140

WAVE 12 MAR 19

War Office,

15175

London, S.W,

March, 1912.

gir,

I am commanded by the Army Council to

acknowledge the receipt of your letter No.5011/1912 dated the 6th March 1912, with enclosure, and to say that they cordially endorse the approval of Sir Frederick Lugard's action expressed by the Secretary of State for

the Colonies.

2. The Council have already replied to the letter of the General Officer Commanding in South China dated the 6th of January, and had, previous to its receipt, explained their views on the question of the command of

the bodies of troops detached for the protection of the British settlements in the treaty ports, in a letter, a

copy of which is enclosed herewith.

3.

I am further to explain that in the opinion of

the Council two conditions are required for a General

Officer to effectively command a detached body of troops

in a disturbed and possibly hostile country;

viz.

security of communication, and power to reinforce or

withdraw the detachment in case of emergency.

he Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

Under