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correctly defined. Chapter II (C) (2) should be confined to a description of the various systems. The military administrative system, which would in all probability be used as much in war as in peace, might be more completely described, and the distinction between the uses of this and the command system should be pointed out in some such terms as those employed by the Colonial Defence Committee in paragraph 14, sub-paragraph 3 of their Remarks, No. 218 R, dated the 20th June, 1899, on the 1898 Defence Scheme. The technical work of completing the electrical communications on mobilization, wherever this is necessary for special reasons or on account of temporary incompleteness, devolves as a rule on the Royal Engineers, and should be described in Chapter III (E), " Action by Commanding Royal Engineer." In the case of the Artillery Command Lines the Officer Commanding Royal Artillery is responsible for fitting up the telephones as well as for manning them, and a note to this effect should be included in Chapter III (D), which describes his duties. The detailing of operators is usually dealt with by the Deputy Assistant Adjutant- General (A), and a garrison order lays down the detail of telephone stations, clerks, and messengers.

It is, at present, not very clear from page 28 what officer is responsible for giving the orders which lead to the reporting by the operators at the Telegraph School, and for subsequently detailing them to their posts. It is not stated whether the coolic wiremen and messengers are engaged through the Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General (4), or the Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General (B), or by the Commanding Royal Engineer.

CHAPTER III.-Action by Staff and Departments.

15. Page 35 (4).-This summary is somewhat incomplete as no reference is made to the Departmental services.

16. Page 35 (B), second paragraph.-It is considered that a special officer should be appointed to act under the Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General (a) as Intelligence Officer. The duties of this officer should be described in a new section, entitled, "Chapter III (BB): Action by Intelligence Officer," and he should appear on the staff of the Fortress Commander in Table B (vii), on page 26. One of the most important duties which would devolve on him, especially at the outset of hostilities, would be the exercise of a censorship over telegrams received in or sent from the station. It is possible that he might require one or two assistants, who would have to live on the Cable Companies' premises, and sec all telegrams before delivery or despatch. The arrangements to secure the efficiency of the censorship should be considered locally, and the Committee recommend that one copy of the "Rules for Censors in British Colonies and Protectorates," drawn up in 1898 by the "Committee on Control of Communications by Submarine Telegraph in time of War," should be sent to the Governor, with instructions to point out any modifications he

consider necessary, and to put the Rules into force as they stand, should occasion arise pending their further consideration.

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17. Page 36 (C).-The action to be taken by the Deputy Assistant Adjutant- General (B) on mobilization is of a highly complicated character, and it is for considera- tion whether this part of the Scheme might not be further elaborated in time of peace in order to provide that officer with a more complete outline of the organization which would be adopted for coping with the varied demands which will suddenly arise on mobilization. It would seem possible to arrange beforehand for the subdivision of the work among subordinate members of his staff, and to consider the extent to which the latter would have to be supplemented on mobilization. The large movements of troops and stores could perhaps be systematized on much the same methods as that adopted for the issue of ordnance stores as shown in the Table on page 62. If these mcasures were taken there would be less risk of friction on mobilization and a better prospect of ensuring priority of readiness for the more important elements of the defence.

It is not clear from the Scheme as it stands at present whether the coolies employed in the batteries at the ammunition lifts (pages 14 and 39), and the coolie bearers for dhoolies (page 45), are to be obtained through the D.A.A.G. (B), and, if so, whether this officer in engaging them and in raising the coolie corps (page 36) will have the assistance of any of the civil authorities, as in the case of the Chinese scouts and messengers who are engaged by the D.A.A.G. (a) in conference with the Superin-

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