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(G.)—Action by the Senior Ordnance Store Officer.
The Senior Ordnance Store Officer will keep separate in store the camp equipment and stores, and tools, for each section of the defence as detailed in the annexed Schedules XVII and XVIII, and as minutely described in the Section Schedules, copies of which will be in his possession.
They will be issued at once, without requisition, to Section Commanders, being sent by parties provided by the Officer Commanding Army Service Corps, as arranged in Part (C) of this Chapter, in which the cost of transport has been provided for. By the arrangements made for this service all stores immediately required will reach the various posts within twenty-four hours.
Additional camp equipment and stores subsequently required in any section for the use of troops sent to reinforce it from the reserve will be similarly drawn by the Section Commander.
Small-arm Ammunition.-The S.O.S.O. will be prepared to make an immediate issue to Corps Commanders of the small-arm ammunition to be carried by the men, whether sectional or reserve, namely :-
For each Lee-Metford rifle
Martini-Henry rifle
""
"
carbine..
Rounds.
100
70
20
These include the rounds always in possession of the troops. First Reserve Ammunition.-A first reserve of ammunition consisting of 100 rounds per rifle or carbine will be thus dealt with :--
(a.) Each Sectional Commander will be supplied with the reserve for his section. This will be sent to him with the camp equipment, &c., and will be kept in a field magazine to be established in a sheltered and convenient spot near his head-quarters, and will be entirely under his control.
(b.) Commanding Officers of corps will draw the first reserve for their troops in reserve, and will arrange for the due proportion being sent with any troops detached to reinforce a section.
Second Reserve Ammunition.-The balance remaining will be retained by the S.O.S.O. in the magazines in Victoria, and from it the small field magazines in the sections will be replenished.
The total amount of reserve ammunition, exclusive of the 20 rounds always in possession of the men, and of the practice ammunition, is as follows, namely:-
⚫303, cordite..
Martini-Henry rifle
"
carbine
Rounds.
770,000
500,000
75,000
Gun Ammunition.-As a rule all the gun ammunition is stored in the fort magazines ready for use, namely, 200 rounds per gun, except for the quick- firing guns, for which there are 500 rounds per gun, and the Gardner machine- guns, for which there are 10,000 rounds per gun.
In a few cases, however, there is a deficiency owing partly to insufficient accommodation in the forts, which steps are being taken to rectify, and partly to the supply not having arrived from England.
The S.O.S.O. would have at once to issue to the Royal Artillery the 100 rounds per gun now in store for the 9-pr. guns, and ammunition for the 7-prs. as required.
Miscellaneous. Further action by the S.O.S.O.-whose time will be much taken up by arranging for the supply of naval ammunition and stores-will be as follows:-
(a.) The local purchase of such hospital equipment as may be required for the base hospital, as shown in Schedule XIX.
(b.) The arrangement with the D.A.A.G. (A) for the strengthening of guards over magazines and storehouses.
(c.) Arranging with the navy for the provision of a guard-boat to con- stantly patrol round Kellett Island and examine suspicious-looking junks, &c.
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