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and either firing on each other or being fired at by the defence batteries. Moreover, the instances are very rare in which hostile cruizers possess the means for or are in the habit of practising countermining. This paragraph, and the harbour traffic arrangements at p. 74, should be reconsidered so as to be brought into accord with the guiding principles lately approved by the Joint Naval and Military Committee, which have been communicated to all General Officers Commanding by the War Office, and to all Governors of Colonies, by Colonial Office despatch of the 12th May, 1893.

8. The Table at the foot of p. 26, among other requirements, states that it would be necessary to draw from the civil population 300 auxiliaries (to the Royal Artillery) to serve in batteries. There is nothing in other parts of the Scheme to show how these auxiliaries are utilized, nor is any officer, apparently, responsible for their organization, &c.

The same Table shows 290 transport and supply auxiliaries as required, but according to the Scheme of the Assistant Adjutant-General (B), the number would appear to be 321, viz. :—

Page 37, Table (A), total all ranks

""

45, administrative duties

53

45, supply and barrack duties

Total

260

7

54

321

Moreover, the numbers given on p. 26 do not agree with the numbers given on p. 100.

9. The orders a précis of which is given on pp. 29-31 might possibly be curtailed if each responsible authority on the Head-quarter Staff be in possession of a detailed Departmental Scheme showing exactly what has to be done by him on mobilization, if each Commander of a section be in possession of instructions as to his command, &c., and if each unit have its own orders as to procedure on mobilization. It seems probable, from remarks in the Scheme, that the Commanders of Sections have been provided with these instructions, and assuming that Staff, Departments, Sectional Commanders, and units are already in possession, during peace, of the necessary instructions and orders (it would render the Scheme more complete if these orders were attached to it in future), the orders to be issued by the Assistant Adjutant-General (A) on mobilization might be considerably simplified.

It may be observed that the précis of orders contains directions on several points that are so obviously part of the recognized routine of the Service that an officer might be trusted to attend to them without special order. For example, on p. 31, officers are directed that any defect occurring in the water supply of their posts should be at once remedied; and to make entries in their note-books of any important points; and again, the order on p. 30, commencing "Should it become apparent," &c., might be safely left to the discretion of the officer in command.

10. It is desirable that the steps to be taken to raise, organize, and equip the proposed mounted corps referred to on p. 32 should, as far as practicable, be given in detail. Until the equipment asked for is actually received, the measures to be taken to provide for these wants locally should be given. No officer has been nominated to take charge of this extemporized corps.

11. According to the signalling portion of the Scheme, p. 78, a look-out party is to be stationed at St. Margaret's Bay to transmit fishermen's signals; this should be mentioned also in that portion of the Scheme which deals with the action of the Assistant Adjutant-General in regard to the collection of information.

12. The action to be taken by the Assistant Adjutant-General (B), as laid down on p. 37 et seq. is capable of further elaboration. The ideal to be aimed at in these Departmental Schemes is that, so far as practicable, the responsible authority should have laid down beforehand the exact steps which it will be necessary to take on receiving the order to mobilize. In the case in point, one of the first things to be done is to arrange for the necessary transport to get the troops into position and to distribute the stores, &c. But, instead of detailing the exact quantities of transport, the points at which the transport will have to present itself, and the actual sources, owners, &c., whence

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