CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 142

CONFIDENTIAL.

59-R

JAMAICA.

JAMAICA.

Secret, 475.

Scheme of Defence revised to September 1892.

Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.

THE Colonial Defence Committee have considered the Scheme of Defence for Jamaica as revised to September 1892, and offer the following remarks:-

1. It has been found from the experience gained in the compilation and revision of Defence Schemes that there is one general form of arrangement which is the most convenient for grouping the various matters dealt with, and in another paper which, as soon as it is approved by Her Majesty's Government, will be communicated as a Circular Memorandum to all Colonies, fortresses, and coaling stations, the Colonial Defence Committee have explained this general form, in which it seems to them desirable that all Defence Schemes should in future be cast. They do not enter, therefore, here into any question connected with the arrangement of the Jamaica Scheme, as their views on this subject are sufficiently explained in the Memorandum referred to. Effect should be given to these views in the next annual revision of the Scheme.

2. Viewed as a general outline of the measures to be taken to place Kingston and Port Royal in a state of defence the present Scheme may, subject to the following remarks, be regarded as satisfactory. The matter contained in it is good and testifies to the care and ability that have been brought to bear on its preparation. What is now chiefly required, in addition to the rearrangement alluded to in the foregoing paragraph, is that the action to be taken by the various authorities, including the different branches of the staff, should be worked out in detail and systematically recorded in the Scheme.

For instance, in the case of the Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General (B), by whom it is evident (from the rough draft of the Local General Orders ou pp. 9-10) that certain steps are to be taken on mobilization, the Scheme should give in detail the action necessary on his part for the movement of troops, for their accommodation, for acquisition of transport, and for laying in supplies.

A Return is attached to the Scheme, which should summarize the transport arrangements in it. But the Scheme contains no reference to the action to be taken to carry out the measures said to be summarized in the Return. What should be worked out between the Scheme and the Return, is the amount and nature of transport which will be required to carry the provisions of the Defence Scheme into effect, the points at which such transport will be delivered, and the actual sources whence it will be procured, with any measures which may be necessary for its maintenance. The Return, however, merely states that the transport resources are ample. Such a statement is vague and insufficient.

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