CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 179

Page 179 of Port Louis, into a forward state of defence in time of peace. Accordingly, they recommend that the General Officer Commanding should endeavour to negotiate for the acquisition of the requisite land for earthworks as suggested in the Scheme.

7. At p. 25 mention is made of the citadel of Port Louis. Although from its position the citadel may be of little use to the defence, it would be well to consider at the next revision of the Scheme whether it cannot be occupied as a reduit to the defence. If the field force were defeated, a post of this kind might be of the greatest service, more particularly if it commands the coal stores; or, in the event of disturbance among the population, it might be a valuable place of refuge for women and children. The works required to render it defensible, and the provision of supplies, water, &c., can only be determined on the spot, but a post of this sort held by the garrison might aid materially any operations undertaken to recapture the island.

8. The Committee concur in the first part of the recommendation on p. 27 as to the desirability of defilading the interior of Fort Victoria from the opposite bank, and a demand for that service should be put forward in the usual way.

With regard to the second part of the recommendation, they desire to remark that, as a rule, it is undesirable to combine land defence guns and sea defence guns in one battery, and that, moreover, the site does not seem to be Such suitable for guns of position to oppose guns on the opposite bank. guns could be placed much more advantageously elsewhere, on the slopes of Pailles Hill, for instance, or of Signal Mountain, which, as pointed out on the same page, commands the high ground about Koenigs at effective range. It may further be remarked that the left gun (64-pr. R.M.L) in Fort Victoria, as at present mounted, can be trained to bear on the opposite bank as far south as the suspension bridge.

9. The Tables, prepared in accordance with paragraph 5 of the afore- mentioned Colonial Defence Committee Memorandum No. 46, should show the distribution and means of accommodating the garrison in peace, on mobi- lization, and after the arrival of reinforcements. In addition, the precise points at which half companies are to be posted should be settled, and the strength of the detachments required for Cure-Pipe and the Pouce Pass fixed. The garrisons required for each fort should also be determined, including the infantry required in addition to the 232 artillerymen detailed to man the armament.

10. The precise duties of the 100 men of the Civil Police and of the Coast Volunteers should be laid down, so that no delay may occur on mobi- lization, and the arrangements made for training and arming these men should also be embodied in the Scheme.

11. In regard to Communications, the existing signal stations will give warning of the approach of the enemy in clear weather, but possible landing- places should be watched at night and in foggy weather, with the aid of the civil authorities. The means of communication between head-quarters and the defensive positions and outposts should be explained, and a detail given of the signallers and equipment required to furnish them. If telegraphs can be laid, or the existing wires utilized, the measures to be taken should be embodied in the Engineer portion of the Scheme.

12. As the garrison is much scattered, the best means for concentrating it at the most probable points of attack should be considered, so that any transport required may be arranged beforehand.

13. The Table on p. 44 of the Scheme would be clearer if it the

gave quantities of each article, and specified the sources from whence they can be obtained. As regards the garrison, a Table should be prepared showing the supplies required for each post; and if reserve supplies are required at any post, instructions should be given to the Assistant Adjutant-General (B).

14. As explained in paragraph 10 of the "Remarks on Schemes of Defence," the transport required is (i) temporary transport for mobilization, (ii) permanent transport. The first includes transport required for redistri- bution of material, and for fresh issues of stores, ammunition, and tools; the second, the transport required for the mobile batteries, for units, for hospital services, and for general defence purposes. These matters can be shown by Tables giving the details of which the Table on p. 45 of the

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