CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 292

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that ships now often steam from Europe to Australia without stopping anywhere on the way to coal, does not materially alter the strategical conditions; on the other hand, our naval position in Australian waters has since been considerably strengthened by the addition of the Auxiliary Squadron, and current events, as exemplified by the late redistribution of our naval strength in the China seas, show that Her Majesty's Government is ever on the alert to meet any increase in the naval strength of foreign Powers in even the most distant waters by a corresponding redistribution of our own naval forces.

3. It would be better to adopt "Strategical Considerations" as the heading of Chapter I instead of "General Scheme." The former is the expression now used in all other Schemes of Defence.

4. At page 1, paragraph 4, and elsewhere through the Scheme, the hostile cruisers to be expected are limited to "second class" cruisers. There appears. to be no sufficient ground for this limitation, which, if it were to be accepted, would eliminate torpedo-boats from consideration, as second class cruisers do not carry them. The possible use of first class cruisers in Australian waters should certainly not be excluded, as each year it is becoming more probable from the increase in this class of vessel made to foreign navies. Accordingly, such a sentence as at Chapter IV, No. 1A, requires amendment in the following sense: "It may safely be assumed that an attack of this nature will only be undertaken by cruisers and lesser description of vessels."

5. Page 2, paragraph 10.---Some slight change in the wording is desirable, as it is difficult to "absolutely" secure any place against attack. And again at paragraph 11, as an "obvious" danger is always a "possible" one.

6. Page 2, paragraph 15.-Exception is taken to the use of the word "Reserve" applied here and in paragraph 18 to the movable column. It is inappropriate and unnecessary. The duties of this column are distinct from those of the rest of the defence force, which provides a "complete" defence (vide paragraph 12 (a)) for certain specified places, and this should include a Reserve. From its composition, it is assumed, that this force is intended to furnish the New South Wales' contingent to any combined Australian force, as contemplated in the future Scheme of Federal Defence.

7. Page 3, paragraph 17.-It is difficult to understand why no suggestion is made by the Military Commandant as to the employment of the unappropriated balance of the Naval Brigade, especially as in Chapter II, section 6, he seems to be styled "General Officer Commanding New South Wales Military and Naval Forces," and the naval officer in command is on his staff.

8. The distribution and areas of command and the allotment of troops dealt with in Chapters II and IV appear to have been carefully thought out with full local knowledge, and the only remark which the Colonial Defence Committee feel called on to make is that the Scheme apparently contemplates putting into full operation at a given moment, and maintaining permanently under arms throughout a war, the entire defensive powers of the Colony. It is for consideration whether there should not be two distinct degrees of mobilization, viz.:-

1. Full,

2. Partial.

While a full mobilization would be necessary in the case of imminence of attack, or of combined action with the forces of other Australian Colonies in adjacent territory, or of offensive operations outside the continent, it is tolerably obvious that circumstances might arise which would preclude all immediate prospect of serious attack, and only call for such a partial mobilization as would serve to meet desultory attempts against the Colony. The strain upon the Colony of a continuous mobilization of the whole Militia force might thus be avoided when not necessary, and a large number of the citizen soldiers be allowed to follow their ordinary avocations while holding themselves in readiness to be called to arms when wanted. The Mobilization Tables should, it is suggested, provide for both these cases, and this is a point to which the Committee invite special attention.

It would be desirable to give an estimate of the time required to fully mobilize the forces of the Colony.

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