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manding Section II. It will of course always be open to the General Officer Commanding to give such orders to the Officer Commanding Section I as he thinks fit with regard to the action of the movable armament, and the Commanding Royal Engineer as Staff Officer will advise the General as to the most suitable employment of the Royal Engineers in the Command.

12. Page 32, lines 23 and 24.-Allusion is made here to the Officer Com- manding "Intelligence Posts." This would appear to be the specially selected officer referred to on p. 44, line 10, as "Superintendent of Telegraph Posts," and again on pp. 50 and 51 as the "officer in charge of intelligence posts." It should be laid down clearly where this officer will be stationed, what will be his duties, whom he is to report to, &c. He should be told off in time of peace from the officers available in the garrison, in order that he may make himself thoroughly acquainted with the topography of the island and its communications, and, as far as possible, with the nature of his duties in war.

13. Page 33.-It is considered that 10,000 rounds per gun should go with the machine-guns instead of the 2,400 specified under the heading "Ammunition."

14. Page 33.-In the column of Remarks of the Table showing "Peace Garrison" and "Distribution," the term "effectives" is apparently used in place of "men fit for duty."

15. Page 35.-With reference to the first note at the foot of this Table, see paragraph 11 of these Remarks.

16. The chain of artillery command, which has recently been approved for Mauritius, might conveniently be given in the Defence Scheme in a Table following that on p. 36.

17. Pages 40 and 41--It would be convenient if the existing and proposed signal, telegraph, and telephone stations, as well as the telegraph and telephone lines, were shown in red on Map X accompanying the Report.

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18. Page 41.-"Proposed system for communicating intelligence in war.' This system has been carefully thought out, and is concurred in by the Colonial Defence Committee. It is for consideration whether it would not be convenient to connect the signal stations at Mount Ory, and Butte aux Papayes with Port Louis by lines of telegraph.

Chapter III.

19. Page 49, lines 17 and 18.—It should not be necessary to send in requisitions for ordnance stores on mobilization.

on mobilization. Officers holding the mobilization appointments and the Ordnance Store Officers should always be in possession of lists of stores to be taken and handed over at such a time.

20. Page 56, Table (B), column 7.-The number of pounds of rice that are expected from India to make up a four months' supply for the civil population in the island should be stated.

It would seem a matter for further consideration whether this method of supply upon the outbreak of war is altogether satisfactory. There would always be the chance of one or both of the vessels carrying the rice being lost, and this would most seriously affect the power of the island to hold out. It would be better if a much larger reserve than the present six weeks' supply could be stored, the reserve being constantly drawn upon to meet current requirements, and as frequently filled up again from fresh supplies.

It should be stated, as suggested in paragraph 13 of the Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee, dated the 15th November, 1893, from what source the 20,000 bags of grain and 3,000 bags of salt are to be obtained. These quantities should also be expressed in pounds.

21. Page 56.-The foot-note suggests an increase in the reserve of pre- served meat. It is understood that the reserve has recently been increased from 5,000 lbs. to 14,000 lbs. (53/Mauritius/2968). It is presumed that the foot-note can now be erased.

22. Pages 55, 56, and 57.—It would be more convenient if Table (A) on p. 55 came at the end of the section headed "Transport," Table (B), on p. 56, at the end of that headed "Supplies," and Table (C) on p. 57 at the end of that headed "Barracks.”

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