CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 355

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. December 31, 1895.

Page 355

SECRET.

128-R

JAMAICA.

JAMAICA.

No. 539.

Defence Scheme revised to October 1895.

29

•

ויד

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

THE despatch from the Governor, dated the 29th October, 1895, and the letter from the General Officer Commanding, dated the 26th October, 1895, which accompany this revision, suggest that, with a view to facilitating further revisions, it would be advisable to interleave the new edition.

The Colonial Defence Committee note this suggestion. In the case, however, of the present revision, the alterations proposed are not considered sufficient to render necessary the reprinting of the Scheme. They can be enfaced on the copies of the Scheme revised to January 1894, which are available at the station.

2. The alterations consist mainly in cutting out the paragraphs to which exception was taken by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Remarks, dated the 31st December, 1894, in amending the Tables to correspond to the present state of personnel and matériel available, and in embodying the recommendations of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee with regard to Examination Anchorage and Traffic Regulations. The amplifi- cation of treatment with regard to certain details, recommended by the Com- mittee, has been carried out by the addition of Artillery Mobilization Tables and by the elaboration of the Table showing the action to be taken by the Royal Engineers on mobilization.

The pages and paragraphs referred to in the following Remarks are those of the revision of the Scheme to January 1894.

·

CHAPTER I.

3. Page 5, paragraph 4.—The proposed alteration suggests that a ship in a position to the east of Plum Point might be reached by a chance shell (high-angle fire) from Rocky Point Battery. This is not understood, as fire of the nature indicated is not possible from the 6-inch B.L. guns mounted at Rocky Point.

4. Page 6, paragraph 17.-In paragraph 4 of their Remarks, dated the 31st December, 1894, the Colonial Defence Committee concurred in the recommendation of the Local Committee, that the formation of companies of Local Militia and of Local Rifle Associations should be encouraged. It is not traced in the present revision that any action has been taken in this matter.

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