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the islands, should be held for five years by an officer seconded in his regiment.

The Colonial Defence Committee dealt with the question of the charge of these communications in paragraph 4 of their Remarks, dated February 22, 1895, on the Defence Scheme revised to January 1895, but as the matter does not yet appear to have been satisfactorily settled, they will now explain more fully their views concerning it. Paragraph 34 of the Regulations for Engineer Services, 1895, lays down that these services include the maintenance of all electric and visual telegraphs and telephones in peace, and the working of military telegraphs and permanent signal stations. This paragraph recognizes that the very technical work connected with telegraphs and telephones requires a technical officer for its supervision, and is considered to have application to the complicated system at Malta. That system may be said to have hitherto been based on the connection by visual signalling of all posts occupied or likely to be occupied by troops, supplemented by military telegraphs and civil telephones connecting the most important places.

But recent additions to electrical communications in connection with the artillery chain of command, and the proposed extensions of the telegraph lines for general purposes, are resulting in the system becoming mainly an electrical one supplemented by visual signalling. Under these circumstances the Committee are of opinion that the District Signalling Officer should be an officer of the Royal Engineers, with a peace charge as laid down in the regulations above quoted, and with the further charge in war of directing the work of such military signallers as may be considered necessary to supplement the permanent system. The latter should be so complete as to require little addition by visual signalling. However necessary and satis- factory such signalling may be in extensive field operations over large areas of mountainous country, it should not be necessary within a fortress, where permanent communications may be elaborated at leisure.

The present revision of the Scheme embodies a complete scheme of visual signalling to provide for possible interruptions in the telegraph system. This appears to the Committee to be unnecessary. Partial interruption of electrical communication should be of very rare occurrence, and total in- terruption practically impossible.

The Scheme now provides for 161 signallers. It is considered that the uhorized establishment of 14 per infantry battalion, including supernume- aies (as laid down in paragraph 293, section VII, Queen's Regulations), or a total of 98 for the 7 battalions of British infantry at Malta, should be more than sufficient for taking the place of electrical communication temporarily interrupted and for keeping up connection between moving units of the field forces. This would render it unnecessary to withdraw any artillery from their more legitimate duties.

The Colonial Defence Committee do not propose to consider in further detail the questions of telegraphs and telephones, and of personnel for working them, as they are informed that the War Office have sent an officer to Malta to consult with the Commander-in-chief there and report fully on the matter.

5. Page 6, paragraphs 14-16.-In these paragraphs reference is made to various letters in which the following services have been or are being brought forward :-

(i.) Improved road communication in the Eastern Section between Marsa Scala and Marsa Scirocco, and to the South Coast in the neighbourhood of Zurrico.

(ii.) The provision of electric light installations at Fort Delimara for Marsa Scirocco, on the South Coast above Hagra Senda, and for the North- West Position between Forts Benjemma and Madalena.

The Colonial Defence Committee concur in these proposals and under- stand that the War Office is prepared to make provision of funds to carry them out.

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