CAB9-1_PT1 — Page 388

SECRET.

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. June 4, 1896.

No. 141 R.

Page 388

Nova Scotia 5

W.O. No.

6258

HALIFAX.

Defence Scheme revised to January 1896.

Zi

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

Covering Letter of the Lieutenant-General Commanding in Canada.

IN this letter the Lieutenant-General Commanding points out that pending the laying of new signalling and telephone communications and new mine-field cables and the constuction of certain submarine mining buildings and electric light installation's a reprint of the Scheme would appear premature.

The alterations embodied in the present revision are, however, so con- siderable that a reprint has appeared necessary to facilitate their consideration. In editing this revision it has been thought advisable to make certain altera- tions in the arrangement and lettering of the Tables to make reference to them easier. It would be convenient if similar arrangement and lettering were generally adhered to in the future.

Defence Scheme.

2. Alterations have been made in the present revision on the basis indi- cated in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks, dated the 30th June, 1894, and an attempt has been made to distinguish between the preparations required to place the fortress in a condition to meet a sudden raid by a naval force and the additional preparations which might be required should a serious land attack be imminent. It is thought that in the next revision of the Scheme this distinction might be still further accentuated. Whereas the former method of attack is an eventuality to be guarded against both in a war with a European Maritime Power or with the United States; the latter is, as recognized in the part of the Scheme which deals with strategic conditions, most improbable. În a war with a European Maritime Power it would only be possible after a temporary loss of British sea supremacy, and in that case reinforcements from Canada would be available. Such reinforcements could not be counted on during hostilities with the United States; but, under those conditions, if the march of events indicated the likelihood of a serious attack on Halifax, that important strategic base would not be left to its present garrison, which would be insufficient to repel such an attack, but every effort would be made to reinforce it by troops from England.

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