8. Page 13.
No. II.-Southern Section.-It is here stated that "the Section C.R.A. is also Section Commander, and acts as Fire Commander," while from the top of p. 17 it appears that these appointments are to be filled by the Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding R.A., Halifax District.
Attention is called to the Special Army Order of the 10th December, 1895, which lays down that the Officer Commanding Royal Artillery should be employed on the Staff of the Fortress Commander. "In some few cases the paucity of officers may render it necessary for the Officer Commanding to act as a Section or Fire Commander, but such cases must be exceptional and exceptionally treated." It is not clear that these exceptional conditions obtain at Halifax, and that there is therefore any reason to make the Officer Com- manding Royal Artillery either a Section or Fire Commander. In any event, it is against the spirit of above-mentioned Army Order to duplicate the posts of Section and Fire Commander in one officer. It should also be noted that the term "Section C.R.A." is not now considered a convenient one in con- nection with war organization.
9. Pages 14 & 21. Reinforcements from England.-The Committee under- stand that it is not now proposed to send reinforcements from England to Halifax on imminence of war. On the other hand, the Army Estimates for 1896-7 provide for raising the battalion of British infantry there to the higher colonial establishment.
10. Page 15. Distribution Table.-This Table gives the number of infantry of all ranks to act as artillery, while the Infantry distribution is otherwise shown, viz., by companies. It would be convenient if the numbers of men were shown in each case.
11. Page 15. Distribution of Movable and Reserve Armament.—Under this heading the following Howitzers and guns are allotted :--
4 6.6-in. Howitzers. 12 20-pr. R.B.L. guns. 13 9-pr. R.M.L. guns.
8 machine-guns.
Whereas there appear to be actually at the station available for movable
armament:-
12 20-pr. R.B.L. guns. 16 9-pr. R.M.L. guns.
8 machine-guns.
With reference to the allotment of the 6·6-in. Howitzers which are not available at the station, attention is called to Q.R., Section 5, paragraph 47.
It is considered that the full number of 9-pr. R.M.L. guns that are at Halifax should be utilized as movable armament, unless the General Officer Commanding considers that they are not required for this purpose, in which case a special report should be made to the War Office.
12. Page 21. Final paragraph.-The statement that communication between the harbour forts will be kept up by water by the W.D. steamer "Lily," aided by the hired boat, does not correspond with the information given under the heading "Water Transport" on p. 44, or in the 3rd Table on p. 47.
13. Page 26. Line 11, et seq.--The only reference in the Scheme to the examination anchorage, and to the traffic regulations to be enforced in time of war, is made here under the heading, "Naval Attack," and is somewhat incomplete.
The Regulations which mainly affect civil traffic would be more conve- niently placed in Part V of the Scheme, and should be based on the Report of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee of November 1893, as modified by the Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee, dated the 20th April,
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