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The Local Committee propose

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(a.) To gradually train 100 men of the existing police as gunners.

(b.) To enrol 100 reserve police to replace those withdrawn to serve the guns, and to be gradually trained as infantry.

(c.) To provide three officers and three staff sergeants for artillery duties; the former to belong to the police force and to go through a special training, the latter to be specially enlisted R. A. pensioners.

(d.) To enrol two companies, each 100 strong, as infantry volunteers. (e.) To obtain a competent officer to command the Colonial force.

(f) To obtain three Gardner rifle-calibre machine-guns on field carriages. (9.) To arm any steam-launch which the Colonial Government may contemplate building with a Gardner gun.

The Colonial Defence Committee consider that these measures, if thoroughly carried out, should provide adequate protection against any probable attempted landing. For the reasons above stated, they are of opinion that it is very desirable that the Imperial Government should give aid in starting local defence on the basis laid down by Major-General Pearson's Committee.

They therefore recommend that Fort Charles, together with the rifled armament above referred to, should be transferred to the Colonial Government on the withdrawal of the Imperial garrison.

The S.B. guns might with advantage be at once withdrawn,

They further recommend that small arms should be presented to the Colony, viz.:-

100 Martini-Henry carbines, for police gunners.

200 Martini-Henry rifles, for infantry volunteers.

250 Martini-Henry rifles, to rearm police and reserves; together with 200 sets

of accoutrements for the volunteers.

If Martini-Henry rifles cannot be provided, they recommend that Snider rifles should be given, in which case only the police artillery and the volunteers would require them.

The Colonial Defence Committee consider that, as a condition of this assistance from the Imperial Government, the Colony should undertake to provide and maintain in efficiency the force laid down by the Local Committee, together with the fort and the armament proposed to be handed over eventually to the Colonial authorities. On these conditions, the promise to hand over the fort and guns and to provide the small arms and accoutrements required might at once be given. They believe that there is a real desire on the part of the Colony to obtain adequate defence, and that no difficulty would be experienced in making the arrangement above proposed.

As regards the proposals of the Local Committee, the Colonial Defence Committee merely suggest that the office of Commandant might with advantage be combined with that of the Head of the Police, and that two Maxim machine- guns should be substituted for the Gardners.

If these recommendations meet with the approval of the Secretary of State for War, the Colonial Government might be asked to consider the measures on which the action of the Imperial Government would be conditional. As soon as the arrangement has been made, the Local Defence Committee should be directed to reassemble and draw up a detailed scheme of defence for the Island of Barbados on the basis of the resources which would then be available.

G. S. CLARKE, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

(Signed)

December 15, 1888.

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PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T. HARRISON,— -28/12/88.

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