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regard to making the forces in the Colony temporarily subject to the Army Act as if they were on active service.
10. Page 23, third paragraph from end.-The arrangements by which medical officers are, on orders to mobilize being issued, to take requisitions to the S. M. O. for approval and then to the Ordnance Stores for issue are cumbersome. All lists or requisitions should be prepared and approved or ordered beforehand, and no running about to get approvals should be necessary when the time for action has arrived.
11. Page 25, lines 6 and 7.-The Colonial Defence Committee understand that the question of substituting 303 inch small-arms for the Snider rifles and carbines now in the hands of the militia is about to be brought before the Colonial Government. They attribute great importance to this change being effected with as little delay as possible.
12. Pages 30 and 31, Table C. (vi.)-The ration of flour should be 1 lb. and not 14 lb., as given in the Table, and a month's supply for 1,889 men would therefore be 56,670 lb., and not 70,838 lb. Columns 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 require correcting accordingly. The Committee understand that the General Officer Commanding will obtain the three month's supply he requires from the United States, unless we are at war with that country, in which case he will require 170,010 lb. from this country to complete a supply for four months. They would like to know what arrangements would be made in the latter event for feeding the white civil population, as it appears from Remark 4 in the last column of the Table that there is only a week's reserve of flour in the island for this population.
The Committee recommend that the War Office should communicate further with the Colony on this subject.
In column 7 of the Table it is stated that "two months' supply" of medical supplies is wanted from England, and "two months' supply" of forage from America, or, if we were at war with America, from England. The actual quantities and not the period for which they are required should be given in the Table.
13. Page 32 (D).—The approved chain of artillery command should be given under the heading "Action by O.C.R.A."
14. Page 35, paragraph 3, and pages 36 and 37, Table (E),—The proposed R.E. works should be indicated on the general plan which should accompany the Scheme. It is not clear from the Scheme where "Cock-fight Bridge" is, so that the Committee are unable to say whether the proposed redoubt in this position is necessary. They doubt whether any advantage would be gained by preparing emplacements for 7-pr. R.M.L. guns at the Customs, R.M. Wharf, and Ordnance Pier, with goods and stores available on the spot.
15. Page 41, 1st paragraph.—It would be more useful to show the number of rounds per small-arm which is kept up in peace for war use than to give the total number of rounds in store, which must vary from day to day. It should be noted that "L.M. rifle" is an incorrect description of ammunition which is used in all service 303" small-arms; and it should be explained for what purpose Enfield pistol ammunition is held at Jamaica.
CHAPTER IV.-Instructions to Commanding Officers.
16. Pages 47 to 54.-If the suggestions of the Committee contained in para- graphs 6 and 8 of these Remarks are adopted, this Chapter will require revision. For the instructions it now contains, those to the O.C. the Field Force, and to the Os.C., the three infantry detachments might be substituted, and the positions of outpost lines, piquets, guards, &c., indicated.
CHAPTER V.-Orders to Corps on Mobilization.
17. Pages 55 to 60.-This Chapter will also require considerable modification, especially with regard to the distribution of the infantry. It would appear advisable
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