CAB9-1_PT2 — Page 119

Page 119

T

72

4

doubtful expedient to flood the small battalions with untrained men at the outset of war, and rifle companies can only be looked upon as a practicable reserve on condition of receiving some drill and training, possessing uniforms, and being accustomed to discipline."

The proposals now made by the Commandant, Natal Volunteers, that there should be an annual inspection by some representative of Government, with a view to pre- paring accurate returns of men and arms available, and that Magistrates should have power to call out members for service within their Magisterial Division, would result, to some extent, in making Rifle Associations available for the duties in connection with the preservation of order referred to in paragraph 2 of these Remarks. To make the Associations of any value for the more serious duties referred to in that paragraph, it would be necessary to induce their members to enrol themselves as reservists available for service over wider areas, to divide them into efficients and non-efficients, to make, as conditions of efficiency, the attainment of a certain proficiency in rifle shooting, and the attendance of a certain number of drills (say twelve) in the year.

Under these circumstances, the efficients might be considered an effective reserve to the active defence force of the Colony, but it seems doubtful if men willing to become efficients under these conditions would not be equally willing to become so under the conditions of the Volunteer or of a partially-paid force.

7. The strength of the Field Battery on the 31st December, 1896, corresponded approximately to the numbers allotted in the Defence Scheme to work movable armament for the defence of Durban, as follows:-

4 men to 2 Maxims at the Bluff.

3 officers and 36 men to 4-9-prs. at the Point.

1 officer and 20 men to 2—2·5-in. guns at Back Beach.

1 officer and 20 men to 2-2·5-in. guns at Umgeni Mouth.

If, as appears to be the case from the present Report, the Natal Field Artillery is organized as a field battery it is for consideration whether full advantage is taken of their training and mobility by telling them off entirely to work movable armament in the defence of the Coaling Station. If they were only given charge of their new armament of 4-2·5-in. R.M.L. guns, a field battery would be available either for operations in connection with the defence of the land frontier of the Colony, or if not required for such operations, for forming part of the small mobile force for the protection of Durban against attack by an enemy landing out of range of the coast batteries.

8. If the 2-5-in. R.M.L. guns only are taken charge of by the Field Artillery, and the two machine-guns are handed over to the Natal Mounted Rifles, who already, according to the Defence Scheme, have charge of two of these guns, the Naval Volunteers, acting as Garrison Artillery, will be required to man the following armament:--

4-6-in. B.L. guns.

4-3-pr. Q.F. guns on field mountings.

4-9-pr. R.M.L. guns.

From the Appendix to these Remarks it will be seen that a battery of 8 officers and 150 N.C.Os. and men will suffice for this, and it is suggested that this number should be accepted as the establishment of the Naval Volunteers. The Defence Scheme assumes as this establishment, 4 officers and 150 N.C.Os. and men, but the Returns of Resources last received from the Colony gives it at 7 officers and 93 men, while the actual strength on the 31st December, 1896, was only 4 officers and 86 men. It should be possible, for a service of such importance to the town of Durban, to bring the strength of the corps up to the establishment indicated.

9. Passing to the two infantry corps, which are only very briefly referred to in the Report under consideration, it follows from paragraph 2 of these Remarks that while the Natal Royal Rifles should be utilized for the maintenance of internal order, and for defence against a raid on the Colony from over its land frontiers, the Durban Light Infantry, consisting presumably of men whose ordinary avocations keep them in Durban, would be required entirely to garrison that town against attack by landing parties. Efforts should be made to bring the four companies in each battalion up to the war strength of companies in the Imperial service, and, in addition, the Durban Light Infantry, to which efficient reservists from the Natal Government Railway Rifle

Page 119

Page 119

Ass(

the

appc

shot

betti

worl

at P

rem

Nati

amp

exer

Ann

Con

no d

the the

simi

a ca

may

are

obje Sou

P

f

1

1

10 ) " on a my

e

>

1

1