CAB9-1_PT2 — Page 120

5

Page 120

Association would be attached, should furnish four machine-gun sections to work the eight Maxim guns allotted to them in the Defence Scheme.

The Commandant points out the advisability of a separate Adjutant being appointed for the Foot Corps. It is not quite clear whether he intends that one officer should do the work of the corps both at Maritzburg and Durban. It would seem better that an Adjutant should be appointed to the Durban Light Infantry, and the work of the Natal Royal Rifles carried out by the District Adjutant of Volunteers at Pietermaritzburg, or that a separate Adjutant should be appointed to each corps.

10. The remaining points dealt with in the Commandant's Report do not call for remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee. They note with satisfaction that the Natal forces are now completely armed with 303′′ small arms, and that there is an ample supply of these and of ammunition for them in the Colony. The camps of exercise held at Easter appear to have afforded valuable exercise for the troops, and the Annual Central Rifle Meeting to have given satisfactory results. The remark of the Commandant with regard to the absence of proper rifle ranges in some districts will no doubt receive due consideration from the Natal Government.

11. The Colonial Defence Committee have elsewhere recommended that a copy of the Report of the Cape Defence Commission, with their remarks on it, should be sent to the Government of Natal for their information. They think that, owing to a general similarity of conditions in South Africa, great advantage will be derived in Natal from a careful consideration of this Report, and the adoption of such of its proposals as may hereafter be adopted at the Cape, and do not conflict with those conditions that are special to Natal, and they consider that such action will tend to assist the eventual object they have in view the formation of a federal force for the defence of British South Africa.

M. NATHAN, Secretary,

(Signed)

4 September 1897.

Colonial Defence Committee.

S

بت روح

f

1

t

t

APPENDIX.

ARTILLERY Personnel required for Durban.

}

Staff and Command-

Command

Range-finders

Telephonists and Signallers

Gun detachments (fixed armament)-

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

Magazine men, store men, orderlies, &c.-

Add 663 per cent. ..

Gun detachments (movable armament)-

4-3-pr. Q.F. guns (two reliefs) 4-9-pr. R.M.L. guns

L

L

Add 10 per cent. for sick, &c.

Total

Page 120

W.Os., N.C.Os.,

and Gunuers.

Totals.

Officers.

W.Os., N.C.Os.,

and

Gunners.

Officers,

:::

::

:

:

::

200

:

32

24

36

7

16

32

22

22

:

60

130

1

13

8

143

PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY J. W. HARRISON,—6/9/97.

Page 120[

230

[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.]