CAB9-1_PT2 — Page 139

Page 139

3

clearly shown in the Report. The fact that apparently the whole force is called upon to supply reliefs for the Thursday Island garrison artillery detachment, the instruction given to the drivers of the field artillery in bayonet exercise, and the assumption that "A" Battery should be in a position to instruct mounted infantry and infantry in their special duties, look as if the whole force was expected to be proficient in the work of all arms. It does not seem on the face of it that this expectation can be realized with men of under two years average service. With the imperfect knowledge they possess of the actual distribution of duties among the small number of available permanent troops, the Colonial Defence Committee are not in a position to recommend any definite scheme of reorganization, but they would suggest a permanent separation of the various sections into which the Regular troops are divided, and that any increase to them should take the form of a small infantry depôt to provide permanent staff to the Militia and Volunteer infantry, and to assist in their training in schools of instruction, rather than of an addition to the regular artillery force of the Colony.

6. The recommendation that the various branches of the Queensland military force should receive designations corresponding to those of the Imperial army appeared in the Commandant's Report of last year, and was concurred in by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Remarks on that Report.

The Committee desire here to call attention to the fact that they have always considered the Militia or partially-paid system better suited to the conditions of Australia than the Volunteer or unpaid system. They look upon a homogeneous force, such as has been created by recent legislation in South Australia, as more likely to attain a high and uniform standard of efficiency than one composed partly of Militia and partly of Volunteers with conflicting claims on the support of the Colony. 7. The Commandant proposes that the Mounted Infantry of Queensland should be organized as a regiment under a permanent Commanding Officer. The Colonial Defence Committee in paragraph 16 of their Remarks No. 163 R, dated the 28th June, 1897, suggested that it should be organized as a battalion of four companies, two from Brisbane, one from Wide Bay, and one from Darling Down. They adhere to this recommendation which they think would result in an economical and efficient organization.

8. The Committee have already (in paragraph 4 of their Remarks No. 149 R, dated the 6th November, 1896, and in paragraph 9 of their Remarks No. 163 R, dated the 28th June, 1897) indorsed the Commandant's recommendation that a new submarine mining-boat should be purchased. Without practice in laying out submarine mines the Submarine Mining Militia can make no real progress towards efficiency.

9. The Committee consider that the re-establishment of a Field Company might await the provision of more pressing requirements in the Colony.

10. The Committee concur in the Commandant's recommendation contained in the body of his Report, p. 6, that a more complete battalion organization of the Militia infantry is desirable. His proposal that there should be an increase in the number of corps in the North and Central Districts and the Wide Bay Division depends for its carrying out on financial considerations. The Committee consider that, as a rule, a small number of strong corps tends more to military efficiency and to economy than a larger number of weak ones, and that it is more important to have forces in parts of the country near the defended ports of Brisbane and Townsville than to have them distributed over the Colony without reference to the places where or whence they will be required to act in war.

11. In the absence of detailed reasons for the substitution of a company for a battalion organization of the Queensland Rifles, this proposal does not commend itself to the Committee. The difficulties which are felt in peace time to arise from battalion administration should be balanced against the greater difficulties which would have to be met in creating that organization for war, if it were allowed to drop altogether in peace time.

12. The Committee concur in the Commandant's recommendation that further encouragement should be given to the establishment and maintenance of cadet corps. Apart from the advantages indirectly derived by the defence force of the Colony from the existence of these corps, they tend to the creation of sentiments of discipline and order in the rising generation which is beneficial to the country at large. This fact is now being increasingly recognized in the United Kingdom.

13. The establishment of a Transport Corps to complete the Mobile Field Force

[1038]

B 2

|

Page 139

Page 139