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Cape Colony, by which the requisite quantity of flour would, without further request, be at once shipped from the Cape on first alarm of war during the months of January, February, or March, when local stocks of flour at St. Helena are lowest. The Local Committee draw attention to the fact that 100,000 lb. of this material would be required under these circum- stances.

The Colonial Defence Committee are informed that the requisite amount of flour is now estimated at 80,000 lb., and that the despatch by the G.O.C. Cape of Good Hope of this quantity has been arranged for (53/St. Helena/3012).

6. With regard to clauses 16, 17, and 18 of the Proclamation, submitted by the Governor, the Colonial Defence Committee consider that they should be modified in accordance with the Secret Order in Council of the 26th October, 1896, which they understand will shortly be communicated to the Governor. It will probably suffice to insert in the Proclamation a clause bringing the Order into force. In addition to providing for the requisitioning of transport, stores, &c., the Order contains provisions for making the civilian population of the Colony subject to military law, and for various other measures which may be necessary for defence.

7. The Colonial Defence Committee take this opportunity of suggesting that, under the heading of "Action to be taken by Staff and Departments in the Scheme, a specific reference should be made to the notification that will be sent to the Governor, instructing him to put the Defence Scheme partially or wholly into force. The notification will be in the form communi- cated in Lord Knutsford's Circular despatch dated the 2nd July, 1891, and it is of vital importance that the simple code laid down in the Circular should be understood and acted on immediately on its receipt.

The Defence Scheme should also lay down the action to be taken on receipt of above notification, in accordance with clause 2, section 189 of the Army Act, with regard to making the forces in the Colony temporarily subject to that Act as if they were on active service.

(Signed)

M. NATHAN, Secretary,

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February 6, 1897.

Colonial Defence Committee.

PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY J. W. HARRISON.- -9/2/97.

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D.m. I (For record)

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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. February 9, 1897.

SECRET.

No. 155 R.

MAURITIUS.

MAURITIUS.

C.O.

No. 86. Secret.

Report of General Officer Commanding on Defence

Scheme, October 1896.

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

THE last complete revision of the Mauritius Defence Scheme was dated January 1895. The late General Officer Commanding in his Report of the 18th October, 1896, while taking exception to some important parts of the Scheme as submitted by his predecessor, considered that, owing to several matters affecting the defence being still under discussion and to various anticipated changes in staff, a revision of the Defence Scheme to the 30th September, 1896, would have been very useless.

It

In this view the Colonial Defence Committee are unable to concur. is on the basis of existing conditions that the Defence Scheme should be drawn up, and its revision should not be postponed because proposals, which may or may not be eventually approved, have been made to alter these con- ditions. Again, it is at the time when changes have taken place in the staff that it is of the greatest importance that the officers newly appointed should have the benefit of the experience of their predecessors based on the conditions then actually obtaining.

The Committee now recommend that the revision of the Defence Scheme should be at once put in hand and submitted with the least possible delay.

2. The principal point in which Major-General Barnard's opinion differs from that of Major-General Robinson is in the selection of what is known locally as No. 3 Position for the defence of Port Louis against an attack from the North. No 2 Position, formerly adopted, is regarded by General Barnard as useless.

The relative advantages and disadvantages of the land positions on the north of Port Louis were ably discussed in the Defence Scheme of January 1895. No. 3 Position, though recognized as the best if it were strengthened by earthworks and there were an adequate force available for its occupation, was rejected as being too extended for the garrison maintained in the island. No arguments are now brought forward against this view, and, in their absence, the Colonial Defence Committee do not propose to discuss the matter beyond pointing out, for the consideration of the present General Officer Commanding, the importance of coming to a definite decision in the

matter.

3. The possibility of an enemy being able to effect a landing in Tombeau Bay is discussed in the Report under consideration and in Memoranda by the Commanding Royal Engineer which accompany it.