CAB9-1_PT2 — Page 22

Page 22

to January of that year, suggested that many of the articles of food supply proposed to be obtained from England, such as lime-juice, Indian corn, and salt fish, could be obtained locally or from neighbouring ports. They also considered that the 125,000 lb. preserved meat and 8,500 lb. preserved vegetables were unnecessary, as it was shown in the Scheme that sufficient fresh meat and vegetables were always available.

It is now stated by the Local Committee that they consider that all the above-mentioned items should still be shown as to be provided from England, as the supply from local ports might fail, or be unobtainable when required.

It would appear from this statement that the Local Committee fail to grasp the conditions of war with a great Power when the demand for transport of men and stores to various places might be considerable, and when it would, therefore, be essential to confine the demands on the supply and transport Departments in England to what is really essential. Those for St. Lucia are given in column 7, Table (C) (iii), pp. 51-51 of the present Scheme do not appear to come under this head.

125,000 lb. preserved meat, 8,500 lb. compressed vegetables, 150 gallons lime-juice, 100,000 lb. flour, 50,000 lb. of biscuit, and 300,000 lb. of rice are asked for, while in the same Return it is stated that "cattle sufficient to furnish another 150,000 lb. of meat are to be had on the island," that the "supply of vegetables for garrison is practically unlimited," that “ cassava to make cakes, should the flour supply fail, can be procured locally in large quantities," and that, "with the local meat supply, vegetables, poultry, and cassava, the island could hold out for four months unaided."

Again, with regard to the demand for 1,500 lb. tea, 3,000 lb. coffee, 200 lb. pepper, 4,000 lb. sago, 180,000 lb. oats and Indian corn, 100,000 lb. salt fish, &c., it would appear (vide Colonial Office List, pp. 267 to 273) that St. Vincent and Grenada, distant about 21 miles and 100 miles respectively, without taking into account Trinidad, some 190 miles away, have ample surplus products of cocoa, coffee, pepper, arrowroot, Indian corn, fruits of all descriptions, turtle, and fresh fish. There seems to be no reason why supplies should not be obtained from those islands.

Under these circumstances the Colonial Defence Committee consider that the only item of supply required at St. Lucia for which a substitute could not, with proper prevision and arrangement, be obtained locally, seems to be preserved milk, of which the supply demanded, viz., 2,400 tins, might be sent out as opportunity offered.

The Committee recommend that the War Office should make inquiries of the Colony with regard to the above points connected with supply, and should deal with the question of stores from England on the lines indicated.

5. Page 8, paragraph 6.-The Local Committee desire to record that they consider the installation of an electric light at St. Lucia as absolutely essential. The Colonial Defence Committee recommended the provision of such a light in their Remarks dated the 9th July, 1895. They understand that a com- munication will shortly be sent to the station on that subject.

Defence Scheme.

6. The Colonial Defence Committee recognize the great amount of labour that has been expended on the present revision of the Defence Scheme and that the recommendation contained in paragraph 1 of their Remarks, dated the 30th May, 1896, with regard to the inclusion of further detail in the Scheme, has been completely followed. In some instances, notably in that of the Instructions for the Royal Engineers (pp. 63 to 77) the Scheme possibly now goes too far in the direction of detailing the work of subordinates. It also loses in clearness by the unnecessary repetition of the same information and instructions in different parts cf the Report. For instance, the information contained in paragraphs 16, 17, and 18 of Chapter I is repeated in other forms in Chapters II and III, the alarm signals given in Garrison Orders, on p. 46, are repeated with a slight but confusing variation under "Action by O.C. R.A." on p. 56. Again, the details of works given on pp. 64 and 65 appear also in the orders for the C.R.E. and his sub.

Page 22

14..

Page 22

1