CAB9-1_PT2 — Page 225

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

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. July 7, 1898.

SECRET.

No. 191 R.

Enflicate

HALIFAX.

266

W.O. No. NOVA SCOTIA.

13

Defence Scheme revised to January, 1898.

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

Covering Letter of the General Commanding in Canada.

THE amendments that have been introduced into the present revision and which are alluded to in the 2nd paragraph of the covering letter have greatly improved the Defence Scheme, which will now only require alterations, except as regards details, when there is some considerable change in external conditions, i.e., in the strength of the United States' army and navy available for offensive operations against British North America, or some change in the internal circumstances such as will be effected by the revision of armament dealt with in the Colonial Defence Committee Memo- randum, No. 124 M, dated 2nd March, 1898.

2. Page 3, paragraph 3.-The Committee cor der that the increase in the strength of the field force from 560 to 1,414, of all ranks, is a specially satisfactory feature of the present revision.

3. Page 3, paragraph 4.-The Committee are informed that since the date of the submission of the Halifax Defence Scheme the Dominion Government have been asked specially to consider, in connection with the General Defence Scheme of Canada, the subject of the employment of No. 17 Field Battery at Halifax.

The question of increasing the state of efficiency of the Kentville Yeomanry, now placed at the disposal of the General at Halifax in war, will no doubt form the subject of further correspondence between him and the General Officer Commanding the Militia.

4. Page 3, paragraph 5.-The Committee are informed that the consolidated return referred to in this paragraph is now being dealt with at the War Office.

5. Page 4, paragraph 6.-The Committee, who have carefully reconsidered the matter, are unable to concur in the proposal that the laying of observation mines in the main channel should be commenced at once on mobilization. In like manner they consider that the shallower waters should not be blocked by electro-contact mines

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