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volunteer infantry (about 6 officers and 153 men), a detachment of volunteer artillery, and a few mounted volunteer infantry. The volunteer artillery, which, according to the Report of the Commandant on Volunteers for the year 1897, consisted of twelve of all ranks, of whom only ten were efficient, is intended to man 3-9-pr. R.M.L. guns. Their numbers are quite insufficient for this, and, in view of the fact, that the Com- mandant reported that there was little chance of getting more recruits, the Colonial Defence Committee in their Memorandum No. 140 M, dated the 21st June, 1998, recommended the disbandment of the corps.

The Colonial Defence Committee consider that the infantry and mounted infantry that remain will probably deter a cruiser landing men to take possession of coal at Galle, and should certainly be in a position to oppose a determined attempt to do this until reinforcements for their assistance arrive by rail from Colombo.

6. Page 2, paragraphs 6 and 7.—The Scheme has been rewritten since the January, 1894 Revision to carry out the instructions contained in W. O. letter Ceylon/5/3129/97, dated the 19th Marchi, 1897. The Colonial Defence Committee now suggest a certain further re-arrangement by which the information contained in the Sclicme would be more readily available to the various officers responsible for carrying it out, viz., that it should be divided into the following five parts:-

Part I. Head-quarters Defence Scheme.

Part II. Colombo Defence Scheme.

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Part III. Trincomali Defence Scheme.

Part IV. Memorandum for Officer Commanding at Galle in war.

Part V. Memorandum for Officer Commanding at Kandy in war.

Part I should consist of five Chapters of which Chapters I and II should contain the information now in Chapters I and II of the Scheme except Section D, pages 24 and 25. Chapter III should also be on the same lines as now in the Scheme with the exception that the headings "Action by Fortress Commanders, Colombo and Trincomali," "Action for the Defence of Galle," and "Action by O.C. Troops Kandy" (page 32) should be omitted and the Action by the O.C.R.A., Ceylon, and the C.R.E., Ceylon, should be added. The Action by the Commandant Ceylon Volunteers (pages 39 and 40) might also be added to this Chapter which should show the complete arrangements by Staff and Departments by which the war organization is established in Ceylon and the war garrisons of the defended places completed by the necessary transfer of troops. Chapter IV, "Action by Civil Departments," should contain the information now in Chapter VI of the Scheme with the exception of the Instructions to the Port Authorities at Colombo and Trincomali and the Traffic Regulations for those ports (pages 74 to 78).

Part II, which need not be divided into Chapters, should commence with the instructions to the Fortress Commander, which should recapitulate the strategic conditions of the fortress (from page 8), detail the staff, troops, and movable armament available for its defence (from pages 13 and 20), and summarize the possible forms of attack and modes of meeting them (from pages 24 and 25). This should be followed by the action of the Fortress Staff officers for the distribution of the troops within the fortress on mobilization and for their transport, supply, and accommodation. The action of the O.C.R.A., C.R.E., Medical Officer, and Ordnance Officer (Colombo) (from pages 45 to 55), and of the Master Attendant (from pages 74 to 76) should then follow.

Part III will be similarly arranged to give the necessary information with regard to Trincomali.

Part IV will embody the information with regard to Galle now contained on pages 9, 22, 25, 32, 38, and 39. This information might be somewhat expanded as regards the probable action of the small defence force, and a map of the neighbour- hood of Galle might advantageously be added to the Scheme.

Part V will explain the necessity of a post at Kandy, and embody the information now given on pages 22, 32, and 39 with regard to that place.

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