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railways only are alluded to. It would be convenient if this information, somewhat amplified as regards the railways, were given under a sub-head: " (i.) Traffic Commu- nications," and if under a second sub-head : (ii.) Transmission of Orders and Intelli- gence," the existing telegraph and telephone systems were described. A table of the signal stations might also find a place here, as well as on page 71, in "Instructions to Postmaster-General.”

20. Page 24, last two lines; page 25, first three lines.--3-pr. Q.-F. guns cannot be looked upon as effective weapons to meet attacks by cruisers and torpedo-craft.

The Committee suggest, for the consideration of the W.O., the desirability of replacing the guns of this nature at Colombo and Trincomali.

21. Page 25.-In dealing with the mode in which an attempted surprise of Fort Frederick, Trincomali, by landing parties would be met (f), it is stated that the two companies of regular infantry there at the outset of hostilitics would be reinforced "in the course of three to five days by one company of regulars and two companies of volunteer infantry." This is misleading. Unless they are transported by sea, the company of regulars from Kandy and the company of volunteer infantry from Kurunegalla will not reach Trincomali until the ninth day, the other company, of volunteer infantry from Badalla being at least one day later. (See Time Table, page 31, and Itineraries, page 23.)

CHAPTER III.

22. Page 29.-Under the heading "General Review of Measures to be Taken," 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 communicated in Mr. Chamberlain's Circular despatch, dated the 26th July, 1898, 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 the 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.

The summary now given in the Scheme under the heading General Review of Measures to be Taken" is not very useful, and attention is called to the following extract from paragraph 8 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Memorandum No. 16, dated the 3rd May, 1893, which laid down the form in which Defence Schemes should be drawn up-

"The general review of measures to be taken may conveniently be arranged to show the action to be taken on each day for the first few days subsequent to the receipt of the order to prepare for the defence. This will have the advantage of both showing the general course of the preparations and the expected state of progress on any given date. In some cases it has been found possible to give, under this heading, an estimate of the extraordinary expenditure to be incurred and provided for.”

With regard to the last sentence of the above extract it is now considered more convenient if the estimate of the extraordinary expenditure to be incurred and provided for under the Scheme is given under the heading "Action by District Pay- master"

in the form of a summary of the extra cost which will be incurred by each department (1) for first mobilization, and (2) during each week that the mobiliza- tion continues.

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23. Page 29 (1).-The General Officer Commanding is responsible for the whole of the defence arrangements, and all orders with regard to them will be issued by his authority. It seems unnecessary to refer in the Scheme to the issue of certain orders, &c., under, a heading "Action by General Officer Commanding." These references should come under the action of the staff officers, who will be responsible to the G.O.C. that the necessary steps are taken on mobilization.

The wording of the first paragraph of "Action by G.O.C." is not clear. It reads. as if troops were to be dispatched from Trincomali to Galle, which is evidently not intended.

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