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the instructions laid down in paragraph 67, “Regulations for A.S.C. duties,” have not been complied with. The reference to supply and transport matters are very vague and of scarcely any value for the purposes of a Defence Scheme. There are no Returns on Army Forms (A) 2014, and (A) 2013, and the details are certainly not

carefully worked out."

32. Page 52.-The table on this page takes, it is thought, a sanguine view of the rapidity with which the garrison will mobilize, the "maximum" transport, according to the table, being required in most cases for only one day.

34. Page 55, (F), and pages 64 and 65, (F).—It is not stated in the Orders to the Ordnance Officers, Colombo and Trincomali, that these officers have in their possession lists of the stores, which they will have to issue on mobilization to the various corps and departments. These lists should be prepared, if they do not already exist, and might conveniently be embodied in the Defence Scheme. They will obviate the necessity of requisitions being sent in by corps or awaited by the Army Ordnance Depart- ment when the Scheme is put into force. The issue of the stores required according to the list would commence at once in a regular sequence laid down beforehand.

35. Page 55, (F).—It is not clear whether it is intended that the Chief Ordnance Officer, Ceylon, is also to be Ordnance Officer, Colombo, though this would appear to be the case. It is for consideration whether the Chief Ordnance Officer, Ceylon, should not be attached to the staff of the G.O.C., and a separate officer told off to the duties of Ordnance Officer, Colombo.

36. Page 59, paragraph 5.-Two reliefs are usually considered sufficient for light Q.F. guns, as no torpedo-boat attacks need be expected during daylight.

37. Page 62.-Information should be given as to the order in which the work of laying out of the mine-field should be executed, and as to the distribution of the vessels and personnel employed on this duty.

CHAPTER VI.

38. Page 69, (A).—It is observed that, though the first paragraph under the heading "Civil Government" refers to both Colombo and Trincomali, the table which immediately follows shows the distribution of police for Colombo only. A similar table should also be given for Trincomali.

39. Page 69, last line.-Unless the reference to a system of patrol afloat is meant to refer to the general operations of the Royal Navy for collecting and communi- cating intelligence the statement that such a system has been organized is scarcely accurate.

40. Page 72.-Instructions to the Railway Department with regard to the transport of troops on mobilization, according to the time table on page 31, and also with regard to the rapid movement of troops from Colombo to Galle, should that become necessary, should follow the instructions to Postmaster-General.

41. Pages 74 and 78.-The Harbour Traffic Regulations for Colombo and Trinco- mali are based on the recommendations of the Colonial Defence Committee, dated the 20th April, 1894, made with reference to the Report of the Local Joint Naval and Military Committee of November 1893. Since that Report was considered the experience gained by a careful examination of the conditions of the various defended ports of the Empire has shown considerable modification to be necessary in the general arrangements by which the exclusion of a hostile vessel endeavouring to enter a British port by fraud or treachery is insured.

It is not thought now that a signal shown from some place on shore, which the incoming vessel may not be on the look-out for, is an efficient way of stopping her. It is, therefore, necessary to put the responsibility of identifying every arrival from seaward, in the first instance, on the examination vessel, who should direct the stranger to bring to. Should the incoming ship, from ignorance or treachery, attempt to evade the examination vessel, the latter should signal to the batteries, and they,

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