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It is stated in the Return that 2 officers and 257 men of the police are stationed at Port of Spain; it is presumed, therefore, that the whole of this portion of the police are armed with, and trained to handle rifles, and make up with the volunteers the 800 infantry referred to in the Scheme.

It is not understood, however, how the total of 200 artillery given in the Scheme will be obtained.

8. Page 9, paragraph 3.-If the strategic conditions as above recited are correct in assuming that a landing considerably to the south of Port of Spain is improbable, it seems unnecessary to arrange for the concentration of a considerable detachment (150) at Chaguanas.

9. Page 9, paragraph 3.-After dealing with "Distribution of Troops," it would be useful if a new heading, "Communications," were added to the Scheme. This might be divided into: (i.) Traffic Communications," under which full information with regard to railways and roads should be given as far as these are likely to effect the tactical operations of the Defence force; and (ii) "Transmission of Orders and Intelligence," under which the existing telegraphi and tolephone organizations, con- sidered from the same point of view, should be described. A list of existing and proposed signal stations should also be added.

10. Pages 9 and 10, paragraph 4.-It is not, as a rule, advisable to place guns in earth-works as here contemplated. They are thereby rendered conspicuous and their movements restricted. For infantry, carth-works should generally take the form of shelter-trenches rather than that of closed redoubts.

CHAPTER III.

It

11. Page 13.--This Chapter as it stands is unsatisfactory and of little use. states very briefly that certain arrangements should be made instead of laying them down in detail. The following headings are suggested:

(a.) General Review of measures to be taken.

(b.) Action by Staff Officer.

(c.) Action by Supply and Transport Officer.

(d.) Action by Officer Commanding Artillery.

(e.) Action by Officer in charge of Engineer Works.

(f) Action by Medical Officer.

(g.) Action by Paymaster.

Under the first of these headings a specific reference should be made to Mr. Chamberlain's Circular despatch, dated the 26th July, 1898, with regard to the notification which will be sent to the Governor instructing him to put the Defence Scheme partially or wholly into force. It is most important to insure the simple code laid down in the Circular being understood and acted on immediately on receipt of the message.

It is not clear from the Scheme at present, whether it is intended that on receipt of this notification the whole of the Volunteers should be at once mobilized and sent to the stations to which they are allotted, or whether this is impossible owing to the difficulty of removing the Volunteers from their ordinary vocations for any lengthy period. In the latter case the arrangements for their concentration on telegraphic orders must be very carefully worked out in the Scheme. It is essential that some force should be always on duty in each of the detachments and in reserve, and the arrangements for the maintenance of this force and its periodical relief should be specified.

Under heading " B.-Action by Staff Officer," the General Order which will be published when the Defence Scheme is put into force should be given. A reference should be made to the Reports and Returns which the Staff Officer will obtain from the Commanders of detachments in order that he may keep the Commandant informed of the progress of mobilization and subsequent operations. The arrangements for obtaining and communicating intelligence should also come under the Staff Officer, who should act as Intelligence Officer and censor if the circumstances of the time make it advisable to establish a censorship over cable messages.

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