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Page 275 attendants (p. 74, Table F (ii)), should be procured from England are out of place in the Defence Scheme, which should be based entirely on the actual resources of the station.

The proposals are for the consideration of the War Office. If the stores and matériel referred to are really essential in war, they should be maintained at the station at all times.

Litters, which are stated on p. 73 (paragraph 9) and p. 75 (Table F (ii)) to be required, are now obsolete stores (see § 8565, List of Changes).

30. Pages 76, 77, and 78.-It appears from these pages that ammunition and other ordnance stores, which would be required at St. Lucia on mobilization, are still kept at Barbados.

The Colonial Defence Committee, in paragraph 29 of their Remarks, No. 156 R, drew attention to this fact, and recommended that all stores except those actually required at Barbados should be transferred to St. Lucia; but it does not seem that this has been done, although it is stated, on p. 76, that there is ample accommodation in the new ordnance store buildings at St. Lucia for all the stores to be sent from Barbados. The Committee recommend that the transfer of stores should be carried out as early as possible.

31. Page 79, Table G (v).—The attention of the War Office is called to the advisability of bringing up the number of rounds of ammunition for small-arms in the Colony to 1,000 per rifle.

32. Page 80 (H).-It will be convenient if under the heading "Action by District Paymaster," a summary is given of the extra expenditure which will be incurred by the various Departments (1) during the preliminary stages of mobilization, and (2) during each subsequent week that the station remains mobilized.

CHAPTER IV.

33. Pages 83 and 88.—It will be better to limit the weight of the men's kit in the case of the R.E. and Army Pay Corps moving from Barbados to 20 lb., as is done in the orders to all the other corps.

34. Page 88, 3rd and 4th lines.-It should be laid down definitely how the care of St. Anne's Fort and the Lower Ordnance Store is to be provided for instead of leaving this to be decided at the last moment. It must be borne in mind that until Barbados provides for its local defence, the stores in question will be left without military protection.

35. Page 88. Orders for District Paymaster, Barbados. Paragraph 6.-It is here stated that 4 carts are to be supplied to the District Paymaster by the A.S. Corps. The Table at the top of p. 86 shows 2 only.

36. Page 90. Orders for O.C. Ciceron Detachment. Paragraph 2.-It would be as well to obtain the filled ammunition belts for the Maxim gun before it moves off to Petit Ciceron.

CHAPTER V.

37. Page 101, 2nd paragraph. It is here stated that "until some decision is arrived at as to the position and authority of the General Officer Commanding, it appears impracticable to attempt to enter into any definite agreement with the local authorities." This, apparently, refers to previous proposals from the station that in war the G.O.C. should take over the administration of the island. A definite decision on this matter has been given by Her Majesty's Government, and communicated to the Colony, and the Colonial Defence Committee cannot deprecate too strongly delay in making any necessary arrangements on the chance of this decision being

reversed.

[1984]

D

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