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[Tms Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.]

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. April 3, 1897.

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SECRET.

No. 158 R.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

C.O. No. 3504.

Report by the Military Commandant for the Year

1895-96.

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

THIS Report is of special interest as showing definitely the new orga- nization that has been adopted in accordance with the Defences Act of 1895 and the Regulations that have been made under that Act.

2. In the year 1894-95 the expenditure of South Australia on the military forces of the Colony was 17,0001. For 1895-96 it was reduced to 7,000, and the Commandant pointed out that in order to maintain the forces with the least possible injury to their efficiency, it would be necessary to reorganize them and alter the conditions of their service. He made certain proposals based on the Report of the Federal Military Conference held at Sydney in October 1894, and on Remarks of the Colonial Defence Com- mittee as to the advisability of forming a Reserve to the permanent and militia forces which would result in temporary reductions in the strength of the active forces being of less serious consequence.

The proposals were embodied in the Act and Regulations referred to above, and the force was newly constituted to consist of :-

B

-

Peace Establishment. Establishment.

War

Permanent Garrison Artillery (2 companies)..

134

208

Militia Field Artillery (2 batteries)

136

300

Mounted Rifles (2 regiments of 4 companies) Infantry (2 regiments of 8 companies)

752

1,162

990

1,726

Machine-gun Corps (24 batteries)

50

93

Signalling Corps

12

24

..

Field Hospital

16

33

Total

2,090

3,596

For the year 1896-97, 13,000l. have been allowed in the Estimates for military expenditure.

3. Dealing first with the war establishment, the numbers and organiza- tion proposed would appear generally sufficient for and suitable to the requirements of South Australia. They will allow for the various forces suggested in paragraph 3 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks

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