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belong to one of the Defence Rifle Clubs. If this is the case, the improve- ment effected under the new Act is rather apparent than real.

The subdivision into columns A and B of the peace establishment in the Table in Section IV of the Report is not there explained, but from the information given in the Appendix, it would seem that the only troops that can be maintained while the Military Budget is restricted to its present amount are those detailed in column A, viz., 1,166 men, of whom 598 are in the Active and 569 in the Reserve forces. Under these circumstances, the figures given for war establishments are of little more than academic interest, showing a correct appreciation on the part of the Military Commandant of the military requirements of the Colony, and of how these requirements should be met.

The Colonial Defence Committee consider that, roughly, a force of 3,500 men is sufficient for South Australia under existing conditions, and those likely to obtain in the near future; that of this number, not less than 2,000 men should belong to the Regular force and to the Active militia, the remaining 1,500 constituting a reserve of men who have received training and can be relied upon to join the corps to which they have been told off immediately on mobilization,

5. With regard to the utilization of members of the Defence Rifle Clubs as a reserve, attention is called to Memorandum No. 95 M of the Colonial Defence Committee, dated the 16th February, 1897.

6. The Military Commandant, in the Report under consideration, recommends that the two 9-2-in. B.L. guns available in the Colony should be mounted if they cannot be sold, and that the two 6-in. B.L. guns imported for placing on barges should be now mounted at Fort Glanville to replace the two 64-pr. R.M.L. guns at present there. Other proposals for improving the armament mounted near Adelaide were recently before the Committee, who, however, do not recommend any expenditure being incurred by the Colony on guns and works, beyond the provision of the 12-pr. Q.F. gun proposed in paragraph 3 of their Remarks No. 157 R, until the cadres of the defence forces are made more complete.

7. Under the circumstances, the Committee would have hesitated to have recommended at the present time so large a purchase of machine-guns (six 303-in. Maxims), had the question been referred to them, though these guns undoubtedly form, as stated by the Commandant, a valuable addition to the strength of the field force.

8. The Military Commandant points out that the Colony is already in possession of 500-303-in. Martini-Metford rifles, and recommends that 1,000 of the Martini-Henry rifles which have been longer in use be forwarded to England at once for conversion to 303-in. Martini-Metford.

The Colonial Defence Committee have now under consideration the general question of the supply of small-arms to all Colonies, and hope to be able to suggest an arrangement by which small-arms using the same ammu- nition may be provided economically throughout the British Empire. In the meantime, they do not recommend the Government of South Australia to incur at present further expenditure on rifles and carbines.

(Signed) M. NATHAN, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

April 1, 1897.

Soft for War

in 086

308

appoored 10/28/1797

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