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The Traffic Regulations should be preceded by the instruction in the note at the foot of p. 9 of the Scheme with regard to the time at which they would be put into force and when mine-fields would be laid.

The note at the foot of p. 12 with regard to the restricted use of the seaward search-light at Queenscliff would more appropriately be embodied in the part of the Scheme dealing with electric lights, now on p. 3.

18. Page 17. Naval Defences-On p. 9 of the Scheme the recommenda- tion of the Joint Naval and Military Committee on Defence, to the effect that no buoys should be removed during a time of war, is printed in italics. In the 6th paragraph on p. 17 it is stated that the West Channel would be blocked and buoys removed. Though, on the assumption that no serious inconvenience would result, there is no objection to forbidding the use of the West Channel in time of war and to closing this channel with mines, which would only be made active when required, it is considered that circumstances might arise which it might be advantageous to pass a friendly vessel through this channel, and that for this reason its buoys should not be removed.

The stations proposed for the "Cerberus" and torpedo-boats are satisfactory; but their functions, as stated in the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks, dated 5th April, 1895, on the Defence Scheme, revised to September, 1894, should be laid down in the naval part of the Defence Scheme, and it should be explained that the immunity of the defence vessels from the action of defence guns and mine-fields must rest rather on their keeping clear of the area of the military defences than on a system of private signals, which might be unseen or misunderstood in the heat of action.

266

он

Austral

38

May 22, 1897.

(Signed)

M. NATHAN, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

Approved by S. f.. S. for war, 10/5/97,

266 Australasia

y

"Colony moisten, 10/6/98, calling

attention

to omission of improvements recommended

by

coe

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