A DAMAGING REPORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1679, 5 October 1887, Page 3

A DAMAGING REPORT

Although Major-General Schaw'a report on tbe defences of JPew Soath Wales has been kept secret, it has transpired that the following are amongst the principalrecommendaionßmadeby him: — The entire reorganisation of tha Permanent Artillery, more particularly with reference to ita officering, and a considerable increase of its strength ; the appointment of a thoroughly qualified Imperial artillery officer as artillery m struotor, anch officer to be replaced every two or three years ; all vacancies occurring j »mongst com missioned officers to be filled by artillery officero from Home, or until each a time aa the colony is m a position to train its own officers ; an Imperial general officer to Inspect the defences and the defence forcaa of the whole oolonies every year; the establishment of a military college for the whole colonies ; the establishment of an Australian manufactory for arms and ammunition ; that guns of far greuter range than at present be procured for the defences of Sydney Harbor ; that the Spit-, Middle Harbor, be fortified ; the entrance to Hawkesbury to be fortified, and a dotachmen lof the Permanent Artillery be maintained there; that the head-quarters companies, Ist and 2nd Regiments, be increased by at loast four companies ; that the reserves at present be abolished and replceed by a force of tra'ned rifla companies, In which every other consideration has to give way to attaining good marksmanship, it being the General's opinion that if men so trained were required for active service ten days' continuous drill wonld sufficiently discipline them for the work they would haye to undertake ; the Vlctp.rla barracks to be superseded by the erection of artillery barracks at Middle Head j that a force be formed frcm which ordinary drill inetrnotora could be drawn, and which would supply guards now provided by (he Permanent Artillery, bo as to enable the Utter to devote the whole time to tholr own pecnllar duties. In respect to the Permanent Artillery, the.recommendations are said to be of a most iweplcg charaotcr,