A.—7
38
The establishment of the first two classes is as follows :—
All Ranks.
Permanent ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,021 Active ... ... ... ~. ... ... ... 37,131 Total ... ... ... ... 38,152 The Active Militia undergoes an annual training, the rural corps go into camp for twelve days, the " city corps" being drilled in towns. In his annual report of January last the General Officer Commanding Canadian Militia states that the city corps have absolutely no training whatever in the field duties of a soldier, and that the rural corps " will never be made even fairly fit to take the field with the limited period of annual training that they receive under existing conditions." In the event of war with the United States it is on this Canadian militia that must depend the entire safety of Canada until reinforcements arrive from England. It may therefore be concluded that the best way in which Canada can co-operate in Imperial defence is by making her militia an efficient force. It is more important that the Canadian Ministry should be strongly pressed to take this reasonable precaution than that they should maintain contingents for general Imperial service. 16. Nevertheless, the services rendered by Canadians in South Africa, as well as the history of the last Anglo-American war, show that the Canadians are excellent fighters, and would be a valuable addition to the Imperial forces. It is reasonable to assume that Canada will desire to co-operate with Australia in any steps that may be taken for creating a permanent organization of colonial Imperial forces, and, if such a desire be felt, there are strong political reasons for encouraging it. Moreover, it is possible that by the example of a Canadian Imperial Force the militia generally might be worked up to a higher standard of efficiency. The strategical position of Canada makes it, however, unwise that any very large contingent should be drawn from her defence force unless the strength of that force should in the future be increased. It is suggested, therefore, that if a Canadian Imperial Force be organized it should be limited, for the present, to a brigade division of field artillery and a brigade of infantry. The force might be organized on lines similar to those suggested for Australia. General Summary. 17. The proposals made in this paper contemplate, therefore, the organization of the following colonial troops for general Imperial service in war : —
(Signed; . E. A. Altham, A.Q.M.G. War Office, 25th November, 1901.
APPENDIX IV. MEMORANDUM ON SEA POWER AND THE PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN IT. The importance which attaches to the command of the sea lies in the control which it gives over sea communications. The weaker sea Power is absolutely unable to carry to success any large military expedition over sea. The truth of thi3 is shown by reference to the history of the past. In ancient times the Greek victory of Salamis threatened the Persian communications across the Dardanelles, and doubtless this danger contributed to bring about their retreat into Asia. The failure of the famous Syracusan expedition was due to the defeat of the Athenian fleet, and had its modern counterpart in the failure of Admiral Graves off the entrance to Chesapeake Bay in 1781. In both cases the army had to surrender because its communications were cut. The defeat of Nikias dealt a heavy blow to the supremacy of Athens, and may, perhaps, be said to have been one of the principal events which led to her downfall. The surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown was the prelude to the independence of the United States. The main cause of the failure of the expedition of Napoleon to Egypt was the defeat of the French fleet at the Nile, which was the first step towards cutting his communications with France and the subsequent surrender of the French army. On the other hand, the advantages which accrue to the stronger sea Power, after it has won the command of the sea, are equally illustrated by historical example.
Colony. Units. Approximate Strength. Australia ... New Zealand ... | -I 2 mounted brigades ... 1 infantry brigade 1 mounted brigade 2 infantry battalions .... [ ? 3 1 brigade division, field artillery 1 infantry brigade ) I 9,000 4,500 South Africa [ ? ] Canada -I I 3,000 Total ... 16,500