49

A.—7.

Schedule III.

1. A slight increase in the peace establishment of the troops allotted to the Garrison Force in column 1 will be required hereafter. 2. The proportion of the various arms in the Field Force upon the peace establishment now existing in each State as given in column 2 will require some readjustment hereafter, in order to meet the proportion proposed in the war establishments. It will be observed that the proportion of mounted troops to infantry on the proposed war establishment of the Field Force in column 4 is much larger than in the existing peace establishment in column 2. 3. The figures given in column 4, exclusive of the totals, are only approximate, as the exact allotment of each unit to the States has not yet been fixed. 4. It will be seen that the following summary shows, upon a war footing, 44,218 of all arms, with 120 field guns and guns of position, viz.:—

Summary of Schedule III.

Number of troops available for and constitution of Field Force in peace and war. In the first instance, without adding to the existing numbers of the military forces, there will be available as a Field Force upon a peace footing 4,674 mounted troops, 612 field artillery, with 36 guns, and 8,815 infantry, &c, making a total of 14,101. This Force will be increased upon war footing as proposed to 10,458 mounted troops, 2,756 artillery, and 15,534 infantry and others, with 90 field guns and guns of position. I recommend that the Field Force shall be organized into six brigades of light horse and into three brigades of infantry, each complete, with all the necessary departmental troops, and with the latest modern proportion of field artillery. The large proportion of mounted troops to infantry will necessitate a partial reconstruction of infantry into mounted troops. This change is not only consistent with the characteristics of the Australian people, but provides exactly that description of fighting-man which has proved so valuable in South Africa, and which, without doubt, would constitute a most powerful, if not a controlling, factor in any campaign in which Australian troops might be engaged. Necessity for organization in times of peace. Success in modern war, either for defensive or for offensive operations, can only be assured by deliberate, slow organization in times of peace. History and modern events alike testify that armed men only, no matter how brave and no matter how deeply endowed with military qualifications, are powerless to successfully, and for any length of time, oppose an army which has in times of peace been perfected by measured organization, matured by scientific preparation for war, and supplied with the latest military equipment. It will be dangerous in the extreme to rely upon organizing when the emergency arises such troops as may be required for the defensive-offensive operations referred to, and it will be more especially unwise for a country which for some time at least must depend to a great extent for its 7—A. 7.

Colui rrison 3 eace 1 [N 1. Troops Istablii int.) I DOLUMri 'ield Po 'eace E ?ht moc Column 3. _r_ fDeo — _ --H c2=a _ ■£ a __ ea 2.3--S o Colum: Field P. War Ei « 4. >roe. itablis Gai [sting 1 i. ihmi [Existi: witli ■Si Slij ->rco igtal dlfli i. lilisl ::ati< lment, ins.) State. (Exi (Pre iposed int.) 03 o o fa EH T5 <u *-> n P o a 5 3 fl 1- □ l-H fl o -I So fa a o o G Eh «a fl fl o a u fl <__ 3 «3 ft o o H EH a =i o a u < rd +-> o — o .1 1-1 h < fa 0) o CO _ _ "3 o H •rm ■ma m a I_) mi 3 s _ - _ o H Tew South Wales Victoria Queensland iouth Australia .. Vestern Australia 'asmania 225 161 310 112 120 180 845 1,313 476 341 211 259 3,048 1,456 1,678 937 840 1,426 794 263 215 119 34 107 4 10 4 6 4 2 4,912 3,193 2,679 1,509 1,205 1,972 1,609 1,002 884 630 360 189 170 183 105 90 64 2,758 1,989 1,382 834 480 738 283 85 130 28 55 53 10 12 6 4 4 4,820 3,259 2,501 1,492 985 1,044 9,732 6,452 5,180 3,001 2,190 3,016 3,754 3,333 1,378 1,007 508 478 989 879 363 265 134 126 4,3511,225 3,8631,088 1,597 450 1,166 329 589 166 554 156 12,120 3,414 32 29 12 9 4 4 10,319 9,163 3,788 2,767 1,397 1,814 Total 1,108 3,445 9,385 1,532 30 15,470 4,674 612 8,181 634 36 14,101 29,571 10,458 2,756 90 28,748

Arm. Garrison Troops. Field Force. Total. rlounted troops Artillery Infantry )thers 1,108 3,445 9,385 1,532 10,458 2,756 12,120 3,414 11,566 6,201 21,505 4,946 Total 15,470 28,748 44,218