Page:The empire and the century.djvu/265

 Corps, Ordnance Corps, and of Army Medical Corps, for partially garrisoning the naval strategical bases, for technical duties, for maintenance of valuable stores and equipment, and, above all, for the instruction of the Militia and Volunteer forces during peace and for stiffening them in times of war.

2. A Field Force of Militia troops for the purpose of carrying out active operations in the field in defence of the Commonwealth as a whole. This force consists of six light horse brigades and three brigades of infantry.

3. A Garrison Force of Volunteers combined with Militia for the local defence of each State.

The permanent or regular force, consisting of 91 officers and 1,204 other ranks, bears only a small proportion to the Militia and Volunteer troops, which together form the real defence forces of Australia.

The numbers are as shown in Table I. (p. 235).

Each brigade is organized upon the principles shown in Tables II. and III. (pp. 236, 237).

It will be seen that a field force of six brigades of light horse and three brigades of infantry is provided for the defence of the Commonwealth within the limitations imposed by the Defence Act. Each of these brigades is complete in itself, with the proportion of all arms and of those administrative departments which are essential for a mobile force in the field. Each of the six States contribute their quota to the field force in proportion to their population.

Garrison troops for local or State defence, comprising garrisons for the defended ports, and a small district reserve or movable column, are also provided. The numbers allotted for this purpose to each State vary in proportion to the local requirements of defence and to the willingness of the inhabitants to engage in voluntary military service.

While the field force is composed entirely of Militia, paid at the market rates of labour, with a nucleus of permanent officers and men, the garrison troops are primarily Volunteers. The yearly cost is estimated at