We must take care that nobody is misled on this subject. The
announcement looks very decisive, but in point of fact may probably
make no change for a long time to come.
The
War Office have merely requested the Commander in Chief to send
the first Regiment
which becomes available in China to
Vancouvers Island: they
have already told us in another letter that this may very likely not
happen for a year. On the other hand that delay is the less to be
regretted if a previous construction of barracks is necessary, and if
the Engineers can be usefully employed in that work.
But then the
Admiralty's difficulty is left just where it was before.
They have a party of some hundred marines on shore at
San Juan, who
by the rules of the service are entitled to come home. They had been
previously serving in China, and it is a hardship and a sore trial to
the fidelity of men, to detain them indefinitely on duties for which
they did not enlist. On the other hand the Engineers are to have
their own employment in building Barracks, and if these Marines come
away without any substitute, we give up the joint occupation of
San Juan and leave the Americans
there there alone. This is a difficulty which
I am bound to point out: I have not the means myself of suggesting
the proper solution, which perhaps could best be found by
consultation amongst the high Military Authorities who meet from time
to time on questions of defence and distribution of the forces.