Better communication is the key to avoiding internal warfare in Bermuda's part-time army, according to a special Defence Board report into a row at the Bermuda Regiment.

The Regiment was earlier this year rocked by a row over the future direction of the Island's armed service.

And insiders said the Officers' Mess had begun to split along racial lines -- and that the gulf was widening fast.

But Deputy Governor Tim Gurney said: "The general view of the sub-committee of the Defence Board is that most of the difficulties were caused by a lack of communication.

"And the members had a number of suggestions they put to the Regiment which are being pursued.'' Mr. Gurney declined to be specific on the recommendations aimed at quelling rumbles of rebellion at Warwick Camp.

But it is understood that among the suggestions from sub-committee chairman Lt. Col. Allan Rance and his team were regular meetings involving junior officers and the senior command in a bid to avoid problems in the future.

But Regiment insiders doubted that the report would go far enough to satisfy disgruntled officers.

One said: "If it was as basic as a lack of communication, surely there wouldn't have been the need for an inquiry.'' The soldier stressed he had not seen the report or been told of its contents.

He added: "I don't know whether or not anything has been resolved. And I don't know whether this report will resolve anything.

"But the sooner we're told about it and what's in it, the better.'' The report has been seen by Premier Jennifer Smith and Labour and Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox, who has Parliamentary responsibility for the Regiment.

The Royal Gazette revealed in February that angry officers had written to Ms Smith and Governor Thorold Masefield -- commander-in-chief of the Regiment -- to complain about the Regiment regime.

Insiders claimed that black officers had been left feeling out of step with the way the Regiment was being run -- and at odds with British Army staff officer Maj. David Napier, who recently returned to his own regiment in England.

But other officers defended the Regiment and Commanding Officer Lt. Col.

Patrick Outerbridge and insisted there had "always been confrontation'' between some Bermudians and seconded UK advisors.

And one claimed that attempts to modernise the Regiment structure and training programme -- with more emphasis on problem-solving and character development rather than square-bashing and physical fitness -- had met with stiff resistance from some traditionalist officers and NCOs.